m some nsoful calling oi occupation, remem bering that the carpenter at his bench, or the matron at her loom, is as honorable in the sight of God and true society as any who bear the insignia of the most esteem ed professions. the masonic j a u h n a l Along the Highway of Masonry. Among the many organizations in the world that have been instituted among men, there is not one in which the line of conduct of the member is more clearly de fined than in the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. There is none in which the member is bound by stronger obligations to pursue a steady course in the discharge of his duties as such, and to practice the precepts so prominently Bet up to teach him the way wherein he should walk. The highway of Masonry is not obscns'e with devious windings, a trail that can be followed only by carei- full\ watching the marks left by those who have gome that way before, but a broad open road, through an open coun try, which ma ■ be easily followed by any one when once fairly started on bis mys tic journey. At every turn and cross load has been placed a finger post, upon which, in language intelligible to every weil informed Mason, he finds all needed instructions to enable him to travel in confidence, and in the full enjoyment of alibis right.s .tnd privileges among his fellow travelers With a line of conduct so clearly de- fined, with ot>ligatious so strong to dis charge every known duty, and with an open road before them so plain that none need go astray, it might be expected that there would be unanimity of thought and action among all Masons in their inter course with each other, and especially that all would unite in preserving the Landmarks, and in upholding the prin ciples and teachings of Masonry. It is, however, a fact much to be regretted that such is not the case. Instead of being thus united as one man, we find Masons often divided in opir.ions and in their course of action. If all were actuated by an earnest desire to promote the best in terests of the Order, such would not be the ease, for then we would find them acting "nore in harmony with each other. While we believe that a very large proportion of Masons are honest in all that they say and do, it is evident that some are jiot, and that they are only seeking to promote their own individual interests in remaining members of the Order. They travel along in the good company of their more worthy Brethren, with a feigned zeal well calculated to mislead them in regard to their true character ; and for a time, perhaps suc ceed in pulling the wool over their eyes to the extent of securing for themselves the advantage of high official positions, which place then before the world as recognized, honored leaders, enjoying the full confidence of the Fraternity. Not having the true spirit of Masonry in them, we often find them opposed to measures that would be of undoubted benefit to the Craft or advocating others that would work to its injury ; when the one would interfere with some pet scheme of their own, or the other gratify the longings of a selfish ambition. They remain obedient to Masonic law so far as to protect themselves from charges for un-Masonic conduct, but where there is 110 fear of a penalty to restrain them, they set it at defiance upon the slightest provocation. Thns they travel on, until their cupidity is discovered, and they aie made to fall back to the rear, wt-ere they generally follow in forced submis sion until all hope of regaining their lost position has passed away, when at the first cross-load they desert from the ranks, and strike out for the camp of non-affiliates, enlist under their banner, upon which is in.scribed one significant word—Deserters. There is another class of Masons, often found upon the highway of Masonry, who are active and officious, apparently well-meaning, and would do what is right if they only knew how ; but w'ho never make an effort to gain the infor mation to qualify themselves to act until the very moment when action becomes necessary. They pass the finger posts without observing the instructions upon them, and then halt the procession while they discuss the question whether they are on the right road or not. Without the means at Land to arrive at a conclusion, such discussions are worse than useless, for they consume valuable time, an-1 still do not develop the desired information. Finally they move on, and to thir mortification, find at last that they, made a great mistake. One bright Mason is worth more to a Lodge than a score of such members. Another class of masons, and we are sorry to say they are exceedingly numer ous, are no better informed than those last described, and are this much worse that they dont seem to care whether they are right or wrong, they vote “hit or miss on all questions, with a song Jroid that would have astonished King Solomon himself. Now we do really believe that they desire to do do right, but are too in dolent to make even an effort to find out whether they are or not. Perhaps they are not as much to blame as those who made them Masons. There are other cla.sses of Masons that we might mention in this connection but we will let them rest until some fu ture time. We do not expect much ben efit from an article like this, for tho.se for whom it is designed are seldom among those who read a Masonic journal. It is however the duty of all good Masons to make an effort to correct existing evils, and we have called the attention of our readers to a few such hoping that they will endeavor, so far as lies in their pow er, to aid in bringing about a reformation among the classes we have named. By so doing they W'ill not only benefit the parties themselves, but add to the happi ness of the whole Fraternity.