Are You Squared By This?

Now , Brothers , let me call your attention , as individual Masons , to a few practical thoughts of to-day . You are interested in the Lodge room with its working tools , its brazen pillars , its Mosaic pavement , its altars and arks , its robes and jewels . With those beautiful surroundings , and in secret conclave , you build with thought and dream the mystic

temples of the soul . But do you always remember that only a tinsel veil conceals from view the hideous forms of misery and want that rankle in the dark corners of society ? Do you take cognisance of and always oppose the moral pestilence and corruption that is stealing into onr midst and seeking to bind in lethargy the startled sentinels of society ?

Again , do you hear all the wails of the widow and orphan , and the cries of those who are in poverty and want ? Oh , Brothers , let not the many doubtful men that we assist cause our hearts to grow less charitable . 'Tis better to be deceived by a dozen impostors than that one of the truly needy should go unsupplied .

Brothers , the Good Master said , '' Let not your left hand know what yonr right doeth , " and we Masons strive to keep from the world the charity we dispense , and we have found that charity is never half so sweet as when we only see tbe crystal tear resting on the eye of gratitude , and hear the changed cadence of the voice ,

as the clouds of gloom and want are dissolved by the sunshine of peace and comfort . The many faint cries of poverty , oppression and woe , that are not heard beyond the hovels of unhappiness , should make us seek the opportunity for doing good to those who have a measure of hardness and share of affliction to endure .

Again , Brothers , do ' all of our members visit the sick , minister to their afflictions , relieve and encourage the family when sorrow has fallen heavy upon their hearts , and they yearn for human sympathy ?

Do we all go to an erring Brother in gentleness , assure bim of our friendship , then kindly admonish him to reform , and lend him a helping hand to aid him in resisting the temptations that surround his life ? Or do we , from want of moral courage to do our duty , pass the weak and wayward Brother by ? Worse still ,

do we turn to him the cold shoulder and leave him to continue the downward course ? Ab , Brothers , nothing is more calculated to drive a man headlong into recklessness , despondency and despair , than that same " cold shoulder "—a knowledge that those whom he was wont to trust have turned from and have no human

sympathy for him . Yes , we have all failed sometimes in our duty . The Order is not perfect . No institution composed of human beings is ; and sometimes the Mason forgets his obligations and his Masonic teachings—allows his banner to trail in the dust , and would bring

disgrace upon his nourishing mother . But , thank God , ' these cases are few ; and we can point with pride to the truth that the cradle of childhood never rocked to sleep gentler , purer hearts than our members have been in all ages , and to-day on our rolls are to be found the names of men who are the highest type of

manhood . Brothers , life is a pilgrimage , and for all of us it leads at times over rough and rugged roads of trial , and through narrow , cramped paths of affliction—sooner or later to go into the dark valley of the shadow—but we have the Bible promise of a leader

who says : "I will bring the blind by a way that they know not ; I will lead them in paths that they have not known ; , ! will make darkness light before them , and crooked things straight ; these things will I do unto them and never forsake them . " Sometimes we may despond—but we have only to look ahead , and there

appear green spots to all , as welcome as are the oases of the desert to the panting caravans—oases where the sparkling waters and cool herbage invite to refreshment and rest . Here the weary spirit loves to linger , encouraged by the sympathetic hearts and sunny smiles of its companions .

It is encircled with a halo—renews its vigour for the journey onward , and takes fresh courage for the conflict . To such a green spot have we come on this occasion . Such meetings as this are but mile-stones along the journey of life , to which fond memory will often turn in after years , lured by the golden star of Brotherly love . And how pleasant to know that these oases may occur again and again as the years fleet by .

But while we are here assembled , let us not forget one of our principal duties as Masons , but rather open wide heaven ' s pure fountain of love—love to our Brothers and charity to all mankind . So , if there be here to-day one who has thought an unkind thought , said an unkind word , done an unkind act toward any Brother

Mason , let there be forgiveness and reconciliation . Put away all personal ambitions which would overreach another—all jealousies and envies keen which sow this life with thorne . Love the Brethren . Pratiee true charity . Live up to the teachings of

Masonry . Throw out the life-line to every sinking Brother , and by the " strong grip " raise him erect on this grand old ship . Then point him with a radiant finger to the " Lion of the Tribe of Judah" surrounded with white-robed Masonic spirits , in that golden tabernacle beyond the sunset .

Are You Squared By This?

Brothers , life is as brief as a span . How few are the hours we have to work before the night cometh ! . Then take the brilliant diamonds of Masonic truth , and by carrying out the teachings of our Brotherhood , set them in the pure gold of an honest life . The sands of time are running fast . Oh , tbe good deeds we might do while these days are going by ! Square your

life by this beautiful rule : "I expect to pass this way but once , therefore if there be any kindness I can show , or any good thing that I can do to my fellow human beings , let me do it now , let me not defer nor neglect it , for I shall not pass this way again . " Take that in truth and sincerity , and as you go on the journey sing this poet's song :

" I live for those who love me , For those who know me true ; For the heaven that smiles above me , And awaits my spirit too . For the cause that lacks assistance , For the wrongs that need resistance , For the future in the distance , And the good that I can do . '

CHARITY FOLLOWING THE JUBILEE . A PAMPHLET has just been issued by Sir Henry Burdett , K . C . B . ( The Scientific Press , 28-29 Southampton Street , Strand , W . O . ) in which he traces " the effects of the Diamond Jubilee on the resources of the voluntary Charities of the country . " Sir Henry argues that , despite the pessimists who are fond of writing to the newspapers to decry every movement promoted to help the most important of our charities , the year 1897 has proved to be , not

only for the London hospitals but for almost every kind of philanthropic enterprise , a record year . " The writer devotes attention to a subject we have often discussed in these pages—in connection with the Charities of the Craft —as to . whether there is a maximum yield in the volume of charity ; and certainly makes out a good case in support of his contention that special

efforts and special subscriptions do not necessarily make themselves felt in future years . As is known to our readers this is not our view , and we can only hope that Sir Henry Burdett's verdict may prove to be correct—and our own wrong—in so far as the Masonic Charities , and the specially grand collection in commemoration of the Centenary of the Boys School , are concerned .

Criterion . - On Blonday next Mr . H . Cecil Beryl's company will appear here for the first time in the new musical farcical play , entitled " Bilberry of Tilbury , " by Silvanus Dauncey and Geo . D . May ; the music being by Guy Jones .

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