Masonic Charity And Masonic Refreshment.

income for the past year of £ 103 , 091 , which total we consider quite puts in the shade the work of Freemasonry in the cause of charity . With such a total as this before us is it right to give Freemasonry the

first place among the chanties ol the world v especially when it is remembered that there are three Institutions of the Craft and that their united income last year was little more than half the sum subscribed to one outside charity .

Our Duties As Freemasons.

OUR DUTIES AS FREEMASONS .

An Address delivered by Bro . William R . Frazier WM ., at the Mount Moriah Lodge , No . 155 , Philadelphia , on Tuesday , 26 * 5 & June 1888 .

DURING the time I have been passing through the chairs , aud especially while I have been occupying the Oriental chair , my purpose and desire has been , and is , to the best of my ability , to measure np to the duties and

obligations required of me , both as a man and a Mason , placed as I have been by your favour in the exalted and responsible position of Master of this Lodge . It has not only been my desire to measure up to this high standard

myself , but also my ambition to incite others to the same laudable purpose , thereby creating a desire for and a willingness to assist in , restoring Mount Moriah Lodge to the exalted position she once did , and now ought to , occupy in

the Masonic Fraternity . Sometimes I have felt very much encouraged , sometimes very much discouraged . Encouraged because of the increased interest manifested by many of the members , and at times to the enlarged attendance

at the Lodge , the good order that prevailed , the attention paid to the work , and the disposition to more faithfully perform our Masonic obligations , especially in regard to the sick , the helpless , the needy and fche erring .

Discouraged , because the attendance at the Lodge is not far greater , as ifc should be , and because of the seemingly little interest manifested by so many of the members in Freemasonry in general , and in their own Lodge in particular .

Frequently we have met men whom we did not know as Masons , but have been informed that they are nofc only Masons , but also members of Mount Moriah Lodge . Brethren , such a condition of facts should not exist ; we

ought not to be strangers to and unknown by members of our own family . Though such things do exist , and many manifest little or no interest in the prosperity and welfare of the Lodge , yet I feel that I should return thanks , and I

do return my most sincere and grateful thanks , to the officers elected and appointed , to the past officers and to the members who have so kindly , freely and fraternally aided and assisted me in trying to awaken an increased

interest in the members in regard to their Masonic obligations , and the prosperity of the Lodge . We often hear the remark , the world was not made in a day ; and who has not heard of Bruce and the spider ? Then if we would

faithfully fulfil our Masonic obligations , and accomplish our desires , let us remember that ifc can only be done by a fixed determination on our parfc to faithfully discharge every duty , and a firm resolution to continue to work unitedly

and harmoniously together , until Mount Moriah Lodge , No . 155 , has reached a position second to none in the mystic Brotherhood , for their fidelity to usages , customs and landmarks of the Fraternity , for their obedience to the

rules , regulations and edicts of the Grand Lodge , for their faithful attendance at , and their correct and solemn performance of the work of the Lodge , for their faithful attention to and care of the sick , the needy and the helpless , and for their forbearance with and brotherly love for one another .

Brethren , let us endeavour to make the Brethren who occasionally visit the Lodge feel at home among us , and not as though they were strangers in their own household ; let us pay some attention to them , bid them a hearty

welcome and make their attendance so pleasant among us that they will realize thafc they are in truth one of us , and ought to take a parfc with us in performing the duties and advancing the interests of the Lodge . Let us make a -special effort to convince those who seldom or never attend the Lodge of the obligations they are under , the duties they owe and the importance and the necessity ( if they would

see the Lodge prosper ) , not only for them to attend the

Our Duties As Freemasons.

meetings and assist by their presence , bnt also show a "willingness to take a part , ancl help in the performance of the work of the Lodge .

Brethren ifc seems to me there is a duty as Masons in which we all more or less fail . It is in regard to onr reception and treatment of visitors among ns . I am well aware that , as a general thing , if some distinguished Brethren or

delegation make a fraternal visit , they are fraternally received and well taken care of , bnt too often we let visiting Brethren como in among ns , and go ont from ns , feeling as thongh they were strangers , instead of members

of tho same Mystic Tie an universal Masonic Brotherhood of which they and we form a part . Brethren , this ia not Mnsonic , and ought not so to be , for a Mason among Masons should always receive a cordial welcome , and be

recognised not only as a Mason , bnt also as a Brother . Let us then extend to our visiting Brethren a hearty welcome , and give to them a fraternal greeting , thereby compelling them to feel at home among us , and that they are of and among Brethren of the Mystic Brotherhood .

Brethren , m a little over four years ( before our present J . W . shall have completed his term of office in the Bast ) we will celebrate our seventy-fifth anniversary , and for which preparation ought soon to be commenced .

On 1 st December 1817 , Mount Moriah Lodge , No . 155

was constituted , with Bro . Joseph E . Bowen W . M . ; Bro . Richard Cahill S . W . ; Bro . Chester Chattin J . W . ; Bro . Joseph Cooper Treas ., and Bro . Samuel Simpson Sec ' y . These five wero the charter members . In 1818

( tho first year of its existence ) , there were admitted and initiated thirty-four . This , for youngsters of only one year ' s groth , was certainly a very good year ' s work . I am very sure we would think so , did we do that amount of

work in one year now though we are over seventy years old . fifty years afterwards , or when the corner-stone of this Temple was laid , the membership had increased to 366 , and five years later , or when the Temple was

dedicated , the membership was 404 . From thafc time to the present ( a little less than fifteen years ) there has been a gradual decrease in our membership , numbering now ( according to our last report to the Grand Lodge ) only 264 .

Brethren , why this decrease ? Surely there must be some cause or reason for it . Death , we know , has for some years been very active in depleting our number ; then , too , there

have been resignations and suspensions , to further decrease our number . Bufc while this is true , yet it seems to me thafc there must be some other cause besides these for this

gradual decrease , for while death has been active , and there have been resignations and suspensions , there have been also initiations and affiliations . If this be true then , why , year after year , for the past fifteen years , has our

membership gradually decreased , instead of increasing as it did prior to that time ? This to us is a very serious question , and one that it behoves us to inquire well into and ask ourselves the question , How much have we contributed towards this decrease ? Is it because the Officers have

not understood , and faithfully performed , the dnties required of them . Is it because some of those who have received the highest honour the Lodge could confer on them seem to have lost all their interest in the welfare and

prosperity of the Lodge , and seldom , or never , come near us ? Is it because so many of the members never attend the Lodge , and by their actions ( at least ) seem to have little or no concern for its prosperity or existence ? Is it

because we do not fully understand and realize what Freemasonry is , what its principles and teachings are , what it requires of us , and therefore fail in the performance of our Masonic obligations and duties ? Brethren , I am well

aware that Freemasonry does not consist merely in numbers , but requires of all its votaries uprightness of heart and rectitude of conduct ; thafc its grandeur is not in numbers , but in its pure principles and moral teachings ; and

its beauty is in its belief in the universal Fatherhood of God , the universal Brotherhood of man , and for its brotherly love , protection and care for one another ; and men should be drawn to it , and its numbers increased ,

because of its pure principles , moral teachings and universal brotherhood . Though its principles are pure , its standard high , and though it receives all who voluntarily offer themselves for admission ( provided they are not

morally or physically disqualified ) , yet in the face of this , for years our number has been gradually decreasing instead of increasing . " Sow let fche cause be what it may , let us resolve and determine that we will not cease to labour , nor rest satisfied , until the cause is removed and Mount Moriah