A Living Working Force.

brethren with tho humblest brother moving in the ranks . Come hither and learn among our impressive lessons—oft repeated during tho Masonic life—this wholesome lesson upon the equality of human rights , upon tho duty of respecting men according to their inheront worth . Souse of brotherhood must rest upon this conviction . And it is

this sense of brotherhood that lifts love , sympathy , fellowship , generosity , helpfnlness , ont of tho low realm of the artificial and the conventional into the domain of the real and the true . True , courtly manners are flavoured with the spirit of a real respect for one ' s fellows . And all those virtues , which are but courtly manners wrought into more substantial shape , become princely in the sterling reality

given them by the sympathetic spirit . It is no wonder that the founders of Masonry , schooled so well in the needs of men , should have wrought the great , inclusive duty of charity all through our ceremonial teachings . This virtue , so slowly learned by a cold humanity , becomes the natural , logical deduction from a conviction of the brotherhood of men . The man who sees in man his brother , and is keenly sensitive to the fact , cannot do less than love his

own . So we teach first the lesson of brotherhood . Generosity of spirit and of deed is its angelic sequel . You are teaching an impotent law of conduct when your charity of heart ia not put before , as a cause , that charity of act , whose symbol is the open hand , the helpful deed . We have time to do scarcely more than say how this

great lesson of brotherhood deserves to be first always , to be oftenest repeated in the ears of men , and how in it we touch all the duties of man to man . Let the spirit of brotherhood and . consequent charity of heart find a welcome amid the busy throng , where competition rages , where sufferinsr and want intrude their hard presence ;

ayo , within the hallowed precincts of the home more and more ; and , " verily , the 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 society . To intensify tbe spirit of human fellowship , of that charity whoso fountain is in tho heart , is one of tho loading offices of our Masonic institution . If , in our teachings—if , in the communion of brother with brother within our walls—if , in the nearer contact of man with man in the common interests of Masonry , wo can develop

in our hearts a keener sensitiveness , widen our sympathies , sweeten our spirits , train ourselves in thoughts and acts of charity , giving to them all that supreme sanction growing out of a sense of solemn responsibility , then aro we

ono of thc factors for good in the world ; then are wo touching vitally tho most sacrod interests of everyday life . Our Institution , ovon as it does so stand iu tradition aud organic structure , should in our convictions and lives

stand for nobility of manhood , championship of tho right , lovo and fellowship wider thau tho limits of our brotherhood , tho heart aud deed of a true fraternal love . As this noble statue , wrought into artistic form tho more forcibl y

to remind the throngs that though generations may cluster about it and ask its meauing , stands as a symbol of tho character and deeds of tho man whoso heart beats responsive to his follows' needs ; so may our institution

stand as something lasting and immovable , yot speakiug 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 noblo and sweet in

the life of the world . Our office is to speak these lessons of humanity and fellowship with all thoir eternal and divino sanction into tho ears of unwilling men . In this we aro not indeed alono . Wo only join tho voice from

many an institution , many an earnest , great-hearted spirit . As a man alone you may eugage in the lofty work of bringing about the reign of great thoughts and loving

deeds . The voice , however , should take on a more determined emphasis when uttered iu the unison and harmony of our fraternal followship . The individual , under the inspiration of a loving heart , may

indeed" Join bauds with God to make a man to live . " But , ns a compact body , linked iu that strength which comes of united forces and purposes at one , fired with the electric power of that brotherly lovo fostered in ( ho

fellowship of kindred spirits , we may in very deed "join hands with God , " and with ono another , to bring strength and purpos 3 and power and richnes .-s and gladness into the World ' s c ? cry day life . —Voice of Masonry .

Improper Use Of Masonic Halls.

IMPROPER USE OF MASONIC HALLS .

T ^ REEMASONS' Halls are consecrated to Masouic JL purposes—tho performance of sacred and devotional rites . Wo invoko tho presence of the most High during

tho rendering of a very solemn portion of our ritual , and therefore it cannot be contented with any degree of con * sistoncy , that dancing or any similar amusement is at all ia

keeping with the beautiful services conducted in a Craft Lodge Room . Too little thought is often given to the sacredness of character of Masonic ceremonies , and we are prone to go through the workings of the Lodge in some places in a perfunctory sort of style , without paying

due regard to the beautiful lessons presented for our consideration . It appears to us as amounting to a desecration when Masonic Halls are converted into dance rooms , and we canuot comprehend why a place consecrated and dedicated for the solemn proceedings at meetings of the Fraternity should be deemed of a less holy character than

churches or chapels . No good Jews or Gentiles would think for a moment of permitting any secular amusement to be carried on in their place of worship j then why , wo ask , should the floor of a Masonic Lodge Room he utilized for any purpose but for which it was intended ? It may

be contended that " amusement such as dancing and participation in secular music are not injurious to the principles of Masonry , " and we would not seek to debar our Brethren from enjoying themselves in a rational manner ; but it is highly necessary—if our Halls aro to

maintain a sacred character—that Masonio workings should be placed on a footing with religious ceremonies , and everything of a free and easy , hilarious nature excluded from places set apart for the rendering of the Craft ritual . We cannot think that any body of Freemasons would willingly permit its sacred chamber to be desecrated , and it

JS only , probably , through a want or thought that Masonio Halls aro occasionally used for other than Craft purposes ; nevertheless such things do occur in some parts of the colony , and intelligent Brethren should take steps to check what cannot but bo justly regarded as an evil . —New Zealand Freemason ,

Masonic Temperance.

MASONIC TEMPERANCE .

IN speaking of the cultivation of this Masonic virtue we desire to get away from the narrow , contracted definition that iu these degenerate days seems to circum * scribe and bolittlo this virtue . We make of it a hobby

upon which wo mount , and imagine ourselves a full troop of cavalry . Wc endeavour to ride rough shod over every other virtue ; aud when we think wo have vanquished our

imaginary foo , and our conflict with tho windmill is ouded , we dismount from our charger to view the result of tho battle , and behold the scene just as it was before tho conflict , and our banner is still trailing in tho dust .

Temperance , as taught by Masonry , is not simply abstiueuce from strong drink , but temperance iu thought , words and actions . By temperance we do not only circumscribo our desire for intoxicants , or abstain from putfciug

the bottle to our Brother ' s lips , and making him drunken also , but we uro taught to bo temperate in words , to govern our tongue , and instead of going to the highways and byways and mounting upon the housetops and

proclaiming our Brother ' s shortcomings , wo go to him and whisper good council ia his ear , and in the most tender manner remind him of his fault , and eudeavour to aid his reformation . Words passionately or intemperatcly spoken

may do us , as well as our Brother , more injury , may cause more grief and sorrow , and bring more reproach upon Masonry , than intoxication . How intemperate it seems , " nay , not seems but is , " for

ii Brother who , after passing tho threshold of our Lodgr , profossing his trust in God , attaining the sublime degree of Masonry , who has bowed at the Sacred name of Deity , and been taught to adore his great Creator , when out of

Uie Lodge Room and in contact with the profane " outllorods Herod " in taking Gods name in vain , and with the next breath declaring that Masonry is a good enough religion for hiru , showing conclusively that ho has a very

faint conception of the religion of Masonry , even if Masonry was , or over claimed to be , a religious institution or ratbor that thcro is a religion in Masonry . " -Ontiul Orator tthfhardU