Social Distinctions In Masonry.

SOCIAL DISTINCTIONS IN MASONRY .

THE Pictorial World , referring to the recent rifle match between teams of Volunteer Freemasons , says that " Masonry among the Volunteers is not now looked upon favourably by the military authorities . In the Army the formation of new Lodges is in effect forbidden , and the old Lodges are gradually dying out ; and it is not , therefore , surprising to find that as the constitution of Volunteer

regiments becomes modified , so the difficulties of harmonising the peculiar discipline of Freemasonry with the discipline of the Army increases . Freemasons understand this ; and the anomaly of seeing Colonel Gavel , in uniform , in the Lodge , under the orders of Corporal Skin-it , also in uniform , is usually amusing and occasionally ridiculous . " In conclusion , our contemporary says : " Freemasonry is a grand institution , but it cannot be denied that it is

incongruous with military discipline . " We cannot agree with these remarks , neither do we believe the general body of Freemasons understand , as our contemporary puts it , the difficulties of harmonising the peculiar discipline of Freemasonry with the discipline of the Army . On the contrary , it is becoming more and more generally recognised that it will be much better to remove many of the barriers which formerly existed between officers and men , and

strive to bring the two divisions of the forces more into touch . Eminent military writers urge the desirability of treating the rank and file rather as fellow men than as the mere dummies they were regarded in days gone by ; and this change has been mainly brought about by the spread of education during the last few years . Men in the ranks now

recognise that their position entitles them tq certain privileges , and they will no doubt secure even greater concessions as year by year they make their voices more strongly felt . Under such conditions it is taking an erroneous view of matters to say that Freemasonry is impossible in the Army or among the Volunteers ,

and we can only imagine the writer in our contemporary belongs to that old fashioned class of martinets which has done so much to bring the Army into disrepute , but whose days are , happily for all concerned , numbered . Then again , is it wise to argue that the same spirit of class distinctions should be tolerated

among our citizen soldiers ? With the Volunteers at least there should be no such barriers between officers and men as may perhaps be said to exist in the regular Army , and we know that social distinctions are not strongly apparent among them , else it would be impossible for the various duties which devolve

upon the Volunteer to be carried out . Going further a-field we may point to the practice of cricket and other games and athletic sports , in which we believe it is fair to say that officers and men of the regular forces frequently associate , and where , of necessity , the superiors in rank must often find themselves second in position . True , they do

Social Distinctions In Masonry.

not in such cases all appear in full military uniform , and that may perhaps account for the lack of noticeable [ peculiarity which marks their doings on such occasions ; but the same may be said in regard to Freemasonry . Did the writer to whom we refer ever attend a Military Lodge ? Or one in which tho Army was strongly represented ? Had he done so we think he would have looked in vain for the distinction he refers to . The non-commissioned officers

would probably be in force , and in uniform , but unless he came to make inquiry into the professions or businesses of the others present he would havo great difficulty in knowing that among those in ordinary evening dress were some who held commissions in Her Majesty ' s Army . We imagine our experience in this direction—and it has been a somewhat varied one—is not exceptional , and that wherever the

Military are in strong force m a town there also will bo found officers and men of the Forces meeting in unison together and sinking for the time all social distinctions in the work of Freemasonry . We may even go further , and argue that the very teachings of Freemasonry , which enjoin humility and the abolition , as far as possible , of all class distinctions , would prevent the officers parading themselves in full regimentals before their subordinates on such an

occasion as a Masonic gathering , for the reason that they would thereby seem to imply they were of a different class or position , and would on that account violate one of the principles of the Craft , which above all things teaches equality one with another , and only recognises the work of the Freemason as a guago of merit .

It is not only in the Army that persons of very different stations can and do meet together under tho banner of Freemasonry . In every walk of life we find men of rank and opulence willing to associate with their fellows , who from a mere social standpoint are very much their inferiors . They willingly obey instructions in the Lodge when , as Freemasons , their inferiors are placed in a position to command .

and feel no degradation in cheerfully complying with the orders of their social inferiors , and in this respect Freemasonry possesses a peculiarity wholly its own , and one which we hope will not only continue , but will make itself more and more apparent as the growing generation learns to recognise the truth of the old adage which tells us that rank is but tho guinea stamp , the man himselfs the gold .

Bro . Charles Greenwood , Prov . Grand Secretary Surrey , informs ns thafc the partnership lately existing under the style of " Nye , Greenwood and Moreton " has expired , by effluxion of time , and that he has taken his brother , Mr . Ernest Walter Greenwood ( who has hitherto been in

practice on his own account , in London and Chichester ) into partnership . The London business of the new firm will be carried on , under the style of " Greenwood and Greenwood , " at the same addresses as heretofore , viz .: 12 Serjeants' Inn Temple , E . G ., and Albert Institute Chambers , Charles Street , Blackfriars Road , S . E .