Christmas.

CHRISTMAS .

He must be a very churlish or very unhappy person for whom Christmas has no interest , and for whom Christmas brings no pleasant associations . It may indeed be so , that in the jourse of life , and the advance of years , he has b _ come so taken up with self , that beyond his own

immediate feelings and fancies he has neither concern nor sympathy , even for the passage of time , much less the claims of humanity , or the aspirations of mortality . Let us pity any one so abstracted from the common and even humdrum affairs of life , of time , of men , and of the world .

But as we write for ordinary human beings , endowed with average sensibilities , and the normal amount of individual interest in all that goes on around them , we must look upon all such unhappy individuals as personifications not "dreamt of " in our " philosophy . " For'Christmas

we venturestrongly to hold , comes laden to us all each year , as it greets us with its burly welcome , with many pleasant attractions , and many gracious " souvenirs . " We pass by its religious aspect and its religious message , for all the children of Adam ' s race , because as a Masonic

journal we must leave more fittingly both the dogmata and application of religious truth to the divine and the preacher , the appointed teacher , and the impressive sage . But Christmas has a human tenderness and human truthfulness about it , which constitutes , it may be , its secret

influence over all classes amongst us . For it is from immemorial usage that " trysting place " of the young and gay and sentimental , it is that gathering of the old , and friendly , and way-worn , it is that season of family reunion and domestic festivity which have such

potent charms and influence on us all alike . Whatever be the reason or the cause , whether it be that the World , as some grave writers have held , has , so to say , monopolized Christmas , we are not now prepared to assert , but certain it is , that this special season of

Christmastide , is , perhaps , the roost genial and refreshing of the entire year , and speaks to us all amid the din of e . irih , and over thc toils of business , with as sweet ami as silvery a voice of gentle cadence , as those pleasant church bells of ours , which wake thc young and old in the early

hours of the Christmas morn . Christmas is a needed holiday , a happy ancl harmonious gathering for many of us weary and disjointed sons and daughters of men . It calls young and old around the Christmas tree , it burnishes up the old hearthstone which has lain bare , so

to say , in many cases for the intervening months . It makes us forget for a time our cares and our despondencies , our grief and pain , and amid " wreathed smiles " and loving faces , it warms up the decaying embers ot departing friendship , it strengthens the links

of family concern , it gladdens the old , and it animates the young , as around that old familiar table they cluster once again , or fill with echoing shouts the walls of that old and much loved home . Much , no doubt , of our Christmas feelings and social celebration , is built up on the intense love of

family life , which marks our Anglo-Saxon race . To-day Christmas is celebrated in many lands , and amid many nationalities- yet , wherever that busy , active , prosperous , pushing race of ours is settled , or is moving on ; there amid Christmas cheer , are kept up with due

celebration the prevailing aspects , and associations and interest of Christmas by warm hearts and tenacious memories . And to how many of our readers to-day will Christmas come as a season of rest and recreation , of relaxation from thc turmoil of business , a momentary respite from heavy

cares or grave responsibilities . Whatever our lot or avocation in life may be , in whatever grade ofthe social pyramid we stand , however much we have to endure in our own little individual existence to-day , or however earnestly wc find il needful to labour forothersandourselves , ( thoughgreat are the divergencies and contrasts wliich sever us all ) ,

Christmas has for us all alike , whoever we may be , the same old voice of warm welcome , the same old greeting of affectionate intercourse . It summons the soldier and the sailor , the barrister and the doctor , the solicitor and the merchant , the banker and the millowner , the statesman , and the official , the preacher , and the divine , from the

Christmas.

solemn call of duty , from the fierce contests of party , from the antagonism of the council chamber , or from the excitement of the heated meeting , from the worry of the wearying counting house , from the claims of pure earthly connexion , to the calm and hanpiness of a

domestic reunion , to the mirth , nay , the misrule of harmless Christmas gaiety . In this domestic meeting all may find good and blessing , inasmuch as it serves to revivify the abiding responsibilities and unchanging issues of family relationship and affection , and all of us , we venture

to believe , are belter amid the depressing experiences of life and man , for some of those few bright moments is our lot , when , selfishness and discontent alike forgotten , we surrender ourselves to thc illusions of youth , and join in the golden gaiety of innocence .

Very pleasant it is to the thoughtful and tha serious , to note that family assembly at this Christmas season , in which all are gathered together in the flowing tide of unity , heartiness , and true affection . For a few days , nay for a few hours often , that merry and diversified party

bave found a haven of refuge from the storm and clamour ofthe world without '; and when that gay season is over , have perchance to return to severed lots and distant parts , no more to meet , probably until another Christmas shall reunite the bonds of family union , and re-kindle the lire of

old affection , for these " sojourners" for a very " little season , " amid scenes and faces so fair and dear . In that little circle , of how much importance is Christmas , inasmuch as it forms that one period in each succeeding year , to which all equally look , and which all equally remember with fond affection . And while

time itself lasts , and mortality still lingers with those descendants of Adam , that Christmas gathering will ever be , so to say , their rallying point of family affection and interest , an emblem of all that is bright and beautiful on earth , type , let us trust , if in feeble and imperfect measure .

