What Is The Practical Worth Of Masonry.

the Deity to the individual ' s own choice . It is enough that it insists upon a recognition of Deity , without prescribing the manner and form in which the Deity shall bo worshipped . Again , by its peremptory refusal to recognize any political faction or creed , it holds itself aloof from the potty aspirations of political schemers ; and by so doing it moro closely unites its members with the cement

of Brotherly Love and affection . Onr opponents see fit to accuse us of being bound together by oaths which no Mason dare , as he values his life , deviate from , but must , under all circnmstancos and conditions , live up to , right or wrong . To a sober-minded , candid , thinking mind such wild cat assertions must bo tho vory height of folly and nonsense in tho

extreme , as they indeed are . It is an undeniable fact , and every member of tho Fraternity will bear me out in ifc , that such assertions are absolutely false , and havo nofc the least semblance of troth in them , bufc they aro prejudicial nothings of an imaginative brain . I will admit that we are bound together , bnfc ifc is most firmly by the sacred ties of Brotherly Love . I knowingly say thafc the

obligations the Masonio Institution does impose upon its members , contain nofc tho least word or sentence that can , in any way , manner , or form , conflict with our duties to our GOD , our country , our neighbours , or ourselves . Nofc one single clause can be found whereby we are even asked to countenance wrong , or of upholding any one in a course of wrong and sin , even if he be a Mason of the highest

grade . Now , what is practical Masonry ? I answer , thafc practical Masonry is the exercise of Brotherly Love towards each and every one of the human race , but more especially towards his Masonio brethren . It is relief , because it attempts to relieve suffering humanity , in whatever form ifc may be found . To " relieve the

distressed is a duty incumbent upon all men , bufc particularly on Masons , who are bound together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection ;" while "truth is a divine attribute , and the foundation of every virtue . " At the very commencement of a Mason ' s career , he is taught to be truthful , to be good and true in every thought and action of his life . In obeying the lessons , laid down by the tenets of

his profession , he is not only obeying the commands of the High Power , bnt the commands that Masonry imposes upon all of its followers . She , by her laws , teaches temperance and moderation , not only of our appetites and passions , hut of our purposes in life . Temperance means something besides a due restraint upon the appetites of man ;

ifc adds to thafc the principle that we shonld be temperate in all of onr dealings with our fellows ; that we shonld curb all the baser passions of our nature , holding them always under firm control . Fortitude enables ns to submit to the attacks of our enemies , and not to let our tongue betray our purposes by argument or loud boasting ; ifc " is that noble and steady purpose of mind which enables

us to undergo any peril , pain or danger when prudentially deemed expedient . " Prudence teaches us to weigh our words carefully before we speak , and not to bring reproach upon our Institution by words spoken which had bettor been unspoken , and to " think twice before we speak . " Justice , the last , but by no means the least , of the cardinal virtues , is that which teaches us to " render unto all

men their just due without distinction , " and , that which is paramount of all , to temper every deed of our lives with justice and mercy , ever remembering that we " should do unto others as we would have others do unto us . " Practical Masonry is founded upon Faith , Hope and Charity , and it is displayed by every word and act of the Fraternity . Let the

opponents of the Institution say what they may , ifc is a fact thafc cannot be denied , thafc the Charity of the Mason means something beside empty loords ; it means deeds performed to as great , if nofc a greater , extent than by any other known organization . Should any one doubt this statement , I have but to refer them to fche statistics of any great calamity where help was asked for ; to the yellow fever

epidemic of the South ; to the fires in Chicago , Wisconsin , Michigan , and scores of other instances , when ifc has proven by its acts that it is eminently PRACTICAL in its definition of Charity . Ifc does not spend its time in idle talk , but acts , and that , too , quickly . Its practical worth is untold . By the perusal of its literature it presents to fche mind of the student a line of study that cannot bnt

prove of interest , and value . If the mind is improved the whole intellectual condition of mankind receives the benefit of such improve , ment . To the philanthropist ifc presents a vast field wherein he can exercise his philanthropy , and as the Masonio Institution claims to be a philanthropic one , it is not slow in using every known means to practise the principles of philanthropy . To the Christian , ifc presents

an Institution founded upon every known principle of truth and morality . To the lovers of the arts and sciences , it offers the seven liberal arts and sciences , which comprise all thafc art and science can give , and unfolds the secret laws of nature . To the architect it presents the Five Orders of Architecture , a thorough knowledge of which has enabled the architect to plan and execute the stupendous

