Freemasons And Good Templars.

FREEMASONS AND GOOD TEMPLARS .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — If M . M . has expressed himself correctly in his communication in your last issue , he has entirely mistaken the scope and aims of Freemasonry .

He surely knows sufficient of Freemasonry not to need to be told that a member of any society or sect is at liberty to become a Freemason , under the usual conditions , and if he had ever read our Book of Constitutions he would be aware that the idea of a Good Templar "

attending the usual Masonic banquets , as such , even though he be a Freemason , is contrary both to the spirit and letter of the Order . It is a matter for congratulation to Masons who are not given to hatching such wild notions as those of M . M ., to know that the interests of their Order are sufficiently well guarded

by-Grand Lodge to prevent the concoction of any such anomalous abortion as " A Good Templar Lodge of Freemasons . " What M . M . means by " receiving Good Templars with open arms , " it is difficult to disco * , er , since , he admits the " large-heartedness of Masonry , which makes no distinction . "

One of two things is certain , either M . M . has failed to master the simplest elementary principles of Freemasonry , or has not the faculty of expressing his meaning in plain English .

I am yours fraternally , KEYSTONE . [ Our Correspondent is a little unguarded in his remarks about " any society or sect , " as " atheists and libertines" are ipso facto inadmissible . —ED . ]

Sermon.

SERMON .

BY REV . VV . R . COUSINS , D . D ., PROV . GRAND CHAPLAIN , VICAR OF DUDLEY . Preached before the Pro . G . Lodge of IVarcesler-. shire , 23 rd June , 18 74 . "This commandment have we from Mini , That he who lovcth God love his brother also . " —I . St . John iv ., 21 .

Living in the middle of the nineteenth century , and casting our thoughts back over the rapidly passing period of four thousand years we are almost forced to the unwelcome conclusion that arts and sciences have r . ot been

coextensive in their development with the progress of revelation and inspiration . Mighty nations of antiquity reared in their midst gigantic marvels of architectural beauty , which attest , even now , to the existence of master minds , planning and executing , by a

wondrous combination of mechanical appliance and artistic skill , models of beauty , and monuments of graceful execution . Heliopolis , Thebes , and Karnak , Palmyra , Baalbeck , and Nineveh ; and then , Corinth , and Athens , and Rome , speak from amid their ruins of one great

princip le which was , underlying the varied systems of various nations ; that principle was the worship ofthe Deity , and the cultivation of science . There was a dominant idea , —always differing , yet always carrying its grain ot truth , —the characteristic of each leading nation of

antiquity . The Persian might live on romance ; the Assyrian might bend low before his monarch , as vice-gerent of the Gods ; the Egyptian might mix , with all his musings , tho intimate , never absent , thought of death ; yet the Hiero-Laotomi , or sacred builders , the

theocracy of Egypt , initiated , and then carefully guarded those principles which were connected with astronomy , astrology , and geometry ; and which , in after years became to Solomon the basis of that pure Theism , of which he wrote , and in honour of which he

erected that magnificent shrine at Jerusalem . True , Brethren , it is in vain that w . ask Baalbec ' s gorgeous domes , Palmyra ' s boasted temples , or Egypt ' s proud pyramids , who their mighty founders were . But the volume of the

Sacred Law confirms the statements of Homer and Herodotus , as to the wonderful civilization of the Phoenicians , whose cities were the eraporia of commerce , and whose people were noted for scientific knowledge and skill ; while

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from the architectural monuments in the deserts of Egypt , and the mighty remains of the cities of the East , we turn to that colossal edifice on Salisbury Plain , speaking at once of the rude artificer , but also of the mighty engineering skill , and the geometrical plan , which raised

such such a temple , though all unworthily , to the worship of the sun . It is not my intention to turn a sermon , limited in length , — into a mere disquisition on Freemasonry , or into a defence of principles . We brethren of the Craft are alike proud of our antiquity , and

conscious of the nobility of our purpose , and are this day sanctifying that purpose by religious ceremony , which shall also help to remind us of that principle , once enunciated in the fields of Egypt , but repeated in all the teaching of the Law , " Sirs , ye are brethren . " Yet , since there

are always those who , as Ovid writes , " damnant quod non inte'ligunt , " ( condemn that the : / do not understand ) , I will dwell for a few moments , upon the importance of that system wliich is of the very essence of Freemasonry , and which helps us to obey , experimentally , the

words of my text , " This commandment have we from Him , that he who loveth God love his brother also . " Speculative philosophy has held its way through all ages of the world , whether amid

nations purely deistical , or amid idolatrous polytheism , or , as now , side by side with the revelations of Christianity and let us be thankful foi what philosophy has taught in the past , and when united to true religion , for what it teaches

now . Freemasonry , as a system of ethics , originated before the times of direct revelation , can recognise in the simple principles of Zoroaster , before destroyed by Oriental fancies , the great theoryas set forth by Moses in the Pentateuch—the

principle of the knowledge of good and evil . Freemasonry , as a system of personal morality , accepts Aristotle ' s account of the teaching of Pythagoras , as the account of a system that must underlie Christianity itself . " The Phythagoreans , " he writes ; " were the first who