of a better meeting , and of more lasting happiness one day to be . No doubt for some of us the return of Christmas is not unattended with melancholy , inasmuch as it reminds us of those we have lost . Yes , " one is still taken " and " another left . " We cannot fail to recall

today , even amid the chimes of Christmas , the sunny smiles , and warm hands , and tender hearts of other days . We cannot , alas ! repeople the Christmas gathering now , with that " pleasant presence , " or that beaming smile , or

those dear eyes , or that untainted truth , which shed such a halo of tenderness and affection for us on the Christinas of '' Auld Lang Syne . " No , for as , all these things arc gone , never to return and though these whom wc deplore may still hover around

us in undimmed affection , by night and by day , though they may seem to fill our chamber , to sit at our board , to sanctify our aspirations , and to purify our earthly strivings , yet for us all they arc but thc shadowy memories of a never to be forgotten past . Christmas is not to us , and

never can be , what it once was , because we miss those , and miss them sadly , who once could lend grace to every gathering , and tenderness to every emotion , who loved us , who cheered us , who stood by us , who blessed us in those sunnier hours of our past life . But though

this be so , and though this must be so , with us all more or less , we need not become therefore either cynical or complaining , discontented or depressed . Surely we still can find some happiness in the beaming faces and gay gladness of others , even though our memories stray

far , far away , and amid the song and uptoir of th- merry Christmas party to-day , we are wistfully looking for a bri ght form no more at our sides , we are eagerly listening for a silvery voice which is here for us , forever mute and still . When thc yule log is lighted , when the

Christmas tree is ablaze , when the Christmas board is spread , and Christmas fare is eaten , while we rejoice with them that do rejoice , let us not be ashamed to confess that our memories still linger in undying affection with those who once

made life so radiant for us and ours , with those whose heartfelt trust was once ours , and with whom arc bound up all that is most graceful and gentle ¦ all that is truest and most touching in this old earth of ours . Io all the

Christmas.

readers of the " Freemason , " old and young , the Publisher and Editor wish a very "merry Christmas , " merry in its best sense , of simple-minded , pure-minded , family union , rejoicing , mirth and

festivity , and they trust that they will be believed when they say , that they heartily offer to all their kind patrons in their happy Christmas gatherings , wherever they may be , the heartfelt felicitations of sincere friends and brother Freemasons .

Things Old And New.

THINGS OLD AND NEW .

At this Christmas season it seems good for us all , as it were , " to take a little Masonic stock , " and to try and keep before us , what it is that our good old " Royal Art " teaches us ever amid the fli ght of time , the passage of years , whether we have regard to the memories of the

past , the claims of the present , or the hopes of the future . First of all , there is a great truth which we can never too much insist upon , or dwell upon , for it is a truth strangely enough , the most forgotten perhaps of any , amid human strife , and earthly contest , we mean

Toleration . The word is often on our lips ; we profess it loudly j it is inscribed on many banners ; and may be read in italic letters in many treatises ; yet alas ! how little do we practice it . What a modicum of it enters into our daily common life , our home associations even , much

less our public strivings , or our religious views . Indeed , intolerance may be said to be tbe " badge " of all our earthly " tribe " in one form or another , and in nothing do men apparently so much delight in , day by day , amid the onward progress of the world and of mankind , as in

demonstrating how intolerant they can be to each other , in small things as well as in great . If we look out on our great-little world to-day , ( curious it is that such antithetical epithets may fairly be applied to it ) , if we consider , we repeat , the entire known globe at this very hour , we sec

everywhere intolerance flourishing , like a weed of rankest growth , above the luxuriant pastures , and above the waving corn . How intolerant we all are in thought , word , and deed ; intolerant we say of others from whom we differ , from whom we are divided

by specific dogmata , or "damnatory decrees . " Has this thought ever occurred to others , as it has to us ? Suppose some old philosopher wero to revisit the earth and look out upon thc religions of the world , to discover the true from the false , the specious from the honest , the divine

from the human . What could he see ? What could he say ? Alas ! would he not have to confess with a sigh , that had he to judge of the fruits of religion by the words , and deeds , and even the thoughts of men , he must perforce come tothe conclusion that there was " nothing new and

nothing true , and that it did not signify . " For the most distinguishing features of our common religion is intolerance . We are celebrating just now the advent of thc "Prince of Peace , " and we hear of nothing but " wars , and rumours of wars . " We are told of gentleness aud purity

and brotherly sympathy and love , and we see all around us " hatred , variance , emulation " strife . We arc told to believe , in unity , peace , concord , and goodwill to men , and we note that all classes and all conditions of religionists seemed to be hating and antagonizing , nay , even calumniating

and cursing each other . If then we had nothing to go by , or to look to but this detestable intolerance of humanity , we should , and must come to the conclusion , that there is a sorry look out for our race . But happily for us , we have been taught a more

consoling truth , we have learned a better lore . The weakness of earth , the wrong headedness of man , the wickedness of Adam ' s children , the littleness of humanity ever the same , the sins , the crimes , the hard words , nnd dark deeds , du not detract from , and cannot destroy , remember , the Eternal Moral Government of the world

and mortals all , by the Supreme Ruler of us all . The abounding miseries and evils whicb afflict us all now , do not and cannot interfere with that direct limitation of the influence nf good and evil , and the solemn arbitrament of that Great Judge of all , who will one day re « ward or punish us all , as we have obeyed or disobeyed His Divine injunctions . In all that