Things Old And New.

men do wrong here , they depart , let us never -Otg . t , from what the Great Architect and Sovereign and Father of the Universe has laid down in His Holy Will and Word . When , then , we are ' . intolerant , we do despite to that eternal teaching of love , pity , sympathy and compassion , for our

fellow-creatures of the dust , which beams out of every page of God ' s inspired Revelation , the Bible , which we still happily keep , as we ever shall , in our lodges , and which is to us the unerring standard of right and wrong , the regulator of our lives and actions , our mentor , teacher .

guide , through the intricate windings of this mortal life . And sure it is , that Freemasonry , though not professing to be a dogmatic teacher , brings kindly sympathies and pure moral truth home to its members . It bids us be tolerant , it admonishes us to be just and considerate to

others , it seems to warn us , that ours is not of necessity a monopoly of truth , and that as we claim respect for our own honest and ardent conviction , we are bound to respect those of other people . Hence Freemasonry passes over and ignores the often childish and really hurtful

controversies of men . It neither chimes in with the " big-endians " or the little-endians , it neither leans to the many nor the few , it knows nothing of " isms , " or " ologies , " or " doxies , " it disregards disputes , and it disavows persecution . It offers a rallying place , a meeting ground

for the true , the tolerant , the sympathetic , the cultivated , the courteous , and the forbearing ; it passes judgment on no man ' s creed , it propounds no catechism , it asserts no inquisitorial process , it simply rests on the acknowledgment of the Fatherhood of God , and the brotherhood of man ,

based on the heavenly morality of God ' s holy word . Beyond this it does not seek to go , and pronounces judgment on no man ' s creed or conviction , inasmuch as to his own Divine Master , each one " standeth or falleth . " And for this it is greatly and loudly blamed by

two opposing and antagonistic schools . The Ultramontane asserts that in its present position it rejects Christianity , and ignores the Christian Church j the unbeliever declares that it says too much , and ought neither to acknowledge God , the Bible , nor religion , but ought to be absolutely

neutral , a purely secular , socialistic society . Freemasonry has taken , as it appears to us , the " via media " between these two extremes , and demands both the support of tbe generous and the sympathy of the tolerant . It takes the " standpoint , " to use a Germanism , as between

two opposing forces , hyper-spiritualism and hyper-rationalism , and offers to all thinking , and , we will add , religiously-minded persons , a pleasant platform for social brotherhood , and common humanitarian union . If indeed any one religious bodv could come forward and sav . " See , 1 can

act with all religious bodies and do , and all relig ious bodies are united in a common warfare against sin and evil , and wrong and injustice , and evil and the Devil , " then perhaps we might be led to think that the mission of Freemasonry was gone . But so long as in our divided humanity

and condition , and religious teaching , we all seem to be intolerant one of another , so long as polemical warfare is the normal condition of the Church , and Christians are unable to agree , so long as in this worldof ours , non-Christiaas form two-thirds of the habitable globe , so long , it

seems to us , Freemasonry has a . as ' : and a mission , inasmuch as it forms a band of union among men of different creeds and castes , and consecrates firm friendships among those who would otherwise have remained at a perpetual distance from each other . Let toleration then

be the Carol , which ushers in for us the beg inning of Christmas season , and accompanies its close . We cannot , it appears to us , be too tolerant , inasmuch as even in this year of grace 1876 , we see how little again would serve to revive that tendency to persecution , which has

disgraced the annals of religion , and been such a dishonour to God , and such a stumbling block and indescribable injury to the sacred cause of religious truth and religious duty . If Freemasonry had taught nothing else , and had done nothing

more in its historical reality , in its marvellous career , yet surely in this one fact it might well be said to be a blessing and an ornament to mankind , in that it has inscribed on its good old banner of blue , in letters of gold , not yet erased , and let

Things Old And New.

us fondly trust never to be erased by any hostile hand , the noble and glorious word— ¦ ' TOLERATION . "

The Rulers Of Our Lodges.

THE RULERS OF OUR LODGES .

At this time of the year we are c hoosing the rulers of our lodges , for the most part , and it seems to us that a few words of friendly warning and natural advice come in well in our Christmas " Freemason . " We trust that what we are about to say will be taken in good part by those for

whom it is intended , and to whom it is addressed , as it is prompted solely by an ardent desire to help the Masonic electors in their electoral colleges in the discharge of a solemn duty , it is inspired alone by a fervent wish to strengthen the elected in the performance of their grave

responsibilities . And who shall say that such friendly warning , such fraternal advice , are not needed ? English Freemasonry is just now passing through a special crisis in its history , not without some symptoms of weakness , nay , causes of alarm , to the serious and observant . We

have amongst us just now some influences at work , which may be productive of much after harm , alike to our lodge life , and our Masonic prestige , in the world . We have a great pressure for admittance , full lodges , and manyapplicants for office , and as a consequence many

brethren , for some reason or other , are pushed on far too rapidly , and without a proper apprenticeship , so to say . Two evils have to be avoided in our lodge system , which serve to weaken the administrative powers of the lodges themselves , and tend to undermine the very foundation on

which Freemasonry rests . The one is , the undue yielding to mere social influence ; the other is , the unwise adherence to routine . Let us explain ourselves . In many lodges , it too often happens that the - . est for promotion is , not what a brother is , or what he has done for

