promising condition of the business character of the place. But notwithstanding all these misfortunes and drawbacks, the people seem to be comfortable livers and contented. We understand they are turning their attention to manufacturing and agricultural pursuits. The soil, to the eye of the stranger, does not hold out any very strong indications of success in the latter business, though we are told very good crops are obtained from it.

In the evening of the day of our arrival on the island we met the Brethren at the Lodge-room. The attendance was large, and our reception cordial. Having been introduced into the Lodge, the W. Master, Brother Robinson, addressed the M. W. Grand Master as follows:

Most Worshipful Grand Master-Partaking largely in that feeling of respect and regard which is so justly due, and is so universally entertained for the distinguished head of our ancient and honorable Order in our beloved Commonwealth, who, with such untiring fidelity and zeal, with such credit to himself and benefit to the Craft in general, so successfully performs the important and responsible duties of his honorable and exalted office, we would beg leave to express to you our high appreciation of the honor conferred upon us by this agreeable visit, and the satisfaction it gives us as an evidence of your favorable consideration and regard; and we would hereby most cordially extend to you a sincere and hearty welcome.

In justice to ourselves, permit me to say, Most Worshipful, that during the past year we have passed through a season peculiarly depressing in its influences upon the prosperity of Masonry in all sections of our State, to a greater or less degree, but especially so among us here. The great and terrible National crisis which is upon us, is of itself sufficient to retard the progress of the Order, and when we add to this the local influences bearing upon us in the constant and rapid decline of our business resources as a town, it may afford some excuse should we be compelled to confess to some falling off or suspension of interest in the Lodge, and consequently some degree of inefficiency in its working condition.

We trust, therefore, Most Worshipful, that under all the circumstances, without going farther into detail, you will be pleased to look leniently upon whatever may seem to detract from or lessen our claim to that degree of working efficiency, to which we have heretofore felt entitled, by your cheering words of encouragement upon a former occasion, as well as by the credit awarded us by our lamented Bro. Baxter, late D. D. G. M. for this Masonic district. But although our working-tools may have grown somewhat rusty and dull from lack of work, we trust the valuable lessons they symbolize and inculcate will ever continue to be our rule and guide, and that when we meet you again it will be under happier auspices, and under brighter skies.

And to you, Right Worshipful Brother Moore, as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, "known and read of all" Masons, if not of "all men," we' would also offer our warmest greeting and welcome upon this your first visit to our Lodge, and to our sea-girt island home.

l'ermit me to add also, that although but few of us have before had the privilege of meeting with you in person, yet knowing of your long and valuable services as an officer of the Grand Lodge; of your deep research and extensive information upon all matters of Masonic history and jurisprudence; of the invaluable additions

to the literature of the Order which have emanated from your pen; in a word, of your long continued and faithful devotion to the cause of Masonry, we find it hard to convince ourselves that this is indeed the first time we have met.

We therefore greet you with the welcome, not only of Brethren of the Order, but of old acquaintance and friendship,-and we would express the earnest hope that the day may still be far distant in the future which shall deprive the Grand Lodge of the services of so able and efficient an officer, and the Fraternity at large of the counsels and assistance of so worthy and faithful a member.

Responses to the above were made by the visitors, and brief and appropriate addresses were made by Judges Marston and Day, (who were in attendance on the Superior Court,) and by members of the Lodge among the latter were several who had been Masons from thirty to forty years; one, we think, fiftysix years. The meeting was an exceedingly interesting one, and we cannot doubt that it was also a profitable one, to both the Lodge and visitors. The hall is neat, comfortable and convenient, and we could discover no reason why the Brethren should not enjoy their meetings, and feel a just pride in the continued prosperity and excellent condition of their ancient and respectable Lodge.

STROLLS AMONG THE WORKMEN.

NO. 5.

OFFICE SEEKING.

Dear Bro. Moore-The ambitious office seeker violates the moral teachings of Freemasonry and perverts Masonic emulation. The success and perpetuity of Freemasonry depend, not so much upon the zeal and activity of its membership, in the ordinary routine of work imposed by the Ritual, as upon the faithfulness and assiduity with which its moral teachings are inculcated and carried out into practice. These instructions embrace the fundamental principles of the Order and impart to it the health, vitality and power which constitute its grandeur. To be effective in producing rich clustered fruits and consequences equal to the high expectations of its friends, these moral principles should not only be the rule and guide of our conduct, but should be cherished with the most assiduous care. It is among this particular class of duties that the finer feelings of our nature are called into requisition, and in which we are enjoined to emulate each other in our work and deportment-divesting ourselves entirely of all selfish personal considerations, thus merging the feelings of the man in the Mason.

