A Mason's Duty.

A MASON'S DUTY .

From THK KEYSTONE . HOW very few members of the Craft appear to fully understand o > can appreciate tho moaning of the above heading ! Many young men enter , withont giving tho subject a moment ' s consideration , or else because thoir father was a Mason , or more frequently still because somo boon companion unfortunately belonged to the

Fraternity . Onco admitted , ho readily obtains a sufficient smattering of the lectures to permit him to tako his second and third degrees , and thon ( without really knowing aught of the Blue Lodgo ) sends in his application to tlio Chapter , is accepted , and in duo time manvfactored into a Royal Arch Mason . This , however , is not his goal—his ambition soars far beyond that—ho has scon a Knights Templar parade .

and his friend , . Tack . Smith , looks so handsome iu his cocked hat , with waving plumes , his baldric , his semi-military coat , his bolt , his sword . et hoc emuc jfcniis . Yes , ho has ambition , ho has danced through the Symbolic Lodgo , been galloped throngh tho snblimo mysteries of Capitular Masonry , and has had no time to waste on tho simple symbolism of the Cryptic Rite . Oh ! dear , no ; the night after

( possibly tho same night ) ho forwards his petition to the Commandery , and within a month is dubbed a Knight Templar and a Knight of Malta . * What docs such a brother know of a Mason's Duty ? Perhaps somo may sny , "This is an exaggerated way of putting it , " but wo can assure thorn it is not . Look at figures and see at what railroad speed tho degrees can be obtained—sny in the Empiro State .

Suppose tho candidate petitions a Lodgo working every week , as many do , on 1 st May . lie is ballotted for and accepted on 8 th May , and tho samo evening receives his first degree ; on 13 th May , he is passed , and on tho 22 nd of tho same month comes out a full Hedged Master Mason . On the following day ( 23 rd May ) ho presents his petition to tho Chapter , and two weeks after obtains the Mark Degree

( 6 th June ) , on 20 th June passes tho chair , and isreceived and acknowledged a Most Excellent Master , and on 4 th July finds himself a Royal Arch Mason . Next day his application is in tho Commandery , and allowing that that body only meets once a month he is , on the 2 nd August , admitted to tho Asylum and turned out a Knight of the Templo . Thus in less than three months a candidate might in

the State of New York obtain all tbo degrees of the York Rite , and also those of the Commandery . The system of thus rushing candidates through the various bodies is worse than a mistake ; it is an injustico to tho applicant and an injury to tho Craft . Such being tho case , we cannot wonder at so many young men neglecting the Lodge and attending the Commandery alone . Wo have not ono

word to say against the Templar organization , excopt that we think it would be far better if there woro some general rule , tho same as that adopted by the Great Priory of Canada , to the effect that no candidato shonld be admitted within the portalB of the Asylnm unless he has been a Master Mason at least ono year , aud a Royal Arch six months ; by such a system the brother as ho advanced would learn to

appreciate tho beauties of tho rich symbolism of the Lodgo and comprehend tho grandeur of the mysteries of the Holy Royal Arch , and once understanding them ho would perceive that a Mason ' s Duty is not a thing to be worn one day and cast aside the next , to be paraded before tho public on festive occasions aud hidden at other times in his most secret closet .

This constant eagerness to obtain degrees has dono much to keep in the back ground tho real objects of the Craft . Wo do not wish the reader to understand by that that wo aro opposed to the higher degrees ; on the contrary , wo have always held that every Brother has tho right to take as many degrees and ally himself to as many rites as he pleases , and moreover maintain that no rite has tho power to

say to its members , you shall not tako such and such degrees . What we wish to impress upon the reader is this , that after once admitting a candidate , we should feel it our duty to thoroughly verse him in one degree before he is allovied to take another , and we mean by this , not simply teaching him parrot-fashion a few set questions and answers ( which probably will bo useless to him iu

another jurisdiction ) but instructing him in the objects sought to be impressed upon the mind , in that degree and thednties involved upon him in passing through its mysteries . Iu no other way can the ordinary brother compvehend " a Mason's Duty . " If such a course were generally adopted the unseemly bickerings and disgraceful differences that at times spring up between members of the Crafi

would certainly bo lessoned . Then , too , as tho Brother advanced he would be able to form a just estimate of the value and merits of every degree , and be in a position to properly appreciate and comprehend tho various claims of tho different rite 3 . A Mason ' s duty extends far beyond the Lodge room , Chapter and Asylum . Of course it is his duty to attend the varions bodies to

which ho belongs as regularly as he can , and ho shonld make even effort to become conversant with the ritual and esoteric portions of tin ceremonies ; he should also make it a point to study the history and master the jurisprudence of the Or An : These certainly are hiduties , but tl e-e are hii : h ? r and nobler ones still , and they should be earef ally observed . How often do we hear a Brother thoughtlessly invoke the name of The Most High on every trivial occasion , mid nail

as it were every pis . sinjr remark with an oath or a curse ! Tlio excus > being , " Oh ! it is habit . " It is a Mason ' s Duty to warn contly , kindlj and fraternally sneh an one of tho awful responsibility he assumes in da'ing to call upon His Maker to witness every trilling statement hi may make . He has been taught in his Lodge room that ho is neve to meniion the namo of God " except with that reverence due fron the creature to the Creator . " Let his Brother warn him in time

