Why Were You Made A Mason ?

WHY WERE YOU MADE A MASON ?

We propose to interrogate a number of brethren as lo why they were made Masons . Some might expect that the similarity of their replies would render it requisite for us to narrate to the reader but a single answer . It is true

that all did give the same reply at one period of their lives ; all signed a similar petition , and made the customary declaration , which it is not necessary for us to repeat here ; but we propose to renew the inquiry after the lajise of some eight or ten years , and to get , if possible , an honest answer .

Bro . Backus has been a Mason for fifteen years , and from our intimate knowledge of his Masonic life ( which has been invariably distinguished for diligent attendance at lodge , and conscientious performance of every duty imposed upon him ) we felt confident that his reply would be ingenuous and satisfactory , and it is . He says that he was made a Alason for two reasons—because he was from youth a

seeker after knowledge , and he was strongly impressed with the belief that the mysteries of Freemasonry would unveil to his mind wisdom that he could not attain in any other manner . This was his first reason . His second was , that he had always understood brotherly love was a distinguishing characteristic of Freemasons , and he was anxious to belong to a brotherhood in which each member

unselfishly aided another , when in distress of mind , body , or estate . He admitted that he had some curiosity to learn the forms and ceremonies of the Craft , but this curiosity was altogether subordinate to the two reasons just given . It is needless to say that Bro . Backus is entirely satisfied with Freemasonry , for , in his own language , " it fills the bill "—not its own bill , for it has none , but the one which

he arranged for it in his own mind . The fraternity issues no posters to entice entrants . It forbids solicitation for membership . One must confess , however , that sometimes when a new lodge is started , with perhaps a dozen or twenty members , and the first night of meeting discloses that there are eight or ten applicants for initiation , it does look as if the entire body of the new lodge had been out

with fife and drum beating up recruits . Of course they were not , but , we repeat , it looks so . The enthusiasm of members of new lodges is so unbouneled , that they omit no opportunity to laud Freemasonry in general , and their own lodge in particular , and the result is a rush in that special direction . Bro . Smirky has been a Mason for two years , but he is

now seen so infrequently at the lodge , and takes so little interest in the Craft , that we have some doubts as to whether he remembers why he was made a Mason . On asking him the question , however , we find he knows ri ght well , and he feels sore over his knowledge . He shall speak for himself . " I joined the Masons because I imagined them to be a lot of ' hail fellows , well met , ' always ready for a

jollification , conferring the tlcgrees more for their own sport than for the edification of the initiate , and never closing a meeting without a banquet . I soon found out , however , how awfully I was mislaken . I never saw a more solemn set of fellows , anil I would as soon go to church as to a lodge . I was made a Mason for fun , and there is no fun in Alasonry—to speak of . "

Bro . Solomon contradicts both Bro . Backus and Bro . Smirky , Some men are walking dictionaries , Bro . Solomon is a walking Bible . He is a man of one idea . He ignores the present , and lives only for the future . He joined the Masons because he had read that the Holy Bible was the first Great Light in Alasonry , and he was glad to support a society founded on such a principle . He

was mistaken in thinking that Freemasonry was oneieleael , like himself . As soon as he became a member of the Craft , he found that it encouraged festivities and banquets , and often went from labour to refreshment . That was enough to ruin it in his estimation . He is now a Mason only in name , just as Bro . Smirky is , but for quite a elifferent reason . Bro . Curus was made a Mason to see what there was

in it , and his testimony is that it is as hollow as a drum . Bare curiosity prompted his application , and as soon as it was satisfied , he had no further use of the lodge . He had no interest in it , and never attended it . Of course he was not going to pay six elollars a year for dues for nothing , so he sent in his resignation , procured a dimit , and buried it in the bottom of his trunk . That is practically the end of Bro . Curus as a Mason , and there are

no mourners . Ihe Rev . Bro . Free was made a Alason gratis . It was the custom of his lodge to receive clergymen without a fee ; if it was charged in the first place it was donated afterwards . Bro . Free thought a great deal of Alasonry for the first year , but when December came around , and lie received a bill for elues , he was horrified . He was made a

