Is Freemasonry Really Flourishing?

had been candid enough to admit it , to pay their initiation fees ; and if they are not actually a burden on the Craft , many have long since found it impossible to keep up their payments , or discharge their responsibilities to the Lodge . As an almost inevitable consequence of the secret conclave

shadowed forth , the ' plot' leaked out very shortly after tbe Lodge was founded , and most unpleasant recriminations ensued . " As a rule , Lodges so formed contrive , after a time , to " sail from turbulent waters into a substantial

calm ; " but it only goes to show that Lodges become unwieldy by the too promiscuous admission of candidates into the Order , that they may become a source , not only of anxiety , but a " positive disadvantage in every sense , and lead to the formation of offshoots under circumstances

" not very meritorious . " To carry on the thread of the argument , there can be no doubt that the expression of another correspondent , M Aliquid , " contains great force , when , after pointing out that " a society which annually raises over £ 40 , 000 , in

order to provide for the maintenance and education of orphan girls and boys , and to make comfortable the declining years of its aged , indigent members and their widows , is not likely to be at a loss for eulogists , " points out the danger that , " in addition to the eulogists and the

imitators , it also has a large number of admirers , who , being as it were , a kind of beasts of prey , have no other thought in seeking admission to its ranks than to make profit out of its benevolent propensities . " This very fact supports us in the opinion we have all along expressed ,

that the large accession of mere numerical strength during the past few years has brought with it a very considerable accession of weakness . Sufficient allusion has , perhaps , been made to the numbers of men who are persuaded to "become Masons , but who , either through mental incapacity

or failing means , lose heart and ultimately find themselves bound to apply for aid to the charitable funds of the Craft . This is proved by the number of candidates at the elections to our respective Institutions , although , for the matter of that , there is scarcely a Charity election of any kind in

the country from which deserving candidates are not reluctantly sent empty away . On the other hand , it can hardly be gainsaid that if brethren were more discriminate in the

admission of candidates , the secretaries and governors of our Charities , and the dispensers of our Benevolent Fund , would have considerably less anxiety and disappointment than they every year experience in this respect .

Whilst , therefore , we could have desired a larger number of contributions of opinion on the question , we can come to no other conclusion than that Freemasonry is really flourishing , in spite of the many contingencies that have been alluded to . The vast influence for good which

the Order exerts is admitted , on all hands , by those even who do not come within our ranks ; and that it will continue to do so is a matter beyond all question . The judicious restriction within the last two or three years in the granting of new warrants has , we believe , infused into most

Lodges a wholesome respect for the trust they are privileged to hold , and a greater care in the admission of candidates for the mysteries . The exposure , also , of some of the systems of trading upon Masonry , which were fast growing into a serious evil , has had the effect of curbing

the recklessness and effrontery of many who were succeeding in making capital ont of the Craft ; and the comments which have from time to time appeared on the mendacious operations of a section of those "drones" who would live upon the benevolence of the unwisely

largehearted , has brought that problem within measurable distance of solution . It is by the free and dispassionate discussion of these subjects that the status of the Craft will be improved and strengthened , some of its objectionable features obliterated , and the real prosperity of our glorious Institution safeguarded and enlarged in future years .

Quarterly Communication Of United Grand Lodge.

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF UNITED GRAND LODGE .

ALTHOUGH there was not a very large attendance at Grand Lodge on Wednesday ( as is usually the case at this season of the year ) , yet the proceedings were diversified by several questions which will be studied attentively by the Craft . In the first place , Bro . James Stevens , who , it will be recollected , advocated at the June

Quarterly Communication Of United Grand Lodge.

meeting the subdivision of the London District into a number of District Grand Lodges , rose immediately after the confirmation of the minutes , for the purpose of raising a question of order and privilege , consequent upon his notice being refused a place upon the agenda paper .

It was , however , soon made clear by the Provincial Grand Mnster for Surrey , Bro . General Brownrigg , who occupied the Throne , that the whole matter had been made perfectly clear , and he substantiated the ruling of the Earl of Carnarvon that the motion would be an interference with ,

and encroachment upon , the undoubted prerogative of the Grand Master , and therefore that no further discussion upon it was advisable . It is perfectly evident that the Grand Master is supremely competent to take his own course , without receiving suggestions from any one , or any

interference with his prerogative . Bro . Stevens at once gracefully accepted this decision , and we are very pleased he did so , for though sometimes impetuous he may be , we are certain he has no desire other than for the good of Grand Lodge , least of all to militate against its interests , or

encroach upon the prerogative of the Grand Master . With respect to Bro . Perceval ' s question , as to giving more time to the revision of the Book of Constitutions , it was evident that it was a matter that the Craft at large did not feel they were in a position to take upon

themselves . There will be , of course , those who are always ready to advocate alterations in the form of our constitutional laws , but whose suggestions are not of much practical utility , or such as would be readily accepted . Moreover , it should be borne in mind that a competent

Board has been appointed to carry out what was stated in the report to be a "laborious work , " and it is only natural that that body should have an opportunity of completing their arduous task , with which they have already made substantial progress . Upon this point

Bro . Thomas Fenn answered , as we think , most sensibly , that the Board had no desire to hurry the matter , although it had been a long time before them . The only reason he could assign for their proceeding so rapidly as they had done was about the best that could be given , namely , that the old edition had " run out . " Tbe whole matter would

be thoroughly thrashed out in debate , and a special meeting of Grand Lodge would be convened to consider it . Apropos of this matter , we may refer our readers to some cogent remarks that fell from Bro . Lord Tenterden at the Prov Grand Lodge of Essex ( videpp 99 of our current Volume ) ,

in which he said , with respect to the proposed amendment in the Constitutions of the Order , " on the principle that too many cooks would spoil the broth , " he had suggested to Bro . Philbrick , who is a member of the Revision Committee , that he should prepare a resume of the proposed

alterations . His Lordship paid a tribute of deserved praise to Bro . Philbrick for his compliance with this request , for theguidance and information of the brethren . Bro . Philbrick set forth that the whole of the laws had been collated and re-arranged , giving the rules under their proper heads , and

in consecutive order . The discrepancies in the wording of Laws dealing with the same subject had been altered , so as to make one uniform language run through the whole book . The alterations , other than those merely verbal or necessary for the sake of clearness , had been studiously

kept to the smallest number , and were classified thus : — Expansions of the existing Laws where the present wording wanted explanation to make the meaning clearer ; or the statement of the Laws , which have long obtained practice are universally acted on , it being deemed desirable to

express plainly on the face of the Book of Constitutions the construction and interpretation which have been accepted for years . It was thus pointed out that no new law or rule , and no alteration of substance , was involved , and the introduction of new rules had been avoided , as fat

as could be . Bro . Philbrick added : — " The principal new matter will be found in the regulations as to the official conduct of the records of private Lodges and their returns to Grand Lodge ; in the increased fees for Warrants for new Lodges , which the present position of the Craft , as

contrasted with " 1813 , when the table now in force was adopted , is thought to justify ; in bettering the status of serving brethren in certain cases ; in extending the powers of the appeal to all cases ; and in making due provision foi

the business to be brought before the Grand Lodge . " In conclusion he said it was believed that the rules as now framed were of a clear nature , explaining themselves , and Kuch as the Craft were fully enabled to form its jud gment upon , when attention had been directed to them . Great