The Master Of A Lodgehis Duties.

THE MASTER OF A LODGEHIS DUTIES .

( From the CANADIAN MASONIC N EWS . )

IT has often occurred to na that the nature of the engagements , both expressed and implied , which are entered into by the Master of a Lodge , is , in general , but indifferently understood or appreciated . It is reasonable to presume that any man of ordinary understanding , who has gone through the subordinate offices , will , by the time ho reaches the chair , be able to perform his part in tho ceremonies of

the Lodge with accuracy and propriety . If not , he must be a cypher , " if he can do nothing , but say nothing , he shall be nothing here . " But we have a right to expect more than the getting by rote a few phrases . The Master should possess , and should be able to impart , some knowledge of the meaning and origin of our ceremonies , which , unless explained , may seem frivolous or tedious formalities . They

are , it is true , calculated to awaken rational curiosity , and are fraught with meaning : Masonry , still bearing the impress of its Asiatic origin , teaches its moral precepts by symbolical actions . Bnt explanation is needed to convey that meaning , and " THE MASTEK " is not only supposed to be a master of man , but a master of work . The vulgar and illiterate may stand amazed at what they cannot comprehend :

but Masonry is not coufined to the vulgar and illiterate ; men of high intellectual acquirements in our society , anxious not merely to share in its benefits , but to be instructed iu the boasted philosophy that is " veiled in its allegories and illustrated by its symbols . " Why , then , should we tolerate that ignorance which is the result of mere apathy ? Surely it is worth while to know somewhat of a subject which engages

theattentionofmany estimabloand intelligent persons . And tho means of that knowledge are in our reach . Masonry has now broken through the restraint which the timid jealousy of our predecessors had imposed upon it . We have shared in the irresistible progress of the age , and we now have Masonic treatises , magazines and journals , all devoted to the explanation of Masonic history , antiquities aud

principles . We attract more attention than heretofore , as appears not only by the multiplicity of our authorized publications , but by tho host of spurious and despicable rituals and pretended exposures which feed the credulity of the vnlgar . To become Master of his Lodge is the legitimate object of every young brother who takes any interest in our Society . The very

questionable policy of onr present regulations seems to be to open to each in succession the way to the Mastership—almost , if not altogether , as a matter of course . Now , our younger brethren may rest assured , that although in deforenco to a usage , which it is too late , perhaps , to abolish , we may place a careless or ignorant Mason in the chair , invest him with the badge of authority , and address him with

the external forms of respect , we cannot command for him the deference aud consideration which will bo sure to follow tho enlightened and expert . He will be like the figure-head of a ship—placed foremost , and gaudily decorated ; but , after all , it is a mero effigy , not contributing in tho least to the management of the vessel . In small , as in great things , knowledge is power—intellectual superiority is real

pre eminence . An ignorant Master , may , however , find some charitable friend to prompt him—some expert craftsman to explain for him what he could not explain for himself . All that is but little creditable to tho Master ' s ability , and cannot , one would think , be gratifying to his good opinion of himself , yet it is not necessarily injurious to the

institution . But what shall we say of those who regard the office of Master of a Lodge as no more and no less than the presidency of a convivial clnb , which is to havo no moro effect upon our conduct in life than as it may enable us to pass a pleasant evening occasionall y in sociable company ? This is not so uncommon a case . The prevalence of this notion of Masonry ( especially among tho higher

classes of society ) has in a measure paralyzed its powers in doing good , and made it at best the empty image of what it ought to be , and might be , if well understood and thoroughly practised . We are often taunted with making too much of Masonry ; but tho truth is , we greatly underrate both its objects and capabilities , and are , therefore , too ready to admit men among us whom we can hardly expect

to bestow a single thought upon either . The avowed enemies of Masonry have striven hard , but in vain , to injure it . Our worst foes havo been those of our own household , who have tarnished the brightness of Masonic purity , and lowered the standard of Masonic excellence . Lot us hope , however , that as jnster notions have begun to prevail ,

the office of Master will cease to be a mere name , and will resume its ancient utility and importance . The Master ' s rights do not take effect until his installation . Once installed , his authority becomes absolute in his own Lodge , although due checks are provided by the Constitutions of Freemasonry against the arbitrary exercise of it . It is presumed that his brethren have elected

one in whom they may confide , and that his conduct will be neither capricious nor tyrannical ; therefore , by the immemorial Masonic law , obedience is his right , aud he must be obeyed accordingly . By electing him , his brethren have given him , so far as they are concerned , an indefeasible right to preside in the Lodge during his term of office ; therefore , they cannot remove , suspend , nor censure him , nor

vote him from the chair , nor prevent him from taking it . They cannot compel him to open , close , or adjourn the Lodge . Ho does all this at his own pleasure , as our ancient forms of opening aud closing sufficiently prove ; and here , let us remark , how practically useful are these ancient forms , which are frequently hurried over , as too

familiar . Every Master should insist upon these being strictly observed and accurately repeated iu his Lodge , without abridgment or alteration . They remind each officer of his duty , and all of the due subordination which so peculiarly distinguishes the society . There are certain matters which the Master must decide on his own responsibility , and oa which he should not put any question to

The Master Of A Lodgehis Duties.

