Universality Of Masonry.

UNIVERSALITY OF MASONRY .

•» *• Tl / jTASONRYiinites men of every country , sect , and opinion . " 1 VI This constitutes its universality , and makes the Institution a most potent factor in promoting the world's welfare , and the upbuilding of human character . Knowing nothing of sects in religion or of parties political , it accepts alike him who offers his devotions in the Synagogue and

him who bows reverently in the Sanctuary of the Gentile . The follower of Mahomet , who with face toward the East offers his adorations and supplications to Allah , or the most devoted of the worshippers of the G . A . O . T . U . ; he whose prayer is the silent , unspoken aspiration of a sincere heart ascending from the chamber of the meek and lowly , together with the one who in

gorgeous robes and magnificent church sounds praises and defines the powers and purposes of the God whom he adores . All , from whatever clime and country , can unite around the altar of Freemasonry ; each is free to formulate his own opinions of the powers , attributes and pensonality of that Supreme Intelligence we must all alike acknowledge and reverence .

In every nation and among all peoples where civilisation and its influences have extended , our altar has been erected . Upon it may be found burning the benevolent and ennobling principles of out * Order , sending therefrom the incense of Fraternal affection , of that genuine brotherly love which , pervading and

being accepted by all , touches a chord implanted in every human breast , which will vibrate , not only throughout his own being , animating and elevating to higher life and purposes , but which reaches out to the suffering and the sorrowful with true Masonic sympathy , binding soul to soul , and prompting to noblest deeds" A holy fire that cannot with life expire . "

While ignoring the scoffer and accepting only the believer , yet Masonry leaves to each the liberty of conscience and of opinion upon all those matters which in the ages past have been formulated into creeds and made the basis of the innumerable sects of to-day . In religion , equally tolerant in regard to our belief in and acceptance of revelation , we accept as such all that is good and pure . All becomes to us a moral , spiritual and Masonic Trestle Board .

Being thus broad and tolerant , yet united , Masonry forms a common centre around which all may gather , and from which emanate , like rays from the sun , the pure principles and teachings ifc inculcates . Ifc would not encroach upon the prerogatives assumed by the church and its various organisations to define the nature , character and will of the Infinite , nor of the qualification necessary for admission within the portals of the Celestial Lodge ;

contenting itself with so educating its members as to fit them to properly meet the cares , the duties and responsibilities of this life ; to make them better men and better Masons here below , trusting that by so doing and so living that may not be denied admission into the Grand Lodge above . Inculcating the necessity of a change of purpose rather than of heart , it says to all , cease to do evil , learn to do well .

It makes Charity—Love—the greatest of her virtues , and says , " if you love not your Brother whom you have seen , how can you love Him whom you hath nofc seen . " It would have us do good unto all , remembering especially the household of the faithful . This is our religion . Upou this , all from every clime and country , of . every sect and opinion , can harmonise . — " Freemasons' Chronicle of Australasia . "

The Worshipful Master.

THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER .

IT is surprising that so many Masters of Lodges seem to be satisfied with the duty of presiding over their Lodges while at labour . That finished , they feel discharged from all responsibility to the Lodge and to the general Craft .- Ifc does not occur

to them that the interests of Freemasonry , the observance of the regulations , Masonic usages and customs , the restraint of all novelties and innovations into fche laws of the Fraternity , are duties enjoined upon them .

The ceremonies of their installation as Worshipful Masters places on them special and general responsibilities . Thafc the Worshipful Master of a Lodge has assumed the performance of many obligations that he cannot ignore is beyond question .

Whatever tends to bring the Lodge , or the Craft , into adverse criticism , is a matter of serious import . If such proceedings are attempted , or if efforts are . made fco introduce such proceedings into notice in the Lodge by any of its members , fche Worshipful Master is bound to investigate them .

If they are found fco exist , he is required to know if there is any truth in the report . It will be no justification to the Worshipful Master to say he has no official knowledge of these things . It is his duty fco oversee the workmen as well as the work , to learn if the Lodge or any of ifcs members are in any sense violating the regulations of Freemasonry .

