An Oration.

conduct , and consider what may be the influence of our example . Let us see to it , that we walk according to our profession , true worshippers of God , strict observers of the moral law . constantly obedient to the laws of our country , good husbands , good fathers , good sons , good masters ,

good servants , for the true advancement of Freemasonry is in the accomplishment of the objects for which our Order was founded and exists , and the extension of the brotherhood , the accession of members is to be desired by us only that these objects maybe more extensively attained .

And how admirable are these objects ! The promoters of religion and virtue , of loyalty and good order , of domestic happiness , of social concord , of peace amongst the nations of the earth , of industry , of science , and of all that tends to the welfare of individuals . of families , and of

mankind . These are glorious objects , objects to which it is good to devote all our energies , for whichjit would not be too much to give life itself . But what is demanded of us is not that we should sacrifice life for their sake , although that might be reasonable and proper , but that we

should employ our lives in their promotion , all the while enjoying a reward in the increase of our own happiness , not only from the feeling of satisfaction which God has appointed to attend the doing good of others , but from the benefits which . under his gracious Providence , always attend a life of piety and virtue .

A Congratulatory Address,

A CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS ,

Delivered at the Consecration of the Isle of Axholme Lodge , Epworth . BY BRO . THE REV . J C . H . SAUNDERS , M . A ., W . M . ANDC . 1286 . Brethren of the Isle of Axholme Lodge , in my own name , in that of the brethren of this

Province , and I think I may confidentl y add , on behalf of every true hearted Mason , I beg to offer you our most sincere congratulations on 1 the auspicious opening of your lodge . May it i go on and prosper . Begun in order , may it : progress in harmony and peace , may no discord ,

¦ no dissension , gain admission here ; may bicker' : ings and heart-burning be unknown amongst ' you , but may true brotherly love and unity ' flourish and abound . Let your watchword be " Go Forward , " but let caution and prudence dictate every step .

My ' experience of Freemasonry has taught me , that while there is much that is admirabletruly admirable—in the Institution itself , there are at the same time certain points which from the laxity of indiscreet brethren tend to bring the Order into disrepute

To two of these points I would briefl y invite your attention , and in so doing I would ask you to bear with me , and to receive my few imperfect remarks in the same spirit of fraternal kindness as the ideas are conceived , and the words uttered by myself . What I say unto you

I would say to all the brethren . The first point to which I would advert is this . —We cannot be too cautious whom we select as Masters of our lodge . The Master holds a most important and responsible position . Unless , therefore he is well

qualified to perform the duties of his office , the lodge cannot prosper . It may continue to exist , but it cannot flourish . We cannot therefore , I repeat , be too careful whom we select as our Master . If we select a brother for that im .

portant position , merely because he has filled the office of Warden , utterly regardless of the manner in which he had performed the duties of that office , or because he is one of the senior members of our lodge . If we select him merely as a matter of policy , in order to avoid giving

offence to some crotchetty brother , or as a matter of expediency to gratify the craving after office of a restless ambitious brother ; if we select him merel y because he is a bon vivant and jovial companion , or because his social status is a grade above that of some other , brother , who may be

in all respects Masonically his superior . If we select him for any or all of these reasons , believe me , we are doing our best to lower the prestige of our lodge , to bring Masonry into disrepute , and to strike a grievious blow at the Order which we have pledged ourselves to uphold to the utmost of our ability . What then

A Congratulatory Address,

are the qualifications we should seek for ? and what should be our governing principles of action ? We should select a brother who , by the zea and energy he has displayed in the performancel of the duties of the minor offices he has filled .

gives promise of being able efficiently to perform the more important duties of the higher . We should select a brother who stands well with his brethren , one who is amiable in disposition , and affable in manners , one who is apt to teach , and able to govern , one whose moral character is

beyond reproach , whose commercial reputation is above suspicion , one blessed with a retentive memory , able to learn , able to remember , able intelligently to recite and perform our striking and interesting ceremonial . When we find a brother possessing these qualifications we may venture to select him with full confidence that he

will prove a most efficient Master . But if in addition he possesses that other most important qualification , the blessing of a liberal education , it will be found to add immensely to his efficiency . And inasmuch as the selection of officers rests entirely with the Master , as he is ,

such to a great extent will be his officers , and as are the officers , such will be the brethren . If he be inefficient or indifferent , a spirit of indifference will soon be engendered . Carelessness and laxity will soon be manifested , which must tend to the injury , it may be the irreparable injury of

the lodge . But if the Master be zealous and efficient he will inspire his lodge , officers and brethren alike , with a spirit of energy and zeal , so that actuated by one feeling they will work in unison ; bound together by the mystic tie of fraternal love , they will labour for the benefit of the Craft in general and for the welfare of

their own lodge in particular . And what should be our governing principle of action , in the selection of our Master . Fidelity to our Order , and a firm determination , avoiding fear on the one hand , and favour on the other , to select that brother whom we conscientiously believe to be in all respects the best qualified for the office .

