Masonic Grumblers.

embittered by the habit of scolding , which some member of the household has acquired , and which is indulged in on

the slightest provocation . There are homes over which a shadow almost constantly rests because members of the

family circle are constantly accusing each other of faults and shortcomings—criticising each other for defects of one sort and another in character and conduct . We do not need to say how dreary and sad a home may become ,

when these grumblers at the conditions which prevail , the food , the surroundings , the allotments of work , & c , get in almost continuously their small shot of sarcasm , innuendo and comnlaint . while thev scold about each other—fche

absent if not those present—and so augment the general discomfort . How sharp the contrast between the homes thus affected and other households where love rules and

courtesy is the general manifestation ! The chronic grumbler and the severe critic find no place at the table or fireside of such an abode . The members are all generous , forbearing , and kindly in thought , purpose , and word , one

to another , and the atmosphere is always bright and cheerful . Blessed is such a home—and blessed are they who

contribute by their amiability , their patience , and their good sense , to establish ifc in the right conditions . Oliver Wendell Holmes says :

" Many years ago , in walking among the graves afc Mt . Auburn , I came upon a plain , upright white marble slab , which bore an epitaph of only four words , but to my mind

they meant more than any of the laboured inscriptions on the surrounding monuments : ' She was so pleasant . ' this was all , and it was enough . That one note revealed the

music of a life of which I knew and asked nothing more . " The Masonic Lodge , or other Craft organisation , includes a family among whom the pleasantest relations should fiiist .

Harmony is the end and aim to be secured . Social companionship , good fellowship , the varied ministries of affection and mutual helpfulness , all these are conducive

to the desired result . But what an obstruction is presented by the presence and words of even a single member , who has taken on the habit of grumbling about the organisation , indulging in harsh criticism about means and measures ,

and finding fault generally with what is done or attempted How disagreeable the scolding brother makes himself ! It may be needful sometimes to show up faults of

management , and faults of brethren , and to indicate the weaknesses and defects of a system in course of procedure ; but to be all the time doing this sort of work is to make one offensive

to his fellows and reduce his influence to the minimum . In the many years of Masonic fellowship with which we have been favoured , we have found brethren greatly respected and loved who deserve to be remembered for being

" so pleasant . They were always casting " oil upon the troubled waters ; " they were kindly , genial , forbearing , helpful brethren , of whom we had much rather think , than

of that other class , " whose teeth are as spears and whose tongues are as swords . " not every one is so constituted as to be a model of amiability ; but each man may learn how to curb the perversity of his lower nature , may

cultivate sympathy and good will , and greatly restrict himself in the expression of harsh judgments and unnecessary faultfinding . The Mason must do this if obedient to the

precepts and spirit of the institution into which he was entered . —Freemason ' s Repository .

The Emperor-Freemasons.

THE EMPEROR-FREEMASONS .

THE Grand Master of Louisiana , in his recent annual address to Grand Lodge , paid the following Masonic tribute of respect to the memories of the Emperors William I . and Frederick III ., of Germany .

I cannot close this review without referring to the death of two illustrious men and Masons on the other side of the Atlantic , great figures in the history of the world , the successive Emperors of Germany—William I . and his son Frederick III .: not because they were Emperors , but because , as such , they had the humanity to be

true and faithful Freemasons . They died so soon after each other that , in general terms , I may say , nearly a year has elapsed since their death . The world has judged tbem ; history will assign to each his appropriate place ; bnt what concerns us most , and ia most , grafci . fying to ns is , that their deeds and utterances prove that because

they were Masons they were better men and greater rulers . It is well known that William I . was originally of most arbitrary and doapotio , if not cruel , temperament . His accession to the throne was viewed with trepidation and alarm . History knows how just and humane a monarch he became . He clung , indeed , to the belief in

The Emperor-Freemasons.

