Classical Theology.—Lxii.

united beauty , strength , and durability . Statues , in relievo , of gigantic size and singular forms , exemplified by various symbols , mysteriously adorn its interior , and represent , it is supposed , the attributes and actions of the deities and heroes whom they most constantly confided in , and worshipped and admired .

What Freemasonry Is.

WHAT FREEMASONRY IS .

£ yg AUDB . ESS TO A STEWLX INITIATED BROTHS !! , , BY BBO . H . B . WHITE , W . M . OP THE LODGE OP L IGHTS ( NO . 173 ) , WAKEIS - OTOE - . The ceremony of your initiation is now at an end ; you have had delivered to you the authorised charge , and such parts of the ancient charges as relate to your Masonic conduct in the lodge at home and abroad , and so far all has been carried out in strict accordance

with a prescribed formula , that certain invaluable and incomparable landmarks mi ght never be omitted or departed from ; but Masonry is so infinite in its application and teachings , that it is wisel y left to the discretion of its presiding officers , to add anything by way of illustration or admonition , that may appear

advisable , provided , of course , that in all things the ancient landmarks are respected . My particular object in thus addressing you , is to prevent your leaving the lodge this evening , with any of the mistaken impressions frequently entertained by

newly made Masons . I would not have you go away with theidea that you have been fooled , or that any one portion of the recent ceremony is unmeaning or introduced for the mere purpose of mystification . Freemasonry is truly a system of morality veiled in

allegory , and illustrated by symbols , and the most apparently trivial incident , both in your preparation and initiation , has its deep and hidden meaning . It is not reasonable to expect that you should at first si ght ,

penetrate the outer or allegorical symbol , but I trust you will make it your business , as a Mason , to arrive at these hidden meanings . Another and a most fatal delusion I would guard you against , is that of entertaining the idea , that the information imparted to you this evening , has made you a Freemason . After my

efforts to impress you with the importance of the ceremony , such a warning from me may create some astonishment in your mind , but what I would imply » , that Masonry is not a mere matter of secret ceremonies , it is something far higher and holier than

J ^ ese . A man may have attained to the hi ghest honours the Craft can bestow , and be perfectly up in aI 1 its lore and working and yet be as far from being * freemason as he was before his initiation , and unortunatel y there are too many who may be classed in

18 category . The rites and ceremonies of Ereema-Soar y , are essential to its existence—they form the j'utworks whereby its treasures are , as they ought to 6 guarded from the unworthy , and , therefore , cannot

uncterany circumstances be dispensed with ; but true Masonry exists in the heart , and is composed of brotherly love , relief and truth , and that heavenly consummation of all virtues , charity , so beautifully explained in the volume of the sacred law , as " bearing

all things , hoping all things , believing all things , enduring all things , and thinking no evil , " and it is to the practice of this virtue that your Masonic efforts should ever tend , not only in its common acceptation of pecuniary relief , but as embracing true brotherly love to the full extent

inculcated in the sacred writings . Initiation alone , never did , nor never can , make a man a true Mason ; it gives the key , but the mere possession of the key does not constitute ownership of the treasure ; it sows the seed , but unless the soil be good , and carefully cultivated , fruit will not be produced ; it opens the portalbut

, unless theroad be traversed the goal cannot be attained ; it lays the foundation , but without labour the superstructure cannot be raised . So this evening we have given you the key , we have sown the seed , opened the portal , and laid the foundation ; it is for you , with such assistance , as amongst Masons can always be

obtained by seeking for it in the proper quarter , to complete the work , and I sincerely trust that in this you will not be found wanting . Finally , whilst charging you not to undervalue Ereemasonry , I would beg you to remember that it is a human institutionand as such necessarily imperfect

, , and liable to error ; do not be disheartened , ( disappointed you naturally will be ) if you find some who profess its tenets , but do not act up to its teaching . You will probably frequently hear our noble science ridiculed b y the unenlightened world , and stigmatised as a childish mystery , and a pretension to

superior excellence , covering only secret revels and excesses . Treat such ridicule with contempt , and answer it only by acting up to your profession . A man who ridicules that of which he cannot , by any possibility , know anything , stultifies himself , and is unworthy of notice . But , alas , you will find unworthy members of the fraternity ; somewho abuse

, its privileges ; some , who from their own inherent baseness , are unable to appreciate its beauties , and convert its moments of social relaxation into occasions of debauch ; and others , who , from their mental powers being too dense to enable them to penetrate beyond tha exteriorconsider Ereemasonry as

mys-, terious nonsense . If you meet with any such , console yourself with the reflection that there ever have been , and whilst time lasts , ever will be such men in every human institution , and if you are well read in the great light of Masonry , you will call to mind instances where holier ordinances have been similarly profaned

and misunderstood , and so you will be led to understand that Ereemasonry is not to be blamed for the misdeeds and short-comings of some of its predecessors . I will not detain you with any further observations , but merelyin conclusionexpress a hope that the

, , proceedings of this evening will never be effaced from your memory , and that by your life and actions , you will , in all things , prove to the uninstrueted world at large , how ennobling , excellent , and enlightened an institution is that of theEree and Accepted Masons .