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Article CORR ESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1 Article A GOOD MASTER. Page 1 of 1 Article A GOOD MASTER. Page 1 of 1 Article MASONRY. Page 1 of 1 Article TEMPORA MUTAUTUR. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Corr Espondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
FEEEMASONEY IN NEW ZEALAND .
To the Editor of the FBEEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BBOTHEB , —After reading your remarks of last week , and the extract from the New Zealand letter you give , I am certainly of yonr opinion , and feel that someone has blundered in regard to the relations existing between our Grand Lodge and the Brethren of New Zealand who formed themselves into the Independent Grand Lodge of that colony ; and what is far more to be regretted than the disagreements of the past is the
fact—as it appears to me—that even yet the " breach has not been healed . " I have not been present at recent meetings of Grand Lodge , and so cannot speak of my own knowledge as to what was done therein in regard to this question , but as I understand it the Grand Master felt it was desirable to recognise " the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and took the voice of Grand Lodge upon the subject , the result being that the Craft of England endorsed the wish of the Grand Master . Yet , we are told , nothing further has been
done , which is equivalent to saying that the Grand Master has not carried out what he himself desired , and what the Craft of England also wished . There must be some very strong under-current at work to account for this , as the Prince of Wales is not the man to make a proposition without first of all satisfying himself that the course he proposes is both desirable and practicable , and having gone so far as he did , I , for one , cannot understand what has occurred to stop the fulfilment of his scheme . Some very strong
representations must have been made to the Grand Master to induce " him to delay the recognition , and I hope , for the sake of the good name of Freemasonry , whose principle of universal Brotherhood I have always so much admired , that the mystery surrounding this New Zealand business will some day be cleared up . Yours , & c , COSMOPOLITAN .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It is all very well you continuing your arguments in support of the rebel Brethren of New Zealend , but tnat does not get over the fact that they have not acted in a constitutional manner . "Until they have the regular following they have no right to recognition as an Independent body . Yours , & c , LOYALIST .
A Good Master.
A GOOD MASTER .
IT is truly refreshing , in these days of neglected duty and place hunting combinations , to find a Master of a Lodge who under any and all circumstances has the temerity to do his duty without fear , favouritism , or partiality . Especially so where he who is possessed of this God-given sense is actuated by
a pure and holy spirit oorn of true religion . By this we do not wish to say that a good Master must be a devotee of some religious faith , but we do say that if he is a " man of God , " and so depoTts himself every day before the world , that he has within him the necessary qualifications which , when joined to his solemn
installation vows , and the high and holy duty he owes the Craft , the combination of a model Master . On the one hand he has his hope of heaven , which , on the other , is made stronger , day by day , just in proportion as he adds the graces of his religion to his Masonry , and together , hand in hand , exemplifies them both as
he travels life ' s rough and rugged path . This kind of a Master scatters sunshine as he goes , and as he passes the fast-fading mileposts of life and arrives at the " sear and yellow leaf of time , " he has the consciousness of knowing that his life as a Christian and as a Mason has been a success .
When we speak of a Master doing his duty we would not be understood as alluding simply co the conferring of degrees and the humdrum of stated meetings . These are the smallest part of his duty . But we allude to the higher and holier duty of the government of his Lodge , in the exercise of which he weighs well
the introduction of all matters into the body of his Lodge , and if , in his judgment , the peace and harmony will be disturbed thereby has the manhood to exclude it entirely , and with words of gentleness and kindness , though keenly cut , rebuke those who would thus disturb the Lodge , and yet in the exercise of his great
prerogatives never forgets the right of a Brother to an appeal either to his Grand Master or the Grand Lodge . It is a rare occurrence when you find all the good qualities of a Master concentrated in one man , yet nevertheless it is so occasionally . Such an one is the embodiment of all that makes a good Master , and is not afraid to act and speak his convictions . Firm a * a
rock , yet gentle as a woman , he governs his Lodge by love , and by the high power in him vested steers his Lodge away from all breakers . He has a clear , bright mind , which has been so expanded by the holy religion which he professes as to enable him to detect the wrong and reward the right in a moment , and when convinced of the justice of his cause never hesitates to act promptly . If all the Masters were like him nothing would
A Good Master.
ever be railroaded through their Lodges without a thorough investigation and the end to be attained weighed in the balance of even-handed justice . Go on , Brother , continue to set an example to the Masters of Lodges , and the day is not far distant
when your Grand Lodge will place upon its records a recognition of your services which will live on throughout all time , and mark your memory to the Fraternity as the marble shaft will designate your last resting place to the world . — " Memphis Appeal . "
Masonry.
MASONRY .
