Masonry's Excellence.

they could nofc keep undimmed . And , again , m others , old age to those who , in younger hours , watched and guarded the altar fires is made so gentle in its stops and so sweet in its decline , that the very pro-sure of years is made to exlule a fragrance of peace and satisfaction uuknown

to * . oulh-ind vigour . Elsewhere , other gifts round Out Masonic l . fe , nail hen ( its of a different , bufc still of an ' exalted nature , make demonsfcnh ' on clear and unmistakable , of how rapid is tho -nn . vlh and how intelligent tho methods which this noble i . stta'io i employs to illustrate in works

its splendid professions and universal benevolence . And how blessed is the facfc and how inspiring is tho thought that the humblest member of fcho smallest Lodge within onr Jurisdiction is not only entitled to be recognized as an equal , but is cheerfully so presented in the presence

of every assemblage of tho Craft wheresoever ifc may be ! For such causes as this , we find fche vast membershi p lookin *¦ * *¦ with deep admiration upon the labours of the biefhren elsewhere , and without jealous sentiment or criticising speech , viewing the many exhibitions of good works , which ,

through accumulated wealth and 'zealous exertion , tchcy are enabled lo present . Tho fact indeed constitutes a themo upon which the moralist might play wifch all tho moving touch of an evangel , and the orator picture in words so "lowing and with sentiments so profound , that tho most

obdurate would bo melted into conviction and the believers stirred to a tenderer and deeper lovo I ' or ihe Craft . Among tho most notable evidences of fche progivs- * to which lofereuco is made , is tho dedication of the great , Masonic Homo at Utiea by tho Graud Lodgo of tho State of New York .

One year ago ifc was noted that the corner-stone of this great charity had been laid with appropriate ceremony . To-day , ifc has mounted from corner-stone of foundation to cap-stone of completion , and presents to fcho world one of the grandest results of Masonic labours for hum in good

known in this or any other land . Within its walls the widow , the orphan , the aged and fche infirm , shall find shelter and protection , while above ifc shall hover the beautiful spirit of Masonic benevolence , fco add brightness even to the sunshine , freshness to the sweeping breeze , and

lig ht to tho shadows which may encompass it . Its incp . tion dates back a half a century , and nearly- all who began the labours which aro now completed havo long since laid

their working tools upon the altar I ' or others' use , and followed after the blazing Star of eternal life . But fift y years iu Masonic life are bufc as a day . The tool ; ' of thc craftsman are never idle . The brethren take from those

who , worn and weary , cau no longer labour , and while we look into fcho faces of different men , the quarries of Mason < y are never deserted , the work is never finished , becanse tho past makes present duty , and present duty insures the labours of to-morrow . This handsome structure , so

honourable to onr brethren of New York , cost over two hundred and Gffcy thousand dollars , and is perfect in all its parts and appliances as a Masonic Asylum and Home . Tho dedicatory ceremonies were participated in by nearly thirteen thousand Masons , and tho addresses on the occasion gavo evidence of unusual zeal and eloquence .

MASONRY'S GOOD GOVERNMENT . Masonry is a moral and progressive science , but I mako bold to utter perhaps , fche startling statement that it is thin and moro . Masonry , in our day , with the tremendous strides of civilization which it . encounters , the vast extent of learning , much of which is per . iieioin and perverting ,

with which it meets , is a Government—within its sphere and influence quite as much a Government as that of the Slate and Nation . Lot us see . Ifc is declared that the foundation of all known Government is vested upon thafc simple Magna Charta declaration that lo no man shall

right and justice be denied , delayed or sold . Where on earth , and by whose hands admm ' sfcred , can bo found an organization of men , where right and justice , with quicker effort , keener impartiality , and moro rigid regard for name aud fame and feeling , are dispensed , thai : within the portals

of a well-ordered Masonic Temple ? To him who , bearing the burden of a charge bufc cout-cious of innocence , faces with Masonic courtesy and courage the accusation , fche benefactions of our form of trial make security doubl y secure . No technical formalities fco conceal the motives of

the charge , no complicated machinery to confuse the accused , no weary circumlocution to obstruct fche entrance of evidence , but a simple , straight and direct effort to ascertain that greatest of all things in both heaven and earth , the Truth—Truth , about whoso beauty the poet

sang , in words fcho glow of which was caught from nsy sunbeams ; about whoso strength the scholar has spoken in terms so lordly , and with expression so strong , that ifc seemed the very tempest swept onward tlie tones of hia voice , and the thunder" bore his utterance ; Truth , without

which we stand in darkness at noontide , and with which the deepest g loom is lighted . Therefore , in tho very first p rinciples of good govern merit the correction of wrong , the preservation of right ,

