History Of Freemasonry In Cornwall.

of the lodge , as only three meetings Avere held subsequently at St . Ives . ( To bo continued . )

What Is Freemasonry?

WHAT IS FREEMASONRY ?

From an Installation Address by Bro . iliellev . L . H . TYXG , Chaplain of tlie Continental Lodge ( No . 16 ) , America . Masonry contends for the absoluteness of truth . The tendency of the times is greatly averse to this fundamental principle of all knowledge , all

morality , as Avell as all religion . And so our fraternity are like the builders on the temple's wall : whilst they wield the troAvel they must also bear the spear . We are compelled to Avithstand all those lines of thought Avhich would depreciate

the simplicity and fixedness of truth . The many new discoveries of science have discredited old and long accepted theories . * * The result of all such thought is the annihilation of that Avhich is the corner-stone of our temple . Somewhere

there is that which is invariable , inflexible , and most stable ; to believe it is to be faithful—to deny it is to be infidel ; to act upon it is to be virtuous—to depart from it is to become vicious . There is no uncertainty in the teaching of our

Order , where this much despised yet sovereign truth is enshrined . But the fact of its existence is all that I just UOAV affirm . What is the

testimony of our antiquity ? We are not banded together simply for the purpose of social recognition and mutual support . We have not inherited merely unmeaning forms of ritualistic display , Avhich have nothing but their mysterious secrecy

to commend them . Think you there is enthusiasm enough in humanity to continue for so many centuries , amidst all sorts of perils and persecutions , such an organisation as this , designed only , or even ¦ chiefl yfor selfish ends ? You make Masonry a

, far greater mystery than Ave claim by so supposing . And you have a problem to solve in the existence of this confessedly ancient Order , Avhich will baffle all experience and negative all knoAvledge of fickle

human nature . Nay , it is the love of the truth , the adherence to the truth , Avhich has constituted Masonry the miracle it is among all the debris of man ' s social structures . Here it stands , just as complete , just as glorious , as when , in the first

temple ' s time , the Avidow ' s son gave the binding word . But Avhat is the meaning of all our symbolism ? This is not continued for the purpose of amusement and selfish gratification . These tools

What Is Freemasonry?

of our Craft , and the jewels of our Order , have very solemn meaning . The officers of the lodge , from the Tyler at the door to the Worshipful Master in the east , are engaged in very earnest work . This is no nursery for child's play or levity .

We Avear our aprons , and display our three great and three lesser lights , with very serious ends in vieAv . These are all efforts to preach the truth . Each is a crystal face of this purest gem . And all are occupied in the manifestation of that of

Avhich each symbol tells a part . HOAV comes it , I ask again , that , after such long journeyings , and amidst so many adverse influences , this traditional ritual remains so jDure , so unaltered ? Other schemes of man ' s device have had their day , aud

have fallen to rise no more . What is the talisman which explains their destruction and the preservation of this ancient system ? Everything in the lodge answers , Truth , " A divine attribute , and the foundation of every virtue . " For " to be

good and true , " to buy the truth and sell it not , " is the first lesson Ave are taught in Masonry /'' If the Institution cannot speak for itself after centuries of . development , then no Avords of argument can advance its claims . But Avho can

estimate its silent influence upon a single brotherand Avhat a multitude of Craftsmen does it command ! Is it a little thing , that wherever the altar of our ancient art is set up , an open Bible should be upon it ? Not so thinks that apostate body

Avhich seals the word of God lest its OAVU usurpations and pretensions should be thereby deniedelse Avhat mean those constant allocutions and bulls

Avhich continually are aimed at , aud so often fail to injure , our valued fraternity ? Is it a little thing that , Avhilst Europe is plagued with rationalistic thought , and America is about entering on the strife , there should be thousands already pledged

to stand by God ' s truth—a great army of conviction ? Is it a little thing that , in a pleasureseeking , depraA'ed society , blind to the intelligent joys of the present and the more lasting bliss of the future , there should be thousands of such

rooms as these dedicated to God and the holy Saint John , in Avhich men , bound by a VOAV to forsake all iniquity , at very frequent intervals gather for mental , moral , and spiritual improvement ? Brethren , let us rejoice in our privilege .

Let the Avorld deride and scorn , if it will . Our great Master has suffered all this before . It hated Him before it hated us . Be sure you cliug simply to the truth , and be careful to manifest it by con--