SIE HUGH McCUBDZ once said that Freemasonry is not a Lodge , nor a promise , nor a creed—it is a life . It thus has a glorious past , but a more glorious present , and will have a still larger and brighter future . The past has contributed its very best to the present . The face of nature is more beautiful to-day than ever before , because its beauty to-day is a composite
of all the most beautiful of the past . Next year nature will put on brighter hues , richer colours , because of the added life and beauty of the now falling leaf and fading flower . Never since God said , " Let there be light , " has there been so much light in the world as there is to-day—never so much life since the first
day of living things . All this is true of Freemasonry . More light , and let there be light , never had so high , so broad , so complete a meaning as in this present day . Never was Masonic life so much a living principle as to-day . Into this advanced of all good things you are now received . This is the baptismal
feast of which you are invited to partake . This is what Freemasonry is to you . What will you be to Freemasonry ? It never can be more to you than you are to it . " With what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you . " " Seek and ye shall find . Ask and it shall be given . Knock and it shall be
opened unto you . " How infinitely beyond a life of not being cast forth among the rubbish of the world is such a life ? It is a life that no man knoweth save he that receiveth it . A life for God , for the State , for the Brethren , honour , fidelity , benevolence . Its magic words are wisdom , peace , strength , concordtruth ,
, beauty . If , my Brethren , you are able to unite these things , your knowledge is sufficient . This is the height , length , and breadth of Masonic character . This is the work which we are authorised to receive . Such men are the lively , polished stones in the Tabernacle built after the pattern given by the Great
Master Builder of the Universe . Growth in these sublime principles alone is advancement . Let us , as just and upright Masons , study well the designs drawn upon the trestleboard . The absence of these from our thought betoken disaster to the building of Masonic character—the loss of the Masonic word
Let us build our lives according to the pattern given us in the sermon of the mount , of duty to our fellowmen , of overcoming their enmity by our friendship , their narrowness by our broad character , their selfishness by our generosity . The pattern given
us in the mount of the transfiguration , the perfection of a life loyal to the truth . Above all things let us build according to the pattern given to men on Mount Calvary , the mountain of the cross—the perfect sympathy with our fellow-men—the glory of sacrifice . — " Idaho Mason . "
Tempora Mutautur.
TEMPORA MUTAUTUR .
The sun is shining dimly in the west , The day is dying , * All peaceful is the scene , which speaks of rest ; Old age is sighing . For youth is ever radiant like the morn , With beauty glowing ;
But age is sorrowful , and oft forlorn , No pleasure knowing . And to the young I say make much of joy , For time is creeping ; Before the man hath ceased to be a boy , There ' s time for weeping . The old order changeth , and the new
Its place is taking ; Youth is fickle , never thinks 'twill rue Old friends forsaking . We that have passed the hey-day of our life , Whose sun is setting , Know that in sunshine , or it may be strife , There ' s no forgetting .
We have all built are castles in the air , And oft been dreaming ; Yes , and our dreams were ever bright and fair , Not true , but seeming . But time and circumstance teach many things ; Here ' s kindly greeting 1 Old friends are best , and riches they take wings , And time is fleeting . EMRA HOLMES , Author of " Amabel Vaughan , "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Corr Espondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
FEEEMASONEY IN NEW ZEALAND .
To the Editor of the FBEEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BBOTHEB , —After reading your remarks of last week , and the extract from the New Zealand letter you give , I am certainly of yonr opinion , and feel that someone has blundered in regard to the relations existing between our Grand Lodge and the Brethren of New Zealand who formed themselves into the Independent Grand Lodge of that colony ; and what is far more to be regretted than the disagreements of the past is the
fact—as it appears to me—that even yet the " breach has not been healed . " I have not been present at recent meetings of Grand Lodge , and so cannot speak of my own knowledge as to what was done therein in regard to this question , but as I understand it the Grand Master felt it was desirable to recognise " the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and took the voice of Grand Lodge upon the subject , the result being that the Craft of England endorsed the wish of the Grand Master . Yet , we are told , nothing further has been
done , which is equivalent to saying that the Grand Master has not carried out what he himself desired , and what the Craft of England also wished . There must be some very strong under-current at work to account for this , as the Prince of Wales is not the man to make a proposition without first of all satisfying himself that the course he proposes is both desirable and practicable , and having gone so far as he did , I , for one , cannot understand what has occurred to stop the fulfilment of his scheme . Some very strong
representations must have been made to the Grand Master to induce " him to delay the recognition , and I hope , for the sake of the good name of Freemasonry , whose principle of universal Brotherhood I have always so much admired , that the mystery surrounding this New Zealand business will some day be cleared up . Yours , & c , COSMOPOLITAN .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It is all very well you continuing your arguments in support of the rebel Brethren of New Zealend , but tnat does not get over the fact that they have not acted in a constitutional manner . "Until they have the regular following they have no right to recognition as an Independent body . Yours , & c , LOYALIST .
A Good Master.
A GOOD MASTER .
IT is truly refreshing , in these days of neglected duty and place hunting combinations , to find a Master of a Lodge who under any and all circumstances has the temerity to do his duty without fear , favouritism , or partiality . Especially so where he who is possessed of this God-given sense is actuated by
a pure and holy spirit oorn of true religion . By this we do not wish to say that a good Master must be a devotee of some religious faith , but we do say that if he is a " man of God , " and so depoTts himself every day before the world , that he has within him the necessary qualifications which , when joined to his solemn
installation vows , and the high and holy duty he owes the Craft , the combination of a model Master . On the one hand he has his hope of heaven , which , on the other , is made stronger , day by day , just in proportion as he adds the graces of his religion to his Masonry , and together , hand in hand , exemplifies them both as
he travels life ' s rough and rugged path . This kind of a Master scatters sunshine as he goes , and as he passes the fast-fading mileposts of life and arrives at the " sear and yellow leaf of time , " he has the consciousness of knowing that his life as a Christian and as a Mason has been a success .
