Ethics Of Freemasonry.

ETHICS OF FREEMASONRY .

Translation from , the German of 7 ) r . C . Si

{ Continuedfrom page 50 and concluded . ' ) Tic who desires the general welfare , desires also ill at , of the individual , lint as il is impossible for him to trouble himself directly about each one , the only way is to benefit all throughout by general principles which he himself follows , and thereby raises to

sovereignty—principles from winch he expects that the well-being of all will be reached . Public Societies prove their right only by the influence which they exercise upon the life of the individual , and betray their imperfection when outsiders arc not indirectly benefited .

Much devolves upon the self-help and energy of each fellowworker . For individual action is important , partly on recount of the inventive combination which the application of the laws must supply , partly on account of the calculation of probability , partly by preserving the laws from collision . Each individual , therefore , should perseveringly quicken his intelligence in order that he may

be able to apply practical energy at the right time and in the right place . Ethics lays the greatest stress upon sentiment , in which it recognises the measure by which the moral worth of each may be weighed , for from the thoughts and feelings right action will of itself naturally follow ; and . rice rerxa . where thoughts and feelings

are not sufficiently developed so that general cultivation is lacking , the subjective conditions of action are not present . Although there is little prospect that a whole body of mankind , a whole people , for instance , will ever undertake to work for the attainment of the highest good , nevertheless , this latter object may be gained by a small community of ardent workers so far as the barriers of

human imperfection allow . But then the mental forces of all must work together to obtain the result . A formal education of mankind must therefore take place , in order that the practices and habits which insure the power of the will may be established in them . A physical technic is needed for the service of these moral aims , and this technic we name Freemasonry . The disturbances which from

the weakness of mankind , from the application of false and not ethical motives , threaten the common works , must be dealt with by the weakening of the antagonistic motive through the psychological means of reward and punishment . In fact , the true accomplishment of these moral laws within a community , nowhere depends only upon reasonable perception and upon the sentiment

conveyed through them , but also upon the means of discipline which make the happiness of the individual dependent upon the propriety of his action . Every society , for the realization of certain objects , promises obedience to an authority , so that subordination is the condition to the fulfilment of moral purposes . But as voluntary obedience is not to be depended upon , it is impossible to do without restraint .

Restraint , which is exercised in the name of reason against stupidity , is justified , from the ethical point of view , as an indispensable means of education , for without education no one is reasonable . But , besides the restraint of punishment , there are more effective means , viz ., those which spring from the sense of honour . This sense of honour must be drawn much more into the

service of morality than it has hitherto been ; it affords the strongest motive for the support of social order . That wherein each finds his contentment depends , as has been already pointed out , upon his sensibility for pleasure or pain , upon his capability for interest in this or that object . No one can be commanded to feel enthusiasm for an object for which he has absolutely no taste ; but that which

affords him satisfaction he does from choice and without incitement . Thus ethics appear unnecessary ; they can paint an ideal man , but when , they dictate unidealistic laws , there is just as little result as when the unmusical is bidden to sing correctly . But we must remember that there is no philosophy which can make each happy after his own fashion , or which can pcrfeetty satisfy his own

particular wishes . To make men happy nothing more can be done than to cultivate that disposition within them by which the maximum of pleasure and the minimum of pain is obtainable . In each are seeds of sensibility for moral aims , moral feeling and conscience , which each is bound to cultivate , and the duty now is to investigate the reasons

which cause men to act in opposition to these . Here ethics demand that man should reflect upon the individual aims of his actions , and upon the motives for the same . They apply to his feeling of selfesteem and brotherly love , and counsel him to raise his individual to general objects , to make the pleasures of the moment subservient to future lasting enjoyment , and a slumbering impulse will be

roused by teaching helping reason to the mastery , by education through means of the care bestowed upon the mind and will , through example and the power of public opinion which rouse energy and ambition . Nature has not implanted naked egotism within the breast of man , otherwise he could not become moral but must ever remain selfish .

the natural , inclination of mankind to higher moral ideas can only be developed in social life . Every advance towards new ideal life is perfected by the thoughts which have had their rise in the individual , being recognised by every increasing others , and their realization striven after ( or required ) . The exchange of new ideals and the power which they gain is of high importance in history . Every remodelling of the sensibility , every alteration in the moral

feelings of mankind , without which no historical efficacy of the ideal is possible , establishes the idea of revival which every ethical consideration supposes will contribute to moral development . Every object for which man strives is prescribed to him not by negative principles , such as freedom and equality , but by the needs and inclinations of his sensual spiritual nature , which require to be satisfied . Physical well-being , marriage , care for posterity , satisfaction in the love and sympath y of others in his social intercourse , delight in

Ethics Of Freemasonry.

the beautiful and pleasing , the need of religious advancement , all these lie in human nature although in different degrees and strength . These impulses can neither be eradicated nor refused the right to be satisfied . Out of their elements ( and they are the greatest historical powers ) must every decided revolution for the highest good lie compounded .

