The Mission Of Freemasonry.

THE MISSION OF FREEMASONRY .

FROM " MASONIC REVIEW . "

THE mission of Freemasonry is so slightly understood by so many members of the Craft , that wo venture , oven by appearing presumptuous , to givo our views relative to the same . It appears to us that there aro thousands of young men , who really idly themselves with tho Fraternity , not probably from mercenary motives , but still with very crude ideas of the actual practical mission of Freemasonry . Numbers wo repeat have passed our portals , and are daily doing so ,

who fancy that tho social characteristics of tho Order aro its chief ornaments , aud that a parrot-like knowledge of ritual is the acme of Masouio skill . We propose to show that it is not , and that although onr Society has spread its branches into every quarter of tho habitable globe , still it has not by any means accomplished its true mission . Wo tako it for granted that Freemasonry is the offspring of thoso

ancient mysteries that woro objects of interest in tho days of Plato and Socrates ; wo are inclined to believe that it is moro immediately connected with those gangs of workmen , who year after year , and decade after decade , and century after century , toiled at thoso mighty castles and gigantic edifices that aro to be found , in some instances , still standing iu all their antiqu grandeur , and in others , still

frowning down upon the visitor in huge masses of ruin throughout England aud Continental Europe . We repeat , we believe wo aro tho direct descendants of these men , but after our society was transformed in 1717 from a purely operative into a purely speculative institution thou the true mission of the Fraternity commenced dimly to dawn upon minds of its members . At first , doubtless its convivial features

were its chief attraction amongst a class of men who gloried in strong port and stronger brandy ; but with , the march of civilization and tlio gradual development of a purer atmosphere a change took place , and from a convivial club the Lodgo became the home of those who sought to do their duty to God and man . Then tho true mission of Freemasonry commenced , although even now it is barely understood and

will doubtless not be thoroughly developed for many years to comewe fear not within the present century . Our theory is that although our code of moral ethics is excellent , and our teachings as explained by our mystic symbolism as nearly perfect as any thing human cau bo , that still wc fail in our mission , siuco wo do not render practical that which wo so glibly theorize

upon in tho Lodge-room . It is very easy to talk charity , especially when the phraseology is tho same , night after night ; but it is a very different thing to go forth and practise it . What a mummery a Lodge teaching tho neophyte that charity is one of the principal objects of the Institution yet spending its funds in banquets et hoc omne genus ! What a screaming farce it becomes when Grand Lodges

give away about ten cents per head , moro likely live , to impoverished widows and orphans of their deceased brethren , and pay away thousands of dollars for per diem expenses aud Grand Olliciuls' salaries Still such is tho case , aud wo defy any brother to deny it . The plain unvarnished fact stands forth that the Masonic mind of tho day is carried away with the pomp and glitter of Knights Templarism ,

the gorgeous aud imposing ceremonials of the Ancient and Accepted Eite , aud a general love aud eager desire for degreoisni . This we take it , is not tho true mission of Freemasonry . We have recently read , wo will not say wish disgust , but with a feeling closely akin to it , many of the addresses of Grand Masters , Grand High Priests , and Grand Commanders , till alter very proi-oriv

giving due thanks to the Great i Am for liiu blessings ot the past year , branch off into platitudes as to the greatness and beauty of our Institution . All true enough , but , in the name of Freemasonry , is that the mission of the Craft ? Our brethren point with proper pride to tho thousands they sent to the South , when grim death stalked through her sunny fields , and robbed us of some of tho best aud noblest

of the Sons of Light ; thoy allude also to the Fires of Chicago and St . John . True , in these cases , aud in hundreds of others , Freemasonry has amply fulfilled her mission ; but we think her mission lies nearer homo ; of what class of men should tho Fraternity be composed ? Is tho scoffer at religion a fit man to become a participant in our ceremonies ? Is the profane and

obscene libertine a proper person to enter our portals ' ( Is tho habitual drunkard such au one as the Sous of Light should associate with ? In answer to all these questions — " No . " Yet what is tho true state of the case ' i In our very midst , wo have many revilers at religion ¦ profane and obscene libertines , and habitual drunkards '—before the mission of Freemasonry can be accomplished , these rotten

limbs of the Giant . Oak must be lopped- unsparingly off , then tho glorious old tree having been properly pruned , will have a fresh lease of life and shoot forth branches green with the freshness of spring and the sweet-smelling flowers of May . Tho mission of Freemasonry , then , can only be accomplished by first driving from our midst those who are utttrue to those principles which wo inculcate ,

and once having accomplished that , we must sot to work to guard our portals with a tenfold zealous care . Wc must not permit our Lodgerooms to become mere convivial gatherings , or places for ritualistic dramas , but rather let them be the home of tho Craftsman , where , after the due observance of our ancient ceremonies , wc would have our brethren discuss not only the seiemtitic aud philosophic features

of our Institution , but also the practical -work lo be accomplished . Hundreds of Lodges on this Continent do not give anything away in charity for months at a time , and there are few Lodges that give anything worthy of tho name . We number about six hundred thousand affiliated members on this Continent ; surely wc could afford six hundred thousand dollars per annum iu aid of our widows ,

our orphans , our sick and our d ying . Wc receive hundreds of thousands of dollars per annum for degrees , could wo not devote ouetenth , yes , one-fourth to worthy objects of charity ? The writer , in a previous article , alluded to the fact , that probably twenty thousand Sir Knights would assemble in Chicago in 1880 , - how inucti will each Prater spend ? Fifty dollars . Let him add ten more , and mako up

