The Time Limit In Freemasonry.

THE TIME LIMIT IN FREEMASONRY .

ONE of the most important features in connection with the admission of new members into the Masonic Order is to be found in the restrictions made by the Craft , and also by the Eoyal Arch , as to the time at which the several steps in Freemasonry

maybe conferred on a candidate ; and it is a matter of considerable surprise to many that slips in this direction so frequently occur . We publish in our correspondence column a letter on this subject , which calls for notice and supplies some interesting points

on the question . In considering the subject in all its bearings it is necessary to start with a candidate ' s original qualifications for admission , and here we find questions

of time recognised as being of paramount importance . A candidate cannot be proposed until he is of the full age of twenty-one years , while it is further enjoined ( Eule 184 ) that : " no person shall be made a Mason

without having been proposed and seconded at one regular Lodge , and balloted for at the next regular Lodge . " Eule 185 provides that in case of an emergency this procedure may be departed from , as

follows : " any two members of a Lodge may transmit in writing to the Master the name , ago , profession or occupation , and place of abode of any candidate whom they may wish to propose , and the circumstances

which cause the emergency ; and if in his opinion the emergency be real , the Master shall notify the proposition to every member of his Lodge , . . if the candidate be then approved on the ballot ,

he may be initiated . The Master shall , previously to the ballot being taken state to the Lodge the cause of the emergency , which shall be recorded in the minutes . " "We have only

referred to this law in regard to proposition in cases of " emergency " because it has a direct bearing on the point now at issue—the time question—but having done so we may say a word in regard to its pretty general violation , especially as some may recognise

m this first departure from the " time laws the cause of much of the trouble that occurs later on . It is fair to say that most of our Lodges pay little regard to Rules 184 and 185 of the Constitutions .

Candidates are regularly balloted for without previous proposition in open Lodge , and not in one case in a hundred is any explanation of the " emergency " vouchsafed from the chair , much less entered upon

tne minutes , as is required by tne laws oi tne Urait . We have previously urged the impropriety of allowing such a procedure , but the evil is too deep rooted to yield -to mild measures of reform , and we imagine

nothing will be attempted in this direction unless the whole question of " time qualification " comes forward for consideration .

Having been admitted into the mysteries ot the first degree the candidate finds his further progress barred by fresh time limitations , it being specially

The Time Limit In Freemasonry.

prohibited by Eule 195 that " a higher degree be conferred on any brother at a less interval than four weeks . from his receiving a previous degree . " Violations of this Eule are not of frequent occurrence , for

the reason that most of our Lodges only hold meetings at intervals of a month , but some of those whose dates of assembly are , fixed by the phases of the moon do occasionally get meetings at intervals of less than

twenty-eight days , and if they have candidates for advancement oh those occasions their preferment must be postponed , or there is an infringement of the law—in fact , if not in spirit . There are some -who

argue that a meeting held on , say ,, the Tuesday before the full moon in one month is virtually a month before the Tuesday equally situated in the next , although there may not have been an interval of twentv-eisht davs between the two .

4 / W *> Where we find the most frequent violations of the time rule is in connection -with the superior degree of the Eoyal Arch , candidates for which must have been twelve months in Craft Masonry before being eligible

for exaltation . As is pointed out by the correspondent to whose letter we have already referred , tho meeting of Grand Chapter on Wednesday last ailbrds two instances of infringement of this law , and many other

instances havo preceded them . This year s probation in the Craft is really the first essential qualification in a candidate for Eoyal Arch Freemasonry . Every member of the degree is aware of it , or should be ,

just as every member of the Craft knows he must not propose an underaged candidate for initiation , and yet violations of the law are common . As our correspondent argues we think the time has arrived when

something more than mere censures and " reprimands" should be imposed by Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter in such cases . Such " moral" persuasion has no material effect on those who err , and by so doing bring disgrace on our Order , the

work of which should be conducted regularly and in full recognition of the laws which govern the Institution . The old Constitutions laid it down that a violation or neglect of any of the- laws , as to

proposition and probation , to which we have referred , should " subject the Lodge offending to erasure , and no emergency can be allowed as a justification . " The modification of these penalties was no doubt brought about as a result of their being regularly disregarded ,

but there is no reason -why the authorities should allow their leniency to be taken advantage of . Without being too severe on offenders , something might be attempted to uphold the dignity of the Masonic Order in this direction .

The Longsight Lodge , No . 24 G 4 , was consecrated on Wednesday by Col . Le Gendre Starkie Provincial Grand Master East Lancashire .. Bro . Thomas TJttley was installed as first Master . We hope to give a full report of the proceedings next week .