Masonry stands pre-eminent . I venture tho as .-ertion wifch all modesty , bufc with a deep conviction of its correctness , that fewer errors are committed , fewer wrongs perpetrated , fewer miscarriages possible , under the form of Masonic investigation , than under any other produced by mau .

The second groat purpose of government is to protect the subject against harm and injiuy from thoso who do not owe ifc allegiance . Almost any day the report is hoard thafc its civil authorities , with men-of-war and mirshallcd battalions , havo entered upon a protection of ita subjects

against the injustice of some foreign power . In Masonry every member is by law undo a protector . The good u une and the security iu person aud property and reputation are carefully provided for by an obligation so strong that linked steel is as a wisp of hay in comparison wifch its

binding strength ; by an obligation so sacred that wo take it on our bended knees and with reverential mien . And to enforce this protection the whole power and authority of the Order is p ledged . Tbe duty vests nofc only upon fcho

individual member bufc upm tho Institution in all its breadth and with all its accumulated resources ; and I again venture fche assertion that Masonry has dono more within its sphere to conserve fche persoual rights of its members than any other form of humm government .

Another object of good government is to secure free minded , capable , unselfish , patriotic officials to administer and enforce its laws . Almost every day the lightning bears on its wings fcho record of some failure upon fcho parfc of civil oflicers fco measure up to tho standard of honest

service . Of thc hundreds who , in this Jurisdiction alone , have , during fche pasfc year , been called to discharge , as Masters , hig h moral as well a- public duties , fco preside over , care for and guido tho daily lives of their membera , nofc one has been required fco answer a charge of failure to

obey fche solemn mandate of fcho Institution , given to and taken by him when ho ascended tho "Oriental Chair , " and to-day fcho invocation , "Brethren , behold your Master , " is as joyfully received as when first ifc was uttered upou the occasion of his installation . Is it not , therefore , true that

in all essential elements Masonry is a Government ? Is it not also true that in tho great purposes of government —• fcho protection of life , liberty and property—it controls within tho limits of its authority , a devoted band , every member of which stands ready to protect fche right and to assault , tho wrong without thought of present or future consequences .

NO WORK OUT OF TIME . It is my solemn judgment thafc loss harm would result to Masonry and Masons if fcho right to confer degrees out of timo was entirely repealed . Ifc will be found that in almost every instance fche recipient of its benefit has lived to regret tho enjoyment of such privilege . Tho purpose of

the application is mosfc commendable . Ifc results from zeal in fche cause and a wish fco increase the membershi p as rapidly as possible , and sometimes to enable a candidate to participate in some Masonic celebration or exercise to which his ability or skill will add interest or pleasure . Bufc I am

. assured fchafc fche cause , no matter how excellent , , does nofc justify fcho variation from thc established rules . The praefcice is growing , and like all evils , even thojo founded in good purposes , will , unless chocked , soon pass beyond l-oasouablo limits .

Ifc has been contended that the power to grant snch authority is inherent iu the office of Grand Mnsto- * , and is one of his personal rights . I do not , after examination , so understand it . Tho truth is , that Masonry , wifch its rapid growth and complicated engagements , has outlived many

of tho old traditions which gavo much control to somo and little fco others . Nearly every Masonic Jurisdiction is now governed by well established laws , and the Grand Master is fcho executive officer , with many high trusts and serious

duties , which arc well defined . If he properly discharges those trusts and duties , his head and hand and heart are fully occupied without seeking to exercise others which , in the olden days , may have been proper , but are not now