Why Freemasonry Continues.

WHY FREEMASONRY CONTINUES .

TO most of the profane , and to some of the initiated , Freemasonry is one of many secret societies , all of which are ^ < sn , me general level . Freemasonry , according to their

•eW may be somewhat more venerable , perhaps more dignified , V « d possibly possessing a higher grade of character and education ? its membership , but after all it belongs fco a class of organisations * i ..- „ v _ OVA of comnarativelv modern invention , whose purpose is

rather to amuse than to instruct their initiates . Whoever classes Freemasonry wifch any other secret society whatsoever , mistakes entirely its origin , its purpose and its

Whoever supposes thafc fche idea which is afc fche foundation of Freemasonry—an idea which , like almost everything in fche Fraternity , is comprehended in the form of a fcriad—is equivalent to thafc which lies at the foundation of other secret societies , does not understand the first principles of our Craft .

Whoever thinks that the Masonic Fraternity is merely somewhat older than other so-called kindred societies , but does not reach back to mediieval , to pre-Christian and even to pre-Jewish eras , has failed to read the lessons of the ages , as ^ recorded in the histories of nations and the writings of sages .

There are some ideas which , like man , are immortal . Freemasonry is founded upon these ideas , and the Craft is their exponent , and so' long as they are its corner-stone , and it is true fco their teachings , so long will Freemasonry continue to exist and flourish .

Freemasonry is immortal because it is founded upon truths which will never die . What are these truths , which ensure the perpetuity of the

Craft ? These truths are three : ( 1 ) The existence of one living , true and efcernal God , the Grand Architect of the Universe , and the Father of our spirits and our bodies , which are His ; ( 2 ) The immortality of the soul ; and ( 3 ) The Brotherhood of all who are admitted to the fellowship of fche mysteries of these truths .

Freemasonry is built upon fchese primary ideas as its cornerstone , and while they remain at its foundation it can never be removed .

When one fully grasps and comprehends the truth of these statements , he is prepared to understand the origin and early history of Freemasonry .

The Masonic Fraternity was not born in our time , but in the aforetime . We may trace it back continuously in Lodge minutes for three hundred years , but what are three hundred years to six thousand ?

Because we cannot identify in every particular the details of our present system in those of antiquity , it does not follow that the two are unrelated . If we can discover , beyond peradventure , that the same basic ideas , principles , truths , were at the

foundation of mystic societies of the past which seem to have been kindred to our own , that is sufficient . In the lapse of thousands of years forms and ceremonies must somewhat change , but principles cannot change , and still be principles .

With this clue to lead one back through fche ages to primitive times , the Masonic scholar and thinker can scarcely fail to discover that the Osiriau Mysteries of Egypt , and fche Eleudnian Mysteries of Greece were the lineal ancestors of the Craft of Freemasonry of to-day .

The ancient Mysteries placed the same emphasis upon the triad truths referred to above that we do now . Theirs , like ours , was an obligated fellowship whose purpose it was to unite together selected , worthy , well qualified initiates , and instruct them in immortal truths . What are fchey ? Let ancient sages answer .

Plutarch tells us , in his " Isis and Osiris " : In the Mysteries it is taught that the universe is not without mind , or reason , or a pilot . " In one of the Orphic Hymns , " probably recited in fche celebration of the Mysteries , " we read :

" King of all , Zeus is first , Zeus last , origin of all , One power , one ruler , one God . " Eusebius says , that in the Eleusinian Mysteries fche hiero phant instructed the initiate :

" Go on in the right way , and contemplate the sole Governor of the th ° •i . - Ho is 0 ne ' and of Himself alone . And to that One all things owe '™ ir being . He worketh through all , was never seen by mortal eyes , but aoth Himself see everyone . " Theon said , speaking of the Mysteries , in his " Mathematica l

ft 1 ¦» en ( ^ ° * iaese rites is friendship and interior communion with Isocrates tells us : Co ' ^ £ ? sha th niade the Athenians two presents of the greatest consequence : jf ? ' which brought us out of brutality , and the Mysteries , which teach the etc f > t 0 e , ltertain the most agreeable expectations touching death and

Why Freemasonry Continues.

Ansfcides did not hesitate to say that "The welfare of Greece was secured by the Eleusinian Mysteries alone . " Many other similar quotations might be given from ancient

writers , all of which go to show that fche Ancient Mysteries were exponents of the three great truths of all time and all eternity : The existence and unity of God , the immortality of the soul , and the Brotherhood , the friendship , tbe fellowship of the initiated .

Ifc is because fche Freemasonry of to-day , as of all time past , is founded upon , and teaches these truths , thafc ifc continues as a Fraternity . As long as it is faithful to its principles ifc will exist

and flourish , but if it should ever ignore them ifc would die . The ideas must remain ideals , if the indestructible potency of Freemasonry is to continue , if the Craffc is fco be immortal . — " The Keystone . "

On the occasion of fche visit to Durham of H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex M . W . G . M . of English Freemasons , in 1822 , a special jewel was granted by His Royal Highness to be worn by the members of the new Lambton Lodge of Freemasons . This is

known as fche " Lambfcon Medal , " and is made of gold , locket shaped . The first Master of this Lodge was Bro . John George Lambton , who was afterwards created Baron Durham , and subsequently first Earl of Durham and Viscount Lambton . Other names connected wifch the Lodge are Lord Viscount

Howick , Sir Hedworth Williamson , Bart , ( initiated 1324 ) , Wm . Stobart , and John Pexall Kidson . The medal is still worn by the favoured members of No . 375 , and is one of the handsomest Masonic decorations existing . An interesting pamphlet dealing

with the Lambton medal has just been written by Bro . W . J . Hughan P . G . D ., the well known Masonic historian , from particulars supplied by Brother Robert Hudson , Secretary of the

Province of Durham , and is illustrated with the Lambfcon medal from bhab belonging to Sir Hedworth Williamson , Barfc ., P . G . M . of Durham . The pamphlet is published by the Quatuor Coronati Lodge . — " Newcastle Journal . "

The members of Harmony Lodge , No . 495 ( LC . ) recently held a concert , for the purpose of liquidating the debt on their Hall , fche result being eminently successful . We congratulate them on their good efforts .

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GAIETYRESTAURANT, STRJ ^ NJD . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and RESTAURANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GRILL ROOM . AFTERNOON TEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , afc lj- per head ; served from 4 till 6 in RESTAURANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTFrom 5-30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 6 / - ) and a la Carte . In this room the VIENNESE BAND performs from 6 till 8 . Smoking after 7-45 . AMERICANBAR. THE GRILL ROOM is open till Midnight . PBIVATE DINING K 00 MS FOE LAKGE AND SMALL PASTIES ,