Our Grand Brotherhood.

gentlemen ; men with breadth of knowledge in science , in literature , in the arts ; men who have circumnavigated the world over and over again , voyageurs by land as well as by sea ; poets , musicians , sculptors , painters , authors , and large-souled philanthropists . I doubt . very much if such a roll of distinguished men can be found iu any other fraternity ; but the sumnum bonum of all their actions is to clo good ancl fulfil the greatest of all the graces—Charity . This

commendeth itself to the heart of every true Craftsman . I know of nothing so seductive and enticing to the moral status of a man as that of studying Freemasonry in its entirety , because tho teachings of its unrivalled ritual surpass all the philosophical doctrines of ancient or modern lore . The grandeur and greatness of its erudition lies in its simplicity : it is enshrined in the essence of truthAvithout garnishing , ancl its principles are so easy of

, practice that they become ever acceptable , like unto the graciousness of the mighty and eternal founder , T . G . A . O . T . U . The compactness of its organisations , the foundation upon which it is built , surpasses all other knoivn fraternities : its genuine social fellowship , the universality of its usefulness , its large philanthropy , its solidity , its undy ingsympathy for those in distressnot pharasaicallybut lovingly ; and all these

, , kinships come through its being built upon a true basis , which is the groundwork of the kingdom to come . Through its tenets being acted up to , it causes it to be mighty for good ; and as a brotherhood , ivith this imprint upon it , it will be lasting as the eternal hills . We lay not a falacious claim to . ^ being AA'orkers-out of the glorious precept , "Do unto others , etc ., " and from so directing our thoughts ancl steps we get the countenance ancl blessing of the

Holy One . Here ive take our stand , ancl from this never retreating action the Royal Craft resists all attacks , come from whatever source they may , or - however virulent their malignity of annunciation in the attempted depreciation of us as an Order , or the further ridiculous act of anathematisation and

ridicule . Still Ave prosper , labour on ancl increase in numbers ancl substance , as if no bitter shafts of contumely had been hurled at us . Why clo we thrive ? Because our primal object is to clo good , that good may come of it ; therefore are we invulnerable against the implacability of any party and of any hierarchial sect , as well as against evil speaking . These things affect us nothing . The Craft raises its head loftily above all contumely , and above all pedagogical sneering . Why ? because our foundation is not built sand

upon , but upon the eternal volume of truth ; for the Craft , as a body ,. arc exponents of its great gloriousncss . Who can deny it ? No true man will or can , be he Avhomsoever he may ; because we are trying to wend our way to the world of purity : again , no copious abuse can ever remove us out of our place ; if it did , the truth upon Avhich the brotherhood is founded is a base and monstrous falsity ; but Ave , with all humility , know , ancl we lay claim to having within

our fold the essence—attributes—ivhich contribute to make men only a little lower than the pure spirits which move around the mercy-seat . Our codified laws are such that for the governing of so vast a body of men spread oi'er the whole inhabited globe , of ei'ery nationality , and almost of every class , ancl yet withal Ave are within ourseh'es so exclusiA'e , and still universal , that the A'ery term appears a paradox from this supreme unisonancc .

Naturall y there arises in our midst those Avhom ive could say have not known the rays of civilisation equal to the European ; still such men are the living and faithful witnesses of the noble virtue of truthfulness , for they have never been known to divulge its secrets or dishonour their oath ; but they have kept the hidden treasures which are sacred to the honour and dignity of every faithful Freemason . Words cannot describe this noble inviolabilitof the

y brotherhood . It is this Avoudrous talisniauic power which is its strength , and ivhich is one of the mental agencies that helps to the ripening of ° the novice or initiates , into making such into the beings for which the intentive ori ginality of our created state implied ; and it is a genuine fulfilment of the