'The Tassels Of The Lodge."

This Cardinal Virtue should more especially be the constant practice of every member of our fraternity , as the old proverb teaches us " In vino Veritas , " which we may freely translate in the words " when the wine is in the truth will out , "

for then in an unguarded moment he might be tempted in some degree to disclose those valuable secrets which it is his bounden duty to preserve from the outer world . FOUTITUDE , —This virtue should come home to

us with great force and effect from the fact that Fortitude is the title which has been adopted by the Lodge in which I now have the honour of addressing you . Fortitude has been well designated as that noble and steady purpose of soul ,

equally distant from thoughtless temerity and absolute cowardice , teaching us to avoid fear on the one hand aud rashness on the other , and to press steadily forward in the course which we , in our judgment , have determined to follow . It is

that virtue which enables us to undergo pain , danger and difficulty when they occur in the path of duty , without flinching . The virtue inculcated by this tassel may also be required as a defence against the assaults of the

cowan , who by persecution , artifice , or threats , might endeavour to wrest from us that wliicli we oup'lit most carefully to conceal . Fortitude is often eminently required in order that the . other Cardinal Virtues may be thoroughly

observed , for we may require a degree of Fortitude in order to resist the allurements of Intemperance , to keep us from acts of Imprudence which we should afterwards regret , and to assist in putting aside any favouritism or dislike , aud enable us to administer Justice with strict

impartiality . PEUDEKCB—Is described as that habit of mind by which men wisely judge on all things relative to their temporal and eternal happiness , and teaches us to regulate our lives and actions hv

the dictates oi right reason . This is well chosen as one of the virtues emblematically depicted in cur Lodges , as one which we should ever strive to attain . Gu this virtue the others depend for much of their power , For

we require Prudence in order to be Temperate ; Fortitude being equally distant from temerity and cowardice requires tho judging hand of Prudence in order to point out the exact medium to be followed . Justice also could not exist without it .

'The Tassels Of The Lodge."

Prudence should be our constant companion , both in our capacity as men and as Masons ; as men to be successful , we must obey its dictates in all our lives and actions ; and as Masons , we are especially to take care , lest any imprudence on

our part , should do aught calculated to bring discredit upon our order , or that we should at any time thoughtlessly reveal that which we ought to preserve in that safe repository of our hearts , with the strictest fidelity . Thus we are reminded in

our ancient charges , when in the presence of a stranger , to be cautious in our words and carriage that the most penetrating stranger shall not be able to discover or find out , what is not proper to be intimated , and sometimes to divert a

discourse , and manage it prudently for the honour of our worshipful fraternity . Again this tassel should always appear before our mental vision in our behaviour towards a strange brother , for we

arc told cautiously to examine him in such a method , as prudence shall direct , lest we should be imposed upon by an ignorant , false pretender , whom we are to reject with contempt and derision , and beware of giving him any fruits of knowledge .

King Solomon has it in one of his proverbs that " The prudent man concealeth , his knowledge ; " if oar traditions are of a truth in their entirety , may not this proverb have especial reference to the knowledge , which , we as Masons alone possess ?

Lastly , we should exercise this virtue in its highest sense in the admission of members into the o secret penetralia of Freemasonry . Each of us before taking upon ourselves the important step of proposing a candidate for initiation into our

mysteries , should consider it to be his especial duty to enquire into the character and associates of the individual to be proposed , lest he should hereafter regret that the absence of that virtue Prurience had allowed him to introduce one into the

order who might in any way compromise us as a body , or cause a slur to be cast upon our good name . JUSTICE—Is described as that station or boundary of right , which teaches us to render to every

man his just due , and that without distinction . To be even-handed in our intercourse with the world and each other , is of paramount importance to all . Without Justice , social order , and the spirit of fraternal union could not be maintained ,

and in carrying it into the Lodge , we must remember that the jewel of the Senior Warden