THE MICHIGAN FREEMASON.

VOL. III.-OCTOBER, A. L. 5871.-NO. IV.

A MASONIC ADDRESS.

BY REV. JOHN G. WEBSTER, THE GRAND CHAPLAIN OF NEW YORK.

M. W. Sir, R. W. and W. Brethren:

"Man loves acts, not words-deeds, not promises to do." With this pertinent and truthful sentence my R. W. Brother, the Grand Chaplain, closed his address two years ago. My appreciation of the occasion induces me to place it here, as the beginning of mine today.

The terms of the resolution which directs this address, prescribe the theme to some subject touching the general interests to the Craft; and it seems to me that no topic can be of greater interest to the Craft in this day, than that arising out of the inferences from this aphorism. I would keep it in view therefore, as I proceed to develop my ideas of our present duties as members of the mystic brotherhood, and especially as legislators for this great Masonic jurisdiction.

In this country Freemasonry has reached a stage of growth, which is at once gratifying and aggravating-gratifying to those who share in its work, and at all appreciate its beneficence-aggravating if harsh vituperation indicates irritation, to those who do not. We may console those last mentioned with the assurance that their unhappiness concerning us will not be likely to diminish by our destruction, so long as we stand up to our principles. If this thing that so troubles them ever be removed out of their sight, it will not be by their besom. The pressure of outward opposition will only compact it, if it is permeated with its own kindred graces, truth, purity, and virtue. False

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hoods may fly ten times thicker than they do, and never harm us, if only we be true and faithful," as becometh the lessons we are taught.

What in this day we have to fear most of all, is not the futile fuss of Finney, nor the pious platitudes of Post, nor the raving, rancorous resolutions of "Anti-Secret Society" Conventions, charged with acid and alkali, and spending their force in foam; but that insidious enemy which may breed in all bodies, political, civil, and ecclesiastical, and which is most mischievous in those bodies apparently most robust, because its presence in them is not suspected.

I cannot find a fitter name to call this enemy by than ignorance. Ignorance, not of those outside the fold, who pretend to so much knowledge, and have so little of the facts it incloses; but of those within, who have sought for light, and upon whom light has shone, but who have taken in a small portion of its enlightening power.

Now ignorance is a prolific parent of a diverse brood of contradictions and inconsistencies, and Masonry, with all its promises and advantages, swarms with that parent's offspring. With all the safeguards and cautions that are upon the threshold, many get across it who never should have done so, who have neither the brains nor the heart to appreciate its nature and scope, and who can not be influenced to pursue the delightful way it opens into. In making this well-acknowledged statement, I say nothing against it, or them, which does not apply, with equal force, to the most sacred earthly associations. Nor am I here to defend this Fraternity from the adverse criticism "of those who through ignorance may assail it," and which its unworthy adherents may subject it to. This is not the occasion for such dealing. I am not expected at this time—and I am glad of it—to indulge in vain disputations with those who seek occasion to vilify and disparage my cause. It is my more agreeable duty to address my own fraternal associates, whose interest in the cause is equal to my own, and whose intelligence is in no case inferior. I have in mind that I address representatives of constituencies, each of whom is a centre of influence, and a power for elevating and advancing, or for debasing and retarding the Institution for whose behoof we are met together. And it is a great encouragement to effort, that what is now said, if it be worthful, will be gathered up and carried hence for the benefit of my brethren in every corner of this empire jurisdiction.

What the Master Builders of our Mystic Temple have to do in this age, is not to lay foundations-that has been done, and well done by our fathers in the dim, but not forgotten past—but to buttress the walls and close up the breaches thereof, as well as to guard the portals

against the approach of every enemy who would despoil, and purge its courts of every trafficker who would defile it.

Every member of the Fraternity, from him who occupies the Grand East to him who stands upon the checkered floor, is responsible, in his degree and rank, for the welfare of the general Craft. He is bound not only to keep whatever is intrusted to him as esoteric science, but to evince in his conduct toward all mankind, especially toward the brethren, that he has gotten that which is worth the trouble of getting it, because it is what may better both him and them. For what is Freemasonry? Much depends upon the correct ideas of this question— What is Freemasonry? If it is an association of certain chosen members for the convenience of whiling away the hours of an evening each week or fortnight in the reception-room of the Lodge, smoking and chatting, while the officers are doing the work within; or if it is a handy help toward gaining social, or political, or any other kind of position and preferment, or toward getting sustentation in laziness; or if it is a theatre for the display of extraordinary feats of good memory and bad grammar, in the glib recital of the "Standard Work and Lectures" (I intend no reflection upon any brother), that is one thing. But if it is a profound system of philosophy, running down to the roots of the principles and laws of morality, and uttering, with a tongue of symbolism, understandable by Cretes and Arabians, Ethiopians and Aborigines, Caucasians and Mongolians alike, the requirements of a universal religion; if it is a system admirably articulated in every branch, and well adapted in every part for enlarging the scope and strengthening the grasp of the intellect, for disciplining the man, circumscribing the desires and passions within the due bounds of moderation, and bringing into action the better qualities of his nature; or if it is a noble method of bringing men nearer together in the confidential association of fraternity, despite the distinctions of social rank and caste, that is quite another thing. I maintain that it is the latter— and twenty-five years' study of it has only confirmed this opinion— that its principles of truth and philanthropy are exactly adapted for doing what it professes to do, i. e., enlarge and strengthen the mind, soften and warm the heart, and open and liberalize the hand.

