The Charity Of Masonry.

THE CHARITY OF MASONRY .

This word Charity ought really to have been love—the Biblical translators did not give us the exact meaning of the word . We as Masons justly pride ourselves on the possession of this great attribute , though in ordinary parlance , we do not strictly set out as a charitable institution , we are rather what might be called a friendly organisation , and are certainly semper endem semper ubique . Venerable in antiquity , and yet not quite so old in origin , as some in enthusiasm would have us be , our society may properly be called almost perfect in

organisation . There is no better delineation of complete charity than is given in the parable of the Good Samaritan . It must have been from a pondering over this parable that the light of charity gleamed more brightly on our earth . But long before the English

translation of the manuscript containing this story was given to the world , our institution had been born , to shed its glory on humanity ; the circumstances narrated might possibly have been in possession of the learned Prelates , who were , in ages gone , active members of our body , as they , and they alone , could have had access to the ancient parchments to be subsequently rendered into English .

But before this translation of tongue there existed a society or community of all classes , from the monarch on the throne , and the archbishop with his mitre—the Knight Templar on his war horse encased in mailed armour , down to the practical stone hewer and mason , and so on through all the classes of mechanics , who were banded together by the mutuality of vows and trade secrets , as craftsmen who were working out perhaps unknown , except to a few of them , the great moral lessons ol Charity or love of one's neighbour .

It was a complete change from the Roman and Greek idea , where the Stale was the all and in all , and individuality almost unknown and uncared for . They had no conception of such a thing as Charity or love of one ' s neighbour—the weak one always went to the wall—the oppressor ruled with iron rod all and sundry that stood in his way . Sick people were a nuisance , and were left to die on the roadside—weak infants were either at once put to death or else were left lo expire as long as nature held out .

Slavery , with its black clouds ever hovering around the ancient horizon , was to the fore—the Paler Fnini / iiis had the power of life and death over his children—the highest and lowest in Rome and Athens alike gloated over the cruelties of the gladiatorial show—men fought in the arena with wild beasts—there was no such thing as hospitals—surgery and medicine , the one barbarous in its rude cruelty , and the other absurd beyond idea in its prescriptions .

The whole dominant idea of the haughty Roman was expressed iu the cry of " Civis Romanus sum , " and the more cultivated Greek lost himself in the subtle intricacies of philosophy , ever searching out for some new thing . No one cared for his neighbour , it was each for self and all for the State . The highest idea was to appease the gods by sacrifice , and the Roman ' s idea of a good man was one free from crime and upright in life .

Ihere were no hospitals—these were originated in the foundation of several for the nourishment and treatment of warriors and pilgrims to the Holy Land—money our forefathers poured out on these pious uses , and willed their possessions and lands for the same purposes .

All along the lines in Europe the good work was quietly yet firmly being done—brother in trade secrets clasped the hand of a lellow-brother , and the din of mortar-spreading , brick-laying , and stone cutting and carving resounded along the aisles of the mighty cathedrals , now in our advanced scientific age objects of wonder and almost adoration .

We seldom pause to think , while travelling through the wards of a modern hospital , of the mighty pious dead , long since removed to the Grand Lodge above us all , into wnose hearts came the inspiration of acknowledging lhat the man next door was not only a neighbour as far as mere location went , but was also one in birth—one in misfortune and one with them in a similar journey to the last place of all , where the golden bowl is to be broken , and the windows darkened .

Each neophite had burned into his heart , as he entered the portals of Masonry , the lesson of charily , this had precedence over actual instruction in the secrets of his craftwork , Society , through our Order , was being leavened up from the idea of a mere status or position , as a unit in the commonwealth , to that of contract , as is so lucidly set out in Sir Henry Maine ' s work ol Ancient Law .

It is true that no slave could become a Mason—a person must not only have been free from the chains of slavery , but he must have been born a freeman .

Serfdom and villeinage held millions in chains all over Europe and As a and Africa , and for a man to become a Mason it was necessary that hc should be at liberty to exercise not only a freedom of will , but also a freedom of choice . No slave or villein could do this , he was in bonds corporal

and spiritual . He could hardly call his life his own , let alone be a member of a body that at that time were the sole possessors of the secrets ot all kinds of handicraft 5 , and were beginning lo make themselves a power in the community where they dwell , to winch monarchs had lo bend their sceptres , and upon whom haughty prelates bestowed their benedictions .

