Masonry And Its Origin.

and unostentatious nature ; let us try to be good men , and then we shall be good Masons , and for this purpose our institution places ample means at our disposal . We have a code of morals of the very highest order , one which inculcates all the sublime precepts of Christianity , and gives them a practical shape . Every symbol is intended to bring home to us some moral truth , and stir us up to exertions in this direction . All our charges are full of the very

highest and most beautiful moral teachings , and although I do not think that we can , at the present time , claim to possess any special truth or secret which has not before been proclaimed by scientific men , philosophers and others , yet I assert that we can justly claim to be giving a practical shape to the most . sublime code of morals ever established by any sect or creed . It is humanity ,

or say the perfection of tho human bod y and mind—as the image of our ¦ Creator—in its most beautiful form . We are to exercise those virtues which the founder of the Christian religion and the lawgiver on Mount Sinai revealed to the world , and which , unfortunately , so many so-called successors of Christ do not practice , viz ., tolerance and brotherl y uninterested love , charity and strict morality . These are the virtues which we are to practice within the precincts of our

Masonic temples , and which we are never to tire in attaining ; this is to be our incessant toil , and , as our predecessors , the stone-masons , met only once a month to do the routine business ,. but did the actual work outside of their lodges , so our real work is outside the monthly or fortnightly assemblies , and we are every moment called upon to treat this or that question in a Masonic spirit .

The more we advance in Masonic knowledge and spirit , the more will even the smallest action of our life bear the stamp of that brotherly , tolerant , forgiving , charitable spirit which ought to be guiding us in all our doings . And the more the brethren of a lodge see of each other socially and otherwise outside the lodge , the more this brotherly spirit will be fostered and developed , the more our words and actions towards each other and the rest of the world will be those of true and noble men and gentlemen in the very hihest sense

g of the word , be onr calling that of a ruler of the land or of a poor toiler for daily wages . Brethren , —I do not believe in those Masons who show their faces once a year and for the remainder of their time do not seem to remember that they are Masons , but go on in their old selfish ways . I do not believe in those socalled Masons who shake hands within the lod in a conventional way and

ge outside the doors seem to forget that they met you inside . They are not Masons in the sense in which I understand the word . As I said , Masonic principles must penetrate into all our actions , and the man who really means to be a good worker must necessaril y rejoice to find anywhere and everywhere a fellow worker , and must feel a pleasnre ' in conversing and associating with him .

Well , brethren , there is a wide , an immensely wide field open to us—a field so wide that we must despair ever to properly cultivate it , as it clashes with so many of our prejudices and natural inclinations , that only continual selfcontrol and never-ceasing toil and work can ever bring us to the state of perfection which we thus hope to reach . This is the moral part of the work , which we cannot so well develope within the lodge as outside in all our life . But then there is another- —the intellectual part . On every page of our ritual

we are enjoined to study and learn science and art . Many brethren are naturally inclined this way , and outside their profession or trade take an interest in general and scientific matters ; but others are not so disposed , or their means during the earlier days of their life did not allow them to enjoy the instruction which others have had . Well then , brethren , as knowledge is light , and to obtain light is the object of all of us , let us bring as much knowledge and light within the reach of the brethren as possible . Especially , as I take it ,