St. John The Baptist

ST . JOHN THE BAPTIST

ON Sunday , 14 th June , occurred one of t , ho festal days which adorn the Masonic calendar—tho Festival of St . John the Baptist . In every part of the Masonio world it has been observed in every generation , as we hope it will continue to bo for ages yet to come . We propose to contribute onr mito towards this by a notice of the herni" character whose natal clay we thus colehrate . All Masons justly revere the two Saints John of Jerusalem . In Europe , Mnsonic Lodges are generally called St . John's Lodges .

Onr symbolical Lodges are dedicated to them , and from snch Lodges every loyal Mason professes to como . These two Saints John aro St . John the Baptist and St . John the Apostle . "Wo celebrate tho birthday of tho latter 27 th December j of the former 24 th June . Why wo celebrate them will appear further along ; in tho meantime , let us speak of this " eminent patron of Masonry . " as wo affectionately stylo tho rngged revivalist of tho Judean desert .

Ho was by birth a Jewish Priest , his father , Zachan ' as , being in jtho regular Temple service , ministering after the conrso of Abijah ; tho order of service being regulated by families . His father aud mother were both very devout worshippers of tho true Jehovah . John was born about six months before Jesus , and , according to the Gospel historv , from his birth was a most remarkable character . Angelic

visitants apply to him the prophecy of Isaiah , in which ho speaks of " the voice of ono crying in the wilderness , to prepare the way of the Lord , ancl make his paths stinight , " and describe him as a moral civil engineer , "throwing np the valleys , levelling the hills , making the crooked straight , tho rough ways smooth and plain . " The prophecy of Malachi , in which " Jehovah should send his Malak or

Messenger before the coming of the great and dreadful day of tho Lord , " is also in tho Gospel applied to St . John . From his early manhood he became a prophet , that is a spiritstrong preacher of rightness . His power is found in his success ; there went out to him all the habitants of Jndea , Samaria , and those living beyond the Jordan . Curiosity , no doubt , led most to seo the

rngged ascetic in his garb , like that of old Elijah the Tishbito , of camel ' s hair and leather belt . But he had multitudes of converts , ancl for years was tho most famous man before tho Jewish peoplo , until his Instro was paled by the coming of that greater One , whoso shoes , he said , he was not worthy to stoop down ancl nntic ; tho Rising Sun , before whom ho was only to be the springing and

singing lark . As a preacher of rightness , his sermons were as bold ancl striking ns his garb . Ho denounced thoso national sins which wero leading Israel on to national ruin , and he struck home to hearts of hypocrites and pretenders , bidding them not rest in the delusive idea that the favour of God to Father Abraham would be theirs , nnlcss

they bad bis character ; and warning them that the use of judgment was lying at the root of their national tree , ready to cut off ancl consign to the burning of Gehenna tho dry and rotting branches which had ceased to hear good fruit . His death was untimely ; his column early broken ; he fell a martyr to his fearless fidelity to truth and right . Herodias was

living in incestuous and adulterous connection with hor brother . This life was of scandalous example in rulers of tho Jewish people , and St . John reproved it . Tho prond spirit of the adulterous queen treasured amurderons revenge , and when on Herod ' s birthday her daughter , Salome , by a former lawful marriage , danced to the admiration of the tipsy king , and he promised to give her anything

sho wonld ask , her hour of vengeance had como , and she demanded the Baptist ' s head . A henchman brought it in , and the rugged and heroic preacher was silenced , and tho guilty conp ' o conld live on in pence , only disturbed by the npbraidings of benumbed consciences . Thus lived , and thus died , one whom Jesus has immortalised by calling him the grandest of men . When the people asked his opinion

about John , he said : What went yo out into tho wilderness to see ? A reed shaken with the wind ? A dainty courtier in a king ' s pa ' are ? r . o ! of all thoso born of woman , there hath not arisen a greater prophet than John the Baptist . " Bnt what has Masonry to do with all this ? some one may ask . Is not the symbolical Lodge universal , knowing neither Christian ,

Hebrew , Mahometan , or Confncian—what has it then to do with tho Saints John ? A most important question , which we propose patiently to answer , and thus to vindicate our immemorial practice of venerating the name and commemorating tho natal day of the heroic prophet of Jndea .

St . John the Baptist is not honoured by Masons because of bis relations to Jesua Christ , but because of bis own personal and heroic character . Freemasonry is a system of morality , in which Uprightness and Charity are ihe two poles of a perfect character , within which a trne Mason shonld ever find his orbit . St . John the Baptist is a symbolical character , illustrating Heroic Justice , and St . John

the Apostle is the symbolic representative of Divine Charity . The selection of these characters has a profound moral significance , which no mere sectarian antipathies or partialities shonld ever he allowed to smother . In honouring the hero , we honour the heroism ; in honouring tho type of lofty , upright character , we honour that integrity without whieh every professed Mason is a fraud .

The more wc study the philosophy of Masonic symbolism , the moro deeply we are impressed with the conviction that the fathers who founded Masonry know what they were about . They were wiser in their generation than many of their degenerate successors , who in France , Germany , and elsewhere , are conspiring against the character of Freemasonry as " a system of morality , " revealing and enforcing

onr relations to Almighty God , and are seeking to make our great fraternity only a philosophical or political club , having no moro reltion to Jehovah than to Juggernaut . Let . no worthy Freemason forget that be hails from a Lodgo of St . John of Jerusalem . Let him never fail to gnage his life by the pattern of the illustrious heroes of antiquity , So will ho learn to

St. John The Baptist

subdue his passions , and improve himself in Masonry . Herein lies tho open secret of our noble art , to which all its esoteric secrets are but guide-boards ancl stepping-stones . — . Uasmic Itevieir .

