The Arcana of Freemasonry (1915) - The Masonic Trowel

164 THE ARCANA OF FREEMASONRY
what Freemasonry is. At present many are only
in the analogous position of the poor aboriginal
natives of Australia and other countries. You have
forms, ceremonies, Signs, Symbols, and Ritual,
which you repeat, and act, without understanding
their true origin and meaning— as they do in their
Totemic ceremonies— but that is not what true
Freemasonry is ; nor is being letter perfect, or a
good orator, or a dramatist. These points are to
be highly appreciated ; they enhance the greater
solemnity of our ceremonies, and photograph our
beautiful Ritual more indelibly on the mind of the
initiate ; but if we do not act those principles in
our lives outside the Lodge, which we so solemnly
promise in the Lodge, what frauds we are !
The past and continuous thought of the majority
of our Brotherhood is one of self, rightly when it
especially affects themselves— Feasting and Chari-
ties. But within the last few years a very bright
star has arisen in Freemasonry. There are many
in the Craft who are striving to bring about that
high ideal of Brotherhood to be a reality, and not
a sham, although they have little encouragement
from the powers that govern the Order.
I congratulate you Brothers of the Mid-Kent
Masters' Lodge on being amongst
those that are
striving to elevate our Brotherhood, because the
meeting together, the reading of lectures on the
many subjects that are of vital importance to
1
\
l