What Is The Good Of Freemasonry ?

others , Freemasonry is as complete a mystery to the uninitiated as when the mythical lady hid herself in the lodge clock-case , or the equally mythical American citizen Avas slain for tampering with its secrets . Listen to the Avords of wisdom ,

according to Bro . Stodgers , P . M ., and you AA'ill learn that men may be Freemasons for years without penetrating the arcana of the Order ; may attain divers dignities Avithout comorehendino ' their true import ; may die in the fulness of

Masonic parts Avithout having emerged from Masonic boyhood ; and after having spent as much time and labour on the art as would , to put it modestly , suffice for the acquisition of every every European tongue , yet fail short of the

supreme distinction of being " a good Mason . " Whether , as the elder Mr . Weller , and the charity boy he quotes , respectively remarked of the institutions of holy matrimony , and of getting to the end of the alphabet , it be worth AAdiile going

through so much to learn so little , is , I hear the cynic whisper , entirely a matter of opinion ; but that neither the labour hrvolved nor its reAvard is under-estimated , the most superficial knowledge with the subject proves .

Bro . Plover and myself have some rig'hfc to our opinion , for we are Past Masters , Mark Masters , and Royal Arch Companions—are officers of our chapters , and Treasurers of our lodge . What our mutual and horsey friend Tibbins irreverently

calls our " plated harness , " involves medals , jeAvels , and ornate ribbons for our manly breasts , aprons for our fronts , and broad collars like those worn by Knights of the Garter ( bufc handsomer ) for our necks .

The Victoria Cross is an ugly excrescence compared to the costly decoration given me as a testimonial by the brethren of my mother loclge ; the clasps to the jewels of some of our friends exceed in number those of the oldest Peninsula A * eteran ,

and Ave calculate that we might UOAV be Sanskrit scholars of some eminence hacl Ave thought fit to serve that language as faithfully as we have served the Craft . Upon sordid money considerations Ave scorn to dwell . Initiation fees , exaltation fees ,

fees for advancement , emergencies , subscriptions to charities , to lodges , and for special purposes , make up a pretty sum to look back upon . ; and if the upshot of all Avere but the amusement and gratification derived , I am not prepared to say that Ave have had full A'alue for our money . Joyous evenings , periodical feasts ( in which something

else floAvs besides soul ) , mutual compliments , and pleasant friendships , may all spring from other sources than what Burns called " the mystic tie . " With tbe warmest appreciation of the pleasures of Freemasonry , I , for one , should renounce the whole

paraphernalia of colours , aprons , ancl geegaws , Avere I not satisfied of their practical value , and deeply impressed with their usefulness iu stimulating to benevolent impulses ancl charitable deeds . This is , in truth , the chief virtue I care to claim

for the Order , in this country , and in these times . Abroad , the Freemasons , so fiercely cursed by his Holiness the Pope , may mix up democratic caballing with their ceremonials , and play an important part in the spread of liberal principles ,

but in England , religious and political discussion arealike forbidden in loclge ; ancl though in the olden days , when skilled craftsmen Avorked together in travelling bands , leaving magnificent monuments of civilisation ancl piety in their train , the objects of association were better understood , they were nofc more practical in their results shan

UOAV . It is impossible to belong to a Masonic lodge , or even to eat Masonic dinners Avith regularity , without helping to support some of the most noble charities in the land . You are caught , we will say , by the promise of festivity and the

hope of enjoyment . You ICIIOAV a jovial set , and would like to be one of them , and you are in due course proposed , elected , and initiated in some Masonic body . From thafc moment yon are a cog in a mighty wheel , and can no more help moving

with the rest of the machinery in the direction of good Avorks , than you can avoid Avearing your apron AA'hen on duty in your lodge . Your earliest lesson is that of charity and toleration but tho great advantage of the rules

of tlie community you have entered , is that no indiA * idual demerits or torpor can long Avithstand their beneficial tendency . Other precepts you may neglect or ignore . Your private life may be far from irreproachable . You maybe depreciated

by your felloAv members as " a knife-ancl-fork Mason "—that is , one who cares more for the table of the ta \ 'ern than the table of the laAV—and

may be quoted by out-siders in proof of the evil effect of belonging to a- secret society . All this rests with yourself . Even Avhat Ave call the inner nrysterics of our Order—mysteries Avhich it takes so much time and application to master and comprehend—do not pretend to alter character . A selfish , man will be a selfish Mason , a churlish man