New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-18
THE G4TEL.

says; .%The common savei is one Of the, working
by the operative Masons 10 break OF the corners
OF the rough ashar. and thus fit 1t the better
a.. symbol in speculative Masonry. tcadmonish US
OF the duty of divesting our minds and conscences
ns our bodies o as living stones for that spiritual
building not made with hands, eternal in the
II borrqws Its name from its shape being tina,
again comes from the German gipful summit.
top or peak-the idea OF a pointed extremity being
The true form of the gavel is that Of the stone
masons hammer. It Is made with cutting edge.
lion which could never be effected by the common
hammer or maet. The gavel thus shaped VIII
as a.'I R have already SAID. the name is derived
because like that architect, II governs the craft
and keeps order In the lodge as he did in the
not Only Of the workns ,oo oI Of
and Is properly termed the tongue OF the lodge; II
us not S Seerc b Properly pro sV used "Hua
with no uncertain sound is understo3d and obeyed;
fully understood and properly used. We have
heard a worshipful master after long dis;
fsht had a'f ended sd' there b his
tongue OF more importance. followed with the ex-
Continued discussion and bad feeling when he again
hrethren may have understood and obeyed the
tongue Of the lodge. they dsregarded the tongue
Of the Master and confusion ensued.
II is Improper for the Worshipful Master TO use
the tongue OF the lodge and then say the lodge
will come TO order Is n speaker out Of order?
Redsonng viii! him may NOT convince him OF he
himself behind a stronger intellectual breastwork
hui lot the tongue OF the lodge speak, and all his
to the extent Of being tlresome? Stating that fact
may have little effect upon those who are cease
iessly full OF utterance; but let the tongue OF The
lodge speak It's opinion and then there IS silence
The tongue OF man may be weak or vicious may
be as Welding as the flesh OF which il Is COM
posed: but the tongue Of the lodge speaks in the
nfexibe as a mountain OF granite.
IL ~ the duty OF presiding officer OF any body
10 I'm the chair not to make speeches himself but
10 moderate the speech OF Others While TIA. Mas
ter OF Masonic lodge Is not mere presiding
officer but far more than that he imperis his IN
duonce. IL not his power. by talking too much
while presiding over the business OF the iodge
While none may call him TO account In the lodge
there ~ necessity for the Master TO continually
use his tongue. for the reason that the lodge has
provided him with tongue tn ma n,Sa n can
sion? The Masters tongue might command exhort
or entrcat and possibly all In vain. but the lodge
tongue speaks language that Is understood ana
II IS an unquestioned fact that some Masters
The ongye OF the YSase others I9r an ,een 80 hn
that their own tongue Is the superior article ana
others appear TO be almost entirely unaware OF Its
usefulness and power. .
Freemasonry IL an altogether unique institution,
in ALI things a law unto itself the sooner they viii
i.m the unexampled force Of Masonic truth. the
peculiar authority OF Masonic Law and the CON
trolling power OF Masonic usnges and customs In
OF the lodge as contrasted with the human tongue.
--(Keystone.