determined anything in moral philosophy . Their ethics were of the loftiest and most spiritual description ; virtue was with them a harmony , unity , and an endeavour to resemble the Deity ; the whole life of man should be an attempt to represent on earth the beauty and harmony

displayed in the order of the universe ; the mind should have the body and passions under perfect control . The gods should be worshipped by simple purifications , offerings , and above all , by sincerity and purity of heart . " And in a manuscript , preserved in the Bodleian Library , in the

handwriting of King Henry VI , it is expressly said , that Pythagoras carried Masonry from Egypt and Syria , and from those countries where it had been planted by the Phoenicians ; that the Phoenicians carried it into France ; and that it was in the course of time imported from that

country into England . The writings of Solomon , containing as they do the very essence of philosophy , are read by us as portions of the inspired word of God ; while the works of Solomon , as the founder of the magnificent temple , overlaid with pure gold ,

connect architecture with the worship , and that a wondrously ornate worship , of the true God . Thus do we see architecture and religion blended together in a wondrous harmony ; and to Freemasonry has been granted the piivilege of retaining and

ennobling this harmony of thought ; nay , to Freemasons must be granted the fame of having erected those elegant churches and statel y cathedrals which stud the continent of Europe and you , brethren , have recently shown yourselves descendants of those men , by your gi fts to

and presence at the re-opening of , the beautiful Cathedral of this Province . To England has been granted the honour of preserving that fraternity which Kuman Pontiffs would have otherwise driven into an ungrateful obscurity .

Religion then , brethren , of olden time , as now , is the basis of this our Order . " And in that awful day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed , the gazing multitude who have curiousl y inquired our secret , shall be astonished to know that the greatest deep of Masonic

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secrecy was the unpublished act of doing good . " Yes , and when we look upon the numerous guilds and corporations of this land , we remember that , older than them all , in ages long before the _ rentle influence of Christianity stole into

men s hearts , Freemasonry taught that principle so essentially Christian , though so often forgotten in a Christian land ; that principle so ably represented by Professor Ruskin , in these words , " Several centuries back the architect who

furnished the designs did not regard the men who executed them as mere machines , but all worked together with one mind , and nothing great in architecture has been done , save by associated bodies , where all the faculties of mind and hand had been brought out to the utmost . "

Brethren , in conclusion , I wish to apply the words of the Apostle of love , though I am assured that none of you need to have them impressed upon you , for true are the words of Arnold , " Freemasonry is a moral Order , instituted by virtuous men , with the praiseworthy object

of recalling to our remembrance the most sublime truths , in the midst of the most sublime pleasures , founded on liberality , brotherly love , and charity . " In modern Masonry we still read our duty b y the light of those principles which guided men

of the time of Solomon . The thought in my text has been carried into practice by Masons in all time , and comes to us as the commandment of Him who gave the Law to Moses , and repeated it on earth , Himself .

Love to God ! Love to the Unseen the Creator , and Artificer of the material and spiritual world . In nothing that we ¦ undertake do we forget reverence for the Deity , and gratitude for the blessings of heaven . .. : ' Love to the brethren ! and this , because of

love to God . For charity is a complete and consistent thing . It is not a segment , but a circle . Its afir ' ections stream from Go'd , their centre ; all mankind compose their circumference ; they go forth , not only . in one , but in all directions , towards the production of good to others .

Brethren , let us seek grace to persevere in every good word and work . By blameless purity of heart and conduct , unstained with sin and unsullied with vice , let us be examples to our brethren . There is abundance of suffering humanity in this world of weariness and sorrow ,

beckoning to us for sympathy and help . We know no distinction of Samaritan and Jew . No , nor of nation nor religion . Ours is the Royal law . Royal , but Cosmopolitan—Love to God , tested by love to man—Masonry , tending

to promote the social happiness of mankind in this world , by the practice of moral virtue . Oh , let us , brethren , never mention the Name of God , but with that awe and reverence which are due from the creature to the Creator . Let us

render to our neighbour every kind office which justice or mercy may require , relieving his distresses and soothing his afflictions thus exerting the talents wherewith God has blessed us , as well to His glory , as to the welfare of our fellow-creatures . Then , when Faith has become

sii > ht , and Hope , fruition , Love will lead us on to the eternal city , to be , each of us , a pillar in the glorious temple in that new Jerusalem , where the Great Artificer shall rule and be worshipped by His faithful sons for ever and ever . Amen .

And now to the Mighty Architect of the Universe be ascribed all praise , and worship , and adoration , now and for evermore .

Consecration Of A Chapter At Plumstead.

CONSECRATION OF A CHAPTER AT PLUMSTEAD .

A new chapter attached to Pattison Lodge , No . 913 , was consecrated at the Lord Raglan Tavern , on Thursday , 16 th July . The ceremony was performed in a most able manner by Ex . Comp . John Savage , P . G . S . B . of England and P . Z .

The petition for the formation of the chapter had been signed by Ex . Comps . John Graydon , C . Coupland , and T . W . Knight , and Comps . Chapman , Denton , McDougall , Penfold , Hays , Jcssup , Buttets , andRandell ,