How To Secure Work.

HOW TO SECURE WORK .

IN every Masonic Lodge there is the desire that there should be frequent work . This is proper—nay more , the absence of such a prevalent desire on the part of the members

is evidence not only that the Lodge is in an unhealthy condition , but that the members are pleased to have it so . The work of the Lodge is the life of the Lodge . It is to it what the circulation of the blood is to the individual man—the

absence of circulation brings with it paralysis ~ and invites death . We need not now discuss why this is so , but we take it for granted for the purpose of this article , which is to discover the most proper and praiseworthy methods for securing continual work for a Lodge . If idleness be death

and industry life , it is important that it should be determined how a Lodge may be in the best sense of the term industrious . For more purposes than one . the Officers are the Lodge . Given the possession of attentive , earnest , skilful Officers and the prosperity of the Lodge ordinarily must follow . They

compel success . Their punctuality , energy , ability , and devotion to rendering the work correctly and forcibly are infectious . Like Master like members . The Officers are the leaders , and where they go many others follow , what they do is copied generally by the body of the Craft over which they

preside . I hey are the great luminaries—especially the W . M ., around whom all the others revolve . Given a thoroughly competent Master , and a live Lodge is almost inevitably the result . Moral . select your Master , and do not let him select himself . In elevating him you are either elevating or

lowering yourselves , since what he is that you will probably become . He , far more than any other Brother , determines the condition and character of the Lodge . Another moral .-Masters , recognise the responsibilities you are under , and do everything in your power for the highest advancement of the

Masonic body over which you have the honour to preside . Master the work in every part of its details . Be not slouchy about anything . Take a pride in saying the right thing in the right way . When you get your intellectual team into action , do not put the cart before the horse . Be sure you

are right and then go ahead , with everything to hope for and nothing to fear . Having mastered the ritual , render it audibly , intelligently , earnestly . Show that you mean what you say , and manifest your sincerity by vigour of utterance , by propriety of intonation and by downright earnestness . Throw

yourself into the work . The result will be , every one will be interested , every one attentively listen , every one will be instructed . It will get abroad that excellent work is done in your Lodge , your membership will be largely drawn out , and

you will also have numerous visitors . It does not require that you should be a Demosthenes or a Cicero to fill your role with distinction ; it only requires that you should be sincere in manner , articulate your words clearly , and speak in tones so as to be heard by all in the Lodge .

But the members have duties to perform as well as the Officers , and distinct from the Officers . The Lodge is your Lodge . It made you , and you may make it—or mar it . If your Officers are model Officers , of course you are attracted to attend regularly , but if they be not , still attend regularly ,

and endeavour to give , them such Fraternal aid and advice as will tend to improve them . They are your Officers , and you owe them your presence , ' your sympathy , and your assistance . . Especially is this true of Past Masters . These should never be Past Masons ! Never can a Brother who

has been accorded the highest honours in the gift of his Lodge do too much for its advancement and prosperity . If it droops , it is in part his fault ; if it prospers , he should be proud to be in part at least the cause of it . Where a healthy spirit of emulation exists among the members as

to who can best work and best agree , that Lodge is on the high road to prosperity . It is a live Lodge , an active Loage , a busy Lodge . Its work is ably performed , its charities are liberally dispensed , and its meetings are attractive and

instructive . It properly unites Labour and Refreshment , and when the toil of the evening is over , the Brethren assemble around the Fraternal board , and there enjoy those felicities of speech , anecdote and song which are only known in their perfection to Brethren of the Mystic Tie .

In no instance where the Officers and members of a Lodge conscientiously perform their several duties , can it be said that there is no Labour , no Refreshment , no harmony , and no attractiveness in the Lodge meetings . Just as surely as the work is correctly and impressively performed , so surel y the members will be drawn together in increased

How To Secure Work.

numbers , and their presence will secure the frequent presentation of material for moulding into perfect ashlars , so that the spiritual Temple shall have constantly added to it living stones of value and beauty . — " Keystone . "

Not Afraid Of Publicity.

NOT AFRAID OF PUBLICITY .

RECENTLY ; in one of the Toronto Lodges , a discussion arose regarding the publication of reports of Masonic meetings and functions in the public press , and we were surprised to hear of Brethren taking the stand they did

against the publicity of events , of what may be said to be in the interest of the Craft . There are , of course , discussions and things that transpire in a Lodge room of such a nature , although innocent in themselves , in which the general public would have no interest whatever , and consequently should

not be brought to the notice of those not connected with the Craft . While , on the other hand , there are events which take place under Masonic auspices that should have the widest publicity , as they tend to show that the aims and

princinles of the Fraternity are for the elevation of the character of men , and not to cover their faults under the p-uise or cloak of secrecy , as many people believe is the case , as well as showing the bountiful charity of Masonry to the public institutions of the land .

We are fully aware that many things appear m print concerning Masonry that should not , but that is in many cases the fault of the Brethren themselves , in not looking after the interest of the Fraternity by seeing that when anything takes place under Masonic auspices that it is properly

placed before the public . What is required , when a Masonic function takes place , is to appoint a Brother properly qualified to give the necessary information to the press , and then the reports would be more in keeping with the dignity of the Craft . What do we find now , especially in Toronto ?

When a reporter of one of the daily papers arrives at the portals of our Lodge rooms he meets a Mason , very often a Brother " bedecked " with all kinds of jewellery , and he asks

him for information , one whom he thinks is capable of giving it to him . The Brother does so , perhaps , to the best of his ability , but the imformation imparted to the reporter is , in many cases , far from being accurate .

We have frequently listened to such information being given to reporters which was far from the actual facts , owing , no doubt , to the incompetency of the Brother giving it . As to the publicity of reports of Masonic gatherings , the Brethren who condemn them , in our opinion , are not reading Masons ,

because if they were they would know that the publicity of Masonic meetings of late years has helped to sweep away that strong prejudice which existed , in years gone by , against the Craft . The great cry against Masonry in the early days of this fast dying century was that it was a secret

organisation , and that all kinds of crimes were committed under cover of its secrecy . Why was such a charge made ? Because the public were unacquainted with its aims and teachings . The great anti Masonic cry that shook the very foundation

of the social and political conditions of the United States both before and after the Morgan episode was owing to the lack of knowledge among the people of the purposes of the Craft .

Masonry to-day in England is doing a noble work . Why ? Because the English people are better acquainted with its aims and objects on account of a wider publicity of the great charitable work being done by it . Richard Carlisle says , when speaking of secret associations , in his works :

' The root of all tyranny and oppression , of all social and human ills , is found in the withholding from the masses of each community mental culture , or knowledge that may be conferred on all . " There is a good deal of truth in this statement . We claim that if the teachings of Masonry are

good enough to be dissiminated among the 28 , 000 members of the Craft in Ontario , who are the men of intelligence , then it will do no harm to show the people who are not members what those teachings are doing for those connected with it , by the aid of the public press , because no call for aid , amidst

a calamity or otherwise , thoughout the world , is unheeded by the Masons . This is a progressive age , and we are assured of this fact that in twenty-five years from now , if not before that time , Masonry in Canada and throughout the

world will be far more in touch with the general sympathy of all classes of the people than it is to-day , owing to the greater publicity of its aims and teachings . If Masonry is to be a power for good , then its object must be known to the world . —" Masonic Sun , " 21 st December 1900 .