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'The Tassels Of The Lodge."

'THE TASSELS OF THE LODGE . "

LONDON , SATURDAY , JAMJABT 7 , 1871 ,

, { LX ADDEESS DELIVERED AT THE INSTALLATION MEETING OP THE LODGE OF FORTITUDE , LANCASTER , 27 TH DECEMBER , 1870 , BY BEO . J . DANIEL MOORE , M . D ., F . L . S ., W . M . 281 ., P . M ., P . Z ., P . PEOV . G . STJPT . OP WKS ., WEST LANCASHIRE , & C .

Bro . Wardens and Brethren : If the youngest Entered Apprentice amongst us were asked "What Freemasonry was ? " he would probably inform us that it was a peculiar system of morality , veiled in allegory and

illustrated by symbols . This is perfectly true , but for some time past it has appeared to me that in other Lodges as well as our own the illustrative and symbolical teaching has been too much neglected .

We certainly have symbols of various kinds in the Lodge for the brethren to moralise upon , but they are for the most pai'fc considered as mere ornaments , and do not convey to the mind of the brethren those exalted lessons of morality which

we should ever strive to attain . The fact of an old member of our lodge , some months since , being asked by a young mason "What was the meaning of those initial letters T . F . P . J ., which are depicted upon the tassels . of

our Lodge , and being himself unable to reply , suggested to me that , as the Sectional Lectures are not now worked by us , it would not be inadvisable from time to time , as leisure in the Lodge might afford , to expound , in a short lecture the true

'The Tassels Of The Lodge."

meaning and allusion of some of our symbols formsj and ceremonies . I therefore propose this evening to offer to you a-few remarks upon the Tassels of the Lodge . I am induced to commence with this subject partly

from the incident I have just nxentionod , and partly because , as the tassels have reference to the Lodge generally , it would afford an opportunity for newly initiated Freemasons to be present , as I could avoid trespassing upon anything restricts d

to the higher degrees . In the lecture on the tracing board of the first degree , delivered in this Lodge a few meetings since , we were told that pendant to the four corners of the Lodge are four tassels which

represent the four Cardinal Virtues , namely Temperance , Fortitude , Prudence , and Justice . To take each of these subjects seriatim we find that our sectional lectures describe :

TEMPEEANCE—As that due restraint of our passions and affections which renders the body tame and governable , and relieves the mind from the allurements of . vice . Perhaps , since the formation of the noble Fraternity of Ancient , Free

and Accepted Masons , be that when . it might , nothing has tended so much to throw it into disrepute , as the neglect of the teaching indicated by this tassel . How often do good and worthy Masons shrink from association with , the craft

, from the fact that some of their number , unmindful of the charge given bo the Junior Warden , that in presiding over the refreshments of the Lodge he should be temperate and discreet in the indulgence of his own inclinations , and carefully

note that none others be suffered to convert the purposes of refreshments into those of intemperance or excess . Indeed of so great importance was this deemed by those who framed the ancient charges of our fraternity , that in Section ;; we are

especially recommended to avoid all excels , , and in Section 6 to avoid gluttony and drunkenness .. It was a good and favourite maxim of a former Chaplain of this Lodge , when at a banquet , chub in every case , the evening ' s enjoyment should ho . v

the morning ' s reflection . This Uissel tlion teaches us that at all times , both in and out of the Lodge , we should modify and curb our incimatio ; :::, whoa they are at all likely to reflect discredit , either upon ourselves , or upon the order to wiiicii we belong .