No Honourable Discharge.

NO HONOURABLE DISCHARGE .

37 TELEEMASONRY and tho profane world are as wide . apart as the poles . This is the reason why Freemasonry is a law unto itself . All ordiuary analogies fail

when applied to the Craft . It exists of itself , by itself , for itself . In the Lodge we oftentimes debate , but we are not governed by strict parliamentary laws or usages . We have our own rules of order . The Master of a Lodg-e is

not a simple presiding officer , whoso function it is to register the will of tho majority of tho members . He is the majority ; his will and pleasure is the law . There is

no appeal from his decision to the Lodge . His only responsibility is to the Grand Lodge . In his Lodge he can say , in the language attributed to Alexander Selkirk : —

" I am monarch of all I survey , My right there is none to dispute . " But , at the same time , he is a sane and equitable ruler , and the Craft never suffers at his hands . He is tho conservor

of its highest and best interests . In all enlistments in the profane world , for the purposes of war , there may be , for the soldier , a discharge , and an honourable discharge . This may come by the expiration

of his term of office , or by permanently disabling wounds , or by voluntary release from the higher authority . The soldier then returns to his home with honour , and it may be with glory . There is but one war in which there is no

discharge whatever , and that is the war in which the immortal spirit of man , when born into the world , engages with the circumstances of time and destiny . No man may escape death or the hereafter , for in Ecclesiastes King

Solomon tells us , " there is no discharge in that war . " Men sometimes vainly imagine that they can cut the Gordian knot ; that they , who fashioned not their own bodies or spirits ; that they , who were not even consulted or asked

whether they desired to enlist in the battle of life , can shuffle off the mortal coil at pleasure , and destroy their immortal souls . Freemasonry teaches a different lesson . No Freemason should ever be a suicide .

Freemasonry , in accordance with its usages , differs from both the samples we have quoted above . It partially , but never wholly , discharges its initiates , and it never honourably discharges any one who has enlisted in its

service . It is from this " law unto itself , " that has been derived the aphorism , " Once a Mason always a Mason . " Tho Masonic tie can never be wholly severed . The

Fraternity reserves the right to absolve itself , for cause , from obligation to a brother , but it never releases him . Under no circumstances can he obtain an honourable discharge .

He voluntarily assumed his relations to it . He sought it—it never sought him . He is under obligation to it , not it absolutely to him . He may become an absentee , but that is no discharge—that is only neglect on his part . He may become a non-affiliate—but that works no dissolution of

the Mystic Tie . He thereby only severs his connection with a particular Lodge , not with the Fraternity . He cannot sever that . Not even death can do that . No

brother can justly perform an act , in contravention of the fraternal law , which shall become operative after he has passed from life . Masonic obligations are for ever and for ever .

The Craft never gives any other than a partial discharge . If it suspends for non-payment of dues it does it because the brother will not pay , not because he cannot pay . Masonic Charity forbids that an unfortunate , impecunious brother

should lose his membership because of his poverty . Any worthy brother may have his clues remitted , and escape this partial discharge . But if thore be such a discharge , the brother is not released from a single obligation that he

assumed . He is still a Mason , bound to observe all of his duties , and the fact that he has neglected one , gives him no right to decline to perform any or all of the others . So , when the Fraternity expels a brother for un . Masonic

conduct , he is still a Mason , though not in good standing . He is expelled for cause , and when that cause is removed , or Masonically atoned for , his expulsion may be removed , and he thereby restored to good Masonic standing . His

expulsion does not , and cannot , discharge him from the Craft . He enlisted in it for life . It is not in Freemasonry as it is iu the world , where a man and woman , for example ,

enter into the marrigo relation , nominally '" until death doth us part , " and then , possibly , they go the next month into a divorce court , and take the initial steps for the absolute severance of the marriage tie ! The Masonic tie

No Honourable Discharge.

is tho tie that binds , the tie which has boan blessed , in tho lauguage of that truly Masonic hymn" Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in mutual love . "

Let it be understood , then , that the saying , " Once a Mason , always a Mason , " directly implies ( 1 ) that there can be no absolute discharge ; ( 2 ) that there can be , at best , or at worst , only a partial discharge , by which , while

the Brother is held to all of his obligations to tne Craft , it , in consequence of his unworthy conduct , is released from certain of its obligations to him ; and ( 3 ) that there is no honourable discharge for any one of its volunteer

army of initiates . The discharge , under any circumstances , is only partial , and is never honourable . Its " threefold cord " is not only " not quickly broken , " but is absolutely unseverable .

No one should hastily , carelessly or thoughtlessly knock at the portals of Freemasonry , for once within the mystic precincts of its Temple , knowledge is imparted which is

so peculiar that it must bo for ever retained . Masonry is not transferable . It is a personal trust , from which there is no honourable discharge . It is for ever and for ever . — Keystone .

Freemasons At The Gold Mine.

FREEMASONS AT THE GOLD MINE .

AT the invitation of Bro . John Chidlaw Roberts , the owner of the freehold and leasehold of the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine , the members of the Corbet Lodge of Freemasons recently visited the mine and works . There were present : —Bros . John Chidlaw Roberts , C . Millard W . M ., John Jones I . P . M ., Henry Owen P . M ., Marshall , Davies , Jones , Parry , Gitto , Dix , & c . The party first proceeded in

brakes from the Ship Hotel , Dolgelly , and arrived at the mine betweeu eleven and twelve o ' clock , when they were shown the process of crushing and extracting the gold by Messrs . Ribble and Crooks . On return to the mill-house a sumptuous luncheon , at the expense of Bro . Chidlaw Roberts , had been prepared . After the usual loyal

toasts , Bro . J . R . Dix proposed Success to the Morgan Mining Co ., and , as a man of some experience in commercial and industrial pursuits , he said that the workings he had visited that day were very systematic and complete . Bro . John Jones proposed the health of the Officials of the Company . He referred particularly to the energy

and perseverance of Bros . Hills , Crooks , and Ribble . Ho also thanked them for their kindness in explaining all matters connected with the mill and tho mine . Bros . Hill and Crooks , in returning thanks , mentioned that tho glory of opening np of the gold mine in this neighbourhood and their situations fell on the shoulders of Bro . Pritchard

Morgan , who , for a long period , had given up all his time to the development of that which was now about to become a permanent industry . He also expressed an opinion that the mine never looked

better siuce it was opened , and that there was every possibility cf the gold which was being found continuing for an indefinite time , and thus benefitting the public and the shareholders . Other toasts followed .

Obituary.

Obituary .

— : o : — BRO . STEPHEN LARLHAM JUN .

IT is with very much regret we announce the decease of this worthy brother , which sad event took place on Saturday , the 3 rd instant , after a painful illness . The deceased ' s name had been long associated with South London . Tho funeral , which took place at Nunhead Cemetery , on Friday , the 9 th inst ., was attended by a large number of relatives and friends .

BRO . WILLIAM HAY .

BY the death of this brother , which took place on tho 15 th inst ., at his residence , Steeple-street , Kilbarchan has lost its oldest inhabitant and Scotland one of its oldest Freemasons . . Deceased was upwards of ninety-two years

of age , and had been a Freemason for upwards of sixtyfour years , having been initiated in the Lodge St . Barchan as far back as loth December 1823 . He was at one time an extensive cattle-dealer , but latterly wrought as a tailor .

One of tnc most successful meetings ever held at the William Preston Lodge , N" > . 766 , was that of Thursday last , when Brother George Frederick Edwards was installed as W . M . for the ensuing twelve months . We purpose to give a full report next week .