The "Business" Of Freemasonry.

THE " BUSINESS" OF FREEMASONRY .

T ^ REEMASONRY , that peculiar system of morality , - ! L veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols , does not appear to be able to withstand the levelling influences of the age . Tear by year its teachings are becoming more and more systematised , and its principles fettered by

vexat ions restrictions , thereby depriving them of much of their beauty , and lowering the Order in the estimation of those " , vho love it for its freedom and simplicity . The same rules ¦ which govern the every-day pursuits of life are gradually

being associated with all that concerns the Craft , with a result which is anything but beneficial to the Order , which was never intended to be restricted by rules and regulations other than those necessary to ensure the comfort and

convenience of its members . Much of the Charity of Freemasonry is losing its charm , as the result of the excessive organization practised now-a-days , and this is excused on the ground that organization is rendered necessary ; firstly ,

to guard against imposture * , and , secondly , to secure a tine return for what has been given—in Charity ! The ceremonies of Freemasonry , in many quarters at least , are fast being deprived of that impressiveness which shonld

surround them , as the result of the excessive knowledge which it seems to be the aim of brethren to acquire ; knowledge which enables them to rattle off the Ritual without a slip ,

but which appears to pay no regard to that expression so essential in ceremonies which , like those of Freemasonry , rely mainly on the effect produced at the moment making a lasting impression on the mind of a candidate .

One of the results of this excessive zeal for systematizing everything is , the frequent references made at regular Lodge meetings to the benefits of Lodges of

Instruction , or , in other words , the general touting for support which is made by some of the prominent officials of these offshoots of Freemasonry . When we remember the utterances some of these over-zealous brethren have

made on behalf of their particular school or system of Instruction , we almost have to ask ourselves which is the parent and which the offshoot ? whether Freemasonry owes its origin to Lodges of Instruction , or whether

Lodges of Instruction are dependent for their existence on the Lodges themselves ? Were it not that we knew otherwise , we should frequently have been led to believe that the former was the actual state of affairs , and that

Freemasonry existed for the whole and sole design of supplying members for Lodges of Instruction . Of course , these mistaken ideas would have been caused by the excess of

energy displayed by those who feel they are doing what i . s right when they use the most forcible language in urging the advantages of the school with which they are associated .

We do not like this system of touting , which is not only being carried to excess , but , if encouraged at regular meetings on behalf of Lodges of Instruction , will soon extend to other matters—Masonic , semi-Masonic , and even

non-Masonic—until a Lodge meeting will come to be recoo-nised as a fitting occasion on which to make public advertisement of anything or everythin f it is desired to make Freemasons acquainted with . On more than one occasion in tho past

we have referred in strong terms to this tendency on the part of Instruction officials to overstep the bounds of propriety when , on being called upon to respond to a toast , they find themselves in a position to address a few words to their fellows . There is no hard and fast rule which limits

The "Business" Of Freemasonry.

the subjects to which a speaker may refer on such occasions , nor one which compels a Worshipful Master to call an erring brothel" to order , but we imagine there are often many

among the hearers who wonld be willing to raise a voice against the breach of etiquette , were it once to become recognised that in so doing they would receive support from some of those around them . We know it is

sometimes difficult to know what to talk about , but a few words can generally be thought of which will suffice to acknowledge any ordinary toast , and when anything special is called for , the exceptional proposition will generally suggest

a corresponding reply ; but for a brother , who may be asked to speak to the toast of the Visitors , to immediately ignore the call made on him , and launch into eulogies over tho

Lodge * of Instruction of which he is the Preceptor , Secretary , or it may be an active member , is very much out of place , and displays a lack of discretion—both Masonic and

social—which does not say much for the system pursued

at the Lodge of Instruction specially referred to . There is another feature in connection with this touting for members which occasionally renders the i * emarks of touts most offensive . We allude to the mistaken ideas

of the importance of Lodges of Instruction . As we have said above , some of them impress their hearers with the idea that Freemasonry exists solely for the purpose of keeping up the supply of Instruction members , and even if they

do not always succeed in convincing their hearers on this point , it is certain this is the idea they personally entertain —that is if their remarks are to be accepted as any index to their thoughts . Even the best of brethren err in this

respect , but while they do so conscientiously , and without doing injury to other equally deserving off-shoots of Freemasonry , we do not know they actually commit any crime from a Masonic point of view , however much their conduct

may be open to question . We have heard it remarked that it is the " duty " of every Mason to support Lodges of Instruction , and while we admit the usefulness of the many weekly meetings held throughout the country for the

improvement of brethren , we certainly cannot recognise anything like a lack of " duty " by those who choose to abseut themselves from all public schools of Masonry . A regular attendance at Lodges of Instruction is frequently urged as

the royal road to distinction ; were Masonic honours thrown open to public competition , with a severe examination to be passed by all candidates , we could recognise the force of this argument , but as things are at present , with many of

our Lodges working on the principle that the brethren should be appointed to office as much in rotation as possible , we cannot see how it applies . A few months since we heard a most energetic Preceptor—a visitor at an installation

meeting—boldly assert that the brother installed that night owed his preferment solely to his regular attendance at the Lodge of Instruction held under the sanction of the Lodge , and he further pointed out that the " only

way for others to ensure early promotion was to follow the same course . When we inquired afterwards , we found that the brother installed had worked his way through the whole of the offices , and we further discovered

that he had not been appointed to the lowest office until his turn came . So much for misguided enthusiasm , instances of which we could enumerate almost indefinitely .

But we believe the brethren who err are usually sincere , and while they please themselves they do not injure—eleven attempt to injure—others ; but there are exceptions even to this rule , and a notable instance has just been