The social condition which must be considered as the highest object must contain the possibility of granting to each what will be a benefit to him . so that , in the co-operation for the attainment of the general object , he also will find his happiness in such manner as is in proportion to the ethical development of his

nature . And thus we are ever working after ideals , and seek in the development of the same the possible practical progress , hoping that the future will bring to perfection that which appears to us as the most worthy and perfect in humanity .

St. Michael's Lodge, No. 211.

ST . MICHAEL'S LODGE , No . 211 .

On Tuesday , the 12 th instant , the new W . M . of this popular Lodge , Bro . Henry Lindfield , presided at the regular meeting , held at the Albion , where he was supported by Past Masters Green , Treasurer ; Radcliffe , Sec ; Hentsch . Back . Morgan , Dickson : King P . M . 172 ; H . Nash . S . W . ; King , J . W . : Orlton Cooper . S . D . ; Kirkland , J . D ., & c . The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed , and Bro . AV . J . Bennett was passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft .

Arrangements , for an outing during the summer months , the brethren to be accompanied by their ladies , were foreshadowed , and we doubt not that when the day arrives will be voted as perfect as on previous occasions . An ample supper followed ; after which an hour or so was spent in social converse and with jovial song . In the course of the evening Bro . Orlton Cooper recited the following lines , and modestty confessed himself the author when a request was made that that individual should be "named . "

THE SEVEN AGES OF FREEMASONRY .

' All the world ' s a stage , And all the men and women merely players , " So says our Bard , and surety 'twould be hard If Masons could not act as other players ; So your permission now I humbly crave While we may reckon what lives Masons have .

Our hero , we will take , just like the Sage ' s , And trace him , step by step , through seven ages . At first the 'Prentice , full of doubts and fears , And mind uncertain as to smiles or tears , With strange misgivings , yet undaunted heart , Enters the Lodge—and so he plays his part .

And then the Craftsman , with true zeal inspired , His soul with noble aspirations fired ; The Master ' s precepts now his greatest care , Resolves henceforth to act upon the Square .

Next Master Mason , raised to third degree , Entitled now to share our mystery ; A friend , and Brother , to the world is sent , His badge the emblem of his good intent . In office now , as Inner Guard , he stands , And Candidates receives from Tyler ' s hands . A great ambition fills his manly breast , His lawful aim within the Chair to rest .

The Deacon and Instructor next we see Leading the Novice in Freemasonry ; Signs , Tokens , Words , does he impart to each , With proper steps the Pedestal to reach . Still working up , he fills the Wardens' Chairs , First in the South , then in the West appears ; Assisting loyally the lodge to school , The Lodge that he some day may have to rule .

At length he enters on the final stage ; But no decay is here , nor sign of age , Full in the prime of his Masonic years , The honoured title , " Master , " now he bears ; Elected by his Brethren to the place , He . rules his Lodge with courtesy and grace ;

With dignity the sacred Ritual gives , So in him , once again , our Founder lives . Thus , when his year of office comes to close , He earns at last well-merited repose ; And , as the sun sinks grandly in the west , So , in like splendour , goes he to his rest . Frexmascnf Chronicle .. OltLTON CoOPElt .

WHEN it ( Masonry ) makes a man a Mason , it makes an alms-chest of his bosom and it gives to every other Brother throughout the world , a key to it . —Bishop llundall . "A GOOD Exoi'GH KOEAX . "—Ix 183 !) a very interesting inciden t occurred in St John ' s Lodge , No . 1 , of New York , when Mahmoud Junah , the first lieutenant of a frigate sent to America by the Imaum of Muscat on a misson of peace , and a Mohammedan , was

made a Mason . It being impossible at the time ior the Lodge to procure a copy of " The Koran , " in which the candidate was taught to place his religious faith , a difficulty which might have been insuperable . appeared . Upon explaining it to the candidate , he asked if the book which was used in the Lodge taught them to believe in the existence of a " Great I AM . " On being assured that it did , he said , " That is a good enough Koran for me , " and he was accordingly received and initiated in the Lodge .