Admission Of Lewises.

ADMISSION OF LEWISES .

TT 7 E recently read in a contemporary a criticism W on tbe custom of admitting gentlemen under the age of twenty-one years as initiates ; and although we believe the writer was striving to make out his

case by bringing ridicule on the practice , it may be inferred he had some foundation for saying the admission of youths into the Order was becoming so common , as to render it almost necessary for

Worshipful Masters to call for certificates of birth , in addition to other credentials on the introduction of a candidate . It is the almost universal custom in Freemasonry to limit the age of candidates to a minimum of

twenty-one years , with the proviso that in case of emergency a dispensation may be granted for earlier admission ^ and we believe this rule is pretty generally acted up to in most rigorous fashion , the

admission of Lewises being seldom permitted . But the question is a fair one for general discussion , inasmuch as many brethren are to be found who argue that members of Lodges should be allowed and even encouraged to introduce their sons before they reach

the age of twenty-one years . We do not share that opinion , and are very glad the majority of English Freemasons regard twenty-one years as the minimum , and require very strong evidence of emergency before

allowing the proposition , much less the acceptance of an under-age candidate . The admission of Lewises is , to our mind , seldom desirable ; and the only exception we see that calls for

a departure from established custom , is in the case of brethren going abroad with their families , and feeling a desire to have their son or sons admitted to the benefits of Freemasonry in the old country before departure for their now home ; but even then we

should require very good evidence to prove that equal advantages could not be secured later on , near the then residence of the applicant . The authorities of English Freemasonry may be said to entertain similar views to onr own , and require

very strong arguments to be used before they grant the necessary dispensation for the initiation of a Lewis , and we are convinced that a continuance of the rigid regulations in this respect will be recommended by those who have the interests of English

Freemasonry at heart , and desire to maintain its present high standard . But it is not only on this ground we can urge the strict enforcement of the limit . We see little or no benefit for tbe candidate admitted under age , while

there are considerations , that must at once suggest themselves to the experienced Mason , which render premature admission a positive disadvantage to the candidate himself , who is brought too early into association with his elders , and taught lessons beyond his scope of reasoning or power of appreciation .

Freemasonry In The Law Courts.

FREEMASONRY IN THE LAW COURTS .

IT speaks very much in favour of Freemasonry that , despite its large membership , it seldom happens disputes arise in connection with its working which necessitate an appeal to the courts of law . We

do occasionally see such a heading as the above in the papers , but more often than not an examination of tho facts of the case prove that the dispute is not primarily a Masonic one , but rather some side issue

arising from Masonic association , or involving 3 omo part of the paraphernalia of Freemasonry . Such a case occurred a few weeks back , when a parcel of Masonic jewellery was discovered in a public conveyance , and the owner objected to pay the usual

poundage claimed by the Metropolitan Police . As a consequence the law was invoked to decide the point , but Freemasonry and the Law on that occasion had little or no association , although some of the papers

headed their reports of the case as a " Masonic Dispute . " Again , a quarrel occurred in connection with some tickets for a Masonic ball , and the same line of procedure was followed in the papers , although , we believe , in this case there really was a Masonic

question remotely involved , as one of the parties to the suit had received Masonic sentence and sought to influence it by clearing himself in the law courts . Another case is before us from Scotland , but

inasmuch as it is in association with a work that has become famous all over the world , it possesses almost as much interest here as on the spot where it was decided . The case arose in the Dundee Sheriff Court ,

where an Edinburgh publisher sued three Freemasons residing in Dundee for £ 1 10 s each , the price of one volume of Gould ' s " History of Freemasonry . " The plaintiff showed that his canvasser called upon the defendants with a view to securing orders for the

book , which consisted of three volumes , costing £ 110 s each , and according to the report published in a local paper , " each defender signed an order for a copy of the work in full knowledge of the terms on which the book was sold . One of the defenders stated that he

was led to understand the work was to cost 10 s a volume and not 30 s , and he therefore refused to take it . In this case the Sheriff held that the defender had signed an order for the book bearing that its price was 30 s a volume , and although the defender did not

read the terms of the order , his Lordship held him bound , and awarded pursuer 7 s 6 d damages and 3 s 6 d expenses . In the the other cases , evidence waa given by a number of witnesses for the defence to the effect that when pursuer's canvasser called he stated that

he had been deputed by the Grand Lodge of Scotland to call on Freemasons , and that the names of subscribers for the work would require to be submitted to

the Lodge before tho books could be supplied . The Sheriff held that the second and third defenders had entered into the contract under essential error , and assoilzied them . His Lordship deprecated the prac-