Masonic.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1037, 15 January 1892, Page 13

Masonic.

answers to correspondents. N.D. (Newtown).— If. should properly be the duty of the I.P.M. _ William. —You will find it a study requiring great thought and patience. We should judge you possessed these qualities from the letter you write, and wo wish you success in your labours. FAVOURS RECEIVED. London Freemason (2) ; Masonic Chronicle (New York). WHY IS FREEMASONRY OPPOSED, AND BY WHOM 1 To any one who knows what Freemasonry is it must be surprising that the Order has any opponents. Even now Masons have to admit that it 3 principles, as published to the world, are humanitarian. There is nothing exclusive in its tenets ; it recognises all m- n as ot one family ; there is no race-barrier erected by the Masonic constitution at the portals of the Lodges ; all are welcame. Is he a good man 1 is the main question. In political turmoil—amidst revolutions—the Masonic body has ever remained steadfast to its broad principles. Natiors are as nothing to it compared with humanity. Hence,' though Masons are loyal to the Government of the State m which they dwell, they do not forget that something j. transcends race—namely, the brotherhood of men. Their reasons are charitable—their efforts are : first,, to instil morality into the members, and, secondly, to promote that without which everything is as nought-true charity. Ever are the words of one of old inculcated by them—‘Let brotherly love continue ! Inefl, aoain, so far as society is concerned, it has no complaints to _ make of Masonic Lodges : they have neither been revolutionary nor injurious to a community. Why, then,- is Masonry opposed] We reply, Masonry is opposed by those who imagine tnat breaking down the race, creed, and caste barriers of society is injurious to tneir particular political or religious opinions. No one else could oppose it. We can imagine, for example, men who believe that they live apart from their fellows, and intensify religious enmity by having no communication with those of a different creed, opposing Masonry. The Lodoe-room soothes—not irritates ; it does not foment- religious strife : every lesson inculcated teaches Masons to forget their political, religious, and social differences, and to meet in the Lodge-room on a level. Is there a religious sect in our midst that keeps itself aloof from other sects —that fancies that it alone has the true religion,—that wishes wails of separation to be raised between Us church and othei churches—then we should « x P ecfc that sect to oppose and hate the Fraternity. Masonry looks at the man and us moral conduct, and does not care what religious opinions he holds. Then, s there a sect that is ruled from without the State by a foreign power—that tor its aims will set father against son, one part of a community against another—that does not inculcate love to those to whom it is opposed ] If there be, that sect will be iound persistent opponents ot 1 reomasonry. But, if there be people m a community who say For modes of faith let graceless zealots fight ; He can’t be wrong whose life is in the right , In faith and hope the world will disagree, But all mankind’s concern is charity—those will respect Masonry. It is those who think more of their sect than ot humanity—who deem true religion is promoted by hating their brother men whose opinions are opposed to theirs that will be found Masonry’s opponents. But, one thing Masons abstain from doing they do not proclaim they are martyrs because some may oppose or denounce them. They know that if they fulfil Masonic duties aright Masonry must prosper. It is based on principles that are eternal : it prod urns the Fatherhood of God the G.A.0.T.U., and it also proclaims the brotherhood of men : its noble charges, its symbols, its allegories, its rites, its ceremonies are all inculcating the highest morality. Hence, popes may anathematise it and councils condemn but, grounded on these living principles it must flourish so long as the endures. TINKERING. There has come into our language many words, the use of whic ias applied without adherence to .their original meaning. The cause of this applied meaning arises from the‘ £ J of a composite speech. The *ib« tongue is made out of, or ™ ad , P -. j’ many original languages. Tberef °J e ,i fc 1 easy to give to words a significance they inherently did not present. So we say tinkering with a subject, vl tink f l erebv established rule, and the llke > * h ® re meaning an effort made to mend, patch UP Thfs a pSatory thought is only io call attention to the constant efforts made m

