Need For Timely Preparation.

ing efforts of the Medical staff of the Establishment , aided by * many zealous members of the Profession who aro associated with our Order , the malady increased . In all fifty-one cases havo had to bo treated , some of thorn

displaying a malignant and a critical tendency ; bnt , happily , —and here we think we hear our reader : } re-echo our words—not a single case has proved fatal . This fact alone

should awaken tho minds of those who may read these lines to a full realisation ofthe great earo and attention that has been bestowed by one and all associated with tbo management and conduct of i \\ o Establishment .

Indeed , from knowledge wo havo practically verified , wc can assure our readers that every praise may bo awarded to the Executive , the Heads of the several Departmentsin short to one and all connected with the Institution—for

the fearless energy with which they sought , and successfully sought , to check the evil effects of the disorder . These efforts havo naturally entailed an outlay that conld

not have been anticipated , but the supporters of tho School will never begrudge any reasonable expenditure that has resulted so satisfactorily .

With these observations , we leave the subject in tho hands of our readers , and of the management of tho Institution , with sincere hope and confidence that thoy

will receive careful and dispassionate consideration ; culminating , wo trust , in a most gratifying result for the Ninetieth Anniversary Festival of the Boys' School , to be held 27 th June 1888 .

Popularising Freemasonry.

POPULARISING FREEMASONRY .

OCCASIONALLY we hear this expression used , and sometimes with a meaning expressed or implied chat makes tho p hrase open to serious objection . It is well for an institution as for an individual to be well thought of

and to enlist the public approval , so far as this can be sought for and obtained by proper endeavours . Freemasonry needs to justify itself in tho minds of its members , and secure to some extent the favouring judgment of the

outside world in order to maintain a strong position and render its largest and best service . Thero can bo no question as to the desirability of enlisting a good degree of sympathy in behalf of the Masonic organisation and

commending it to the favourable opinions of the world , so far as this can be done without trespassing upon its essential princip les or limiting it unduly in important respects .

There are some things m the system and the organic life of Freemasonry which must never be sacrificed at ihe shrine of popularity . Public approval may be desirable , but it should not be purchased at too costly a price .

And just here we are moved to say that Freemasonry was never designed to be a specially popular organisation . It was always intended to be somewhat restricted and exclusive . Its genius is indeed broad and tolerant ; its

purposes those of universal benevolence , and its spirit in harmony with the heart-throbs of humanity everywhere , but it was never proposed that the Masonic organisation should take everybody into its membership and thus lose its distinctive character . There is danger indeed that such

an institution as ours may become too popular , thus weakening its safeguards and exposing it to special perils . In this view we hardly think that those Brethren who are all the time talking abont popularising

Freemasonryabout bringing it more prominently and more attractively to the notice of those outside its lines—take quite the right estimate of the situation . There is no occasion to "talk of harmony " with " profanes , " or to enter into much argument to remove obstructions , & c .

It is said , however , that we ought to make it more popular among its own members . To this end , that it may be regarded with an increase of favour , there is a demand that the element of amusement receive more attention

that festivities of various sorts be introduced , thus making the Lodge room more attractive to the average Brother . To popularise the Fraternity among Masons somo say turn it into a social club , emphasise its social features , introduce

amusements , strive to entertain and to please , without much regard to the severer and much more technical features that belong to the Masonic system . Our thought is that

this is a mistaken way of procedure , and such a popularizing of the organisation is to be deprecated instead of encouraged . We believe in the social character of Freemasonry ; its

Popularising Freemasonry.

work , iu part , is to minister to sneial wants and furnish a bond of fellowship and good cheer among Brethren ; but there are other ministries that are of far moro importance . Ifc will never answer to sacrifice tho creator for tho less , and

Freemasonry can only be popular among- Craftsmen as its essential character ami teachings are not departed from , wo had better dispenso with any attempt to popularise tho Institution . At all c vim Is , whatever is done or attempted on the

lines indicated , let there he no abandonment of tho position which Fivemasonary holt ! . * - ; us nn embodiment of important truths and a representation of moral and benevolent forces . Ifc was not , established as a social club . It will never attain its best successes when thus limited . —Freemasons ' llcpositwry .

The Right Of Visit.

THE RIGHT OF VISIT .

BRO , A . S . Wait , of Now Hampshire , denies tho right of a member of a Loclgo to exclude a visitor in good standing , and holds that the objection must bo submitted to the Master , who must decide ifc as ho may doom just . He says :

Masonry is one great , general family . Tho universalit y of Masonry is its distinguishing feature and its grandest characteristic . It is a universal brotherhood , and its Lodges are not isolated or independent societies , each owing

nothing to tho others , and a Mason in regular standing and a contributor to the support of tho Institution has a right to full and complete recognition , as such , from all Lodges and all Brethren , wherever met with . And this

right is fundamental with the Craft and vital to its distinctive principles . We hold it to be the right ofthe Master of a Lodge , and his dnfcy , to ascertain the ground

of tho objection , and to admit or exclude the visitor as he may deem just , having a view to the justice of the case , tho best interests of the Lodge , and all other considerations which ho judges ought to bear upon the question . "

To this view Bro .. Josiah H . Drnmmond , of Maine , replies : "As our Grand Lodgo for moro than thirty years has

sustained the doctrine which ho denies , we may bo permitted to restate tho basis upon which our decision was made . When a man is mado a Mason he does

become a member o ? a universal brotherhood , every one of whose members has certain duties towards him , and certain claims upon him . This grows entirel y out of his initiation , and attaches before he is , or can be , a member

of a Lodge . Under the ancient usages of the Craft a man has a right to bo a Mason , with all his individual rights and duties , without being a member of the Lodge . But , in addition , the Masonic law allows certain Masons to

associate themselves together as a Lodge and assume towards each other additional rights and duties : the organisation ia also vested with power to perform certain acts , which can be done only by an organisation , and the right

to participate in such acts is one of the privileges attaching to such membership . The law gives to those thus associated the absolute power to determine whom they will admit , or rather no Mason , however good his standing or

high his position , can be admitted a member against tho objection of a single one who is already a member . If a Lodge is such an institution as Bro . Wait claims , every

Mason in good standing should have a right to become a member of it , iu spite of tho objection of a member , " unless such objection is , in the judgment of the Master , a just one . "

The comparison of a Lodge to a family is not just in every respect . Like any illustration , if it be extended into all possible details , tho illustrations were so tested , there could be very few , as the parallelism must be so perfect that ifc would merge in identity .

In a word , the Lodge organisation is based upon the idea thafc Masons may have right . - ) and privileges peculiar to themselves , which , not only others do nofc have the ri » ht to participate in , but also which cannot be granted toothers

without tbe consent of every one who does have the rifhfc to participate in them ; ancl , therefore , no other one can participate in them permanentl y [ as a member ] or

temporarily [ as a visitor ] without unanimous consent . In other respects , the doctrine of ' universality' does not apply to a Lodge ; from its very nature its duties to its members take precedence of its duties to any other Masons .