A Stronger Tie Than Masonry.

in the profession , to do that for us , and for our murdered comrade , which we would do for you . We appeal to you to use , on our behalf , the powerful weapon which it is our privilege to possess . We appeal

to your hearts as men , to your brotherly feelings as journalists , to impress upon the Government of the Republic the importance of the case , and to urge that everv possible effort shall be made to bring to

justice the murderer or murderers of Archibald McNeill . " After reading this can it be wondered there are some who look upon Journalism as possessing even a stronger tie than Freemasonry , and how

would our readers answer if the question were put to them—Which is the more powerful ? It may be urged that this was a case of national importance , involving the death of a well-known man of the world ,

but the other case to which we refer cannot be said to possess equal claims in this respect , although it is true that the efforts being made on behalf of Mrs . Cooke are for the benefit of one still living among us ,

and on that account of more pressing importance in the eyes of many ; yet , we think , the unanimity with which her case has been mentioned is at least proof that Freemasonry is not the only organisation in which the strongest of fraternal ties exist . In speaking thus favourably , and at such length ,

in support of the bonds of Journalism , we must not allow the impression to go forth that we are forsaking Freemasonry , which is at least entitled to the reputation of possessin g a far stronger tie in the world

at large than any other human institution , and , as we have already urged , it at least enjoys equal honours with the profession to which our readers are

indebted for their periodical supplies of literature . Still , as we agree with the writer who urged that a man knows nothing who is only acquainted with

. his own side ot the question , we leel that considerations of Masonry ' s position in regard to the outside world must be a benefit to those who desire to extend their knowledge , as not unfrequently opening up ideas and lines of argument which would not arise in

the ordinary course oi events , rersonally we have experienced considerable pleasure in devoting a portion of our time to the subject here touched upon , and we hope it will prove equally as interesting to those who read our remarks . It may not be that all

who study them , as we , are members of the two sections of the world referred to , but we think there is sufficient in the subject to interest all , especially as we are inclined to the opinion that much of what

we have written in regard to Journalism might be said of other professions , or wherever we can find men who regard life as something more than a continued struggle to best or crush their neighbours . There is

assuredly room enough lor all who are content with a fair share of this world ' s goods , and when we see such kindly feelings expressed towards those in misfortune as in the cases under notice , it makes us regret that

it should sometimes appear necessary for a man to say unkind things of his fellows , or perform actions which appear harsh . All we can hope is , that as the world becomes more enlightened , men may learn better how to carry the true principles of Freemasonry into every day life . As vears go bv we trust we mav have manv mora

occasions of defending the fraternal ties of Freemasonry , which so justly occupy a proud position in the opinion of the world . However strong these ties of Masonry , and however zealous the members of the Craft may be of the position they have Avon , we

do not believe there is a brother who will do aught but rejoice if there arise many other organisations for the benefit of humanity which can claim an omml or- fl . Q + vnnrrov f . io W ^ a ovo -nvrni rl r \ f nnv WJ . v » UVlUUgUA VXW » 1 V LVJW \ JX \ J

V ^ UW . . ^ IIUUU LLL position , but do not desire to be left alone in the enjoyment of it . The more who struggle for supremacy under this head the better , and the heartier will be the welcome accorded them .

How To Learn Masonry.

HOW TO LEARN MASONRY .

ALTHOUGH Freemasonry is a Royal Art , there ia no royal road to its learning . In ordinary Masonic parlance ifc is said , thafc John Jones and William Brown on ft certain day were " made Masons , " bnt does their bare

" making" qualify these brethren as proficients in the Royal Art ? Both are advanced Fellow Crafts , but does this advancement make them skilled Brethren ? Both are

raised to the sublime degree , and yefc they are still but Masons in the rough—certainly not adepts in the Royal Art . Brother Barkley , of Mississippi , was right when he said , " A man cannot absorb Masonry—he mnst learn it . "

Immediately after being " made a Mason " the initiate is but a babe in Masonry , with the Masonic world before him and everything to learn . He is merely born into the Craft , with the right to grow up to Masonic manhood . After he

has advanced by the grade of Fellow Craft to the grade of Master Mason , he is still but a youth in Masonry , and before he can be said to be versed in the Royal Art he must go to school for years . The sooner brethren come to

comprehend the fact that there is no royal road to Masonic learning , thafc after they are made and subsequently advanced to the highest degree they are still only on the threshold of Masonic knowledge , though with the inestimable

privilege to know it all if they will devote tbe necessary amount of attention , thought and study to the subject , the better it will be for them . The greatest enemy—unseen , and therefore unknown and unappreciated—thafc

Freemasonry has to contend with is ignorance . To how many Freemasons " ignorance is bliss . " They are actually unaware of their ignorance , delusively thinking that because they have " received the degrees , " therefore they are every

whit Freemasons ! But have they " received the degrees ?" Only as a sieve or a duck ' s back receives water . It went in one ear and out of the other . No one truly " receives " the degrees of Masonry who does not lenow them , and the

lowest form of knowledge is the mastery of the verbiage of those degrees . And can this be readily absorbed ? On the contrary , does it not have to be patiently studied and learned ? Answer it , Masonic schools of instruction

Answer it , earnest toilers in secret after the knowledge of the ritual ! Answer it , Wardens and Masters who have bufc a brief practical experience in ritualistic Freemasonry ! How difficult it is to learn , and how easily your learning

escapes you , sometimes , when you seek to confer a degree But all this is merely the lesser learning of the Royal Art , its forms and ceremonies , its naked ritual . Back of and

underlying these there is something greater . The firstfche ritual—must be apprehended and then comprehended . This latter is the greater labour , and yet it is richly rewarded , for it introduces to the greater learning of the Craft .

Masonic tradition asserts that Pythagoras belonged to an ancient brotherhood which -was akin to Masonry . Of this great mathematician it has been said :

" He solved thafc geometric gem No Ariadne conld explore—The pearl of Euclid ' s diadem , The symbol of Masonio lore . "

Pythagoras has a lesson for us upon the Royal Art of Freemasonry , for in one of bis almost magic sentences he describes the Brother who is merely " made a Mason , " bufc

is not skilled in the Royal Art , and the other Brother who has mastered its learning—the meaning as well as the words of the work—and become an accomplished Master Mason . Hear him : " He that knoweth not thafc which he

ought to know , is a brute beast among men ; and he thafc knoweth all that may be known , is as a god among men . The least that any Freemason ought to know is tbe work of Freemasonry , and tbe most tbat all may know , if they choose to study it , is the -meaning of the work .

We have hinted how a Mason may learn the ritual of Masonry , but how shall he become in the best sense of the term a bright Master Mason ? Here again there is no royal road—he must listen , read , learn , digest and think .

He must discover what each of the forms and ceremonies of Freemasonry typifies and signifies ; he must master the greater learning of the Craft . What aids has he to such an endeavour—an endeavour which the Fraternity expects

every Brother to make for himself ? In order to become a thinking Mason he must first be a reading Mason . Read what ? Habitually and thoroughly read at least one periodical of the Craffc . The readers whom we directly