Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

UNFAIR CLAIMS ON THE CHARITIES

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Will you please give me some part of your space for the expression of my opinion on what I deem-an error in tbe system of management of the Masonio Schools . I allude to the admission of more than one member of a family to the benefits of

the Institutions , to the exclusion of others equally and perhaps more deserving , though not so fortunate . I had an idea there was a law to prevent m < ro than one child of a family being admitted , bnt such con hardly be tbe case , ns evidenced by the balloting papers for the next elections . I there find ten instances in which it is sought to

secure for a second child of a family admission to oor Schools , and that in the face of there being seventeen other candidates beyond the number of vacancies . In the case of the Girls one of the candidates his a brother in the Boys' School , while another has had a sister < ducnted in the Girls' School . In tho case of the Boys

there nro no loss than eight of the applicants who have sisters in the other Institution . Is this fair , just , equitable or advisable ? I think not . However deserving a case may be , I think that if the Masonic Schools take one of tbe children they should not be asked to do more until all the other families desiring assistance have received

something , and this of course can only be determined when there ai'e not as many candidates as there are vacancies . I shall be very pleased to learn the views of other subscribers on this point , and if you will do me the honour of inserting this letter it may lead to the expression of some opinions . I am , & c . A SUPPORTER OF THE SCHOOLS .

Abuse Of The Ballot

ABUSE OF THE BALLOT

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The minds of some brethren just now are ranch exercised as to the right use of the ballot in Lodges . As to theory there can be no question . Every Lodge regulates the

admission of members after its own fashion , the prevailing rule being that three black balls exclude . In some cases one black ball excludes . The principle is a right one , though , like other principles , it is open to abuse . Or . as Scotia ' s bard , Brother Burns , puts it in his " Poem to a Mouse"

—The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft a-gley . The ballot is just one of those dangerous instruments by the use of which vicious men may gratify their feelings of revenge . When used spitefully it is the weapon of the assassin . Its proper use is the

safeguard of individuals and protection to the Lodge . I do not see how it is possible to prevent the misuse of the ballot , except it bo by extending the number of black balls . If this were done it is hardly likely that a sufficient number of vicious malcontents could be found banded together to gratify their spite . Where , however , disaffection

runs high , there is generally some justification for the resort to extreme measures . I do not say that the ruthless exclusion of innocent men can be justified , but that the evil temper that prevails has some foundation , however slight , for its existence . A Master of a Lodge , if he be discreet and generous , can generally regulate these

matters . If not , the Secretary and the Past Masters ought to be able to compose differences . To seek to discover tbe blackballed would be a violation of the principle of the ballot , and all that can be done is by precept and example to enforce the moral obligation which every one accepts when he becomes a Freemason . Whenever

it is known that an obnoxious person is to be proposed , it is wise for those who object to quietly lay the facts before the W . M . and the Secretary , and the Lodge must be in a bad way indeed if some satisfactory arrangement cannot be come to . If any overt offensive act is done by any one in authority no surprise need be felt if reprisals are

taken . When snch is the case it would be better by far to suspend the Lodge Warrant for a time , for morally the Lodge is defunct . A case occurred in my own Lodge , where a candidate was proposed , whose character and social position were objected to by some of the members . The matter was quietly laid before the Secretary . Ho

caused inquiries to be made , and found that the representations of the complaining brethren were well founded . He informed the mover and seconder of the candidate of the position of affairs , and as loyal brethren they at once withdrew tho nomination . Mark the sequel . The facts were known to au old Past Master of another Lodge , a

Preceptor of a Lodge of Instruction , and a P . Z ., and he either nominated or got the rejected candidate nominated in his own Lodge . The action of my Lodge was defied , and another Lodge , without inquiry , accepted the material we thought unworthy . I can positively vouch for tho fact

that there was no personal feeling with regard to the candidate so far as we were concerned ; tbe Lodge simply acted up to its sense of duty . It was foiled in what 1 term an unworthy manner , but we

had no remedy . There are many things clone in this life which the laws of courtesy and kindness alone can regulate , and when this law is absent , and vindictive feelings take its place , the purest institution in the woi Id is powerless to protect itself . The only plan is to

Abuse Of The Ballot

avoid cause of offence , for those in authority to be above suspicion , and then when the evil day comes the strength of loyalty will be too much for the disaffected . Masonry to be worth anything should approach its ideal as closely as possible , and no opportunity should be lost of enforcing the moral and spiritual lessons inculcated in the

ceremonies . The Lodge is happy and prosperous in proportion to the sandard of morality it has attained . When suspicion has no foothold , when the acts of the brethren are accepted without question as to their bona fides , then disaffection cannot rear its head , aud

laws become mere records , because they are not needed in operation . I accept tho ballot as a necessary adjunct to tbe carrying out of some of the affairs of the Lodge , but I honour and revere the conrtesy that ia born of chivalry and kindly feeling .

