Emulation.

EMULATION .

THIS is a principle the exercise of which may , in Masonry as in all the other walks of life , be turned either to profitable or ill account . The business man , the scholar , and the student are alike actuated by a spirit of emulation , between which motive and that of mere rivalry

there is a wide and important distinction . Men may vie with each other , with all the ferocity of zeal , in pursuit of certain objects aimed at , and yet with an utter absence of that invaluable attribute of which we speak . And this distinction , with perhaps but little perceptible difference , it

is to which we would draw the attention especially of tho younger members of the Craft , with a view , if possible , to mould their thoughts and aspirations whilst in search of Masonic light . Many a man of sound judgment , after

having discerned the first glimpses of that refulgence which bursts upon him in the initiative ceremony , and which deepens with every progressive step taken in a Masonic Lodge , sees before him a wide field for the culture of those nobler and loftier sentiments of which the human

mmd is capable , but which for the first time open out to hj [ m in all their comprehensiTeness after he has had restored to him that blessing which had been the predomi - nant wish of his heart . On the other hand , there are some who , having gratified their feelings of curiosity by

the initiative rite , are inspired by no longings for a development of the motives which " prompted them to seek a participation in the mysteries and privileges of our Order . " They stand lingering at the portals of the stately and superb edifice , but , though the foundation of their

Masonic faith was duly laid , they fail to raise upon it the " superstructure , perfect in its parts and bonom-able to the builder . " The absence of a spirit of emulation in such brethren precludes them from drinking those refreshing

draughts which aro the source of life-giving enjoyment to the more intellectual of their fellows ; and when they see others rising to positions of honour and eminence in the Craft , they gaze , and wonder , and inquire how such things can be .

The answer is as simple in this as in any other of the avocations of life . The race is not always to the swift , nor the victory to the strong ; but it is by a careful appreciation of the advantages placed within our reach , and by taking care that the opportunities presented to us are

embraced in the proper spirit , that the most salutary results are accomplished . The man of business who , envious of his neighbour , enters into jealous rivalry with him , in order to keep pace with , or to outdo , the success which he observes is attendant on that neighbour ' s career , does so

ln a vein , not of friendly emulation , but of spiteful avarice , and from this spring " envy , hatred , malice , and all uncharitableness . " It is a sentiment which , if carried ] nto active exercise , would uudermine and sap the very vitals of such an Institution as that of Freemasonry ,

whose objects are the binding together in bonds of mutual sympath y and brotherhood the members of ono universal famil y . "We have spoken of the brother who lacks either the courage or the intelligence to grasp with ready appreciation tho grandeur and sublimity of a system which is

Emulation.

tho source of such unfailing interest to those who tread its paths , and who looks with a sort of sullen envy upon those to whom aro awarded tho palms of honour meritoriously won . Wo have known brethren , excellent and admirablo in many other

respects , grow peevish and discontented at witnessing the rise and progress of others , and for the reason only that they have not cultivated this principle of emulation . They havo boen content to repose on the couch of indifference , and expect the fruit to come to them , instead of

industriously tilling the soil and zealously tending tho crop until it is ready to be garnered . They querulously covet exalted positions in their Lodges , and would scramble through a slipshod form of official display ; but the achievements of such men neither reflect credit on themselves , nor afford

satisfaction or edification to the brethren by whom they are surrounded . They lack this essential spirit of emulation of which we speak , and are actuated solely by feelings of rivalry—which , in many cases , is but another word for

jealous antagonism . Emulation can go along the common path hand in hand with brotherly love ; rivalry never . The former whispers and exchanges mutual encouragement and hope ; the other breathes only discord and contention .

What deplorable scenes , therefore , are sometimes—though they are bapily very rare—witnessed in the Masonic Lodge , from which should bo banished even the faintest shadow o £ jealousy and strife . We have seen the promptings of this rivalry carried on with such subtle , yeb potent , pertinacity

as to produce results highly detrimental , if not almost fatal , to the very life of a Lodge . There is the weak-kneed brother who could never understand the secret of that perseverance which lifts somo men , Saul-like , shoulder-high above their fellows , but who deems it no degradation to make use of

unworthy artifices by which to add a cubit to his Masonic stature . By and bye , the opportunity and . the occasion arrive ; he is lifted up , not by his own meritorious action , resulting from a proper application of the principle of which we are speaking , but the compassionate kindness of friends ,

or perhaps the shrewdness of his own diplomacy . But , as a rule , such ambition invariably overleaps itself . We have seen pitiable instances in which brethren so promoted—with all good intention , no doubt , on the part of the newly exalted Worshipful Master—to positions of importance under his

rule , bring discredit and discomfort upon the Lodge by the prevalence of that spirit of rivalry which actuated them in aspiring to office , and by the lack of emulation to acquire competency . We repeat that , happily such cases are not of frequent occurrence , but on more than one

occasion brethren must have been pained to see the scornful curl of the lip , and to detect the suppressed titter attendant upon the floundering about of an officer who has been pitchforked into a chair , " not wisely , but too well , " by an indulgent Worshipful Master . Ee belongs to that , class

amongst whom the spirit of emulation has obtained no foothold , who gazes vacantly into the vista of that Masonic grandeur along the paths of which others walk with such graceful confidence , and who is content to wait until some wind of fortune wafts him into a position he is incompetent to fill . Far more pleasant it is to watch the progress of the young brother who , from the first step he takes along tho

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EPPS'S ( cS = G ) COCOA .