Masonic Ceremonial.

MASONIC CEREMONIAL .

IN another part of our present issue we publish an announcement that the Eight Hon . the Lord Mayor of London has consented to lay tho foundation stone of the new Technical Schools to be erected at Stockport , and that he has expressed a desire for the ceremonies to be conducted with Masonic rites . No doubt this wish of the Lord Mayor , in respect to Freemasonry's aid being lent for such a good cause ,

will be duly gratified , while we may rely on the brethren of the Masonic Province of Cheshire doing all that lies in their power to help their distinguished visitor , but no doubt there are some among the inhabitants of the district who will pause and ask themselves the question , Why should Freemasonry be thus introduced in connection with such an event ?

While it may be easy to answer this question in a general way , there is more than one feature in connection with it which calls for consideration , and our readers will admit , if they try to formulate an answer that shall satisfy the general public , it is not so easy a matter as at first appears ; indeed , the more they look into the subject the more they will be inclined to agree with us that a satisfactory answer is very difficult to give , even if it is not wholly impossible to frame a reply that shall be applicable for every

inquirer . We can fully understand that in years gone by , when Freemasons were operative rather than as at present merely speculative builders , the ceremony of laying a foundation stone was one of the most important parts of the Mason ' s duty , and perhaps one of the best answers to be given to the question we have propounded would be that the association of Freemasonry with such ceremonies at the present day

is merely the survival of an old custom , one which has received encouragement from the highest authorities in years gone by , and which afc all times appears to meet the approval of the masses throughout the country . As Freemasons , however , we recognise in the rites which Freemasonry practises on such occasions something more than the survival of an old custom . To every part of the ceremonv which is

performed there is a hidden meaning , and if it is not possible for the Craft to make these meanings plain to the world at large , or even to all who take a part in the work performed , there can be no question that many of the lessons are understood and duly appreciated , while gratification is expressed that a public event should afford the opportunity of practically illustrating some of the beauties of the Masonic

system . The work of laying a foundation stone is one of the very few ceremonies which Freemasons may perform in public , and if the lessons that are hidden beneath the outward and visible forms gone through at such celebrations are not so forcible as many of those we are accustomed to within the tyled precincts of the Lodge , it is because in the one place the surroundings

Masonic Ceremonial.

{ are so widely different to what is the case in the other . As it would be quite impossible to explain the exact signification of every public action to all who witness it , there would , in all probability be grave misunderstandings in regard to what was done , and what it was intended to signify thereby . ( Besides all this , it must not be forgotten that anything ' widely different to the ordinary usages of Society : would attract too much attention , and might lead to differences which would be in direct opposition to I what is desired and sought after by those who practise

the teachings of the Craft . It may be urged that the help of Freemasonry is called in on such occasions in order to lend additional grandeur or importance to the event itself , but in this ' respect it is sometimes difficult to decide which J confers , and which receives the honour . Whether ! Freemasonry is honoured by being called in to assist , or whether Freemasonry adds honour to the work it takes part in . As an illustration of what we mean we mav refer to the laying of the foundation stones

of Truro Cathedral . Did the Freemasons of England add additional honour or glory to that work by the share they took in the proceedings , or was it not a compliment to them that they were allowed to take the lead in that great national event ? We are rather inclined to the latter opinion , and believe that Freemasonry won more honour from its association with the laying of the foundation stones of that building than any it conferred . There are , at times , ceremonies

of this character where the reverse is strongly marked , and where Freemasonry is actually made use of by those who feel that to secure the cooperation of the Masonic body is the sure road to a certain amount of success . We have on more than one occasion had to refer to such unworthiness , and no doubt it would not be very difficult to find other instances where the aid of Freemasonry had been sought from motives far from deserving of being

termed worthy , but m the large majority of cases sincerity underlies the desire for Masonic ceremonial , and its association with a new undertaking is fully recognised as being a great honour . Another phase of the question is to be found in the display which it is possible to make when Freemasonry is officially associated with such au event . As a rule

the Grand Lodge of the Province holds a special meeting , and the Grand Master , or some other high dignitary attends—we may say in state—together with the principal Masons of the district , to perform the work which falls to their lot . This alone is sufficient to cause a little pleasurable excitement , and no doubt many others are present on such occasions out of pure curiosity to see what the ceremonies of

Freemasonry consist of , or to witness a procession of Freemasons clothed with the insignia of the Order . If , as is likely to be the case at Stockport on the 8 th proximo , the Masonic profession is augmented by the various friendly societies and volunteer corps of the neighbourhood , an even grander display results ,