The Press And Freemasonry.

THE PRESS AND FREEMASONRY .

\\/ E have always felt the English Craft owed a debt * ? of gratitude to the Press , but it has been left to a Provincial paper to boldly claim that the publicity given to Masonic proceedings is largely answerable for

the great increase in the number of English Lodges since the accession of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to the Grand Mastership . The writer of a paragraph which we reproduce elsewhere , from the

" Birmingham Dail y Post / ' after speaking of the resignation of the Marquis of Ripon twenty-five years ago , says that nearl y 1 , 300 new Lodges have been added to the English list since that time , while fewer

than 950 came into existence in the preceding twentyfive years , and he argues that although the principal reason for this disproportionate increase is that the Prince of Wales became Grand Master upon Lord

Ripon s retirement , and his popularity attracted many new members ; yet the fact that the doings of Grand Lodge or Grand Chapter , or of private Lodges or Chapters , have been reported in the public press—with

manifest discretion on the part of the writers of the reports—has led to thousands of outsiders being made aware of the existence of our Craft , and its continued efforts to advance the wefare of its members .

Our contemporary has touched a chord here which we think has too long been overlooked , or if recognised has been disregarded b y the Craft at large . We are aware that even to-day there are very many Brethren

who look with the greatest suspicion and manifest disfavour on any item of Masonic news that appears in the public Press ; there are even some who argue that special papers should not be allowed in connection

with Freemasonry , and if they are asked to explain the arbitrary position they take up they refer to the edict in the Constitutions , which prohibits publication of

Masonic matters , overlooking the fact that there is a very great difference between the publication of mere Masonic news , and the printing of the actual secrets of Freemasonry .

The continuation of our paper week by week is in itself evidence that we consider there is room and

necessity for an independent organ for the Craft , but in addition to what we are able to provide we always welcome with gratification any references to

Freemasonry in the outside Press , provided the comments or criticisms are offered in a fair and rational spirit . We do not even mind the rabid attacks of our

contemporaries in the Roman Catholic world , for they never make out anything very bad about us and , as we have recently shown , are even creating differences in their own ranks as to the necessity or the justice for

the harsh and absurd condemnations of the priesthood . But if one claims for the influence of the Press a share in the expansion of the Craft itself , how much more should we give it credit for when we turn to the great Charities of the English Brotherhood ? It is fair

The Press And Freemasonry.

to say that without the Press the three Masonic Institutions would to-day be far behind their present position—they would , in fact , be virtually unknown to the world , in comparison with the place they now

occupy , and yet there are some , even high up in the world of Masonic Benevolence , who desire to ignore this , and even seem to think the Institutions are conferring a favour on the Press by keeping them

posted in their doings . It may be we see these matters in a different light to some others , but certainly , to our way of thinking , it is the Press which has

done much towards placing the Chanties of Freemasonry in their present proud position . The Press has taught them to walk , are they yet strong enough to stand alone ?

Church Service.

CHURCH SERVICE .

A SPECIAL service was given on the 10 th inst ., to the members of Gilford Lodge , No . 145 ( I . C ) , in St . Paul's Church , Gilford , the church being crowded in every part . The members of the Order assembled at the Masonic Hall , and , wearing their regalia , marched in processional order to the church , where special seats were provided for them .

The sermon was preached by Bro . Rev . L . T . Whatham , rector of Nevvtownards . He selected as his text II Kings x , 15 — "Is thine heart right ? " He said it seemed to him that one of the objects of the Masonic Institution was to make the

hearts of its members right in the service of God and in the service of man , by bringing out the fundamental unity between worship , morality , and happiness . In old times theology and experimental religion were held to be closely connected . God was referred to as the source of all moral

and spiritual good . The Patriarch found his doubts to vanish in the thought , " Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right ? " whilst the Israelites found both motive and strength in the command , " Be ye holy ; for I am the Lord your God . " There was a tendency nowadays to reverse the

order of religion—to put the soul before God , preaching before praying , righteousness before godliness , emotion before woi'ship . Men tried overmuch to solve the difficulties in their own strength , forgetting that God is " the source and centre of all minds , their only point of rest . " If religion were left out of account mental chaos and social confusion

must inevitably ensue . The questions connected with inequalities in wealth and position , with the problem of heredity , with domestic and business troubles , with the

problem of labour , were only to be solved with the aid of Christianit )' , which , the preacher proceeded to show , guided and enlightened the leaders of thought who were really doing the best work for the race .

A great deal was said , especially by the uninitiated , about the mystery surrounding Freemasonry ; and , doubtless , the Fraternity were in possession of secrets of vast importance . The growth and power of the Order were also topics for frequent comment , and certainly , outside the Christian

Church , Freemasonry was , within the borders of the Queen s dominions , the strongest and most influential of all societies . But Freemasonry did not rest for the reason of its existence

upon its secrets or its strength . It was founded upon something far higher . It was pre-eminently a religious bodyshowing men their relation to their Heavenly Father and their duty one to another .

The preacher concluded his discourse with an earnest appeal on behalf of the Masonic Orphan Boys School . After the sermon a collection vvas taken up .