Unknown Masons.

UNKNOWN MASONS .

EEAD before the Members of Lodge " St . David in the East , " 371 , S . C ., by Worshipful Master Bro . K . D . Ghosh : " You are cautiously to examine him in such a method as prudence shall direct you , that you may not be imposed upon by an ignorant , false pretender , and beware of giving him any hints of knowledge . " *

IT is an established fact that the doors of a Lodge are never shut against a Brother , no matter whichever part of the world he is placed in . Castes , creeds , colour , or wane of the knowledge of the language of the country aro no barriers against his admission , so long as he can pass a Masonic examination . To distinguish a true Brother from a pretender depends greatly upon the tact , judgment and prudence , and the method adopted by the examining Brother .

Nowadays , with an abundance of vulgar literature dealing elaborately on Masonic subjects , it is not impossible to impose upon the examiner , unless he is very careful and practical . The wise maxim quoted above from the Ancient Charges sUould always be the guiding spirit of every Mason upon whom falls the responsible duty of the examination of a strange Brother . Though the task is always assigned to a Past Master , still instances do now and then happen where he is found to be remiss in his duties .

To hurry on Lodge work has become the crying evil of the day , and the Lodge which can finish its work quick , and allow its members to go to refreshments early , is considered to be a w ell managed and fashionable Lodge . With the object of conferring decrees on candidates as quickly as possible , the V \ orshipful Master proceeds with great rapidity , leaving aside the most important and

instructive portions of his work , such as the Charge , the Tracing Board , and the Lectures . This state of things continues from the beginning to the end of the year , and the idea which tho work of such a Lodge produces on the minds of the Brethren can better be imagined than described . The very fundamental principles of Freemasonry are thus staked by the Worshipful Master's hasty

and injudicious management ; and the impression which the Brethren carry home in their minds is the knowledge of a few signs , tokens and words , and the pleasuie and enjoyment of the banquetting table . If an unknown Mason presents himself for admission at a Lodge , a few stereotyped questions are put to him , and , if he can answer them fairly well , he is at once admitted

and vouched for as a true Brother . Such laxity in the strictness of the examination is likely to be rewarded by the admission of a cowan , who goes to the world and harms tho cause of Freemasonry . There are many non-Masons who are as familiar with the secrets as we are , and they can deceive the examiner and easily gain admission into a Lodge of this description . I onco mistook a

friend of mine for a " Brother , " who shook my hand with the true grip of a Mason , and as 1 did not return him tho grip he exclaimed " Hallo ! are you not a Mason ? " Every ono of the Fraternity with whom he had the chance of shaking hands returned him the grip , was the pertinent reply to my answering him on the affirmative . On close inquiry , 1 found him to be an impostor , who used to take pleasure in indulging in this deception .

The mere fact of carrying a Grand Lodge diploma bearing the signature of the unknown Brother , does not alter the position in his favour , unless the signature over the diploma is found to be exactly tho same as that of its holder . But whafc is the necessity of going over this sort of examination , when we have got simple

and practical tests at our disposal ? A true and lawful Brother , before being admitted into the mysteries of any degrees of the Craft , has always to undergo a sort of preparation . He witnesses a lot of things , and observes many peculiar rites and ceremonies whilst inside the Lodge room , which he can never forget in his lifetime . If an unknown Brother can describe to the satisfaction of

he examiner how he was prepared , admitted into Lodges working several degrees , and then , whilst in , what he saw and did with the usual secrets pertaining to each degree , there can he no doubt that he is a true Mason . The Grand Lodge diploma in his possession , bearing his signature , is an additional proof that he is the recipient of the honour lawfully and constitutionally . — " Indian Freemason . " * Vide the Ancient Charges of Freo and Accepted Masons .

Masonry On The High Seas.

MASONRY ON THE HIGH SEAS .

AN interesting communication of Master Masons was held on board the Cunard steamer " Lucania" in mid-Atlantic on the 12 th July . About twenty Master Masons gathered in the hospital of the ship as a Lodge of Instruction , and to consider an appeal for aid from a poor and distressed Brother and Master Mason travelling in the steerage . Rev . J . S . Adams , of Keasanqua Lodge , No . 10 , Iowa , U . S . A ., acted as the Worshipful Master , the Lodge was duly officered throughout , the furniture of the Lodge was complete , and in entire accord with the uniqueness of the occasion .

Never in the remembrance of anyone present did the light of Masonry shine more bright , or the fire of Brotherly Love that kindles on the altar of Masonic hearts burn more warmly . A customary seaman making known his wants , and eager faces speaking back the response that was soon to come .

Resolutions were passed and Masonry exemplified . The Lodge adjourned to the next evening , was then duly opened , and at its close over twenty-five dollars was given to the poor , distressed Brother , with warm words of encouragement by the Worshipful Master . The Lodge was closed , and then refreshments were served .

Masons from various parts of the world had thus been strangely brought together on the high seas , teuderest memories had been engraven on every heart under the speh of a wondrous power .

