Masonry Invincible.

MASONRY INVINCIBLE .

By Charles Day , Grand Orator Oklahoma . TO be a Freemason in thought , in word and in action ; a Freemason in fact , as well as in name , we must go beyond the obligations , beyond the ritual and beyond the forms of initiation , passing and raising , and seek the true meaning of the beautiful symbols and ceremonies of the Order ; we must study the origin ,

the aims and the purposes of Masonry and of man . It is here we find the attraction ; here we find two classes of Masons , labourers and idlers ; the former steadily guiding and directing our timehonoured Institution within its ancient land-marked channel , and diligently disseminating true Masonic Light and information among all uninformed Brethren , wherever they may go ; the latter

class , inactive , vacillating and floating through and out > of life at the expense of the labouring class . Here , too , we view Masonry itself , under two denominations , operative and speculative ; the former being a profane and temporal art ; the latter , a sacred and eternal science , a system of philosophy , and philosophy is thought , hence the inception of Masonry is coeval with thought

and thought is of God . It is sometimes said that , amidst the beautiful traditions clustering around the construction of that superb model of excellence which stood on Mt . Moriah , the birth of Masonry may be found . As well might we judge man by his stature , not his deeds ; the one is material , the other spiritual . King Solomon , being the greatest philosopher of his age , well

knew when he commenced that stupendous monument to God , that civilisation and all its surroundings were favourable for the propagation of Masonry , and by his wisdom its several parts were grouped together , systematised and applied to his use , whereby he was enabled to so control the one hundred and eighty-four thousand , six hundred men who participated in that sacred service ,

that the one purpose of each was to so perfect his work that when brought up for inspection his own private mark thereon might be known by the overseers , the work received and given a place in that magnificent structure . " Fraternity " was the password , and the consciousness of duty , well performed , the highest reward sought . No Institution , not founded on Truth , can live beyond a century . The organisations of men , however worthy , do not

survive the age of their birth . Truth , and Truth alone , is everlasting . Masonry , whose principles began with thought , whose past services have been grand and noble , and whose purposes of to-day are fixed as in the beginning , is invincible . As the huge rock in mid-ocean breasts the foaming billows and defies the raging waters , so it stands in the noon of Time . It breasts the foaming calumny of ignorance and defies the raging Papal Bull . Founded upon truth , the eternal years of God are hers .

To worship the Creator was inherent in primaeval man ' s nature ; so also was the intuition that he was of the thought of the Creator and therefore a part of the Creator . Eeason taught him that cause produced effect ; that cause was before creation ;

that what was before creation was infinite , and what was infinite was God , and what was a part of God was in part infinite , hence the unity of God and the immortality of the soul . This is a primary tenet , a perpetuating power , and the vital essence of Masonry .

Like our Brethren of old , we are builders ; not with operative tools do we level the foundation , plumb the shaft , or square the work , but with the symbolical implements do we build character , striving to lay its foundation deep and broad , and strong with

truth , honesty and virtue , hedging it around about with the great cardinal virtues , temperance , fortitude , prudence and justice ; binding and cementing it together with the indissoluble chain of friendship , morality and brotherly love ; overlaying it with the God-given theological virtues , faith , hope and charity .

Perfection on earth has never been attained , therefore it is not claimed that all Masons reach the high ideal taught in Masonry , but we do claim that any thinking , reasoning man , who , on bended knee at our sacred altar , takes the several

Masonic obligations and hears the several Masonic lectures , must needs be persuaded to a better and more useful life , and thereby the world made brighter and better . We live in a fast age . Old-time methods are rapidly giving way to the new . No longer do we await the tired postman for

last week's news , neither tarry at the wayside inn for the familiar rattle of the old stage coach , and the merry bugle call announcing the approach of long-looked-for friends . Nor are we content with the old freighter ' s slow and cumbrous outfit , for exchange of commodities with our neighbour county and state .

Subjugated steam , harnessed lightning , and man ' s ingenuity have relegated these slow methods to the past . To-day the iron horse , propelled by wings of steam , is transferring our people and our products from state to state and from continent to continent ,

with the rapidity of the wind , and , by the skilled finger touch of the electric button , news from all the world is transmitted more rapidly than time itself . Not since the stars sang together in primreval morn has such rapid change been made , as in this , our day and age , and with equal rapidity comes growing greed for

Masonry Invincible.

worldly goods ; making money the god to be worshipped . Let us see to it , Brethren , one and all , that this avaricious spirit hinders not our solemn duty to protect the reputation and administer to the wants of the distressed worthy Brother , the destitute widow , the innocent maiden and the helpless orphan . Then may it not only be said of us , " Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity , " but behold

how these Brethren love one another and all mankind . Thus may we be counted of the faithful Craft , our life ' s work approved by the Supreme Grand Overseer and we receive the shibboleth of admission to a place in that Spiritual Temple , whose maker and builder is the Eternal Great I Am , and in his Divine presence receive the true Master ' s word , " Well done , thou good and faithful servant , enter into the joys of thy Lord . "— " American Tyler . "

Sonnets Of The Greek Mythology, No. 11.

