Freemasonry In India.

to be paid to it from the Benevolent Fund ; but as the income of the latter Fund is made up from the contributions from the Lodges , which vary of course according to the numbers of members of each Lodge , the income must always be somewhat fluctuating . Roughly speaking the income from all sources

is Rs . 800 a year . But as I have just stated there are always urgent applications for relief , and I can only recommend the Board to make grants out of any available surplus it may have in hand from time to time to the Masonic Orphan Society . And in connection with this matter , I would

earnestly appeal to all Worshipful Masters present , to do their utmost through their Lodges to assist the funds of this our only Masonic Charity . There are at present ten deserving cases , the orphans of Masons , in need of help which cannot

be afforded in the present state of its funds , and this I am sorry to say is owing in part to want of more support from the Lodges in the District . The income of the Greenlaw Masonic Orphan Society from all sources being only Rs . 205 a month .

I have next to mention a matter that should have been brought to your notice at a much earlier date in regular course . I mean the result of the appeals preferred by Lodge Palm , and the Worshipful Master of that Lodge , against rulings of mine , and which appeals have been severally

dismissed . One you may remember was against a ruling of mine that one P . M . could instal a W . M ., without the assistance of another P . lVi . After all , it is merely a matter of rubric , and if we go back to the 17 th century the practice must have

been—arising from the exigencies of the time—rather the rule for one P . M . ( than for two or three ) to instal a successor . It is a matter for which we have need to be thankful in the East , that this is now quite a settled law and may be done in case of emergency .

The next matter I must just refer to is the query put to me more than once as to the weight to be given to the law as laid down in many of the circulars issued by me . Without laying it down that they are necessarily binding on every one , they bind me . I will give you an instance in point

In circular v . of 1900 ( dated 9 th June 1900 ) I drew attention to the objectionable method of voting by " collective " ballot It was represented to me after its issue that some members of Lodge Victoria doubted that there ' was anything invalid in such a method , and asked me if I would be willing to refer

the matter home . To which I replied , that I would be quite willing if the Lodge wished me to do so , but at the same time I felt sure of the result of such a reference . And I heard nothing more about the matter . But you cannot have a better illustration of the harm that may be caused by the

use of such ' collective" ballot than the late unfortunate proceeoings in Lodge Victoria ( printed in the October " Proceedings " ) and the complaint made in reference thereto . Everything , or much that took place that night might have been avoided as pointed out already . In connection with

what took place on that occasion , I have also to state my opinion that one evil-minded Brother in a Lodge , determined to misuse the ballot for purposes of private malice , not only may ruin a Lodge , but I do not hesitate to say that if such

misuse could be brought home to him he would be worthy of but one punishment—of expulsion from the Craft . But it is a delicate subject to meddle with , for a Brother ' s constitutional right to the use of the ballot must be left at all times perfectly free and unbiassed .

The next subject I have to call your attention to , is the great care required to be exercised now-a-days in admitting visitors to our Lodges . There is a story frequently told , though I cannot of course vouch for its correctness , that about twenty years ago a person who was a Jew and had "

borrowed the Grand Lodge Certificate of a Brother friend was enabled thereby to gain admittance and sat in Lodge without being discovered . Article 150 , Book of Constitutions , requires that a Brother shall ewe " satisfactorv nrnnf "

that he is the Brother referred to in the : Certificate he produces . And unless vouched for by another Brother , nothing less than a . thorough examination and writing his name as well , should be held sufficient in any case .

Again , no non-subscribing member to a Lodge should be admitted to visit a Lodge more than once until he rejoins a Lodge . To admit him oftener , in fact , is contrary to Article 152 Book of Constitutions . The object of admitting such a Brother once , _ is apparently to enable him to judge if he would like to join the Lodge or not . This brings me to the next matter , the constant violation I notice by seme Brother , and presumably of this District ,

Freemasonry In India.

of Article 205 of the Book of Constitutions , by publishing without any authority the Proceedings in our Lodges and other Masonic matters . The District Grand Secretary has been attacked himself , and has written to contradict as absolutely untrue the statements contributed by a writer who ,

under the shield of anonymity , has chosen in the October number of the " Indian Freemason" to publish that I had taken certain steps , which I had never thought of takingand expressed sentiments , the very opposite to what I ever entertained—and all this based upon rumour only . And ,

after assuming as facts what I never did or said , the writer expresses his " pity , " that I had so acted , and goes on to say It is strange that Brother Moyle should class all members of the E . C . who join Scotch Lodges or render any Brotherly

assistance to them as rebels to the E . C . and disloyal subjects of himself . " Here , the whole assumption is one absolutely baseless ! I only mention this , particularly , as I have many friends among Scotch Masons and I should not like them to think I entertain such sentiments .

It has been brought to < notice that in a certain Lodge Brethren are told to be " at ease " and thereupon without the Lodge being " called off " the Wardens leave their pedestals and the Brethren move about the Lodge and converse together . This practice is not right , or in any way warranted ,

and should be discontinued . I have only to inform those Brethren whom I did not meet last evening at District Grand Chapter , that the Warrant for the new Fort Dufferin Chapter having been amended , has been received back , and that I leave to-morrow with the District . Grand Scribe E . for

Maridalay , to constitute the same next Saturday , and I have every hope that this will become in a short time a very flourishing Chapter . I am sorry to have had to detain you so long at this late hour of the evening ; but the subjects I have had to touch upon were necessary to bring to your notice .

-u . v .. . UM yt RK'jtuirttv "Rttitu it w w www The King of Sweden and Norway has created Brother Wilhelm Ganz Past Grand Organist a Knight of the Royal Order of Wasa , first class .

Ad00502

SPIERS » PONDs STORES ( No Tickets Required ) QOEEN VICTORIA STREET , E . G ., Opposite Blackfriars Station ( District Rly . ) AKD St . Paul's Station ( L . C . & D . Rly . ) . PRICE BOOK ( 1 , 000 pages ) , illustrated , free on application , FREE DELIVERY IN SUBURBS b j ? our ottfn Vans . Liberal terms for Country Orders , FOR FULL DETAILS SEE PRICE BOOK ,