The Writing On The Wall.

Now , it " seems to me , unless I am altogether wrong in my theory of Freemasonry , the idea embodied in these effective lines ought to be one familial to , and welcomed by , all who profess themselves to be , and call themselves , Freemasons . I am quite aware that far too many look on Freemasonry as a pastime ; not a reality , a pleasant social meeting , not a serious system of moralityveiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols .

, To them all that is grave ancl solemn , abstruse or elevated , is distasteful . They say , " You are making a mistake ; " you are " pitching the key-note too high ; " that all such teaching is " too sublimated for them ; " that " Masonry is all very well in its way ; " but that , though they " do not deny what you say , " they see no good in going beyond the "common course" of things , or affecting to be better , or wiser , or more moralizing than other men I Hence

they resolutely set themselves against any view of Masonry higher than the mere passing routine of work , the pleasant sociality of refreshment , and the enjoyment of what the Lodge system offers to the friendly , the sympathetic , the congenial , and the intelligent . It is from , this agreeable but short-sighted class that all the objections proceed against anything which would encourage higher literary tastes or

intellectual aspirations . It is this mistaken application of Masonry ivhich keeps it down to a low deep level , ancl ignores steadfastly either lectures or libraries , anything , in fact , which would depart from the dear old dull routine of " other days , " I admit at once that it is a mistake , as some do , to " run-amuck " on sociality . In all movements some indiscreet friends always " out-Herod Herod , " ancl "get over the traces ; " and far too much is often said against our social system , which is a very good one " per se , " and , as far as I know , not now in any sense an abuse .

But then , on the other hand , there is room for a more intellectual side of Masonry , a little more time granted to " instruction , " some moment sacrificed to Masonic literature , some small encouragement rendered to lod ge lectures and archseological soirees ! At present , the " look-out " for anyone who seeks to propound intelligent views or develope antiquarian researches , to illustrate the history , the archeology , the numismatology of the Order , is very dreary indeed ; and one can quite fancy that nowas in time pastthe aspect of things

, , Masonic and the general course of Masonic lodge life have kept out of the Brotherhood a large class of refined and elevated minds . And yet what scope there is in Freemasonry for the studies of the serious and the researches of the intelligent , how much we have to find out , to lay bare , to unfold , and to ascertain before we can really veiiture to seek to write a true history of

Freemasonry . So , then , this is the use I wish to make of the idea of the verses quoted above . Freemasonry may go on , as it has clone for years , without much attention to literature or with little concern for archaeology ; it may still continue to be a pleasant retreat ancl meeting-place for members of various classes of " society" who are fond of the " social circle" and admire the sympathetic tone and genial and tolerant temper of Freemasonry . But its life is weakened

and affected , its real true existence dwarfed ancl kept in b y . this forgetfulness of one of the essential laws of all true progress in the world . There is in it the germ of weakness and decay which will eventually manifest itself as we all grow tired , after a little , of mere social enjoyment , mere material pleasures . Ancl this is the history of many a lodge ' s struggles , the secret of its eventual failure . All the whileamid its gay gathering ancl festial scenesthe

, , hand-writing was on the wall , and after a few lingering years it passed away —its place on the roll knew it no -more ; and if memory recalls pleasant clays and past friends , it is only with that " sigh " which it so frequently makes for the vanity of human wishes , the frivolity of personal feelings , and the shortlived reality of mortal joys ! Is there not , then , in these thoughts and considerations , < a useful warning for us all ?