Mason because he was invited to do so , without cost , and he soon let his brethren know that if they did not intend to remit his dues annually , he would leave them in disgust ; and he diel . It vvas the opinion of most Alasons that that lodge was served right . Charity Alasons are dead wooel in Masonry . He who sets out in life as a Alasonic pauper , expects to be sustained as a pauper all of his life . The

lodge which remits an initiation fee throws away its mysteries upon an unapprcciative brother . We rarely value that which costs nothing . BrJ . Free was made a Mason because a friend asked him , and promised that the lodge would forgive him the initiation fee ; but because it would not forgive him perennailly his dues , he is now suspended for N . P . D . Served him right ; and the

loilge ought to be suspended too , if lt persists in making Alasons gratis . We do not believe that the reader was made a Alason for any except legitimate reasons , for the bare fact that he takes and reads a Craft newspaper to a large degree substantiates his Masonic character . Bro . Free , Bro . Solomon , and Bro . Smirky were never known even to

Why Were You Made A Mason ?

borrow a Alasonic newspaper to read , but every brother who loves the fraternity , loves its literature , and feels a pride in encouraging its dissemination among the Craft . — Keystone .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

The Editor will be glad to receive notice from Secretaries of Craft Lodges , Royal Arch Chapters , Mark Lodges , Encampments , Conclaves , & c , of any change in place or day of meetin g . For the Week ending Friday , January , n , 1878 .

SATURDAY , JANUARY 3 . Gen . Com . Boys' School at 4 . Lodge 1572 , Carnarvon , Albion Tav ., Aldersgate-st . „ 1622 , Rose , Surrey AI . H . LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .

Lily , Greyhound , Richmond . Alanchester , 77 , London-st ., Fitzroy-sq . Star , Alarquis of Granby , New Cross-rd . Eccleston , Grosvenor Club , Ebury-square , S . W . Percy , 113 , Southgate-road , N .

AIONDAY , JANUARY 7 th . Lodge 12 , Fortitude and Old Cumberland , Ship et Turtle . „ 25 , Robert Burns , F . AI . H . ., 72 , Royal Jubilee , Anderton's Hot ., Fleet-st . ,, 144 , St . Luke ' s , AI . H ., Basinghall-st . „ 188 , Joppa , Albion Tav . , Aldersgate-st . „ 1319 . , Asaph , F . M . H .

„ 166 9 , Royal Leopold , S . AI . H . Chap . 28 , Old King's Arms , F . M . H . Alark Lodge , 1 39 , Panmure , Balham Hot ., Balham .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Prince Leopold , Lord Stanley Tav ., Kingsland . Strong Man , Old Rodney ' s Head , Old-st ., E . Sincerity , Railway Tav ., Fenchurch-st . Station . Camden , Stanhope Arms , Up . James-st ., Camden Town . Tredegar , Royal Hot ., Mile-end-road . St . James ' s Union , Union Tav ., Air-st . Wellington , White Swan , Deptford .

Perfect Ashlar , Victoria Tav ., Lowcr-rd ., Rotherhithe . Upper Norwood , White Hart Hot ., Church-rd . Alarquis of Ripon , Pembury Tav ., Amherst-rd ., Hackney . Loughborough , Warrior Hit ., Brixton . West Smithfield , New Alarket Hot ., West Smithfield . Leopold , Woolpack Tavern , Bermondscy-st . St . George ' s , Globe Tav ., Greenwich . London Masonic Club , at 101 , Queen Victoria-st . E . G ., 2 nd and 4 th Alonday every month , at 6 o'clock .

TUESDAY , JANUARY 8 . Lodge 4 6 , Old Union , Westminster Palace Hot . ,, 166 , Union , Westminster Palace Hot . „ 180 , St . James ' s Union , F . M . H . „ 198 , Percy , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . ,, 211 , St . Michael , Albion Tav ., Aldersgate- st .

„ 548 , Wellington , White Swan Tav ., Deptford . , > 9 ' 7 > Cosmopolitan , Cannon-st . Hot . „ 93 } , Doric , Anderton ' s Hot ., Fleet-st . 16 ( 34 , Wanderers ' , F . M . H . ,, 1614 , Covent Garden , Ashley ' s Hot ., Covent-Gdn . ,, I'M ? , Canterbury , 33 , Golden-sq .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Metropolitan , 269 , Pentonville-rd . Yarborough , Green Dragon , Stepney . Domatic , Surrey M . H ., Camberwell New-road . Faith , 2 , Westminster Chambers , Victoria-st . Prince Fredk . Wm ., Lord's Hot ., St . John ' s Wood . Dalhousie , King Edward , Triangle , Hackney .

Prosperity , Hercules Tav ., Leadenhall-st . Florence Nightingale , F . AI . H ., William-st ., Woolwich . Constitutional , Bedford Hot ., Southampton Bdgs ., at 7 . Israel , Rising Sun Tav ., Globe Road . Royal Arthur , Prince ' s Head , York-road , Battersea .

