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Article MASONRY—ITS PAST AND FUTURE. ← Page 4 of 4 Article UNCLE CHARLES'S STORY. Page 1 of 4 →
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Masonry—Its Past And Future.
diligently for knowledge . But , no ! Many accept the fact when told them , but it is like a fleeting breath , the next moment forgotten and gone . To many , Masonry is only an excuse for gluttony and excess , under the pretence of Brotherly Love ancl Friendship ; but Avhy enumerate the numerous backslidings and errors of weak Brethren—enough has been said to show what causes may dim the glories of the Masonic Temple . The faults being known to all of us , it remains for us to try to eradicate them .
Good readers bear with me , these remarks are not made in the spirit of unchantableness , but in pure Brotherly love ; so that the earnestness and devotion of tbe future may repair tne decay of the present ; ancl that the present apparent prosperity of our Order may in the future become more genuine . What a contrast between tbe materials and construction of the tAvo Temples ! In the one case human materials , but of the best quality , perfectly wrought and tested ; on the other hand immortal materials , but in many cases rough and unhewn , "the . souls
ancl hearts of mankind . " The one Temple is gone for ever , the other still exists ! nay prospers more than ever . Its glories may be veiled or grow dim ; but it can never be wholly taken from the human gaze . The principles and teachings must exist till the end of time , even if only one true heart remains . Masonry ! Masonry ! would that all thy votaries could fathom thy beauties—the depth ancl richness of thy glory and thy teachings ; but alas ! alas ! we poor mortals are but weak and erring creatures : " we look to the outward appearance , but God looketh to the heart !"
Uncle Charles's Story.
UNCLE CHARLES'S STORY .
BY THEOPHILUS TOMLINSON . UNCLE CHABLES , " said some laughing fairies in a cosy drawing-room , " tell us a story , ' pour passer le temps . '" Uncle Charles , who was reclining in his arm-chair with his eyes closed in meditation , not in sleep , suddenly started up , and replied , " A story ?"
" Yes , a story , uncle , " repeated Ethel , the " blossom" of tbe party . " A story ! " ejaculated that worthy individual ; " story ! God bless you , girls , I have none to tell you , " unconsciously repeating Canning . " It is better to tell a story than go to sleep . " " Asleep ! who ' s asleep' ? " asked Uncle Charles a little hastily , for his temper bordered on the irritable . But as no one answered ( a very good recipe , by the . way ) for that "ira" of ours , Avhich is only often "brevis furor , " he slowly said : "Well , I will tell you a story—an adventure which once happened to me in Paris . "
" Oh , " said Ethel , " that will be charming 1 " " But do you think you can all keep quiet 1 " asked Uncle Charles ; " for I know it is a very difficult thing for so many female chatterboxes to keep their potato-traps shut . " But as they all declared they AVOUM be as still as mice , Uncle Charles , having cleared his throat , and remarked elegantly , " Silence in the Pig-market ! " began . " I Avas once staying for a short time in Paris , and I may say that Paris is always a
pleasant place to me . I like Paris in all seasons , and , as the French say , ' Sous tous les rapports . ' I delight iu tbe Boulevards and the Bois tie Boulogne ; I am always happy in the Louvre ancl the grand Libraire ; the Cafes ancl the Comedie Franeaise are to me most enjoyable . I am capable of laughing at tbe Gymnase , and I have ' been impressed at the Porte St . Martin ; I get sentimental at P § re-la-Chaise , the Chapelle Expiatoire , the Trianon , and Vincennes , ancl , like Louis Quartorze , I am -always ready to say , ' Vive
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry—Its Past And Future.
diligently for knowledge . But , no ! Many accept the fact when told them , but it is like a fleeting breath , the next moment forgotten and gone . To many , Masonry is only an excuse for gluttony and excess , under the pretence of Brotherly Love ancl Friendship ; but Avhy enumerate the numerous backslidings and errors of weak Brethren—enough has been said to show what causes may dim the glories of the Masonic Temple . The faults being known to all of us , it remains for us to try to eradicate them .
Good readers bear with me , these remarks are not made in the spirit of unchantableness , but in pure Brotherly love ; so that the earnestness and devotion of tbe future may repair tne decay of the present ; ancl that the present apparent prosperity of our Order may in the future become more genuine . What a contrast between tbe materials and construction of the tAvo Temples ! In the one case human materials , but of the best quality , perfectly wrought and tested ; on the other hand immortal materials , but in many cases rough and unhewn , "the . souls
ancl hearts of mankind . " The one Temple is gone for ever , the other still exists ! nay prospers more than ever . Its glories may be veiled or grow dim ; but it can never be wholly taken from the human gaze . The principles and teachings must exist till the end of time , even if only one true heart remains . Masonry ! Masonry ! would that all thy votaries could fathom thy beauties—the depth ancl richness of thy glory and thy teachings ; but alas ! alas ! we poor mortals are but weak and erring creatures : " we look to the outward appearance , but God looketh to the heart !"
Uncle Charles's Story.
UNCLE CHARLES'S STORY .
BY THEOPHILUS TOMLINSON . UNCLE CHABLES , " said some laughing fairies in a cosy drawing-room , " tell us a story , ' pour passer le temps . '" Uncle Charles , who was reclining in his arm-chair with his eyes closed in meditation , not in sleep , suddenly started up , and replied , " A story ?"
" Yes , a story , uncle , " repeated Ethel , the " blossom" of tbe party . " A story ! " ejaculated that worthy individual ; " story ! God bless you , girls , I have none to tell you , " unconsciously repeating Canning . " It is better to tell a story than go to sleep . " " Asleep ! who ' s asleep' ? " asked Uncle Charles a little hastily , for his temper bordered on the irritable . But as no one answered ( a very good recipe , by the . way ) for that "ira" of ours , Avhich is only often "brevis furor , " he slowly said : "Well , I will tell you a story—an adventure which once happened to me in Paris . "
" Oh , " said Ethel , " that will be charming 1 " " But do you think you can all keep quiet 1 " asked Uncle Charles ; " for I know it is a very difficult thing for so many female chatterboxes to keep their potato-traps shut . " But as they all declared they AVOUM be as still as mice , Uncle Charles , having cleared his throat , and remarked elegantly , " Silence in the Pig-market ! " began . " I Avas once staying for a short time in Paris , and I may say that Paris is always a
pleasant place to me . I like Paris in all seasons , and , as the French say , ' Sous tous les rapports . ' I delight iu tbe Boulevards and the Bois tie Boulogne ; I am always happy in the Louvre ancl the grand Libraire ; the Cafes ancl the Comedie Franeaise are to me most enjoyable . I am capable of laughing at tbe Gymnase , and I have ' been impressed at the Porte St . Martin ; I get sentimental at P § re-la-Chaise , the Chapelle Expiatoire , the Trianon , and Vincennes , ancl , like Louis Quartorze , I am -always ready to say , ' Vive