The Fruits Of Freemasonry.

beating their wings against its windows , unable to effect an entrance . There at the North , stands the tower , the symbol of the Apostolic Ministry facing the foes of Christ and resisting them , keeping watch and ward evermore on the side of the danger . Within , the church is divided into nave , choir , and sanctuary ; threefold according to the eternal Three , and yet again in the nave are three aisles , of the same

sacred number . The chancel arch is the symbol of the gate of death , the portal through which man enters into the rest of Paradise . The choir represents that Paradise , the place of our hopes and dreams . Thither looking , we see its occupants clothed in white robes and singing in melodious antiphonal chant the songs of other days , and the new songs of Moses and the Lamb before the symbol

of the throne . That throne is within ; it stands in the sanctuary—the symbol of the present Christ , where we show forth the Lord ' s death till he come . Above the chancel the roof ascends , adorned here and there witn shining stars , because our journey through lite is in the nig ht of this world—a night now far spent . The font stands at the door , because we enter by biptism into the

fold of God . The very windows are symbols , "hey are wider within than without , because the truth widens and broadens upon us as we leave the world and enter the household of God , and those windows are filled with many coloured glass , which , from without , appears dark and unsightly , but from within appears beautiful and clear ; because it is only by being inside the church that

man can discern the glory and beauty of the light shed on us by our Lord , who is light . Such , brethren are few out of the many lessons which this church leaches by symbols . And the beautiful morality of our Order is also illustrated by symbols . From the gavel , rule and square how often have I heard the Masters draw deep lessons fee our u e . No Mason can look upon the

gavel , which the labourer uses to hew off the roughness and produce a level surf . ice , without being remineled that his duty is to strike off the eccentricities of his character , anil smooth down its moral inequalities . To us the rule with its twenty-four divisions is a symbol of each day of life , its twenty-four hours to be measured out with diligent care and graduated into seasons of labour ,

rest and devotion . In the square a Mason reads great moral truths lhat underlie the whole structure of society . Therein he sees Divine principles asserted , undeviating laws esta' -Iishcd . Looking on that symbol of a just and upright life , he recalls the solemn pledges he has made that he will square his actions to all men , but esp cially the brethren , by the square of virtue—and dull anddead must

his heart be who does not feel strengthened in good resolves and stimulated to a correct and upright life whenever he looks upon the symbols of Masonic justice between man and man . Take again the implement with which the cement is spread , which mak-s the patts of the building into one united and harmonious whole . Tn the common eye it is simply a trowel . To the Mason it reveals important ( ruths . It remiurff

him of deep principles . It preaches . It teaches him that , as a Mason , he must liberally spread the cement of fraternal love , that so the moral edifice may be neither unstable , unsightly , nor unworthy of the Master whose Temple it is . As a last example of the truth that Masonry is a system of morality , take another imp ' ement , one of the most common of those used by the builder , viz ., that by which we are taught to circumscribe and keep our passions under bounds . You , brethren , know that the mo-t

valuable secrets of your Craft may be founil between its points , and that while you keep within that charmed circle it describes , you cannot materially err . In one wore ) , the symbolism of Freemasonry is not " a spectacle to amuss full grown boys . " It is a means , and the simplest and most expressive means , to impress upon our minds the moral duties of brotherly love , relief , and truth . One feature

which I must note in passing is the unobtrusiveness of Freemasonry . It courts no observation . Whenever the attention of the world lias been drawn to it , it has been by its enemies . We have all lie-aril of an anti-Masonic party , but no man ever heard of a Masonic party . The Craft never strives to proselytis " . When attacked it does not fight ; it does not even t ' efend itself . It is this quiet

unobirusive spirit which has made us so many enemies . We give no opportunity for criticism , and this xery modesty on our part enrages those who , while ignorant of our real spirit , excommunicate and libel us . Another characteristic of M isonry is its comprehensiveness . All it asks of those who would share its privileges is , " Do you believe in God , the immortality of the soul , and in a