Beacontree , Red Lion , Leytonstone . Excelsior , Commercial Dock Tav ., Rotherhithe . St . John of Wapping , Gun Hot ., High-st ., Wapping . Islington , 23 , Gresham-st . Metropolitan Chapter , Jamaica Coffee Ho ., Cornhiil . Mount Edgcumbe , 19 , Jermyn-st ., St . James ' s .

WEDNESDAY , JANUARY 9 . Com . R . AI . B . L , at 3 . Lodge 11 , Enoch , F . M . H . ,, 1 3 , Union Waterloo , AI . H ., Woolwich . 15 , Kent , F . M . H . J , 87 , Vitruvian , White Hart , College-st ., Lambeth . ,, 147 , Justice , White Swan , High-st ., Deptford .

,, 238 , Pilgrim , 101 , Queen Victoria-st . „ 74 Q , Belgrave , Anderton's Hot ., Fleet-st . ,, 7 81 , Merchant Navy , Silver Tav ., Limehouse . ,. 1 30 ( 1 , St John of Wapping , Gun Tav ., Wapping . Chap . 8 37 , St . Alark ' s , S . M . H . ,, 1260 , Hervey , F . AI . H . ,, 1 30 T , St . Marylebone , Brit . Stores , St . John's Wood .

Encamp . 129 , Holy Palestine , 33 , Golden-sq . LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Confidence , Railway Tav ., Railway-place , Fenchurch-st . Alt . Lebanon , Windsor Castle Tav ., Southwark-bdg .-rd . Pythagorean , Portland Hotel , London-street , Greenwich . New Concord , Rosemary Branch Tav ., Hoxton . La Tolerance , Horse antl Groom , Winsley-st ., Oxford-st . Peckham , Alaismore Arms , Park-road , Peckham .

Stanhope , Thicket Hot ., Anerley . Finsbury Park , Finsbury Park Tav ., Seven Sisters' -rd . Siuthwark , Southwark Park Tav ., Southwark Park . Duke of Connaught , Havelock Tav ., Dalston , E . United Strength , Grafton Arms , Kentish-town . Whittington , Black Bull Tav ., Holborn , at 8 . Lewis , King ' s Arms Hot ., Wood Green . Royal Jubilee , 81 , Long Acre . Langthorne , Swan Hot ., Stratford .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

THURSDAY , JANUARY 10 . Lodge 19 , Royal Athelstan , Holborn Viaduct Hot . „ gr , Regularity , F . M . H . „ 206 , Friendship , Ship and Turtle , Leaelenh all-st . „ 26 3 , Bank of England , Albion Tav ., Alders gate-st . „ 534 , Polish National , F . AI : H . ,, 6 57 , Canonbury , Albion Tav ., Aldersgate- st .

,, 860 , Dalhousie , Anderton ' s Hot ., Fleet-st . „ 879 , Southwark , Park Tav ., Southwark Park . „ 1076 , Capper , Alarine Hot ., Victoria Docks . ,, 1288 , Finsbury-park , Finsbury-pk . Ta / ., Holloway . „ 1321 , Emblematic , Tulse Hill Hot ., Tulse Hill . „ 1425 , Hyde Park , 1 , Craveii-rd ., W . „ 1457 , Bagshaw , Bald-Faced Stag , Buckhurst Hill . „ 1471 , Islington , Cock Tav ., Highbury .

,, 15 . 58 , Duke of Connaught , Surrey AI . H . » i 593 i Royal Naval College , Shi p Hot ., Greenwich . ,, 1399 , Skelmersdale , Alasons' Hall Masons' Avenue . ,, 1642 , Earl of Carnarvon , Ladbro . ikHa . Notting HI . Chap . 73 , Alount Lebanon , Bridge House Hot . ,, 140 , St . George's Globe Hot ., Greenwich . ,, 619 , Beadon , Horns Tav ., Kennington . „ 813 , New Concord , Rosemary Branch Tav ., Hoxton . Rose Croix Chap . St . George , 33 , Golden-sq .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Union Waterloo , Chatham Arms , Thomas-st ., Woolwich . Egyptian , Hercules Tav ., Lcaelenhall-st . Fidelity , Yorkshire Grey , London-st ., W . Fir . sbury , Jolly Anglers' Tav ., Bath-st ., City-road . I ' emperance in the East , Catherine-st ., Poplar . Ebury , 12 , Ponsonby-st ., Alilbank .

