Practical Masonry.

PRACTICAL MASONRY .

THERE is much talk of the beautiful ritual of symbolic Masonry , of the impressive ceremonies a'id instructive symbols , and the Institution is praised for this , the sentimental part of its organisation .

Sentiment is good . Sentiment may be made very touching , but sentiment alone will produce little practical good . It is the effort , the exorcise of brawn and muscle that tells in the aclucvemij ' . 't of any work . Theory is one thing ,

practice altogether another . A man may theorise all his life , and plan most magnificent works of science and art , but as long as they are mere theorisings , nothing will be done that will benefit mankind .

Precisely so is Masonry . The theory and sentiment of the degrees are one thing , the practical working out of the theory is quite another . At the beginning , the candidate is bid " Behold how good and how pleasant it is

for brethren to dwell together in unity . " Beautiful sentiment , sublime truth , divine doctrine . If ho- is a thoughtful man , he can but be pleased that he has at last found a place where peace and unity dwell serene . What

is the use of this theory of unity and good fellowship if it is not put into practice ? Teach a man that he ought to live at peace with his fellow , and before the sound of the

sentence dies away , give him a practical illustration of the fact that it is mere sentiment ancl theory . Where ' s the use of it ? Masons ought to be practical in their work .

There never was a time—at least , there has not been for many years—when there was a greater need for less sentiment and more practice . The world to-day is a practical world . The days of theory have passed . The

mere sentimentalist will be run down and crushed beneath the crowd of practical workers . The times call for practical effort . The theory of Masonic teaching , and the sentiment of the ceremonies and the lessons of its

symbols must be used as levers to raise the man to his true position as a factor , in the practical world of to-day . Sentiment must be only the steam that moves

the machinery . Absolutely necessary it is , but the whole universe full of steam with no application of it to machinery would produce nothing but vaporous stagnation .

The sentiment and theory of Masonry is like music to the army . The music in itself fights no battles , but it incites the men who hear it to deeds of valour . It stirs the heart , and puts the whole man into action . Every

pulsation of the heart is the practical result of the sentiment of the music . The whole army may be prepared to do battle . Their forts may be well manned and the engines of destruction in good position and strongly

fortified . Ammunition may be abundant , and shot and shell be piled mountain high , but so long as the guns are silent , the men inactive , the ammunition and shells piled

up in heaps , all this " pomp and circumstance of war " is mere sentiment , and will avail nothing against an active band , no matter how small .

And so it is with our symbols and ceremonies ; they are useless except as they stimulate to action . Of what use to a hungry man is a lecture on the evils of gormandising or intemperance ? Of what use is a tract on the

efficacy of prayer or the beauty of faith to a man who is freezing with cold ? " Be thou warmed and clothed , " is mere sentiment , and does not warm or clothe as long as the bowels of mercy are closed . Sorrow for suffering is

hypocrisy unless there is some effort to relieve that suffering . At this season of the year , in this practical year , there is need for practical Masonry . The theory of charity , the sentiment of relief must serve as the fire

within , to generate steam of action . " Be thou warmed and clothed" must be earned oufc by actual work . The hand must be opened , and the heart must be ready to

respond to the cry of the needy . In this way alone will the Institution carry out practically its misson . Theory and sentiment must be followed by active effort . —New York Dispatch .

A meeting was recently held in the Assembly Rooms , Bull Hotel , to consider the question of establishing a Lodge for Hoddesdon . There was a good attendance , everything being satisfactory . Application will shortly be made for the necessary permission to form the Lodge .

Practical Masonry.

We are very pleased to hear that , with a view to perpetuate the long and active services to Freemasonry in Essex of the Provincial Grand Secretary , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales has , on the recommendation of the

Earl of Warwick Provincial Grand Master , granted a warrant for the formation of a Lodge at Chingford , to be called the Thomas Railing Lodge , numbered on the Grand Lodge Register 2508 . This Lodge is to be

consecrated on Tuesday , 1 st May , by the Earl of Warwick , and we are asked to state that members of the Fraternity desirous of being present should communicate at once

with Bro . William Clifford , 3 Moorgate Street Buildings , London , E . C . As the accommodation is limited , preference will be given to early applicants .

o o o Under its popular " They say" heading , the " Islington Gazette" remarks that " those who say they make a good thing by being Freemasons are not

always correct . The best of a long list of candidates for a public office this week was scratched because he put the square and compass at the corner of his letter of application . And serve him right . " We endorse the

verdict of our contemporary , being of opinion that any Mason who so mixes Freemasonry up with his business is acting in opposition to the principles of the Order ,

which enjoin that its members should be uninfluenced by mercenary or other unworthy motives in their association with it .

o o o The Most Worshipful Grand Master has appointed Lord Llangattock as Provincial Grand Master of the Eastern Division of South Wales , in succession to the late Sir George Elliot , Barfc . o o o

The Secretary of the City Waiters' Provident and Pension Society has received a cheque for five hundred pounds from Bro . Lieut .-Col . Lambert , to found a pension to be called the " George Lambert Pension . "

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