Past Grand Master Robertson.

strengthen the cause , and to cement the friendships characteristic of an Institution devised b ) ' man , and 3 'e t one of the Divine instrumentalities which , amid the smiles of summer and the frowns of winter , showers blessings on all who are true to its principles . " While words uttered from this Grand East may find their way to the membership , either in the printed records of Grand Lodge or through the

medium of thc press , there can be but one opinion that to keep in touch with the heart of the Craft , to strengthen the nestle tie of sympathy , personal contact , thc commune of voice with voice , the interchange of thought with thought , visits tothe brethren in their own homes—in their lodge rooms—are essential . With this object in view , I have during the past two years visited every Iodge once and many twice of the 34 S on the register of this Grand

Jurisdiction , making 131 visits in 1890-91 , and 232 in 1891-92 , in all 363 visits , covering about twenty-three thousand miles of travel and ten months of actual time occupied in the work . At these meetings I gave general addresses on Craft work , lectures embracing all periods of Craft history from the earliest date , at the same time affording the brethren an opportunity of enquiry on matters of which they desired information in connection

with either our esoteric or exoteric work . The attendance was large and representative and might be fairfy taken as including two thirds of the entire membership . The thousand memories of thc pleasant talks at these reunions with 1113 ' fellow-Craftsmen have added leaves to the book of my life , to which I shall surely , in the aftertime when age has a greater claim upon mc , turn with pleasure , to refresh my mind , to recall old names and

faces , encouraged by the thought that many of those who then greeted me are yet active in the work , and are still with me , marching along in the twilight of life , with the unchanging desire we all have who recognise Masonr 3 ' as the idealistic rcalil 3 ' of fraternity . " During the spring of the 3 'ear , leaving our most western lodge at Keewatin , I journeyed , on the invitation of M . W . Bro . W . G . Bell , the

Grand Master of Manitoba , to Winnipeg and Brandon . I found there a welcome that in fraternal enthusiasm was excelled by no gathering of the Craftsmen of this jurisdiction . The compliment was not to me but to the Grand Lodge of Canada , whose offspring the Grand Lodge of Manitoba is , and it was cheering to realise that this , in a sense , venerated jurisdiction , hoi Is a high place in the hearts of our Manitoba brethren .

" One cannot wilh absolute accurac 3 ' , 'in the short period assigned to each visit necessary to cover the ground , arrive at more than a general opinion as to the condition of each lodge or of the Craft at large , and therefore it might be unfair to place in the crucible of criticism many of the elements which have to be weighed in defining the prosperity of a lodge . And yet there are features connected wilh the work to which reference should be made , in the

not precise ^ ' censorious spirit—for that is a field in which many are pre-eminently successful—but rather with the anticipation that impressions may be made that will evolve a change for the better in the points alluded to . The mere motion of the verbal machinery of man , that turns out words in an aimless , phonographic way , and without a knowledge of the situation , would be harmful , not helpful , and therefore my desire is to impress on the

brethren that whatever personal experience has been afforded me , has been amplified by the official reports and by opinions expressed by unbiased minds , who are just as sincere in the work as any within the sound of my voice , and who realise that Mason ^ ' as a need of humanit 3 ' , an adjunct to civilisation and an educator of mankind , has a business as well as a fraternal aspect—both factors that are most essential to success .

" Speaking in a general way of the condition of the work , more particularly with regard to the ritualistic exemplification , it is encouraging to know that there is a visible improvement in a large proportion of the lodges , especially since the authorisation ordered by Grand Lodge live years ago . The revision of this year has given unqualified satisfaction , placing as it docs the W . M . ' s and officers of lodges in a better position than ever before for the proper rendering of thc work .

" I he meetings of lodges in every district , with a few exceptions , seem to have been held with regularity , but an examination of the register books of all the lodges during the past five 3 'ears does not reveal an attendance of the brethren at all in proportion to the total membership . I have carefully examined this feature , have conversed with those who could offer an

intelligent opinion , and venture to state that a statistical return would show that the average monthly attendance does not exceed 20 per cent , of the membership on the roll . In striking this average the increased attendance at annual meetings and at installation ceremonials , when a larger proportion than usual of the brethren is present , is duly credited .

" While this al first view seems discouraging , it must be remembered that fully 20 per cent , of the membership reside out of , or in parts of , the jurisdiction distant from their lodges , that probably as many cannot convenientl y attend owing to temporary absence , so that there are about 40 percent , who are presumably indifferent to their Masonic connection and its requirements . Une would think that the efforts of the officers of the lodges and the

influence of those who have passed thc chair would induce larger gatherings , but apparently not , for the registers do not show an attendance of one Tor ever 3 ' five oi those who have had the honour of obtaining past rank ; indeed many incline to a much smaller average . There is this to be said , that the experience of other fraternal organisations is much the same , and that in some which are prominent the average of those present at regular meetings

is even much less than is claimed for our fraternity , while the reasons for non-attendance arc possibly the same . In this age there are so many avenues for fraternal intercourse through organisations of a beneficial character , formed in response to the vital needs of mankind , in which thousands of those in our fold arc affiliated . We may not therefore go out of our way to find reasons why organisations suffer from non-attendance .

Men are but human , and home , social , and business duties are elements in thc routine of life which , with justice , require attention if we desire , as we undoubtedly should , to fulfil our duties in the army of industrials , who have obligations not only at the family circle , but who as citizens of a great empire are identified with everything that will advance the cause of humanity .