the Lodge—namely , all points of order , ceremonial , Masonic law and discipline , in which we include the arrangement of Lodge business . These he must determine according to his own consciencious notions of what is right , no matter how urgently he may be pressed to the contrary : if he does not , he is unworthy of his station . And his decision on each question should be at once and cheerfully submitted

to . There must be no altercation , protesting , disputing or remonstrating between the Master and the craftsmen . Even the ordinary marks of approbation or disapprobation are unmasonic and irregular . As , in a court of justice , the opinion of the judge , though not always assented to as correct , is invariably treated with deference , and presumed to be right until it has been set aside by superior

authority , so it should be with the decisions of a master in his Lodge . And it is for the common benefit of all of us to uphold the authority unimpaired ; because the temporary inconvenience which may result from an error of the Master ' s judgment , or even from an occasional abuse of his powers , is of far less moment than the preservation of the harmony and order which it is one of our chief ends

to attain . But the Master is always amenable to the Grand Lodge , and any well-grounded complaint against him may be preferred there . Then , indeed , it becomes his duty to submit , with ready and cordial acquiescence , to the ultimate decision of the supremo Masonic power . It is true that mutual forbearance is so much inculcated , and

good feeling so widely prevails among us , that in the hands of a judicious ruler all goes on with easy and undeviating regularity . But we can assure them that in a well regulated Lodge there is ample scope for the exercise of intellect ; and that the Master will soon find that he requires even moro than a knowledge of Masonic laws and usages to acquit himself creditably of his responsibility . He

should know his own limits , so as not to encroach upon the rights of his brethren , of which we candidly warn every Master . If he falls short of his own bounds , or oversteps them , he will find clear heads and keen tongues to remind him , respectfully , but unmistakably , of the fact . Tho Lodge will soon feel what sort of hands hold the helm ; and , as they aro bound to acquiesce in his opinion , as their

Master , he must show equal deference to theirs when the question is to be settled by their votes . He may speak , and he may vote in tho deliberations of the Lodgo , but he must not let hia conduct become liable to the imputation of partiality ; for ho is still entrusted with the duty of taking a division , or of a ballot ; and though a division or ballot often takes place on questions of no great moment ,

yet it sometimes happens that tho credit and character of individuals are vitally affected by the determination of the Lodge . Also , the peace and harmony of tho Lodgo , as well as its dignity , are to a great extent in his keeping . One of the ancient privileges of a Master , was the right to summon his Lodge for " meetings of emergency . " And should the

Master die , or be suspended or expelled , the Wardens might convoke tho Lodge , since there then would be no Master , and they , as well as he , are entrusted with the government of it . As it is not only the Master ' s privilege , but also his duty to rule the Lodge , none are permitted to enter it as visitors but b y his permission , since he is responsible for the conduct of the assembly . At a

communication of tho United Grand Lodge of England , held near the close of tho year 1856 , this subject was discussed , and tho resolution unanimously passed was— " That it is the opinion of this Grand Lodgo that it is in the power of the W . M . and Wardens of any private Lodge to refuse admission to any visitor of known bad character . But irresnectively of character , whoever claims to be

present at a Masonio meeting must , if a Mason , be perfectly well aware that ho is bound to satisfy the Master aud brethren as to his qualifications . The investigation into them cannot bo too strict , aud it should never bo entrusted but to a sagacious as well as competent examiner . The Master has the right to demand all the evidences of the visitor ' s right to admission—the production of his

certificatethe proof of his being what he asserts himself to be , and any other test that he can devise . It is of course disagreeable to reject any one professing to be a brother , but it is better that many true Masons should go away disappointed from our doors than that one unauthorised person should gain admittance there . It is hardly necessary to remind any one , however inexperienced ,

that the Master is as much Master during the entertainments of the Lodge as at any other time ; and is bound , accordingly , to check any irregularity , and to prevent any abuse . For this reason it is advisable our entertainments should take placo "in Lodge , " as it is called ; for tho Master can thus exercise a salutary restraint over the meeting ; and the closing of the Lodge ( which should alwnys

tako place at an early hour ) is a signal for the members to retire . One of the charges , to tho observance of which each Master solemnly pledges himself at his installation , is to guard against all manner of intemperance and excess . Now , of all the charges brought against Masonry by its opponents , none is more frequently made than that of its leading to intemperance . Wo know that some cases

have occurred where individuals have brought discredit on tlie Masonic Soeiety , by indulging at our social meetings propensities which they certainly never acquired from our precepts , nor from tho example of those we most look np to and respect . The world will not , however , draw those nice exculpatory distinctions ; it will judge of us , not by the conduct of the many , who retire from the

Lodgo festival , as from a private party , early , and after temperate and harmless enjoyment , but by that of tho few , who , in defiance of our principles , and in spite of onr example , will remain at isiblo after the Lodge has closed , and the meeting lost its Masonic character . This is an evil , aud one which we cannot always prevent . We can - not turn men ' s hearts ; we may advise , and we may act upon onr

own principles , but advice is not like medicine , which will produce an effect whether taken voluntarily or forced down a man ' s throat . We may point to the Sacred Law , that Great Light which should be the guide of the Mason ' s path in life , and remind onr brethren of its precepts , but surely we cannot expect that Masonry will effect what genuine religion has not yet been able to accomplish , People