Masonry And Every-Day Life.

come amid the busy throng , where competition rages , where suffering and want intrude their hard presence , aye , within the hallowed precincts of the home , more and more ; and , verily , tho life , the motley throng are living would feel the genial sunrise of a new joy , and the spirit of

antagonism with which men view one another so often now would be counted an intruder upon the peaceful life of the society . To intensify the spirit of human fellowshi p , of that charity whose fountain is in the heart , is one of the

loading offices of our Masonic Institution . If , in our teaching , if , in the communion of brother with brother within our walls , if , in tho nearer contact of man with man in the common intorests of Masonry , we can develop in our hearts a keener sensitiveness , widen our sympathies ,

sweeten our spirits , train ourselves in thought and acts of charity , giving to them all that supreme sanction growing out of a sense of solemn responsibility ; then are we one of the factors for good in the world ; then are we touching vitally the most sacred interests of every-day life . Oar Institution , even as it does so stand in tradition and organic structure , should in our convictions and lives stand for nobility of manhood , championship of the right , love and fellowship wider than the limits of our brotherhood , tho heart and deed of a true fraternal love . As this noble

statue , wrought into artistic form the more forcibl y to remind the throngs that through generations may cluster about it , and ask its meaning , stands as symbol of tho character and deeds of the man whose heartbeat responsive

to his fellows' needs , so may our institutions stand as something lasting and immovable , yet speaking of life , standing for something instinct with life , a symmetrical building indeed , yet , in its practical activity and influence ,

in touch with all that is noble and sweet in the life of the world . Our office is to speak these lessons of humanity and fellowship with all their eternal and divine sanction into the ears of unwilling men . In this we are not indeed

alone . Wo only join the voice from many an institution , many an earnest , great-hearted spirit . As a man alone you may engage in the lofty work of bringing about the

reign of great thoughts and loving deeds . The voice , howover , should take on a more determined emphasis when uttered in the unison and harmony of our fraternal fellowship . The individual , under the inspiration of a loving heart , may indeed

" Join hauda with God to make a man to live . " But as a compact body , linked in that strength which comes of united forces and purposes at one , fired with the electric power of that brotherly love fostered in the fellowship of kindred spirits , we may in very deed " join hands with God " aud with one another , to bring strength and

purpose , and power , and richness , and gladness into the

world ' s every-day life . " There is no greater factor in the elevation of our moral natures than the knowledge that one whose opinion we value believes in us ; and nothing will so soon drive a

soul downward as the conviction that this confidence i 3 withheld . You must give what you would receive ; show love , sympathy aud truth yourself if you would find them in others . If you look out on the world from soiled or

clouded spectacles , all objects will appear to you blurred and distorted . "—Liberal Freemason .

The Porch Of The Temple.

THE PORCH OF THE TEMPLE .

MOST striking and beautiful was the porch of King Solomon ' s Temple , worthy in itself of a journey to Jerusalem to behold . King David gave to King Solomon the pattern of this porch ( 1 Chronicles xxviii . 11 ) , and

Solomon was chosen by the Lord to build it—together with the entire Temple . The two chief features of the porch were the two famous pi liars , named by Solomon Jachin and Boaz . Whether these two pillars stood in the porch , or in

front of it , has always been a vexed question—1 Kings vii . 21 stating , that " he set up the pillars in the porch of the Temple , " and 2 Chronicles iii . 17 , that " he reared up the pillars before the Temple . " We think the pillars were in the

porch , supporting its roof , for while so situated they were also in reality in front of tho Temple . These two pillars , of brass , were tho work of Hiram , the architect of Tyre , and

cast under his direction , with chapiters of molten brass npon the tops of the pillars as capitals , with nets of checker work and wreaths of chain work , and upon their tops was lily work . This porch was twenty cubits in length , and

The Porch Of The Temple.

