Masonic Material.

MASONIC MATERIAL .

A lecture delivered by V . W . Bro . J . B . Trivett , Grand Inspector Workings , at the New South Wales Masonic Club , Sydney , 28 th August . Reprinted from " Masonry . " ( Continued from page 14 ) . LET the Tyler clearly understand what constitutes the equipment of a Lodge for work—the positions of the ashlars ,

of the T . B ., of the lesser lights—that he should admit only one Brother to the Lodge room at a time , and carefully keep the door closed until that Brother has performed his essential duty—that he should never inform an entrant in what Degree the Lodge is working , but leave him to ascertain the same in the orthodox

manner , also let him be sure that candidates are properly prepared . I might observe that occasionally candidates are not properly prepared—and lastly , that he should never examine visitors with a view to avouchment , since that function does not appertain to his office .

Let the I . G . remember that he is acting strictly under the commands of the J . W ., unless expressively directed under special circumstances by the W . M . ; and that he is to act as a check on the actions of the Tyler , with respect to admissions . Let the Deacons carefully learn their duties , which are entirely

of a ceremonial nature . No one should be entrusted with the duties of a Warden ' s chair unless he has previously fulfilled those of a Deacon ; as they stand to one another in the relative positions of part and counterpart . A Deacon can make or mar a ceremony , in his actions from the initial-stage of obtaining the

W . M ' s . signature to the minutes , down to the conducting of the W . M . and P . Ms , to the door of exit at the close of the meeting He should superintend the admission and seating of all who enter the Lodge and , generally , attend to the due and smooth performance of all ceremonies , under direction from his

Superiors . He is entitled to move about the Lodge according to his convenience , and is not expected to give the S ., when , in other capacities , it is uniformity demanded . He should abstain from prompting a candidate except at the recognised proper periods of the ceremony , i . e ., immediately after instruction communicated by the W . M .

Let the Wardens remember that , as they have risen to a superior office , they also are entrusted with greater and more weighty responsibilities . The honour and reputation of their Lodge are , to a large extent , dependent on their conception and performance of the duties of their offices . They should unite in

aiding the W . M . in any designs he may devise for the improvement and advancement of the Lodge ; and loyally support him in the discharge of his duty , both in his own Lodge , in his attendance at Grand Lodge , and in his fraternal visitations to sister Lodges as per Clause 85 , B . C .

Now we arrive at the summit of the series of steps in Lodge preferment , viz ., the mastership of the Lodge . It would require a small volume to enunciate the duties and obligations of the occupant of the chair of a Lodge , but to place it in small compass we cannot do better than recall to mind the conclusion of the

ceremonial part of the Installation , when the Master is told to study carefully the B . of C . and the Bye-Laws of his Lodge ; and also remember the injunction at another , and earlier , stage of his evolution , viz ., that he is to consider himself called upon to make some daily progress in the acquisition of Masonic lore . It is by

no means sufficient to be able to repeat the ritual of the degrees . That can be done by a fifth form schoolboy rejoicing in a good memory ; and to be able to repeat parrot-like a stream of words is a very trifling attainment . The value of a Master is determined rather when we have tested his qualifications as

regards tact , firmness , reading , thinking and , above all , his energy in putting these attributes into concrete form . He should carefully study the members of his Lodge , their idiosyncrasies and possibilities ; and , unconsciously to themselves , elicit results corresponding to their traits of character . He should strenuously

enforce the laws of the Craft in his Lodge , and always bear in mind his obligations as custodian of the landmarks and ancient usages of the fraternity . His researches in Masonic lore and jurisprudence should be as extensive as time and opportunites may permit , and the results of such study should be apparent in

his general attitude to the Craft . He should thoughtfully consider the probable results of any proposed line of action in his Lodge , or towards other Lodges ; since a small degree of rashness will do infinitely more injury than many years of subsequent conservatism can undo ; and , above all , when convinced that his

actions are directed on right lines , his determination should be steadfast and his energy constant . Of course it will be remarked that this outline of duty is formulated on a lofty plane , but I

think it will be conceded that it is a legitimate expectation on the part of the Craft , since power and responsibility should be concurrent . Hence the conclusion that , in the choice of the W-M . of a Lodge , we aie eutiusted with a serious charge , and that

Masonic Material.