I am , Sir aud Brother , Yours fraternally , BALLOT .

Intemperance And Freemasonry.

INTEMPERANCE AND FREEMASONRY .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The title of my letter may be somewhat repugnant to the taste of my brother Masons , but I hardly feel myself justified in removing the little prefix "In" from the first word , although , perhaps that would leave almost as good a title as the

ono I have adopted . Inasmuch , however , as it is my desire to refer to an intemperate , and to my mind unmasonic title , I accept the responsibility of tho connection I have associated Freemasonry with and proceed to my subject . Both you and your contemporary have in many cases recently prefixed a " W . " to the initial " S . " used in

your reports to signify the Stewards of our Lodges . What does this mean ? I am informed it signifies " Wine Steward , " and that the revised title is now becoming general in many Lodges , the brother appointed as " Steward" being formally invested as " Wine Steward " and his duties in the latter capacity being graphically

described . Is this a fact ? If so , I certainly think those who use the prefix are acting wrongly . Where do our Lodges get their authority from to appoint or retain a Wine Steward ? Is such a title calculated to add to our reputation for Temperance ? I think not , and I also feel that the use of the , to me , obnoxious prefix should ere this have called forth official denunciation from the rnlers of the Craft . I am , & c . A SENSITIVE ONE .

Lodges Of Instruction.

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your correspondent "VIA MEDIA " has a somewhat elastic conscience . He admits that he has often thought , with me , that " the practice of drinking and smoking during the progress of business in Lodges of Instruction is not compatible with the

" exposition of the most sublime system of morality . " But then , he urges , the whole matter has been threshed out , and the happy—I was going to say the nanghfcy , therefore nice—conclusion has been arrived at "that too hard and fast a line cannot be drawn . " I do not see that any line is drawn at all by anything advanced by '' V IA

MEDIA . " The whole case , according to his reasoning , is just where it was . Every brother has been and apparently is to remain a " law unto himself , " and the enjoyment of social pleasure is to take rank with duty and reverence . I never compared the practices of a Lodge with " a drinking bout in a tap room , " and I certainly cannot

subscribe to the theory that a brother s indulgence is , as a rule , limited to one glass . If that were so , I do not think publicans would be quite so ready as they appear to be to have Lodges of Instruction at their houses . "VIA MEDIA " says , " the innate consciousness of the brethren causes them naturally to cease from smoking during the more

reverent portions of the ceremonies . " This admission seems to me to yield the whole case . He must have a very discriminating judgment who can determine between that which is " reverent , " "more reverent , " and to make comparison complete , "most reverent , " in our ceremonies . The spirit of reverence reaches from the

beginning to the end ; it only takes different forms , and is only more or less beautiful according to tbe degree that is being rehearsed . There is scarcely a paragraph throughout the three ceremonies that does not breathe religious and moral truths , and these , as a whole , and not in degree , claim our reverence . Smoking and drinking are ,

logically speaking , as incongruous in a Lodge of Instruction as they would be in a church or chapel . I pass over the welcome myth about the "fragrant weed , " and a glass of ale assisting memory . Neither the habit of concentration nor memory needs any such stimulus .

Further on , " VIA MEDIA" quits my company altogether . He says : " To grumble at this one little fault ( meaning smoking and driuk . iug ) , if it can be called a fault at all , is to strain at a gnat and swallow a camel . " He forgets that he has already swallowed a very respectable camel in admitting much that I have stated to be true .

Then I am rebuked for suggesting that the Lodge should be called off to allow of the brethren taking refreshment , or that the hours of labour should be shortened . No , says " VIA MEDIA , " let the brethren who hive conscientious scruples as to combining social enjoyment with instruction look elsewhere for what they desire ; " for my own

part , I thoroughly enjoy my cigar while listening to , and endeavouring to learn , the routine of our interesting ceremonies ; and look upon an evening at my Lodge of Instruction as one of tho most soothing , agreeable , aud edifying of the week . " A brother seeking instruction

has a right to expect it to be broadly the same everywhere , and it is not competent for any other brother virtually to say that if he does not like what he gets at certain Lodges , he must go elsewhere . The complaining brother knows all that perfectly well , but it is no