But besides this (and this is a point which I would commend particularly to your thoughts), it is a conservative factor in the sum of the social economy. In this respect, in the opinion of him who is now honored by your attention, it exerts an influence, silent indeed, but to a far greater extent than it has general credit for. The social machinery, like every other kind, needs balances and checks. train upon a down grade, with short curves, is not considered a safe

An express

kind of locomotion unless furnished with brakes, and conveniences for their application. If I may use another simile, the social activities of the age can be likened to nothing more appropriate than to a steeplechase for fortune, with all energies bent in blind enthusiasm toward the object of each individual's, and each set of individual's prime desire, which, if reached, turns out, as often as otherwise, to be as unsubstantial as a will-o'-the-wisp, or a mirage.

In this hurly-burly progress, without some stable monuments to recall to men's thoughts the fact, they would come to forget there is such a thing as the great past, as well as an all-pervading present, and an uncertain future; and that that great past has claims upon their respectful consideration at least.

To say nothing of the Institution at whose altar I minister, and to whose teachings I bow with filial reverence and loyal deference, I maintain that here is such a monument in this "Ancient and Honorable Order" (custom allows me to call it an Order, though I think it a misnomer). It presents itself to-day, like a rich, bold headland running out into the restless ocean of human experience, holding high a flaming beacon that never misguides, for it is Truth; showing to the tossed mariner in life's voyage the dangers ahead, and the safe anchorages around.

But while they gaze upon its front, their admiration is increased by the reflection that what is visible in the front is not its all; that it runs back and connects itself firmly with the solid groundwork of the ages past. That it is but the history of the past projecting itself into the present, pregnant with its lessons, glowing with its glories, replete with its warnings, urging laggards to activity, constraining the vicious to virtue, restraining enthusiasts within the parallels of moderation, commending the ways of rectitude, inculcating the principles of knowledge, and promoting the interests of wisdom, ministering to the wants of the needy. It speaks to the eye, the mind, and the heart, by symbols and language its own, as old as human intelligence, admonishing against idleness, intemperance, and injustice, and encouraging to integrity, industry, and virtue. It absolves no man from the claims of duty to God, his neighbor, and himself. It binds those claims upon us, and let me say, and may we ever remember, that whereinsoever and whensoever we fail to discharge them, it is in contravention of the lessons of our art.

And here, R. W. and W. Brethren, is a good place for a reminder of our Masonic duties and dangers-if you will suffer it-in the present juncture of our affairs, for if we are bound to duties which none can deny, we are not free from dangers arising out of our very

prosperity. Masonry is prosperous, and prosperity is wonderfully attractive. There is no vanity so light that it will not gravitate toward the popular side. There is no scoundrel so base that he will not ally himself with the winning party, if permitted; and hence we shall find that the higher our temple walls arise, and the broader the extent of the area they inclose, the more plentiful will be the offers of worthless, damaging material. It is this that will pull them down if they shall fall. Let us remember in this regard the wise motto of Bacon, multum non multa; look to the quality of material, not the quantity of it, for numbers count but little against weight of character.

In the pinch at Thermopyla, Leonidas' three hundred, who had Spartan heads upon their shoulders, and Spartan blood in their veins, were worth more to him than three hundred thousand such as those "true patriots" of the doggerel, who, when the time of trial came, "left their country for their country's good." Thus, in the vicissitudes of Masonry, if ever her stability is threatened, she must look to her few faithful ones, her "tried and true," for support, rather than to her hosts of "camp followers," whose boldest attacks are always upon her gathered spoils. Another lesson may be ours from that bit of Spartan history. That glorious day was lost because one, only one, whom they had admitted among them, sneaked away to the foe, and divulged the secret of their strength. If they had only "blackballed" that one, the result of that trial would have been other than it was. Let us profit by that lesson.

For my part, I can look with the serenest complacency upon every adverse influence that would cripple or destroy this ancient and honorable Fraternity, so long as I can look upon its votaries faithful to its behests. What we have first to fear, and all along, is, not the crusades of our open enemies, but the cruel falseness of our nominal brethren, who gain admission to our mystic circle, not having the capacity to take in and digest the simple rudiments of what is taught therein.

Freemasonry never yet, as I have heard, attempted to work miracles. It never yet infused brains into a cranium that had no cavity for their reception, nor did it ever send human blood coursing through a heart of granite, nor make a man out of a natural-born beast, and I don't suppose it ever will. Its mission is to improve, not to create, and the material for its use must be capable of being moulded, or it cannot work it up. Again, Masonry is not religion in the sectarian sense, nor a substitute for it, and he who pretends that, or declares it to be "a good enough religion" for him, foists it out of its legitimate place, inflicts upon it a grievous wrong, and lays himself open to the suspicion of ignorance of its teachings. While it inculcates a firm faith in the