Modern Freemasonry As A Social And Moral Reformer.

acknowledged to himself the blessed influences to be found in his Lodge . No class of men meet with the welcome accorded to Masons by their brothers in any foreign country . Why is

this ? Simply because there arc principles taught to every brother that it is incumbent npon him to practice . Well , brethren , is nofc this of itself social and moral reform ? But , I must now pass to the second division of my

subject , which is the capability of Freemasonry in the character of a moral and social reformer to promote the general good of society as well as Masons . I shall nofc attempt to do more than bring out a few of the capabilities of our Order in a social and moral sense . It would take

a thinking Mason a lifetime to thoroughly digest the subject in a portly volume which probably nobody wonld have the patience to read , and it is because I really feel how little can be embraced within the time at my disposal , that

I must ask your indulgence if I altogether leave out many phrases with which , perhaps , you may be familiar . I can , however , briefly introduce certain conclusions at which I

have arrived , and give illustrative facts to show what has been done by Freemasonry , which , if it bo capable of no more , ought to make us proud to belong to such an Institution .

Freemasonry , then , rig htly carried out , is capable of exerting a vast influence in tbe promotion of peace and good will throughout the peoples amongst which it flourishes . Trained as I have been from boyhood in the

commerce of this country with India , China and the East , I must necessarily know something about those countries through twenty-five years personal intercourse with both native and English people who are constantly going and

returning as may be necessary for the requirements of business . But I will not give you my own evidence when it is so easy to find better , and although I need not perhaps recall to your mind a terrible mutiny in India in order to

illustrate the strong feelings of Caste prevalent in that country ( which pervades every class from the highest down to the lowest ) , I am g lad to say the progress we have made and are still making in our Indian Empire is most

remarkable . 1 ' or some years I have watched the spread of Masonry in that part of the world with increasing interest , and have come to the conclusion that we are only just beginning to discern what Freemasonry may do and be

m the future . In 1877 some of my old Masonic friends bantered me about fche dedication of an address of mine , then published , because of its confidently expressed optimist views of our future ; but , brethren , if you will but refer to

the proceedings at the installation of H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught as District Grand Master of Bombay , reported in the Freemason early in December last , you will , like IV . , be powerfully impressed . The mighty power that drav . \ c _

together men hitherto as far removed from each other z . v cau be possible , by political , religious aud social views cl the most varied character , must be capable of even more than I claimed for true Masonry eleven years ago .

If it be capable of uniting all classes and conditions of men—of all languages , creeds , and politics—in one Brotherhood , is not Freemasonry a real and livino * evidence of social and moral reform of the very hierhesfc order ? J °

Another very great advantage we possess as Masons is , that in the dissemination of our principles , our advocates must speak with the voice of conscience , or not at all . It is the loudest of all voices and will be heard ; so that the

Jnterrninglitig in our Lodges of races and creeds for centuries hostile and separated , could not have been brought about spontaneously , and clearly shows that . I expressed but a very moderate anticipation of what Masonry is carjable in India and generally throughout the East

So much for nations . I shall now give you an example of a different character , referring more particularly to 'individuals , the most prolific source we have as Freemasons , from which to draw . I read of it in the Dail y News durinothe

Franco-Prussian war , and you will all allow that journal ts uofc a Masonic publication ; neither is it one at all likel y to go out of its way to say much in favour of the Craft . ( From a Travelling Correspondent . )

Vouvii . U- ., Sept . 17 . ^ - ' •• a present wu ' has been prolific in illustrations of !' .: o valuo of ¦ ¦ '' * ¦ '¦•" .- H . mi ' y in dangei'ons re <• _ * :. ! " - ' ¦ ¦' ¦ ' ' ' » t thy lives saved by its mean .- - . Amon _ r the ( firr . loans ol ^ 'tincled ( , t * both cations which arrived from Sedan «• ¦ - O two men ""' -- . -Ohiideru-i . n for each o . hor was so tnai'k . d a . to . eca . iou in .

