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These building splendid for there day represented the scientists, but from their researches we may make
pioneer lodges. The fi rst of the modern structures was some answer to the question above propounded which
at Butte, since which the craft has erected beautiful may be intelligible to all. Professor Roscoe C. Pound,
structures in Missoula, Billings, Lewistown, Miles a student of jurisprudence and sociology, wrote a
City and Great Falls, there are lodges which own series of articles in the Builder magazine, which I
their own buildings and other lodges which own commend to students of this subject, and from which I
the furniture, fi xtures and decorations of their own am taking for this article in the following. He gives to
meeting places. But they are diff erent from the type my question three answers.
of building to which I now refer, building of the most
modern and unique structure, which attract attention 1. What is the end of Masonry; for what do we exist
by their architectural contribution to the community, as an organization? The answer of the Masonic neo-
the good taste displayed in their furnishing and idealist would be that our common with all social
decorations, and by reason of their being set apart institutions is to preserve, to develop,and to transmit
for the exclusive use of the fraternity. They represent to posterity the civilization wrought by our fathers and
another stage in the development of the fraternity. Part passed on to us.
of a movement for more beautiful cites which marks
a permanent advance in our civilization, and their 2.What is the place of Masonry in a rational scheme
infl uence upon the community is bound to be lasting of human activity? What is its relation to other
and ought to be permanently valuable. But there may kindred activities? The answer would be, that it is
well come a time when we again say what if the fl oor an organization of human eff ort along the universal
had no covering, the wall had no plastering, and the lines on which all may agree in order to realize our
seats had no upholstery, is it only the building that fate in the effi cacy of conscious eff ort in preserving
makes us this fraternity? and promoting civilization. What other human
organizations do along lines of caste or creed or within
What is this mystic art which men call Masonry? political or territorial limits hampered by the limits of
The question is natural and appropriate and not easy political feelings or local prejudice, we seek to achieve
of satisfactory response. It has been often asked and by universality-by organizing the universal elements
many answers given, some of which would here be in man that make for culture and civilization.
inappropriate. I like to think and speak of Masonry
as a force, an infl uence, not merely an institution or a 3. How does Masonry achieve its end? Our answer
building. Institutions change with the changing ages would be that it makes for civilization by its insistence
of man. Truth and the forces which fl ow from it abide on the solidarity of humanity, by its insistence on
always, and are constant. The origin of institutions universality and by the preservation and transmission
may be recent and their history brief. The sources of of an immemorial tradition of human solidarity and of
infl uence or spiritual force must be looked for in the universality.
remotest ages. Like a river invigorating with its life-
giving waters the great plains of a continent through And he sums up the guiding principle of Masonry
which it fl ows, its source, is still hidden in the dark as follows: "Moreover the idea of universality has
recesses of some great mountain where power dwells, a special message to the Masons for the good of
a part in the eternal solitude. So Masonry, to the Masonry. Every world organization hitherto has been
student and the philosopher of life fi nds its source in wrecked ultimately upon its own dogmatism. It has
the early history of civilization. taken the dogmas, the interpretation,the philosophy of
its youth for a fi xed order of nature. It has assumed
The idealist school fi nds traces of Masonry all along that universality consists in forcing these dogmas,
man's pathway on earth. Sociologists tell us that these interpretations, this philosophy upon all time to
next to the family, which antedates society, the most come.
primitive and most universal of social institutions is
the association of grown men in a secret society. They While it has rested serene in the rut made by its own
tell us that this association of men is the result of an posterity, the world has marched by unseen. We have
instinct which leads men of the same age, with the a glorious body of tradition handed down to us from
same interest and the same duties to group themselves the past, which we owe it to transmit unimpaired to the
into separate and distinct groups; and from these future. But let us understand what in it is fundamental
primitive secret societies have grown our political, and eternal, and what is mere interpretation to make
religious, trade and charitable organizations. We may it of service to the past. Let us while we have it use it
not all be able to follow the line of reasoning of these well to make it of service to the present.
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