Musical Honours.

MUSICAL HONOURS .

FOR some time past we have intended to draw attention to a growing evil in a few of our Lodges —the according of " Musical Honours " after some of the toasts—a practice which is almost generally condemned by members of the Craft , but which is

nevertheless at times indulged in , albeit it is one we should be very sorry to see adopted to any extent in connection with Lodge meetings . That we are not alone in this opinion is evident from a cutting we

reproduce elsewhere in this issue , from last month ' s number of the " New Zealand Craftsman , " the writer of which is very severe on those who patronise the " boisterous musical jingle—He ' s a jolly good fellow , "

which he considers is not only out of place at our gatherings , but is actually un-Masonic . We feel disposed to here suggest a distinction , although it does not actually amount to a difference—while it can hardly

be considered un-Masonic to say that a Brother is a " j °% g °° d fellow" it is at least not Masonic to boisterously proclaim the fact as is so often done at meetings outside of the Craft .

Our contemporary argues that it may be necessary to proclaim a member of a Football or other outside Club as a " jolly good fellow , " but that Freemasons stand upon an entirely different footing , as if they are

not all " good fellows , " from a far broader standpoint than that usually implied when the wretched refrain is bellowed forth , then the fault is with their Lodge . In

other words , to be worthy of the title of Freemason is to imply that the possessor is a real jolly good fellowone of a band of many such .

But besides all this , the particular method of honouring a Brother at the Festive Board here referred to is a departure from Masonic custom , and an innovation that has absolutely nothing to recommend

it , and we trust that the few Lodges in which it has so far obtained a foothold will see the error of their ways and refrain from a practice that is repugnant to a vast majority of the members of the English Craft .

The Ballot.

THE BALLOT .

Vi /' E direct attention to an article which appeal's * ? elsewhere from an American contemporary , dealing with the rejection of candidates on the ballot , and urging a line of procedure which it is safe to say is

wholly opposed to all existing ideas on the subject , but which we think it will be admitted has much to recommend it for general adoption in the few cases where rejection takes place on the ballot .

The writer argues on the basis of there being only two occasions when it is necessary or proper to silently and secretly cast an adverse ballot—one , when the objector is a coward ; the other when the proposer is a

rascal , ana he urges the desirability of an objector

The Ballot.

making known his grievance to those more intimately concerned—the proposers and supporters of the would be Mason . We have been accustomed to hear much of the

sacred secrecy of the ballot , and that it is little short of high treason to even suggest an open declaration when an adverse vote is deemed necessary or desirable , but why should it be so ? Why , as the writer we quote

urges , should not an objector have the courage of his opinion , and by openly declaring himself set at rest all the doubts and difficulties that must beset a Brother whose candidate is adversely received ? It is hardly

necessary for us to repeat all the queries of our contemporary , his remarks will be found elsewhere , and we deem them worthy of thoughtful consideration , especially by the few who at times consider it necessary to utter a decisive Masonic No !

We can , however , endorse what the writer says as to the grave doubts which are created in the mind of a Mason when his proposition is rejected without any reason being assigned . How is he to treat his friend

in the future , when he cannot find out what is the objection to him , and yet knows that some of his Brother Masons deem him unworthy of admission to the Order ? Surely it is better in such circumstances to have an understanding and an explanation .

Masonry And The War.

MASONRY AND THE WAR .

SERGT . MOWBRAY , of the New South Wales Mounted Riiies , and a well-known Sydney merchant , has written to his Lodge from the front the following , among other instances , showing how Masonry softened the hardships and horrors of war . One evening , " weak , starving , and in

distress , " after a sixteen mile march , Sergt . Mowbray found himself at a Boer farm . The owner and his wife were outside , and the officer asked him to give or sell him something to eat . They replied they could not , or would not . Sergt . Mowbray , catcning sight of a Masonic trinket on the Boer's chain ,

determined to " try " him , so he gave the proper Masonic signs , which the tanner returned in regular order , and the latter afterwards invited nun inside and gave him what he describes as " the best square meal" he had since he left Sydney . —" Globe . "

Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , who is now the Father of the riouse of Commons , and a Director of the South Western Railway Company , presided on Tuesday evening at a public

meeting , held in ivmgsclere , in favour of the construction of a railway between Basingstoke and Newbury , via Kingsclere and Highclere . The new line will bring the district into direct communication with the South Western and Great Western Railway system , by the junction at Basingstoke and Highclere .

• » Another evidence of Lord Robert ' s great popularity— -the Prince of VVales has just given his sanction to the issue of a Warrant authorising the establishment of the Lord Roberts Lodge of jf reemasono in London . This is the first Lodge bearing this title established in England , says the " Daily Chronicle . "