Masonry Universal.

MASONRY UNIVERSAL .

WHEN the sublime principles of Freemasonry are rightly understood and practised , -when every initiate who crosses the threshhold of Freemasonry becomes endowed not only with the form of the Masonic ceremony , but also with the spirit , then we shall hear no longer the narrow opinions of bigoted and

prejudiced men against men because of their race , sect , or belief . Then will Masonry really be universal . Then we can consistently talk of the " Universal brotherhood of man , the universal fatherhood of God . " Then will the poor and the rich , the high and the low , the king and his subject , the white man and the black man meet on the common level , and part upon the square .

Let not any man or Mason who believes that distinctions should be made among men because of race , opinion , sect or country talk to us of the " universal brotherhood of man . " Let not any man claiming to be a Freemason say aught

against a man because he is a Christian or a Jew , a Protestant or a Catholic , a Democrat or a Eepublican , a white man or a yellow man , or a half-white man or a quarter-black man , a pale face oi red man , for in " all nations and in all climes are Masons to be found . "

Not long ago the writer heard an Officer in a Lodge recite with force and earnestness the beautiful sentiment in the Masonic Monitor in regard to brotherly love , as follows : " By the exercise of brotherly love we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family ; the high and low , fche rich and poor ; who , as

created by one Almighty parent , and inhabitants of one planet , are to aid and support each other . On this principle Masonry unites men of every country , sect and opinion , and conciliates true friendship among those who might otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance . " His rich Southern accent was most

pleasing . The earnestness that beamed from his eyes was inspiring . Our heart was glad and we rejoiced that such noble sentiment should be given to our young Brother in such an excellent manner , and we thought surely the impression made by this sublime doctrine will be a lasting one for good . A few minutes later and the Lodge is closed . The Officer , the writer ,

the young Brother and others are talking about the question oi negro Masonry . The Officer , with the same force and earnestness , but with a different spirit flashing from his eyes , said : " I will never sit in a Lodge with a negro . " The young Brother looked surprised , and tbe writer thought : " Consistency , thou art a jewel . "— " Pacific Mason . "

Fanciful Antiquity.

FANCIFUL ANTIQUITY .

THE Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Kansas Bro . Lucius H . Perkins , in his recent oration before his Grand Lodge , had this to say about the fancies of writers respecting the origin of Freemasonry : The chief difficulty has arisen from a loose use of terms and a fanciful confusion of ideas . A devotee of the Craft sets about

writing a history of Freemasonry , and loses his text in the first sentence , and proceeds to write a history of the philosophy of truth and justice , love and charity . Preston says : " From fche commencement of the world we

may trace the foundation of Masonry ; ever since symmetry began and harmony displayed her charms our Order has had a being . " Does he refer to Freemasonry as it actually exists in the world , or to some abstract system of morals or philosophy ?

Dr . Anderson , whom one would like to believe and is bound to respect , is satisfied with no beginning short of fche Garden of Eden . An old manuscript in the Bodleian library at Oxford attributes the introduction of Masonry to a man from the East before the man from the West , the latter supposed to refer to

Adam . Dr . Oliver , the eminent divine and Masonic historian , goes a step further and asserts : " Freemasonry is Lux , and Lux is the true religion . " " Our science existed before the creation of the world and was diffused amidst the numerous systems with which fche Grand empyrean ' of universal space is furnished . "

These flights of imagination have little of a practical nature to recommend them fco thinking men . Practical Masonry is one thing , and theoretical , philosophical dissertations on truth and justice are of quite a different character . The one has to deal with the present needs of man , while the others treat of principles taught in all ages and among all peoples .

We have to do with practical humanity , aud it makes little difference in our dealings with one another whether the origin of Freemasonry was before the creation or at the birth of this world . Of what practical benefit would it be if we were able to establish

beyond a doubt that the first Lodge of Masons was held in the Garden of Eden , and Adam was fche first Master , or that Moses was a Grand Master and Joshua a Grand Senior Warden ? There is some little excuse for laying the foundation of the Fraternity in the year 3000 , when Solomon began the erection of

Fanciful Antiquity.

the magnificent temple at Jerusalem , for the symbols and lessons of the Lodge , its forms and furniture , are taken from that grand edifice . But even that remote period has little of practical benefit to us of this electrical age . We live a day in an hour , in

comparison with the people of former generations . The demands of the present require that more be crowded into a day ' s work than ever before . It is , therefore , important that attention be paid to the necessities of the hour .

