Old Masons And Young.

OLD MASONS AND YOUNG .

ri ^ HE Fraternity of Freemasons is composed of Brethren -JL of all ages , as well as of all professions , ranks and stations . A man is never too young to bo mado a Mason , ancl never too old to tako delight in its ceremonies , its principles , and its companionship . It is even permissible

for a Grand Master , in the exercise of ono of his peculiar prerogatives , to make a " youth under ago" a Mason ; but this is an authority which is rarely exercised , because tho need for its exercise does not often exist . Youths under

ago like tho immortal Washington aro few , and as a consequence those classed with him by the exercise of this prerogative aro proportionately few . No man of mature age has any rigid- to be mado a Mason , and hence in every instance in which the hononr is conferred it is of favour ,

not of ri ght ; and if this be true , much less has a youth under ago any claim npon tho Masonic Fraternity . In the matter of the reception of initiates , the Lodgo is tho most absolute of republics , if wo may bo allowed the expression , every member having a vote , and any member

being all powerful to cause the rejection of any applicant . Tho purpose of this regulation is to ensure harmony , as far as possible , by admitting no unworthy or distracting

elements . It is taken for granted that no Brother will out of mere malice exclude any applicant , and as to this his conscience is made his judge . Tho right to exclude is absolute , and may not be abridged , criticised , or denied .

In the majority of Lodges the pleasing sight is witnessed of old and young Freemasons sitting side by side . Probably the larger number of active Craftsmen are those who are in the prime of life , whom we should describe as middle-aged . They are well qualified in every respect for

the performance of all Masonic dnties . They are both wise as teachers and skilful as labourers . Thoy can fill any placo or station in the Lodge on call . They are at once the brains and the hands of the Lodge . Fortunate and prosperous is that Masonic body which continuously

retains this class of Brethren in active membership . They are neither old nor young , neither inexperienced nor forgetful of their long experience , neither giddy-headed nor

pig-headed . They do not know too much to learn nor too little to teach . They know just enough . As tho wise man said , Give me neither riches nor poverty , so we say in this connection , Give us neither youth nor old age .

Young men , however , have an important place , and exert a moulding influence in Masonry . They are the rising men in our Lodges . They receive the majority of the appointments for the subordinate places , and therein usually manifest their ability to rise higher . A Lodge

without young men would be an anomaly . The young become middle r . ^ ed and old , buf the old can never become young . If a man be made a Mason at cighty-fonr years of age ( as was Voltaire ) , he cannot expect to live long ; to benefit cither himself or tho Graft . Voltaire died three months

after his initiation . On the other hand , if a man be made a Mason when about twenty-one years of age , ho becomes after no long period a trained ancl skilful brother , ancl is a life-long honour to the Fraternity . Take the cases of Washington and Franklin , both of whom entered the

Craft in early life , ancl soon familiarised themselves with its learning and ritua l , ancl afterwards throughout their long and eventful careers never forgot the Fraternity that brought them to Masonic light , never ceased to hold in

honour its offices , many of which they filled with the largest credit to themselves , and to tho end of their days spoke in the loftiest terms of Freemasonry as a science , a cosmopolitan brotherhood , and an active charity .

Ifc needs not to be said that there are old men in Freemasonry , for is not the most familiar Masonic fact wc meet with the death of the " oldest Mason , " some patriarch in the Craft , who acquired all its honours , filled all its stations , taught all its lessons , fulfilled all its duties ? Do you ask for a sample old Mason ? We point yon to Bro .

Sir Moses Montefiore , in England , who at Margate has just celebrated , with the felicitations of the Craft , the one hundredth anniversary of his birthday ; and to Brother Christopher C . Graham , in America , who at Louisville , Kentucky , has boon permitted by the Great Architect of the

Universe to attain a similar longevity . Every old Freemason , tried and true , is entitled to our warmest con ^ ratnlations and sincerest fraternal regard . Ho is not only a Nestor in the world , but also in Freemasonry . He is a type of Freemasonry itself , which has seen dynasties rise

Old Masons And Young.

and fall , generations born and die , monetary crises come ancl go , while heincl it remain not qnito solitary and alone , bnfc the few among tho many , mile-stones in life which

indicate the distance of the remote past from tho present , landmarks which tower up to mark a presence which ensures the nobility and prosperity of tho now , by reproducing ancl continuing that oftho aforetime .

We like to soe a Lod ^ o uniting tho wisdom of seniors with the energy of juniors . Ifc is most gratifying to seo white hairs , gray hairs and hairs unturned , mantling tho heads of brethren sitting together in unity in a Masonio Lodge . It nugnrs well for tho Craft . Ifc not only ensures

its present well-being , but betokens its continued activity and stability . It gives all tho elements of strength . Brethren , do not despise any representative of true Masonic character . Wo may not all typify Wisdom , but wo may , perhaps , Strength or Beauty . The young Mason ordinarily

is a type of Beauty , the Middle-aged of Strength , tho aged of Wisdom . All have their placo in tho Masonic structure —not a perfect ashlar in which can bo removed without marring tho symmetry and perfection of tho whole . —Keystone .

Past Masters.

PAST MASTERS .

THE time approaching when , in our respective lodges , we shall be called to select onr office bearers for tho coming year , suggests a thought or two regarding tho decree of Past Master . In New York it is tho law that no

ono can bo lawfully installed as Master unless he has previously been elected , installed , ancl have served one year as Warden , and that previously to his installation he shall have received the degree of Past Master .

This having been and still being tho rule , we have never thought of looking into its right or necessity , but later reading has caused us to inquire as to its right or expediency , and our present conclusion is , that we have been labouring under a mistake .

Thus it must be admitted that a lodge of Master Masons has no right to confer any degree above or beyond tho Third ; consequently , tho Fourth Degree , or that of Past Master , is beyond its province or power , and the same will apply to tho Grand Lodge , which , being composed of the

representatives of its subordinates , cannot , of right , have any power beyond that of superintending their labours in tho three degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry , and , consequently , cannot rightfully authorise a degree which is apart from their regular and well known curriculum . From this we deduce that , there is no known authority

for the degree of Past , Master , and that its continuance is in violation of all the rules governing the principles of Masonry , as wo have it . Those who only look superficially at questions presented

may shrug their shoulders , and even smile , but ifc will puzzle them to furnish any good reason or authority why a Lodge having elected a properly qualified brother—that is , ono who has previously been elected and served as Warden—shonld not sit under bis gavel without the

necessity of any further degree , especially one about which the Lodge , as a body , does not and cannot know anything , and relatively why the Grand Lodge should not only authorise , bnt demand , that a degree not within its system should bs conferred for any purpose whatever . Previous to fho vrnr 1860 we have tho best of reasons

for knowing that at least one-half of the Masters in this State were installed without faking tho degree of Past Master , served their terms , arul became actirtl Past Masters , in blissful ignorance thafc there was any spot upon their title .

Of conrse , while the law remains as ifc is , we must respect it ; but when we rorac to a revision , Ave trust this appendage will he modified , or , bitter still , entirely abrogated . — New York De-pcdch .

Brother Lord Liigh Prov . Grand Master of Warwickshire preside ! on Saturday last at a meeting o tho General Committee for the restoration of Sfc . Michael ' s Chnrch , Coventry . It was announced that , as subscriptions towards tie object of the fund had been promised to the extent of ( IVIT £ 20 , 000 , the conditions on which Mr . Woodcock ' s offer was made had been fulfilled .