New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-06
MASONIC Department
~ TPTE CRAFTSMAN"

"A TRfE CRAfIS MaN'
w Tohn s,ewar,. Past Grand Master. deliv-
cred his lecture On a True Craftsman oeloie
the members o. the Tempe Club Fourth DISTRICT.
The club me- In monthly session and turned our II
stronc fierce 10 lister to this distinguished brother
w George l. Phillips presided during the eVepi"e
Lack Of space forbics the reproduction OF the en-
tire lecture here Among the many gems IN BRO
Stewards lecture the following extracts VIII sho"
The excellence OF the whole
.erbere Is ir Ire human mind an irresistible de-
sre 70 adon. some kind Of system. follow custom
and emulate example So apt are we III this re-
epsct that We nvo!untarily become attached ~
cha. from which We receive the first impression
and We thus learn TO love and venerate olo am
fam!a. things Who has not been moved oy the
r.tbe.,c song or story Of The Old MIL. J ne oiu
Church' or The old Homestead. around winch
may cluster fond memories OF days long so"e =!
And VITO. when in sweet communion with himse"
has no, found comfor: and solace in recalling
scs.es enacted many. many years ago. Hence our
v>re.ation Tor the intellectual images we nave se'
M and orr reverence for the quaint. though some
times tna:I olalnatical. language we use IN our
oere,ncnN "a the earliest history or the human
rae We frl a dcep-seajed desire to adopt rorips
ma ceremonies intended either to please the eye
inform the mind or teach the heart Even among
Tho heo,hen nations as well as WITH the more en-
nghtened hebrews. ceremonies were both elaborate
and ironortaot Freemasonry may not have
been understo TODD or practised. even known prior
10 our kno7i 81 IT'S existence IN Great brllalh
and save for the satisfaction of the historian
what oc II Bit /, is all important how II now Is
and nov il should be ana how ii no" IS pr"c-
;ised.
We can trace clear. defined and unmistakable
similarity an urAoroken chain. connecting the op-
.ratlye with the speculative Masonry The sy3-
tenn the tools and Implements Of our ancien; breth
rep hat, heeu sy1nbOiized by the speculative free
r,asc-r, Thcir quaint customs and language Sc
dear 20 ever. MsSonic student. have been adopted
by The craft ana thus from what was the per1ec-
:ion of an operative system. useful as II was eN
,cnsiye has arisen speculative or symbolic Mason
~ which j. today without peer. the wonder anu
admiration OF succeeding generations.
THE work of our mystic rite If performed in sin
Certify and tr7I.h will last throughout eternal ages
because we buld moral structure: WHOSE 80 cry
stone must he hewn. squared ana numbertu. ac-
cord'ng 10 the cardinal virtues which underle me
indestructibIe foundation of the craft Knit TO-
gether by the Srons ties which unite those oil the
human wis believe In a progressive CINiiiId
teynnle whose foundation is truth. whose corner
stone is charity. and on whose capstone Is m
True Craftsman can only be applied to Master
Mason for in TIE symhoic lodee oniS "l s .U w.
All other degrees are innovations: invented ana
designed from irse 10 time 10 suit the fancy, Of
We might properly except the Royal Arch which
has been ruthlessly torn from the Masters degree
and which was and is and should be part OF II
The legends Of Masonry. while attractive
md Instructive are subordinate to the symbol.
Indeed the principal figure in the great legend Of
Freema sonry Is itself symbol Of manhood seek
But we have an abiding faith in this great belief
which is Of infinitely more importance TO The craft
existed from the foundation Of the world The
sacred altar. whose living hre, sustained by an un-
seen power fed by unseen hands burnt with un-
fading light and shed its efulgent rays around the
very Mriholace # the human race
"ihe Tue Craftsman will commune with him
self applying the square and plummet 10 MS own
conduct 10 might follow the beaten path with
some degree Of success. hut that will not sufhce
ne mus; 10 more. He must Examine himself ano no
el.- fba.c anal
and propagate. but also the evils that he should
avoid He will weigh the actions of his fellow in
rather than prejudice. He will avoid Cynicism. tina t
unmany trait. so blasting in It's influence so
subtle and pernicious in its destructive work For
the cynic never finds the good, but is quick to
discover that which may he defect IN the CHAR
acter Of his brother. Religion TO the cynic is
OF opportunity: purity A myth. The influence OF
such nature is like ne biting frost on the tender
Will avoid the ebearer. who loveth and maketh
a lie: he will not lend himself 10 aught that will
human race The True Craftsman will be quick
10 promote the good OF others. az he does not pos
sess selfish nature, but cu'ivates noble gener-
osiiy. expelling all bitter envenomed thoughts.
whose deadly poison Ike the FURNISHED adder.
would destroy The noblest work Of God. He will
cultivate liberal. hroddminded disposition. NO
sectarian dogma will crcumscrbe his development,
no shallow knowledge rudimentary religion re-
tard his growth He believes in the great truths
~ God and Nature in their purest and simplest
form May his standard advance, his temples rise.
u,siil faith. justice. truth charity and fraternal
ioTs ompass with their benign influence the ut
most erds or the universe
The spr aker received generous and sincere APP
pause. Some Of his enthusiastic audience moved
10 have the address printed. but Bro Stewart OBJ
scc.cd 30 this AS he does not believe in having his
.peccres printed except for good and sufficient rea
sors and certainly not for Observation-Disclosures or
scl.-c.orihca Ion IT. the near future another adj
i-rss w!ll be given at the Temple Club by some
o.'lor eminent craftsman.