A Mighty Factor For Good.

ancient Masons performed their work . In after times , when Borne rose to imperial power , they crowned her seven hills with palaces whose splendour dazzled the eyes of all beholders , and when the pagan days were fulfilled they erected the cathedrals of Europe for the worship of God , mauy of which still remain to excite our wonder and admiration .

For more than forty centuries Masonry was operative in its work , when there came a time for its fuller and wider development , to meet the growing needs of the progressive peoples . The principles and symbols of ancient Masonry served as the basis for the modern structure of Freemasonry . Whatever was crude and objectionable in the older system was eliminated . The door

of the Lodge was opened to proper men of all professions , and Masonry became speculative in form and spirit . In the words of a noted writer , " It is therefore the scientific application , and the religious consecration of the rules and principles , the technical language and the implements and materials , of Operative Masonry to the worship of God as the Grand

Architect of the Universe , and to the purification of the heart and the inculcation of the dogmas of a religious philosophy . " This is modern Freemasonry , and is of universal application . It teaches reverence for the Master Builder of the Universe , and for His revealed will , loyalty to the government under whose

protection it exists . It nourishes no bigotry , harbours no schisms , asks no man at the threshold of the Order what is his creed or politics , whether he be prince or peasant ; but rather if be be a true man , moral in action , loyal in purpose , one who seeks the good of others , and will be ever ready to do his part to honour the Order into which he seeks to enter .

Governed by these principles the Order has flourished and planted its Lodges in all lands where civilisation and Christianity rule . But its path has not always been strewn with flowers . It has had to meet opposition , and sometimes persecution , because it has been misunderstood and misrepresented by its enemies But to-day it is honoured and patronised by hosts of men who

occupy the highest positions of Church and State , who have found in its principles a grand factor for the benefit of mankind . And yet our Order does not proselyte . It does not seek to enlarge its numbers by urging men to come into its fold . All who come must do so of their own accord , incited by the influence which its members sustain in the community .

It has no written creed , but the essence of its principles is embodied in the sublime idea of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man . True to this noble sentiment , its deeds of charity are not blazoned before the world , but find a grateful echo in the hearts of needy Brothers , with often no other record save that written by angel pen .

The mysteries of the ancient peoples have faded from the minds of men , but evolved from them , purified and enriched by the Divine Word , moulded and fitted to meet the needs of modern thought , Freemasonry has come to bless the world . It

has served to uuite diverse orders of men , to break down barriers which have long divided , and caused men to meet on the level where all other measures have failed . May it ever continue in the future , as in the past , a mighty factor for good !—0 . P . Allen , of Massachusetts , in " Voice of Masonry . "

Masonic Tolerance.

MASONIC TOLERANCE .

SPEAKING of tolerance in Freemasonry an exchange mentions the fact that among the elected Officers of a Lodge in India there are a Christian , a Mohammedan , a bearer of the Zendansta and the Gita . The same principle applies to politics . Though the recent session of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky was held at the time of

great political excitement , and though the members were of eveiy shade of political opinion , the business was not in the least interfered with by politics . Neither in the elections , appointments , nor in any other respect was there any trouble on the question of political opinion . In the majority of cases

elections were had and appointments made without any knowledge of the political opinions of the persons selected . Many of the members were very active politicians outside , but in the Grand Lodge they were simply Masons , co-operating for the furtherance of their common objects .

During the recent local campaign in the city of Louisville the secular press had more to say of Masons and Masonry in connection with politics than was altogether palatable to the judicious members of the Fraternity , because it was calculated to give to outsiders an impression that Masonry has something to do with

politics . Those who labour under this impression should read a decisiott made by the Hon . Jas . A . McKenzie , himself long au active politician , who said , when Grand Master ; " Masonry is non-sectarian , non-sectional , non-political and must remain so . A Ma-, on must not use his Lodge connection to further his political ambition . " Long before that , however , in

Masonic Tolerance.

1862 , the Grand Lodge declared that " the avoidance of political subjects is a cardinal principle of Masonry . " This decision was approved . These principles have , we believe , been rigidly adhered to in this Jurisdiction . If there have been exceptions , when the desire

for office has tempted men to try to make unlawful use of their Lodge connection , we are sure that the response from the membership has not justified their expectations . But we think even such exceptions , if any , have been extremely rare . — " Masonic Home Journal . "

More Of Sight Making.

