Judge Masons By Their Acts

unavoidable misfortune have become trul y poor and needy , and are by all the bonds of honour and Blasonry entitled to our protection and support . We have no use for a Blason who is

constantly telling how much Masonry has cost him ; how much lie has expended ; how long he has paid dues and never received any benefit for it ; how much and how often he has given , and never asked nor received anything in return ;

how that he has been paying dues for one , two , three , five or twenty years , and had , or was going to dimit , as it was a great tax . and had done him no good . And yet for all this he asserted of his own accord that he went into Bloomy for that very purpose—to do good , to gain knowledge , aud be serviceable to his fellow-men . If he has not clone so it is his own fault . If

he has not done good , relieved his poor , distressed brother or family , it was his owu mistake , and he is not entitled to any pleasure or reward . Out upon the Blason who condemns a whole fraternity because one , two , three , or a dozen of the order

have defrauded or taken advantage of him , perhaps involved him in ruin . God is true , though men are false ; Blasonry is pure , though some Blasons are corrupt . The majority of the Blasonic order desire to do good and benefit their fellow-men ;

many go into it simply to benefit themselves . The fountain is pure , though some of the streams may become muddy , dirty , filthy , corrupt and putrid . Ignorance of what Blasonry is , causes all the trouble . Masons will not read or

learn their dut y . Blasons have become too lax . Charity has come in at the wrong place , and lod ges have been turned into temperance societies , social gatherings , moral reform schools , or church organizations . A man of intemperate habits

applies for admission into a Blasonic lodge ; good old , and enthusiastic young brothers say , Let us take him in , we can reform him . A profane , illiterate , gross , sensual , but good-hearted man applies , and the same appeal is made again . Masonry ,

they think , must receive and polish , improve and correct these bad habits . A reckless and immoral man has become converted , joined the church , and determined to reform ; the clergy and Blasons who are members of the church plead for "mi to be taken in ; they want all the

Judge Masons By Their Acts

good influences thattheycan bring to'bear 011 the man to be exerted . All this is wrong . The church , reform schools and temperance societies all have a great aud good work to do . So does Blasonry ; but Blasoury must commence with the man that has known and decided principles ,

whose habits for sobriety , morality and charity are formed , who is not ready to stumble unless constantly supported and watched . Our field is to take the good and true and make them better—to " unite

them in one band of brothers , whose only contention will be " as to who best could work and best agree . " No man is a Blason at heart who will take advantage of it in his business transactions . All things being equal , one Blason may prefer dealing with anotherbut

, it authorizes no favours except iu a business way . A Blason has no right to claim financial aid , endorsement or security in business on Blasonic grounds . In all

things pertaining to business , act the business man . A deviation from this Blasonic rule has injured many a Blason . A Blason has no right to place his business troubles upon another . If he' speculates , if he invests bis money , if he wins or loses or goes to ruinhe has no right to come to

, Blasons because they are Blasons , to bolster him up or save his credit . Such a rule , if recognized in Blasonry , would ruin every Blason in the fraternity If you want help in business and go to a Blason , go to him in a business way ; otherwise he

he is justified in not listening to your appeal . Some men are so weak and ignorant that after they have been Blasons for a few years they imagine that the order is obliged to assist , proteet and answer all their demands .

Business and Masonry may work together , but one must never infringe upon the rights of the other . Masonry demands justice , charity aud good conduct ; but it does not ask you to materially injure yourself , jeopardize your credit , or sacrifice your independence or character . The Masonic Jewel .

A Doubt.

A DOUBT .

If I could find a rose without a thorn , A fragi ant blossom with no bitter taste , A day of sunshine with no spot of cloud , A world without a dreary desert waste .