New-York tribune., 1897-08-29
SOCIAL MASONRY.
LET Us BE MORE sOCIABLE AND FRIENDLY
IN OUR Conversation AND MANNERS

IN OUR CONVERSATION AND MANNERS.
During the now more than forty years since by
| its grace became member OF the Grand Lodge
| | have endcavored in an humble way, through '"e
| light" that ha. come to me as to the student
who has sought for 1t as the miners FOR soid' 10
| give the impression. and make IT distinctly su'
ceptibe at all times wherever have BEEN put
more definitely In the lodgeroom that while we
| are not to lose sight OF the value OF proper
| rendering OF the ritual a correct knowledge anu
| application OF our system OF laws ana maintenance
OF our Masonic rights. we ought not 10 1orset tna'
| the kind amenities Of n common and. indeed an IN
| dyidua brotherhood have strong claim upon our
attention and With some Of us at least should De
open to cultivation. 1t Is not all Of Masonry 10
occasionally attend lodge meeting or 10 oe
thoroughly posted" In the work. so as to be aoie
| TO repeat the Identical articles, conJunctohs anu
| propositions and phrases from one year emu "
another with a sameness absolute as the ticking
| of q clock or the whir of buzz-saw. Absolute
uniformity Is impossible. within the jurisdic-
ton Of the Grand. Lodge possibly 1t might be op
| tained for few years. but never with change
| OF Masters every year
| The precepts Intentions and morality which give
| significance to the structures and spirit OF the
| Masonic degrees ought to claim part OF our at
| tention and we should know. not as empty
| phraseS to be repeated but not understood. ana
hence as lost water spilled upon the ground. be-
| cause the verbal recitation Is made without an
/ impression the candidate Tor the want Vi
| ability or want OF feeling to make the impress
| SION When degrees are understood and con-
ferred as they should be the demands OF our cove
nant will be the oasis to the traveller In search
OF water to slake his thirst from the pools OF our
| latent springs then practical realization OF
| brothery love and higher plane OF our Masonic
mysteries will be attained. Would We maintain our
present status fraternity and hold Its MEMBER
ship we must make lodgerooms classical and
| renowned in Masonic knowledge and social ethics
man should rot he chosen as Master because
''he wants to be-" but for his inherent quality OF
heart and a native aptitude of mind prepared ~
culture and discipline to assume and discharge his
installation obligations. Bread and wine must
| be had and our assemblies made vastly more In
teecuai and diversified and beautiful as the land
| scape would keep our intellectual ana NOME
mortal man "at home to give us influence. re-
spectability abroad and the moral grai OF sus-
tenance support and impart vigor and prosper''!
| to us as intelligent and thinking men,
! Occasional change of diet must be had TO keep
the mind and body healthy. The mere repetition OF
| a given formula after while becomes trite' anu
produces disgust and painful reluctance to listen
| to the dull thud spoken by one who mas no
knowledge Of emphasis, prosody or orthoepy' Inc
stoutest appetite will fail. and apathy first ana
| then total neglect is the result. The services
| should be made TO bear arms to defend and uphold
| ruth AMI assai sin In all It's forms. that our good
men may love their lodges more and make them
to dysop and PrsGs the n% spcn make the
heart god ike In its aspirations TO dignity the char
etr Of MsHnry s AFe soca Gs is
has the neglect almost universal INTO whicn we v"
| It's inieger TO virtually abuse the old custom OF
celebrating our summer and autumn festival! oo,,,
feature. and are drifting away from the ancient
custom. amounting almost to the Cigny OF iana- anu
mark. Let return to its pristine custom OF re,
frcshments" as OF the channels TO convene and
| mpart pleasure and laughter and song such hs
,l... eiul nat
brothery greetings such as please and entertain
that smi.e and are always new and never
grow stale for they dstil emotions tnat are 700
sweet and grateful to die or vanish from the urn
Give Masonry it's, oden social character bring ns
nave 'fe"f th charm Of female companionskp to give
piquancy and grace that fashion with smiles the
radiance of their presence when opportunity dni
occasion will permit Without them our ma mafker ke
value. like silver lhat has been divorced rom & heI
master with which she has so long lVed ana
s,rved with wise discretion and fidelity to her
Snsness in, may be. and grow unsociabe and in
heart and purse without her. We ought 10 thank
heb him dress his vineyard and charm him with
beauty and chastity Of her esp1a,ab h. ri.ss sssG ID
run Wild We cannot get along well and pros pros,
perously without her vigilance and virtues 10 max N
| mother wife sister and daughter.
We shall never forget the eoausnt words ma, Is
by his transcendent genius as an orator IN ,, Mso
tribute to woman az the as a o, mpre
ion -. II nngTavef on every one by the chise which
thought had given them that gave them utterance
AS m, stood for a moment in the gravity and fui-
of his greatness. as period 70 denote IN, tne
hosts anS of
been exhausted and work suspended and me ne, der, G
he raised to is appropriate place. Mr.. Webster.
Edward Everett and other eminent men OF Boston
made an appeal to the women OF New-England Tor
funds 10 complete the monument and without
delay these noble women. from whom the as
tinguished men of the century have descended took
mp the tocsin ard canvassed with sleepless ygi-
ance every home In New England for contributions
to complete that noble piece Of work; Money
| Without abatement and Bunker Hl Monument
was completed and dedicated with most mpos-
nrGn eGuaed in New England. Mr.. Webster was
chosen to give voice the volume OF her rejoc-
ng We heard every word that composed that
great statesman's oration. pronounced with
ponderous power. measured almost by seconds. that
irpeded progress and distractions In the way OF
Of her fruitful hand upon the unshapen stone in the
quarres. the column began to rise, fashioned as
FOR the heroes who fell where this monument now
stands to toll us the story of their power and in
lucnce to accomplish results that We hdd osl the
Webster was right Woman. when We have
to dspense. should be retained to remove, or help
us remove the one ar and to give uneton ana Verdure
In theory. admission to membership is really
iaking a person into our Masonic family but In
i ough, TO be as much part of our work cor
rect knowledge OF ceremonial forms, and not
Docket compendlums: in short. little more cordi-
ality and more OF the sociable trigonometry OF
frIendships that is as level in reality the word
indicates and 'nvidous to provoke or engender
and mS'' Often bsht sensitive mind and title
that floats in the air as banner TO but tran the
dq, 2I Rec our fey !" dSn0GS5 oHS Re r. ASDERso%