MORE OF SIGHT MAKING .

npHE " Old Regulations " were merely regulations subject to I change at pleasure . The one requiring a petition to lie over a month was not adopted in Massachusetts , and not observed in its Lodges . In Portland Lodge , organised in 1769 , candidates were

usually proposed on one night and voted on at the next Lodge ( which might be in a month or less ) , but frequently the Lodge voted that it was " a case of emergency , " and a candidate would be proposed , accepted and initiated the same night .

In Maine , under the constitution of the Grand Lodge down to 1865 , if a candidate was bound on a voyage to sea , or on a long journey , the Lodge could receive his petition , accept him and confer all three degrees on him the same night , " if the Lodge considers the urgeucy of the case requires it . "—J . H . D .

The above is from Past Grand Master Drummond , of Maine , and is in explanation of certain of his views remarked upon in the September number of the " Kansas Freemason . " Grant that it is true and that the " old regulations " were subject to change :

and the declaration that as far back as 1721 there was a written law which provided that " no man can be made or admitted a member of a particular Lodge without previous notice one month before given " stands .

Lodge Meetings Next Week.

LODGE MEETINGS NEXT WEEK .

Fuller particulars as to place of meeting of the undermentioned Lodges , are given in the Freemasons' Calendar and Pocket Book ( published by Grand Lodge for the benefit of the Charity Fund ) .

Monday . 706 Florence Nightingale , W'lw'ch . 39 StJohn Exeter

. Baptist , £ 3 St . Paul , Birmingham 48 Industry , Gateshead 82 Foundation , Cheltenham lJti l ' rince Edwin , Bury 491 Royal Sussex , Jersey 999 Robert Burns , Manchester

-008 Roy . St . Edmund's , Bury St . E . 1325 Stanley , Liverpool 1752 Ogmore , Bridgend 1991 Agricola , York 2042 Apollo , Liverpool

2068 Portsmouth Temperance , L dp ' t . 2257 Powell , Bristol 2363 Minnehaha Minstrel , M'chester . 2547 Llangattock , Cardiff 2582 Lewisham , Smethwick

Tuesday . 253 Tyrian , Derby 564 Stability , Stourbridge 943 Sincerity , Norwich 954 St . Aubyn , Devonport 1016 Elkington , Birmingham 1052 Callander , Manchester 1390 Whitwell , Millon

lt > 09 Liverpool Dramatic , Liverpool 1675 Ancient Briton , Liverpool 2025 St . George , Plymouth 2328 Albert Victor , York 2405 Ionic , St . Helen ' s 2518 Chas . Ed . Reyser , Hoddesden Wednesday .

76 Economy , Winchester 163 Integrity , Manchester 187 Rl . Sussex Hospitality , Bristol 304 Philantliropic , Leeds 439 Scientific , Bingley 461 Fortitude , Newton 651 Brecknock , Brecon 996 Sondes , East Dereham

1083 Townley Parker , Manchester 1219 Strangeways , Manchester 1283 Ryburn , Sowerby Bridge 1714 Albert Edward , Yorktown 1775 Leopold , Church 1953 Prudence & Industry , Chard

Lodge Meetings Next Week.

1989 Stirling , ' Cleator Moor 2064 Smith Child , Tunstall 2186 Striguil , Chepstow

2571 Holmes , Newcastle-on-Tyne Thursday . General Committee , Girls School , Freemasons' Hall , at 5 . Ill Restoration , Darlington

129 Union , Kendal 590 La Cesaree , Jersey o 36 De Ogle , Morpeth 807 Cabbell , Norwich 904 Phcenix , Rotherham

966 St . Edward , Leek 1032 Townley Parker , Chorlev 1151 St . Andrew , Tywardreata 1166 Clarendon , Hyde 1313 Fermor , Southport 1322 Waverley , Ashton-under-Lyne

1519 Albert Edward , Clayt'n-le-Moors 1578 Merlin , Pontypridd 1630 St . Michael , CovenW 1884 Chine , Shanklin , Isle " of Wight 1957 Grove , Hazel Grove 2261 Armitage , Milnsbridge 2269 Peace , Wigan 2418 Hedworth , South Shields

Friday . Council Boys School , Freemasons ' Hall , at 4 . 602 North York , Middlesbrough 810 Craven , Skipton 1303 Pelham , Lewes 1391 CommercialLeicester

, 1435 Annesley , Nottingham 1822 St . Quintin , Cowbridge 2415 Tristram , Shildon 2431 Kingsley , Northampton Saturday . 1572 Carnarvon , Albion

308 Prince George , Eastwood 336 Benevolence , Marple 1388 Canynges , Bristol 1550 Prudence , Plymouth 2493 Vale of Eden , Appleby 2541 St . Andrew , Avonmcmth