Masonic Conservatism

MASONIC CONSERVATISM

OF the many excellent features of Masonry its spirit of conserva * tism is one mneh to bo admired . While all other societies and organizations are to a great extent becoming modernised , seeking popularity by trying to keep pace with all the new isms of the day and catering for public favour , Masonry has stood by its original design , adhering to tho old landmarks with a tenacity that has

withstood the clamour of fanatics , tho wild schemes of theorists , and the vanlting ambition of the unscrupulous . While the changed condition of all things else has necessitated some slight changes in tho government and general management of the Craft , the purposes of Masonry to-day are the same that they were centuries ago , and wo trust thoy will ever be found to bo the samo in all time to como . As from the

acorn planted in mother earth first came the tender shoot which developed into a thrifty sapling , and , as tho years rolled on , grew into the mighty oak , whose outspreading branches reached heavenward until it , became monarch of the forest , so from its germ , the principle of Brotherly Lnye , Relief and Truth , planted in the heart of man , Masonry snrang from a small beginning thousands of years

ago , and as centuries rol ' ed past in tho march of time , has grown nntil to-day it stands monarch of all human institutions now existing , or that have existed since the world began . Among all others there can be found no parallel in the annals of history . It is a cardinal principle of Masonry " that it is not in the power of any man , or body of men , to make innovations in the body of

Masonry . This declaration is often made , and is always subscribed to , by ovo-y Worshipful Master during his installation to preside over the Craft . Every Master Mason is strictly charged to carefully preserve the ancient landmarks of the Order entrusted to his care , and a faithful discharge of duty in this regard has been the constant aim of Masters and brethren , and thus from one generation to another

has been transmitted unimpaired tho excellent tenets of Masonry . While such has been the general rule , wo regret to say there have been occasional exceptions . Some men are never satisfied to " let well enough alone . " They aro never happy except when experimenting in something new , even when tho chances for success iu it are against them . Snch men are found with a hobby in 'Masonic Lodges

as well as eyerywhero else ; bnt it is when they rise to the dignity of a seat in the Grand Lodge , that the golden opportnnity comes for them to get in their work . Thoy generally find it , however , an up . hill business , and only in rare instances havo they succeeded in ingrafting npon Masonry any of their new fangled notions . When they Ymve met with any success it has been only for a time , for in sober , second thought , tho spirit of conseryatism again triumphs , for

it is then seen that it is worso than folly to attempt to refine pure gold . The Wisdom , Strength , and Beauty displayed in tho original plan of Masonry , has carried the institution safely through all tho rovoln . tions that have convulsed the world , unscathed in a single vital part , nnd brought it clown to tho present time without any material change from its original design . Upon a strict adherence to tho desiirns , as placed npon tho trestle-board by its founders , Masonry must base its hope for the future . —Masonic Advocate .

THE floral decoration of rooms and houses is an art which is bocoming moro popular every year . People are beginning to recognise the fact that our houses wlu ' ch are oftenor than not dingy nnd dreary-looking , both internally and externally , may be made to look qnito bright and cheerful by tastily-arranged groups of plants and Dowers . Window-gardening and area-gardening aro becoming now

a recognised part of house decoration , and right glad are wo it is so . We often pass through inferior or oven squalid neighbourhoods , and it is quiet a relief to the general diuginess and dirt to see every hero and there a few bright though simple plants—brilliant scarlet gera - nintns , tho rich nasturtium , tho delicate convolvulus major , and similar flowers . There is a wealth of colour in these , and tho poorest

habitation looks gay and pleasant when a few of them are placed in the windows or on the pat lour fables . In the bettor class of houses may be seen the more costl y lilies of Japan , choice fuchsias , and pelargoniums , with ferns and other plants . London , in fact , as it becomes larger and spreads itself over what only a few years since were green fields ancl market . gardons becomes moro

sensible of floral beaut y , and it is hardly possible to walk along a single street without remarking that a goodly number of the houses are florally deco ' ated . But as all this involves a certain outlay of money , and as without sonio practical person to advise , the money may be spent to no purpose , it ia in accordance with common sense that people should consult an expert who will subserve his own

interests by carefully and scrupulously satisfying tho wauls and wishes of his customers . Messrs Dick Radclyffe and Co ., tho wellknown seed warehousemen and hortieulturalists , of 128 and 129 High Holborn , have earned several distinctions for their seeds at difforent times , among which may bo mentioned medals at the Vienna and London Exhibitions , while only -a short time since medals were awarded

them at Oporto ami the Capo of Good Hope . What thoy have achieved in the way of floral decoration is known doubtless to thoso of our readers who have attended M . Riviere ' s Promenade Concerts , tho Knightsbridgo Skating Rink , and other popular resorts . Messrs . Radclyffe and Co . are prepared to furnish all kinds of flowers and plants for the decoration of rooms nt moderate charges , and those

who havo had dealings with this firm know ferfeofly well that what thoy undertake to do , they carry out to perfection . Any of our friends who may be inclined to window-gardening , or who may wi .-sh to havo thoir Lodge-rooms or dwelling-houses handsomely and eft ' ec lively decorated with flowers , will find that Messrs . Radclyffe and Go . will clo everything they can to give satisfaction ancl that what they do ia invariably well done .