Society , through our fathers , was beginning to foregather wilh smaller circles within the circumference of the wider circle ol lerritority . Man joined hands with fellow man , and the stale had to adapt itself taaiwv order of things .

It has nearly always occurred that societies spring into life amid the best intentions and the purest sources have in the fioing an o ( years gradually become hike warm as to good works , and covered with the barnacles of senile decay . Have we as Masons gone through this almost universal experience ?

Ihe answer is , with emphasis , by no means so—on the contrary , thru . h venerable as to age , we are youthful as to vigour , though M , m . id over ail tne vast world , yet acknowledging , as we always have iki . e , lhat we do reverence to lhe One Great Aicnitect of thc Universe . We know we were r ° m the beginning , are now , and shall be to the last day , under His peculiar care , and own that as Tennyson said .-' 1 he whole round world is everywhere bound by gold chains around the teet of God . "

The Charity Of Masonry.

Our aim from the inception of the Order has been mt selfish , but generous ; not mercenary , but charitable ; not warlike , but peaceable ; not man-hating , but man-loving ; no wild and weird schemes of the anarchist are allowed to develop them in our tents , we are bound to be loyal and peace abidine , wherever our lot be cast . We have laid down all along the lines certain lind marks , chief among which has been the avoidance as a

corporate body of all manner and description of politics , therefore we have never been arid never can be smirched with the dirt or stench which adheres to and springs from the seething of the political cauldron of politics , be that European , Asiatic , or American . We never move as a political body , though years ago wicked politicians fiendishly assailed us , but the dirt thrown upon our white garments failed utterly to stain us .

Persecutions we have had and men are still alive who can remember the time when to be a Mason was to be subjected to a reproach . Time and the world ' s experience of our good conduct have healed all these wounds , and so brightly did we come out of the fire that it was as fine gold out of the crucible of allliction . No such thing is at all likely to occur again .

Society at large is not wholly conscious of all that it owes to our Order . No rejection is needed to see the bonds of cohesion which we knit among ourselves , binding millions into a spirit of reverence to the Most High—into the bonds of loyalty to one ' s country and government , avoiding on the one

hand all and every the least interference with existing political institutions , instilling into the hearts of millions the idea of the one brotherhood of man , spreading over the earth the lessons of neighbourly conduct and charity , and this from morning to night of each rising sun , from the North Pole to the South Pole ol our globe .

We do not vaunt our good deeds , we blow no trumpet in ths market place . We only claim a modest credit for what we have done , are doing , and shall always do , for we are of no mushroom growth that flourishes and wilhers away . We are founded on a rock which no time , no storm , can { re . info decay .

We arrogate to ourselves the pioneership of all the whole body nf charitable institutions that cover the earth —they are merely our satellit-isthe light they diffuse they got from us . Where suffering is , weare ; ii peace and in war we are at hand with our ministry of mercy . All the Red Cross Societies , all the ambulance corps , all the hospital works and buildings , had their origin with us , and yet we are not generally credited with it ; but we are as careless of this as we are consc ' ous of its historical truth .

If at the last the test shall be , not what we said , not what we professed , not what we preached , but simply : Did we give the cup of cold water ? Did we visit those in prison 1 Did we feed the hungry 7 Did we clothe the naked ? If we come up to these tests then assuredly \ vs are safe . If we do not , then assuredly we are in peril . —P . C . iiiieron , D . C . L ., in the " American Tyler . "

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

Acacia Lodge , No . 2321 . The election meeting of this lodge was held on the Oth instant at the Masonic Hall , Rawsi > n-M | uare , Bradford , Bro . Robt . S . Hird , W . M ., presided , and there was a goodly attendance , amongst whom were Bros . Jas . B . Fearnley , I . P . M . ; Alfred Stephenson , P . P . G . D . ; John Niven , P . P . G . Std . Br . ; J . T . List , P . P . G . Keg ., Sec . ; S . A . Bjiley , P . M ., I ' reas . ; S . Kobinson , P . M . ; John Morton , P . M . ; VV / n . Docksey , S . W . ; J . S . Hedley , J . VV . ; T . H . Bedford , -S . D . ; R . B . Nich . lls , J . D . ; W . H . Townsend , as I . G . ; j . S . Cooper Tyler ; J . Wood , Org . ; F . Betteridge , B . A .,

