FREEMASONRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1920, Page 5

FREEMASONRY.

HOW MASONS CELEBRATED PEACE. v (By a Freemason). London, June 21. It is a mistake to suppose that ritual and dressing-iip and dining out 'are the chief points of Masonry. Freemasonry is a great human brotherhood binding men together by the bond of fraternity, mid it teaches above all else thai virtue of charity. It lias proved itself of great value in keeping men together during the war, and it has, in many praclft enl ways, helped our sailors and soldiers. Men in the t\eld 'have 1 found their Masonry useful to them in a variety • of ways, But apart from that the Masonic charities have done excellent work in providing for the widows and children of men who have fallen in the war. In one year a sum of over £200,000 has been collected by Masonic charities, which include support for old people nnd widows of Masons and schools for boys and girls. Several hundred boys educated at Masonic schools have served in the war, and a great many of them have gained decorations. During the past four years Freemasonry has made great strides in this country. Numerous new lodges have ■ been established- The rites of Masonry have been practised by our fighting men under all sorts of conditions abroad. ' The interned troops in Holland formed, by special permission of the Netherlands Grand Lodge, a lodge of their own, And this has since been recognised by the Grand Lodges of England. Some people object to Freemasonry because it is a secret society." Secrecy is certainly a. necessary part of Masonry, but in England lodges have never been iued, as in some parts of the Continent, for political or religious props,ganda.

Freemasonry inculcates the fcrotherhood of man. It stands for patriotism, good citizenship, and practical charity. It is a promoter of peace on earth And goodwill towards men. • The fact that the Duke of Connaught is Grand Master and that the Prince of Wales has recently been initiated into its ranks should be sufficient proof that there il nothing sinister in its secrecy.