The Mission Of Freemasonry.

a fund of two hundred thousand dollars as a -nucleus for tho widows and orphans of Templars , then the Soldiers of the Cross would set an example to their Masonic brethren , which would do much to advance tho mission of Freemasonry . But the mission of Freemasonry is not all dollars and cents , though wo tell you , brethren , wc want to seo your purse strings open

with a more liberal hand . There are men now iu our Order , and uo State knows it hotter than Ohio , who aro in the sear and yellow leaf of old age , and who havo fought our battles well , yet thoy aro permitted to sink to tho grave iu poverty and distress . Freemasonry , to perform her mission properly , shonld prevent this . But to return to the point : wo repeat tho mission of Freemasonry is not

all dollars and cents ; wo want moro kindly deeds , moro generous actions , moro brotherly love . Wo desire to seo brethren havo greater confidence in each other . We wish to see a higher moral tono inculcated , a greater reverence for tho Deity exhibited , and to accomplish such we must practise tho cardinal virtues , and by our course of life provo to the world that tho mission of Freemasonry is

a living , practical thing , humanised by the efforts of man aud vitalised by tho breath of God . Wc maintain , therefore , that to fulfil tho Mission of Freemasonry , is to practise that we teach ; to make our lessons practical ; to exemplify by our lives , our belief in tho wisdom of tho omnific ways of tho Creator , tho beauty of His holiness , and tho strength of His

majesty aud glory , and in order to do that , -wo must not only aid thoso in distress by our gold aud our silver , but wo must go to their houses , wo must read to them , we must talk to them , wo must cheer and aid them by kindly advico . Wo must snatch tho erring ones from " the path that leadcth to destruction . " Wo must take the drunkard by tho hand , and save him , at every cost , and at every

price ; wc must waylay tho erring sister , and restore her to her home , we must go forth to comfort aud to save . Wo must show to tho world that the mission of Freemasonry is a groat , a glorious , and a noble one , worthy tho attention of all good and philanthropic men , who believe in tho honour of mau , the purity of woman , and the goodness o £ God .

Old Warrants.

Old Warrants .

No . 126 . No . 259 , " Ancients , " No . 327 ( at the Union ) A . D . 1813 , No . 22 S from A . D . 1832 , and No . 193 from A . D . 18 G 3 . To ALT , AND EVERY OUI 1 ElfiHT WoitSittt'l'lL , WoKSlIllTUh AN 1 J LOVINT

BRETHREN . WE , HIS EOYAI , HioiixEss AT . ISERT EDWARD PIUXCK OF WALES , KNIC . UT oi' THE MOST NOIH . E ORDER OV THE GAKTEI ; , & C . & C , & C .

GEAND MASTEB Of Tin-: MOST AXCIKXT , \ xn Hoxoui ; . \ r , r . i-: FRATERNITY OF FREE AND Ara-: rn : n MASONS OF EXGLAXD , S EM ) Git MET I XII . WHEREAS , It appears by the Eccords of the Athol Grand Lodge , or old Institutions , that on the 15 th clay of February 1790 , a Warrant of Constitution was granted to certain brethren therein named ,

authorising them to form and hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , at the Dolphin , Eed Lion Street , Holborn , London , and which Lodge was then registered in tho books of tho said Grand Lodgo as No . 259 , and whereas by the Union of the two Grand Lodges on the 27 th December 1813 tho said Lodge became No . 327 , bv the

closing up of the numbers in the year 1832 it became No . 228 , and by the general alteration of tho numbers in the year 18 G 3 it became , and is now registered in the Grand Books as No . 193 , meeting at Andcrton's Hotel , Fleet Street , in tho City of London , under the title of and denomination of No . 193 THE LODCE or CONFIDENCE .

Aud whereas the brethren composing tho said Lodge havo , by their memorial represented to ns that their Warrant hath been accidentally destroyed by fire , and they have prayed us to grant them a Warrant of Confirmation . Now know ye , thatwc , being satisfied of tho reasonableness of tho said request , and from the confidence reposed in the brethren , do hereby grant this our AVarrant of Confirmation

unto our right Trusty and Well-beloved brethren Thomas Bradford Biddlo , Eobert Foottit , Walter James , Henry James Leah , John B . King , Barrough D . Kershaw , Joseph Shackell , and the other Brethren composing the said Lodge , authorising and empowering them and their Successors to continue to assemble and hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted . Masons at Andcrton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street " aforesaid ,

on the Second Monday in the months of January , February , March , April , May , October , November and December , or at such times as to tho brethren thereof may appear necessary , and to be regulated by their Bye-laws in conformity with tho General Laws of the Craft , aud then aud there when duly congregated , to make , pass , and raise Freemasons according to tho ancient custom of the Craft , iu all a > 'es

aud nations throughout the known world . And further , at the Petition of the said Brethren , we do appoint the said Thomas Bradford Biddle to bo the Master , the said Eobert Foottit to be tho Senior Warden , aud the said Walter James to be the Junior Warden , for continuing to hold the said Lodge , until such time as another

Master shall be regularly elected and installed , strictly charging that every Member who shall be elected to preside over the said Lodge , aud who must previously have duly served as Warden in a Warranted Lodge , shall be installed iu Ancient form , and according to tho laws of the Grand Lodge , that he may thereby be fully invested with the dignities and powers of his office . And we do