Common Sense Masonry.

COMMON SENSE MASONRY .

IN an Institution like the Masonic , that embraces within its membership men of almost every nationality in the world ; subjects of every form of government ; disciples of every system of religion ; and many of them members of various other orders and societies governed by all sorts of rules and regulations , it

is but natural that there should exist a great variance of opinion in many things pertaining to the administration of its affairs . In such a conglomeration of men , trained in these different schools of education and experience , there necessarily must be a great diversity of

temperament , disposition and theoretical ideas , or , as the old saying goes , " Many men of many minds . " When we add to this the other fact that the natural disposition of man is generally biased by his early education and

surroundings , and that he generally thinks his own way is the best , the difficulty in securing united action in all the various things which affect the condition and welfare of Masonry is all the more apparent .

But there are other impediments in the way of Masonic legislation which are perhaps more difficult to overcome than those we have named . Masonry is based on certain landmarks and unwritten traditions which

every Brother is taught to hold in high veneration and never suffer them to be changed . Every true Mason is ever anxious to observe this duty , and it is uppermost in his mind when considering any proposed changes for the government of the Craft . With no authoritatively

accredited list of these landmarks , noue such having been formulated by the Grand Lodge , he is often in doubt as to the rightfulness of the proposed action . Without any sure guidance , the best he can do is to act upon the information he has , and here many are quite as

liable to be wrong as right , for it is a lamentable fact that a very large proportion of those who have been intrusted with the responsible duty , in the past and present time , of making Masons and teaching them Masonry , have very little knowledge in this important

trust beyond the ability to repeat certain obligations and lectures , iu the same manner they were communicated to them . They may be happy in their belief that Masonry of the present day came down from " mouth to

ear , " in a direct line from Solomon , and hence they have it correct , for they " got it that way . " It may be unkind to them to suggest that such a delusion can be possible , for their prestige as expert Brethren may be thus somewhat impared .

But we are digressing from the intent of this article . We have shown how it is possible for a great diversity of opinion to exist in many things relating to Masonry , even among the Brethren best informed , looking at them from different standpoints . How to act in such matters

as are subject to legislation and change in Grand bodies is the point we want to consider . It seems to us that it is part of wisdom to make such laws and adopt such rules and regulations as will most readily meet the wants and suit the convenience of the Masons of the present

day and in the future . It is foolishness to say that the" regulations which governed one hundred years ago , when there were but few Lodges and far between , are all

sufficient for the government of the Craft , with Lodges at every cross-road ; or that because our great , great grandfathers went to mill on horseback , with a stone in one end of the bag to balance the grist in the other

ness , and to retain its high standing as the grandest fraternal organisation in the world . The Grand Lodge of Indiana was among the very first to act in accordance with these ideas , and there is no other Grand Jurisdiction in the world , at the present

end , we must do as they did . There must be progression in Masonry as in everything else , in this great and growing country , to bring out its full measure of

usefultime , in which Masonry occupies a higher plane or where there is greater harmony and good will among the Craft . While all generally recognised ancient landmarks have been scrupulously upheld and maintained , other matters affecting the convenience , prosperity ancl general

welfare of Masonry in all its bearings have been duly considered , and such changes made as would be productive of the best results . The odious " perpetual jurisdiction " theory has been abrogated , and one year substituted . The right of any Officer of a Lodge to

Common Sense Masonry.

resign and dimit has been fully established . The trial and punishment of a . Worshipful Master before his own Lodge , on charges of un-Masonic conduct , has been provided for in a most satisfactory manner .

We might continue the list of more or less important changes made , but space will not permit . There is no disposition on the part of the Grand Lodge of Indiana , or of any Mason within her jurisdiction , to make any

innovations in the body of Masonry , but there is a desire to keep abreast of the times in such a way as to subserve the best interests of Masonry in the present and future . This we believe to be the best course to pursue , and it is our idea of good common sense Masonry . — " Masonic Advocate . "

We wonder how much capital is lying idle in Lodges which possess an expensive organ which is never used ? All the outward and visible signs of minstrelsy are

present . The Lodge is provided with books of Masonio Odes , an Organist is duly invested with the silver lyre and there is the organ , and all that is ever heard from it is the occasional squeaking of the tenant . —" Indian Masonic Review . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

THE funeral of Brother J . Foote , an old Organist of Bath , and for thirty-eight years a member of the Royal Cumberland Lodge , who died suddenly at Lansdo * vvn Terrace on the 4 th inst ., took place at

Locksbrook Cemetery . Many Masonic Brethren attended , and , also several Brother musicians . The service was choral , says the " Western Press , " the choir from the Mineral Water Hospital being , in attendance .

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