The Power Of Freemasonry.

Masonic practice . I forget after this lapse of time how exactly the meetingwas arranged , but it was , ancl we met him ancl he met us . We soon plunged in " medias res . " Our , spokesman , who kneiv well what he was about , introduced the matter in his most lucid and impressive manner , and our brother listened , and all listenedin silence .

, His defence AA'as very amusing , though very weak ancl fatal to himself . First of all he attempted to be facetious , and treated it all as a " canard . " That would not do Then he threw himself upon common report . This was proved to be untenable , he himself being alone " common report . " Then he denied our right to ask him such questions . The right we asserted , simply as a matter of factdutyancl necessity ; ancl lastlyhe turned round and said

, , , he had clone nothing to do anybody harm , he meant nothing personal , he did not mean to injure anyone , —it was all a good joke ! Our spokesman then pointed out to him the evil he had clone , the wanton , foolish , cruel pain he had inflicted on others . He pointed out to him the real true principles of Freemasonry , how he had transgressed every one of them , and how , unless he could authorize us to make his peace Avith the brethren , he

Avould surely have his name expunged , after trial , from the list of the members of the lodge . "What is Freemasonry ? " said our spokesman , among other suitable and seasonable remarks , "but a system founded on benevolence , directed by consideration for others , ancl elevated by brotherly love ! Under the guise of a brother eagerly to listen tocredulouslto receiveor calmly to disseminate

, y , scandal of an innoffensive brother , Avho , all unconscious , is associating with you on terms of Masonic sympathy ancl good-Avill , is an enormity ! To sit in the same lodge Avith a brother , and to Avhisper a tale of slander , or to piass on an invention of mendacity , ivithout thought or heed , is an offence not only against all laws human and divine , but contravenes the leading axioms , ancl uproots the very foundation of all true Freemasonry !"

Our brother listened ancl listened , until , as all saw , the perspiration standing on his forehead , ancl he said tremulously at last , " Brethren , I feel I have clone wrong ; I am very sorry , I am very contrite ; I will make any reparation you may think proper to appoint . " Our end Avas gained . Freemasonry is ahvays forbearing ancl forgiving ; it is ahvays willing to accept apologies ancl permit of recantation . Taught by the experience of past ages , it is against pains and penaltiespersecutions and excommunicationburnings and expulsions of all

, , kinds , except where the latter is absolutely necessary , as it unfortunately is sometimes , for the need of example , or the requirement of warning , for the good of Freemasonry , for the safety of the Order ! That St . John ' s Day Festival AA'as the happiest meeting of that old lodge for many a long clay . Our brother , AA'I IO may be HOAV a dignitary of the Order for all I knoAV , never relapsed into the foolish love of gossip ancl tittle-tattle , ancl the harmony of the

lodge renewed ancl cemented , has never since been broken . HOAV such things get about I know not , or how women hear of what takes place in lodge , I do not pretend to understand . This is a mystery I cannot fathom . Can any married brother ? But then one fact is undoubted , that to this view , whenever the wife of his bosom wishes to " shut up , " or bring our erring brother into subjection , she uses these words of mystic import to himcan any brother explain them ?—• " James , what a deal of evil there is in the power of the tongue , and how it can get a brother into trouble !"

I have penned this paper , to illustrate the " Power of Masonry " properly employed , to act as a healer of differences , and a redresser of evil , and therefore deem it not out of place in the interesting pages of the Masonic Magazine . T . T . T .