When we speak of a Master doing his duty we would not be understood as alluding simply co the conferring of degrees and the humdrum of stated meetings . These are the smallest part of his duty . But we allude to the higher and holier duty of the government of his Lodge , in the exercise of which he weighs well
the introduction of all matters into the body of his Lodge , and if , in his judgment , the peace and harmony will be disturbed thereby has the manhood to exclude it entirely , and with words of gentleness and kindness , though keenly cut , rebuke those who would thus disturb the Lodge , and yet in the exercise of his great
prerogatives never forgets the right of a Brother to an appeal either to his Grand Master or the Grand Lodge . It is a rare occurrence when you find all the good qualities of a Master concentrated in one man , yet nevertheless it is so occasionally . Such an one is the embodiment of all that makes a good Master , and is not afraid to act and speak his convictions . Firm a * a
rock , yet gentle as a woman , he governs his Lodge by love , and by the high power in him vested steers his Lodge away from all breakers . He has a clear , bright mind , which has been so expanded by the holy religion which he professes as to enable him to detect the wrong and reward the right in a moment , and when convinced of the justice of his cause never hesitates to act promptly . If all the Masters were like him nothing would
A Good Master.
ever be railroaded through their Lodges without a thorough investigation and the end to be attained weighed in the balance of even-handed justice . Go on , Brother , continue to set an example to the Masters of Lodges , and the day is not far distant
when your Grand Lodge will place upon its records a recognition of your services which will live on throughout all time , and mark your memory to the Fraternity as the marble shaft will designate your last resting place to the world . — " Memphis Appeal . "
Masonry.
MASONRY .
SIE HUGH McCUBDZ once said that Freemasonry is not a Lodge , nor a promise , nor a creed—it is a life . It thus has a glorious past , but a more glorious present , and will have a still larger and brighter future . The past has contributed its very best to the present . The face of nature is more beautiful to-day than ever before , because its beauty to-day is a composite
of all the most beautiful of the past . Next year nature will put on brighter hues , richer colours , because of the added life and beauty of the now falling leaf and fading flower . Never since God said , " Let there be light , " has there been so much light in the world as there is to-day—never so much life since the first
day of living things . All this is true of Freemasonry . More light , and let there be light , never had so high , so broad , so complete a meaning as in this present day . Never was Masonic life so much a living principle as to-day . Into this advanced of all good things you are now received . This is the baptismal
feast of which you are invited to partake . This is what Freemasonry is to you . What will you be to Freemasonry ? It never can be more to you than you are to it . " With what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you . " " Seek and ye shall find . Ask and it shall be given . Knock and it shall be
opened unto you . " How infinitely beyond a life of not being cast forth among the rubbish of the world is such a life ? It is a life that no man knoweth save he that receiveth it . A life for God , for the State , for the Brethren , honour , fidelity , benevolence . Its magic words are wisdom , peace , strength , concordtruth ,
, beauty . If , my Brethren , you are able to unite these things , your knowledge is sufficient . This is the height , length , and breadth of Masonic character . This is the work which we are authorised to receive . Such men are the lively , polished stones in the Tabernacle built after the pattern given by the Great
Master Builder of the Universe . Growth in these sublime principles alone is advancement . Let us , as just and upright Masons , study well the designs drawn upon the trestleboard . The absence of these from our thought betoken disaster to the building of Masonic character—the loss of the Masonic word
Let us build our lives according to the pattern given us in the sermon of the mount , of duty to our fellowmen , of overcoming their enmity by our friendship , their narrowness by our broad character , their selfishness by our generosity . The pattern given
us in the mount of the transfiguration , the perfection of a life loyal to the truth . Above all things let us build according to the pattern given to men on Mount Calvary , the mountain of the cross—the perfect sympathy with our fellow-men—the glory of sacrifice . — " Idaho Mason . "
Tempora Mutautur.
TEMPORA MUTAUTUR .
The sun is shining dimly in the west , The day is dying , * All peaceful is the scene , which speaks of rest ; Old age is sighing . For youth is ever radiant like the morn , With beauty glowing ;
But age is sorrowful , and oft forlorn , No pleasure knowing . And to the young I say make much of joy , For time is creeping ; Before the man hath ceased to be a boy , There ' s time for weeping . The old order changeth , and the new
Its place is taking ; Youth is fickle , never thinks 'twill rue Old friends forsaking . We that have passed the hey-day of our life , Whose sun is setting , Know that in sunshine , or it may be strife , There ' s no forgetting .
We have all built are castles in the air , And oft been dreaming ; Yes , and our dreams were ever bright and fair , Not true , but seeming . But time and circumstance teach many things ; Here ' s kindly greeting 1 Old friends are best , and riches they take wings , And time is fleeting . EMRA HOLMES , Author of " Amabel Vaughan , "