works ot architecture , of the past and the present . To the geometrician , ifc presents geometry , " the basis of our art ; " the initial of which alludes to that Power which all good men and Masons revere and serve . In fact , to a man it presents everything that a true min desires or cares for . It does not present to its followers immorality in any of its forms . It does not teach its adherents vice or sin in

any shape . It does not command us to shield the wrongdoer because he is a Mason . It does not uphold anything that pertains to wrong in or out of its ranks . Its obligations do not even ask us to violate either tho moral or the civil law , or to protect or shield in the least any one who has been guilty of disobeying its commands ; bnt it does tell the evil doer thafc his sins must rest upon his own head

and that he alone must pay the penalty of his misconduct , and ho is nofc upheld by the Masonic Institution in any form . If such is the practical worth of Masonry , it is well worth the patronage and support of all Masons , afc all times and in all places . Further than that , ifc is well worth the utmost endeavours of all its members to maintain it in the hi ghest place ifc has assumed amongst

What Is The Practical Worth Of Masonry.

the societies of the age : ifc is well worth our support in every parfcicnlar . Let us see to it , my brethren , thafc we put forth our best endeavours to maintain our Institution in its exalted position . Let as see to it , that we keep it pure and unsullied , as its originators gave

ib to us . Let ns purge our ranks of all thafc is unclean and impure . 1 Let us trim out the dead and useless branches that bear no fruit Let us cast out the drones from the hive of Masonry , destroy the bad material , to the end thafc the star of Masonry may for ever shine resplendent iu its own glory . Let ns , as

Masons" Do the deeds their Master did ; Tho naked clothe , the hungry feed—They warm the shivering poor ; They wipe from famished eyes the tear , A Brother's joys and griefs they share , As one has dona before . They earn the mead of honest toil ; Wages of corn , and wine , and oil . "

Mr. Tennyson's New Poem.

MR . TENNYSON'S NEW POEM .

A short poem , entitled "The Charge of fche Heavy Brigade afc Balaclava , " by Mr . Tennyson , appears in the March number of Macmillan's Magazine . The rhythm of the opening stanza is very peculiar , and well suits the vivid word picture of the tramp of an armed host : —

Down the hill , down the hill , thousands of Russians , Thousands of horsemen , drew to fche valley—and stay'd ; Scarlett and his three hundred are " riding by , " and afc his word of command they follow him " np the hill , " right into the Russian ranks ; he and three others " wedged themselves ! in between horse and horse ,

four amid thousands , " while " up the hill , up fche hill , gallopt the gallant three hundred , the Heavy Brigade . " We quote the remainder of the poem in full . Opinion will be divided as to its merits , but that the style is most artistically adapted to the theme , is beyond doubt , and , on the whole , the poem will bear close comparison with the companion one written so many years ago : —

III . Fell like a cannonshot , Burst like a thunderbolt , Crash'd like a hurricane , Broke thro' the mass from below , Drove thro' the midst of the foe , Plunged up and down , to and fro ,

Rode flashing blow upon blow , Brave Inniskillens and Greys Whirling their sabres in circles of light ! And some of us , all in amaze , Who were held for a while from the fighfc , And were only standing at gaze , When the dark-muffled Russian crowd

Folded its wings from fche left and fche ri ght , And roll'd them around like a cloud , — 0 mad for the charge and the battle were we , When our own good redcoats sank from si ght , Like drops of blood in a dark . grey sea , And wo tnrn'd to each other , muttering , all dismay'd , Lost are the gallant three hundred , the Heavy Brigade !

IV . But they rode like Victors and Lords Thro' the forest of lances and swords In the heart of the Russian hordes ; They rode , or they stood at bay—Struck with the sword-hand and slew ,

Down with the bridle-hand drew The foe from the saddle and threw Underfoot there in the fray—Ranged like a storm or stood like a rock In the wave of a stormy day ;

Till suddenly shock upon shook Stagger'd the mass from without , For our men gallopt up with a cheer and a shout , And the Russian surged , and waver'd and reel'd Up tho hill , up the hill , up the hill , out of the field , Over the brow and away .

Glory to each and to all , and the charge that they made ! Glory to all the three hundred , the Heavy Brigade ! NOTE . —The " three hundred " of the " Heavy Brigade , " who made this famous charge , were the Scots Greys and the 2 nd squadron of

Inniskillings ; the remainder of fche " Heavy Brigade " subsequently dashing up to their support . The "three" were Elliot , Scarlett ' s aid-de-camp , who had been riding by his side , and the trumpeter and Shegog the orderly , who had been close behind him .

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