Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must hear the name ani address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

MUSIC AND FREEMASONRY .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Jupiter has spoken , and all that comes after is as the stage substitute for the awful thunder of nature . Henceforth be it known , npon the authority of an inspired article in your contemporary , that music is tho sixth of the seven sciences " included in the curriculum of Masonry , " and therefore , a

profesaional concert on Installation , and even on other occasions , is the proper thing . The information is volunteered that the toast list is nearly always tho same , and nothing fresh can be said either for ot in reply to the toasts , therefore , professional artistes are required to hide the weakness of the brainless , the ignorant , and the garrulous , and to make three or four hours association endurable . Then the

question is put—why shonld the rich man be debarred of his pleasures because the poor man may be tempted to follow his example ? And , as a climax , this staggering query is advanced—what will become of the purveyors of luxuries if the rich do nob bny them ? This is a poser , and I give it up . I might humbly observe , however , that the purveyors in question are well able to take care of themselves . That

is their business , for myself I may say that I am so struck with the wisdom of this modern Solon that my feelings are divided between admiration and shame—admiration , at the wonderful learning displayed , and shame , to think that I have dared to express my belief that the brethren of and visitors to a Locige almost invariably possess sufficient musical talent to satisfy all reasonable requirements . I am

so hardened as still to urge that it is not necessary to engage professional talent at all in order to seonre an efficient and pleasant ) programme , which can be varied and altered to meet circumstances without the risk of giving offence to these gentlemen , some of whom Stand np for their order with a pertinacity and insolence not pleasant ] to endure . It is not long since that a professional pianist refused to

accompany a brother in the Entered Apprentice song , because of some slight be imagined bad been put npon bis professional brethren . My object is not to run a muck at professional musicians ; as a rule tbey are jolly fellows , whose company I have very much enjoyed , and hope to enjoy again , under circumstances more favourable than usually prevail at Lodge banquets .

I deny the postulate , that a Master of a Lodge has a right , even at his own expense , to indulge in costly luxuries ; and I affirm that he commits an offence against both the letter and spirit of the Order when he permits the Lodge funds to be used for such a purpose , unless the members have a voice in determining the matter . Even then I contend that the indulgence in luxuries , especially of totally

unnecessary ones , is forbidden by the genius of Freemasonry ; it excites an unworthy desire of emulation ; and gives rise to spurious pretensions and unjust inequalities when the expenditure cornea wholly or partly out of the pocket of the Worshipful Master . Set and elaborate concerts waste time as well as substance . I believe I am within the mark when I say that the entertainment that gave rise

to this discussion involved an outlay of at least £ 20 , and as about one hundred brethren were present , that was four shillings a head foe music . The concert was dear at the price ; besides , it prevented friendly chat , strangled speeches , and obstructed the full exercise of those courtesies that ought to form so pleasant a part of the proceedings . In fact , it was a luxurious debauch , a wanton waste , and

an exhibition of the pride of the purse . In the article to whioh I am referring occurs the following sentence : " It is not the man of large fortune who is to be condemned fo ? spending freely of his superfluous moneys , but the man who pinches or impoverishes himself in order to make a display . " As an abstract theory this is very true j in practice it is a failure . Take any

ordinary Lodge , and it will be found that while the few have an excess of means , the many are limited by prudence and circumstances to a modest outlay . One of the former , when he comes to the chair , gets up a grand display , to whioh he , invites a number of friends . He creates a favourable impression altogether independent of his Lodge work or character as a Mason , and it may be in defiance of both

Show in the world often goes for real worth , and I have yefc to learn that ifc has lost its effect even in Freemasonry . The successor of the rich brother may be a poor man . He has the example of his predecessor before him 5 the prestige (?) of the Lodge must be kept up and , in fact , he must walk in the path made for him whether he likes ifc or nofc . Cases like this are constantly occurring , and the only

alternative a poor brother has is either to assert the superiority of good working , vindicate the moral teaching of the Craft , and as a consequence be accounted mean ; or he musfc " pinch or impoverish himself in order to make a display . " The force of example for good or evil cannot be questioned , and it is as effective in Masonry as in anything else .

