Freemasonry In India.

appears that so far as the returns had been received , there had been during tho year 1880 , 103 initiations , 93 passings , 78 raisings and 51 affiliations , as against 121 , 103 , 93 , and 71 respectively in the year 1879 . The accounts for the past year were still more satisfactory . The General Fund exhibited

receipts , including the balance brought forward of upwards of 2 , 575 Rupees , amounting to 5 , 685 Rupees , while tho expenditure but slightly exceeded 2 , 165 Rupees , so that the balance in tbe Agra Bank on the 31 st of December 1880 , was over 3 , 520 Rupees . The

account of the Scottisb Freemasons' Benevolent Society for the same period started with a balance in hand of 5 , 307 Rupees . The Receipts , consisting of Donations , 250 Rupees , interest , 270 Rupees , and Fees , & c . 847 Rupees , amount to 1 , 367 Rupees , making altogether the very

handsome debit of over 6 , 674 Rupees . The per contra side of the account shows an expenditure of 395 Rupees in tbe way of Benevolence and 2 annas for stamps , leaving a balance of 6 , 279 Rupees , consisting of 4 , 122 Rupees Government paper , 2 , 018 Rupees in Government Savings '

Bank , and 139 Rupees in cash . We cannot but congratulate the Society on the modesty of its expenses . Two annas are the equivalent of three pence sterling , so tbat the actual outlay of the Scottisb Freemasons' Benevolent

Society in respect of office management is just the onefourth part of a shilling . We think it would be difficult to lay one ' s hand on a greater instance of economy . The remaining business transacted at the meeting does not need any special comment .

The Apologetic Member.

THE APOLOGETIC MEMBER .

THB man of many apologies ! Who is there that has not at some time or other made the acquaintance of sucb an . individual ? Frequently to be found in the ordinary pursuits of life , he is consequently among the types of character generally looked for in a Masonic Lodge , where either as member or visitor he finds ample opportunity for

exercising his peculiar foible . If be be thoroughly proficient he is ready with an apology on every occasion , and not unfrequently he actually apologises for troubling the world with his existence . But for all this he is seldom an objectionable man , he can and does make himself agreeable ,

and , once his peculiarity is known , his remarks give rise to no little mirth . It is very interesting to study tbe means which men of this stamp adopt in exercising their

peculiar trait . They apologise upon subjects which would pass the notice of the ordinary observer , and the way in which they do so sometimes creates a doubt in the mind as to whether the limits of crood taste have or have not been

exceeded . In the Lodge the apologist is quite at home . He regrets , to this or that brother that , as the case may be , so few or go many members are present ; he apologises because there is no work in the second or third degree , or that the

ceremony peculiar to the latter is the only one to be worked that evening . If only Bro . P . M . were in attendance it would be a treat indeed . The present Master has not had the experience of the absentee in that particular branch of the ritual , and consequently cannot work it so well . These

and similar remarks are among those most frequently made use of . At the festive board the rule equally applies , but here , the license being much greater , the scope for the display of a brother ' s particular weakness is correspondingly wider . Accordingly , we have it applied with much greater

frequency . The visitor in this respect , as in all other studies of Masonic character , supplies the best illustration . How frequently an apologetic visitor is to be found ? To begin with there is not one in six but apologises , because , iu his own estimation , he is so unworthy

a representative of the guests of the day , and we think a good majority of them preface their remarks with au apology for taking up the time of the meeting with the few remarks they are about to offer . The man who can carry out this latter apology consistently is indeed a character ,

and may really be denominated a study in himself . He will take ten minutes to explain that at the late hour at which they find themselves , it would be unjust for him to occupy the time of the brethren with any lengthened remarks . If time permitted , it had been his intention to refer more particularly to the working of the several

The Apologetic Member.

Officers , to the general good feeling evinced by the brethren , and to the apparent unanimity of the Lodge , but all this he regrets is cut short by the exigencies of tbe occasion , and so he contents himself , as we have alread y said , with speaking for a considerable time with the view of

explaining that he will not say anything . Then there is the member who could not depart comfortably unless he , some time during the evening , had an opportunity of publicl y apologising for something or other ; he is a terror to tho Master , who never knows when to expect bis rising , or to

anticipate the subject he will select for his commeuts . Iu days gone by , we knew a splendid specimen of this peculiar genus . He and ourselves were members of the same dramatic society , and whenever we gave a performance , his hearty co-operation waa a certainty if we could

guarantee his appearing before the audience , at least once during the evening , aa an apologist . We could not afford to discourage him , and , as a consequence , our readers may imagine that some very peculiar excuses were made during the progress of our performances .

Since those days we have come to the conclusion that he was not exactly alone in his peculiarity ; for it ap pears to be a recognized part of an amateur performance to have some such character introduced during the evening . But the worst form in which this peculiarity asserts itself

is , when it is practised by the Master . Happily such instances are rare , as the training a man has to go through before he can attain tbe highest position in the Lodge tends to remove any such blemishes . But as we believe there are some men who are born witb this peculiarity in them , it is of course

useless to suppose * it can be wholly prevented even in the occupant of the chair . In such cases a moderate display of the weakness might pass almost unnoticed , while a confirmed apologist would soon convince his hearers that he was really nnder the influence of a kind of monomania , and thus would be entitled to sympathy rather than otherwise .

Lodge Of Benevolence.

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE .

WE have latterly been favoured witb several letters on the present system of administering relief as authorised by the Constitutions , and as this system will be made tbe subject of a motion at the next meeting of Grand Lodge , there is just now a favourable opportunity for discussing the pros and cons of the case . We have already

called attention to the delay which occurs in the payment of all grants in excess of £ 50 . An article appeared in these columns on 29 th May of last year , and in it we may be said to have first foreshadowed the objection which has so recently been taken by Bro . Perceval to the system at

present in force . However , before we enter upon our argument , it will be as well if we place before our readers , in brief , the regulations which the Constitutions impose upon the Lodge of Benevolence for tbe administration of the Fund entrusted to its care . Of the pre-requisite conditions

with which every applicant for relief must comply it is unnecessary to say more than that they have been framed with the greatest care , and are tborougbly calculated to ensure the maximum of security from imposition . The important consideration is tbe terms of payment . Smaller votes or

recommendations—that is , for sums not exceeding £ 10—take effect immediately , without needing confirmation by the Lodge of Benevolence ; but as regards a vote or recommendation for any greater sum " it shall not be effectual until confirmed at the next or subsequent meeting " of the

said Lodge , " except in cases of recommendation to Grand Lodge . " At the same , time "the Lodge may at once pay any sum not exceeding ten pounds on account of any vote or recommendation of the Lodge exceeding that sum . " Should the Lodge , in the exercise of its discretion , see fit

to reconsider tbe case , then " the Lodge , instead of confirming the grant or recommendation , may reduce it to any sum not less than that which has been paid on account , ancl the resolution of reduction shall not require

confirmation . " It is within the competence of the Lodge to order payment of any sum not exceeding £ 20 towards the relief of a brother , or £ 10 to that of a widow or child—where there is a widow with a child or children

dependent on her , or where there is more than one orp han this may be increased by £ 20—subject , of course , in the case of amounts over £ 10 , to the prescribed confirmation ,