our Grand Lodges in the States of the United States to tinker with the'Constitution Rules and Regulations. The word, we believe, is Welsh, from tincrez, to ring. Whenever some supposed necessity is deemed to exist, to avoid the law for temporary or special purposes, at once an amendment to the Ahiman Rezon or Constitution is asked. Grand Lodges at nearly every communication find propositions to amend their laws. If these propositions were based on careful and clear considerations and received the approval of brethren of large experience, and were intended to embrace the best interests of the Craft, as of general application, they would be entitled to serious attoiition. But ws fear the reasons for many of these amendments are superficial, or special, or limited and temporary, and reach only results that patience and cheerful submission to the established law would correct. It is, we fear, that this tinkering of laws is the effort of unres.ful dispositions of brethren who have never seriously studied the subjects they use for experimenting on the established regulations of our body of Masonry. It is easy to pull down, it is far more difficult to build up. If there is one characteristic of our Craft it is it 3 devotion to the ancient laws. Profane societies may indulge In the luxury of making and- breaking their governing rules. To tinker in profane societies with their laws is one of the means that incompetence seeks to gain notoriety. In Freemasonry there is no need for notoriety, for every brother in onr Craft makes for himself his reputation by earnest, continuous, and thoughtful study of its regulations, and seeks to adapt himself to them. Every brother who has gained in Freemasonry the character which he cherishes ha 3 obtained it by obedience to the established, and a cheerful contentment in the harmony that grows up out of the adaptation to the law a 3 it is administered.

Our great teacher Tubal Cain worked in bras 3 aud iron and copper ; he created as a master workman creates. He, if with us now, whatever staiion he might hold, or notoriety he might; desire, if he was weak enough to seek notoriety, would never be found among the Tinkers. MASONIC SECRECY. What a bugbear the secrets of Freemasonry used to be 1 They do not now interest the world outside the fraternity to any great extent. Should one who has enjoyed membership in the Craft pretend to disclose the inner workings of the lodge he would at once become an outcast from all respectable society. Even the bitterest opponents of the Institution would ostracise him, and his very revelation be regarded as false. To hare revealed the secrets of men, the

secrets of a friend, . How heinous bad the fact been, how deserving Contempt and scorn of all, to be excluded All friendship aud avoided as a blab, The mark of fool set on his front 1 It is the outward manifestations of the inner lodge life —that which is proper to be revealed, that is all of interest or importance to the world, or that they care anything about. The seed sown in secret that finds rich soil in « pure heart, buds and blossoms into virtuous actions, attracting the notice and admiration of all good people. Brotherly love, inculcated in the secret vault of the Mason’s lodge, blooms into rich fruitage of relief and truth.

A Mason who is properly taught in secret is openly a true man, a loving man, an upright man. These are the revelations of the lodge room that are of interest to the world at large, and they are the deepest, most profound secrets. The tiny seed buried in the earth is for » time within the secret chamber of God's mysterious creation, and in silence and darkness it works until it comes forth in strength and beaut}* to gladden the face ofn'ture. If the .earth above it is hard and baked by a hot and parching sum the seed will never appear in “ the blade, the stalk and the full grain in the ear,” Ths seed of Masonic truth sown in the mysteries of its rites, will die in an uncultivated heart, unprepared for its reception or scared over by immorality, indifference, or unbelief. Profanity, intemperance, vicious habits, are thorny weeds that grow so rapidly that the seed truths of the cardinal virtues are choked before they produce fruit. Let the secrets of Freemasonry be revealed in all that tends to make a man better, wiser, and happier. —Despatch. GLEANINGS. Courtesy is emphatically a Masonic virtue. Brethren are taught in almost every step in their advancement to respect each other’s feelings, and show kindness and good-will. It is the bonnden duly of every Mason to treat his brother with courtesy.

While Masonry is as nearly unchangeable as any human institution can be, and retains its usefulness, it is nevertheless progressive to the extent of recognising and adopting the new truths that science has revealed to the world since its organisation.