Our Grand Brotherhood.

declaration that , although a man may be a good man , ho will become a bettor one on and after the Masonic mantle has fallen upon his shoulders : this of a necessity , for he will become the superior from breathing , ancl at the same time having engraved upon the tablets of his memory the ennobling thesis of our rites ; for in the acquiring them his mind becomes stored with utterances . and with principles that cannot be heard only within our temple homes ; these

teachings become li ghts to his or their guidance for thought , for action in all matters what he or they may have to transact in this mundane sphere . The principles of the order are true pilots , to once more reuniting the scattered races of mankind into one peace-loving brotherhood . Our Craft is the stepping-stone to unending felicity ; it destroys caste , it turns enemies into friends , life has been spared through its instrumentality when death was

the apparent doom . The harmony of a lodge cannot be upset by a discord . Further it teaches the practice of the undying ancl heaven-born virtues , Charity , Faith , Hope , Benevolence . What source for blessing does it leave untouched ? Within its province lies the motive poAver for dispensing of aid ancl comfort to those that are hel pless ancl in distress ; it soothes the widows ' griefsit dries up the tears of the orphanit educates and fits them to become

, , good citizens of the world , it gives consolation to the troubled mind , and assures hope to the desolate and despairing ; in short , the whole end and aim of this mi ghty ancl powerful Bund is but the fulfilment of the golden rule . There is no myth in this assertion , for it is hourly and daily practised , performed ancl fulfilled , so the mind ancl body becomes enriched with its gifts and graces . Its resources are as numerous as are the means at its disposal for turning

sadness into joy ; care and weariness are turned into rejoicing ; anxiety ancl sorrow are banished through- its geniality , and the wounds of the mind are healed by its large-heartedness , and further through its brightening influences ; even those who are shut out of our charmed circle , they are warmed into admiration , ancl their better feelings are enlarged by the close proximity to a true Brother . Wh y ? Because they are led to charitable deeds , from a very consciousness of imitation .

Another of its qualifications rests in its large benevolence for those that have been smitten down by adversity ; these are not looked upon with the eye of scorn , but with sympathetic tenderness , and the first thought is how can we best help our brother out of misfortune Avithout wo uncling his feelings ? and this is done from the purest of motiA'es , ancl without guile , but in love to the Brotherhood . No particle of the debasing sin of highmincledness is

chargeable on the disposer of our gifts . The Craft at large cannot have pharasaical purposes imputed to them in their desire to remove anguish , the tendency ancl hope-Avish is to dispel misery by its wonder-working influences . Union is strength , and our unity of action makes us a power in the world in the midst of its sinister depressions . The tenets of Freemasonry teach men to be full-orbed menmorallancl

, y socially to be good citizens , patriotic , loyal , faithful , true , ancl fraternal . Let not thy right hand know , when almsgiving , ivhat thy left-hand doeth : these are its ethics ; and what thou cloest , do it in the name of T . G . A . O . T . U . So mote it be .