The Sounding Of The Gavel.

THE SOUNDING OF THE GAVEL .

ONE of the most striking of the numerous fine Masonic poems which have emanated from the pen of Past Grand Master Bro . Rob Morris , is that familiarl y known as the " Gavel Song . " We quote its first stanza , since it is eminently appropriate to the season of labour upon which the Craft is about to enter : —

Through the murky olonds of night Bursta the blaze of Orient light—In the ruddy East appears the breaking Day , Oh , ye Masons , up ! the sky

Speaka tho tamo of labour rugb , And the Master calls the quarrymen away . One , two , three , the gavel sounding , One , two , three , the Craft obey ;

Led by holy Word of Love , And the fear of One above , In the strength of God begin the Opening Day . The summer season is ending , the prolonged

refreshment of the Fraternity is concluded , and next week the brethren will be in their accustomed places , in Lodge , Chapter and Commandery . Since our Lodges are dedicated to God , let us enter upon the autumn ' s labour with a

sense of conscious responsibility , as well as of conscious pleasure . It is a pleasure to meet with our brethren again around the Masonic Altar , to familiarl y greet those to whom we are bound by tho strongest fraternal ties , and to

enter upon that work whi ih , to all of us is a labour of love . Let us enjoy this pleasure . Let us make the most of it . Ifc is rational . It is exceptional . It can be enjoyed nowhere else than in a Masonic bodv . Declaim as some

persons will against a class spirit , is it not enjoyable ? Observe a coterie of lawyers , or doctors , or physicians together , and note what a good time that they have ! Much more do Freemasons , when they are assembled in tyled

bodies , with the gavel making the music they love . There is an entire sense of security—the world is barred out , for there is a sword which turns every way to preserve the privacy of the Lodge . There is an equal sense of

confidence in the fidelity and friendship of those wbo are met with us . They are our brethren . They should , and do , more nearly than the profane , love their nei ghbours as themselves . Then there is a repose in the mind of every

brother which is entirely restful . With nothing to make us afraid , with implicit trust in our fellows , with the assurance that intellectual , moral and convivial enjoyment is in store for us , is it surprising that when Masons meet

together they are happy ? Now wo are about to enjoy a reunion . We parted upon the Square in July , and in September we meet again upon the Level . Let us do it with a will not only to enjoy ourselves ( for that is

inevitable ) , but to advance the highest interests of Freemasonry . This we can do by a punctual attendance at Lodge and Chapter ( if those are our Masonic connections)—we need say nothing for the Commandery , for it is able to take care

of itself . Not long since we came out of a Lodge where there was a total attendance of but ten brethren , while in an adjacent hall a Commandery with full ranks was drilling in the Templar tactics , and another Commandery ,

equally full , was leaving the Asylum for indulgence in a Red Cross banquet . It is the Lodge and Chapter attendance only that requires remark . Let us , as Lodge and Chapter Masons , resolve that hereafter we will be more

faithful in the performance of our duty to these bodies . They are the foundation of Masonry—indeed its cornerstone and cap-stone , and if we neglect these , the fulfilment of other so-called Masonic duties can never atone for it .

Let us , then , be punctual , never forgetting a Lodge night , never neglecting it for the Commandery , aud always be in our places at the opening , if possible . But let us do more thau this . Each one of us is a stone in the Temple which

Masonry is building . Other stones are requisite to maintain the integrity and beauty of this edifice . See to it that these other stones are perfect ashlars . If we come upon such a stone , which seems to have been made to fit in a

place in the Temple , which stone is properly offered for use , receive it promptly , and pass it along for inspection . We each have a duty to perform in this regard . Certain desirable stones at times come under the view of each of

us , and our duty a * Freemasons demands that no proffered Masonic gem of this description should lack a setting . Let in never ask for one , but when it is fairly offered let no

false delicacy induce us to decline it . And then when we are present in the Lodge , present punctually , present actively , doing all we can for the best interests of the

The Sounding Of The Gavel.

Lodge , assisting in the work in any capacity , if required , how we shall enjoy the music of the gavel ! It is indeed true that "In the weird and mystic circle , solemn silence brooding round , There's a something , all invisible bnt strong ,

May be summoned from the Highest by the gavel s holy sound , And it brings the better spirit to the throng , Oh the gavei , Master ' s gavel , It shall ever have my praise

Whilo the book and symbol whisper , " God is love j " In His mighty Name it speaketh , All contention it allays , Till the Lodge below is like the Lodge above . " —Keystone ]

Masonry And Freemasonry.

MASONRY AND FREEMASONRY .

MASONRY and Freemasonry are not synonymous ; they do not mean the same thing , though they may aid and assist in teaching the moral lessons of each other . Masonry is the trade of all trades , and is now what covers

the world with beauty and magnificence . It is composed of hard material , such as brick , stone , iron , granite , mortar , marble , & c , and forms the chief substance of out

cities and dwellings . It is the oldest trade among men . It has called all the ingenuity and skill of the world to its accomplishment .

The work of this trade required a peculiar set of tools for its construction , and their shape and form necessaril y required the figures of geometry . They had to use perpendiculars or plumb-lines , squares to square their work ,

chisels to cut stone into elegant symmetry , compasses to circumscribe circles and lay the foundations of arches , and levels to make them true . Besides these , square , circular and parallelogrammic rooms had to be built , that required

geometrical tools to complete them . Furthermore , angles of all forms had to be constructed to beautif y and embellish their work . These tools were mostly geometrical figures , and for many ages geometry and Masonry were

treated as equivalent terms . These tools were idolized by their respective owners , and they seemed as though they possessed a mind and conscience like men . They also ascribed to them certain virtues and moral principles which

they were supposed to possess , which are explained and illustrated by Freemasons in their present Lodges everywhere . The misunderstanding of these Masonic words , of

course , has led the public mind into some confusion , and Freemasons regret of course the perversion of these words .

When , afterward , the Sons of God instituted Freemasonry , the common Masons and workmen of that trade fled to it and joined the Institution : s : h much pleasure and harmony , there being a welcome 'Ondshi p between

them , and the philosophy of their toou . was taken with them and taught there ; and thus the two Orders almost naturally run together—the Master Masons of the trade of Masonry being a high order of men .

At what particular time Freemasonry was organized in its present condition , it is difficult to tell . The trade of Masonry had loug existed before this , and from the account given in Scripture it appears that it was established by an

order of men called the Sons of Gocl , who kept a most profound secret of that Institution . These Sons existed in the time of Abraham , Melchisedec , Moses , Aaron , Job , St . John , and many others .

The secret meetings of the Sons at the houses of Job and St . John show that the society of Freemasons was then already organized . But it may be asked how this societ y came to be called Freemasons . Under the ancient name

of Masonry this word meant a trade . It was customary then , among most nations and kingdoms , to require an apprenticeship of seven years to learn a trade , which one must serve in order to be eligible as a master workman

and draw wages . It would not be free to every one without this qualification . When the society of Freemasons met and was formed , there was no legal provision made

prohibiting such assemblages , and consequentl y it was free , as it was not a trade of any kind , and from that time tbey were called Freemasons .

It is not supposed that the workmen in Masonry had any system of secrets among them . There does not appear to have been any need of it , although there might have been occasionally too much disturbance in their workshops and quarries , which might have needed silence . But Free-