future world of reward and punishment ? Are you a man , Irecborn , of mature age and sound judgment ? " If you believe these things , if you are all this , then welcome , whether rich or poor ! You need not give up one io'a of religious faith ; one tittle of your political convictions . Enter and see that within our " safe and sacred retreat " it is possible fcr men of the opposite ideas to meet on the

broad ground of humanity , to live in perfect arcord and work together happily for the attainment of knowledge and for the diffusion of charity . Here we offer a pleasant retreat where men may forget the world and its conflicts in the enjoyment of friendship and sccial intercourse . And because we prize this union so highly we arc careful to " guard well the outer door . " This is the first and last

duty of every Mason . " Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty . " We are sworn to admit only those who will add strength as well as numbers to cur ranks , those who will become " centres of union and the means of conciliating true friendship . " That we do guard the door , the fact that

nearly twelve thousand applicants were rejected last year in North America alone is abundant proot . It is , 1 think , worth while on an occasion such as this to examine an objection which is often made with regard to our fiaurnity . " It U , " they say , " a stcret society , " and , it is often added " wherever there is secresy there is iniquity . " Well , I must

The Fruits Of Freemasonry.

remind objectors that so long ago as the year 179 8 one of our English bishops defended the fraternity from this very charge . A bill was passing through the House of Lords to suppress secret societies , but Bishop Heatlley clearly showed that Masonry could not be embraced under the name of secret , and secured its exemption from the Act . Masonry , it is true , has its secrets , but its o ' nj cts and aims

are not secret . Secrecy , we must remember , also p rvades public and private li ' e . The naval commander sails uneler scaled ore ' ers—his destination is a secret—and so the enemy is not kept informed of the plans formed against him . The Cabinet deliberates in secret . Every councillor i ; sworn to secrecy . I read the other day that on the Roy case the Methodist Conference sat in secret . In a business

partnership there are secrets known only to the firm . In every family there are secrets . The heads of households have secrets which are not imparted to their children or servants . Everywhere , and in every rank of life , prudence enjoins secrecy , and why should not our Order have its secrets ? But Masonry is not , properly speaking , a secret society , inasmuch as its tendencies , objects , and aims are

open for all the world to see . Those ends are brotherly love , relief , and tiuth , boundless chatity and untiring benevolence . For this we are united , to this we are bound by the most solemn obligations . Clergymen and physicians , lawyers and journalists , merchants , princes , skilful artisans , all are ready to give their best aid one for all and all for one . For our own turn may come when we shall

need a brother ' s hand and a brother ' s sympathy . A conflagration such as that of St . John might reduce the wealthiest here to abject poverty . Misfortunes overtake us all alike , and adversity visits us in turn—no life is exempt from suffering—no career is free from vicissitudes ; and although , ( to quote the eloquent words eif the Grand Master of Kansas ) Masemry cannot subdue the tempest ,

nor say to the ocean , " Peace , he still , " yet it lifts the sinking mariner from engulfing wave and warms him into life . It cannot hush the voice of the thunder , nor arrest the light ing ' s fi ry missile ; but it takes the victim of the storm and wraps its snow-white robe abound hin . It docs not stand at the door of the sepulchre to roll away its stone and hid its silent , solemn tenant come forth

but it finds the lame , the halt , and the b md , that have fallen by the wayside , and pours into their hearts the oil of j > y and gladness . ItdoeS not go abroad to proclaim its benevolent spirit , but it wipes the tear from the wi low's eye , and guides the feet anil gut . rds the head of the orphan . It docs not boas ' , of its deeds oi charity , but it " feeds the hungry , clothes the naked , and

binds up the wlunds of the afflicted . " It d es not claim that it his fraternised the world ; but it diffuses the spirit of un ' versal bi \ . theihood and charity as gently as the dews of Hermon and as genially as the light of heaven . N-. t many months ago our Grand Master st-neil that in the last eight yeirs the lodges under his jurisdiction had dispens . d in charity over 80 , 000 dollars . Last year the