Sonnets of the Greek Mythology , No . 11 .

TO URANIA . BLEST maid of purest attributes divine—Of god-like wisdom and celestial grace ; Thou art the chief of all the Sisters Nine For heaven itself's reflected in thy face . Seraphic being 1 How shall I give praise

To thee whose tones nigh silence angels' tongues ? To thee—whose fervent , rich and full-voiced lays Surpass in majesty their sweetest songs ? Thrice blessed Urania ! Nay ten thousand times Art thou thrice blest , for thou canst sway all hearts Both here , on earth , and in eternal climes ,

And still thy song flows on , and still imparts To mortals here , to cherubim above The mighty influence of surpassing love . Bradford . CHAS . F . FORSHAW , M . A .

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BOYS SCHOOL , HAROLD MACKENZIE SHERMAN / LAST APPLICATION—Votes forward 2 , 324 . Son of the late . WILLIAM HENRY SHERMAN , Clerk and Steward to the Bucks County Asylum , Aylesbury , who died on the 6 th May 1894 , leaving a widow and three children totally unprovided for . He was W . M . of Buckingham Lodge , No . 591 , when he died . The case , which is strongly recommended by the W . M ., Officers , and Members of Lodge 591 , is really urgent , as owing to the bad state of the Mother ' s health she is at times quite unable to work . Proxies may be sent to the widow , MRS . SHERMAN , 47 Lambeth Palace Road , London , S . B . * Has a sister in the School at Clapham .

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Second application . TO THE GOVERNORS AND SUBSCRIBERS OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . Your votes arid interest are solicited on behalf of LUCY WHILE . Aged sixty-one years , Widow of the late Bro . JOHN WHILE , Journalist , who died on January 20 th , 1892 . Bro . While was initiated in the Lodge of Uuited Strength , No . 228 , on December 10 th , 1867 , and became W . M . of that Lodge in 1875 , continuing a member of it until the time of his death . He was also for two years a member of the Gallery Lodge , No . 1923 ; was a Royal Arch Mason , exalted in the William Preston Chapter , No . 766 , and a P . Z . of the Chapter of United Strength . He was a subscriber to the three Masonic Institutions , and in 1875 a Steward of the Benevolent Institution , of which he was a Life Governor . His widow is also a Life Governor of this Institution . The case is strongly recommended by—R . W . Bro . Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W ., Guildhall , E . G . W . Bro . J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D ., P . D . P . G . M ., Middlesex , Reform Club , S . W W . Bro . Lennox Browne , F . R . C . S ., P . D . G . D . C ., 15 Mansfield Street , W . W . Bro . Thomas Catling ( Editor Lloyd ' s Weekly ) , P . M ., 2190 and 2127 . W . Bro . John Northcotfc ( Daily Chronicle ) , P . M ., 2190 . Bro . John Lobb , CO ., M . L . S . B ., 228 , 4 St . Bride Street , E . G . W . Bro . Robert Griggs , P . M ., 228 , 11 Grays Inn Square , W . O . * W . Bro . George J . Dawson , P . M ., 1853 , 41 Holland Road , Brixton , S . W . W . Bro . E . B . Peacock ( Morning Post ) , P . M . and P . Z ., 1928 , I . G ., 2190 . W . Bro . Orlton Cooper , P . M ., 211 , H ., 1928 , M . B . Z ., 483 , Tilbury , Essex . W . Bro . George Kenning , Patron , P . M . and P . Z ., 192 and 1657 , P . Prov . G . D . Middlesex , Upper Sydenham , S . E . Bro . C . F . H . Smith , 1928 ( lace 228 ) , 42 Blythwood Road , Crouch Hill . Bro . J . Bune , 1928 , Cleut , Tburlow Park Road , West Dulwich . Bro . J . D . Irvine , 1928 , 149 Acre Laue , Brixton , S . W . W . Bro . W . T . Perkins , P . M ., 1928 , 36 Norwood Road , Heme Hill , S . E . Bro . William Senior , 2190 , 9 ParkhUl Road , N . W . W . Bro . Percy W . Husk , P . M ., 1928 , P . Z ., 1928 , 125 Brixton Hill , S . W . * Bro . W- W . Morgan , 177 , New Barnet . * W . Bro . H . Massey , P . M . and P . Z ., 619 and 1928 , 1 Clifford's Inn , E . C . Votes will be thankfully received by the Brethren against whose name a * is marked , and by the candidate , 19 Knighton Park Road , Sydenham , S . E .