Masonic Thought.

Masonry is a beautiful system of morals . Do we obey its teachings ? Think . Masonry commands a brotherly love . Do we exercise it P Think .

Do we in reality practice all the lessons , so ennobling , so elevating , that the Lodge inculcates ? Think . Oh , for a thinking Fraternity , that will take timo to

understand the many truths that lie buried beneath tho beautiful allegories of the degress . '—Jcta / m' . * , in . N . Y . Dispatch .

Tom's Masonic Lesson.

TOM'S MASONIC LESSON .

q . HOMAS BEAU CHAMP was a " good fellow , " and , like many JL another snch a man , was a Mason , or snpposed he was . He had been regularly proposed aud elected , and had taken his degrees in due and ancient form . Nor had he stopped with tho Lodge , but had had the pleasnre of becoming a lloyal Arch Mason , iu name , ab

least , and proudly wore on his watch chain the cross which is tho commonly accepted emblem of a Knight Templar . Had any one asserted , in tho hearing of Mr . Thomas Beauchamp , that he was not a Mason , that gentleman would have deeply resented the statement , and regarded it as a . deliberate insult , yet there were some of tho

lessons of Fraternity which he had not learned , but which , for . tnnately for him , and for tho world , there was to be a way provided for him to learn . Thomas Beauchamp was a lawyer ; an excellently educated man , full of energy and vigour , aud attentive to business . He had been

so fortunate as to win in several cases of great importance ; had g iven advico of much worth to two or throo men who were rich , influential and appreciative , and hy the harmonious actions of all

these causes had beon rapidly winning his way to both fame and fortune . However pleasant and self-satisfy ing this had been to him , it was not to continue so far as his supposition as to Masonry was concerned .

One afternoon , when Tom had been unusually busy , and was somewhat worried and annoyed , his friend James Jones entered tho office . He was not a Mason , thongh he had a high , and very just and accurate opinion of the Fraternity . He was a member of the

church where Tom attended , not as a member , but merely as a hearer . "I want yonr subscription fco help ns purchase an organ for the chnrch , " said Mr . Jones , getting straight to the reason for his call , for he knew how busy Tom usually was , aud how valuable his time must be .

" How much do you wish r demanded Tom , equally as brief and business-like as his friend . "I think you shonld give fifty dollars , at least , " replied Mr . Jones . "I cannot afford it , " said Tom , shortly and rather curtly . I'd like to know why not . You can afford a fine house , fine horses , books , amusements , and—"

"Yes , interrupted loin , "I know all that , bnfc one must have those things iu order to move in the circle in society to which I belong . Eeally , the bills I gob last month would astound you . I'll give twenty . five dollars , and it is , as circumstances are , absolntely all

I can afford . " "Yon used to be much more liberal , Mr . Beauchamp , " said Jones . " I know it , and I know , too , that in those days I had fewer ways

in which to spend my money . Besides , I go to church so seldom now that—" " I wish you came of tener , much of tener , as von would be welcome , and—" " Freemasonry is good enough religion for me , " stontly said Tom .

" Is it ? I do not think that Masonry is religion at all . Are you sure it is ? " Jones replied . " I am sure tbat any man who lives up to the teachings of Freemasonry will be as nearly perfect as it is possible for a man fco be . " " I'll not dispute that . I am not a Mason , not becanse I am nofc

heartily in accord with the principles I believe it inculcates , but simply becanse I have never yet found myself so situated financially that I thought I had the right to take the money for the purpose of joining . Not ; being a Mason , I am in no situation to warrant me in giving an opinion regarding what you have inst said , but , how many

of yon live up to the principles yon mention ?" " I don't know . No one , I suppose qnite does , but that isn't the question . I ' m very busy to-day , and cannot devote time to such a discussion . I'll subscribe the sum I mentioned , and , some time , when I am not quite so busy , I'll consider the whole matter thoroughly ,

and answer yoa fully . " He put his name on the subscription list , wrote his check for twenty-five dollars , and handed it to Jones , who then withdrew . Tom tired himself over one legal document , worried over another , nodded over a third , and was just thinking to himself how close the

room was , and how sleepy and stupid he was getting , when something strange happened . A gentleman entered his office noiselessly , crossed the floor silently , and had seated himself at the table , just opposite Tom , before the latter observed him . The new-comer waa one of the most remarkable men that Tom had ever seen . His face

was long and sallow . His eyes were black as coal , but seemed full of strange and shifting light , as though there were fire in them . He had a huge moustache , as dark as hair ever was , waxed finely to a couple of upturned points . A long fcuffc of hair , depending from his pointed chin , lengthened out his face more than anything else could

possibl y have done . He wore a tall silk hat , which he did not remove dnring the entire interview , yet beneath its brim Tom could nofc fail to see that the luxuriant growth of hair was combed into two curious bttle hillocks jnsfc over the temples . He was dressed in sombre black , from head to foot , and wore a long ulster , which must have swept the floor when he walked . He had on fine black kid gloves

Tom's Masonic Lesson.

which he retained on his hands dnring his call . Remarkable looking in every respect , there was nothing which ono conld well havo honestly criticised in his appearance , unless it wero his feet , which , judging by tho size and shape of his boots . it seairmd mu-c bo deformed . Tho stranger placed a small valine upon Tom ' s table , nnd

looked afc the lawyer as though waiting for him to speak . So Tom bewail : ' To w ! j' ) m am I imleltti'd for the honour of this call ?" '' Call me I ) , " replied the visitor , very giuilly .

