New-York tribune., 1896-08-30

tear-staneG sprg OF acacia dropped into the
grave spoke louder than words Of the teachings Of
Masonry and the Alas. my brother" wrencned
from the lips of the grief-stricken brethren con
vcyed meaning full Of friendship resignation and
true brotherhood
We d things differently in modern times We
pleise eternal fidelity TO each other at al times.
ana are very free win mat warm fraternal grip.
ot the time II closes the portals 70 the hearts
qucntly they may Zee wOrded however ariistically
engrossed or elesantly framed. cannot compensate
Master is notified Of the death Of brother and the
desire OF the family for his Masonic interment in
aceordlnce with the last wishes Of the deceased.
he calls upon The widow. is his duty. and in the
course oI c"hNeI$auOn eNpatateS upon the high es-
teem IN which the departed was held by the mem
TO attend the funeral the Tyler has the aprons,
Spris5 &C.,, all ready. Wnen. To- the chagrin OF the
ping OF cable toWs' for scarcely more than bakers
dozen answer ana obey the summons. As rule
smaller the attendance Wc know of lodges num-
ber.ng 500 and over which. 20 tIoir disgrace be it
large number Of nine and seldom. except upon spe-
cial OCCASION can succeed in mastering over TWEEN
lodges designated I'm the fraternity poor
lodges" whose membership does not exceed over
none 81 n in ~ nun,r Tc, in Naror pg Gw poor 1nm m
able from Masonic standpoint we ned not sta.e
court, the wife of the Junior Warden has just ha1
a baby. the Senior Deacon is the road the
Treasurer is summcring at Long Lranch. the Stew
lust very busy, the s. nor Master of
Ceremonies has rheumatism. ana the members are
simply Indifferent Indifference is the hanefu dis
ea sc Of Frecmdsonry ia our city lodges because
do make MasOns. We simply aim AT Increasing
the roll OF membership. The funeral services
performed at the house because the paucity OF
Alasons assembled viii not ne noticed by tho crowd
rOngregafcd .u the house - mourning. No
vices nt the grave, Thus The touching sOlemnity
OF the Masonic funeral service. the symbols Of the
lambslNu the acacia and the funeral honOrs are
lost 10 the brethren and the world. More than
that the reputation OF the fraternity Is certainly
not enhanced By this glaring dereliction of duty.
is difficult TO trace the source OF this crying
evil IL is because ritual and business denote the
main features of a majority Of city lodges. The
fraternity Is fast becoming mere Mason manu-
facfuriug rnachinc. the competition all along the
ctv linz evidently being 10 raise III" money Jy
raising Master Nasons In the good Old times
were truly "A band Of brothers We attended funcr-
Is not for the turn out but because SIN
ror.lv felt the loss of one OF our own Masonic
family IL should be the aim Of lodges to cultivate
that Old fraterLa feeling 10 bring the members I'm
closer social relations with each other, that when
death makes a gap in the ranks the exclamation OF
Alas, MY brother" viii not be mere lip service.
bat the expression Of sincere. poigntnt grief at our
loss.
DO YOU want Il Masonic burial? Then attend 10
iL. funerals Of others and when In the fUlncss of
time YOU are caltd TO the Grand Iodg" above the
r. threa will accompany your remains 10 their las
resting place ana bury you with Masonic honors.
VETERAN PAST MASTER.