The Antiquity And Universality Of Masonry.

proved worthy of the trust , the veil was withdrawn , ancl they were admitted into the sanctuary . Many , however , never passed through the lasfc seven

years of probation , and others , having passed it , were not found qualified to have the great mysteries revealed to them ; from this ancient custom it is probable that the Masons have borrowed their three degrees .

If we extend our views from the East to fche Western or Northern regions , the same principle appears ; the Druids confined the mysteries of religion , which wero the

mysteries of science , to themselves ; they alone , of their whole nation , cultivated learning , and from the fear of its degenerating , writing was prohibited , and all their traditions were preserved by oral communication only .

I flatter myself these observations , trifling as they are , prove , in some measure , the antiquity of Masonry ; since , whoever examines with attention the nature of the ancient sacerdotal institutions , or the manners of the Patriarchs , as recorded in sacred and profane history , and compares

them with the Masonic Code , as far as the latter is permitted to be revealed , will find that they are all equally founded on the same system ; and the further the search is pursued , the clearer will it appear that in all ages , and in all countries , Freemasonry has existed , though , from local

circumstances , some variation must have arisen in the plan adopted . This investigation will likewise prove that the art , so far from being inimical to religion , morality , or social order , as its enemies have sometimes supposed , has its basis founded on these alone ; and that he who is ambitious of becoming a TRUE MASON must first learn to be a GOOD CITIZEN and an HONEST MAN . MASONICF / S . London , 1 st May 1813 .

Social Features Of Freemasonry.

SOCIAL FEATURES OF FREEMASONRY .

FROM THE VOICE OP MASONRY .

FREEMASONS are apt to neglect the social characteristics of onr Institntion . Great attention is often paid to the work , and the business transactions of the Lodge and Chapter are carried out with perfect exactitude , bnt beyond this the members of these bodies apparently care little , or naught . Some Masonic bodies even go so far as to elaborate the ritnal into a species of melodrama or trngedy ,

with all the adjuncts of stage scenery , including the play thunder and dissolving views and lights . Of course this , in a large city , attracts— " draws houses , " but it ia not the Masonry that onr fathers tanght , nor is ifc the Masonry that is likely to produce a permanent or beneficial effect upon the mind of the neophyte . Scenic effect and

gorgeous paraphernalia are all very well in their way , but they are of secondary importance . In snch Lodges and Chapters the true spirit of fche Institution is lost sight of , and the spurious coin passes as fche pure metal . Of course , the work should always be done properly , impressively , and even with solemnity , but the philosophy and science of the Institution should never be slurred over .

In order to carry out the idea of "The Tie of Brotherhood" that we boast is a principal feature in the basis of onr Institution , it is imperative that we cultivate , far more than we do , its social features , both inside and outside the Lodge room . Ifc ia not sufficient to formally receive a visitor and tell him to "be seated among the brethren , " and then allow him , after Lodge , to grope down stairs

alone , and find bis way , as best he can , to hia hotel . Masons naturally desire to form Masonic friendships , and gain Masonic knowledge , when travelling in foreign jurisdictions , bufc , too often , they speedily find that the members of a vast majority of Lodges , afc least on this Continent , are so engrossed with ritual and paraphernalia that they ignore those courtesies thafc render the Lodge

room attractive to the visiting brother . And if we neglect the pleasing amenities of life in the Lodge room , how much more are we apt to clo so towards each other in the social every . day course of affairs ? A brother comes to a strange place , and imbued with tbe cherished idea of the universality of Freemasonry , at once calls npon Mr . So and Soand Doctor This and Thafcbecause

, , they are brethren of the Mystic Tie . Too often theso gentlemen ignore tho silken cord thafc binds the Brotheihood together , and after formall y wishing their visitor success in his business , bow him out arid leave him to battle for himself in his undertaking in a strange place . Yet , in all probability , these men are Masters of Lodges , or Jiescs

" ¦ K" . or utrnpters , ancl nightly tell the neophyte that in every land he will find a brother . Is this the Masonry that wins for itself the love and enthusiasm of the young , the esteem , admiration and laith of the old f A few such practical illustrations of brotherly love soon dispel from tho mind of the visiting brother the charm thafc once

ouea such a halo of light npon his Masonic lore . A cloud , dark , misty and gruesome has spread itself like a pall over his Masonic enthusiasm , a " j ] t , s often a long and weary time before either the brilliant rays H - hf , . 00 D-day snn or tl > e pale flitting effulgence of Lnna ' s borrowed " gnt disperses the blackened arloom and darkened shadow thafc has overspread his former love for Freemasonry . Why should Freemasons thus receive a brother ? But thero is another class besides the visiting that is chilled and

Social Features Of Freemasonry.

