Cursory Remarks On Freemasonry.-Ii.

CURSORY REMARKS ON FREEMASONRY .-II .

WE have urged upon our brethren the necessity of a rnmctual attendance at Lodge ; in our folloAving remarks AVC intend to offer a feAv brief observations on the manner in A \ diich Ave ought to conduct ourselves Avhen AVC are assembled together . Judging from our experience in the Craft , we should say

that it is very rarely that anything like positive bad behaviour takes place in any of our Lodges . Our Avhole ceremonial is so solemn and so admirably an-anged , that the man Avho could be guilty of any gross misbehaviour in a Freemasons' Lodge must bo more intractable than a bull in a china shop ; for him there is no proper place in thc Lodge ;

his fitting home would be in a lunatic asylum , or in the hulks . When , therefore , Ave speak of proper behaviour in Lodge , our non-Masonic readers are not to imagine that profane SAvearing , calling each other foul names , quarrelling , or any other vulgar vice or gross practice takes place even in the Avorst conducted of our Lodges ; for the Worshiful

p Master AVIIO should so far forget his high position as to alloAv such things to occur , Avould soon find himself called upon to surrender up the Avarrant to Grand Lodge ; so that the future meetings of such false men and cruel enemies of Masonry Avould only need to be pointed out to the civil poAver to he at once suppressed as illegal secret societies

, dangerous to the Avellbeing of the state . For it must be borne in mind , that Freemasons , on account of their unquestionable loyalty , peaceableness and benevolence are allowed the exclusive privilege of administering oaths to their initiates as a secret society , throughout the Avhole realm of Britain ; an important mark of respect to our venerable institution

Avhich the brethren never have , and AVC trust never will , abuse in any way so as to forfeit the high privilege . But our conduct maybe unmasonic in Lodge though AVO never use IOAV or vulgar language , nor are guilty of any improprieties Avhich Avould cause our expulsion from respectable society . For , as Freemasons , Ave profess to meet on the

level and to part on the square ; Ave must therefore not only preserve the appearance of brotherhood , but we must have in our " very heart of hearts" the thing itself . Even Lord Chesterfield ( no great moralist ) tells us that " good breedingdoes not consist in IOAV boAvs and formal ceremony , but in an easy , civil , and respectful behaviour ; " and he further

adds" As it is necessary to possess learning , honour , and virtue to gain the esteem and admiration of mankind , so politeness and good breeding are equally necessary to render us agreeable in conversation and common life . Great talents are above the generality of thc world , Avho neither possess them themselves nor are competent judges of them in others ; but all are judges of the lesser talents , such as civility , affability , and an agreeable address and manner ; because they feel the

good effects of them , as making society easy and agreeable . " If courtesy be necessary from man to man in their common dealings Avith each other , as mere citizens of the world , hoAv much more is it incumbent upon us as Masons , bound in the indissoluble ties of truest brotherhood ! It is not merely thc words spoken , but the tone of voice , the expression of countenanceand thc Avhole manner of our carriage to each

, other , which makes the impression on our minds for good or ill . "Hail , ye small courtesies of life ! " says Sterne , "for smooth do yc make the road of it ; like grace and beauty which beget inclinations to love at first sight ; it is ye who open this door , and let the stranger in . " The best of all civility is that Avhich springs from a good

heart ; and every true member of our Craft is a good man ; for a Mason is obliged by his tenure to obey the moral law , and if he rightly understand the art , lie Avid never be a stupid atheist nor an irreligious libertine . He , of all men , should best understand that Cod seeth not as man seeth ; for man lookoth at the outward appearance , butCod looketh at the heart . Poor frail human creatures that AVO arc , ever stumbling m our journey thiTiugli life , there is always ample scope and

verge enough for the Avisest and best of us daily to make some advancement iu Masonic knowledge ; and in proportion as Ave truly make that advancement , in like proportion will Ave find our behaviour , both in Lodge and out of Lodge , to approach that perfection which A \ e can never altogether reach until wo are summoned from this sublunary abode to the Grand Lodge aboveAvhere the Avorld ' s Great Architect lives

, and reigns for ever . We have been led into these remai-ks because Ave have sometimes been pained to hear brethren when expressing a difference of opinion in Lodge , speak with an acerbity which is neither necessary to earnestness nor to independence of thought , and which is hi ghly injurious to that freedom of

speech which the humblest brothers of the Craft possess equally Avith the richest and most powerful princes AVIIO have not thought it derogatory to their dignity to forsake thc sceptre for the trowel , to patronize our mysteries and join our assemblies .

Our antient charges instruct us that AVC " ' are not to hold private committees or separate conversation without leave from , the Master ; nor to talk of anything impertinently or unseemly ; nor interrupt the Master or Wardens , or any brother speaking to the Master ; nor behaA' -e ourselves ludicrously or jestingly Avhile the Lodge is engaged in what is serious and solemn ; nor use any unbecoming language upon

any pretence whatsoever ; but to pay dire reverence to our Master , Wardens , and Fellows , and put them to worship ;" and Ave must do our brethren the justice to say that Ave believe , on the Avhole , this injunction upon them is not shirked ; for the true Mason ever earnestly strives to learn what his duty is , and then does it Avith all his might , not doubting that the Most High Avill bless his labours . A noble hearted modern poet ( Thomas Hood ) has told us

that"Evil is ' wrought by want of thought , As Avell as by want of good ;" and where Ave find a brother inattentive or indifferent to Masonic teachings and to Masonic practice , let us charitably conclude that our poor brother ' s eyes have never yet been opened to the real signification of Freemasonry , and gently

lead him , by such steps as he is qualified to take , towards a full appreciation of our important mysteries . It is not every one Avho is initiated in a Lodge AVIIO has strength of mind to grasp our beautiful symbolic teaching ; and if at times such brethren cannot see as we see , let us bear Avith their infirmities , remembering , that as Leigh Hunt expresses it , —

" Poiver itself has not one half the might Of gentleness . " A high Masonic authority of old has told us , that " a soft answer turnetJi aAvay wrath , but grievous words stir up anger . " He who Avould keep alive that fine fraternal feeling Avhich in all ages has been the most distinguished

landmark of Freemasonry , must constantly have in mind and act in accordance with this divine precept ; else the harmony of the Lodge will probably be disturbed through the Avcakness of some brother Avho mistakes pride for independence , and his OAvn overweening conceit of himself for his honour as a man and a Mason . We wish every member of our Avide

spread fraternity to take part , whenever practicable , in the business of his Lodge ; and whilst ho boldly and candidly maintains Avhat he conscientiously believes to be for the good of Masonry in general , and of his own Lodge in particular , he must alloAv every other brother the same liberty of thought and speech which he claims for himself . If a

brother propose anything contrary to the Book of Constitutions or to the by-laws of the Lodge , let his error be calmly pointed out to him , and if his mental vision , is unfortunately so dim as not to prevent him from attempting something diametrically opposed to thc grand principles upon which Freemasonry is founded , then let \ is firmly but calmly inform him that hix wishes ; cannot )»> complied with , ami