Highgate , Bull and Gate , Kentish-town . The Great City , AI . H ., Alasons' Avenue . High Cross , Coach & Horses , High-road , Tottenham . Salisbury , Union Tav ., Air-st ., Regent-st . Southern Star , Crown Hot ., B ! ackfriars-ni . Great Northern , Berwick Arms , Berners-st ., Oxford-st . Prince Frederick William Chapter , St . John ' s Wood .

FRIDAY , JANUARY 11 . Lodge 134 , Caledonian , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . „ 157 , Bedforel , F . AI . H . ,. 177 , Domatic , Anderton's Hot ., Fleet-st . „ 1201 , Eclectic , F . AI . H . „ 1420 , Earl Spencer , Northcote Hot ., Wandsworth . Encampt . D ., Afount Calvary . F . M . Tav .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Robert Burns , Union Tav ., Air-st ., Regent-st . Belgrave , Constitution , Bcdford-st ., Covent Garden . » Unions Emulation ( for M . M . ' s ) , F . M . H . Temperance , Victoria Tav ., Victoria-road , Deptford . Clapton , White Hart , Clapton . Metropolitan , Portugal Hot ., Fleet-st , at 7 .

St . Alarylebone , British Stores Tav ., St . John's Wood . Westbourne , Lord ' s Hotel , St . John ' s Wood . United Pilgrims , Surrey AI . H ., Camberwell New-road . St . James ' s , New Tanners'Arms , Grange-rd ., Bermondsey . Duke of Edinburgh , Silver Lion , Penny-fields , Poplar . Doric , Earl Grey Tav ., Milc-end-road . Burgoyne , Grafton Arms , Prince of Wales's-road , N . W . St . Luke ' s , White Hart , King ' s-rd ., Chelsea .

Chigwell , Prince's Hall , Buckhurst-hill . Burdett Coutts , Approach Tav ., Victoria I'ark . Royal Standard , The Castle , Holloway-rd . Ranelagh , Bell and Anchor , Hammersmith-rd . William Preston , Feathers Tav ., Up . George-st ., Edgware-rd . Hervey , 99 , Fleet-street , at 8 . Earl of Carnarvon , Alitre Ho ,, Goulbome-rd ., Notting-hill . Pythagorean Chapter , Portland Ho ., London-st ., Greenwich . Sir Hugh Myddelton , 25 , King Edward-st ., Livcrpool-rd ., N .

MASONIC MEETINGS IN WEST LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE . For the Week ending Saturday , January 12 , 1878 .

AIONDAY , JANUARY 7 . Lodge 113 , Unanimity , Bull Hot ., Preston . ,, 1045 , Stamford , T . H .. Altrincham . ,, 1051 , Rowley , AI . H ., Lancaster . ,, 12641 Neptune , AI . H ., Liverpool . „ 13 S 0 , Skelmersdale , Queen's Hot ., Waterloo . Everton L . of I ., AI . H ., Liverpool .

TUESDAY , JANUARY , 8 . Lodge 241 , Alerchants , M . H ., Liverpool . „ 1250 , Gilbert Greenall , AI . R ., Warrington . » 17131 Wilbraham , Walton Institute , Walton . Stanley L . of I ., 214 , Great Homcr-st ., Liverpool . Prince Arthur L . of 1 ., 80 , N . Hill-st ., Liverpool . Red Cross Conclave , M . H ., Liverpool .

WEDNESDAY , JANUARY , 9 . Lodge 281 , Fortitude , The Athenamm , Lancaster . ,, 1094 , Temple , AI . H ., Liverpool . ,, 1 , 33 6 , De Grey and Ripon , M . R ., N . Hill-st ., L ' pool . Chap . 1345 , Victoria , Cross Keys , Eccles . Neptune L . of I ., AI . H ., Liverpool .

THURSDAY , JANUARY , 10 . Lodge 216 , Harmonic , Adelphi Hot ., Liverpool . ,, 333 , Royal Preston , Royal Hot ., Preston . 11 477 » Mersey , AI . R ., Birkenhead . „ 786 , Croxtcth United Service , AI . H ., Liverpool .

„ 1035 , Prince tlf Wales , M . H ., Kirkdale . ,, 1183 , Duke of Edinburgh , AI . H ., tiverjiool . „ 1213 , Bridgewater , Cross Keys , Eccles . Chap . 220 , Harmony , Garston . Alariners L . of I ., AI . H ., Liverpool . FRIDAY , JANUARY n . Lodge 1280 , Rock , Bedford House , Rock Ferry .

For Alasonic Meetings throughout Scotland see Scottish Freemason , which can be obtained at the Office of this journal , 198 , Fleet-street . London .