Antiquity And Adaptation

ANTIQUITY AND ADAPTATION

( From the Voice of Masonry . ) IT matters little whether Masonry originated among tho priests of Egypt , the Thugs of India , the philosophers of Greece , tho Hebrews of Canaan , the merchants of Phoenicia , or at tho "Apple Tree Tavern , " in London ; whether it was born in tho Garden of Edenamong tho mountains of Abyssinia , in tho civilised cities of

, Greece , in tho plains of Hindostan , on tho hills of Palestine , or in tho streets of tho metropolis of the British realm . It matters littlo whether it is as old as creation ; whether it wan born in Solomon ' s time , or in the reign of Sesofcoris ; whether it was coeval with the Pyramids or wifcb the Bunker Hill Monument , ; whether its nativity bo dated six thousand years ago , or in " 1717 . "

It may form an interesting question for solution by the antiquarian or historian—when and where , aud by whom was Masonry first established ? It might be a pleasure and a gratification to those interested in the growth and progress of tho Fraternity to be ablo to trace , in all its ramifications , from its conception to its present position of power and influence . Those who throw tho light of

history on its path , give us pleasure and deserve well of their brethren and tho world for their labours , and we would not havo them , for a moment , intermit their efforts to roll away tho douse cloud that overshadows the past Masonry . But , after all , that is not the great question to be answered to-day . Masonry maybe ancient as Baby lon—as venerable as the Pyramids —and yet bo of little use to this ago and tho present population of

the globe . How many associations of tho olden time , had they been continued to the present age , would havo been of practical value ? Not many . Mere age does not command respect . It musk bo coupled with worth to ensure consideration . Neither will antiquity prove that Masonry is for this age and people . Wo may agree that tho fact of its having long existed proves its value ; but evil things have been aged , and white locks frequently shadow the brow of tho fool or the criminal .

The great question as regards our Institution now is , not how old it is ; neither ia it vrbetber it has been adapted to the condition of mankind in the past ; but whether it is needful and beneficial to human progress and human prosperity now . This question boing answered in the affirmative , Masonry is worthy of the support of philanthropists everywhere ; if answered truly in the negative , it is unworthy of

countenance—no matter how beneficial it may have proved itself in times past . How ought this question to be answered ? What does truth require in the promises ? Masonry is , professedly and confessedly , a benevolent institution . It teaches thai ; it is the imperative duty of each person to caro for and assist a needy follow creature . It teaches

that mankind are brethren , and , as such , aro bound to extend aid to each other in tho day of adversity . By most impressive rites aud appropriate symbols , it impresses these duties upon the mfnda and consciences of tho members , and , by regulations proved practical by experience , these duties are ever kept clearly and plainly before them : " When they lie down and thoy rise up ; when thoy go out

and they come in . " The intention of tbe Society is to make mon more benevolent We believe the intention is fulfilled ; indeed , it can hardly bo otherwise . The lessons received in the Lodge will naturally havo their designed effect . A score , or a hundred persons come regularly together , and consult concerning tho wants and tbe needs of their

brethren and friends . The needy aro helped , the despondent encouraged , and the hungry fed . They meet regularly . Those matters are talked over at every meeting . Thus , a habit of thinking of the needy and of ministering to thoir wants is formed , and it becomes an important part of the business of those who voluntarily put themselves into this process of training to do tho work of

benevolence . Having placed themselves under obligation to do these generous works , and having banded themselves together for that purpose , the result is found in the moro humane lino of action which they exhibit . That Masons give for benevolent and charitable purposes , outside of their Lodge payments , as much aa others not members , is a fact which , so far as we know , has never been denied .

That they give more , according to their means , than non-society men , we have no doubt . Every subscription list ; for charitable purposes , circulated in a place where a Loclgo is in existence , will bear us out in that belief . We say this , nofc in a spirit of boasting , but because it shows that tho professions of benevolence put forth by Freemasons are nofc empty ones . My own observation would prove that Masons

generally give double the amount which could be exacted of them on an impartial assessment . But wo will place the amount of thoir gifts at the same figures with others nofc members of tho Lodge . Then we shall , of course , have to give the Lodge credit for all that is contributed to charity within it , for if there had been no Lodgo these contributions would never havo been made . Thus we find that

Masonry adds very materially to the treasury of charity . Ifc seems like a work of supererogation to say a word as to the need for , and the benefit of , an institution of this kind in the present condition of mankind . But perhaps a word will nofc be out of place , for the good people are slow to admit the benefits conferred by our Order . Wo can imagine a state of society which would not require such an

institution as Masonry to exist . Were every ono disposed to b < : governed , in act and word , by the Saviour ' s Golden Rule , there would bo no need of Masonry . Were all honest and charitable , ready to relievo distress wherever Fcen , Masonry ' s occupation would bo gone . But a blind , unfeeling selfishness pervades tho minds of men . Self

is ever present with most persons . The voice of tho poor and need y is smothered by the noise of business and of greed , and their cry is not heard by thoso who have the means to be , and who ought to be , their benefactors . Not a week before preparing this article , a woman , in this land of plenty , died of starvation , surrounded by those , the crumbs from whoso tablea would havo givou tho needed sustenance to

Antiquity And Adaptation

preserve her life . Sho had saved tho Uvea of her children , by giving thorn all sho had been ablo to gather . Can wo say that where such things happen—ami this is but ono of many of tho same class—that thero is no need of such a benevolent organization as Masonry baa been proved to be ? Shall we demolish Masonry afc tho beck of tho fanatical , one-idead opponents , while mothers starve , surrounded by

their famishing children ? Did Masonry do as some of its enemies falsely charge , aud only care for its own members and their families , still ifc would bo a good institution , and worthy of being sustained . If oveiy head of a family provided well for his own , thero would bo no suffering in poverty ; did every society seo that its own members wero supplied , thero would be much less suffering than now prevails .