Grand Lm'ge alone distributed nearly 8000 dollars in charity , and this exclusive of the sums given f •> r the sime object by private lodges and by individual Misons . By these and such like fruits is the Masonic Order known . You need no shining appeal from me to urge you to goon as you have begun , to give to-day as liberally as you have done before . You know as well as I that there are

still widows to be cheered , orphans to be fed by your bounty ; that here and theie some distressed brother who is in want is timidly and anxiously waiting to be relieved , perhaps , by the very contributions you are about to give this afternoon . O . if you could follow this money which you are about to offer for the relief of the poor to-day—if you coul I trace it to its destination and see

the joy and gratitude that it evokes , you would wish you had given double . Brethren , I know lhat you have many claims upon you and constant applications for relief -, bui I ask you to remember that you are bound not to love others less , but to love some more ; to be charitable to all , but especially to your brethren . The world will

judge you " by your fruits . " See then that ye have not to be ashamed of your fruits . The present is the legacy of our fathers and the future will be our legacy to . those that shall come after us . Let us do our best to make that legacy a glorious one , worthy of ourselves , of our noble . !« . 0 . 1 . I t . l m . ir inpi > ., il Krf \ lVi # » rlinna * lL ) 19 f « li « t U * VU . IH" . ' . " . w » v . fc . »^« .. ~ ww .

The Lodge.

THE LODGE .

Reader , did you ever ponder over the little word " lodge , " and seriously consider what sweet memories it bringtth to the weary soul . To the good Mason there is a charm in the very word . It is the one sacred spot where Masons forget the storms and trials of the day , the tumult and troubles of the outer world . It is there we

enjoy our own opinion unrestrained ; it is there we modestly and manfully meet and act upon the level as brethren should , despise the differences that may divide or the contentions which agitate us in our social , political , or religious life ; it is there we meet together , forgetting alike ail earthly sorrow , all earthly strife , all worldly distractions , while outsiele of its portals we are members of the

community , perhaps supporters of a particular church , particular creed , or having a particular theoty of our own . Hut in the Lodge , however humble the brother may be in the outer world , or however proud and haughty or whatever may be his rank or station there , there is a sacred spell which binds us one and all together , in one pjactful unity , where brotherly love and affection beam

from every eye ; there good-will and fellowship prevail , there our strength unites in giving praise and glory to one common and heavenly Creator ; there some of the happiest moments of our life are spent ; there our lasting friendship is cemented , and there also some of the happiest memories of our lives are revived ; it is the great atch which spans a tolerating brotherhood wheresoever dis-

The Lodge.

p rscd upon the habi-able earth , acknowledging and reverencing the one Sop-erne God as ( he loving Father and Creator of all that is . —Corner Stone .

Non-Reading Masons.

NON-READING MASONS .

Agreeing with our able co- temporary , the Crnft . man , in his remarks , we have t'ansferred them thankfully to our pages . 'Ihe want of knowledge , so often manifested by Masons is not only a matter of surprise , evrn to those without our , portals , but it is also eleplorable . When a man enters the

fraternty , it is presumed that he does so with tre object of receiving " light , " but it is to be feared that the majority of those who join the order , do so without any such object in view , —it is the name , and not the pjvver and knowledge they seek , and their ignor . ince is most destructive to the cause , and des rving of severe rebuke . There are many members of the Ord-r who take delight in

decking themselves out wi / h Masonic je-vvellcry and regalia , and hanging out the sii-n to s : ch an exttnt as to make themselves laughing stocks in the eyes of sensible people , and yet , if they are sounded , will be found ignorant of the first principles of M is < nry . A correspondent in one of our exchanges ( a woman ) , complains that many Masons' familir-s know comparatively nothing < f the