This precept encourages a well governed anxiety to excel others in love and kind offices while endeavoring to beautify and adorn the moral edifice. Without doing violence to this principle of emulation, its spirit may be expanded as to embrace many of the various incidents occurring in the course of a Mason's experience. Should attainments and qualifications manifest themselves in others superior to our own, this spirit enables us to magnify their labors and extend to such our hearty co-operation and support, willingly retiring from a contention with them for preference and favor. The same spirit induces a feeling

of gratification that others are found preferable and more capable than ourselves of fulfilling the duties imposed by the office and really to enjoy their elevation. Such is true Masonic emulation, and is the character of a contention suggested by the natural impulses of a simple-hearted Mason, who holds the welfare of the initiation above his own personal exaltation.

Notwithstanding this principle pervades the moral structure of Freemasonry, and is perfectly consistent with its wise and well-digested landmarks and regulations, and by symbols, and otherwise, solemly impressed upon the mind and heart of every candidate passing its portals and merging from the lesser to the more comprehensive knowledge of its beauties and grandeur, it is, nevertheless, often lost sight of or entirely disregarded by those of our Brethren whose extreme anxiety to possess the emblem of authority leads them, willingly, to sacrifice all moral restraints and personal refinement. It is this morbid anxiety for office that has entailed upon the Order many of the existing evils it has to contend with, and which more or less affect its high moral standard. There is no abuse to which the Institution is subjected, or errors which find their way in among us, more pernicious in their tendencies and effects, than this one of personal aggrandizement. It loosens the ties of fraternal regard and impairs the openhearted candor which characterizes the Brotherhood in their relations to each other and to their respective Lodges. Although its indulgence may not positively oppose any formal general regulation, it does, notwithstanding, come in conflict with the moral teachings of the Order, and will prove subversive of those leading social affinities which secure the happiness and prosperity of a Lodge.

This morbid propensity for office in Masonry is not only a pernicious evil, but a most vital one. Its gratification involves necessarily many of the most delicate points in its moral structure. It carries the ambitious Brother beyond a legitimate emulation into a positive strife for place, regardless of the means necessary to its success. He seems willingly, by artifice or otherwise, to supplant his Brother in office or in the estimation and affections of his Brethren; undermining instead of strengthening him, and backbiting instead of extolling and comforting him. Those persons whose unholy aspirations lead them in this direction find no impeachment an impassable barrier and no device, howsoever startling in deformity, too hideous for their embrace. They are all things to all men, zealous, humble, amiable, affable and benevolent, each in its turn as circumstances may require. They are excessively active in all the business details of a Lodge, taking a general supervision, busy with everybody's business, and officious in every office. They intrude their opinion upon every topic, and so anxious are they to occupy a conspicuous position and gain notoriety, that they are oftentimes led into most extravagant absurdities.

I have already intimated that the ambitious propensities of some of our misguided Brethren induce a line of conduct incompatible with the refined principles of a gentleman and are altogether detrimental to them as Masons. There is a significant fact connected with this matter which should not be lost sight of entirely, and that is, that, in almost every instance, those who resort to such undue measures to secure an elevation to office, are those who are either incompetent for the situation or deficient in attractive social qualifications. True merit

finds favor through a legitimate channel without a necessity for a resort to unmasonic means to secure success. Vanity is a very strong ingredient in the composition of ambitious men. They seem to forget that modesty oftentimes hides a talent which others may perceive and circumstances soon develope. Those who possess these virtues cannot remain long in obscurity, their services will always be called into requisition so soon as a proper period arrives, without any extraneous effort on their part becoming necessary. Others such as I have described pay no regard to what may be deemed necessary qualifications. Their sole idea is to possess the situation, to that end they are led from one degree of wrong to another, until they are perfectly indifferent as to consequences; they pull down those who, in office, stand in their way; they insidiously worm themselves into the confidence of those they wish to use; succeeding in this, their subtlety soon proves effectual against the object of their assault. The amiable qualities of the Brother assailed, afford no security to his hitherto unsullied reputation; his moral virtues and even his profession of religion are used as missels to impair his influence and destroy his usefulness; his superior qualifications are urged as reasons why he should be superceded; his zeal and efficiency in giving tone and character to the Lodge and his personal efforts to excite an interest in the meetings, all are made subservient to the machinations of these scheming office seekers.

