Beauty Of Ritualism.

BEAUTY OF RITUALISM .

rj 1 PIE RE is an attractiveness in all forms and ceremonies that , I appeals with striking force to all hearts . These forms and ceremonies appeal to the disposition of men and women with a varied influence . As all men do not believe alike , have different views of social and religious life , so are they affected

by ceremonials . Education and refinement have much to do with the influence of forms and rites upon the heart . One looks upon them with reverence , another with admiration , and still another with indifference . The moods of men have

also much to do with the regard with which ceremonies are viewed . A man with the " blues " will not see the same beauty in ritualism as one with cheerful . spirit and unburdened soul . Ritualism appeals to the souls of men . The dye beholds

the ceremony , the ear listens to the words and music , and the tender chords of the heart are thus reached through these two powerful senses . Ritualism emphasises truth by portraying a picture of the great lessons taught .

Ritualism has much to do with the attractiveness of the Lodge . We have often wondered why men go night after night to Lodge meetings and see the same work over arid uvf-. r again , and never seem to tire of it . The beautiful forms and ceremonies are features that doubtless lead men to witness with pleasure a repetition of them . And there are hidden

beauties which are not seen at first . They must be repeated in order to be appreciated . The veil of symbol and allegory must be lifted , and the essential truth that lies hidden beneath must be seen before there is a full realisation of its importance . The varied ways of presenting the ritual are also attractive features of Lodge work .

There is an enchantment about mystery and exclusiveness . The thought that we are in possession of a knowledge that others are not taught in ; that we can retire within the precincts of the Lodge and be free from prying eyes , and there meet with an exclusive set , leads men to regard Lodge meetings and Lodge work with so much favour .

There is a pleasure in testing the memory and recalling almost forgotten lessons of truth . Men go to Lodge to see how one Brother and another does his work . Thus does curiosity enter into the attractiveness to some men . Another

goes to criticise , or to find fault . One will count the number of mistakes a certain Officer makes in the ritual . Another goes to help confer the Degrees or aid in any way that may be necessary . These and other motives actuate men in attending Lodge meetings .

The best of all motives is to study the beauty of the ritual and behold the hidden and glorious truths that lie beneath the veil of allegory . — " Masonic Standard . "

Non-Affiliates.

NON - AFFILIATES .

THERE is nothing coercive about Freemasonry . Ever )' one entering her portals must come of his own free will and accord . And as he comes , so he goes . A Freemason has a right , subject to the election of its members , to be a member of a Lodge ; and he has a right to call for a dimit at any time he may elect . By so doing he loses none of his

Masonic privileges , except Lo . dge privileges . A dimited Freemason can visit Lodges and is' subject to Masonic charity , but he can take no part in Lodge business , unless invited to do so , and then perhaps only so far as ceremonial is concerned . But morally no Freemason has a right to remain a

nonaffiliate except the time necessarily required to change his membership from one Lodge to another . If he does so , he becomes a drone ; and , although the workers may not sting

him out of the hive , yet sometimes they may feel disposed to do so . Brother non-affiliates , it is your Masonic duty to become a member of some Lodge and help " to bear the heat and burden of the day . "— " Pacific Mason . "

What Masonry Teaches.

WHAT MASONRY TEACHES .

MASONRY teaches us to regard our Brother ' s welfare as our own . That command is imperative , and the injunction must be lived up to . There is no way by which we can shift the responsibility . The duty is ours , and must be

performed—lovingly , fully , and in a Fraternal spirit . We must keep in mind what will promote the welfare of our Brother , and do for him that which will advance his interests . The measure of this duty is " as our own , " and his measure-

What Masonry Teaches.

ment applies to every department of life , and here is a very safe rule to follow •. " As ye would that others should do to you , do ye even so to them . " The man who lives thus , keeping this statute in the spirit as well as the letter , fulfills the law of love , and reaps the reward of him who is faithful in that

which is another ' s . Every Mason is , to a good degree , his Brother ' s keeper . This is the trust committed . Flis obligation binds him to this , and to violate this obligation is to surrender , by his own deed , the tie which binds him to the Fraternity , and which he should ever keep sacred and inviolable . The relation which we sustain to each other as

Masons is of a most sacred character , and the way to keep this relation intact is for each one to do his whole duty toward perpetuating its existence . In this matter our interests are a common one , and we must therefore do what we can to build up , strengthen and support this common cause . There can

be no division here . There must be unity of purpose , unity of effort , and these must be supported by a oneness of mind and heart . " Two cannot walk together except they be agreed , " and therefore we must be actuated by one and the

same spirit , and hence this injunction covers the entire ground , " Let the same mind be in you . " There must be no strife or contention , but we must be actuated by that noble spirit of emulation , " as to who can best work and best agree , " preferring one another . —A . H . Barkley P . G . M . Mississippi .

