Progressive Masonry.

nobody has any causa to complain ; it is tho business of every Mason to prevent improper material from coming among us ; ifc is the duty of every brother to frown down

this wholesale manufacturing of Masons thafc is now so prevalent with our " progressive " Masters , who only try to cram members into their Lodges and imagine themselves great Masons and successful Masters .

We desire here to chronicle our respect and esteem for tbe earnest and sincere worker in onr quarries who , being imbued with the good and grandeur of Masonry , endeavours by his own example and by his own conduct to

induce others to join us ; bub we emphatically enter our protest against this indiscriminate making of Masons , against this manufacturing wholesale . —Hebrew Standard .

Arab Masonry.

ARAB MASONRY .

I HAD betn in Cairo some little time , and had been unable to locate any of the native Lodges I had heard were held there , as the Craft in thafc country , unlike ourselves * , wear no distinguishing marks or badges , with but few exception ? , whereby one brother may know another . The only exception I remember of was a hotel proprietor

in Jerusalem , and I have a strong suspicion he did it in the interest of trade . So , one day , after much inquiry , I was directed to an Englishman who was said to be a Mason , and calling upon him found him to be a very cordial and agreeable Brother , and he readily agreed to

take rae around and introduce me . The next evening the gentleman called at my hotel , and we started out and found the Lodge room within five minutes' walk of the hotel , on the ground floor of a building I had been passing a dozen times a day without a suspicion of its being a

Lodge . We found the brethren assembled and about to open , and if any of them had attempted to visit a Lodge in Indiana , I think they would have been refused

admittance on account of being clandestine , as they were all shades of colour , from a light yellow to jet black . But there was no doubt about their having a true Masonic spirit , as they gave me a hearty welcome .

This Lodge was held under the Italian Constitution , and I understand thero are about thirty in Egypt . The interior arrangements and stations of Officers are very much like ours . Tho entire floor was a checkered pavement , and the ceiling a star decked canopy , and upon the altar rested the Koran , the Mohammedan Scripture .

The work , as near as I could judge , was like ours , but as none of them spoke a word of English , all of their work being conducted in Arabic , and my stock of Arabic being very limited , of course I was somewhat afc a disadvantage . I was left in the ante room until the Lodge had opened ,

and then fche doors opened and thc Brethren formed an avenue , bearing candles . A P . M . escorted mo through the lines and introduced me to the W . M ., who invited me to a seat by his side in the East . The routine work then proceeded , during which they ballotted on a candidate . The Senior Deacon first carried around a basket of black and

white balls , and each member took one of each , and as they passed the basket to me I did likewise . He then came around with the ballot box , and each cast one of the balls in his possession . He then came round with the basket again and collected the remaining balls . Of course I cast

a white ball . . After the business of the Lodge was finished , the W . M

arose and made a speech of welcome in Arabic , thanking me for visiting them , and assuring me thafc he considered it a great compliment that one of the Fraternity from so far away should meet with them . The Secretary , who

spoke French , then translated his remarks , into that language , and the English Brother with me translated ifc from French to English , I , of course , spoke a few words in reply , which went back in the same ronnd-abont

course . Sitting there in a foreign land , surrounded by those dusky Brethren , dressed in their long , loose Arabic robes , their heads covered with turbans or fezes , I was reminded of the universality of Masonry in a more practical way than ever before . —Masonic Advocate ,

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True Masonic Progress.

TRUE MASONIC PROGRESS .

MASONRY claims to be a progressive institution bnt the proper meaning of the expression , or in what ifc is progressive , is not viewed in the same light by many of the Craffc . Many consider that its progression depends npon its outward growth , in its material increase and success where large numbers are admitted into our sanctuaries .

When applications for new Lodges are numerous and the funds in the treasuries accumulate rapidly then they believe Masonry to be progressing . Bufc is not this a mistaken view of trne Masonic progress ? This apparent prosperity may be the result of proselytism , a desire for ostentation

and vain boasting of a large membership which instead of adding strength to the Masonic edifice may prove the material , used without inspecting its qualities closely and using sufficient care in its selection , with a due regard for the high purpose for which ifc is intended , to be the very means to eventuate in the destruction of the noble

institution . Poor and unsuitable material used in the construction of any edifice , however grand and noble its plans and proportions , will cause it to rapidly fall into decay . In times of prosperity , such as the present , when Masonry is popular everywhere and applicants are constantly knocking

afc our doors , seeking fco be admitted into the institution and become acquainted with our mysteries , greater vigilance and circumspection should bo exercised lest incongruous , inharmonious and improper persons be permitted to enter into fche household of the faithful aud destroy the peace and unity of the Order .

The mere accretion of numbers is not a test of strength nor is it an evidence of the development of the principles of Masonry . The true progression of Masonry is in the living and acting up to the principles of the Order . Masonry

can only be said to be progressive when it moves on in advance of the morals and intelligence of the age and directs the onward march of civilisation . This , Masonry must do or it fails to perform its true mission . The standard of its morals must be so elevated that the

surrounding world can see , and know , and feel its beneficial and sanctifying influence . And , as dispensing light and knowledge is particularly a province of Masonry , a due culture of the mental powers is necessary to a proper understanding of the laws of nature and of nature ' s God , to

develop the arts and sciences and to aid man in working out the problem of his mission and assisting him to promote his intellectual and spiritual advancement . We do not claim for Masonry more than its principles , if lived up to in the actual oufcworkings of life , will accomplish . Ifc is

only by living , acting and doing according to its teachings that the principles of Masonry are unfolded and exercise an influence in promoting the happiness and well being of the surrounding world . The stability and future existence of the institution depends upon a strict and faithful

observance of its teachings . Masonry can only be known by its fruits . It has no life , no vitality , if ifc does nofc progress onward and upward . It cannot remain stationary . It must either progress or retrograde . It does retrograde

if its principles are nofc patent to the observation of the world , in the intelligence and exemplary life of its members . The trne progression of Masonry is the manifestation of good deeds , of good works , and the practice of its teachings by its disciples . —Freemasons' Repository .

Silence.

SILENCE .

MAN , it is said , is the only animal endowed with the faculty of language ; while it is claimed that all

animals have the ability of expressing by some process a common intercommunication , yet nofc by any recognised language . Unless by the experiment now developing , some results maybe possible , to sustain the theory that monkeys talk , the first proposition is still undisputed .

It was the opinion of a great statesman that language was to be used to disguise our thoughts . That has been called diplomacy .

But it cannot be denied that man talks too muoh . The use of language is not always to benefit , improve or instruct , and notions are flippantly given as opinions . Arguments are frequently but the reiteration of illogical ,

ill-digested prejudices , which are made attractive by the language in which they are dressed up for the occasion .