The Power Of Freemasonry.

and what a " power" there is in Freemasonry in many respects ancl particulars , if only properly used ancl rightfully developed . As I have been asked to send a paper to the Masonic Magazine , I tell a story which has a quiet moral of its own , which entirely supports my last statement , ancl may be of profit to some of us , who are rather inclined to forget that the "tongue is an unruly member" and sometimes brings us into trouble .

, I belonged to a lodge in other clays which was about to celebrate its St . John ' s Festival , and elect its W . M . for the new year . For some time past this good lodge , ivhich I will term the Lodge of Illumination , had been suffering from this lingual disease . It was not certain to those who noted ancl grieved over the symptoms , and realized the true " diagnosis " of affairs , whether this malady was confined to one or morebut sure it was that the lodgeonce so

, , harmonious and happy , was becoming disintegrated and divided , broken up into cliques and sections , while an undercurrent of gossip ancl unkindly scandal was undermining its sociality , and setting brother against brother and friend against friend . It had been decided at the usual friendl y and informal meeting to vote for a particular brother for the W . M . ' s chairand then at that very meeting it

be-, came apparent that some evil influence was at work to impair the concord and mar the prestige of the lodge . Accordingly , the day after , a few clearheaded brethren met together , and formed themselves into a " committee of vigilance and public security , " to ascertain who this disturber , or these disturbers , of the lodge peace really ancl truly were . I well remember the first evening we met how serious we all were . It all

seemed to us so un-Masonic , so unreasonable , ancl so unwelcome , that we should leave other occupations in order to find out what member of the lodge , untrue to his Order , was ignoring and repudiating the very profession of Masonry he had openly ancl solemnly taken ujion him . However , there was no hel p for it , and so we began our uncongenial task . The first point to ascertain ivas , Was it only one , or more than one , associated with this state of things ? Having drawn up an outline of the case , we adjourned for twenty-four hours , to a brother ' s house , to make the needful

enquiries . When we again assembled the following night it was clear by the manner of all that something had been discovered . Ancl so we set to work . Gossip , and tittle-tattle , ancl scandal were all openly repeated and considered , letters were read ancl shewn , until it became perfectly clear that to one brother , ancl one brother alone , everything could be traced up ! He was himself the ori ginator of every story , every falsehood , the fomentor of all discord , the fautor of all intri gue ; he was the mover both of Masonic sedition and the source of Masonic discontent . What was to be done ?

We were quite clear about the fact . There was , moreover , no doubt about it , and yet something must he done ? Unless b y St . John ' s Festival all this under-current of queer feeling was stayed , we might expect more mischief in the new year . What the brother ' s motives were it seemed difficult to understand . To some of us it appeared a mere love of mischief ; to others a morbid mind and an unrestrained temper suggested themselves ; while the majorit y held , and held rightly , that it was to a very foolish ancl uncontrolable tongue that everything must be attributed . Oh , the power of the tongue for good , but how much more for evil I

We often complain of woman ' s abuse of the tongue ; I , for one , fancy men are as much to blame , nay , I have known men whose actual abuse of the powers of speech were something fearful , even diabolical , to realize . Well , after long deliberation , I'll tell you what we did . We appointed a select committee to see our brother , ancl put the case before him , and what we knew , and what we yet might discover . Our deputation were well chosen , for they were all " good men and true , " and well versed in Masonic law ancl