Some Common Objections To Freemasonry.

Carnarvon , Lathom , & c , to our own Provincial Grand Master ( Bro . Tew ) , the Deau of York , and thousands of others . Can it be supposed that such as these would glory

in owning fellowship wifch a body of secret traitors , banded together for the hindrance of justice—divine and human ? I now proceed to notice the last objection to our Order upon which I propose to touch at present . Our opponents

assert that if there is not possible harm in it there is really no benefits , the principal object of those who embrace it being to enjoy the good things of this life and to deck their persons with gaudy ornaments . While we believe that

God in His beneficence has given us the things of this present world ever to use as not abusing them , we are bound most stringently to fix rational limits to our hours of enjoyment . Nor do we deviate from the ordinary usages

of other societies in wearing badges and such distinctions as the Craft may confer on its members for their laudable progress in its noble principles . Such are the brief replies which time has permitted me to offer to the leading

objections against our Order , an Order which has cheered for many a year my leisure hours , which fostered the piety of William of Wykeham , which developed the genius of Wren and of Vanbrugh , which soothed , amid the turmoil of

war and the cares of Government , that dauntless soldier and patriot Wellington , who raised on the shores of the Western world the standard of the Empire . Finally , I believe , in regard to Freemasonry that God has indeed beon

in the midst of her , and therefore has she not been removed—God , who in many a bygone age has guided her back through the mists of idolatry , the shoals of infidelity , and the billows of faction . And sure am I that

the Lord of Hosts will still be with her , and the God of Jacob still prove her refuge , while she continues true to herself in teaching her votaries generosity to the fallen , sympathy with the suffering , the love of peace , subordinate

only to the love of freedom and the glorious principles of a vast philanthropy , embracing ail nations ; which shall have its completion in the Lodge above , where the Great

Architect of tbe Universe reigns as the Eternal Grand Master , and the wise and good of every age and every clime shall meet as brethren to part no more .

Freemasonry As A Social Institution.

FREEMASONRY AS A SOCIAL INSTITUTION .

YALUES are both absolute and relative . The intrinsic worth is one thing , and tbe comparative worth may be quite another . Thus in the Masonic system there can be no question as to the importance of those principles , moral and religious , which distinguish it , as compared with forms and ceremonies of a mere ritual observance .

Bufc these last-named features have their place and value in this system , and Freemasonry would be left poor indeed were these elements taken away . From a like point of view we can see how Masonic history , literature ,

symbolism , command the first place in the judgment of intelligent Craftsmen , and that it is along the lines of intellectual and moral expression that we find the glory of Freemasonry revealed .

But these principal things do not exhaust the benefits of the organisation . There are Masonic helps and ministries of higher and lower order , and even those that lie on the material side are not to be despised . So it is we are

moved to offer an urgent plea in favour of Freemasonry as a social force . That is not its highest or chief function , bufc it has value and is worthy of being considered and fostered as an adjunct of that which represents more of

dignity and usefulness . Some Lodges make the mistake of over-estimating the social features of the Masonic system . Fellowship and good cheer seem to be the primal virtues , and tbey cultivate with the utmost assiduity the

graces of hospitality , friendliness and sociability . They eat oysters and drink coffee together on every possible occasion ; they sit around the banquet tables , partake of

the good things provided , smoke and chat , tell stories ancl gossip about the matters of local interest , and then go home feeling that the chief mission of Freemasonry is to provide occasions when the social nature can be thus

ministered to in connection with the eating and drinking generally found to be conducive to the expression of a fraternal feeling . It goes without saying that the Institution is lowered in its aims when too much is made of the

Freemasonry As A Social Institution.

merely material and social elements . There is danger m the way of an excess of the good fellowship that the social board or the Masonic banquet room provides . On the other hand , however , there is an unwise rigidity

and constraint just as much to be avoided . Freemasonry is nofc to be interpreted and applied as though ifc only stood for instruction and devotion ; as though it was ' only fitted fco man ' s intellectual being , and must always be expressed

in solemn precise forms . Pleasure aud social enjoyment make much of the zest to life . Ifc strengthens and helps a man to unbend sometimes , to take his place among congenial associates , eat a good dinner , and listen to a song or

story , or join in friendly conversation . It is nofc wise fco neglect theso ministries because they are of comparatively slight importance . They have their uses in broadening and blessing human hearts , thus making the pilgrim way of earth a little less cheerless than ifc otherwise would be .

fchey constitute a bond of union among Brethren . Other things being equal , that Masonic Lodge which makes ample provisions for sociability and friendliness among its members will be the mosfc prosperous , and will be the most

likely to appreciate the higher aims of the institution and do the best work for philanthropy and human good . Let ifc not be forgotten that Freemasonry is a Social Institution . —Freemasons' ' Repository .

Brotherhood.

BROTHERHOOD .

THE word Brotherhood sounds the keynote of all true Freemasonry . When a Lodge realises thafc ifc is a family of brothers , bound to each other by a common tie , having unify of interest in all that pertains to moral

culture , material prosperity , and unblemished good name , ifc will find little difficulty in performing fully all its covenants , for thev all grow out of the spirit of Brotherhood—the spirit of mutual protection and charity .

A spirit of devotion to our Institution will be increased and ennobled if members of fche Order conform to a just conception of it , for while ifc is adapted to meet the needs of all , there is nothing narrow or bigoted in its character .

It has come down to us from the dim past , venerable with age and honour ; ifc stretches oufc its wide embrace to enclose men of every country and clime . In its catholic

charity ifc excludes no creed , no political opinions * , rank or condition . Making common cause with all that tends to elevate dignity and purify humanity , it is tbe rival of no institution that has these objects in view .

Religion , above all , finds in true Masonry its firmest friend . Its leading truths lie afc the foundation of our Institution , and its system of morals is the same as thafc which is inculcated by all creeds . Its sacred oracle is the

accepted rule by wbich we profess to guide and amend our lives . Hebrew and Christian brethren alike find the page they revere spread ever open upon our altar . Every rite

points to the holy volume as its source ; and every covenant is sanctioned by invocation to the Greafc Architect of fche Universe ,

Our Institution recognises the mutual dependence of one upon the other , through the varied vicissitudes of life , and for all the kind offices which justice and mercy require , its

members should aid , sustain and uplift each other by mutual assistance and acts of kindness , for good deeds need no other praise than the acts themselves . —Nexo York Sundaij Times .

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday , afc Freemasons' Hall , when the President , Bro . R . Grey , occupied the chair , and was supported by a large attendance . Recommendations made at the April meeting , amounting in fche aggregate to £ 450 ,

were confirmed ; the new list , containing 57 applications , was then considered . These were relieved , with a total of £ 585 , consisting of two recommendations of £ 50 each , five of £ 40 each , seven of £ 30 each ; grants of

£ ' 20 each to ten petitioners , £ 10 each to eleven petitioners , and £ 5 each to eleven petitioners . Several cases were dismissed or deferred .

A Renter ' s telegram informs us thafc Prince Albert Victor of Wales , accompanied by the Governor of Gibraltar , attended a ball given there on Tuesday night , by the Spanish Consul , to celebrate the first anniversary of the

birth of King Alfonso XIII .