New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-02
prBLJC INSTALLATIONS.

II Is ne lural at this time Of the year. Mt the
beginning OF rev administrations IN our
lodges. that the brethren are exercised over
the question relating TO the election. ana more
especially the installation. OF officers Much mas
been said and written pro and con ABOUT the
practice Of publicly installing the officers OF
Masonic lodge The question as 10 the proprieN
Of public installations has been so Thoroughly
discussed. and the general practice has been so
fully confirmed in the affirmative. that no words
need now be wasted on the subject. we Simply
repeat what we have already said on so many
previous occasions. that the value to the craft
OF demonstrating it's principles by a pubic dec
iaration in the presence OF friends and neishbors
cannot ne overestimated and that cannot
afford TO lose this opportunity Of answering the
calumnies of opponents 10y refusing to place be-
fore the world our declaration. nos az propa-
sanda Of the faith but setting the truth III
opposition 10 error all the more when we rehect
that nothing is done or said on these occasions
that may not be found in any Of our published
manuals
The main thing the mos: important question
TO be considered. rather there should be no
question" about IT. is the proper conduct or the
ceremony The installation Of the officers is
solemn function. These brethren have been
choseu as the banner-carriers Of Masonry they
craft. Of the widow and the orphan they have
the good name OF Masonry In their keeping;
they assume a solemn and important RESPONSE
bility. Why. then. make light OF all this?
All our ceremonies are OF the serious and SOL
emn character: there is nothing 10 smile at
when neophyte passes through the various de-
grees and takes upon himself the solemn and
binding obligations OF the craft, and when one
is chosen by his fellows TO rule and govern
them for year. the tie and the obligation TO
do this according TO the laws Of God and man
become more and more binding, hence the in
stalling officers should realize and appreciate
the high and important position they occupy.
and impress their audiences with the solemn
nature OF the ceremony and the serious charac-
ter of the obligations they administer; and
when this is done with due propriety. public
installations can only be beneficial to our cause,
for at the present state of our civilization no
organization can exist. no cause can nOuilsh'
without the favor of public opinion. Pubic
opinion may not always be right on the mo
ment, but il invariably rights Itself. ana the
Just cause, the right, will always become It's
favorite in the end. and Masonry to-day has us
full share of public favor. which should be
maintained on al and every occasion.
To-day the President OF these United states
Bro. William Mckinley. is member OF lodge
chapter and cOmmandery; the Governor OF me
Empire State is a member Of the craft. and the
Mayor OF Greater Newly Ork is member III good
standing in one OF our city lodges. The head Of
The most Influential Church in the country.
Bishop Potter with many Of his colleagues,
Bishops in other States. is a member of the
craft and Granl Chaplain Of the Grand Lodge.
as also is Rabbi Rudolph Grossman. The presi-
dent OF the largest money institution OF the world
the New-Yo~< Clearing House-is NJ ". J.
Edward Simmons. Past Grand Master. and
NJ. w. William Shere", another Past Grand
Master. is manager Of the last-named lnstitu-
ton. The president Of the largest railroad cor
poration in the Union is q Mason. All this is
stated not as boast. for claim land Justly
sol that we honor any man # we permit him 10
wear the emblems Of Masonry, bu. as showing
that the foremost citizens of the land are in ac-
cord and in bonded unison with Masonry; hence
we are bound In honor bound. 10 do all we can
20 maintain and retain the high opinion these
men ard all good citizens have for our institu-
ton and neither in private nor public instaia-
tiors do aUght but TO deserve this and III private
AMI 2ubiic life aye. in every day life, demon
etrate and put 70 practice the valuable lessons
we .earn in the lodge and thus be esteemed and
respected as Masous by all our fellow-ct,zens
and disarrr all opposition which bigotry and
narrow minds conjure up against us.