"How To Rule And Govern A Lodge."

cent dny ' s work , although occupying but a few moments of their time •, : \ n >! ' . ' . a it was extremely hoc and disagreeable , and perhaps , like him-olf , many of thorn had heroine moro or less bilious , and of courso not in a condition to overtax themselves with any further business at present , he thought they had better take a holiday for the rest of the ovenmg . Ho should therefore proceed to close tho

Lodge . This , however , appeared unsatisfactory to some who wanted to fight it out right then and thero . The Master was unyielding , the Lodge was closed ; tho combustible element dispersed , and of courso the fire died out . The next Lodge night came on ; all mot in harmony ; the several applications were renewed ; all passed dear , and a

happier lot of good fellows never appeared togother in a Lodge room . Now , all who have had any experience in matters of this kind can readily see what it mig ht have resulted in had it been otherwise managed . There was combustible eloment in it enough to have destroyed more Lodges than one . Again , another source of trouble and disquiet in our Lodges arises

from tho want of ability to discriminate between duty and privilege . Whatever is a duty should be performed , and at the proper time ; but a simple privilege may or may not be performed , just as the party may think proper . And here we might remark as we pass along , that the doctrine which is being so energetically promulgated by many of the Masonic writers of the present day , that custom , or

what is usually called " ancient usage , " has not only become law , but an unalterable landmark , is causing more contention and difficulty in our Lodges than there is any necessity for . How often we hear these expressions in our Lodge meetings " ancient usage , " " old regulations , " " common custom , " & c . Such expressions are always nsed as knock-down argnments—the raw head and bloody bones

that aro to silence all opposition , when the truth is , " anciont usage , " old customs , " & c , however beautiful and appropriate they may have been , were but privileges , and as such , can never become law , much less unchangeable landmarks . Were it otherwise , Masonry would be changing every hour . The Masonry we of the present day shall hand over to our successors will be altogether a different

affair from what we received from our predecessors . Take an example : A Lodge , young , vigorous , and prospering , had fitted up their Lodge rooms appropriately , and procured a fine set of jewels , with velvet collars for their offinprs , all in good taste , just as it should ever be . Their Master , by the way a good fellow , but a little exacting , must have every thing just so , and stood much

npon custom , usage , & c . One sultry evening , the Master observed the Senior Deacou without his jewel . Calling his attention to the fact , he peremptorily ordered him to pnt it on . Now it being exceedingly hot , as before stated , this arbitrary order of the Master had naturally a tendency to stir up the superabundance of bile . The Deacon felt that somehow his privileges were being tampered with .

and without proper reflection , absolutely refused to obey the order of the Master . Here , of course , was trouble . Tho Master for a time lost the control of himself , and of course , tho control of his Lodge ; the members became more or less excited ; " old regulations , " " ancient usage , " " common custom , " with all their raw head and bloody

bone arguments , were hurled at the hed of tho Deacon , with profusion , until finally , he became exceedingly angry , threw off his apron , and left the Lodge , declaring he would never enter it again . This of course made matters worse ; a resolution was introduced to at once expel him for his contumacious refusal to obey the order of the Worshipful Master . This for a time was discussed pro and

con , bat not in a proper spirit . All had become too much excited for that ; some insisting that as tho facts were all bofore them , the Lodge could adopt tho resolution , and expel the brother without any notice or form of trial whatever . Better connsol , however , prevailed , and the matter was laid over until the next stated meeting . In the meantime the Worshipful Master , realizing that a great

wrong had been perpetrated somewhere , but not knowing just where or how to get hold of it , wrote to the Grand Master , giving a detailed statement of the whole case , and asked for advice , what to do , and how to proceed . This was a fortunate step . In due time the ad . vice asked for came , which was in substance that tho Deacon , in contumaciously refusing to obev the order of the Master , had laid

himself liable to discipline by the Lodge ; his remedy against the order of the Master , if he thought it improper or oppressive , was by an appeal to higher authority ; but as the Master himself was tho first aggressor , in that ho had attempted to compel his Deacon to perform as a duty that which was but a privilege , he shonld at once go to his Deacon , let him read the communication from the Grand

Master , and then take back his improper order , apologize for what had been done , and courteously request him to come back and resume his place in the Lodge , and then let tho matter drop . This advice , so appropriately given by the Grand Master , was carried out to the letter . The next Lodge meeting came on ; both Officers appeared in their appropriate stations ; the Grand Master's letter was read ,

and then the Worshipful Master arose , acknowledged his error , and handsomely apologized to the Lodge , and asked for forgiveness . The Deacon , feeling that he could be as generous as his Master , candidly acknowledged his error , pledging himself never to be caught in the like again , and as apologies appeared to be the order of the hour , the members caught the spirit , and thus a general love

feast ensued , and all got happy ; and that was the last ever heard of that difficulty . The circumstance occurred les 3 than sixteen years ago , the Lodge , as before stated , was at that time quite young , having been organized but a few years , and located in a new place , yet it has gone on and prospered , \ mttl in addition to tbe Lodge , there are now located in the same place , a Chapter , Council , and Commandery ,

and all are prospering finely . The customs , usages , and privileges of our predecessors 50 , 100 or 200 years ago , are no more binding on ns of to-day , than will our customs , usages , and privileges be upon our successors , 100 or 200 years hence . The stability and perpetuity of our time-honoured institution can rest in safety nowhere else .