And may I ask , Mr . D , what yonr business with mo is ? lam very busy , and havo no timo to spare just now . " ' "Are you a . Mason ? " asked fcho gont . leman iu black , in a very doubtful tone .

" I am , " replied Tom , proudly , and he caught at his showy watch charm , and jingled it , though I suppose he did that nnconsciously . Mr . D drew back a little from fche table , and seemed nervous and excited . " Please don ' t do that , " he muttered ; "that thing would burn me if ifc touched mo ; don ' t you know that ? I wonder that it

don fc burn you !" " I don ' t understand you , Mr . D , " Tom replied , qnestioningly . "Exactly , and I don ' t understand you , either . I came in this afternoon to see if it was possible to do so . Yon say you aro a Mason ? I am going to seo whether you havo lied to me or—"

"f don t believe I rn very well posted , interrupted Tom , anxiously , and a Httle shamefacedly . "The fact is , I havo not attended Lodgo very often , and—" Mr . D laughed , and , when ho had recovered his breath , said , " Yon didn ' t tako mo for a Mason , did you ?"

" Yes , I supposed you were , as el .-o yon would nofc havo interested yourself in my Masonic associations and actions , " said Tom . " Oh , no indeed . I know nothing about Masonry , excepting whafc I ' ve found in this little book , " D replied , and he opened his valise und took out a copy of "Tho Freemason ' s Monitor , " with a variety

of tools , all of which he placed upon the table . He then continued : " I heard you wero a Mason , bufc I doubted it . I had an ider that yon wero an eligible candidate for admission into an Order to which

I belong , bnt as no good Mason could belong to that , I thonght I'd come and satisfy myself . " " But , Mr . D , why may not a man belong to Freemasonry , and to your Order as well ?"

Becanse , my good fellow , it is fcho province of Masonry fco bnild np , and ifc is the province of my Order to tear down , to destroy , to degrade , to ruin . ' What are the working tools of an Entered Apprentice ?"

"The twenty-fonr-inch gauge aud tho common gavel . " "How do you use them , " Mr . D inquired , with emphasis and significance . " I don ' t think I understand yon , and I cannot really say , " Tom replied , nob a little disconcerted .

"Shall I make a suggestion ? " Tom assented . 'You use the twenty-four-inch gange for ignoble and inglorious parposo ... J . mble . mufcical of tho day , yon divide your clay into two unequal parts . You find a half dozen hours for the vocation by moans of whioh yon gain your living , and thrico that time for excess ; uid luxurious livin " .

For God and a distressed brother you find nothing !" "Sir , " said Tom , indignantly , " I protest against ail this . " Mr . D smiled . "Will you kindly let mo see that document l ying by your elbow ? " Tom shook his head ancl tried to keep it from his visitor ; tried to put it out of sight , but all his efforts were in vain ,

and Mr . D took the document and opened it . " A mortgage , isn ' t it ? " he asked , and something in his tone made Tim ' s heart sink within him . He bowed his head in silence , and doubted if he could have said anything , even if his lifo had depended on it . "A

mortgage , " continued Tom ' s visitor , ' •and securing a note ut a vory high rate of interest . Five hundred dollars would satisfy the debt , while the property is worth afc least four times that , aud yet you are going to foreclose your claim , are you not ?"

" Of cOnrse I am , said Tom , sullenly , and rather against his will . " What would you have a man do , if ifc were any of your business ?" "I may make ib my business , my dear fellow , before I am done with you . This debt is ono you could afford to Jose , so far as thafc is

concerned , but there is no danger of your having to lose it . The interest has always beon paid promptly , and the principal will be paid eventually , if you will only wait patiently . What aro bhe workin " tools of a Fellow Craft ?"

"The plumb , the square , and the level , replied Tom , promptly and unhesitatingly . "Please explain their symbolic meaning , " said D , with a piercing look . Tom opened his month , and he heard the words spoken , bnt he

conld hardly believe that it was himself woo wa _ speaking . His heart protested , vainly , against the words he uttered , bnfc he went relentlessly on . Never had he imagined that words conld bo a . perverted aud misused : "Tho plumb permits ns to walk proudly , giving heed to neither God nor a humbler brother , pquarino- our

accounts with the unfortunate by means of the pitiless square of the law , and—" Mr . D laughed . " You ' re frank , my dear fellow , to a most praiseworthy degree , though little else about you is praiseworthy . There

is no doubt that you live np to what yon have said . I think this mortgage is against the estate of a deceased Freemason , and for his widow to pay it , at once , would be to take food from tbe mouths of his orphan children , and— But enough of that ! What is the use of the trowel ?"

" I cannot say , " stammered Tom , " and I think I never knew . " "I know you never did , " said Mr . D , savagely , as he arose to his feet aud leaned acioss the table until his hot breath fell upon Tom ' s face . "I know yon never did . Who over knew you to further

friendship and accord when you could coin money onfc of m . m ' s contests ? Who can think of brotherly love and of you in the _ imu connection , yon impudent , self-sufficient , time-serving fellow ? " Mr . D paused for a moment , as though to get breath . Then he reachsd over , caught Tom b y the collar , and dragged him slowly np over the