The Present Position Of Freemasonry.

THE PRESENT POSITION OF FREEMASONRY .

THE present position of Freemasonry ( more properly speaking ,. Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry ) is alike noteworthy and remarkable . Those of us who can remember , for instance , the status of Freemasonry in this country , say a generation or so ago , will we think realise what a difference there is between past and present .

Freemasonry , in this country and generation , was emerging , so to say , from the slumberous level in which various coincident and co operative causes had left it at the close of the last century and the commencement of this .

English Freemasonry had suffered , as Freemasonry universally ! had done , from a condition of affairs combinedly created by ignorance , ridicule , persecution , and bigotry , and which is now happily a thing of the past .

Even in our country the progress of Freemasonry had been comparatively slow , its position indeterminate , and certainly not commensurate with its real value and utility .

The unsettled state of Europe and the world , the evil influence of the French Revolution , the fulminations of intolerance , and the general idea of Freemasonry , as to its aims , its scope , its outcome , had checked the progress of

the Lodges , and by the prevailing effect of action and reaction had superinduced a sort of apathy , " easy-golucky " way of life amongst Freemasons themselves . It is startling to note to-day the slow progress comparatively of Freemasonry , even under the favourable

conditions of a Royal Grand Master , a zealous and able Freemason , the Dnke of Sussex , the sequence , be it remembered , of 120 years of existence and work . Those of us who can recall Freemasonry in our own land , even what it

was , how it exhibited itself , the aspect it assumed before the world , the proof it gave to the Craft and brethren of its vitality and its raison d ' etre , will heartily agree with us in deeming the change , both in the " spirit" of its

"dream , " and its normal development in Lodge life , Lodge activity , and the like , a very striking fact in the history of Institutional reality . To-day , on the contrary , on every side

of us , rise up proofs , countless and assured , both of its social , its energetic , and its beneficial advance ; the admiration it extorts from the world , the confidence it claims and

receives from its own members . The great difficulty now in Freemasonry , especially here at home , is to keep out unfitting and undesirable associates ; to repress firmly but fairlyconsistently but courteousl

, y , that intense and wide-spread desire to be admitted into the mysteries ) , " and partake of the " benefits " of Freemasonry . One great danger has always to be carefully guarded against , and incessantlv watched over , the tenrlenp . v . as in all Tinman

affairs , to turn good into evil , degrade higher motives by 'oweraims ; and the intent and idea of Masonry being , and of our rendering it , a benefit society . Whenever that lowering , 0 l 7 and practice develop themselves in our midst , the

glory of Freemasonry will have departed , and we shall , as n inevitable consequence , despite a few passing gleams of Popularity and prestige , ere very long have to tell , and tell sadl

of " deserted shrines " and a decadent Order . At ls time the social status of Freemasonry is very high , atf - *^ ^ ^ ever k een probably before ; it has an traction for many , and with many : it is in itself an

The Present Position Of Freemasonry.

elevator for them , alike in the opinion of their fellow citizens and in their own self-valuation and selfesteem . Our English Lodges are specially just now

flourishing and prosperous . The highest and greatest in the land do not hesitate to take part in our labours , to join our assemblies , to claim the name and wear the insignia of Freemasons .

We may point with justifiable pride to the fact , that however some may still misapprehend the aim , and therefore condemn the principles of Freemasonry ( of which they are equally ignorant ) , wc can boast of the accession and adhesion to our ranks , and as marching under our banners ,

of a great Brotherhood , characterised by all those conditions of birth , culture , knowledge , worth , and brilliant parts which serve to sustain , compact and permeate , our great Institution iu marvellous measure . The noble and the self-made man stand side by side on that one true

equality of mental ability and moral worth which alone and by itself is one of the most characteristic and distinguishing features of Freemasonry , which gives force to its objects reality to its professions , and enhances the value of its technical labour , and its social harmony .

But here we must stop to-day . We may possibly , on some future occasion , dwell upon some other praiseworthy and striking conditions of the present aspect and position of Freemasonry .

Freemasonry And Its Relation To Religion.

FREEMASONRY AND ITS RELATION TO RELIGION .

OUT of the darkness of ignorance there occasionally comes a voice of doleful lamentation over the alleged hostile relation of Freemasonry to religion . It is even , asserted that the Fraternity seeks to arrogate to itself the place of supremacy , and claims to be a substitute for Christian Faith . Just at this juncture , when the eminent Dr . McCosh and the eloquent Dr . Talmage are seeking to create among the ministers of the Church a sentiment

against secret associations , and conspicuously Freemasonry , it seems eminently appropriate to state , in brief and comprehensive terms , tbe professed attitude of the Craft to religion . And that the statement be made by a pupil of

one and a fellow-Presbyterian minister of both these antifraternity agitators will not detract from its interest . Whatever may be said against Freemasonry , it is presumable that it has at least , the right to define its own position and state its own claims .

1 . Freemasonry is not inimical to religion . It is too intimately related to religion to assume toward it an unfriendly attitude . It as no conceivable motive in antagonising the Church , or in interfering -with the religious

convictions of anyone . There is nothing in the nature of the Society that necessitates the renunciation of a single sentence of any creed , the discontinuance of any religious customs , or the obliteration of a dogma of belief . No one

is asked to deny the Bible , to change his Church relations , fco withhold monetary or moral support from the Church or to be less attentive to the teachings of his spiritu ai instructors and councellors . Freemasonry has nothin g to gain by unfriendl y relations toward religion ; it ig no