The Black Ball.

of fche ballot . With scarcely an exception every candidate for admission , no matter how worthy he may be , has for years past been rejected . In fact the better the reput it ion and standing of the candidate the more certain is l . e to be denied admission . None such now dare

apply . ' can a member be induced to present a petition from an acceptable applicant . Having no work to do , no increase of members , their income from annual dues being insufficient for the necessary running excenses , they have to be made up by assessments or

personal contributions . No wonder the interest ol all is upon the wane ancl the talk so freely had of a surrender of the charter . What can such a Lodge do to purge themselves ? It is a serious question which has come home to more than one Lodge—even those who have

endeavoured to be the most conservative and careful in their selection of material ; and this we consider the first and most essential means of avoiding such a condition . Next to this is the proper education of every member as to the sanctity of the ballot , and the uses and abuses of the black ball .

For this purpose and as a help to those in charge of such duties , we so frequently bring to their notice articles upon this subject . While the remedy proposed by the Brother—requiring three adverse ballots to reject a candidate—would no doubt be a preventive , yet it

would not only be in contravention with long established Masonic usage , but would be in direct antagonism to the principle of unanimity which has so long been our boast , and which was intended to be our best safeguard , not only against the intrusion of the unworthy , but also the

better to enable us to preserve that harmony among the members so necessary for our preservation . A single member may be in possession of facts damaging to the character of an applicant , which would render him unworthy to be admitted , but which are of such a nature

that he cannot give them publicity , he cannot in justice to himself or to the Lodge cast a favourable ballot , nor would he be justified in doing so , and yet , if the

regulation suggested was in force , his single objection would be of no effect . The Lodge would by its action unseat an old and well-tried Brother , in exchange for one of a doubtful reputation at least .

No , we would stand by the old rule , " never unseat an old and worthy member by the admission of a new one . " No worthy Mason will make an un-Masonic use of the ballot . He , too , will be the first to correct a wrong done should he find himself mistaken . The following is the article referred to :

Masonic law and usage gives to every Master Mason in standing , the right to cast a black ball against any applicant for the mysteries , and no one can question him as to the manner of his

voting . Does this , however , give right to a Master Mason to blackball a man who is in every respect well qualified , but who has been so unfortunate as . to have incurred the personal enmity of a Mason ?

The Ahiman Kezon specifics that a candidate for the mysteries shall possess the following qualifications : " He must believe firmly in the Eternal God ; he must be a good man and a true man of honour and honesty , always acting upon the golden precept of ' doing unto all men as they would that all men should do unto

them '; he should be free from bigotry ; he must be a law-abiding citizen ; he should abstain from malice and slander , and evil speaking , backbiting , and should be ablo to practice the virtues of patience , meekness , self-denial , temperance , prudence , fortitude and justice . " The cardinal tenet of Freemasonry is brotherly love towards all mankind .

Now , if a candidate must possess all these qualifications for admission , does it not follow as a natural consequence that if the applicant possesses them a Master Mason has no moral right to black-ball him on account of personal grievances only ? This question is an important one ; particularly so in certain

Lodges , which have to their own detriment allowed some ambitious young men to unite with them , who seem to feel that they have the light to use the Lodge to promote their own personal aggrandizement and to secure revenge on good men who havo incurred their personal enmity , whom they dare not attack in open fight .

The reason for allowing one black ball to reject a candidate was for the securing none but the best material for membership , and there is no doubt but this object would be attained if more care was taken . A good Mason is distingushed by charity for all men . This is one of the teachings of the Order . Good Masons being

actuated by this feeling are very loth to black-ball a candidate , particularly if he is a young man . They act on the theory that the candidate ' s imperfections will be eliminated by time and by associations with good Masons . This mosfc frequently happens , but

sometimes it results in securing a member who , while not vicious , fails to grasp the meaning of Masonry and causes nothing but injury to his Lodge . They absent themselves from all meetings , except election nights , when they are found as candidates for all the offices in rotation . Failing in being elected to an office ,

The Black Ball.

they retire , and never appear again until some very worthy citizen applies for the mysteries , when they present themselves and a black ball is found in the box . Thus in a quiet way they succeed in sowing dissention , with , out rendering themselves liable to discipline .

So great has this evil become in certain localities , that Masonry has became a by-word of reproach , and some remedial measures must soon be taken to effectually check this further growth . In fact , it appears that a change is necessary in the manner of electing candidates . I or as long as a moral coward can shield himself behind tho secrecy of the ballot box and only one black

ball is necessary to reject , that long will cowards be found to cast them against honourable men . In all my Masonio experience I have never known but one candidate recommended for the mysteries but who gave promise of becoming a good Mason . I have never known a black ball cast if there was a question as to

the probablity of the candidate living up to the obligation . The benefit of the doubt was always given to the candidate . I have , however , seen many candidates black-balled , but in every instance the candidates rejected were of the highest possible character ; men who honoured Masonry by asking admittance within its sacred precincts .

The writer recognizes the right of every Mason to cast a black ball against any man with whom he feels he cannot affiliate . But he also believes that any member of the Masonic Fraternity who would allow himself to be influenced by motives of personal enmity , is not a Mason except by name ; and something should be done to prevent these men from destroying the beneficial influence of a Lodge of which they may happen to be members .

It is a frequent occurrence for an applicant to find a member of a Lodge who personally objects to him . In such cases a good Mason accepts the application for the mysteries as a proffer of reconciliation , and men become united to each other by the mystic ties of fraternal friendship , who otherwise would have lived apart . To provide for such cases the laws provide that a member can

object to the petition . Thus it becomes known who the objector is , and if both men are reasonable , which under such circumstances is always the case , the difference is healed . But the false Masons , the traitors to the Holy Cause , never file objections ; the ballot box is a safer refuge . Under the cloak of sanctity , with which time and custom has hallowed it , thoy shield themselves .

If this is an evil , how can it be remedied ? By the enactment of a law which will require , after a petition has been received , reported favourably upon and no objection made , that at least three black balls must be deposited in the ballot box

in order to reject the candidate . Under such a law a just Mason can protect himself at all times ; unsuitable material can be rejected , and even the member who seeks personal revenge and not justice can secure his ends by objecting in a manly manner . — Masonic Tidings .

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