Speculative Masonry.

SPECULATIVE MASONRY .

IT does not depend for its success upon material prosperity to any considerable extent . It matters little to it whether great business enterprises are successful or otherwise . It is not concerned with overflowing treasuries , with abundant harvests , or with the balances of loss or gain . Its riches are not in lands

or houses , in mines or railroads , or freighted fleets . Its interests are not affected by tariffs or financial schemes ; and , whether operative Masons are prosperous or not , the Masonry which we profess is not disturbed in its splendid progress or achievements . For true Masonry is a life . Its foundations are laid deep in the

needs of our common human nature . It answers to aspirations and sentiments of the human heart which are real and vital . If this were not true , Masonry would have ceased to exist ages ago . That which does not touch human life , and touch it vitally , cannot long survive . The immortality of Masonry must , I think , be attributed to the fact that it is founded and grounded in the

deepest necessities of our humanity , —in faith and fortitude , in love and hope , and in all that is best , and truest and holiest in the human soul . And thus it is that Speculative Masonry does and will grow and flourish under all circumstances , under all forms of government , and under adversities which would seem sufficient to crush it .

The danger to which Masonry is most exposed , as it seems to me , is that its true spirit and purpose shall become overlaid with forms and ceremonies . " The letter killeth , but the spirit giveth life . " Masonry does not consist in grips and passwords , in signs , symbols and ceremonies ; it is not found in formal or

pompous pageantries , or in rituals ; it is in the depths of the ttuman heart , and in " the still , small voice . " Men do not assemble through age after age to mimic and preserve , for their own sake alone , the ceremonies and traditions of an outworn Craft . There is nothing peculiar in the trade of a builder with

brick and stone which renders him more attractive than other toilers . The plumb , square and level are tools which the carpenter uses also . It is not the fact that the Masons of the olden time were builders which has rendered them immortal for us ; but it is a fact of the mystic Brotherhood they founded which has handed down their names through all the ages of the

past . There surely is not enough in the old , old story of the building of the Temple to work so great an influence upon men ' s lives , if we treat the story as mere history , or mere tradition . There have been ten thousand greater conspiracies than that related in the tragedy of the closing days of the great enterprise which is immortalised in Masonic rituals . Other lives have

furnished as great instances of fortitude and fidelity , perhaps , as that of the immortal artist who perished there . The fact which enchains the hearts of men is that a great Brotherhood was founded amid the din and dirt , and busy industry of the toilers in the Temple , a Brotherhood founded upon principles of

" Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth , " and to these watchwords the souls of men have responded in all ages . Ifc is only when we look upon the story as an allegory—when we transform the Temple , with all its mysteries , its stately walls , its crypts , and vaults and altars , swarming with eager workmen , into terms of

human experience , that the traditions of that olden enterprise become a moving force which has in it a perpetual novelty , a perennial youthfulness , a power to stir and uplift the souls of men in all countries , and in all times . Love and loyalty are greater than death . Hope is mightier than despair . Immortality is more than an audacious dream . The acacia blooms forever on

the grave . All men are brothers . These truths are as deep and as eternal as human experience . Masonry teaches them ; and Masonry shall , therefore , live as long as men gladly listen to the whisperings of their higher natures—as long as Love and Hope endure—as long as man looks upward fco fche skies and murmurs forth the prayer which proves him half divine . —George P . McMahon G . M . Michigan .

A direct attack was made against the growing practice of trading on Freemasonry at the annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Indiana , held last month , when the following resolution was adopted : " Whereas individuals , associations , and others , are now using the word ' Mason ' and ' Masonic , ' and Masonic

emblems , as designations for the advancement of their business and personal gains ; therefore , RESOLVED , That the Grand Lodge disapproves of all such methods and schemes , and hereafter it shall be deemed a Masonic offence for any Mason or Masonic organisation to use such words or methods to furfcher their business . "

The Tennessee Masonic Home is caring for seventeen widows and eighty-three orphans , making a round hundred . The Lodges of the State observed St . John ' s Dayfor the purpose of obtaining money for the Home .

Limitation Of Membership.

