Masonic Work And Play.

MASONIC WORK AND PLAY .

We do not know any one Avho has a hi gher theoretical estimate of work , in its every day sense , than we have ; we believe in work , we like to see men work , and we think every one ought to work . On the other hand , there is no one

who has a more profound practical faith in play , than we have , and we are always ready to prove this faith by our works . Both work and play , therefore , are exemplified in our life . But while entertaining this honest regard for work and play

separately , we never believed in uniting them . Some things will not mix well in this world—oil and writer for instance . You may pour them together , but the combination does not give satisfaction ; it is a sort of two-story arrangement ,

with no communicating stair-way ; the particles of oil won't and can't go over the line to the water , and the water won ' t go to the oil ; separate , each is useful ; together , both are worthless . Now its precisely the same Avith Avork and play .

Work ' s work , and " play ' s play , and the moment you try to unite them , you spoil both . Tou have heard of Comic Histories and Comic Grammars , and Play-Books of Science ; but they all do not

amount to a row of pins . There is a religion in work ; it is a serious thing . Tou can't do it in a hurry , or thoughtlessly , or playfully ; you must do it carefully , soberly , earnestly . Method is the life of Avork . But as soon as you put method

into play , you destroy it . So much for work and play in their ordinary sense . NOAV let us look at them Masonically . A large part of the Freemason ' s life , -while united Avifck his brethren in the lodge , is spent in

work ; for this the Craft was constituted , and in it lies its chief glory . But we are not always at at labour ; sometimes , when weary , we are called off to refreshment , and no one enjoys this more than the Freemason . A table-lodge , for example ,

is a scene of real , innocent , convivial enjoyment . Heart beats to heart , hand clasps hand , music wings the hour , song allies earth to heaven , while glowing speech elevates and tin-ills the very soul . This is play , Masonic play , and Ave should be the

very last to prohibit ifc . But Avhile Ave believe , both theoretically aud practically , in Masonic work and Masonic play , apart from each other , Ave never want to see them united ; for their

attempted union only produces a ridiculous farce » Any Master who is guilty of levity in the " work " of the lodge , is ignorant of the first principles of common sense as well as of Masonry , and , has as little idea of genuine humour as he has of real

wisdom . The language lately nsed by M . Ex . Grand High Priest Hill , of North Carolina , is to the point when he says : " Be true , be dignified , be great—at least , while representing what is great . " And , to come nearer home , we commend

the advice of our estimable companion Charles E . Meyer , given in the course of his report on Foreign Correspondence to the Grand Chapter of this State . He says : " We always look upon any one who would introduce levity or frivolity in our august ceremonies , as a very poor . Mason ; he ^ should be served like the defective stones at the

building of the Temple—thrown among the rubbish , and lost . A few such worthless stones will , in time , destroy the beauty , harmony and stability of the building . " Brethren , Ave must not play when we work . To do so , is to mar our ritual , by

rendering its letter in an unbecoming spirit ; to degrade the science of Freemasonry to the level ' of buffoonery ; to change a tragedy into comedy ; and to marry the noblest truths to ceremonies that annihilate them in the utterance . Ifc were as well

to place a clown in the pulpit to preach a sermon , as an habitually frivolous brother in the Master ' schair to do the work of the Craft- Freemasonry is the noblest science known to the ages , and it must have noble men to exemplify it , or else ifc

will be one day rembered only as a tale that is told . Let ifc be the earnest endeavour , then , of every brother Avho sits in the East , to Avorthily wear the mantle of King Solomon ; and not only to speak the words of wisdom that have been

derived from him , bufc to act as he acted—with dignity , and an ever-present sense of the eternal value of the principles he inculcates . —Keystone .

TIJIE . — " AVhen I look upon the tomhs of the great , " said Addison , " every emotion of envy dies in me . When I read the epitaph of the beautiful , every inordinate desire goes out . AA'hen I see the tombs of parents themselves I consider tbe vanity of grieving for those whom we must quickly follow . AA'hen I see kings lying over those who disposed them : when I see rival wits side hy side , or holy men that divided the world with their contests and disputesI reflect with sorrow and astonishment on

, the little competitions , factions and debates of mankind . AVhen I read the several dates of the tombs , of some thafc died as yesterday , and somo six hundred years ago , I consider that great day when we shall all of us he contemporaries , and make our appearance together . "