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Article TAKING THE BALLOT. Page 1 of 1 Article TAKING THE BALLOT. Page 1 of 1 Article MASONIC PORTRAITS. (No. 61.) Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Taking The Ballot.
TAKING THE BALLOT .
ONE of the most important requirements of Freemasonry is , that every candidate for its mysteries shall be , so to speak , unanimously received by the members of the Lodge in which it is proposed he shall be initiated . The importance attached to this regulation may be inferred
from the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge , which lay it down that " no person can be made a Mason in , or admitted a member of a lodge , if , on the ballot , three black balls appear against him . " Even this rule is , in many instances made more stringent still by the Bye-laws of the Lodge
stipulating that two , and not unfrequently even one negative , shall reject a candidate . The necessity for so much caution no one can question , neither that too much care can be exercised by the Master of a Lodge in seeing the ballot carefully and properly taken when required . The
very fact of the ballot being made use of implies that some amount of secrecy as to the voting of individual members is desirable , and the maintenance of this secrecy , when unfortunately it is found necessary to reject a candidate , is one of the most difficult parts of a Master ' s duty . "We
are of opinion that the rejection of a proposed candidate should never be put off until the ballot , but that any brother opposing should at once see the proposer , or if that be inconvenient , should write either to him or the Master of the Lodge , specifying his objections , and asking
for their consideration . Should an explanation be given , he will doubtless give way , but if not , it is better to withdraw the nomination than run the risk of an unfavourable ballot , which is often looked upon as a stain on a man ' s character likely to hang to him for a considerable time . Again , in
many cases the proposer and seconder take the rejection of their proposition as a personal insult , and often speak to members who they imagine have opposed them in terms which , on consideration , they are anxious to withdraw . If the secrecy of the ballot was maintained in its integrity
very little of this could occur . In many cases the means adopted for ascertaining the opinion of the members is for one of the Deacons to take the ballot box round that each may record his vote . This we consider a most objectionable mode of proceeding , for , if the brother who carries the box
cares , either from curiosity or design , to know how each has voted , there are several ways by which he can accomplish his desire . We think it is quite unnecessary for us to detail themethods which might be pursued with this object in view , as we know we are far from being singular in noticing its
occurrence . In our opinion the ballot box should be placed either on one of the pedestals or on the Secretary ' s table , and each brother should be required to go to the box to
record his vote . The carrying out of this arrangement might lead to some confusion at first , but in a short time it would be carried out as easily as is a division in the House of Commons . This mode would also relieve the
Deacon , or whoever carries the box from the suspicion which , on occasions of unfavourable ballot often attaches to him , of having given a list of the negative voters ; for , whether he may have done so or not , ho generally has the credit of having obtained a knowledge of the
dissentients , and of having given their names to the parties who consider themselves aggrieved . It seems certain that the makers of ballot boxes , as in the case of many other articles , are ignorant of the requirements
or uses of their wares , otherwise we should think they would adopt some better arrangement . We lately witnessed an occurrence , the details of which may be of service in support of our argument that the Ballot-box should
Taking The Ballot.
be stationary . On this occasion the box used was one of the most approved form , and altogether a good looking piece of Lodge furniture ; it had one drawer for reception of the balls ; this was divided by a small partition into two divisions , one for the favourable , another for the
unfavourable votes ; the bottom and division of this drawer were covered with baize , hit the ends were not ; therefore , by holding the box slightly on the slant , a negative ball ( which was required to be placed to the right ) would have fallen against the bare wood at the end , and consequently have
sounded loudly , while an affirmative one from the same cause would fall against the cloth covered division and would not make so loud a sound as the other . We do not for one moment think that the Brother who took the box round on this occasion had any idea
that he was allowing this exposure of the voting to occur , especially as the candidate was so favourably known as to leave no doubt as to his reception , still one or two of the brethren present noticed that the position of the box could have been made use of in obtaining a knowledge of the
voting , and did not fail to express their opinion on the subject . Our Grand Secretary , and most of the brethren who have lately performed the ceremony of consecration have never failed to point out the importance of admitting only good men to our Lodges , and in the furtherance of
this object , have urged brethren to make strict inquiry into the character of all proposed for initiation . The ballot is the one sure way we have of expressing our opinion after such inquiries , and on that account should bo jealousl y guarded against any abuse which might arise to rob it of its power .
Masonic Portraits. (No. 61.)
MASONIC PORTRAITS . ( No . 61 . )
A GRAND SUPERINTENDENT .
For ho is gracious . . ; . . Ho hath a tear for pity , and a hand Open as day for melting charity . BUT little is needed in the way of introduction in the case of the brother whose portrait we present to our readers
this week . It is a simple truism that there are Masons and Masons . There are those who think that when they take a place in our ranks they are conferring honour upon the Craft . They give the widest and most liberal interpretation
possible to the rule which requires them not to make any undue sacrifices in the cause of Freemasonry such as may bo detrimental to their own interests . They consider this gives them the utmost latitude in attending or not attending the
duties of the Lodge . They are present occasionally , when perhaps they can find no other business to occupy their leisure time , and when they do so , they manage to let it be understood that the sacrifice of time and trouble under
the circumstances is very considerable . Others again are very ambitious of high office , and have no objection to rise through the subordinate grades so as to qualify for the chair of the Lodge , provided they are not called upon
to interest themselves to any serious extent in the duties and responsibilities they incur . Masonry , in the estimation of these , is a kind of amusement which it may be worth while to indulge in , provided only the indulgence involves !
no additional trouble . These are holiday Masons , of whom unhappily wo have many in the ranks , and whose number it were very desirable in the true interests of the Craft should be reduced . On the other hand , there are those
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Taking The Ballot.