the ancient regulations wisely insist that " all preferment among Masons is grounded upon real worth and personal merit only . . . that the royal Craft be not despised . " I think that it is unnecessary to refer at length to the career of the Mason after his Mastership , in the Grand Lodge ^ on the Boards and Committees of the Craft , or as Grand Lodge Officer ;

since , if he has been faithful in the several grades of E . A ., F . C ., M . M ., Minor Officer , and Master of his Lodge , he can safely be appointed lord over many and higher things ; ' and I therefore return to my primary postulate that , if we desire a superior degree of merit or a higher standard of intelligence in our

beloved institution , whether as regarded by ourselves , our Brethren of other jurisdictions , or by the cold and merciless criticism of the outside world who are not Masons , we must commence by carefully , and with the fullest degree of fidelity , safeguarding and protecting the door of Freemasonry by means of that most reliable Tyler and mentor , conscience .

I should like here to make a few remarks of a general character respecting the qualifications to be expected in candidates for our mysteries . We are told the essential fundamental characteristics are , that the proponent should be just , upright and free , of mature age , sound judgment , and strict morals ; and the W . M . at his installation ^ required to subscribe to a number of

qualifications , which may , in every particular , be adopted by the youngest E . A ., as applying equally to himself . It would be idle for me to enlarge on these necessary attributes , it would be too much akin to painting the lily . The ideas evolved by the mere mention of each , convey so much to even the ordinary mind , and seem so altruistic , that I think it unnecessary to point the

abundant morals to be obtained by a consideration of their import ; but I submit that , taken as a whole , they present an ideal which should produce a body of men of such overwhelming moral force that its weight would , without doubt , be felt in the body politic wherever Masonry flourishes , and that these basic principles certainly comprise the secret of the growth and

extension of Freemasonry through the ages , enabling the Craft to withstand the powerful opposition which has assailed it , at intervals , during its history , memorably so in the case of the persecution during the " Morgan " period in the United States of America , when Lodges were closed in hundreds , and the Brotherhood was seriously threatened with extinction .

Considering the thousands of differing dispositions existing in the great mass of humanity , it is obvious that it is possible for a man to be possessed of all the abstract excellencies sought in a candidate , and yet be persona ingrata , and even objectionable to many of the Brethren , if it were insisted that he should be thrust upon them in the close bonds of their Lodge membership .

Hence appears the wisdom of the provision in our Constitution , dividing the Craft into small sections called Lodges ; and it is possible to preserve , in the fullest degree , the principles of the level , and yet , for the sake of perfect harmony , to have sectional divisions to enable men of like minds to fraternise and to elicit the good traits of their characters by the gentle friction of

periodical commingling in Lodge comradeship . As examples of the manner in which the process of fraternal selection obtains in Lodges , we can call to mind , on brief reflection , a Lodge composed of men , solemn in demeanour , who view the monthly meeting through sombre-coloured spectacles , and regard the duties of the evening as a weighty task , requiring the utmost seriousness and

solemnity ; another , composed of brethren cast in the respectable dullness of mediocrity , perhaps with a long history behind it , to compel the respect of the Masonic world ; another , consisting largely of brethren who , in private life , are hard-working and hard-headed tradesmen , who look forward eagerly to the enlivening influences and recreative enjoyment of their monthly

re-union ; another , comprising to a great extent young and energetic men in the full enjoyment of the fire and zeal of adolescence , determined that their Lodge shall be ne plus ultra , and frequently containing a - 'syndicate" of the golden Masonic youth , who may be said to rep eseut the champagne of

Masonry ; another , whose members are sometimes said to give a tone to the Craft , the tonic very often resulting in an example of what should be avoided , if fraternity is to prevail ; and last , but decidedly not least , the Brethren who are ultra-serious in their regard for the cardinal virtue—temperance .

Joking apart , it is evident that whatever may be the peculiar bent of mind or disposition in a candidate for Masonic privileges , he certainly has ample choice of Lodges in which he can find one affording him the opportunity of exercising his mental faculties and accomplishments to the fullest extent , and of receiving the reciprocal advantage of Lodge fellowship .

There is only one caution which I would suggest , in this connection , to the aspirant for Masonic honours , viz ., he should remember that whatever metaphysical preferences may be apparent in the various Lodges , he ought always to observe the sacred ties of Brotherhood , and try to realise that , although God has cast our minds in different moulds , and endowed us with various tastes , we have the common meeting ground of