—Masonic Advocate, Preserve the Landmarks. In nothing are the beauties of Freema sonry more apparent than the tenacity with which its devotees adhere to the preservation of the ancient landmarks. It is almost with dread that every true Mason hears the word “innovation" men tioned, since it has done so much to in jure the Order and give its enemies the advantage. Freemasonry cannot be in unison with any system that is antagon istic to its principles ; hence, the promis cuous banding of the sexes together un der the delusive notion that they are Masons, is utterly and wholly inidmissi bleina Masonic sense. To establish a so-called Masonic body under the system of “Adoptive Masonry” is down right heresy, and naturally subjects its promo ters to the imputation of being influenced by improper motives, for what other than an unworthy object, could auy one have in falsifying the character of the institution to which he belongs; Masons can have no feelings in common with those who seek to make their Order subservient to personal ends, or who give “aid and com fort” to what are known as ‘s de degrees’ in which men and women become par ticipants. There is no affinity, between the real and the fictitious, any more than there is anything tangible in what is con trary to the principles of true Masonry. Such bodies as the Eastern Star, Queen of Sheba and lodges of Knights of doubt ful existence, which have no connection with symbolic Masonry as handed down and practiced from the earliest ages, ace unreal, and should receive no counten ance from the true fraternity. It is to be regretted, however, that some Masonic journals argue in favor of the Institution of "Adoptive Masonry,” and even hold that it is in consonance with the prinoi pies of the Order. How any Masonic journal can do so, and still believe that it advocates the preservation of the an cient landmarks, surprises us not a little. With the Constitutions of the Grand Lodges before them, all of which in effect declare “the ancient landmarks of the Order are to he carefully preserved,” and that “the Lodges must work according to the landmarks of the Fraternity,” we cannot see the consistency of favoring adoptive Masonry. Among our neighbors this androgyn ous Masonry has made greater progress than could have been anticipated; but we verily believe it would not have suc ceeded so well as it has done, if it had been frowned down as it ought to have been, by the united voice of the Masonic press. There can be little doubt that the encouragement given to the illegal so called M.asonio bodies in the United States, has had a great effect in strength ening Anti-Masonry there. It is time that the Masonic press united on the sub ject and came out boldly in defence of the maintenance of the principles of the Order they profess to support. It will not do to tamper with spurious Masoury when it is so desirable to stamp out eve rything in the form of a sham ; and we feel persuaded it should he the aim and object of all good and true Masons to discountenance the organization of all bodies of the character aduded to.— Hamilton Ont. Craftsman, “Cleanliness is Next to Godli ness.” It does not matter as to the source from whence this old proverb is derived,—it states an important truth, the force and bearing of which apply to many depart ments of life. Just now our thought would direct its application to the hails and rooms m-ade use of by the Craft, over the entrance to some of which apartments we could desire this motto to he conspic uously inscribed. If there is anything depressing and demoralizing, it is to en ter a Lodge room where the air is close and vile; where a heavy coating of dust rests on seats and furniture ; where dis colored walls and oaipet meet the eye unpleasantly, and huge spittoons scatter ed about the floor filled with exhausted tobacco quids and cigar stamps add to the general dismalneas of the situation. Such a condition of things is both un seemly and repulsive. It detracts from the charm of a true Lodge ; it puts the Institution at a disadvantage; work is done under difficulties; lessons and senti ments of the most exalted character fail to produce any deep impression, for the moral atmosphere of the place to some extent takes on the character pf the sur roundings, and when these matters are not properly attended to there is always a perceptible lack of interest and inspira tion. If the Lodge room cannot be spa cious or magnificent,—if its furniture and appointments needs must be humble and inexpensive, the place may yet he at.- tractive by the care and neatness that shall be discernible in all its arrange ments, Let it at least be made clean and wholesome as any lady’s parlor, whatev er shall be lacking in the furniture or equipments. Remember the proverb, “Olea-iliness is next to Godliness,”— Freemasons Repository, Directory, Grand Council of N. C.—C. M. VanOra- dell, 0." Wilmington, M, I. G. M.; D.- W. Bain, Raleigli, 6. Recorder. Grand Charter op N. C.—Tlios. S Keenan, Wilson, G. H. F., D. W. Bain, Ral eigh, G. Sect’y, Grand Lodge op-N. C.—Geo. W. Bloimt. Wilson, G. Ji/., I). W. Bain, Raleigh, G, Secty. Greensboro Counuil No. 3, R. & S. M.. Greensboro N. C,—TJios. J. Sloan, T. I M., S. E. Allen, Fecorder. Time of meeting: 4tti Wednesday niglit of each montli. Chokazin Chapter, No. 13, Greensboro, N. C.—Thos, J. Sloan, JligJt Priest, J. N. Nelson, Secretary. Time of meeting: 3rd Friday niglit of eaoli month. Greensboro, Lodge, 76, Greensboro, N, C.—,S C. Dodson, W. M. J. W. Drch, Setre- tary. Time of Regular Communication, First Saturday in .January, Marcli, Jfay, July, September and November, at 10 o'clock a. m., and on Firt Saturday in each other month at night. Elmwood Lodge, No. 346, Greensboro, N. C.—.1. A. Odell, W. M., Jno. Cliamberlain, Secretary. Time of Regular Communications: second Saturday night of each inontli. Business Notices. Patrons desiring advertisements in any par ticular issue of this paper should liand then- in two days previous to day of publication. * For unique attractive and linislied Styles of Pliotographic woi’k, apply at the Art Studio ot L. W. Andrews j’eas,—Wholesale and Ketatl.—J. W. Scott A Co., have just received dii ect from thr Importers a nice lot of Teas—^-iiaranteed good strength and tine Davor; Not low priceci trashy goods. Let it not be forgotten in these dull time.- ^^lat a penny saved is two pennies made. Detennined to “do as he would be done hj/' Bogart keeps his goods so low that all can buy: and as an evidence of public appreciation Ills stock lias to be replenished weekly to meet the demands upon it. Almost anything in the line of Dry Goods can be found at 4^— Bogart’s. 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