The theoretical Masonry of antediluvian times deserves our study only so far as it may be applied to our own welfare . It is a beautiful thought , that the doctrines of truth and justice , mercy and toleration , of the far back ages of the world have been

incorporated into the system and teachings of present day Masonry . It shows that a vein of these doctrines extends through and permeates all times and people and connect us with all the world .

The one thing needful for us as Masons is to practice these teachings , embody these virtues in our daily lives and in our dealings wifch our fellow men . Freemasonry is the grandest of human Institutions . It is a helpmeet to the Church of God . It is nofc religion . It is based upon a belief in one ever true and

living God , and leads the mind to a contemplation of those doctrines which are divine in their nature , uplifting in their influence , and ennobling in their character . The man who practices the moral precepts of the Lodge cannot go far wrong . His heart will be softened , his mind enlightened and his spiritual

vision made more clear . He will realise that others have rights as well as he . He will practice charity and show mercy . He will bridle his tongue , and curb his passions . " He will be active in his labours for the good of his fellow men . He will be led step by step toward a worship of Jehovah .

Masonry in its principles appeals to all men of all religions . Bigotry and intolerance are unknown to ifc , and the broad field of the Brotherhood of man is fche plane upon which it is established . Thus the Christian and the Hebrew , the Moslem and the

Buddhist may each bow at the altar of Masonry , and lifting his heart to the Supreme Being receive the light that is there revealed . They may practice their own religious rites and ceremonies , and yet meet upon the level of the Fraternity and recognise one another as Brothers .

The fancies of rhetoric and the flights of imagination , which expend their force upon ridiculous theories about the antiquity of Masonry , weaken the strength of the Institution . The confusion of ideas fchey create causes a direct damage to th e usefulness of

its members . We are apt to lose sight of the real intention of the work in our veneration for age . We bow before fche fanciful antiquity and lose sight of the real fraternity . Is it not enough to be able to trace our history with a great degree of certainty back two or three centuries ? There we find it in existence

somewhat in its present form , with the foundation upon which it has been erected already laid . Its growth since then has been steady and onward , and as long as its adherents are true to the principles inculcated it must continue to prosper . Let us then be practical in our Masonry , and fling fanciful antiquity to the winds . — " Masonic Standard . "

Hunger Is Satisfied.

HUNGER IS SATISFIED .

HAPPY is the hungry Mason for he shall be satisfied ! Not that Mason whose love for " vituals and drink " leads him to seek only those meetings where the work is followed by a " spread , " the " knife and fork degree , " or " a social hour " ; but that Mason whose rapacious appetite does nofc find the satisfying of the stomach fche whole end of man , bufc who sees in

Freemasonry more than merely its social side ; whose appreciation of the institution does not end in a cloud of smoke , but who finds in the ceremonies food for the mind ; who strives to tone up his moral nature by a practice of those virtues essential to a Masonic character . Such men will find ever-increasing pleasure in

feasting upon the wonderful supply of brain food and heart food found in the lessons of every degree . Ifc is natural for the hungry man fco desire to satisfy his

hunger . Ifc is necessary that he partake of food in order to gratify his desire . His food should be wholesome and nourishing , else his system will suffer , disease will attack it , and his body become weak and emaciated . The same is true of the mind .

Neglect to feed the mind , and a weak mentality will be the result . The food for the mind must be of a proper kind in order to secure strength and proper culture . Feeding it upon husks and trash will not nourish it or give satisfaction . . Education is the feeding of the mind , the leading of human

souls to what is best for them , the fitting of man to perform justly , skilfully , and ably all the duties of life both public and private , and is the one interest that is worthy of the deep , controlling anxiety of men . Ifc develops thought , and , if of a proper kind , directs the mind into the channels of virtue and morality . True education awakens our best sympathies ,