Holiday Masons.

ing to build upon one or other of these rites , other spurious ones , which have nothing of Masonry in them , save the name . That which is genuine and popular is always counterfeited . The greed of gain or power leads men to originate

Orders Avhich are quasi Masonic , club them Avith ridiculously high-sounding titles , and attribute to tbem a fictitious origin and antiquity , and forthwith a vulgar crowd , having the curiosity of old women , take the new-fangled degree . Perhaps more of

these neAV societies are started by certain impecunious regalia vendors than by any other class , who by this means drive a thriving trade . AVhat a calamity to them Avould be a persecution of their bairns I How flat the market for Society goods

Avould drop ! Suppose any class of men should be foolish enough to wage a successful crusade against the Eastern Stars , or Knights of the Red Cross of Constantino , or Knights of Carthage—AVIIO Avould sell any more of their bibs , or sashes 01 other

, millinery I Just think of the terrible convulsions in certain business circles that Avould follow—not in Philadelphia , for it is little given to noA'elties that disturb the Masonic peace—but alas for New York , and Kew Jersey , and the prolific AVest .

The potato-bug scourge would be nothing to it . The holiday quasi-Masons would go under by hundreds , ancl the places that know them now would know tbem no more

for ever . Ancient Craft , or Blue Masons , cannot often be charged with holiday habits . True , our Grand Lodges have recently got into the habit of being attended by some fuss and feathers , on grand occasions , in the shape of escorts of Knights Templars , on

foot or mounted ; and some Brethren , Avhose love for display does not die Avith them , request to be Masonically buried Avith all the pomp of Templar parade and funeral ceremonial ; but except iu these respects , Masons that are Masons can

rarely , if ever , be charged Avith having any nonsense about them , or playing Mason before the Avorld . But Ave are growing exceedingly proud of our prosperity . In the ends of the earth—Japan , India , Australia , the Sandwich Islands , statel y Masonic Temples haA'e been , or are beingbuilt , and we point to them with what we deem a pardonable pride . But let us not

Holiday Masons.

have what might be termed a holiday pride , for certainly that sort goetb before a fall . If , however , our charity and standard of morality are made to keep pace Avith the multiplication andgrandeur of our Temples , there need be no fear for the future . AVealth , unless it is squandered ancl

dissipated away , does not sap virtue . Not money , but the love of money , is the root of all evil . Money is a good thing , especially hard money , but money that is Avasted is a curse . And holiday Masons get rid of it much faster than other Masons .

They eat , drink , and wear it out—in oftrepeated banquets , expensive jeAvels , and often renewed because often Avorn , and much abused regalia and clothing . The sooner they cease to be holiday , and become common-seuse Masonsconforming to

, tbe Avay of their Masonic forefathers , the more largely Avill tbe prosperity of tbe Craft be insured , and the truer will Freemasons be to vows which have voluntarily been assumed . Masons should not often be seen , labelled as such , on the public

thoroughfares . The pomp of parade is unmasonic . What office has the T yler to fulfill on a public street ? The only stated place , Avhere Masons should appear in full regalia , should be the tyled precincts of the Lodge , Chapter , Council , or Commandery . The sooner Ave forego our excessive holiday habits the better . —Keystone .

Fairy Tales Utilised For The New Generation.

FAIRY TALES UTILISED FOR THE NEW GENERATION .

BY THEOPHILUS T 05 ILINS 0 N-. No . 1 . —CINDERELLA . IT has struck me that we might all of us Avith a little profitable reaction go back for instructionimprovementand didactic

, , morality to those fairy tales Avhich delighted us in youth , and can still amuse us in middle age . For though we are dusty and travel-stained to-day with this often Aveary journey of life , of long years , of trying scenesAve have not yethajipily

, , for ourselves , lost all interest in what once pleased us so hugely ; Ave are still , thank HeaA * en , to some extent , at any rate , " simpatico " Avith the tastes and temperament , the feeling and feiwour of more buoyant hours . With what zest and