Unity Of The Brotherhood.

UNITY OF THE BROTHERHOOD .

* " |^ HE chief characteristic of the Masonic Fraternity is the X unity of its members . There is something surprising in the chain which links Freemasons together in the bonds of unity . To promote each other ' s welfare and to rejoice in each other ' s prosperity is a characteristic element of Freemasonry .

Political parties divide and fall to pieces . Church organisations have factions among them which frequently break them asunder . But no matter what the magnitude of the schism which sometimes appears in Masonry through the weakness

of human nature , sooner or later the difficulty is healed and that sublime harmony which is the order of the universe and the support of all institutions prevails , and Freemasons are linked together by the endless chain of harmony . —Exchange .

The Theatres, &C.

The Theatres , & c .

Avenue . —8 , His Wife ' s Picture . 8-45 , A Message from Mars . Matinee , Wednesday , 3 . Criterion . —8-30 , Lady Huntworth ' s Experiment . Matinee , Wednesday ,

Daly ' s . —8-15 , San Toy . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Drury Lane . —On Thursday , 20 th , The Price of Peace . Duke of York's . —Friday , 21 st September . The Lackev ' s Carnival .

Gaiety . —8-15 , The Messenger Boy . Matinee , Saturday , 2 . Garrick . —Thursday , 27 th September , The Wedding Guest . Globe . —8-30 , Colonel Cromwell . Matinee , Wednesday , 2-30 .

Gt . Queen Street . —8 . 15 , A Boer Meisje . 9 , The Private Secretary . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 3 . Haymarket . —8 . 30 , Sweet Nell of Old Druiy . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2-30 .

Her Majesty ' s . —8 , Julius C ; usar . Matinee , Saturday , 2 . Lyric—8 , Fiorodora . Matinee , Wednesday , 2-30 . Prince of Wales . —8-30 , English Nell . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday ,

St . James ' s . —8-30 , A debt of Honour . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , Savoy . —8-15 , The Outpost . 8-45 , The Pirates of Penzance . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 .

Shaftesbury . —8 , The Casino Girl . Matinee , Wednesday , 2 . Strand . —8-15 , Punctured . 9 , In the Soup . Matinee , Wednesday , 3 . vaudeville . —Wednesday , 19 th September , 8-15 , The Yellow Peril . 9 , Self and Lady .

Alexandra . —Next week , 8 , Hearts are Trumps . Opera House , Crouch End . —Next week , a , A Runaway Girl . Surrey . —Next week , 7-45 , Rich and Poor of London . Standard . —Next week , 7-45 , Frivolity . Minamui variety dncercainmensoldiers ol tae

-u . —o , - s , f ^ ueen , & c . Aquarium . —Varied performances , daily . Empire . —8 , Variety Entertainment . Sea-side , War Pictures , & o . Oxford . —7-30 , Variety Entertainment . Saturday , 2-15 also . Palace . —7-30 , Variety Entertainment . New American Biograph , & c . Sat-&

uruay , amu . Royal . —7-30 , Variety Company . Saturday , 2-30 also . Tivoli . —7-30 , Variety Entertainment . A Galaxy of Stars , & c . Saturday , 2-15 also .

Agricultural Hall . —Saturday , 8 , Mohawk Minstrels . Egyptian Hall . —3 and 8 , Mr . J . N . Maskelvne ' s entertainment . London Hippodrome . —2 and 8 , Varied attractions . Siberia , & c . St . Jamess Hal / . —8 ( except Saturday ) , Mohawk Minstrels . Matinee , Monday , Wednesday , and Saturday , 3 . Crystal Palace . —Varied attractions daily . Thursday and Saturday , ireworKS

n , < snc . Earls Court . —Woman ' s Exhibition . Madame Tussaud ' s ( Baker Street Station ) . —Open daily . Portrait models of modern celebrities & c .