Mark Well!

MARK WELL !

FROM THE MASONIO NEWSPAPER .

AFTER many month ' s labour in the editorial ftold , and having week by week presented to the fraternity The Masonio Nowspapor—for their information , instrnction and amusement , —it is proper that wo should survey the scene of our toil , examine tlio past , and carefully review tho work that has been done . We have performed this duty as wo believe conscientiously , and with tho desire of detecting errors , if committed , to the end that they might be

corrected , and avoided in the future . We have been prompted to more careful scrutiny and most severe examination by tho partial censure of some of our contemporaries . Our exchanges have , in one or two instances , brought to us the intelligence that somo supposed , that in the discussions and suggestions that we have from time to time made , in reference to the Grand Lodgo and

its wasteful extravagance in paying representatives , that we have been wanting in proper respect for that most worshipfnl body , and for the venerable brethren who illumine tho East in tho oharactor of Past Grand Officers . Willing to believe that such a charge would not bo insinuated or expressed unless there was foiinda . tion for it , wo have taken tho lantern of scrutiny , and with it

carefully oxamined all our productions in that respect , and we do not find anything that will , in our hnmble judgment , justify such roflections " . On the contrary , we have expressed our highest reverenco for tho M . W . Grand Lodge and all its Officers past and present . We have dealt tenderly with many things that might havo been severely criticised , for tho reason that wo did not see how remedy could be

applied . We havo made it a rule not to find fault unless we could suggest somo beneficial change . In our various articles on " How TO DO IT , " we have called the attention of the Craft to the existence of a system which is working as , we believe , greatly to the injury of the Grand Lodge , and dishonouring the fraternity in the State . We see that a burden is now borne for obligations already incurred . We see

that the Craft are severely taxed to reduce this dobt , and at tho same timo that an enormous sum is annually expended to pay tho expenses of the Grand Lodge , that the greater part of the expenses arises from paying members for their attendance at the Annual Communications . We see that tho labours of tho sessions aro actuall y small , and certainly insignificant , compared with the sum spent . Wo see the

disbursements for charity confined within such narrow limits and in amount so small that the bare mention of it has startled all , and awakened by astonishment tho indignation of our neighbours , who , educated nnder tho samo banner and in tho same principles , exemplify their faith by works , while we are content with faith alone . Seein <* nil this , and feeling that we stood in the position of advisers to our

readers , wo gave them various suggestions for correcting the evil and relioving the Craft from both the burden of taxation and tho unpleasant reflections cast upon their work . In these suggestions we have proposed various remedies , all tending to reduce the enormous expense . We havo advanced tho idea of reducing tho nnmbor of representatives , and as part of that mado mention of the Past Grand

Officers and others , as some who could well bo spared without injury to the successful working of the Grand Lodge . As to the reduction of the number of representatives , we bnt echo a proposition already made in Grand Lodgo . As to dispensing with Past Grand Officers , wo but follow a precedent which was set in 1849 , and which has since proved satisfactory . We certainly aro not to be blamed for this , or

to bo charged with lack of respect to our " elders " and those more experienced . In furtherance of relief , wo discussed the propriety of triennial sessions , and consolidation of Lodgoa . And nt length settled upon the plan of dispensing with the fay system in toto , as the proper method of removing the evil . And we havo urged this upon tho brethren with all the ability we possess , and shall continue so to do

until the work is Accomplished . We would have been unworthy the favour of all Masons , and recreant to our editorial duty had we dono less . Our best efforts wo feel havo been imperfect , but we know that our intentions and desires were honest , and that the achievement of the plan of repeal would be to the honour of the M . W . G . Lodge and of every Mason who hails from the jurisdiction . Let our readers mark well the words that we havo

written , aud let them carry forward the work until the end is attained . They must not remain idle or be intimidated by the suggestions that they are reflecting discredit upon tho Grand Lodge or dishonouring its Officers , —far from it ! On the contrary , all who take np this labour are working for tho honour , glory and reputation of our time honoured institution ; are striving to remove the clouds which obscure its li ghts , and restoring to tho Grand Lodgo of New York its ancient and well merited standing as a peer among the Grand Lodges of tho world .

Upton Lodge of Instruction , No . 1227 . —Held at th ° King and Queen , Norton Folgate , on Thursday , 13 th November * Present—Bros . Legg W . M ., Powell S . W ., Lane J . W ., Patrick S . D . ' Hine J . D ., Fenner Preceptor , Wallbreeht Sec , Gieseko I . G . ; also Bros . Andrews , Clark , Hambach , Trewinnard , Wilson , Stroud , Pearcy , and Bromet . The usual formalities were duly observed , and then tho ceremony of passing was rehearsed , Bro . Clark candidate . Bro .

Legg vacated the chair in favour of Bro . Trewinnard , who worked the ceremony of Installation , Bro . Fenner being tbe Master Installed . The Lodge was closed in the third degree , and resumed to the first . Bro . Powell was appointed to preside at the next meeting . Bro . Trewinnard was elected an honorary member of this Lodgo of Instruction , and a vote of thanks accorded to hira for the very able manner in which he had worked the ceremony of Installation , after which Lodge was closed and adjourned .