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Masons Whom We Have Met. No. Vi.

MASONS WHOM WE HAVE MET . No . VI .

IT is impossible to please everybody , and lie who tries to emulate the example of the " old man and his ass " must anticipate the same ignominious fate . Bat . there are some who , at the risk of their own and others' happiness ,

must he always on the turmoil ; endeavouring in their small way to impress those around them with a sense of their own importance . We have before us a specimen of this arrogant and waspish nature , which happily is not so

prevalent as to come frequently under our consideration . We see him now , in the Lodge room—where last of all places in the world a shadow should be found—quarrelling , bickering , and finding fault , in order that his own particular crotchets

may find their way to the front . "Bombastes Fni'ioso " may be a fitting soubriquet for our brother , Avho shall be nameless , although he may take heed of this little slice of fraternal admonition . For a loner time there had been an

unruly element in his Lodge ; and everybody knows the dire results which accompany even the slightest approach to insubordination or laxity of discipline . The Master of the Lodge wo have in our mind ' s eye is a man of

administrative ability , and has had experience , though he is perhaps a shade—may we say it ?—too sensitive . Still , his actions never amount to overbearance , nor

does he ever displav partisanship . Somehow , however , the seeds of discord found an entrance into the Lodge , to disturb its habitual serenity , and this arose mainly through the cantankerous demeanour and tho

confirmed obstinacy of one or two members , whose tr . iits of character form the subject of this sketch . By their insidious conduct a bad example , which is as catchinsr as a cough

before a sermon , became infectious , and thus an obstreperous coterie was generated in the Lodge , seriously affectingthe peace and harmony which should invariably prevail iu the assemblies of the Craft . It was not a sudden outbreak of

open rebellion against the ruling of the Worshi pful Master , but a slow and subtle growth of discontent , mingled with jealousy . The malcontents whom our dissatisfied brother succeeded in creating grew emboldened

by the sli ght check that was brought to bear upon their procedure , and tho little clique seemed to do pretty much as it felt disposed . The cog-wheels of the machinery , so to speak , became disjointed , and the whole of the gear

of the Lodge was unhinged , rendering the work slow , cumbrous and unpleasant , instead of bright and edifying to the general body of the members . As a consequence , many of them abstained from the regular meetings rather

than be subjected to the inconsiderate dictation of the few who had evidentl y made up their minds to " go on anyhow ; " but when it came to pass that the Senior Warden

as leader of the obnoxious party , applied opprobrious epithets to the Secretary , and uncomplimentary observations to those of the Officers and brethren -with whom he

chose to be at variance , a crisis was reached that became painful to a degree . The election night came round , and so great was the respect in which the Master was held , and such the appreciation by the brethren of valuable

services , rendered to the Lodge , that he was re-elected to the chair ; but the " opposition" declined to confirm the minutes , and tbe election had to come on again at the next Lodge meeting , when , fortunately , the turbulent ones were again

m a minority . At the end of the Master ' s second year of office the Senior Warden was elected as his successor , and he improved the occasion by letting the brethren know how he intended to consult Ms Wardens , and pointed out ,

how happil y the affairs of the Lodge would run under Ms benign rule . That will be so , no doubt , provided the Wardens and other Officers work together in harmony

but what if tho reverse is tho case ? What will be the position supposing his Wardens behave as he behaved whilst he occupied tbe Senior Warden ' s chair ? It is an axiom which one need not go far to demonstrate that be

Masons Whom We Have Met. No. Vi.

>> i ' v is fit tofnmm'ind who 1 ms learned to obey ; and no man <> i ! . ] . ; ., n grind g'm'U-d w' -o It-is "n * -. nra-Hsed r to simplest , i : v ' - ) : x the m-i ; r pig d , ' u ! "s " ' d < ci pi in . ) a "id ohe V ' enoe .

Tin .- ; if o-iu havd ' y bo expected that one wlr \ occupying s . bnpilunh' office in a Lodge has been unable to

inculcate the first law of qn lifieation for command , will turn out a skilful or successful Master , or that he will be able to obviate any of the friction that may arise amongst the party who were subservient to him

when in opposition or obstruction to a former ruler . A . man who has failed to prove himself loyal to his superior officer can scarcely be expected to recei vo fealty from others when he assumes the reins of offi"e ; and his rule

will be marked with a lack of confidence in those by whom he is surrounded . Moreover , there will always be a weak spot in the government of his Lodge , seeing that he will not possess that implicit reliance on bis followers which is

essential to the successful working and unity of any body of men . He will not be true to himself , inasmuch as he does not believe in himself . Precociousness has usurped the temple which should alone be the residence of common

sense . He mig ht have gained valuable experience from an estimable sire , who has won , and who retains , the respect and confidence of all with whom he is brought into contact , botb in private and public life ; but

the youngster imagines ho knows better than h : 3 would-be Preceptor , and thinks his parent does but waste his time in proffering wholesome counsel and advice . Thus the aid which might be given by practical experience

is lost to the self-sufficient youth who airs his frivolous crotchets in the Lodge and out , of it , vainly believing that by ostentation and bounce he will impress the brethren around him with that importance which he secretly cherishes

in his own estimation . Such , however , is not the case . As water is bound to find its level , so is the man buoyed up with false security and self complacency destined to draw down upon himself the contempt of more

evenlybalanced minds with whom he is brought into association . If will be a matter of surprise to us if a Lodge under the auspices of such a Master as we have endeavoured to rtray will succeed , either in its financial position or

nn the good understanding which should always obtain amongst any society of men , and particularly in a Masonic Lodge : and the chances are that the hollowness of

the pretensions set up by a precocious bantling at the outset of his rule will be detected and exposed long before the time when , with a feeling of relief , he will hand over

the insignia of office to his successor . Contrast with snob an one , a solid , steady worker in the Craft , such as we arc now thinking of , who whilst ever ready to discharge the functions which the brethren gladly

entrust to his hands , is never to be found at variance with his neighbours on minor points of detail . Practical experience has taught him how to rule and govern , and how to conciliate whatever antagonistic feelings may crop up in

his Lodge : and there are very few Lodges in which at times differences of opinion will not occur . In such a case our worthy brother—either in his position of Secretary , or as a Past Master—rarely fails to throw oil on the troubled

waters , and to bring men of various shades of opinion to a just , right , and amicable conclusion . Instead of fanning the flame of insurrectionary opposition , as would be the tactics of such an one as the brother mentioned above , this

veteran of the Order is never above learning a lesson from those about him , and always exercises a discretion and a deference to the wishes and views of his fellows that is the surest means of securing unity , and cementing the bonds

of good fellowship and amenity . If questions arise in which the brethren display a divided opinion , he is the counsellor whom wisdom and experience have taught t o be judicious , firm , bub conciliatory withal , and in very

few cases indeed does he fail to produce the desired effect , and to restore harmony when the clouds of dissension have begun to gather . Such a man is a treasure to any Lodge with which he may he connected . In him the brethren

can repose the moat implicit confidence , feeling that their ( rust will never be betrayed . To him the Master and his Officers may look with absolute reliance , and feel that he will counsel and advise for the best interests of tbe Lodge

and its members , individually and collectively . In thefulilmcnt of the various duties he undertakes he is conscious of the righteousness of his intentions , and relics on the

undivided support of all the members in the execution of his plans for the welfare of his Lodge ; and thus a feeling of security and esprit de cows is engendered amongst the