Silver-Tongued Masters.

SILVER-TONGUED MASTERS .

IT is pretty generally recognised that one has to go to America for novelty in almost everthing , anti notwithstanding the unalterable character of Freemasonry , our Transatlantic cousins have found more

than one opportunity of introducing their go-ahead propensities into it . We are accustomed to hear that the ceremonies and ritual of the Order are very different in the United States to what they are in the

mother country , mcieeti a corresponaent m our present issue calls attention to the utterances of a distinguished American Mason a few weeks back on this subject , and makes a suggestion thereon we should

like to seo carried ont . With dinerences already existing there , it is not too much to expect that at no very distant date the peculiar characteristics of the American people will introduce others into

Freemasonry , until it may be almost impossible to recognise anything of its older work , as transferred from Great Britain . The latest innovation , however , is not anything of

a radical character ; it is merely a complimentary title—that of Silver-Tongued Master of the yearconferred by brethren on the Worshipful Master who is deemed the most efficient exponent of the ritual in

any particular district . We are toltl that while speech is silvern , silence is golden , and however much this may be true in the ordinary affairs of life , we hardly desire golden Freemasons—in this sense oi tne ood

term , ( j- silver-tongued Masters are at all times and in all places an acquisition , and there are many among us who would prize the title of Silver-Tongued Master , ' if it were conferred by a

representative gathering of expert judges . Too mnch importance cannot be attached to a proper rendering of the Masonic ceremonies . Their very nature requires they should be delivered with a silvery flow ; there should be no hesitancy , no

pausing for a word here , or stopping to correct a mistake there—for if this is done the ceremonies lose most of their value , and the candidate goes away , not only feeling disappointed with what he has heard , but

vvontiermg what it is that attracts so much praise , and wherein lies the beautiful ritual of the Order . The ceremonies do not require loud declamation , but rather the soft , temperate stvle , which is so often

described as the silvery flow of language . For this reason the title chosen by our American cousins is appropriate , and though we do not imagine it is likely - be taken up to any extent in this country , at least

«« some time to come , it will serve to point the direction in which improvement is possible , and where rivalry of a friendly character may be safely indul ged in , although we are aware it is not possible

p men to shine in the matter oi ease and brilliancy of speech . While on this subject , which is essentially American , we will take the opportunity of saying

Silver-Tongued Masters.

a few words in relation to another subject associated with the land of stars and stripes . We have already directed attention to the letter that appears in another column from a correspondent who is anxious

to hear what American working is really like , and we at once admit that we should also enjoy being present at a good rendering of the American ceremonies and ritual . We can quite believe , with our

correspondent , that we should find radical differences in the work as compared with what is generally seen in London , and , as he says , there is every possibility that instruction and pleasure would result . We have

spoken to some of those associated with the Anglo-American Lodge , and feel sure the members thereof would like to fall in with the suggestion of our correspondent , provided it were possible to get together

the necessary workers . We imagine there are as many minor differences in the working in tho different States of the Union as exist between some of the London Lodges and others working in the

West of England , even if there is not more likelihood of divergences in the States , on account of the way in which Freemasonry was introduced there , and the generally recognised love of novelty which

characterises the ordinary American . On this account it would perhaps be almost impossible to get together enough Americans to properly demonstrate the ritual and ceremony of any State , but this difficulty might

be overcome , and if we did not get the same ideas as prevailed in any section of American , we should at least have an opportunity of forming an opinion as to how far the work in the new world differed from that

in the older home of Freemasonry . We shall not at present advise the adoption of our correspondent ' s alternative , to give Londoners a rehearsal of Irish working , although we believe that would also be very

interesting , the hrst proposal being much better , and more likely to prove attractive providing the necessary American Masons can be found to fill the respective offices . Failing this , however , we should not lose sight of the Irish question—not politically , we may

assure our readers—as being equally certain to interest and instruct , and we shall be very pleased to do anything that lies in our power to bring either proposition to a successful issue .

The Literature Of The Craft.

THE LITERATURE OF THE CRAFT .

THB old saying , " Everything comes to him who waits , seems to be in a fair way of exemplification in the present day , so far as regards time and energy devoted tp works on the history and attributes of the Masonio Fraternity . In days of yore ifc was argued tbat labour

spent over books of any " class" character could by no possibility be made to pay , and tbe man who exercised his talents on any special hobby was generally voted an enthusiast , if not a fool . This conclusion , so far as we Freemasons are concerned , cannot be gainsaid with