his " divine " right , bnt he used it not in arrogance , in defiance of his people , but in submission , as a trust confided by God for the people ' s welfare . It is my belief , easy to prove from the Masonio record , that the principles of Freemasonry and the fraternal intercourse with his

brethren softened the rigour of his natural temper and made him generous , sympathetic , and humane . Frederick III . was every inch a Freemason . The tenets and philosophy of Freemasonry filled every part of his being . In his life , and by his death , he exhibited its grandest virtues , and

illustrated its moat beautiful lessons . "In sorrow fidelity proves itself , and fidelity is the core of honour , " he said , at a Masonio gathering , responding to a toast in honour of the dead . Frederick received the symbolic degrees in the presence of his royal father , then Grand Protector of the three Grand Lodges of

Prussia , who addressed him in the following words : — " Be and remain thou a protector of the Order , then will not only your future welfare be assured , but you will carry with you the noble consciousness of having striven to develop around you the beneficent influences of goodness aud truth ; " to whioh the Prince responded : " So long

as I live I shall be devoted to the Order , provided that it remains faithful to its fundamental principles . " Iu 1886 , while in Strasburg , Alsace , he closed a lengthy Masonio address at a banquet tendered him by the brethren of Erwin Lodge , of that city , with these ( for the heir to the most powerful throne in

Europe ) certainly remarkable words : — Two principles , however , above all others , distinguish the field of Masonio work—freedom of conscience aud toleration . To these let us cling with all our might . That in these we may become perfect , let us strive for ever ! And let us not only praise these virtues , but practise them industriously .

If we strive toward these ends , it will be well with us and well with Freemasonry . Herein may the Great Architect of the Universe aid us . " To complete the sketch of the Masonio side of these two great brethren , I must , even at the risk of devoting more time and space

than I ought , cite a portion of the response which M . W . Bro . Frederick III , on the 10 th April 1888 , one month after his father's death , himself afflicted with mortal disease , sent to the three Grand Lodges of Berlin , in answer to their resolutions and address of condolence . Having expressed regret at bis inability to be present at

the ceremony , arranged by the Lodges , he writes : — " As the departed Emperor devoted his soul and all the powers of his mind to every high and noble effort , so in particular the records of our Order show that he cherished toward it an honourable confidence and a warm interest . His demise , mourned by the whole world , was like his life ,

that of a Christian and a true Freemason , of a hero who has con . quered death to enter the eternal light . The deep sorrow which pervades all finds its solace in the vision of that other world where no sun adorns his day and no moon illumines his night , because tbe Lord , alone , is all his light . I assume the succession to this sublime

Protector of Freemasonry , with the pleasing hope that the memory of bis greatness and love , bearing rich blessings , may be continued to remotest time by the component members of the chain of our Brother , hood . "

I have not gone out of my way to write this to exalt thesa men , but to show how they considered themselves exalted by the principles and practice of Masonry . If the record conveys this lesson , I have , while doing justice to their memory , accomplished a useful purpose . —Keystone .

Old Freemasons.

OLD FREEMASONS .

OUR attention as been called to the following letter , which appeared in the Evening Standard last week : — SIB , —Eeferring to a paragraph in your paper of Thursday , allow me to state that I am now in my 82 nd year , and was initiated into Freemasonry early in March 1829 ; so I have been a Freemason over 60 years , as the books of the Grand Lodge will prove . I was " made , "

" passed , " and " raised " in the Universal Lodge ( then 300 , but now 212 ) , and continued a member for several years . I also belonged to other lodges at one time . Tours , & c .

BENJAMIN BANKS . 1 Heathview-villas , St . Stephen'a-road , Honnslow , W . We append particulars of Brother Banks' Masonio " record " : —

He was initiated in the Universal Lodge ( at that time No . 300 ) , No . 181 , in March 1829 . Subsequently he became a member of the Lodge of Industry , No . 186 . He was a founder of the Beadon Lodge ( 902 ) , now No . 619 ; here he served the office of Junior Deacon . Our brother was also for many years a subscribing member of tha

Polish Lodge and Chapter , No . 534 . It may be mentioned that Bro . Banks furnished some interesting Masonic memos to the late Bro . Dr . Crucifix , notably those referring to the late Bro . John Jackson Cuff . Bro . Banks' association with the Freemason ' s Tavern has extended to near on fifty years .

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