Such Is Masonry.

dicates that purity of action which can only come from clean hearts . But wo are not only Freemasons , wo are Freo and Accepted Masons . Let us walk , therefore , worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called ; illustrating our faith by

our works ; showing upon what we base our hopes and where they are fixed ; practising charity to all mankind ; marching always by the light of the Book of Life , remembering that , before God , we are all upon a level , and that our course should ever be upright and plumb , and all our actions be regulated by fcho square of truth .

The dedication of the 24 th of June to John the Baptist , and its observance by us , shows the beautiful aud symbolic teachings of Freemasonry . As John was the forerunner of Christ , so is Masonry of Christianity . As John came Jforth in the meridian of his life to announce the " new morn

risen on midday , " so this day , in the meridian glory of the year , teaches ns that we must no longer postpone consecrating ourselves to God , for the decline of life , symbolized by

the fleeting year , is upon us , and as the remainder of the year will rapidly pass away , so will it be with us . Remember the warning cry in the wilderness : " Prepare to

meet thy God . " The dedication of the 27 th of December to John the

Evangelist , the beloved disciple , crowns the symbolism of Freemasonry , and fixes its modern character , showing that noto it is undoubtedly Christian in its signification , or that Christianity is its necessary complement—its crown ancl

glory . In his younger days John was a man of fiery and impetuous zeal , often rash and hotheaded , a veritable " son of thunder , " but of unswerving fidelity to the cause he

embraced . In maturer life , when completely subdued by the pure and holy doctrines of the Gospel , he became the apostle of love and peace . " Little children , love one another , " is his affectionate exhortation .

Masonry has various traditions with regard to -the two Johns . They are more or less apocryphal , and have , doubtless , largely grown out of the failure to appreciate fche

symbolic or allegoric signification of the dedication of t he clays mentioned to the great forerunner of Christ ancl to his beloved disciple .

The year is emblematic of human lite , and the 24 th of June is just threo days , the Christian resurrection period , past its meridian glory in the northern hemisphere . If youth and early manhood have been properly spent , then

right views of life and its responsibilities have been taken , ancl correct habits formed , and we are ready , being fully satisfied with earth , to consecrate ourselves in the maturity of our powers wholly to the service of God . We have

passed throngh the state of preparation , the fullness of time has come , and the King demands his throne—man ' s heart . How appropriate then the dedication of the 24 th of June to the great forerunner , John the Baptist ! Hear and heed his warning cry , " Prepare . "

Then follows harvest time . " By their fruits ye shall know them . " Now man's grateful heart , like soil well prepared , yields the glad returns which God requires , and his days are spent in doing good .

The closing days soon follow , and man , like a . ripe shock , ready to be gathered , stands at the threshold of eternity . As he looks back over the past he sees much to regret in his career , even when his motives were purest ; ancl

bewailing the strife , the emulation , tho misplaced zeal , the bitterness of life , his lips are seen to move , and we hear him sorrowfully murmur , " Vanity of vanities , all is vanity ;" adding , " Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter : Fear God and keep His commandments , for this is the

whole duty of man . " Then raising his voice soon to be hushed to mortal ears , in the tide of eternity , he says ' Little children , love one another ; " and looking forward ,

his countenance catches a faint reflection of the ineffable glory that rises to his sight , and there falls upon our listening ears , the longing , yet almost inaudible prayer , " Now let th y servant depart in peace . "

How fitting that the 27 th of December should be dedicated to John the Evangelist ! for then the sun is just six days , the Masonic resurrection period , past its farthest point from our pole , and the year is nearly gone . Man ' s

work is done , his hands are heavy ancl weary , and he longs tor that blest abode " Where the wicked cease from troub-J ' ng and the weary are at rest . " He realises the symbolic

teachings of Freemasonry and sinks into the tomb holding nrml y by the hand Him who has freed it from gloom ancl corruption . Rising triumphant , he presents his work and awaits the verdict of the Master ' s trying square , trusting ,

Such Is Masonry.

however , not in what he has done , but in the grip , the strong , the everlasting grip of " The Lion of the Tribe of Judah , " " The Prince of Peace , " whose hand has raised him from the level dead unto the living line . 0 Lord ! my Lord ! in Thee , and Thee alone , is help for man !