Masonry On The High Seas.

Masonry became especially dear , and each obligated himself anew to its faith and service . Distance has now separated these Brothers . They will not again be all found in a Lodge on the high . < eas or elsewhere , but thoy will be profoundly grateful for thoso hours whose brief record we have here given . —" New York Dispatch . "

The relief of the distressed Brother was altogether praiseworthy , says the " Masonic Journal . " But why open a Lodge ? Was it not clandestine ? If not , why not ?

Would Reject Too Much.

WOULD REJECT TOO MUCH .

AB R 0 T H E R whose name is familiar to Masonic readers very lightly esteems much of the Masonio literature of . the present time , and says that if he were an editor and publisher of Masonic writings , doings , & c , his office could not be made largo enough for his waste basket . That means a great deal , and is top sweeping . His views of Freemasonry are peculiar , and all copy

that came to him as Masonic would have to pass the test of his mentally conceived Masonic level , square and plumb , or go into his immense waste basket . Of course a Masonic editor and publisher must txercise eaxition and prudence , but he cannofcjusfcly reject all that does not fully accord with his own conceptions of

Freemasonry . No matter what his Masonic training may havo been , there are other Masons as well trained as himself , and somo who have discerned more of Masonic truth , and who , therefore , ace better able to interpret and elucidate Freemasonry . Although in an exalted station , he must remember that in days long past , tho

stone which the builders rejected became the head of the corner , and had to be so acknowledged . With that lesson before him , he must not assume an excess ol wisdom and circumspection , lest he commit like error in testing work brought up for his inspection and acceptance . The great Masonic scholar and author , Albert Pike ,

bowed before great Masonic problems as if he were a little child . He was a giant in intellect and in Masonic discoveries , but be had the Masonic manhood to acknowledge that he was not a perfect master of Masonry—that there were problems which he had not solved and could not explain . His conception of Freemasonry was

sublime , but he did not cast into his waste basket a , U that ; fell shoit of his view of it . Ho had not an inflexible rule for testing Masonic writings and doings for publication , nor can anyoneiha . ve such a rule whose purpose is to best promote and support . Freemasoniy . We never have so restricted ourself , and , consequently ,

we have \ rinted much that we did not approve , but that we ; COuld not cast into the waste basket as unmasonic That the great majority of Masonic readers are competent to judge , what tftey ought , and ought not to approve , of Masonic liteiature , will not ; be denied by the Brother who , as a Masonic editor and ; publish . eri

would have such a large waste basket . Another fact he will not deny , namely , that diversity of mind requires diversity of literature . The gems must be unlike , or must soon pall on the tasto and fail to interest . Changing the language : There , must be asi great a variety of Masonic articles , stories , poems , paragraphs a . nd

news , as possible , or the object of Masonic editing and publishing will be defeated . In a magazine actually voicing Masonry , no individual ' s views and wishes can be supreme . On the contrary , each month tho entire Masonic field must be searched , for what best meets Masonic literary wants . In such searching our

experience has often astonished us because our discoveries seemed like providences . When we were worrying because the requisite . Masonic literary gems were not in sight they soon appeared , and " Masonic literary cream became plentiful . With the gems and cream came much rubbish that we had to reject , but our waste

basket never had to be one hundredth part as large as out office ,, and , consequently , we have to say that the Brother whose zeal for rejecting is so great would cast away far too much , and thus would not only imperil the true interests of Freemasonry , hut also make , his magazine about useless to the majority of Masonic readers . — " Voice of Masonry . "

AN Exhibition of all matters connected with Optics and Photography will be held at the Royal Aquarium from 11 th September to 6 th October . It will be , in many respects , the most important display of the kind ever held . Amongst the novelties will be illustrations of the process of Photo-Telegraphy , which has been recently invented by Mr . Amstutz , of Cleveland , Ohio . With

this wonderful discovery it is possible to make an engraving of any photograph , over any length of wire , by means of the ordinary appliances to he found in a telegraph office . An appeal is made by the Aquarium management for the loan of any curiosities or objects of interest , either from a photographic or optical point of view . The regular programme , which is at present very strong , will bo continued in its entirety during the Exhibition .

o o o SOME very nice designs in Masonic menus , programmes , invitation cards , & c , have been prepared by Messrs . Hills and Co ., 108 and 109 Fore Street , E . G ., aid Secretaries and others looking for something in the way of a novelty for fcheir Installation or other

important meetings would do well to apply to them for patterns . That there is ample room for improvement in the direction of Lodge menu cards there can be no question , and considering tho large amount of money annually expended in their provision it is a matter of surprise that better examples are not forthcoming . As it

is Lodges appear to be content to use the same design year after year , although a little ingenuity or special attention devoted to novelties would doubtless be appreciated by those lor whose benefit the articles are provided , anything particularly attractive invariably rallipp forth favourable references from Brethren who seo them .