" Regarding the increase in membership , there is no doubt that in thc prosperous lodges of every district—and these compose a large proportionmore care is being exercised as to those who are being admitted , while in some lodges anxiety for funds to pay expenses clouds thc belter judgment , and , in a few lodges no care whatever is apparentl y taken . In this latter class anyone , it is claimed , can be admitted , as long as thc wherewithal is provided . In one case , which has deeply concerned me , it is asserted that the material accepted is most indifferent and that the amount expended in railway fares

Past Grand Master Robertson.

and expenses to secure the services of the Past Master ' s to exemplif y tj , work greatly exceeded the annual dues of the lodge to Grand Lodn- Increase in membership is not an absolute essential or indication of pvos _! perity , no more than decrease b 3 ' suspension is evidence of adversity . Better conserve and interest those we have and keep them true to the princi ples of the Institution than receive those whose ideas of Masonry are defined b y the buying power of the dollar , and who gauge their love for a brother b y hij commercial 1 he roll of those who have b lost

rating . y suspension their privileges is admittedly a long one—in one way regrettable , and yet why should we mourn over men , the large proportion of whom perhaps measured their Masonic zeal and fraternity by the number of ledger accounts opened for Craftsmen , who see in every brother the prospective purchaser of some of the commodities that help to make life worth living , who use the 24 inch gauge as an aid to business and the square as a sign that they are read y to exchange experience for money and that not at the current market value ?

"This jurisdiction is suffering and has suffered from the depression which prevails in sister jurisdictions through a plethora of lodges . This opinion is formed not from hearsay , not even from official report , but from a knowledge gathered by a personal examination of localities . Scattered through this province lodges were 3 'ears ago planted without the slightest regard to the requirements of the community . This action has had the natural effect

of weakening prosperous lodges and emasculating others . Asa consequence unhealthy competition was excited . Funds were required to meet legitimate expenditure , and those admitted to the privileges of the Craft , certainl y became members , who were probably indifferent as to whether they ever became Masons . The error of the past has carried with it a lesson which we justly appreciate when we suspend lodges of questionable life and

character , receive with thanks warrants that are surrendered , as in the case of Springfield , No . 259 , in the Third District , Craig Lodge , No . 214 , in the Fourth District , and Quinte Lodge , No . 241 , Shannonville , in the Thirteenth District , and favour the amalgamation of lodges , as in the case of Nos . 8 3 and 366 , Strathroy , in the Second District , and Nos . 201 and 340 , of Gananoque and Pittsburg , in the Fourteenth District , where with wisdom united action takes the place of divided interest .

" While it is pleasant to know that the cases alluded to form a small percentage of those on the register , it is gratifying to report that threefourths of the lodges in the jurisdiction are not only improving in the exemplification of the work , but also in the quality of the membership . The conviction is close to my mind that thebrethren are to-day speaking through the ballot box , and value the advantages of the Institution by rejecting those whose motives for seeking admission are not clearly defined .

" Another evidence of progress is to be found in the improvement of the meeting places of the Craft . While in an occasional locality the primitive surroundings remind one of the days of the pioneer , when timber was rendered artistic by the efforts of the woodman ' s axe , the Craft may well feel proud of temples like those of Barrie , Collingwood , Mattawa and Oshawa , recently erected , which are not only a credit to this jurisdiction , but are unequalled in design and furnishing by any outside of the palatial Craft halls of the great cities of this continent . The suite of rooms at Barrie are a model of elegance , appointm ent and comfort . "

Silence.

SILENCE .

Man , it is said , is the only animal endowed with the faculty of language , while it is claimed that all animals have the ability of expressing by some process a common intercommunication , yet not by any recognised language . Unless by the experiment now developing , some results may be possible , to sustain the theory that monkeys talk , the first proposition is still undisputed .

It was the opinion of a great statesman that language was to bc used to disguise our thoughts . That has been called diplomacy . But it cannot be denied that man talks too much . The use of language is not always lo benefit , improve , or instruct , and notions are flippantly given as opinions . Arguments are frequently but the reiteration of illogical , ill-digested prejudices , which are made attractive by thc language in which they are dressed

up for the occasion . Thoughtful men are not carried away by too much talking . Loquacity is not a force . The Greeks had a maxim that silence was golden . Again , it has been said that the eloquence of silence has been more effective than words . Yet , be it remembered , there are occasions , times , seasons , and

exigencies when speech is essential . The man who then talks must know what he has to say . Thoroughly equipped to discuss questions of high import , he who then speaks has a mission to fulfil . If there is among men a society in which silence is a primary rule of its government , it is the Craft of Freemasons .

Silence is one of the foundations on which Freemasonry is built . It is forbidden to Masons to talk among the profane on Masonic subjects . The law of silence is imperative . What is said in thc tyled lodge is not elsewhere to be discussed . Silence veils all thc proceedings of Masons in their lodges .

They are tyled to secure silence , that none but those entitled to hear may be informed . The prolane have no right to know . Thc outside world of men are strangers to the truths , lessons , teachings and principles of the tyled lodge . If they desire to be taught , and to learn , the way is presented for them to follow , lo obtain that knowledge . 1

Silence is thc panoply which shields the esoteric . In Masonry , it is lj " " Light" which makes manifest , and that light is brilliant only to those who have acquired the capacity to comprehend what it reveals . When thus obtained , silence clothes the Masonic mind with a reticence that will not allow the use of any other language than that which l < rcumasonry uses in its tyled lodges . Thc Mason cannot be permitted to use that language anywhere exctp 1

as he was taught by it . Silence then is a Masonic virtue . . , In thc Masonic temple the first figure that is presented to the view . 'j those who enter is the statue of silence—a figure , graceful , subdued , «' the finger of the hand al the mouth in restful meditation . Silence is a lesson . It is taught in thc " Great Light" on our Mason ' altars

. .,.. 1 he There was " silence in heaven , " so that here it is wisdom to learn ano subjected to thc effective influences of silence . , s Language cannot express the great lessons which silence ofttimes teae us . Keystone .