The Mission Of The Mason.

In the second place , so as to be better able to accomplish all these things , he must study the Landmarks that have been handed clown to us from generation to generation ; he must acquaint himself with our time-honoured traditions ; he

must master the constitutions , laws , and edicts of his Grand Lodge—without doino- this he is unable to answer the sneers of the profane , or to instruct the neophyte in the history of our Institutionand his mission is to teach his younger brother , and

explain to him the basis of a superstructure that has withstood persecutions , wars , bigotry , and intolerance .

Again , unless the workman is well skilled in the Ritual , the most impressive ceremonies may pass unnoticed ; the example of carelessness in the work leads to neglect , and non-attendance at the Lodge ; inaccuracies creep in , harmony is

destroyed , and the labour of years is lost . No Mason , then , who wishes to honestly perform his mission should fail to become thoroughly versed in our beautiful Ritual . This , I believe , to be the mission of ' the Mason ; all is important—the

Principles , the Landmarks , the Constitution , the Ritual , all should be studied , and lived up to—no single one of these is sufficient , as the tie is so closely drawn , that to attempt to divide it mars the symetry of the whole .

The mission , then , undertaken by the conscientious student of our mysteries , requires a lifelong devotion to the cause , as it should be the object of his daily walk to exercise humbly , but firmly and conscientiously , before his brethren and

the world the wisdom of a godly aud moral life , the strength of " an alliance with virtue and the virtuous " and the beauty of brotherly love , relief , and truth combined with charity for all mankind .

Address

ADDRESS

Delivered by Bro . METIIAIT , P . Prov . G . M-, of Devon , at ihe meetiny of the Provincial Grand Lodge , held at Teignmouth , on Monday , 3 rd inst Right Worshipful Sir and Brethren , —It is not my intention on the present occasion fo dwell on

the history and principles of Freemasonry , as we have had ample opportunities of doing this durinothe past two or three years . Its rapid growth , and the prominent position it has assumed before the world , furnish us with grave matter for deliberation sufficient for to-day , compelling us to enquire anxiously how that rapid growth can bo l

Address

made vigorous and permanent , and how that position can be best justified and maintained . To those who appreciate Freemasonry , it must be a gratified desire to see its ceremonies conducted in a manner worthy of their solemnity . Our

brethren , therefore , have done well in erecting this temple ; the money , time , and trouble expended on it are proofs of their deep interest in the Craft . They have done better , however , if in the past they have walked in the true and broad road of Masonry ;

if they have respected the ancient landmarks of the Order and followed its solemn teaching , determining to walk in the same true and broad road for the future in their new abode . They have done better still , and best if , on looking into

their own breasts , they can feel assured that they are leading pure Masonic lives in the lodge and in the world , which will bear the full light of day ; that they are practising in their daily career the precepts which they have learned by rote in the

lodge , promoting the great principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth by every means in their power , and thus , in obedience to their solemn obligations , conferring the greatest possible

amount of happiness on the greatest possible number of their fellow-creatures during their own brief span of life . The forms and ceremonieswhich we take part in to-day are of no value unless taken in conjunction with the noble

purposes for which Masonry was designed ; but when so taken they illustrate , forcibly aud beautifully , the great , immutable , and eternal principles of morality and universal charity . These ceremonials were devised for the purpose of exciting mankind

to noble and humane actions ; but if we do not look beyond them , if we fall into the habit of practising them in our lodges without any corresponding resulting action in the world , there is an immediate danger of our mistaking the shadow

for the substance , and of our regarding them as having satisfied their function sufficiently , when they have done nothing more than bring about a . mere sense of wonder , pleasure , awe , admiration , and love . Taking this view , our brethren ' s labours ,

although completed in one direction , may be said to be but beginning in another ; they have now to give fuller effect to those great principles which , by erecting this Temple , they have so professed to admire . And how can this best be done ?

Clearly , this foundation on which they can alone build a superstructure , perfect in all its parts , and honourable to the builder , must be laid in good