What Kind Of Men Masons Are.

WHAT KIND OF MEN MASONS ARE .

FREEMASONS have the reputation of being companionable men , easy to become acquainted with , possessed of sterling qualities of mind and heart , easily approached by persons in distress , and generally distinguished by those qualities which are ascribed to a

citizen of the world . From our knowledge of Freemasons we can affirm that they do ! not belie their reputation , and furthermore that these distinguishing characteristics are due in large degree to Freemasonry itself . True , tht y are

all severally possessed in a measure by different profanes , but Freemasons as a rule possess them in the aggregate , and we can attribute this to no other inflienco than that of the Craffc itself . The environment of the Lodge moulds

and educates the initiate so as to develop the qualities we have mentioned , and repress others which are less desirable to have , so that tho Freemason who has been long iu the Fraternity comes to be recognized , not only by

his brethren , but generally by all his associates , as a good fellow , a well-rounded man , gifted with common ( which is the most uncommon ) sense , in fine , a citizen of

the world , who , meet him where you will , is agreeable , affable , intelligent , ready to g ive and take a joke , to impart and receive information , and generaUy to be of use to his fellows , and agreeable to them and to himself .

What is it in Freemasonry which tends to fashion this symmetrical man ? Why is it that you do not meet the genus crank in our Lodges ? Why do smiles crowd the scowls out ; of a Mason ' s face ? Ifc is the composite influence

of all of the teaching , usages and customs of the Craft . We cannot name them all , nor a tithe of them , but we may specify one or two of those most prominent , and influential , which unmistakably exercise a governing power in

broadening , elevating and humanizing the views , so that the Freemason naturally comes to be regarded as a pleasant man to meet , a good citizen , a good neighbour , a man with a conscience , who knows the force and value of an obligation ,

a man you can trust farther than you can see him , and whether at home or abroad is companionable , sensible , good humonred and happy—and calculated to make others happy .

The leading reason why Freemasons are as we have stated is , that they meet " on the level " men of all shades and varieties of religious , political and SOIMHI opinions . In the world , as a rule , democrats associate -with

democrats , republicans wi ; h republicans , Episcopalians with Ep iscopalians , Methodists with Methodists , Presbyterians with Presbyterians—in other words they classify and clanify themselves to death . While they are moulded

in several moulds , the different classes are not brought into juxtaposition or thrown together . Now in the Lodge the democrat and the republican , the Baptist and the Presbyterian , the Unitarian ancl the Trinitarian , the

nobleman and the commoner , fche man of lofty social position and him of humbler associations , the intellectual giant and the ordinarily gifted man , all meet " on the level , " all contribute something of their own qualities to

the remainder , and thus round , polish , educate each other . Did Freemasonry accomplish nothing else than to bring the best men together into tbe most intimate relationship , thereb y to the advantage of all , it would possess a reason

for its being which would amply justify its existence . Long live the Craft that practically abolishes the distinction between the rich and the poor , the learned ancl the unlearned , the aristocrat and the

plebeian . This is a long step towards tho millennium . This renders socialism and anarchism unnecessary and inexcusable . It teaches a man to be unselfish , to put himself in

another ' s place , to look at things through his nefgnbonr ' s eyes , to be considerate , kind , tender hearted and forgiving . The world could not afford to do without such au

institution . It makes no boast of its influence iu the directior ..-"we have named , but it is certain that it possesses it . ;! -, .-I continually exercises it beneficially for mankind . ' -. , ' - ,, - certain religious cranks yclept anti-Masons won * 1 . <¦ > . - ¦ :: ' ;< - . if they could , Freemasonry from the wor ' ... \ , : u , v \

they overcome and overturn the p lan ? . r : < - . -,,..,,,, Architect of the Universe Himself , v . H . I e . i „ - ,. '• ,. f ,

abolish "Freemasonry . It is a :--vi - * .: - . ¦ -.. i , . / . .: j . moralizing power , which always ' . "• -s * .. ;>* .. i i - ,,,, ,, . , ; , from the earliest ages , ancl p . A . \ :. y , .. . 1 ! . :::.. t u ti ; I ' . U < ¦ * , ' . ! of time . —Keystone .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