the same in breadth , and at its entrance was a gate made entirely of Corinthian brass—the most precious metal known to the ancients . Suoh , in brief , was the porch of the Temple , " a thing of beauty , " and through its verbal

delineation " a joy for ever . " Suppose a stranger had come to Jerusalem after the completion of the Temple , on purpose to see it , and had viewed and admired its wonderful porch , but after doing

so had turned his back on the Temple itself , after having been invited to enter it and behold all of its wondrous beauties ! What would be thought of the good sense , or the fine taste , of such a one , and if he were a mystic disciple of King Solomon , what would be thought of his

Freemasonry ? Standing in the porch , with tho privilogo of familiarizing himself with all the marvels of construction and ornamentation of the Temple interior , and refusing to enter , such a one ' might be denominated intellectually blind , morally lame , and Masonically dumb . Brother reader , have you not seen this blin , lame and dumb man , this blind , lame and dumb Freemason ? More

than the schoolmaster he is abroad in the world . " The woods is full of them . " Men who have eyes and see not , ears and hear not , minds and understand not . Men who have feet and walk not from the outer porch into the inner

temple . Men who are initiates but not adepts . Brethren who are familiar with the exoteric but ignorant of tho esoteric . None of these things should be . The eye was constituted to bo the organ of sight , the ear to hear , tho

feet to walk , tho mind to think . He who abridges his physical , mental or Masonic ability drags around with him for life a dead member , and makes himself a spectacle for men and angels .

Now we have reached the heart of this subject . Every Freemason is entitled , completely entitled , to enter not only the porch of the mystic Temple of the Craft , but to penetrate into its holy place , and its holy of holies . The entire triad is his . Especially is it his privilege to enter the penetralia , the adytum , the most holy place . No Masonic secret is lawfully denied him . The complete secret , art and mystery is his , to master and enjoy—if he will ; but he must will if it is to be his . " Whosoever will " is the language

of Freemasonry , as well as of Holy Writ . What a rich reward does the Fraternity bestow upon every initiate who seeks to know the entire mystery ! We would that it were in our power to make this so clear that every

Brother might comprehend its truth and force . We would that every initiate might understand that one may be a Master Mason without being a Master of Masonry . To bo the latter is the work , the pleasure , the reward of a

lifetime s study . The student of the mystery of Freemasonry is no mere book-worm , noantiquated pedagogue , but an intelligent tourist through anintellectual paradise , which is watered with silvery streams , flowing through flowery meads , shaded

with stately trees , through which balmy zephyrs play , birds of rich plumage sing , and every prospect is one of enchantment and beauty . This is the interior of the Masonic

Temple . Those who remain in the Porch of the Temple never behold it . The porch is the sign , it is the thing signified . The porch is the type , it is the anti-type . The porch is the symbol , it is the symbol ' s hidden meaning .

Yes , the joys of the porch are great . All the initiated resort there . There are social pleasures , and there is Masonic recognition . But why remain there . Why be satisfied with these ? Why not enter the Temple ? Why not

become more than mechanical Masons ? Why not discover the hidden beauties and excellences of Masonry ? Why not understand and enjoy the meaning of our symbolism ? If you are a Mason , why not be a thorough one ?

There is a sublimity in Freemasonry which justifies the phrase " sublime degree of a Master Mason . " Every Brother should be a sublime Mason , and he may be if he will . There is ravishment for the sight , enchantment for

the imagination , satisfaction for the understanding . All are invited to this intellectual banquet . The gates of Corinthian brass in the Porch of the Temple are thrown wide open , and every Master Mason is invited to enter the Temple itself . —Keystone .

A MASON ' FREE BED . —By the will of the late Bro . James E . Gale , of Haverhill , Mass , the sum of 3000 dollars is to bo paid to the MaBter and Wardens of the Lodge in Haverhill , for the establish , ment and mainteaance of a free bed in the Haverhill Hospital , for the nse of such Masons as they may deem worthy . This is a practical Charity , and an enduring monument to the memory of an intelligent and eminently worthy Freemason . —Liberal Freemason .