THE FAITH OF FREEMASONRY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 269, 27 March 1873, Page 9

THE FAITH OF FREEMASONRY.

The Freemasons of Ballarat have erected a new Masonic Hall in that city, and during the ceremony of consecrating the building, Bro. Rev. GK W. Watson delivered an address of which the following is an abridgment from the "Ballarat Star," —"If I understand the-prineiples of the craft aright, its prosperity does not 'consist so much in the acquisition of numbers as in the good that it does, and the benefit that it confers in' working out, and calling into practice the principles of the Order. • For it is designed to make men better as men, and fit them to " discharge the duties of life — domestic, social, and civil. And there is good reason not only to hope, but also to expect this. Fur Freemasonry rests upon the eternal, and therefore unchangeable, truth of the Being of trod. It inculcates upon all the service that is due to Him ; that as His creatures weaie to stand in awe of him, and sin not; that wo are to implore His aid upon all " our lawful undertakings," tbat we are to " look up to Him in every emergency of life for comfort and support," indeed, that we in- our lives to make it our prominent aim to "display the beauties of true godliness to the honor and glory of His holy name." And can we have anything more enduring aud more ennobling than this truth ? This, I conceive, is the great glory of Freemasonry. Irdeed, no higher glory can attach to any human. institution. If it is only given its proper place, and is allowed to exercise that influence upon the craft that so great a truth should, indeed i« recognized and acknowledged in the life, it requires no prophet to forsee the high, dignified and permanent position that it will continue to occupy. And is not this the secret of its past success and permanence ? If, as we believe that this brotherhood has existed from time immemorial, and has passed through generation after generation without any material change, there must be a cause. We know that many institutions have chauged, many have passed away ; but this has remained unchanged. And the reason we hold to be the recognition of this truth — the Eternal Pillar — that from everListing to everlasting God is (and the practice of those duties that flowfroin^ this.) And in keeping with this is the attention that is paid to the "Volume of the Sacred Law." It is the first and principal light of Masonry by which all are exhorted to frame thefr lives— giving heed to it as that all comprehensive Word which includes our duty to Grod, to our neighbors, and to ourselves. And if this " unerring standard " be obeyed, wo know full well what manner of men we shall be in the service of our Heavenly Master, and iv our conversation in the world. But though Masonry thus recognises the Great Creator and the Volume of the Sacred^Law, it: is not put in the place of, nor* i«i it designed to be a substitute for, religion. It rests, indeed, 'as we have remarked, upon that truth which is essential to the happiness of man as an intelligent and immortal creature. But" it requires nothiug more, Very wisely it omits all matters of controversy in religion, yet leaves every man, when outside the lodge, free to worsNip GroJ as he wills, ullowiug the fullest liberty, excepting that no man ia permitted to deny the existence of the Great First Cause."

Articles of jewellery received hi the Colony*, are chargeable *«ith an ad valorem duty often per cent. It is not generally known to the public that any letters or packets containing; such articles sent through the post are liable, with their contents, to be forfeited.