TAKING THE BALLOT .
ONE of the most important requirements of Freemasonry is , that every candidate for its mysteries shall be , so to speak , unanimously received by the members of the Lodge in which it is proposed he shall be initiated . The importance attached to this regulation may be inferred
from the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge , which lay it down that " no person can be made a Mason in , or admitted a member of a lodge , if , on the ballot , three black balls appear against him . " Even this rule is , in many instances made more stringent still by the Bye-laws of the Lodge
stipulating that two , and not unfrequently even one negative , shall reject a candidate . The necessity for so much caution no one can question , neither that too much care can be exercised by the Master of a Lodge in seeing the ballot carefully and properly taken when required . The
very fact of the ballot being made use of implies that some amount of secrecy as to the voting of individual members is desirable , and the maintenance of this secrecy , when unfortunately it is found necessary to reject a candidate , is one of the most difficult parts of a Master ' s duty . "We
are of opinion that the rejection of a proposed candidate should never be put off until the ballot , but that any brother opposing should at once see the proposer , or if that be inconvenient , should write either to him or the Master of the Lodge , specifying his objections , and asking
for their consideration . Should an explanation be given , he will doubtless give way , but if not , it is better to withdraw the nomination than run the risk of an unfavourable ballot , which is often looked upon as a stain on a man ' s character likely to hang to him for a considerable time . Again , in
many cases the proposer and seconder take the rejection of their proposition as a personal insult , and often speak to members who they imagine have opposed them in terms which , on consideration , they are anxious to withdraw . If the secrecy of the ballot was maintained in its integrity
very little of this could occur . In many cases the means adopted for ascertaining the opinion of the members is for one of the Deacons to take the ballot box round that each may record his vote . This we consider a most objectionable mode of proceeding , for , if the brother who carries the box
cares , either from curiosity or design , to know how each has voted , there are several ways by which he can accomplish his desire . We think it is quite unnecessary for us to detail themethods which might be pursued with this object in view , as we know we are far from being singular in noticing its
occurrence . In our opinion the ballot box should be placed either on one of the pedestals or on the Secretary ' s table , and each brother should be required to go to the box to
record his vote . The carrying out of this arrangement might lead to some confusion at first , but in a short time it would be carried out as easily as is a division in the House of Commons . This mode would also relieve the
Deacon , or whoever carries the box from the suspicion which , on occasions of unfavourable ballot often attaches to him , of having given a list of the negative voters ; for , whether he may have done so or not , ho generally has the credit of having obtained a knowledge of the
dissentients , and of having given their names to the parties who consider themselves aggrieved . It seems certain that the makers of ballot boxes , as in the case of many other articles , are ignorant of the requirements
or uses of their wares , otherwise we should think they would adopt some better arrangement . We lately witnessed an occurrence , the details of which may be of service in support of our argument that the Ballot-box should
Taking The Ballot.
be stationary . On this occasion the box used was one of the most approved form , and altogether a good looking piece of Lodge furniture ; it had one drawer for reception of the balls ; this was divided by a small partition into two divisions , one for the favourable , another for the
unfavourable votes ; the bottom and division of this drawer were covered with baize , hit the ends were not ; therefore , by holding the box slightly on the slant , a negative ball ( which was required to be placed to the right ) would have fallen against the bare wood at the end , and consequently have
sounded loudly , while an affirmative one from the same cause would fall against the cloth covered division and would not make so loud a sound as the other . We do not for one moment think that the Brother who took the box round on this occasion had any idea
that he was allowing this exposure of the voting to occur , especially as the candidate was so favourably known as to leave no doubt as to his reception , still one or two of the brethren present noticed that the position of the box could have been made use of in obtaining a knowledge of the
voting , and did not fail to express their opinion on the subject . Our Grand Secretary , and most of the brethren who have lately performed the ceremony of consecration have never failed to point out the importance of admitting only good men to our Lodges , and in the furtherance of
this object , have urged brethren to make strict inquiry into the character of all proposed for initiation . The ballot is the one sure way we have of expressing our opinion after such inquiries , and on that account should bo jealousl y guarded against any abuse which might arise to rob it of its power .
Masonic Portraits. (No. 61.)
MASONIC PORTRAITS . ( No . 61 . )
A GRAND SUPERINTENDENT .
For ho is gracious . . ; . . Ho hath a tear for pity , and a hand Open as day for melting charity . BUT little is needed in the way of introduction in the case of the brother whose portrait we present to our readers
this week . It is a simple truism that there are Masons and Masons . There are those who think that when they take a place in our ranks they are conferring honour upon the Craft . They give the widest and most liberal interpretation
possible to the rule which requires them not to make any undue sacrifices in the cause of Freemasonry such as may bo detrimental to their own interests . They consider this gives them the utmost latitude in attending or not attending the
duties of the Lodge . They are present occasionally , when perhaps they can find no other business to occupy their leisure time , and when they do so , they manage to let it be understood that the sacrifice of time and trouble under
the circumstances is very considerable . Others again are very ambitious of high office , and have no objection to rise through the subordinate grades so as to qualify for the chair of the Lodge , provided they are not called upon
to interest themselves to any serious extent in the duties and responsibilities they incur . Masonry , in the estimation of these , is a kind of amusement which it may be worth while to indulge in , provided only the indulgence involves !
no additional trouble . These are holiday Masons , of whom unhappily wo have many in the ranks , and whose number it were very desirable in the true interests of the Craft should be reduced . On the other hand , there are those