MASONIC.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 879, 4 January 1889, Page 10

MASONIC.

Having re-opened the Masonic column in he Mail, under the supervision of a Master in the Craft, we shall be glad to receive from Secretaries of Lodges, and brethren generally, short reports of Lodge meetings and Masonic r vents of all hinds likely to be of interest to nembers of the craft . All correspondence for this column to be addressed to the Masonic Editor, New Zealand Mail. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Freemason. —Yes, the subscription is 10s 6d per annum. H.M.P. (Christchurch). —We cannot publish your views, as they would be quite out of place. Maul. —You are quite in order. • FAVOURS RECEIVED. London Freemason, Aurora Escozzesa, Chaine d’ Union, El Taller, Luce e Concordia, and the Kneph. THE ANTIQUITY OF MASONRY. As a society or union of fellows, in an old M.S.S. we find an allusion to our ancient fraternity in the following words : ‘St, Alban, who was tha first to suffer martrydom in Britain, A.D., 303, loved Masonß well, and cherished them much, and made them pay right good. And he got them a Charter from the King, (Carasius, A.D., 287), and his council, for to hold Grand Council, and gave it the name of Assembly. Thereat he was himself and did help to make good Masons, and gave them good charges.’ In the year 926, A.D., Prince Edwin the brother of Athelstane, the grandson of Alfred the Great, assembled the Masons at York, and this we may regard as the origin of English Masonry. Of course, our ancient brethren may be traced back to the first ages of building, wherein rough material from the quarry was squared and made ready for ‘ the more experienced workmen.’ Traditional history points to King Solomon’s Temple as the perfection of the Masonic art, yet the grand principles of Masonry existed long before that event. The Egyptians long practised their mystic rites in the subterranean temples on the banks of the sacred river Nile. We have only to look up past history to point to Nineveh, Babylon, Athenß, Jerusalem, the temples of Diana, and of Bajbeok, to see what operative Masonry. did for mankind, to civilise the earth. So in speculative Masonry we strive to build .up character on the same lines. The foundation good, the points well struck, the work solid, the arches true, and the building 'perfect in all its parts,’ reflecting credit on both arohitect and builder. Cathedrals and churches engaged the attention of our ancient brethren, and these were splendid works of art. Brothers of experience had certificates of merit and ability and some such mark whereby to know their work in any particular branch, after their chisel had put the finishing touch upon the Btone or marble. The first grand architect of modern times who might be said to have been an ideal of pur great Antitype H. A., was Sir Christopher Wren, who built St. Paul’s, and at 81 saw his grandson lay the head stone or corner. This was before the great fire destroyed the grand old church, which has arisen phoenix-like from the ashes and stands as at present. This grand old man designed over fifty churches and other massive buildings ; and should have the place in our Masonic calendar of ‘grand architeot of works.’ Tradition tells us that Queen Elizabeth did not approve of Masonic meetings, and when the Grand Lodge assembled at York on St. Johns Day, she sent some noblemen to break up the convention. But we are informed that the Grand Master, Sir Thomas Sackville, so enlightened the leaders upon the subject of Masonry that they consented to be initiated into the mysteries, and returned to their Royal mistress informing her that there was nothing in Freemasonry to which she might take any exception, that its doctrines and precepts were noble, true, and good. It is true that ‘Kings have patronised our mysteries, and have laid aside the sword and sceptre for the gavel and trowel.' William the 111., Prince of Orange, was a prominent Mason, and in the present century, the Duke of Norfolk, Emperor of Germany, Prince of Wales, Duke of Gloucester, Duke of Cumberland, and the King of Prussia, were leaders of the craft. Thus the Grand Mastership continued to be vested in the Royal Family till the death of the Duke of Sussex. The father of the Queen was a Freemason. Her sons and grandsons are prominent Masons. The Earl of Zetland held the office for twenty-six years. Earl de Gray and Ripon also for some time. On his retirement from the craft, through a change .in his religious opinions, the Most Worshipful, the. Grand Mastership, was vested in the. Prince of Wales, who has Supreme jurisdiction over all English Constitutions. WORK WITH DIGNITY. We have noticed on many occasions a lack of dignity on the part of officers and members while conferring degrees that is far from becoming. One of the Degrees is designated •sublime,’ and there is an old adage that * there is but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous. . , How often is this Bfcep taken m many oi our lodges ? . To the candidate first impressions are most lasting, and levity at the beginning impresses him with the belief that the forms and ceremonies are not matters of solemnity, but mere farcical necessities in order to make up a form of initiation. We have seen candidates who have acquired these impressions in the ante-room, maintained them in tne

