Points Of Interest.

When a Brother comes late , the I . G . is instructed to tell him in what degree the Lodge is working , and usually in coming in he salutes the W . M . in the manner usual in that degree . Now no degree in Freemasonry can be reached without going through those below it .

The W . M . cannot open the Lodge in the third degree without previously doing so in the first and second , and in declaring it closed he has to close the third , and reopen in the second , and then from the second to the first . The Brother who enters while the Lodge is working

in the second or third should advance and salute first as an E . A ., then as a F . C , and then as a M . M . exactly as he did when the S . S . were communicated to him . It takes time doubtless , but the moral is , first , a Brother should

not come late , and , second , if he does , that he should not be allowed to disturb any important work going on . £ . g . the writer has heard a Brother " knock in " in the middle of the obligation !

Many Brethren need reminding about the rules . of debate . There is nothing in the constitution of a Lodge which justifies those being relaxed , and they should be enforced there as in any other gathering . The first of

these is that every observation made in Lodge should be addressed to or through the W . M . If W . Bro . Smith have a serious difference with W . Bro . Brown , both of them are less likely to become heated on the subject if their remarks are made to and through the W . M .

Misapprehension occurs sometimes as to what an amendment is . It is exactly what its name implies . A direct negative is not an amendment , because the desired

end can be secured by voting against the original motion . To " signify the same in the manner usual among Masons" means to extend the r ... a ... in exactly the same manner that the l ... a ... is extended in the S . O . of the

second degree . ; In closing this chapter , may we remind every Brother that the W . M . ' s ruling , whether right or wrong , ' is absolutely final as far as that evening ' s meeting is concerned . There are constitutional ways of bringing a

peccant W . M . to book afterwards , but in Lodge he is entitled to implicit obedience . If tbe proceedings are irregular , the W . M . alone is responsible , not his Officers ,

and furthermore , everything must give way m the Lodge Room to the necessity of maintaining harmony , even if harmony and friendship be not attainable . —" Indian Masonic Review . "

Accidental Rejection.

ACCIDENTAL REJECTION .

IT has often occurred to us that a percentage of the rejections in Masonic bodies are accidental . How large a percentage it is impossible to determine . In conversing with many Brethren , we find that a majority have not made any examination of the two classes of

ballots , so as to be able to distinguish between them . We have frequently seen a second ballot upon a candidate stand clear , when the first was clearly a rejection . It is customary to re-ballot if one cube or black-ball

appears on the first ballot . We cannot conceive that a Brother , who has intentionally cast a negative vote on the first ballot , should , upon a re-ballot , without further knowledge of the case , immediately reverse his opinion as to the fitness of a candidate to become a member of

his Lodge . Now , if one is likely to err , is it not reasonable to suppose that two , or even more , are likely to cast the dreaded cube on the same ballot ? We would offer the following suggestions , as likely to

decrease , in a measure , the number of rejections . First , when the candidate is qualified to sign the bye-laws , he should be requested to examine the ballot-box , and that some explanation of the ballot , its secret character , & c , be given him . It might de done after the following

manner : "My Brother , having signed the bye-laws of this Lodge , you are now entitled to all its rights and privileges , among which is the important privilege of accepting or rejecting all who may apply for the

degrees or for membership . I wish to impress npon your mind the immense power for good or evil with which you are entrusted . This white ball , secretly cast by you , signifies your approbation of any candidate who may apply , while this cube , when cast by you , signifies

Accidental Rejection.

that the candidate is unworthy , for some reason known by you , and will have the same effect as though each and every member of this Lodge were to cast one of them . Hence , how important it is that you should be extremely careful in depositing your ballot , always

remembering that balls elect and cubes reject . The ballot , my Brother , is inviolably secret , and you are cautioned that to discuss or make known your ballot is one of the greatest of Masonic offences and is punishable

by expulsion from our beloved Craft . The ballot-box is never the proper place to exhibit a petty spite toward any individual within or without the Lodge , and the ceremony attending the casting of a ballot is equivalent to a sacred promise to cast it in accordance with your

obligation , that is , in the interests of Masonry exclusively . " The second suggestion that we would offer as likely

to decrease the number of rejections , is to always re-ballot upon a rejection , regardless of the number of cubes that may appear . — " Trestle Board . " .

Disclosing The Ballot.

DISCLOSING THE BALLOT .

rr * lHE general Masonic law and usage m regard to I balloting for candidates is , that the ballot must be absolutely secret , and no member can be permitted to tell whether he cast a white or black ball . The Grand

Lodge of Kentucky has modified this law , so that a member who casts a black ball , may , at the same or

next meeting , withdraw it , and thereupon the candidate is declared elected ; and for this purpose , and for this purpose only , a member may disclose how he voted . We think this departure from what has been an universal law in Masonry is not only unwise but dangerous . Let

us suppose that a member , other than the one who cast the black ball , should rise in open Lodge and say that he did it , that would settle it , as the rejected candidate would then be entitled to initiation , and the member who cast the black ball could have nothing to say to prevent

it . He could not say that he cast the black ball , for the purpose of withdrawing it , which he does not desire to do . Do you say that no Mason would be guilty of such

an act ? We grant that it does hardly seem possible that one would , but we have known of things equally bad being done in a Masonic Lodge . Human nature is very much the same there as elsewhere , and there are

some members who feel themselves badly abused by the

rejection of an intimate friend who they know to be worthy of admission , and there might be one who would so far forget his duty as a Mason as to try to even up that way . If there is to be any modification of the law , so that

one who casts a black ball may have the privilege of withdrawing it , let it be by another ballot . Then should one falsely claim to have cast the black ball the ballot would enable the one who really cast it to protect

himself without being discovered . We think , however , the old general law is much the best , and when a candidate has been declared rejected , that should be final . If he desires to try again he can do so by a new petition . —" . Masonic Advocate . "

Doing Work For Another Lodge.

DOING WORK FOR ANOTHER LODGE .

IT not , infrequently happens that by reason of a candidate changing his place of residence before he has been initiated in the Lodge which has elected him to become a Mason > it is more convenient for him to

receive the degrees in another Lodge , and Lodges thus sometimes do work for each other . Concerning this practice Bro . Drummond has this to say in his last report :

' We find an illustration of the dangerous complications liable to arise from allowing one Lodge to confer the degrees for another Lodge . A Nebraska Lodge elected a candidate , but before the degrees were conferred he moved to Maryland ; the Lodge , in \ yhose jurisdiction he lived , was thereupon requested to confer the degrees

upon him , but one of its members objecting , the Lodge

declined ; the candidate representing to his Lodge that the objection was malicious , it requested another Lodge