Harmony Is Strength.

HARMONY IS STRENGTH .

FROM TUE VOICE OF MASONRY . IF the reader will take tho trouble to review the history of any organization that has ever existed , either as a religious , political or social ono , this fact will bo very plainly manifested , viz .: That those organisations which have exerted tho most influence , or that have been looked up to and considered as worthy of the confidence

and patronage of man , or that have withstood the tests of age and experience , are those who havo always and at all times and in all places closely followed tho maxim that " harmony is strength . " They not only said it , but practised it , especially amongst themselves ; their every act , especially before tho world , has been that of the utmost harmony . It will bo found , also , that petty' discords ,

insane jealousies , and unpardonable confusion , never wero allowed to gain a foothold amongst them , for they fully * realized that if they would exist aa a body harmony must prevail and discord must be unknown amongst them . The same line of thought may be safely applied , nofc only to social organizations , not placing the constructions of conviviality on the

word social , but upon all political powers or governments . Take , for instance , the history of any of the ancient powers or governments which have partially , if not wholly passed away . But stud ying their history one will find thafc as long as they were content to " dwell together in unity , " and were undisturbed by dissension or strife their career was onward , and they were prosperous in the fullest

sense ; but just the moment that strife , envy , discord or lack of harmony began to show itself , especially amongst its leaders , their prosperous days began to wane . If discord began to exist amongst its leaders it was quickly communicated to their friends—there is no one , be he ever so low , but what has his friends—and there spran ^ into existence different parties or factions , each one thinking and

claiming , even at the point of the sword , that they were right and the other party or faction wrong . They pursued their scenes of discord unmindful of other nations or governments , until , almost before they were aware that they had a foreign foe , that foe was approaching their borders . The result can easily be portrayed ; defeat , overwhelming defeat was their portion ; their once power .

ful nation was overrun by fche invaders ; scenes of blood , pain and woe followed , for a magnanimous foe is not always found in the victorious party . Such was the result of a lack of harmony . Now the result mig ht have been different had they been nnited , or had they been governed by the maxim that harmony is strength , instead of having been a nation divided against itself , had they been an

united one the foreign foe would havo hesitated before attempting to make war upon them , and even if they had they would have been ready to have met them , and could successfully have resisted their inroads . Dissension amongst their own numbers has been the means of many a civil war , and causing many times tho overthrow ot * many a powerful governement . Rome fell when confusion and

discord were the prevailing elements . Ancient Greece , with all her splendour , her works of art , her learning , her talent , was no exception . Even in modern times the results of confusion amongst other powers have been the same . When confusion reigns peace and harmony depart . Had the once powerful nations of the Ancients been harmonious

had their leaders been actuated by a common feeling of lovo of country instead of self , had each one been working for the common good instead of furthering their own selfish ambitions , the results perhaps , might have been different from what they were . Instead of confusion there would havo been harmony , instead of working for self ; had each one been actuated by one impulse , that of the best

interests of their country , they might have successfully resisted the inroads of the common enemy ; their splendour would have been untarnished , their power would have been unbroken , they would have " held their own" and might havo continued as a power for a » es . But , no ! some particular one aspired to the leadership and he must push forward his own particular designs in order to gratify his own

selfish ends , or rather , his ambition to stand at the head , to be the ruler , even if it was at the sacrifice of his country by so doing . He promulgated discord , forgot harmony , and the consequence of his act was not only his own downfall but the downfall of his country . To gratify SEM he must needs sacrifice all . The same idea can be truthfully applied to many of the ancient

religious creeds . As long as the people worshipped " the ever living and true GOD " they prospered and continually added new members to their numbers , bufc just as soon as they began to worship " strange gods " and allowed discord to mar their heretofore peaceful assemblies , their downfall commenced . History but repeats itself , and in all such instances "Harmony is

Strength ; " discord is rum . If it is so in the affairs of the Church or State , why nofc so in other affairs ? If it hold goods in any one particular society or organization , why not in tho whole ? If it has proven true in tho history of both Church , State and social , why will ifc not prove the same in the Masonic Fraternit y , if it allows tho evil demon of discord to enter its ranks ? Surely Masons are but

men and are , as other men , prone to evil as well as good . The Masonic Institution has amongst its members all classes and condition of society . We call as brothers men of all countries , sects and opinions . If " harmony is strength " in one class of men , it is more particularly so to us as members of the time-honoured Institution of Freemasonry . If we havo amongst us tho good and

" pure in heart , " we havo the bad , and " him who thinketh evil . " If we have in our ranks those whom men delight to honour , wo have also those in the humbler ranks of life . If we have tho learned , we have also tbe unlearned . The poor as well as the rich are found associated together as brothers on the checkered floor of Masonry . In fact , the Masonic Institution is a heterogenous mass of human beings , and being so composed it , of all other organizations , whether

Harmony Is Strength.

political , religious or social , should ever bear in mind that " harmony is strength , " in the fullest sense of the term . Our enemies would like nothing better than to see us divided . They would glory in the fact that confusion existed amongst us instead of " peace , nnity and plenty . " The net-worh of the pome .