preparation room, and could not divest themselves of them even during the solemn ceremonies of the lodge-room. The reason of this has been the folly of members who profess to be the friends of the candidate, but who realty, for the purposes of Masonry, are exactly opposite. Some men are sensitive. Masters of Ceremonies should remember this, and perform their duties with such dignity as would impress the candidate with the solemnity which is expressed in the words of the Senior Deaoon when be bids him enter the lodge room. To use levity outside and beyond the eye of the Master is t® treat him with disrespect which would not be allowed in his presence, and at the very outset give the candidate a bad impression. Men of refined tastes become shocked, while those who are of a different frame of mind are not prepared to reoeive those valuable moral lessons which Masonry is designed to teaoh. How much more so is this the case when those who are engaged in the ‘ floor work ’ of the ‘ sublime degree ’ forget the lesson which is the true interpretation of the allegory ? What integrity can be expected from one who has been made the victim of a farce ? And yet it must appear so to those who, having been the first to go through the ordeal and have the opportunity of seeing their companions pass along the same road, when they notice members in their seats * enjoying ’ the mishaps of their fellow man, apparently without considering the lesson taught thereby. Can it be wondered at that the subsequent instrnction iB not attentively listened too on such occasions ? Work then, with dignity, so that each lesson may make its proper impression and become lasting. RETIRING. Prince Eugfene, the youngest son of the King of Sweden, has resigned his membership of the Order of Freemasons. Ho is a Radical of the most extreme type, and as the Swedish lodges are established upon a highly orthodox and Conservative basis, which will not permit of unrestricted freedom of thought and speech, he has wisely retired from the Order. The King, who is described as * a Mason body and soul,’ is said to deeply regret this defection, but he exercises no pressure upon his sons either in politics or religion. THE LESSON OF THE ORGAN BUILDER. Poor and obscure the organ builder wrought, Shaping each part with cunning skill and care, •' From day to day the burden of his thought Only to make the organ grand and fair. Patiently toiling on wifch hands and brain, ' Little he knew of oomfort or of rest; Little he thought of pleasure or of pain ; Forgetting all, he worked and did his best. And so the organ rose and stood complete — A testimony of the workman's art, His work was done ; and weary hands and feet Found rest ; but heavy was the builder’s heart. The work was done. He was not satisfied. He had not reached the height ha hoped to gain. . His hope was gone ; his high ambition died In disappointment, weariness and pain. The organ builder died—the organ stands Within the great cathedral whore he lies ; Ana wanderers from many far off lands Rejoice to hear its perfect symphonies. The voiceless keys, touched by the Master’s hand, Gave forth a harmony almost divine. The Master Baid—The builder’s work shall stand.’ The work shall stand though builders may repine. Little indeed the humble workman thought, While toiling in his workshop day by day, That what to him buff' common duty seemed, Would stand long after he had passed away. Would stand to bless mankind, to soothe and cheer The weary hearts of toil and grief and care ; This far outweighs his every doubt and fear ; This far transcends the import of bis prayer. And thus may our weak lives of good and ill, In which we think but failure is our share, Sometime, completed by diviner skill, Stand forth perfected, faultless, grand aud fair. Sometime, perhaps, a harmony as grand Will breathe from humble, lowly lives like . these, When lives complete before the Master stand. And some great angel’s fingers sweep the keys. Then let the lesson sink into the heart— If we but labour on with patient care, And nobly here perform our little part, Sometime will come the answer to our prayer.