New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-20
THE OLD GENTLEMAN

The veteran soldier is hOnored by his country
the veteran statesman is esteemed by all cru
zens and the veteran Mason is loveo oS MS
brethren: in every lodge his advice is sought
and generally acted upon. Yet II is not an IN
frequent occurrence for brethren whose teathe'S
are scarcely grown but who imagine they know
all about IT, 10 speak Of the elder brethren DIS
"old fossils" wrapped and bound up In obsolete
ideas and having just conception OF the
brilliant progress made by the present genera
ton We understand, Of course, that the oiu
gentlemen are no longer able to he present al
fifteen lodges a week. or 10 discharge the duties
that once TO them pleasures; but we SUD
NIT that It does not follow that they are fos-
sils dried up and rorgetful of life and its laoors
and duties. or that they no longer remember
the words and ceremonies of which they were
once exempars
Masonry is neither of to-day nor OF yesterday,
neither Of this year nor of the next but intrin-
sically the same to-day. yesterday and forever
What the fathers taught us in the beginning OF
our career we. now become the fathers are 10
teach to our younger brethren. and. through
them. TO those who are TO come after US ana
OCCUPY our places when we have passed the
wells OF this earthly tabernacle and moved on 10
take our places by those whose labors ended
when ours began. and beside whom we can take
our station in the hereafter and look down
from the battlements of heaven on the work we
have done and the labors of those TO Whom
we have left our mission and work II the
white haired men who for fifty years past have
given their lives. their talent and their zeal 10
the advancement of the institution OF free
masonry have no other reward for their labor
and devotion than the contemptuous designa-
ton Of "Old fossils" IT, after all the best years
Of thsir lives given TO the craft, we are only as
those who can do no more good and should he
relegated to the tombs. what incentive is there
for those who are taking our places to perse-
we're in their work, since they VIII know IN al
vance that having put their fathers aside with
contempt and reviling, they cannot reasonably
expect any better fate for themselves when' IN
their turn, they find themselves descending the
hill Of life. and beneath their white hairs look
ing to the setting sun?
What becomes one generation lie, or in justice
ought TO be, good for another; and IL follows
that il. when our younger days are past. ana
our limbs longer permit us TO answer the
challenge of the young knights, we are to be put
aside and forgotten, not only personally. but
for our many years Of active labor. then there
is no real inducement for the zeal and devotion
OF the young. but only the knowledge that when
the meridian of life is past when we wait for
the passing bell to summon US TO that rest
which knows no earthly awakening We are at
able 10 bear the heat and burden of the day,
are to be cast among the rubbish and left to
find our thanks in the foreetfulness of those in
whose service have wasted our lives.
The temples of Masonry that dot the land
everywhere. the homes. schools and asylums
erected by the craft, speak with thousand
tongues OF the good work these fossils have
done i'm their youth. and in the days Of their
vigor and prosperity. when real work and STAN
ina were wanted, and these very "old foges'
stood up like heroes TO do the work required Of
them. Let some OF these "youngsters' Of to-
day read up the history Of the craft in this State
and learn what the fathers did for them and
for Masonry and we may hear less talk OF "old
fogies' or fossils Do your work to-day the
need Of the day requires it. and the result Will
be shown by the tomorrow. The elders can
look back with pride and satisfaction on the
work they did In the years gone by