Disloyalty Within Our Ranks.

DISLOYALTY WITHIN OUR RANKS .

IT is a very old and oft repeated opinion that Freemasonry has more to fear from foes within

its lines than from enemies without , and just as many a man has had to express the hope that he might be spared from his friends , so there is no doubt that Freemasonry , like other institutions of the age , has

felt the sting of the candid critic—he who does not shrink from doing what he considers his duty , no matter how much the disharge of that duty may lead him at variance with the principles he professes , or how far it may take him from the course which

fraternal regard seems to lay down for his guidance .

Such a man is " Past-Master , " who has taken upon himself to reply to the queries of a correspondent of the " Echo , " who desired to know the aims and

objects of Freemasonry , and how he might become a member of the Craft , he being a stranger in London , unknown to anyone who might recommend him for initiation . No doubt this " Past Master" has been

taught the duties he owes to the Craft in general , and has probably forcibly impressed upon aspiring candidates all the Masonic attributes , enjoining them

to speak well of a Brother absent or present , or , if that cannot be done with honour and propriety , to adopt that excellent virtue of the Craft—Silence ; and yet he publishes in a public print statements which , even if true would be unjustifiable , but are more

deserving of censure because they are not borne out by facts . In order that we may not run the risk of being accused of putting wrong words into the mouth of this " Past Master" we give his reply in

full , as follows : ( 25 , 121 ) FBEEMASONRY . —( 1 ) The aims and objects of this ( to outsiders ) highly prized secret society aro social intercourse , benevolence , and the practice of every social and moral virtue . ( 2 ) How .

to become a Freemason , the querist being a stranger to London ? This is no drawback , if he has a presentable appearance , and sufficient money to pay the initiation fees about £ 5 to £ 8 , as many Lodges are now in a sad state of impecuniosity . When he joins he

will be delighted with the beautiful initiation . But when he gets to know more of the Craft he will find it no different to Buffaloism , Druids , Oddfellows , & c , only in a little higher sphere . Benevolence

We have been intimately associated with Freemasonry for rearly twenty years , and during the whole of

generally covers a multitude of medals , and a general desire to dress up . There are two classes of Freemasons—those who make a religion of it , those who join to make a living of it . The latter predominate . —PAST MASTEB . ( " Echo , " 2 nd November 1894 . )

There is little to say in regard to the first part of " Past Master ' s" reply , unless we take exception to the slight he implies by the two words added

m parenthesis , by which he seems to desire it shall be considered that Freemasonry is a "highly prized secret society" only in the eyes of outsiders .

Disloyalty Within Our Ranks.

that period have been in daily association with

Masons of widely different degrees of temperament , drawn from almost every part of the country , and we can fearlessly say that the Order is more highly prized by those inside its ranks than it can be by those

outside of it . Of course there are exceptions to every rule , and naturally we have occasionally met disappointed Brethren who have not thought it unjust

to blame the whole system of Freemasonry because

they did not get their particular desires , but we regard such complaints as about equivalent to that of the man who finds fault with the solar system because the sun does not shine on some particular day that he has set aside for his personal

enjoyment . Judging of " Past Master" from the whole of his reply , we can well imagine that as an " insider " he does not personally regard Freemasonry

as a " highly prized secret society , " and as a counter proposition we can well believe that the majority of Freemasons by no means regard him as a " highly prized" member of the Order .

It is when we come to " Past Master s reply to the second query of our contemporary ' s correspondent , however , that we see the Brother to his disadvantage . It would be somewhat difficult to crowd so much that is un-Masonic into equal space even if it

were fche object of the writer to express the most unfavourable opinions in regard to the Craft , but here we have one who claims to be a Member of it , and probably imagines that he is paining himself in having to express so candid an opinion in regard

to the present position of the Order . First we may reasonably ask , are his accusations true ? Is it a fact that many Lodges are now in a sad

state of impecumosity , and being so are willing to admit anyone having a presentable appearance and sufficient money to pay the initiation fees—about £ 5 to £ 8 ? For answer we give a direct denial . Headers

of the FBEEMASON ' CHBONICLE are aware that we by no means approve of all that takes place in connection

with the financial affairs of the Lodges under the English Constitution , and it has even been urged that Grand Lodge should exercise some influence in this direction , but it is certainly not the case that many Lodges are in such a state of impecuniosity as to be willing to admit anyone who comes forward , merely for fche sake of his initiation fees ; indeed , we feel

justified in saying that " Past Master" himself would find it difficult to recommend a complete stranger to a Lodge that would so receive him . We are willing to admit thafc gentlemen are accepted and initiated on the recommendation of a single member in a Lodge , without that full inquiry that is deemed necessary by most of those who truly appreciate the advantages of ,