The Increase Of Freemasons.

THE INCREASE OF FREEMASONS .

IT is never to be forgotten that proselyting is forbidden in Freemasonry . No effort is permitted to bring over to Masonry any profane who has not of himself manifested a desire to unite with the Fraternity . ' Persuasion , or any inducement , cannot be used to bring into the Craft any one who thus is influenced , for he would not be worthy of the trust to be devolved on him as a Mason . It must be of his own free will , by the exercise of his intelligence and conscience , that his judgment is impressed and causes him to seek admission into , and association with , the Brotherhood of

Freemasons . All the information he may require to decide for himself can be found in the exoteric teaching of recognised Masonic authority . Tho history of Masonry is sufficiently well-known , its its influence to investi

principles explained , on society open gation , the character of the whole Craft before the world clearly portrayed , so that the true , earnest and honest aspirant for Masonic membership needs no inducements or allurements to excite compulsion to present his application for admission . and its

Masonry is not , never has been , so long as fundamental principles are maintained , never can be composed of men who seek the benefits or advantages which mark the incitements to enter profane organisations . Entering Masonry , all must divest themselves of those motives and considerations which give to all other associations which glitter with enticements , excuse or pretexts , to attract members .

Masonry pays no premiums , nor bounties for membership . Its laws are as rigid as those of the " Medes and Persians , " which history has made into a proverb , that they are unalterable . These laws are few and plain , originating with the earliest of days in a system of jurisprudence that is to-day older than empires , languages or organised society ; is therefore free from those modern policies which are liable to all sorts of interpretations .

Justice and equity are the corner-stones of Masonic jurisprudence . Justice , that has been sanctioned as right by the wisest of the generations of men ; equity which is the conscience of the fathers since the aforetime . Both were living principles set forth before the " Ten Tables " of the pre-Christian era . St . John and St . Paul , nearly two thousand years ago , taught the principles of that justice and equity . Therefore it is contradiction that is

beyond Freemasonry a law unto itself , and he who seeks to be a Freemason must come asking admission on the basis of obedience to the laws and regulations of the Fraternity . These have been tried by many generations of men ; they have been tested by long and . close investigation and examination ; they have been honoured , commended and approved by the wise and good .

It is not to be supposed then , that such an institution as Freemasonry needs to offer , or present , any inducements to secure membership . It cannot be asserted , for it is proclaimed that any such effort is not permitted . If any such influence was used in any individual case , and it tried to be hidden , as though it could not be discovered in the " Light , " so that if made manifest it would destroy the possibility of its successful

operation . Thus it is , and therefore , that Freemasonry has maintained its character ; defeated all attempts to impair its existence ; in the full possession of its rank and power in the State , it has

lost neither " jot nor tittle of its principles , its esotericism , its landmarks or its symbology . Beyond reproach of all ri ghtthinking men , assailed only by one-sided cecityists , whose blindness would be total , unless their vision was excited by nha . ntnms .

What need then has Freemasonry to proselyte ? It is wise enough to know that those who seek to enter its portals from persuasions of friends , or some unworthy motives , or for selfinterest , or for what could be of personal advantage or benefit , would prove themselves destructive of the harmony of the Craft , bring reproach on the Masonic character , and go to justify the belief that Freemasons were their worst enemies , for they were found in the household of the Craft .

Careful watchfulness should be the duty of the members of a Lodge to prevent unworthy men from obtaining the ri ghts and privileges oi Masonry . Watch the preparing-room door ; test every application by the inexorable law which permits his initiation . — " Keystone . "

ANNUAL DINNER OF THE UPTON LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . THERE was a very large and enthusiastic gathering on Monday , at tho Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street , on the occasion of the fourth annual dinner and concert of the Upton Lodge of Instruction , No . 1227 ,

The Increase Of Freemasons.

when Bro . G . A . Peters W . M . of the Mother Lodge presided , faced by Bro . H . Hyde and Bro . W . J . Carroll in the chairs of Wardens . An enjoyable dinner was well served , after whioh , the tables having been cleared , the after proceedings were commenced The President had much pleasure in proposing the first toast of tbe

evening—that of Her Majesty the Queen . For a period of sixty years the country had been ruled by a lady who had won the esteem and regard of every citizen , and he felt no words were needed from him to ensure a hearty welcome for the toast of Her Majesty the Queen , which was drunk with enthusiasm .

Later in the evening Bro . Hyde submitted the health of the President . This , he said , was a most important toast—really the chief one of the evening—the health of the W . M . of the Lodge Bro . G . A . Peters President of the meeting . He need not say much in introducing this toast , as they could see for themselves what a splendid President he made . In the Lodge he was equally able in carrying out the duties of his office . He had conducted all the work of the Lodge to their satisfaction and in so pleasing a way as to ensure comfort and enjoyment for all .

Bro . Peters replied . He thanked the company most sincerely for the hearty reception of the toast . At that moment he was reminded of the first dinner they had in connection with their Lodge of Instruction . On that occasion , in the selfish way for which men were proverbial , they had all the fun to themselves , but since then they had found out how much better it was to do away for the time with some of their selfishness and invite their wives aud lady friends to partake with them of the pleasures of their social evenings . Next year they hoped to be able to have more than one such gathering .

Bro . E . M . Jeffrey I . P . M . of the Upton Lodge deemed it a pleasing duty having to propose the toast of the Ladies , who really deserved the special thanks of the company for rallying round them on that occasion , and gracing the assembly that evening . For four consecutive years the Lodge of Instruction had held these meetings , and each had proved more successful than the previous one—certainly such was the case that night , and he could but hope that any future meetings that might be arranged would be as well supported by the Ladies , and prove equally successful .

Bro . Rowberry , who had acted as Secretary to the Dinner Committee , and whose hard work in that capacity had contributed to a considerable extent to the success of the meeting , was associated with the toast . He said , in reply , that it afforded him very great pleasure indeed to respond to the very hearty welcome accorded the Ladies on that occasion , and on their behalf he tendered thanks to the Committee and Brethren of the Upton Lodge of Instruction for their entertainment that day . The Ladies had all . enjoyed themselves very much , and looked forward with pleasurable anticipation to another such gathering on some future occasion .

During the evening a gift was made to each of the Ladies of a little souvenir of the meeting , which , in every respect must be described as an unqualified success . The concert was under the direction of Bro . R . Chitson 1278 , who was supported by Madame Clare Pettitt , Bro . F . F . Norman , Bro . F . Fiestel , Professor H . Ivatts , and Messrs . Havelock Mason , Isadora . Isaacs , Charles Chitson , Sadleur Browne , Charles Thewlis , J . Boswell , S . D'Harcourt , and H . Fullbrook .

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