The Mason's Trust.

THE MASON'S TRUST .

BY BRO . ROBERT RAMSAY . Written for the "Keystone . " T ^ YERY Brother recollects the solemn momentwhenamidst profound silencehe

, , , - * - ' answered before his brethren the momentous question that involved the basis of his trust . No matter how negligent be may have become in after life : no matter how carelessly he may have performed his duties as a Mason ; no matter how indifferently he may have upheld the principles of the Fraternity , he cannot forget that he has openly , before his brethren , professed his belief in One Supreme God , the Great Architect of thc Universe .

We , as Masons , from time immemorial have declared that man must look forward to a great ancl glorious hereafter ; that we must pass through " the valley of tho shadow of death ; " that we must rely upon something more than the puny wisdom (?) of man's finite mind ; that we must place faith in Him who created the heavens and the earth , who from mother ' earth formed man , ancl who inspired him "with vitality by His breath , and who developed at the same moment an everlasting , never-dying soul by His will .

The answer , therefore , of the Freemason is clear as the noonday sun and bright as the star that guided the wise men of the East to the stable in which rested the infant form of the Gentle Nazarene . No Mason can hesitate . His bebef is in the Giver of all good , the Grand Geometrician of the Universe . Brethren , we have proclaimed it to the world ; we have not " hidden our light under a bushel ; " we have published to all mankind that our institution is based upon a

belief in the Wisdom of all the acts of God , in the Strength of His enduring , nevertiring love for mau , in the Beauty of that Divine Holiness that has promised to the good and true a bright ancl glorious hereafter in the Grand Lodge above . Brethren , it is upon this that we have erected our time-honoured institution ; it is upon tins that every ceremony of our Order is based ; it is upon this that our symbolism is created ; it is upon this belief , and this alone , that we wish farewell to our deceased Brother , and with loving hands cast the emblem of immortality , the cherished sprig of acacia , into our Brother's grave—we trust in God alone .

The time has arrived when we must answer this query anew , with a more decided tone than before—when like a clarion note , clear ancl lond , tbe answer shall be heard in the valleys and echoed on the hill tops . For years we have been accused of treachery , of perjury , and worse than perjury , by narrow-minded bigots of spurious protestant organizations , by wild fanatical bodies , composed of scoffers at reb ' gion and mockers of the Word of Godby the influence and weiht of the ancient ancl learned Church of Rome

, g . For years we have borne this , silently and steadily progressing , drawing within our fold the great aud good of every class , sect , creed and nation , receiving only those whose faith was placed iu the Adonia . The time now has come when silence would be a crime , the hour has arrived for Freemasons of every clime to boldly declare , and prove by their acts , that their faith rests in the Fatherhood of the Creator of the Universe .

Masons , hesitate no longer to buckle on your armour , ancl prove to the world that every Brother has a faith in common , a faith in God , ancl a hope in immortality . Outside assailants could do us little or no harm ; we have received a stab from those whom we ever welcomed as Brothers . Oajser exclaimed , when stabbed by his supposed son , Brutus : " Et iu , Brute ! " and so might we exclaim , " And thou , oh \ Grand Orient of France ! " We sicken as we think of the injury that has been done to our cause by the recent action of those who claimed to be Brothers and Craftsmen . No blot hitherto has ever soiled the spotless escutcheon of Freemasonry ; her flag was the emblem of purity ancl fidelity ; her lodge rooms were consecrated to God , and in our Temples were