disgusted by this neglect of the social features of Freemasonry , viz .: onr younger brethren . Who has nofc witnessed the initiation of n candidate performed with much pomp and ceremonial bufc cold and inanimate ? Again , who has nofc seen the work slurred over and abbreviated , and , the actual work being finished , known the newly nWlged Mason to be allowed to sit down amongst the brethren and to

leave the Lodge room without even a personal introduction to a single brother ? Now , what can fche young Mason think of such a reception ? If tho ceremonial is very fine , he views the Institntion as a sort of Ritualistic Association ; if ifc is slovenly , ho thinks ifc a bore and a humbng . In either case he is disappointed , and as first impressions iire really mosfc important , we should make every effort not only to

impress the mind of the neophyte with the solemnity of the ceremonial throngh which he is passing , but we should , in addition to this , cause him to understand that in future the Lodgo room is his Masonio home , and that wherever he goes he is to welcome a Mason as a brother and in return to expect a brother ' s greeting . This is what should be taught the candidate the night of his initiation , and if

he is then properly welcomed into the Masonio fold , ho will , in all wohabilifcy , at a future time , be glad to greet a brother from a distant jurisdiction in thafc Masonic spirit which is fche essence of true Freemasonry . That Masons frequently grossly neglect this paramount duty , both in the case of the neophyte and the visitor , in the Lodge room and

out of the Lodgo room , cannot be satisfactorily refuted . The effect is highly disastrous to tho best interests of the Fraternity , and the result is evident from the fact thafc "the vast army of the unaffi liated" is daily on the increase , and brethren , losing interest in cold formalities and formal ceremonials , neglect the Lodge-room and Chapter , and either seek diversion io the asylum of the Commandery

or of the Consistory , whore a more cordial reception generally greets them . Thus , les hautes grades , the offshoots , the dream vagaries of the Institution , often usurp the place thafc ancient Craft Masonry should ever hold in the heart of every true Son of Light . But worse than this , good men who care naught for the tinsel and glitter of quasi and pseudo Masonry , drop out , when they find neither

philosophy , science nor sociability cultivated in the Lodgo room or the Chapter , and many , alas ! thoroughly wearied of the monotony , forget and neglect their Lodge , and allow themselves to be suspended for non-payment of dues . Ifc is lamentable to think that such is frequently the case , but ifc is , and Masons shonld make a great effort to change the current of Masonic thought in this particular . Man is

innately a social being , and if we neglect this feature of oar Fraternity , we are committing a gross outrage in the name of Masonry . Gentlemen join us because they have heard of the universality of Freemasonry ; of the brotherly love that exists amongst its members , & c , and when they find that these things only exist in theory , they become disgusted and disappointed and leave the Craft .

How easily all this difficulty mighfc bo avoided if Masters of Lodges and others high in authority would only mako a united effort to cultivate a moro social spirit . Every night the brethren shonld be called off for refreshment . Men thaw round tho social board visitors and younger members form friendships there in a few minutes thafc it would take a lifetime to make amidst the formalities

of the Lodge room . There is no necessity for much expense ; in fact , thafc should always bo avoided , but a pretty little re ' eherche ' dejeuner is what is required . Fun , wit , repartee , toast , song and sentiment ever accompany a pleasant reunion of this kind , and , although we may laugh afc the " knife and fork degree , " and " fche roasfc beef of Old England , " the truth is that our old country brethren

are a-head of us in this particular . The genial reception accorded to the visitor in an English Lodge is generally far warmer and pleasanter than the formal and precise greeting accorded to strangers by Lodges on this Continent . We shonld nofc therefore neglect " the social features of Freemasonry , " either in the Lodge room or outside its sacred precincts . In both instances we are equally bound as gentlemen , as

Masons , and as brethren , to accord to the neophyte and the visitor such a reception as shall afc once make him feel at home . The duty of the Mason , so far as sociability is concerned , is two-fold , and if be neglects it ho is actually guilty of a high misdemeanour towards the code of ethics of Masonry universal . 1 . He should , by precept and practice , strive by every legitimate

means to make every Mason thafc visits his Lodge or Chapter feel himself at home ; his manner should be warm , his greeting cordial , the grasp of his hand fraternal . 2 . Outside the Lodge room he should exert his influence and use every effort to forward the interests of a brother , and to make him feel thafc fche bond of brotherly love is a magic tie and mystic spell that

binds all true Freemasons within its silken triple network of friendship , love and truth . This is what we require more in Freemasonry , and if we only strive to attain and practice ifc , we shall soon find that the warm and lasting friendships formed through the cultivation of " the social features of Freemasonry " will be amongst the most precious treasures harvested after many years of labour within the golden receptacle of the granary of Honour , Virtue and Truth .

The Fifteen Sections

THE FIFTEEN SECTIONS

WILTJ BE WORKED Afc the Fidelity Lodge of Instruction , No . 3 , held afc the Yorkshire Grey , London-streefc , Fitzroy-square , VV ., on Thursday , 6 th October , afc 7 p . m . precisely . Bros . C . Koester P . M . 435 W . M ., E . Farwig P . M . 180 S . W ., J . Hemming 1287 J . W . First Lecture : —Bros .

J . Harvey , E . Knighfc , B . Kauffman , W . Birrell , E . Cook , J . Paul , and W . J . Burgess . Second Lecture : —Bros . L . Jacobs , G . L . Moore , F . J . Wray , E . Farwig , and J . C . Smith . Third Lecture : —Bros . J . W . Smith , J . Hemming , and F . W . Sillis . C . Koester P . M . 435 Preceptor , F . W . Sillis W . S . 1744 Secretary .

J . E . SHAND & Co ., Wine Merchants ( Experts anil Valuers ) . Well fermented old Wines and matured Spirits . 2 Albert Mansions , Victoria-street , London , S . W .