granate is too closely woven around the lily of Masonry for the shafts of anti-Masonry to even penetrate the outer door leading to our Temple , if we live in harmony . Let us continually guard our lily and keep it as pure as its symbol denotes peace . Lot no discord , confusion or envy get even a chance for a foothold amongst ns , and wo will all of ns be in the future as we havo been in the past— proud

of being Masons . " A small Lodge , with harmony existing amongst its members , 1 * 3 better than a Lodge with a largo membership where strife exists . " Now , my brethren , there is a vast amount of truth displayed in that short sentence , more so , perhaps , to those who have made Masonry a study and have watched tho transactions of the Craffc for the past

few decades . A small Lodge , whose members are all working for the common good of Masonry , is one that stands in the front rank of Lodges . A Lodge that lives up to the principles it teaches is indeed a model Lodge , for " peace doth dwell within its walls . " No need of the power of the Grand Master , or the Grand Lodge , being invoked to settle petty discords amongst its members ; no appeals to

grievance committees comes from that Lodge ; no long , laborious trials to be heard ; no brother disappointed becanse ho or some particular friend was not elected as its chief ; no vexations arising from unpaid dues to try the patience of the Master , perplex the Secretary , and increase the burden of the remaining portion of its members ; no teasinsr , begging , threatening on the part of tho

Master to bring out enough of its members to perform the work ; no laggardism in the esoteric portion , but all is peace , and all are proud to say , "lama Mason . " Ah ! that is indeed a picture of bliss that I wish was the portion of us all . The influence of such a Lodge in tho community where it ia located is almost nntold . The poor , the needy , the lonely brother ,

or ifc may be the widow or orphan of the deceased brother , look to thafc Lodge as one of perfection , as indeed it is . Why is it so ? Because "they dwell together in unity . " Let us compare that Lodge with one having a large membership , but whose members are not lovers of peace and unity , and mark the result . We find generally , unless it is at tho annual , that tho attendance

of the Lodge at its commnnica' ions is small , although it has a large list of members on its roll . The Master , by dint of hard coaxing , with a few threats thrown for " spice , " may get together a sufficient number to perform the work . The list of those who are in arrears for dues comprises a large per centage of its members . Tho " work " goes on with innumerable jars , and why ? Becanse a * portion of fcho

Lodge is arrayed against the other . Questions arise that the Master , to do his best , cannot decide without causing one faction or the other to bo dissatisfied , until finally it requires the Grand Master or tho Grand Lodge to step in and decide it for them , and , even then , there will be a few who if they do acquiesce in it , do ifc reluctantly and show their dissatisfaction by remaining away from

the meetings of their Lodge . They may have a richly furnished and commodious room , and may have all the paraphernalia to do " good work , " but to their shame ifc must be said , that their work is anything bufc " good and true work , " and is not such work as is fit for the overseer ' s inspection . The influence of that Lodge for good has departed . It is a

byword and reproach amongst men , and all good brothers hang down their heads in shame at the " works " of that Lodge . Our particular friends (?) the anti-Masonic element , are happy in the thought that thero is one Lodge that is not Masonic . They say , "Behold your boasted Brotherly Love . You prove by your acts that yonr assertions are false ; that yon do not dwell together in

unity and harmony . " They delight to hold that Lodge up as an example of Masonry ; but , mind you , they are very careful to avoid all allusion to the harmonious Lodges . Oh no ! they wish only tbe worst side to be seen . Let me assure you thafc our enemies are nofc all dead yet ; they are not even sleeping . They may be overpowered or outnumbered ,

but they have a faculty of giving us some pretty hard kicks . They are by no means slow in taking advantage of any circumstance , no matter how small , that they may bring discredit to our names as Masons . Let us candidly bring the question home to ourselves and take warning of the past . Let us " dwell to gether in unity " and remember that " harmony is strength . " If by chance there are any

of us who belong to the unharmonious Lodge , let us " about face . ' " open ranks" and "march" to the rear . Let us put our own private feelings and pride " in our pockets , " and come out like men and Masons . Let us meet our brothers not half way , but tho whole of the way if necessary . Let us throw aside our own fancied wrongs and dwell together as a band of brothers " among whom no contention should ever exist , but that noble contention or emulation ot

who best can work and agree . " Let us forgive as we would wish to be forgiven . Let us follow these teachings that Masonry gives its followers . Let us be brothers in deed aud fact as well as in name . Let us see to it that these principles that we profess to teach are inculcated in onr own hearts before we attempt to toach them to others , and then , and not until then , can we teach the new corner thoso beautiful lessons which Masonry tenches in every portion ot its work .

HOLLO - WATT ' S Pitts . —The diseases common to onr climate and cndangeriuS man ' s physical condition will always exist , though many may be mitigated and their effects removed by timely aid appropriately applied at the proper time . HoIIoway's Pills aro acknowledged far and wide to be the most effective purifier of tho blood , the most certain regulator of disordered organs , and the roost innocent aperient that can be prescribed . This medicine is applicable to ajj alike , young or old , robust or delicate ; it increases tlie appetite and controls id ' derangements of the bowels . After tho disorder is subdued occasional doses o * these Pills will prevent any relapse , and moreover secure , promote , and intensify the good results which flow from perfect purity and regularity .