Then we are treated to the following trite and specious argument " The rigid economist may urge thafc all expenditure which is not absolutely necessary is a mistake , because ifc affords a direct encouragement to luxury on the part of those who are unable to afford it . In other words , A , who has £ 2 , 000 a year , is not to buy the luxuries

he can afford because B , with an income of £ 500 , may outrun the constable . " It is not what a man can , but what he ought , to afford . A . member of the Masonic body is bound by its teaching , and this is all in favour of prudence , temperance , and charity . It distinctl y enforces the lesson of the responsibility of one brother to another , and emphatically condemns anything that would be calculated to

Correspondence.

injure him . But take the worldly view of the subject , and the position is not improved . Supposing two men were placed thus—one with £ 2 , 000 a year and the other with nothing , would the former be justified in indulging in luxuries while the latter was virtuall y starving ? Such contrasts are too common , and I put the matter in an extreme form becanse it is the logical outcome of the reasoning

referred to . It will not do to say—oh ! but such a case could not happen . It is one of the most striking and lamentable facts in history that one of the chief causes of revolution has been the neglect of the poor by the rich , who were doing " what they liked with their own , " only to store up a host of troubles that were sure to overwhelm them afc some time or other . Ifc is equally true thafc one

of the main causes of the decay of nations is luxury . I am nofc a Socialist , and only introduce these facts to show the responsibilit y of men of wealth . They cannot shirk the obligations that the possession of wealth imposes with impunity , and certainly they cannot abjure the teaching of the Craft , and ought not to introduce practices that are very likely to prove stumbling-blocks to others .

It does not follow because of the views I have advanced thafc there should be no enjoyment of luxuries . They play their parfc in the economy of life , and where reasonably indulged in , no just complaint can be urged . To assume , as the writer of the article referred to does , thafc because I object to luxurious expenditure in Lodges , therefore I am hostile to all luxuries , is simply begging fche question , and

is one of those tricks of argument calculated to catch the ear of the groundling . I protest against any such assumption , and I believe I have made out good reasons for fche belief I hold . One word as fco the application of charity . It is a good thing to establish Schools and an Asylum , ifc is right ] to extend the help thus afforded for some who cannot go into either . I have not one word to

say against these Institutions j on the contrary , I wish them God speed . But there are other means for the exercise of the spirit of brotherl y kindness , and other needs that these Institutions famish . How many brethren are there seeking employment , who ? would be glad of a helping hand , and how little in this respect is done by the Brotherhood ? How many brethren are warmly recognised tui Lodge

and passed by in the streets with absolute indifference ? To make use of the fact of your being a Mason when seeking assistance or employment is regarded as " bad form , " ancl to resent the distinction that is set up between brethren in and out of the Lodge , especially in cases where the length of the purse alone constitutes the difference ,

is looked upon as an impertinence . If the rich brother wants work , if his heart beats true to the demands that can fairly be made npon him , there are plenty of ways of spending his money without wasting it upon professional singers and sumptuous banquets , and one of these is the luxury of doing good . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Tours faithfully and fraternally , I . P . M .

" POOR CANDIDATES AND THE VOTING SYSTEM . "

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR , —May I ask the favour of your thanking WATCHMAN for his kind and courteous criticism of my letter , but with regard to the remedy suggested , respecting the Voting System , judging from hia reply , I fancy that I cannot have expressed myself with sufficient clearness . My idea was that all the cases should , as now , first pasi

before the School Committee , and secondly before a Committee composed of a representative of Her Majesty and the Prince of Wales and those of Viue-Patrons or Vice-Presidents , or of both , who had time to devote to the subject , to consider upon , and select from the candidates chosen by the School Committee , the number correaponding to vacancies , of those cases considered most urgent ; and

thirdly the cases of these secondly selected candidates to be sub . mitted , throngh balloting papers , to all subscribers , & o ., for their votes . All canvassing , except by private friends , and borrowing , to be prohibited , and a fair proportion of the expense which would havo been incurred in public canvassing , & c . to be given as an entrance fee to the Institution . Candidates not chosen to stand over for next

Election . This would , I think , produce a concentration of votes for candidates in most immediate want of aid , and also spare tbe remaining candidates the anxiety , loss of time , and expense consequent npon competing at so many elections . I do not comprehend how any private influence could be brought to bear upon those having the Presentations under thia system , any

more than is at present the case , for it is evident that admission now depends much on th © exertions of influential friends . I do nofc offer this explanation as a recommendation of my plan , because , as I before remarked , I do nofc understand the working of the matter , but simply because W ATCHMAN appears to have misunderstood my idea . Thanking you for your kindness in bringing the subject before the numerous readers of your valuable paper .

I remain , Dear Sir , Yours truly and obliged , THE MOTHER OF A CANDIDATE .

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