Undercurrents In Freemasonry.

UNDERCURRENTS IN FREEMASONRY .

WE have , on more than one occasion in the past , written , under various headings , much of what might be said in considering the effect of " undernnrrflnts " on the Masonic svstem . Wo have snoken

of the influence of certain individuals in the conduct of their Lodges , and the power they exercise on the work carried out therein , and to a certain extent the undercurrents to which we shall now devote our attention owe their origin to the influence of one or other of the members ol * the Lodge wherein they are felt—whether for good or for evil , time and circumstance can alone determine .

Happily Freemasonry does not show much of the evil influences of human nature . There is very little strife or discontent in its midst , and in the large majority of cases the work of the Order seems to be conducted without a hitch . Very much of this

apparent unanimity is to be accounted for by the presence of strong undercurrents running in our midst , and "we think it is not saying too much when we give considerable credit to those who are able to influence their companions in this quiet unostentatious manner .

In one Lodge we find the Master supported by a strong section of the members who , by themselves or their influence , exercise considerable power on the actions of the whole of the brethren . In another it

is the Treasurer or the Secretary who really supplies the motive power for the undercurrent , but in all cases the result ia the same , the work of the Lodge goes with the ticTe , so to speak , and to a certain extent the men at the fountain head have matters vevv miifth tliftii ** own * wn . v .

This state of affairs is a benefit for Freemasons and for Freemasonry . It would never be possible to conduct the vast amount of work annually performed in our Lodges if everything was allowed to take its course without anv aid from the

undercurrents which exist in every Lodge to a greater or lesser extent ; and we must , therefore , thank this silent hut effective power for much of the prosperity which now surrounds the Order , for -without it chaos would reign , and it would be absolutely impossible to conduct the affairs of the Craft with either satisfaction or comfort .

It must often have surprised the newly initiated Mason , or the brother who does not make a point of studying human nature , to see with what readiness the work of our Lodges is carried through . A proposition is submitted , which in reality seems to unset

the whole system of the Lodge , but it is considered , agreed to , and carried into effect almost without a murmur of dissent ; and why ? Because it was promoted by those who really rule the Lodge , perhaps not by actual occupancy of the Master ' s chair , but by the power they possess in association with the undercurrent they have established among the members .

Undercurrents In Freemasonry.

Of course this power is open to abuse , but in the very large majority of cases it is beneficial , and to it must be traced much of the success of the Masonic Order , for it would be quite impossible to conduct the affairs of the Craft if all was to bo left to chance or the ordinary run of events .

These undercurrents are not the growth of a moment , neither are they easily diverted . Indeed to oppose them would in many cases mean the annihilation of the Lodge , and on that account those who have the influencing of them should be very careful lest they abuse the power with which they have become invested ; but as this power can only be acquired as the outcome of ability in the management of public affairs , it seldom happens that it is put to an improper use , those who acquire it being too

careful of their reputation and the work they have built up to run any very serious risks in connection with it : but , on the other hand , if the opnortunitv does

arise for an improper exercise of the power we have mentioned , then disaster is , in the majority of cases , the outcome . But even this is preferable to the quiet humdrum of an existence without a moving spirit or special object to guide us , and on that account tho members of the Masonic Order have much to be thankful for to those who really influence our undercurrents .

The Quarterly Courts.

THE QUARTERLY COURTS .

THE Quarterly Court of Subscribers to tbe Royal Masonio Institution for Boys was held on tho 30 th ult ., at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Richard Eve Past Grand Treasurer in the chair . Amongst those present were

Bros . Wm . Shurmur , Geo . Plucknett , Jamea Brett , Le Feuvre , Burgess , J . Glass , H . Dickey , Mordey , Slyman Thos . Cull , Geo . Everett , Rev . Harry Hebb , George Gardner , E . Hobbs , W . Bourne , H . Massey , J . S .

Cumberland , C . H . Webb , W . ' A . Scnrrah , W . H . Saunders

J . W . Klenck , James Terry , George Motion , W . W . Morgan , John Mason , W . Masters , W . Alpass , John Jones , A . H . Scurrah , Jowson , Geo . Corbie , J . Strachan , 0 . F . Pope , J . G . Stevens , and J . M . M'Leod ( Secretary ) . The minutes having been read , the alteration as proposed

by the Chairman , was introduced . That March be substituted for April in tho second line of Law 50 . Law 50 will , therefore , now read "Nominations of brethren to serve on this Board ( Board of Management ) shall be made at the Council in March preceding " the Quarterly Court

in April , at which the election of the Board is taken Bro . John Glass moved an amendment , to the effect that the hour of meeting of the General Committee be four o'clock instead of two . Formerly tho meetings were held at threo o ' clock , but , owing to agitation and for the convenience of

brethren attending , four o ' clock was substituted . Tho reasons for continuing to hold theso meetings at four wero so numerous that ifc was hardly necessary to detail them

The hour of two was manifestly for the convenience of the few . Tho many would certainly prefer four . He might remind the brethren that from time to time thero would be held the investigation meetings of the Petitions