The Worshipful Master.

It is reported by lawful Masonic authority that some violations of these regulations exist . It is the subject of serious concern to reflecting and earnest Masons . Yet the Lodges which are concerned in this disregard of standing rules of the Grand Lodge are continuing this infraction of those rules .

Secrecy is the fundamental law as to Lodge action . It is forbidden , and ever has been in this Jurisdiction , to publish to the world what are the proceedings of Lodges . It is a direct violation of this principle to publish in profane newspapers invitations to or from Lodges to participate in schemes to obtain

Lodge members , or to suggest a method of securing applicants for membership . Could there be a more indecent violation of this regulation than to publish or print notices that so many additional applications for membership are expected at the coming Lodge meeting ?

Could there be any more indecent act than to put into print in profane newspapers notices of schemes that tend to this end ? What must be the understanding of the Worshipful Master of any such Lodge of his official as well as Masonic duty , if he permits this to be done ? If he needs any information on these matters he can find it in print , or he can obtain the information

by simply making inquiry of the members , or some of them , of his Lodge . Ifc is this neglect of an imperative duty on the part of the Worshipful Master that brings trouble , serious trouble , to the Craft , because the neglect of one duty encourages acts of like character , under the - impression that no proper notice will be taken of them .

In no spirit of censure , but in devotion to Masonry , we thus offer these suggestions for the earnest consideration of Lodges , Lodge Officers , and members of Lodges , in the hope this will be appreciated . At all events , such conditions , if they are found to exist , merit condemnation . —" Keystone . "

Woman And Masonry.

WOMAN AND MASONRY .

*• • r jIHB new woman is not wholly absent from Freemasonry . I la the north-west especially is her voice heard in the Lodge room , nofc merely as a quartet singer , bufc as a solo speaker . The Eastern Star is shining forth , and the wives , sisters and daughters of Masons , being organised into Lodges , are becoming

familiar with affairs belonging only to men . Many Brethren and Companions * in some states are encouraging this new departure . It is a passing , show of course . And when the craze is over , when the epidemic ceases , we shall be , if not we , our children will be , what we are and our parents before us . The men will

grow beards and sing bass , and win bread and be fathers and wear pants , and fight the battle of life in field and farm ; and the women , God bless them , will be mothers and wives and sisters and daughters of men , queens of home , ruling there by right divine , and making it like heaven , dispensing love and joy in

human hearts , and being happiest of human mortals from making others happy ; in their own sphere will they rule and shine a little lower than the angels . Let us not encourage their mania for clubs and circles and Lodges and Chapter , or anything that tends to lower them in our esteem , weaken the home tie , destroy their holy influence , or bring them to our level . "

There is one thing I like about the above , and that is the reverence the writer has for women . His wife and daughters , if he has wife and daughter , are all in all to him , but with all his respect and reverence he is not , to use an expression that may be a little slangy , " up to date . " In other words , I fear that Mr .

Ingersoll is something of a " back number . " He does not understand the woman of to-day . She has no objection whatever to men " growing beards , " wearing " pants , " or singing "bass . " What makes the woman of to-day weary is that there are so many men that want to " sing bass" all the time . That is not literally ,

but figuratively . No woman cares to look upon a man simply because he can " sing bass , " wear " pants , " or grow a " beard . " What the woman of to-day wants is companionship . She does not care to be made a " queen of the home " and dispense love , joy and happiness about a husband , unless there is also some

happiness scattered about her pathway . " A little lower than the angels " is very nice indeed , but she wants her husband to come up to her level , not remain below it . Wearing " pants , " growing a " beard , " and singing " bass " will not do unless he executes a bass solo once in a while thafc will show that he appreciates the fact that he is subject to the queen who rules the home .

To go away and set up business as a king on his own account and leave the poor queen alone six nights in the week while he attends a Lodge meeting or the Chapter or Commandery , or meets a committee , or " sees a man , " is exercising his prerogative to court around in " pants " and sing " bass , " and he thinks the oft-repeated music will not cloy upon the sensitive ear of the " queen , " made more sensitive by the cries of the little