The Lion's Paw.

To ascertain afc what period the Lion's Paw was introduced into the Masonic ritual cannot be done ; but this is nothing uncommon with our ancient Order . Even its origin is clouded in uncertainty . Associated with the Titnn ' s Paw is a code or covenant called the Five Points of

Fellowship . These five points , taken together , compose the Mason ' s creed . I cannot conceive anything more binding , more humane and sympathetic than these five admonitions . They contain the fundamental principles of Freemasonry , and the brother thafc fully observes them is

certainly the ideal Mason . The first point of fellowship is fchafc " We should be ever ready to go on foot , and even barefoot , on' a worthy Master Mason ' s errand , should his necessities require it , and we be no better provided . "

The lesson of the command just stated is very nicely described in the following exact from Gibbon ' s Roman History : " All things , " replied Mahomet , " are now common between us . Your blood is my blood , your ruin is my ruin . We are bound to each other by the ties of honour

and interest . I am your friend and the enemy of your foe . " "Butif we are killed in your service , " exclaimed the deputies of Medina , " what will be the reward ?" " Paradise , " replied the prophet .

The latest statistics place the Masonic membership as about a million and a hundred thousand . Of this number I am fearful that not even the one hundred thousand would

go barefoot on the mission of a worthy brother . The difficulty is that we are brothers in name only , and the strong language of this first point of fellowship is to show the necessity of prompt action . There should be no such thing as half-way Masonry . When the call of distress

comes , when the sick need our attention and assistance , there should be a ready response . It is obligatory on our part to respond . If our faith in Masonry is strong , if we are sincere in our professions , if we realise or comprehend what constitutes a zealous Craftsman , there will be no

hesitancy on our part , and we will go upon the errand of a worthy brother , even barefoot , to perform it . Certainly tho language is expressive . Titus explains this point very clearly in the passage that reads , " In all things showing thyself a pattern of good

works . ' In another book the question is asked , " Who are my brethren ? " And He stretched forth His hand towards His disciples , and said , " Behold my brethren ; for whosoever shall do the will of my Father , which is in heaven ,

the same is my brother . In the same spirit we can say of the Craftsman who observes diligently his first point , he is my brother . The second point is that " We should ever remember our

brethren in our devotions to Deity . One of the leading principles , or , more properly speaking , the main feature of Masonry , is to make its votaries

unselfish , thoughtful and considerate . We must remember one another in our prayers to Deity . Undoubtedly the character of Hiram Abiff gives us the best picture of a perfect man that can be found .

In the history of Cyrus , King of Persia , we find a great similarity with that of Hiram , as regards devotion . Solomon , also , at the dedication , clearly showed the efficacy of prayer . My conclusion is that the brother who forgets his

associates in nis devotions , while nofc intending it as a violation of his vows yefc shows clearly that he does not understand Masonry and what is expected of its membership .

The third point of fellowship is that the secrets of a worthy Master Mason , when communicated to us as such , should remain as secure and inviolate in our breasts as thev were in his own before communication . " m \ kT - r t 'll 11 1 a - is

_ . masonry overnowmg witn exceuent advice and good intentions , and the man that adheres closely to the lessons thereof must be improved by them . This particular point , or claw , I might say , instructs us that one of the fundamental principles is that of confidence .

It we are sincere m our professions , we must have confidence . We must give a willing ear to our brother . What he imparts to us should be as secure in our breasts as it was in his own breast before communicated . A zealous brother never violates the laws of the land , hence the

communications must be towards the advancement of the Craft , which is equivalent to the personal interest of the Craftsman . The Monitor states that the Five Points of fellowship teach us that we are linked together in one

The Lion's Paw.

indivisible chain of sincere affection , brotherly love , relief and truth . Here we see what a superb institution is Masonry . It is founded upon principles that stand preeminent as the very best that man can devise . It may be argued that a man who stands well in the community , in annexing his name to the honoured roll of the Craffc , may

meet men that are nofc of his social standing , and thafc in fulfilling the vows he may in a measure somewhat compromise himself . Such is not the case , however . Masonry is consistent and strictly so . Ifc asks nothing of its followers thafc is unreasonable or unjust ; hence the term of an indivisible chain as applied to the brotherhood is an

extremely proper one . The promise thafc we will keep sacred and inviolable the secrets of a worthy brother is one of the strongest ties of unity , and one that affords very much pleasure and satisfaction in contemplating the beauties of our mystic temple . The fourth point is that we should be ever ready to stretch forth a hand to support a falling brother and assist

him on all lawful occasions . A great writer , speaking of life , says , " Men are married , love and hate , gefc wealth , or struggle on in poverty and die , and the monotony is broken only when we have distinguished the toils and acts of one man from another . "

The Great Light upon our altar makes this fourth point very clear wherein it says , " But this I say , he which

soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly , and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully . Every man according as he purposeth in his heart so let him give ; not grudgingly or of necessity , for God loveth a cheerful giver . " My view of this point is not that we should freely give to every indigent brother that we may meet in the journey of life , bufc that we should , by our zeal and assiduity , help the Order to build up asylums , & c , that our needy may be properly cared for . The word charity originally meant joy , and as such we should use ifc in Masonry . Ifc also has

a far broader meaning than that of benevolent intent . We should overlook the ripples thafc often occur in onr Masonic life , and forgive the brother who may not coincide with our individual ideas and opinions . We must remember that the great platform of Masonry is a broad one , and

this particular principle of relief is nofc the least important . Let us open the Bible and turn to the parable of the good Samaritan , and here we have the fourth point of fellowship enacted in a drama that is unparalleled . This parable also defines the word charity as it refers to relief . In 2 Peter I find a clear exposition of the word as it refers to the Craffc , in these words , " Honour all men ; love the brotherhood ; fear God . " The fifth point is that " We should be ever ready to

whisper wise counsel in the ear of an erring brother and warn him of approaching danger . " " Take my lyre , " said Hermes , " which to those who

can use it deftly will discourse of all sweet things , bufc will babble nonsense and mean strangely to all who know not how to draw forth its speech . " Does this not hold good in Masonry ? Very many men , after they are put in possession of our excellent science , for some reason fail to make good use of it , and the result is a failure . What is more manly than to see a brother speak a kind word to a brother who may be wavering , who may be on the downward path , and who may feel that life is a burden , and that there is consolation in certain vices that the perfect Mason dislikes . Ifc is in such instances that Masonry is tested to its utmost and the real zeal of the Craftsmen is asserted . Here in the performance of this last point of fellowship we have an opportunity to show whether we are really sincere in our professions . ( To be continued . )

The installation meeting of the Evening Star Lodge , No . 1719 , took place on Tuesday . A report shall appear in our next issue .

The installation ceremony will be rehearsed at the Windsor Castle , Hammersmith , on 8 th December , afc 7 ' 30 p . m ., by Bro . Dr . P . Lawrance . On that occasion a presentation will be made to a retiring Officer .

TO THE DEAF . —A Person cured of Deafness and noises in tbe head of 23 years' standing by a simple remedy , will send a description of it rasa to any Person who applies to NICHOLSON- , 21 Bedford-sq ., London , W . C .