The Good Masonry Can Do.

THE GOOD MASONRY CAN DO .

WHETHER Masonry does all the good it can do is a question , and depends A'ery much upon the character and disposition of its votaries ; but there is no doubt that Masonry can do an immense amount of good in this world . If the brethren obey its teachings , ancl act up to its injunctions , it Avill be well for themselves and their fellow creatures . What are its primary and most important lessons ? " To believe in God ; to loA e your neighbour as yourself , and thistooin its widest ancl most extended interpretation . " FaithHopeancl

, , , , Charity " are its Avatchwords . "Temperance , Prudence , Fortitude , ancl Justice " are its cardinal virtues . Surely this contemplation alone is enough to make a deep impression on a serious mind ; aye , ancl even some effect on the more wayward ; the lesson is so simple that it can be understood by the weakest intellect . Every human mind led to this sublime contemplation , ancl thereby induced to action , adds to "Good "No . 1 . How then , is it that this simple

teaching is so little understood ? Because the -rulers , Avho should be the teachers , have never been properly taught themselves , ancl have , therefore never thoroughly grasped the subject , The mind , then , being roused to action , is led to contemplate the " Supreme Being , to believe in Him , ancl to worship Him ; " this accomplished , the practical exemplification follorvs , viz ., the " love of one ' s neighbour " — " Good" No . 2 . If Masonry stopped hereit would have achieved its hihest

, g earthly aims ; but it does more , it goes on developing this feeling of " love for your neighbour , " and becomes practical . "Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth " now come on the stage . " Brotherly Love " is more than mere almsgiving ; ancl attribute comes more particularl y under "Relief ! " Brotherl y Love thinketh no eAdl ; it defends the character of an absent brother ; it is ever read y to pour consolation into the bereaved soulancl to comfort the weak hearted . This is

, enough for " Good " No . 3 . "Relief ! " In how many ways can we exemplify this " Landmark ? " It is open to all , the richest ancl the poorest ; moreover , the needy are ever present with us . We would like here to illustrate a few good deecls of Masonry that have been brought to our notice .

" A good old Treasurer of an American Lodge , who enjoyed his turkey at Christmas times , always liked to feel that his poorer brethren enjoyed the same good cheer as himself at that season of happiness and peace . He therefore , by his own contributions ancl funds placed at his disposal , annually distributed presents of turkeys for the Christmas dinner to a number of poor brethren , and so assured himself that the need y , at least for

once in the year , had a substantial meal . " Again , take the example of a Lodge at Tournon , in A . D . 1854 . "The brethren at their first meeting , which was to be concluded b y a banquet , remembered that while they were faring sumptuously others in the same toAA r n might be actuall y starving ; a subscription was therefore raised , and bread was distributed to all the poor of the town . " Againin the same year" a poor mannear Dusselclorfreceived

, , , , into his hut a distressed wayfarer who had fallen at his door , and though his own means were A ery scant , tended ancl supported him in his sickness without making bis action public . The Mason ' s Lodge of that city , on hearing of this great generosity , at once voted a sum of money to this trul y good man . " We could go on ad infinitum in chronicling the good deeds of individual members and lod . To descend once more to the practical : in times

ges of great sickness or epidemics , a lodge , or any number of brethren thereof , can follow the example of the Louisiana Relief Lodge , ancl form visiting ancl burial committees . "Truth ! " Her ewe have another great characteristic of Masonry . The mere inculcation of such a divine ordinance should , of itself , recommend a Fraternit y that enforces it as a necessity . Sixthly , we come to the "improvei 2