Another point , and one of paramount importance , in which great care is necessary , is this , " we cannot be too cautious whom we admit

into the Order . ' In the present day when Freemasonry is fashionable , and frequent applications are made for admission to our ranks , it behoves us to exercise more than ordinary caution whom we

admit . No one , as a matter of course , is proposed for admission unless some little is known of him by his proposer and seconder . But are we always sufficiently cautious ? Do we carefull y investigate the character and antecedents of a candidate 5

Do we inquire what are his reasons for wishing to be admitted to our ancient mysteries and privileges ? If on investigation we find that he is a man who has gained the respect and esteem of his fellow men ; that his character will bear the strictest scrutiny , that he is a faithful

husband , an exemplary father , a constant friend , and a true patriot , if we find that he has been in the habit of practising the Masonic virtues , not knowing them to be such ; if we have reason to believe that his head , his heart , his hand , his knee and his foot , will be energetically and

zealously exerted on behalf of Freemasonry , we may venture to elect him , for he will probably become a good and worthy Mason . But if on the other hand , we find on investigation , we have reason to suspect that his sole object in seeking to gain admission to our

ranks arises from a morbid curiosity to become acquainted with our secrets , we must reject him at once , for he w ill prove but a sorry Mason . If we have reason to believe that his chief object is a mercenary motive in order that he may receive pecuniary benefit in the time of difficulty , or succour in the hour of sickness , we must inform

him that ours is not a benefit club , and that he cannot be admitted on such conditions . If we suspect that his object is to bolster up a somewhat doubtful moral reputation , or to prop up a somewhat tottering commercial reputation , thus using Masonry as a cloak of hypocrisy ; we must reject him at once .

If we have reason to believe that his object is for the value of the refreshment which sometimes follows labour , we must tell him that ours is no

A Congratulatory Address,

convivial club , and that we cannot receive him on such terms . O let us be careful that at none whom we are instrumental in admitting into the Order , the finger of scorn may ever be able to be pointed , or the tongue of the slanderer ever have occasion

to say , that " man ! that liar ! that thief ! that drunkard ! that whoremonger ! is a Mason , and a disgrace to the Order . " Believe me far more injury is done to Masonry by the indiscretions of faithless brethren , than by all the open attacks of the slanderer and the coward .

One word more and I have done . Again I beg most heartily to congratulate the brethren of this new lodge a : Epsworth on its foundation . May it progress and prosper , until it becomes as famous in the annals of Masonry as has the good old town of Epsworth itself , in the History of the Church .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but \ VJ wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain accessary limits—free discussion . —Eu . l

THE P . M . JEWEL . Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you or one of your numerous readers kindly imform me , 1 . Whether any brother who has never attained the office of W . M . has any right to wear the P . M . jewel on his apron .

2 . Whether holding office in a P . G . Lodge will confer that right ? 3 . Whose duty is it to see that brethren enter a lodge , whether P . G . or private , properly attired .

My reason for making these inquiries is that a brother in Lincolnshire in calling my attention to the Prov . Grand Lodge , lately held in that province , mentions that a brother had on an apron the three P . M . jewels , and which he has

worn for more than twelve months , though he has never been a W . M . I have always looked up to Provincial . Grand Officers as patterns of Masonic excellence and correctness . Is not this a glaring breach of Masonic etiquette ? Yours fraternally ,

S . W . [ No brother has a right to wear the emblems of a P . M ., who has not been , bona fide , W . M . of a lodge . —ED . ]

BRO . CONSTABLE'S DRAWING . Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me to thank you for the preliminary notice , contained in your issue of the 1 ith inst ., of my project on behalf of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls ; and to state that every purchaser of a shilling ticket will be entitled to participate in the ballot for a Life Governorship thereof , value t > t ? io ios .

The ballot is arranged to take place on Wednesday , aSth April , 1875 , aiia" t ' "esult will be recorded in the columns of The . Freemason . My desire , in commencing thus early , is to secure a widely spread patronage , and I hope

that our brethren will readily accept and support an easy means of doing good service on behalf of an Institution which has established its usefulness as a Masonic Chcrity throughout the world .

I am convinced that there are many charitable brethren in the kingdom who will gladly avail themselves of the opportunity thus afforded , and in furtherance of this I shall be pleased to forward tickets on sale or return , and , with permission , add names to the undermentioned list .

The Institution will receive the benefit of every shilling subscribed , not a fraction is to be deducted for working expenses . J OHN CONSTABLE .

Tickets may be had from the following brethren -. — Bro . W . J . Hughan , P . G . S . D . England , P . M . 131 , P . G . Sec . Cornwall , Truro „ Augustus A . Bagshawe , P . P . G . W ., P . S . G . W . Derbyshire , I . P . M . 1235 , Wormhill Vicarage , Buxton , Derby .