Such , my brethren and friends , is Masonry in Christian communities , for in them alone has it reached its fullest

perfection . Ifc teaches how and why to live and how and

why to die . Conducting its votaries through death , the grave and the resurrection , it introduces them into the glorious life beyond the tomb , and so giving them a foretaste of things unutterable , it rings in their ears the constant cry : " Beware ! Prepare !"

Saith the Master , " Duty , go ? " The Mason goes—no doubt , nor fear . Crieth Duty , " Come ? " He comes with ready heart and hand . " Do this ? " He doeth it with all his mie-ht . " Live ? " He bends him to his toil with

unabating zeal . " Die ? " He gathers up his working tools , his house in order sets , then folds his hands in prayer , and to the God who gave ifc meekly renders up his soul . —Voice of Masonry .

Fidelity To The Old Standard.

FIDELITY TO THE OLD STANDARD .

BANNERS-of war which have been rent by the storms of battle , but remain undesfcroyed in the hands of victors , are justly held in respect and veneration . They are emblems of honour , of valour , of the triumph of might

conjoined with right . Freemasonry has its banners , but they are banners of peace ; nor are they material , though they are actual . The Fraternity ' s banner over us is Love . It has come down to us through many a conflict , The

good , the true , and the beautiful always have to fight their way—there is a lasting conflict between Light and Darkness . The principles of Freemasonry are so just , so true , so useful , thafc these very qualities ensure to them enemies .

Iconoclasts destroyed many an architectural pile which our skilfully operative brethren of the middle ages erected , and iconoclasts would now destroy the moral edifice which the Craft of the last two centuries has erected on the

remains of the architectural wonders of the past . This cannot be done—not while we fight under the old standard . The future of Freemasonry depends upon itself . If it continues to be unique , to avoid copying profane manners

and customs , to maintain the standard of qualification for participation in its mysteries , to preserve unimpaired its foundation principles , to antagonize fche tendency that would overlay the ancient degrees with modern ones—then

the Craffc will grow older without becoming decrepit , and with age will only grow stronger . Fidelity to the old standard is the price of its perpetuity , the guarantee of its immortal youth .

The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania is about to celebrate the centenary of its independence . Four years ago , in 1882 , it celebrated the sesqui-centennial of its origin . There is no just ground for pride in age alone , unless it be

vigorous aud changeless in principle . Hence the present is the time to consider whether the age of the Craft in this jurisdiction is a green old age , or a ripe one , betokening decay and death .

One of the devices on the banner of Love which the Fraternity waves over us is , Faith in God and in the Immortality of the Soul . Without a belief in these , Freemasonry would be as a dismantled barque at sea , at the

mercy of the winds and waves . With them she is afloat for all time , guided by compass , answering her helm , with the blue sky of Divine Providence over her , and sailing on , a thing of beauty and of life , freighted with one of the richest cargoes that was ever sped over the sea of

existence . Another device is , Love to the Brethren . This love we can manifest in a thousand ways— -not merely by the sympathetic word and the fraternal deed to those who are in

distress , but by our kindly affection for all our brethren , ancl especially by nofc bringing into association with them , nor electing to preside over them , any who are not of good report , and in every way worthy to be members of and

rulers over fche Fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons . The black ball and the ballot are the guardians of the Craft , and their use or abuse will determine whether

the Fraternity shall become decrepit with age , or enjoy perpetual youth . Brethren , ask yourselves the question—Is fche membership of Freemasonry what it once was , in fche high character of its initiates ? If ifc is not , if the un-