Bro. Lessing On Freemasonry.

sessmg so much analogy to it as this one : Wh y systematic handbooks of the Christian faith originated at so late a period of time ? AVhy have there been so many and excellent Christians who

neither could nor dared express their belief in a comprehensible manner ? Even the last would have occurred far too soon

in Christendom , the faith winning but little thereby ; if Christians had not fallen upon the whim of explaining it in a way altogether contrary .

The application of this is left to the reader . CONVERSATION . —I . ERNEST . Friend , what art thou thinking of ? FALK . Of nothing :.

ERNEST . But you are so silent . FALK . For that very reason . Who thinks when he enjoys ? And I enjoy the invigorating mornins :.

ERNEST . YOU are right , ancl might have returned the question . FALK . AVere I thinking of anything , I should have spoken . Nothing is more delightful than

thinking aloud with a friend . ERNEST . Certainly . FALK . If y ou have enjoyed the beautiful morning sufficiently , if anything occurs to ynu , speak .

i think of nothing . ERNEST . Good ! I just recollect that I have wished to speak to you on a particular subject .

FALK . Name it , then . ERNEST . IS it true , friend , that you are a Freemason ?

FALK . Tho question is one which is not one . ERNEST . Indeed ! JBut answer me straightforwardly . —Are you a Freemason ? FALK . I believe myself to be one .

ERNEST , The answer is that of a person not sure of his facts . FALK . Nay ; I am somewhat certain of what 1 say .

ERNEST . In that case you must know whether , and when , and wliere , and by whom you Mere initiated .

FALK . I know that , certainly ; but that would not be saying much . ERNEST . NO ?

FALK . Avho does not initiate , and who is not initiated ? ERNEST . Explain yourself . FALK . I believe myself to be a Freemason , not

so much because I was admitted by elder Freemasons into a legally established lodge , but because I perceive and acknowledge what is Freemasonry , but why it is , and when ancl where

it has existed , how , and b y what caused it has been assisted or hindered . ERNEST . And yet you are doubtful ? " You believe yourself to be one . "

FALK . This expression is one to which I have become accustomed . It is not as if I could not convince myself , but I do not like to place

myself directly in anyone ' s way . ERNEST . YOU answer me as a stranger . FALK , Stranger or friend , it would be all the same .

ERNEST . YOU are initiated , you know everything . FALK . Others are also initiated , ancl think that ihey know .

Bro. Lessing On Freemasonry.

ERNEST . Could you , then , have been initiated without knowing what you know ? FALK . Yes—indeed . ERNEST . HOW so ?

FALK . Because many who initiate know it not , because the few who know it cannot speak it . ERNEST . And could you know it without haying been initiated ?

FALK . AVhy not ? Freemasonry is not voluntary , not to be escaped , but a thing which is necessary , and founded in the being of man and of society . Therefore it is as easy to arrive at it by reflection as by the assistance of others .

ERNEST . Freemasonry not voluntary ? Has it not words and signs , and customs , which might be quite different , and are therefore quite arbitrary ? FALK . True . But these words , and these signs ,

and these customs are not 1 * reemasonry . ERNEST . Freemasonry is a thing not to be escaped ? How did men go on before Freemasonry existed ?

FALK . It has always existed . ERNEST . In that case , what is this fatalistic and certain Freemasonry ?

FALK . That which I have already expressed to you . Something which even thou who know it cannot express in audible language .

ERNEST . A monstrous creature , therefore ? FALK . Be not hasty . ERNEST . AAliatever I can compreliend , I can define in audible language .

FALK . Not always , and often , at least , not in such a way as to convey by words to another the the exact definition impressed upon your own mind .

ERNEST . But if not one altogether similar , one , under any circumstances , having an analogous nature , FALK . A definition bearing such an analogy

would be either unnecessary or hurtful . Un necessary , useless , if embracing to little ; hurt ful , if conveying too much .

ERNEST . Singular ! If then , the Freemasons , who know tlie secret of their Order , cannot impart it by audible teaching , how do they spread abroad and uphold the Order ?

FALK . By actions . They permit good men , and youths , whom they honour , with a more intimate association , to conjecture and guess at their deeds—even behold them , as far as they

may be beheld ; these lind pleasure in the pursuits , and do similar good deeds . ERNEST . Deeds ! Masonic deeds ! I know of none but their speeches and songs , which are usually better printed than meditated or spoken . *

FALK . An analogy which they have with divers other orations and songs . ERNEST . Or am I to accept these things as their deeds upon which they exult in those very

songs and orations ? FALK . AVhen they do not only exult in them . ERNEST , And what is it that they glorify themselves so much in ? Things which one

expects from every good man , every honest citizen . They are so social , so benevolent , so obedient , so patriotic ! FALK . And are these things nothing ? ERNEST . Nothing by which they are distin-

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guished from their fellow-countrymen , Who should not practice these virtues ? FALK . Ought !

ERNEST . Who cannot find predisposition and occasion sufficient for this beyond the sphere of Freemasonry ?

FAL K . But witlun that sphere , and by it a greater disposition . ERNEST . Talk not to me of a multi plicity of predispositions . Rather induce due disposition

with a tremendous and intensified power ! The multitude of disposing forces is like tlie complexity of wheel works in a piece of mechanism . The more numerous the wheels , the more easily is

the machine put out of order . FALK . That I cannot deny . ERNEST . And what necessity is there for

another inducement ? an inducement dwarfing and making suspect all other mainsprings of action ! One g iving itself out as the strongest ancl the best !

FALK . Friend , be moderate . Hyperbole quid pro quo of those shallow orations and songs ! Probation-work ! Apprentice-work ! ERNEST . That is as much as to say : Brother Orator is a gossip ! ¦

FALK . Nay , rather that that which Brother Orator extols in Freemasonry is not exactl y their work . * Brother Orator at any rate tells no tales , and deeds speak for themselves .

ERNEST . Oh ! now I do perceive your drift . How was it that I did not immediately recollect these deeds , their self-testifying actions ; these deeds I mi g ht almost call crying deeds ! Not

content with upholding each other in the most self-sacrificing manner , what havc they not done for the state and nation to which they belong ! FALK . For instance ? so that I may hear if

you are on the proper track . ERNEST . The Freemasons of Stockholm , have they not erected a building for foundlings

FALK . But let us hope the Stockholm Freemasons have kept up their credit for activity on other occasions .

ERNEST . At which ? FALK . At any other , I should have said . ERNEST . And the Freemasons of Dresden ; do they not employ young girls in embroidery and

spinning ; so that the foundling establishment is much smaller there ? FALK . Ernest ! bear in mind tlie solemnity of your name !

ERNEST . AVithout any glosses then ! and the Freemasons of Braunschweig , have they not given free instruction in drawing to poor boys ?

FALK . Why not ? ERNEST . And the Berlin Freemasons , they perhaps did not lend their aid in founding the Basedon Institute ?

FALK . What say you ? Basedon ! Freemasons founding ?—Who has deluded you with this story ? ERNEST . The brazen trumpets of the news--papers have proclaimed it .

FALK . The newspapers ! I should like to see the receipt in Basedon ' s own handwriting , and I should like to be certain that it is not addressed to the Freemasons , and not to the Berlin

Freemasons . ERNEST . What is the matter ! do you not approve of the Basedon Institute ?