Freemasonry , but what he has . Very frequently a brother is preferred , solely from his social position to some other member ofthe lodge , whose character is unimpeachable , and whose Masonic knowledge is unquestionable . Hence , most sorry sight , a Master is placed in the Royal

chair , who has to depend for all his work upon the assistance of the ready P . M ., or the courteous assistance of some worthy brother of ritualistic celebrity . Such a state of things is greatly to be deprecated , and this abnormal and Masonically incorrect state of affairs is sure to work

prejudically on the lodge itself . For let us bear in mind , the true test of Masonic advancement is , and should be , Masonic excellence . No brother should be elected W . M . who will not , and cannot do , the proper work of the chair , and any lodge which so acts in defiance of every Masonic

principle is but sowing the seeds of its own eventual decay and dissolution . Of course , a good deal , no doubt , always depends on local circumstances , and special ' considerations . We do not object to make social position an element in the election of W . M ., but then it must not be so made in the face of Masonic technical

objections of a serious kind , such as ignorance of Masonic ceremonial and the like , and it is not the only qualification for the W . M of a lodge . One of the great evils of the present day is , that men thrust themselves into dutiVs for which they are not qualified , and seek

and claim posts for whicli the } ' are not fitted . There is , just now , a great anxiety in many to obtain the Grand Lodge qualification , without remembering that the mere qualification is good but for little , if the iinpoitant oflice of W . M . is not properly filled ,

and if the brethren have lo witness , one lodge night after another , work slovenly performed , or delegated to another . There is a vicious principle afloat amongst us just now , namely of bargaining with young Masons , for advancement . " If you take the Secretary ' s chair for one year , you shall go into the Warden ' s next . " " If you

take this oflice or that we shall eventually put you in the chair of the lodge . " To how many of us in our pleasant old lodges , will these words recall similar lodge errors , when young men have been too hastily put forward , who never made efficient Masters , who have done no Masonic work woith recording , and by whose undeserved elevation to the highest of all lodge

The Rulers Of Our Lodges.

dignities , the moral government of that particular lodge was greatly shaken , and its Masonic advance greatl y impeded . Many , lodges never recover from so grave , a blunder , which is but the beginning of lasting discontent , of personal dissatisfaction . Therefore we say

to all lodges just now , be careful and wise , be cautious and just . Do not sacrifice the internal harmony or the outward character of your lodge for any mere personal influence , do not , if you wish to have as your W . M . a brother of social position ,

overlook the other Masonic attributes which go to make up a thoroughly good W . M . And then on the other band , do not sacrifice your lodge to any pig-headed adherence to Masonic red tape , or blighting routine . It is not necessary because a brother has a good memory , and knows our oral

ceremonial well , that therefore he is to be W . M . Remember no one has a claim of any kind to that important post ; it ought to rest , and rest alone , on the unbought suffrages of the brethren . Many other things concur in making the . efficient W . M . besides a knowledge of ritual . He

requires to be firm and yet courteous , consistent and yet tolerant , well versed in the Book of Constitutions and his lodge byeV . ws , and above all , his moral character should Le like Cresar ' s wife , " above suspicion . " It is very harmful to a lodge to place in its highest post one who

has not the good opinion of his own brethren , as sooner or later something arises which shakes his influence to the foundation , and inflicts enduring trouble on the lodge . An overbearing intolerant person , out of p lace everywhere , is most decidedly a solecism as a W . M ., as the exercise

of his post requires great consideration for others , the quiet discharge of duty as a ruler , the courtesy of a polished gentleman to all . Now some brethren , though excellent as teachers would make very bad rulers , being deficient in every necessity we have touched upon , and are

unedifying in character , and weak in authority . When the brethren in their " Comitia Latomica" assemble to elect their W . M . for the coming twelve months , may his election be such as mav do justice to thc

lodge , and advance the interests of Freemasonry . Above all , let the spirit of " c-iucus " or " cabal , " or electioneering fervour be at once put down , as roost inimical to the welfare of the body , the comfort of the brethren , and the good of Freemasonry . But when our brethren are assembled under their lodge banner may their

choice fall on good men and true , really Masons in word and deed , who will add dignity to thc oflice , and reflect lustre on the lodge . Then we may rest assured that thc future of o-ir Order is entrusted to safe hands . And we shall hope for them all a prosperous year of office , and future elevation in the Craft .

Glory To God In The Highest, Peace On Earth, Good Will Towards Man.

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST , PEACE ON EARTH , GOOD WILL TOWARDS MAN .

Such seems to he the unchanging echo of those chimes and carols which at this Christmas time falls so pleasantly on the ears and hearts of us all alike . Whether as citizens of the world or as members of the Masonie fraternity , these words always appeal to us at this season of the

year with intense interest , inasmuch as lhey but represent to us in one sense the enduring keynote of all Masonic professions , and the guiding and restrain . ! - £ spirit of all Masonic practice . Freemasonry i _ a brotherhood marked by religious rc \ erciic-r < and peaceful sympathies , under all

circumstances 01 its onward progress . Then * may be a portion here or a portion there of thc great Masonic family where , amid the contentions and controversies of man , these fundamental and characteristic truths are partially obscured or momentarily forgotten , but they constitute alike the reality of Masonic

teaching , the test of Masonic truth , and the worth of Masonic existence . Without them , our meetings and our memorabilia , our gatherings and our geniality , our n-S . helicism , and our ceremonial , our words and . ic's , nay , our very continuance would be but the idle mummery of a harm / ess friendly sock-ty , aud we should form one 01 the many benefit Orders