A Mason's Duty.

and by example and procept persuade him to give up the pernicious habit , a habit degrading to his manhood , wicked in itself , and vulgar in every sense of the word . Again , we note the demon Liquor leading our members at times to the very brink of destruction ; we have seeu tho noblest and best fall i victim to its snares ; wo havo kuown great and good men yield and

finally sink beneath it 3 alluring influence . Hero a brother can step in and aid , and help , and watch over and assist and guide , and perform in truth and earnestness , a Mason ' s Duty . Of course , Freemasonry does not pretend to be a tempernnco society , aud wo trust never will bo . Tho majority of its members aro not teetotalers ; but when Whisky has seized within its grip a Brother , no effort should bo

spared to rescue him from his fatal grasp . The task is a difficult one ; but it is here that we should strain every nervo and exert every effort to save—not only to save him , the unfortunate l ' allcu one , but his wife , his little ones , yes , and his very soul . Drinking is a mania with many , as irresistible as tho contagion of fever or the virus of imall-pox ; yet , by patient care and watchfulness , the attacks may be

warded off , lessened or shortened . Every Mason should feel it hi 3 duty , nay , his privilege , to strivo to save a Brother under these circumstances ; and all should remember it is not to bo done by Lodge discipline , suspension and expulsion . It can only be accomplished by kindness and brotherly love , commingled with tho trnest and purest charity . How ofton would we find , if we carefullv

followed np tho causa of such a brother fall in ir , that it was financial difficulty—actual want . It is easy to siy , " Hn could apply to tho Lodge for aid . " How glibly tho affluent member can dilate upon this topic ! Few , howover , who onco havo been in good circumstances , will ( unless compelled by the most dire circumstauccs )

reveal their wants and sufferings . No , it is tho Mason ' s Duty to quietly discover theso things for himsolf , and then at onco assist tho family of his Brother with tho actual necessities of lifo , and at once set to work with others to secure employment for him . By so doing , a Brother exemplifies the teachings of the Lodge-room , does credit to the Craft and honour to himself—and yet he has only done his duty .

We might , if space permitted , dilate npon this subject ad infinitum . A Mason ' s Duty is never fully accomplished until he returns to that Mother Earth from whom he sprang . He will find , which ever way he turns , that there is work before him—Brethren in sickness , widows in distress , orphans in penury . If he is true to his vows he

can accomplish much , and win for himself , when summoned before the Supreme Grand Master , a seat near the Grand East in the Grand Lodge above . ROBERT RAMSAY . ORILLIA , ONTARIO .

Lost My Interest.

LOST MY INTEREST .

" T HAVE lost my interest in Masonry , " said a brother of the mystic -L tie to us a short time since , and we at once resolved to investigate the philosophy of his aberrations . Why is it , wo would ask , that so many men take the solemn obligations of tho mystic tie , and then pass ont from the sacred precincts of tho Lodge room as if thero wero no cable-tow to bind them to the fellowship of the Craft , and no moral influence to hold them to its

prestige ? That hundreds so act will bo admitted in every jurisdiction . They take the degrees , and in most instances at first seem well pleased . The simplicity of the ritualistic lessons impressed them , and the sacrcdness of the mystic obligations taught them that the institution was one of fraternity and confidence , of equality and equitable benevolence . Their inferences were fair , because they were legitimate ,

and it is not contrary to the usual convictions that they had such impressions . It is scarcoly possible for any one who is of good report and comes well recommended to pass throngh tho ordeal of Masonio adoption withont feeling the moral pressure that the Society is one of the highest in fraternal ties and brotherly sympathies . It is this solemn and vivid conviction that leads them to believe that personal

infallibility should mark all of their fellowship and dealings , and when they learn that their Masonic brethren are only men of like passions with themselves they are disappointed . It is the weakness of humanity , not of Masonry itself , that causes this destruction of confidence which leads men to say , " I have lost my interest . " It is not right to blame an organization of pure principles , of high moral tendencies , with the

persoual delinquencies of its members , which is so often done . Indeed , it is just here that most of these brethren lose their interest in Masonry . It is here that they see those defects which wean them ivvay from the Lodge room , aud from their confidence in Masonic f ellowship . They see in more or less of the members , coldness and fraternal indifference , which belong to the outside world , and the

result is they retire from the association with mortified feelings of disgust and disappointment . Mauy of theso aberrations no doubt grow out of tho spirit and manner of conducting Lodges , for it is not always the case that the best men are placed in the governing offices of a Lodge , and even where this is the case , tho thoughtless , not to say illegal action of the Lodge itself often creates confusion amoiif tlvj

brethren and drives many from their Masonic devotion for all life . Some Lodges get up a bad feeling in electing their officers . They show an undue zeal in pnshing some men forward , and they fail frequently in treating with generous feelings such as aro backward and unassuming . They havo the right to expect a Lodge room to be a place of confidential kindredship , of free and social fellowship , bnt

they often find it cold and formal , selfish and exclusive iu its operations , and not nnfrequently they have seen brethren that wero poor , suspended , and even expelled for non-payment of clues ; which was a poor compliment to Masonic charity . Failing thus to find thoir expectations in the Lodge room , where unity , peace and harmony should distinguish every meeting , taoy drop out and become cole ] iu