p nuiples or workings of the Craft , and she a < s gns this as the principal reason wh y so many ladies are opposed to Masonrv . "There are Masons , " " she says , " to their shame let it be said , who seldom , if ever , refer to Masonry in iheir homes , an . l while it is , as the uninformed ladies believe , of interest rr benefit to them , it deprives them of their husbands' society ; and more , there , is a secret attached

which excites their curiosity , and , in some instances , hatred of the institution . There is no true woman but would gladly endorse an institution , let her first be lonvinccd that it is calculated to make , her husband a better man . And , " she adds , " there is no way of gaining the des ' red information so effectually as through the Masonic press . "

There are those who think that , because they have been initiated , and thus admitted to the «• mysteries " and privileges of Freemasonry , and eventually exa ' ted to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason , they know ill about Masonry , and need no further enlightenment . We are sorry that they should be so conceited , and pity them in their tilinilncss . We trust , however , tha' . this class of Masons

is small , and that the great m t jo ity of those who become members of the Fraternity are desirous of learning something more than the mere signs , grips and words of the different degrees . Zealous and well-instructed Masons will tnlorseour statement , that the true beauties of Masonic art ran only be appreciated by those who are diligent in the prosecution of knowledge , and those only who are faithful can expect to grow wiser and better .

A Lodge Of Sorrow In America.

A LODGE OF SORROW IN AMERICA .

A lodge of Sorrow includes the met sol- mn and impressive ritual known in Frcem isonry . Such were the ceremonie-. performed in Corinthian Hall , Masonic Tcmplr , Philadelphia , in the presence of 800 members of the Order . In the deep alcove at the eas-ern in 1 of ihe hail stood a monument about fifteen feet in height , repr . senting in

appetiance a suhd block of granite . On the capstone of the base hung a wreath of twining arbutus , while the bise itself was completely buried in the choicest of exotic plants , and on the top of the shaft . 1 white dove was perched as an emblem of pe ^ ice . In front of the pillars on either side of the alcove , were two large plants of pampas-grass , and in the niches in the Walls were also arranged tropical plants ,

contrasting beautifully with the white walls winch formed the background . In the centre of the hall rested an elaborately constructed catifalque , Lstooned with rows of myr lc leaves p » d white roses , while directly over the sam-, suspended troni the ceiling , a hanging basket displayed white roses , japonicas and evergreens . At the head and loot oi the rat ifaloue

were placed three burning tapers , placed in a triangular fomi , and on both sides ol it were placed three chaiis , for the use of the pall-bearers . Directly in the rear a fire flamed from the alur of Sacrifice , ahd the air was filled with the perfume from the altar of Incense . Promptly at seven o'clock the soft strains of music from Chapin ' s Funeral March denoted the approach of the officers

and members of the Lodge of Perfection , awakening ' an interest that never flagged to the close of the ceremonies . As the procession filed into the hall the officers assumed their respective positions , and following in the rear were six pall-bearers bearing a richly-mounted rosewood c isket , which , being placed on the cataf-ilque , the band rendered the prayer , •' Moses in Egypt . "

Then cime the opening exercises , in which the object of the meeting in answer to the question of the Mister , " For what purpose are we assembled ? " was briefly stated by the Senior Warden , who replied : " To honour the memory of those brethren whom death hath taken lrom us , contemplate our own approaching dissolution , and , by the remembrance of immortality , to raise our souls above the

consideration of this transitory existence . Then the Master of Cere-monies extinguished the white light in the South , emblematical of darkness ; the blue light in the West , to indicate decay ; and last , the red light in the East , signifying dissolution . Thus the lights surrounding the citafalque and coffin were all extinguished .

Now came the roll-call of members , and as the names of the dead were called the lodge arose in a body , and placing their right hand over the heart , responded " dead . " The interesting feature of the ceremony was the forming of the lodge i ,. to a precession , headed by the band and the qua-tet singers , and marching around the hall , the Mast 7