Modern Freemasonry As A Social And Moral Reformer.

qn . ry . They -wore the Prnaaia-a and Freach ai-iform , respectively , and though neither conld understand tbe other ' a language they shaved their rations , and seemed to be interchangins . signals of amity all day long . Their story was a very simple one . The Prussian , who is an officer , and a man of 35 or so , with a stern , grave face , and a

heavy over-hanging moustache , had met fche Frenchman , who is at least a dozen years his junior , on the battle fit-Id , the latter being supported by a couple of comrades . Twice did the wave of conflict bring these men in contact , and on the last occasion the Prussian , who was himself badly wounded in the chest , pressed the young

Frenchman hard , and had indeed his sword uplifted to administer the coup-de-grace , when the latter , who was faint from loss of blood , made a hasty sign to his victor whioh caused the latter to stay his hand . Parley was impossible , both from the exigencies of language , and the turmoil of battle ; and besides , both men lost consciousness

and fell at each other ' s side . It turned out that the young Frenchman had been made a Freemason a few months before the outbreak of the war , and thafc he had instinctively made the sign by means of which members of the Fraternity are taught to ask their brethren for help . The Prussian was an old Mason , who

recognised it instantly , and who had instinctively paused , and before there was time for consideration both men fainted away . When consciousness was restored , they found themselves side by side and with the dead and dying round them . By a strange coinoidence , their wounds were such that each could give the other some

slight relief , and the late enemies employed their weary hours , iu which they lay disabled and untended , in rendering little kindnesses to each other , and in thus cementing tbe friendship which bad begun so strangely . When help came , they petitioned to be permitted to keep together , telling their story with considerable

effusiveness to the doctor , who after some time came to them on the field . This gentleman , who was not a military surgeon , but a member of the blessed society whioh dates from Geneva , raised his hands in pleased astonishment at the tale he heard , and at onoed showed himself to be a Freemason too : so that three Brethren of the

Mystic Tie were to be seen wondering over tbe strange chance which had thrown them together . I do nofc profess to be able to explain the particular influence brought into play , or the kind of solace which Freemasons find in each others company , bufc it is certain that the wounded men are supremely satisfied afc the result , and that their story has given them quite a celebrity among their fellowsufferers .

At Iges , where the French prisoners were placed after the capitulation of Sedan , and where , it is but too troe , they were all starving , some of their number contrived to make it known to their captors that they were Masons , and though this was ineffectual in many instances , the sturdy and uninitiated Prussians laughing the

Masonic gestures to scorn , wherever ifc succeeded the men obtained little comforts which were priceless . A stout trooper was seen handing a warm frieze coat to one prisoner , aud giving part of his rations to another ; and explained his conduct to an inquirer with a sheepish smile , which spoke volumes , " They ate my brotheis

although I have fought with them , and they are hnnsrry aud cold , arid must be helped . They would do it for me . " These are merely typicnl cases . But it , is impossible to mix much with the tro-. p- * , particularly after a battle , without hearing of kindred instances of Masonic usefulness . "

Such is the suggestive narrative of a non-Mnson , —one who acknowledges that he does not understand the fee'itigs of Masons , or the deep meaning , to us , of tin- story he relates j and for that reason 1 have selected it . The successes of Freemasonry , like the triumphs of all moral

force , are generally silent , as we all know ; but sometimes both are thrust to the front unexpectedly . Just as it is impossible always to conceal from the world the vast amount of good we do by means of our three great Charitable Institutions , so also our magnificent contributions for

general benevolent purposes constantly appear in the daily newspapers . The personal experiences ot Masons are -till more rarely heard of , and then only among ourselves ; bufc I have given you public and outside testimony of something to be proud of , that springs spontaneously

from the school of Freemasonry . Of similar instances there are many on record . We may ask , if the bond of Brotherhood be strong enough to assert its influence in the manner related even ou the battle field and in the hospital , to

what extent may not fche members of a single Lodge hi capable of controlling the baser instincts of mankind , and promoting peace , love and concord wherever it finds a home ? ( To 1 ) 3 continued . )

Twenty-Four Inch Gauge.

TWENTY-FOUR INCH GAUGE .

TfoTHEN a candidate is being admitted info the V 7 mysteries , _ . n .. duties of our ancient 0 er he is presented with a . twenty-four ; tich is uge , and instruc d that , whereas the Operative Mason us * d it for the measu - ment of his w ork , he is to use it ior the more noble purpose of

the measurement of bis time . A- * t is the on \ measuri'i instrument known to the Craft , it appears b > e that tho * - ' ' is , necessarily , a de per meaning in it than that developed by the monitor . As the only measure , an ., developed