Masonic.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1013, 31 July 1891, Page 7

Masonic.

answers to correspondents. Student.— The charge to members of the Outer Circle of the Quatuoi Coronati Society is 15s per annum, if in the eolonies. Gibbons (West Coast).— You acteu A.Kh (Masterton). —We shall be glad to he&r from you. favours received. The Freemason (London), 2 ; Australasian Keystone, 1 ; The New Zealand Craftsman, 1 ; Masonic Chronicle (New York), 1. PROSPER HIS LODGE. To a Mason, the lodge in which he was initiated bears a peculiar and most sacred relationship. His mother-louge he calls it, and whatever he may do, and wherever he may go, he carries with him a remembrance, fraught with tenderness, of the lodge in which he first saw the light. Let us consider for a moment what constitutes a lodge, and makes it just, perfect, and regular. It is not the Constitution to which a lodge may, or may not, give its allegiance, but it is simply an assemblage of seven or more Freemasons. If this were more generally ielt amongst Masons, great benefit would accrue to the Craft in the broader fraternal relationship which each member would then bear to another. . It is to the Craft lodge, m which we were made Masons, that we give our best devotion, and to which our purest and tenderest memories and thoughts are attached. Our first duty, therefore, is to the Craft, of which the members who initiated us formed a part. The Craft is the creator of the Mason, the lodge being the sacred and lawful -vessel of the Craft to act on its behalf in giving light and life to the canciidate for Freemasonry. By prospering the lodge we accordingly prosper the Craft. . , All the talk now going on aoovvt non-reeognition of this or that Constitution really matters little, excepting that any intolerance shown by any one Constitution to another is a distinct bar to the progress of the spirit ot Masomw universal which is breathed through all the teachings of the Fraternity. ~ , , A Masonic lodge is described to us as being of a vast extent to show tne universality of the science. All the principal landmarks of our order point in the direction of a universal brother hood. To those Constitutions scattered over the world who extend recognition to each other, it must, therefore, he at once granted that they are acting from the truest principles of the Craft by -thus seeking to promote a good feeung between the lodges under the different Constitutions. In view, therefore, of the fact that Freemasonry is spread over the whole of the earth’s surface, it is clearly the duty of its exponents to unite, as far as possible, in one strong bond of fellowship, in order to give the best effect to the grand principles on which the Craft is founded.

LODGE MEETINGS. The Wellington Lodge, 1521, E.C., held its regular monthly meeting on Friday, 18th July. There was a fanattendance of members. The work of the meeting was the initiation of two candidates by the W.M., Bro. Larchin. The visitors to this lodge are now few, owing to its being still under the English Constitution. There were only two visitors at- this meeting. GRAND LODGE OF NEW ZEALAND. \\ r g are pleased to see that a larger number of Grand Lodge officers has been elected at the last Quarterly Communication than there were originally nominated. It is very desirable that as many appointments should be made as may be feasible, so that notwithstanding the difficulties of travelling, caused by the configuration of New Zealand, there may be plenty of brethren in all parts ready and willing to act on behalf of Grand Lodge on every possible occasion.

ADVICE TO A YOUNG MAN.

(the trestle board.) The following letter from Henry Ward Beecher to his son is declared on good authority never to have been published. It is reminiscent of the worldly good sense of the advice, given to Lan'tes by Polonius, but it is also permeated by the leaven of Christian experience. The precepts in it are those which, if followed, would produce a good man as well as a gentleman : Brooklyn, N. Y., Oct. 18,1878. My Dear Herbert —You are now for the first time really launched into life for yourself. You go from your father's house, and from all family connections, to make your own way in the world. It is a good time to make a new start, to cast out faults of whose evil you have had an experience, and to take on habits the want of which you have found to be so damaging. 1. You must not go into debt. Avoid debt as you would the devil. Make it a fundamental rule : No debt —cash or nothing. 2. Make few promises. Religiously observe even the smallest piomise. A. man who means to keep his promises cannot afford to make many. 8. Be scrupulously careful in all statements. Accuracy and perfect frankness, no guess work. Either nothing or accurate truth. 4. When working for others, sink yourself out ot sight, seek their interest. Make yourself necessary to those who employ you, by industry, fidelity, and scrupulous integrity. Selfishness is fatal.

5. Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Demand more of yourself than anybody else expects of you. Keep your personal standard high. Never excuse yourself to yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself, but lenient to everybody else. •

6. Concentrate your force on your own proper business; do not turn off. Be constant, steadfast, persevering. 7. The art of making one’s fortune is to spend nothing ■; in this country anv intelligent and industrious young man may become rich i'f he stops all leaks and is not in a hurry. Do not make haste ; be patient. 8 Do not speculate or gamble. You go to a land where everybody is excited and strives to make money suddenly, largely, and without working for it. They blow soap bubbles. Steady patient industry is both the surest and the safest way. Greediness and haste ai e two devils that destroy thousands every year. 9. In regard to Mr B , he is a Southern gentleman ; he is receiving vou as a favor to me ; do not let him regret it. JO. I beseech you to correct one fault —severe speech of others ; never speak evil of any man, no matter what the facts may be. Hasty fault-finding and severe speech of absent people is not honourable, is apt to be unjust and cruel, makes enemies to yourself, and is wicked. 11. You must remember that you cro to Mr B not to learn to manage a farm like his. One or two hundred acres, not forty thousand, is to be youi future homestead ; but you can learn the care of cattle, sheep, the culture of wheat, the climate, country, manners and customs, and a hundred things that will be needful. 12 If by integrity, industry and well-earned success you deserve well of your tellow citizens, they may, in years to come, ask you to accept honois. Do not seek them, do not receive them while you are young —wait ; but when you are established you may make your father’s name known with honor in halls of legislation Lastly, do not forget your father’s and your mother’s God. Because you will be largely deprived of church privileges; you need all the nerve to keep your heart before God. But do not despise small churches and humble preachers. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.’ Read often the Proverbs, the precepts and duties enjoined m the New Testament. May your fathers God go with you and protect you Henry Ward Beecher.