Masonry doos this , somo other societies do nofc . Even church sometimes forgets the invalid brother who suffers from sickness , or tho weakly sister whose sands of lifo havo nearly run out , though we aro glad to bo able to state our conviction that ; such neglect is far less common than ifc was iu years gone by . Religion has bocotno less doctrinal and moro practical than formerly . In this particular tho

church may have learned aud practised a valuable lesson from tho Lodge—a lesson which they ought to havo learned to practise loug ages ago—that charity is greater than cither faith or hope , and abides for over . Wo think wo havo the right to conclude from tho considerations so briefly expressed , that Masonry , whether ifc bo ancient or modern , ia adapted to this ago ; that the -world needs ifc as a school of

benevo-Icnco and charity ; that ifc materially helps forward tho car ' of human progress ; that it , to a great degree , assuages the woes of poverty , aud feeds tho hungry aud clothes tho naked . As long as poverty and want prevail—" as long as penury has a want to relievo or sorrow a tear to dry "—the world will need Masonry to assist in the holy work . And , though tho bigot may rago and tho fauatie curse , Masonry will survive until that period shall come when distress shall have ended and relief shall not bo needed .

Lodges Of Instruction

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION

Eastern Star No . 95 , and Tredegar No . 1625 . ON Monday evening last , the 15 th insfc ., a number of brofcbroa met afc the Royal Hotel , Mile End Road , E ., for the purpose of establishing a Lodge of Instruction under tho sanction and authority of the Tredegar Lodge , held afc tho same establishment . Bro . E . Gottheil P . M . was unanimously voted to tho chair . Amongst thoso present wero Bros .

C . Lacoy P . M ., tho Worshipful Master of the Mother Lodge , T . J . Barnos P . M . , Geo . Vorry P . M ., J . Berry P . M ., & c ., & c . The preliminaries having been agreed upon , Bro . E . Gottheil waa appointed Preceptor , T . J . Barnes Treasurer , nnd Geo . Hollington . Secretary . Tho meeting then resolved itsolf into a committee , and several byelaws woro considered ::: A agreed upon . A meeting had also boon

convened—for the same dato , hour and place—of the members of tho " Eastern Star Lodge of Instruction , " which had been in abeyance for about three or four years , and although tho intention ami object had been conspicuously advertised , out of upwards of one hundred members but seven attended . This being deemed a quorum , ifc was unanimously resolved that the two Lodges amalgamate , aud that the

furniture , privileges , & c , should constitute the property of the new establishment . The now Lodge will moot every Monday throughout the year at 8 p . m . There aro hundreds of brethren residing- in tha district aud its vicinity , who , wo trust , will exert themselves to second the efforts of those who so willingly give thoir services to tho cause of Masonic instruction . It is at all times exceedingly difficult

to uphold the life and sustain the vigour of these Lodges . Tho element of unity is contained in tho perseverance of rarely more than half-a-dozen members , the rest of the attendance being , as a rule , moro or less fluctuating . It should therefore be the duty of the many ablo brethren who , we know , reside in the immediate neighbourhood

to set an example , by their presence , afc every possible opportunity to the dilatory , apathetic , nud negligent . It is in their power to tnako this one of the most prosperous , as well as one of the best conducted Lodges in tho country . For our own parfc , wo wish it every success , and shall at all times bo pleased , by giving the proceedings every publicity , to further its interests , and promote its prosperity .

Dalhousie Lodge of Ins-fcraotion , No . 660 . —The weekly meeting of the above Lodge was held afc Bro . Allen ' s , Royal Edward , Triangle , Hackney , on Tuesday last . Present—Bro . Cambridge W . M ., Lovelock S . W ., Smith J . W ., Saunders S . D ., Perrin J . D ., Brand I . G ., Worsley Secretary , WaUiugton , P . M . Preceptor ; also Bros . Barker , llorsley , Hewlett , Lay , Crane , Defriez , Davis , Crouch , Ashburner .

The Lodge was opened iu duo form . Tho minutes of the last mooting were read aud confirmed . The ceremony of raising waa rehearsed , Bro . Lay acting aa candidate . Bro . Wallington gavo the traditional history . Bro . llorsley worked tho 1 st and Urd sections of the lecture , assisted by the brethren . The Lodgo wns resumed to the first degree . Bro . Lovelock was unanimously elected W . M . for tho ensuing week , and appointed his ' ( fliccr . s in rotation . Tho 15 sections will 1 ) 6 worked

in this Lodsje on Tuesday next , the 2 ' . ji'd instant , by the ioHowing hrcthrcn : —Bros . H'ntfey'MS W . M ., finder W . M . 15 H . W ., Wailingiou P . M . S ( iO J . W . First Lecture by Bnvs . Dallas 132 I , W . J . Smith W . S . 8150 , E . T . Worsley J . D . 860 , Ashburner P . M . ISiS , Miwto P . M . . 1319 , Williams 0-. W , Rudderforth 12 . Second Lectn . ro by Bros . Cambridge J . W . 15 , Hogarth 1107 , Defriez S . W . 45 , J . D . 1273 , Binder W . M . 15 , Hewlett 111 . Third Lecture by Bros . Wallington P . M . S 60 . Allen S . D . 733 , Perrin W . M . 1050 .