Chap . ; W . Shaw-Smith , lR . A . Hinchliffe , Josiah Lee , W . Sykes , 1 . Hardy , K . S . Town , A . H . Edwards , Mus . Bac , F . R . C . O . ; H . Lund , II . W . Whitley , W . Durranee , T . P . Sykes , J . Harland , and R . F . Crow . Visitors : Bros . Rev . William Wilkinson , P . M . 1214 , W . M . 20 ( H ) , P . P . G . C . W . Yorks ; Kev . Stephen L . Walley , W . M . 154 . P . P . G . C . ; F . G . Dimery , P . M . 20 G 1 ) , P . P . G . P . Somerset ; Win . Fitton , P . M . 2035 , P . P . G . D . C ; Richard Mitchell , I . P . M . 21 , 35 ; I' > Vin II . Lee , P . M . 1019 ; Jas . Whitwham , J . D . 437 ; F . Hall , 439 ; Alfred Sutcliff :, P . M . 30 S ; L . J . F . Watson , J . W . 20 G 9 ; J . G . Mabane , J . D . 2 oGy ; S . K . Riley , Stwd . 2 o 5 y ; H . James , 2061 J ; and J . T . ' tones , io 0 ) .

Alter the minutes of the previous meeting had been confirmed , the ballot was taken and resulted in favour of Dr . B . II . Slater , M . R . C . S ., L . R . C . P ., as a candidate for initiation . Bro . Wm . Sykes was passed to the Second Degree by Bro . Last , P . M ., Sec . The working tools were explained by Bro . Hedley , J . W ., and the charge delivered by Bro . Bailey , P . M . Mr . B . H . Slater was afterwards initiated by Bro . Fearnley , I . P . M ., the working tools of an E . A . being explained by Bro . Hedley , J . W ., and the charge

delivered by Bro . Docksey , S . W . The report of the Audit Committee regarding the Treasurer ' s accounts for the current year was submitted by the Secretary and adopted , and the balance-sheet ordered to be entered on the minutes . Bro . John Bland was elected W . M . for thc ensuing year . Bro . Bailey , P . M ., was re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Cooper was also re-elected 'Pyler . After " Hearty good wishes " from the numerous visitors the lodge was closed , and the brethren dined together . '

After thc usual loyal and Masonic toasts had been duly honoured , the W . M . proposed " The Visitors , " and expressed the great pleasure it aff jrded him of entertaining so many distinguished guests on that , the last occasion , that he would preside dining his year of ollice , be was particularly gratified to see so many visitors from Lodge Prudence , No . 20 C 1 ) , with the members of which the lodge had during several years enjoyed pleasant visits .

Bro . Rev . VV . Wilkinson , W . M . 20 'iij , P . P . G . C , responded , and at the termination of a humorous speech , extended a cordial invitation to thc members of the lodge to visit Lodge Prudence , at Leeds , at the regular meeting in October . Bros . Dimery , P . P . G . R . Somerset , and Fitton , P . P . G . D . of C West Yorks , also responded .

• ' lhe Health ol the W . M . " was proposed by Bro . Last , Sec , who congratulated the W . M . on the splendid meeting which marked the termination of his year of ollice . Such meetings were good for the lodge , and were appreciated by the members , who glad'y co-epcrated with the VV . M . in welcoming the guests ol the evening , who had tiavelled from various parts of the province to be presen t .

llro . Il ' ud , VV . M ., said he sincerely thanked the brethren for the hearty manner in which the toast of his health had been received , as well as for the loyal support which they had g ^ ven him during his term of ollice . It was most gratifying to him—notwithstanding the holiday season—to se- ! such a good muster of tne brethren and visitors . " The Initiate , " " The Past Masters , " " the O . licers , " and other toast : were subsequently duly honoured . A most pleasant evening was spent , songs and harmony being contributed by Bros , W . i , I , Ivlwaul-., Sykes , Harland , llall , and Whitwham .

H . R . H . Tin : PKINCE or WALKS arrived at Ballater on the 24 'h instant by the 5 . 50 afternoon train , en runic to Balmoral . His Royal Highness was met on the platform by Bro . Lord Glenesk and Lieutenant James Mackenzie of Glenmuick . A guard of honour , consisting of a detachment of the 3 rd Rjyal Hig'iUnd : rs , uil : r the command of Major McRae Gilstrap , was drawn up opposite the station entrance , and gave a Royal salute . Colonel Davidson , Equerry to the Oueen , was ; in attendance , an j introduced Major McRae Gilstiap to the Prince .