But I have traced the course of these gentlemen with sufficient minuteness for all practical purposes. I cry their mercy, should its details find a locality among them. It seems important, however, that an exposition should be had, not only for the general benefit of the Institution, but for the safety of our Lodges. I am satisfied that it is by such means the peace and harmony of very many of our well constructed Lodges have been either seriously impaired or totally destroyed. By thus calling attention to this subject, the Lodges may be induced to scrutinize more closely the proclivities of their active members, with a view of rewarding merit and rebuking tricksters. I sincerely trust, however, that in thus bringing to light the errors of the artful, I may not excite an erroneous suspicion against the innocent and worthy. I should deprecate any such consequences, and would therefore earnestly invoke the Brethren to a wise and judicious dis crimination when required to judge between these two classes. This can easily be accomplished,-the tissue is but slight at best which veils the motive of these parties, easily penetrated, and their object as easily understood. It is lamentable (I liked to have said remarkable) that any one can be found willing to risk their reputation upon an adventure so hazardous with so fitful an honor as the prize. It is true they may enjoy their successful elevation and be elated by its momentary pleasures, but its seductive exhiliration must soon pass away, succeeded by a reaction more humiliating and destructive than was their upward flight agreeable and happy.

How to eradicate these errors and rid the Institution of the evils incident to their indulgence, is a matter of serious moment, and, I fear, difficult to accomplish. The propensity to govern and command seems interwoven with the very nature of some men, rendering a moral corrective impotent, when, in fact, that character of remedy should be, with Masons, the most effective. The most con

genial mode of remedying this malady would be to educate it out of the heart If those persons who are under its control would suffer themselves to be guided by Masonic teachings; be schooled in love, which teaches self-sacrifice; in benevolence, which teaches deference, and in humility, which makes us sensible of our imperfections and deficiencies, there might be some hope of a reformation. These are certainly the most fitting remedies, but the one most likely to be successful is that which measurably withdraws the glittering at tractions which now environ the Master's office. This stop is practicable and may be effected without violating any Landmark or trespassing upon any inherent right. The peculiarities of the Master's office prevent any very great modifications, as its inherent prerogatives cannot be withdrawn or abridged, but the immunities which have hitherto attended and followed the service, may with impunity be modified so as to remove the incentives which excite the ambitious proclivities of the office seeker. This has already been done to some extent, in some jurisdictions, by frittering away certain conceded rights which were formerly held by Past Masters, until now they possess no special right but that of eligibility to office. To make perfect the cure, (and it is to that I wish particularly to draw attention,) is to take from the Master and Wardens the right they now possess, by virtue of their office, to membership in the Grand Lodge. Remove this modern constitutional privilege and the attraction to the office loses its principal charm. The Institution would then be rid of an objectional class of officers, and would eventually secure the services of those who are much more worthy of consideration. All affiliated Master Masons should be eligible to a seat in the Grand Lodge. While such a provision would not deprive a Lodge the privilege of sending its Master to represent it, it would, at the same time, possess the power to elect some other member as such, who, in point of intellect, education and experience, might be more suitable for the position. So radical a change in our internal policy, of course, cannot be effected without great solicitude on the part of the Brotherhood, but a careful investigation will satisfy them, I doubt not, of its permanent utility.

Yours, truly and fraternally,

D.

CHARITIES OF THE MASONIC HEART. THE universal charity of a Mason is like the Mason's God, and his God is the God of Love. Masonic charity is the charity in the heart-he thinks no evil of his Brother, he cherishes no designs against him. It is charity upon the tongue, also he speaks no evil, bears no false witness, defames no character, blasts no reputation; he knows that to take away a good name is to commit an evil, the damage of which no wealth can repay. No! it is of more value than great riches; rubies cannot re-purchase it; the gold of Ophir cannot gild it again to its original beauty. It is charity in the hand, also-he anticipates his poorer Brother's wants, he visits the cottage of poverty and the house of sickness, and there he finds the very back which he ought to clothe, the very mouth which he ought to feed, the wound which he ought to heal, the sickness which he ought to cure, and, perhaps, also the very mind which he ought to instruct before it can