Recommending Applicants.

RECOMMENDING APPLICANTS .

WHEN a Brother goes around boasting of the number of applicants he has proposed , or promises to bring in a specified number in a specified time there is always connected with the boasting and

¦ nvomise a suspicion of unauthorised , prohibited action , for no member of the Craft is permitted to approach anyone to induce him to become a Mason , and every make lication of his free will

applicant must app own and accord . Therefore , no Brother can promise to bring in any specified number , for he cannot tell whether one , one hundred , or none will request him to present their

application . Applicants for initiation and membership , and for membership , thus obtained , often prove undesirable , for the Lodge , to its regret , soon learns of their uselessness and unworthiness , and would be glad to get rid of tHem ,

but the door , having been so easily opened by the failure of committees of investigation to perform their duty , and the desire of Worshipful Masters to exceed their predecessor in the number added to the roll , is difficult to shut .

We remember hearing a Past Grand Master say that when he was Grand Master he heard of a Brother who was boasting of having put in a number of applications in his Lodge in a few months . The Grand Master sent

for him , and after telling him what he had heard , informed him that there was the appearance of something wrong , for it was hardly possible for anyone legitimately to bring

so many applications in so short a time , therefore it must be stopped , and , if continued in , the matter would be strictly inquired into , and be dealt with accordingly .

We also remember hearing the same Past Grand Master say that his son came to him and said : — " Father , I have been thinking of trying to be a Mason . " Much as he desired him to be a Mason , he did not say to him , " It is the best thing you can do , " or " You

ought to have been one before this time , but he did say , " When you are done thinking and have made up your mind let me know . " If Masons would strictly

adhere to rules and regulations in this matter , applicants lacking the necessary qualifications would not so often cross the Masonic threshold . —Keystone .

Complaint is not infrequently made of the neglect of duty by Officers in Lodges and Chapters . That neglect is often begotten of a lack of interest in the work generally . This lack of interest is in turn too frequently the

result of example in the W . M . or Z ., who manifest an entire want of sympathy with the duties they have undertaken . A Master or Principal can best serve his Lodge or Chapter by seeking to enlist the sympathies of

his subordinate Officers , and one means to that end is to appeal to their social instincts . At the social board , where conversation can be engaged in , uninterrupted by conventionality , a unity of purpose may be revealed or

conceived which will harmonise the work of the whole session . There is far more required of Masters and Principals than merely officiating in the Lodge and

Chapter , and the more thoroughly that is realised the less complaint there will be of want of support from this , that , or the other Officer . — " Mallet , " in Glasgow Evening News .

Masonic Balls have recently been held with considerable success in various parts of the country . On the 9 th the Pelham Pillar Lodge held its annual gathering

at Grimsby ; while on the llth the brethren at Eastbourne enjoyed themselves at their ball , which has the regular support of the three Lodges of the town , and is organised with the view of benefitting the Charities .

o o o The Worcester Masonic Buildings Company , Limited has been registered with a capital of £ 3 , 000 , in £ 5 shares . Objects : To acquire , re-build , furnish and maintain a Masonic Hall ana other buildings in the city of Worcester .

Complimentary. Dinner At Manchester.

COMPLIMENTARY . DINNER AT MANCHESTER .

BROTHER John Adamson , who has only recently passed through the three degrees of Craft Masonry , commemorated the event by inviting the whole of his brethren of the Longsight Lodge , No . 2464 , to a dinner , which was held at the Victoria Hotel , Manchester , on the 17 th . Each brother was accorded the privilege of inviting a Masonic friend , and upwards of 50 were present on the occasion , the following being the principal guests : Brothers

Councillor Thos . Uttley W . M ., Hy . Grimshaw S . W ., W . Gadd J . W ., T . G . Berry P . M . Treas ., W . H . Wilson Sec . of 2464 , Aid . Lloyd Higginbofcfcom , H . Sheard , H . Mundy , P . W . Lean P . M . P . G . S . D ., E . H . Ritson , C . S . Cotton , Hy . Wood , E . Glynn , R . Barlow , D .

Baxter , John Adamson , Wm . Hy . Peak P . M . 993 P . G . D . C , John Studd P . M . 163 P . P . G . D C , J . Robinson W . M . 1219 , Councillor Samuel Mills W . M . 1077 , W . J . Melling P . M , 2185 , John Walkden P . M . 1534 , R . Dottie P . M . 1161 , J . Grime 163 , J . H . Greenwood , W . J . Maltby .

The company began to arrive about six o ' clock , and were not long before they sat down to one of those admirable dinners for which Messrs . Spiers and Pond are famed , and which have become historical in Manchester hotel management . The large Masonic room , to which the brethren subsequently retired , had been

converted into a handsome drawing room , and the bijou tables were plentifully supplied with fruits and tropical plants of all kinds ; indeed , nothing had been spared in the matter of wines , viands , and the general surroundings to make the gathering a perfect success , and this object was attained .

The principal speakers were Bros . Uttley , L . Higginbotfcom , Mills , Lean , Studd , and Robinson , who were unanimous in thanking Bro . Adamson for the magnificent way in which he had upheld the rote of host . Bro . Adamson , in responding to the toast of his health , said he thanked Bro . Uttley for the able manner in which he had

introduced his name to tho company . Very briefly Bro . Adamson described his first impressions of Freemasonry , explaining in effect that it was the beautiful language with which the ceremonies abounded , the pervading tone of religion , and the fervent and profound manner in which they had been performed , which had inspired hira with a desire to know more of the brethren who took

an interest in such solemn observances . With regard to that evening , he had never felt more delighted in his life , and was fully repaid by seeing the genial faces , and by receiving the warm approbation of the brethren present . In conclusion he hoped that this might only be the beginning of many very happy meetings of a similar character .

The speeches were very plesantly diversified by a musical melange supplied by Bros . J . H . Greenwood , Maltby , Ritson , Grimshaw , Wood , and others .

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GAIETYRESTAURANT, ST & A . 2 & JD . THE VIENNESE STEINGBAND WILL PLAY DURING 3/6DINNERS,5/-6 to 8 * 30 . SEPARATE TABLES . NO CHARGE FOE ATTENDANCE .