LIMITATION OF MEMBERSHIP .

A POINT which very often causes considerable concern among the members of prosperous Lodges is thus expressed by a correspondent of the " Freemasons Repository ; " What do you advise in regard to limiting the membership of a Lodge ? Ought not a Lodge to be kept within due bounds as to the number of its members , and thus be better able to fulfil the purposes for which it is established ?

Our contemporary replies to this question as follows : It would be exceedingly difficult to frame a rule restricting Lodge membership that would apply equitably under all the different conditions presented . In the nature of things no general law could be framed . Each Lodge had better be left to decide for

itself as to whether or not any limit shall be fixed beyond which the number of its membership shall not extend ; or without absolutely fixing such a limit it may be expected to protect itself against over-crowding . We have in mind certain Lodges which seem too large—they appear unwieldy because they have

increased too rapidly and too numerously—perhaps , however , the brethren most interesting think differently . It is for them to decide . In our opinion the Masonic Lodge best fitted to express the principles of the Institution and to apply those principles for the welfare of its members , is that Lodge which is not too large

for all the brethren so united to be acquainted with each other , to cultivate the family spirit , and to render personal sympathy and help as occasion may require . We have known some Lodges that seemed to have so increased in membership , or to have become so affected by some other influence , as to be lacking in

those ministries which are most essential to the right expression of Freemasonry . The quality of membership , however , has more to do with these matters , probably , than mere numbers . -Some of the largest Lodges in the country are said to be most illustrative of friendship and fellowship , and of generous

ministries rendered at the call of any poor or unfortunate member . Among such Lodges may be mentioned Hiram , No . 1 , of New Haven , Conn ., having nearly 800 members ; Roswell Lee , of Springfield , Mass . ; and What Cheer , of Providence , each of which has about 500 members . As a rule , however , a Lodge of

one hundred interested and active members may be supposed to have within itself tbe resources and means of representing Freemasonry in a creditable manner , and to be able to so minister in social and fraternal ways to its own membership as to give the utmost of satisfaction to all concerned .

Conduct Of Lodge Finances.

CONDUCT OF LODGE FINANCES .

IT is important that the financial business of a Lodge should be conducted iu a thoroughly business-like manner . For this , as for everything else in the Lodge , the Worshipful Masteris responsible . Ifc is his duty fco see that fche Secretary and

Treasurer , through whose hands the money of the Lodge passes , each faithfully performs his duties . The Secretary is to receive all moneys , pay them over forthwith to the Treasurer , taking his receipt therefor . The Secretary is to pay no bills . This is the duty exclusively of the Treasurer .

It is never permissible for the Secretary to act as both Secretary and Treasurer . If the Secretary does not voluntarily pay over the money forthwith to the Treasurer , the Treasurer should demand it from him , and the Worshipful Master , if necessary , should enforce the demand . If the Bye-laws require ,

as they should , that the Treasurer give a bond , wifch a surety or sureties for the faithful performance of his official duties , the Worshipful Master should see that this obligation is fulfilled , and properly renewed from year to year . Since Treasurers are usually not salaried officers , at most receiving only a remission

of dues , and not even that if they are life-members , it is proper that the expense , if any , of obtaining a surety , should be borne by fche Lodge . In all our larger cities there are now surety companies which , for a small compensation , will guarantee a Lodge against loss , so that little trouble or expense attends the

performance of this duty . The Worshipful Master should also see that the Treasurer does not mingle the Lodge ' s funds with his own , but deposits them in a separate account , in his name as Treasurer of the Lodge . This ensures the safety of the money in the event of death or embarrassment overtaking the Treasurer .

It is an established rule of the common law that no person acting in a fiduciary capacity can lawfully mingle trust funds which he holds with his own ; and in the conduct of the financial interests of fche Craft we should adopt ; the customary safeguards which wisdom and established usage have ordained .

in the business affairs of life . Business is business , in Freemasonry as in the world at large , and all Masonic business should be conducted in a business-like manner , thereby avoiding the possibility of a default on the part of a Secretary who unlawfully acts as both Secretary and Treasurer , or on the pari ;