IFe do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . CLIQUISH IN CHAPTERS AND LODGES . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have been away for some days and did not sou " SOLO ' " communication in yourissne of tho 28 th ult . nntil my return . If" SOLO " will re-read my letter he will find that he -dmr ly re .-itatt'g some of the general principles which I urged Rhould , as a

nde , be followed in the election of tho Z . of a Chapter and the VV . M . of a Lndije . My contention is ( which he does not deny ) that , conceding nil this , a Chapter or Lodge does not reflect credit npon itself if , sifter a Companion or Brother haa served the minor offices faithfully nnd well , he ia passed over at the last moment

when within a measurable distance of the goal of his ambition , at the whim of the majority , or as I asserted in the case of the Chapter fco which I referred , to please the fancies of a " clique . " I notice that "SOLO" does not defend tho proceedings in question , and which I should presume are within his own knowledge , or why shonld he

seek to excuse them ? " SOLO " tells us that " merit" shonld prevail , although he carefully abstains from saying that the Companion who was so badly treated did not possess that qualification . Had he gone so far he would have said that which five out of six P . Z . ' a of the Chapter wonld have contradicted . The majority of the founders

of the Chapter have privately condemned the eliqueism which they , with regret , admit has sprung up in the Chapter , and which has shown itself not on one occasion only . If " SOLO " is a member of the Chapter the fact that this evil spirit of eliqueism does exist will havo made itself too apparent to his own mind to b « denied . His

principle that no Mason should be a P . Z . of more than one Chapter , or P . M . of more than one Lodge is excellent in theory , bnt impo-ssible in practice . I hope "SOLO" has not transgressed his own precpt . Would he care to be S . E . or P . Z . of a Chapter capable nf perpetrat n ;

the injustice to which I have drawn attention ? I think ni-t . I shonld not , more particularly when I remember that the Companion who is tde victim of these proceedings as-isted the Chapter out of its difficulties by taking office when there was no other candidate , excepting the P . Z / s , eligible for the duties . Yours faithfully , COMPANION .

THE LADIES AND THE JUBILEE . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR , —I was almost going to continue " and Brother , " as I I seo most of your correspondents say , but , although my husband prides himself as being a Mason of long standing—a sentiment with which I most heartily agree—I suppose I am not entitled to nse the

fraternal appellation . But , without any tinge of " woman s curiosity , " of which my husband declares I havo less that any other of our sex he ever knew ( not that I believe in my heart ho ever knew many , much less admired them )—the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE is always left upon otir dining-room table , aud there is not tho

slightest secrecy about it , or any veto against its being read , either by myself or any memleis of our family . Thero is something open and above-board abont that which I like , and which strengthens my admiration for the Craft , which I have always entertained lion the " Masonirj surroundings" of my own and other homes . I flat'er

myself I am not a biassed individual , and I am not dissuaded from being jealous by the knowledge that ladies are not admitted into Masonic Lodges . If they were , my husband assures me upon his honour that I should be the very first to be proposed . But , not to be too profuse in what may Uo called the " introduction " to my letter ,

let me come at once to the suggestion recently made in vnur p . iper by a correspondent ou the subject of " The Ladies and the Jubilee . " I mado a not-: or two on the subject at tlie time , but Spring-cleaning coming on we had to go away for a week or two , and ou our return I thought I would like to write and thank the worthy

writer"Brother" I suppose— who spoke so nicely as to the ladies being permitted to join in some of tbe excursions that are in contemp atiou during the summer , and which , as he said , were to be exceptionally enjoyable in consequence of Jubilee year . I am sure ail my lady friends who have the opportunity of seeing your excellent paper will

appreciate , as I do , the noble exettious that are being put forth by the members of my htisbau i ' s aud other Lodges in taking us all for a pleasant day in one or other of the '' sequestered nooks" in tho suburbs , which he describes so graphically . I can assure him , on behalf of my " Sisters " and myself , we will do our lest to render

these little pio-: dcs enjoyable , and what affair of the kind eoild be enjoyable without our presence ? I am ' o > king forw .-ud to our summer banquet with tlie most keen anticipations of pleasure , at d S > I know are many of my friends , whose husbands , brothers , or t > v . rj [ p ;> members ot y .-ur noble Craft . My husbnnd has , ns he call-. 1 ,

' , ¦ - . i . ' . V' * it .- ivittur , and cut a lot of interesting matter out ¦ ef it , i ta c . ' - •• ¦;¦¦¦ <>•¦• fu- knows best . I nm ; i li'tle di .- ' . 'tppoiiiteo . I enfess H . ii -v ! - ri'lu'i- more so when he said it was " lie province i .-f ( ae i ; -I ,., !¦ x t ' u . lk rather than to write r- > newspapers ; " bu I m ido ¦ i ; . i .. * nun . io do so , being strongly of opinion with the poet who

What's a table nicely spread Without a lady at its head ? r ira ' - yea , vill accept this as an acknowledgment ou the part of ' -. * : i ' * y readers of the contemplated kindness of the Masonic ' ' ¦> . . a io-. ¦¦ . ar . d their consideration for us .

I . remain , Dear Sir , Yours sincerely , A P . M . ' s WIFE .