Disappointed Youngsters.

DISAPPOINTED YOUNGSTERS .

IT is well known that in matters of Freemasonry , as with many outside subjects , the growing generation is fired with a desire to commence operations where their fathers or other relatives leave off . They are not content to begin , as their ancestors did , at the lowest rung of the ladder , but strive to win the highest distinctions at first . They join the Lodge of which their father or other relative is a Past Master , with the idea that he will have the power

of pushing them forward for rapid promotion ; that they will in fact soon rise to the dignity of Master , and be spared what they are pleased to term the drudgery of the minor offices . They have learned to regard any station in Freemasonry but that of Past Master as shewing inferiority , and their one aim seems to be to " pass the chair , " and strut about as full fledged Masters in the Craft . Unfortunately for this

class Freemasonry does nofc recognise any royal road to promotion , and the consequence is the world just now contains a fair number of these disappointed youngsters , who are not slow to criticise the actions of their elders , who have failed to recognise their superior abilities , and have even gone so far as to enforce a regular system of routine progress before allowing them to don the levels of Freemasonry ..

it is particularly iortunate lor the Masonic Order that this state of affairs exists , for it would be nothing short of a calamity if a general system of favouritism were to be introduced , and made to influence the annual appointment of Lodge Officers . Young men may be quite as efficient as older ones in the work of Freemasonry , but the general principles of the Craft necessitate a certain amount of

knowledge for the leaders of its Lodges , and the knowledge necessary can only be acquired by experience . The regulations of the Craft fully recognise this principle , when they make it compulsory that every candidate for the Master ' s chair must have served the office of

Warden for at least twelve months in some regular Lodge , and it is even questionable if some further enactments in this direction—affecting some of the minor offices— --would not be desirable . The chief argument to be used against the need for such' a limitation is , that the majority of the Craft already

recognise the system of gradual development or promotion , and that there is really no necessity to make the matter penal , but it is an item which should be fully explained to young aspirants , who , for want of knowled ge on the point , frequently become disappointed and bitter against the men with whom thev

come in contact . Besides which , it creates an undesirable opinion in the minds of strangers when they hear that so-and-so is about to join his father ' s Lodge , and is to be put into high office as soon as he bas gone through the three degrees . Of course , sensible individuals will understand how much reliance is to be placed on such remarks , but in any case theirutterance . isnot desirable .

Disappointed Youngsters.

A few months back a young man of our acquaintance was strong in expressions of the character we have referred to , and was boasting in our presence that he was about to join a Lodge where he would be sure of early promotion to a Warden's chair , — " at least . " We ventured to warn him not to be too

sanguine , but he was ready with the answer that nearly all the present members of the Lodge were Past Masters , and did not therefore want office for themselves . His relative , who was to introduce him , would see that he was advanced at an early date , and he was talking of what he would do when he was Master of the Lodge . We still advised him to consider matters from a different point of view , and then

forgot the circumstance , until a few weeks back we were told that this young man had joined the Lodge , had discovered the fallacy of his anticipations , and was accusing us of having set the members of the Lodge against him , and thereby prevented his appointment to the office he hacl made so certain of securing . We can only assure our young friend wo

are innocent of any interference ; as we have said , we hacl forgotten the matter altogether , until reminded of it by hearing the charge made against us . We have since found out our experience is not wholly exceptional , while it seems to be generally recognised that verv wild ideas exist as to what is

possible in the way of rapid promotion through family influence . We can only repeat that Freemasonry recognises nothing of the sort , and that any who join its ranks with the idea of being pitchforked into office will in every probability regret the step . They must not forget , however , that they have only themselves to blame for their misfortune , or whatever else they may choose to term it .

The New Hall At The Girls' School.

THE NEW HALL AT THE GIRLS ' SCHOOL .

IT has been announced during the week tbat , in view of the many applications for admission to witness the opening of the New Hall of the Masonic Institution for Girls—which ceremony will be performed by the Prince of Wales—and the limited space available for visitors , the

Committee have decided to limit the disposal of tickets to those brethren who will acfc as Stewards at the next Festival . This may prove a very good way of securing one or two additional names for the list of 1891 , but it is a poor way of expressing gratitude for favours already

received . We should have thought those who pro * vided the funds for the enlargement shonld have had the first opportunity of witnessing its completion , bufc the Committee , in the exercise of their judgment , decree

otherwise . Gratitude in this case certainly seems to tako tho form of an anticipation of favours to come , and perhaps , it may be more desirable to enlist the support of new Stewards in order to maintain the New Hall rather than encourage those by whose exertions its erection has been possible . Let us hope that before the time comes for the