Mark Masonry In Scotland.

universal Masonry , bufc what is universality if there was not unity in the work ? Bro . Stevens is of opinion , says " The Mallet , " in " Glasgow-Evening News , " that the Mark is supplementary to Craft Masonry as the Eoyal Arch is supplementary to the Mark .

Curiosities Of Discipline.

CURIOSITIES OF DISCIPLINE .

THE rank and file of the Craft did not in former times enjoy fche same amount of freedom in Masonic matters that , generally speaking , they now do . During the discussion of a question coming before Ayr Kilwinning in 1784 , a Brother was pleased to characterise an act of the Master as " a rash step . " On being remonstrated with , and "no appearance of sorrow

being expressed by him for his conduct , he was ordered " to be excluded from the Lodge until in a regular Lodge he shall make a proper acknowledgment to the chair and the Lodge in

general for his very un-Brotherly behaviour . This sentence was passed on the motion of Robert Aitken , the Brother whom Burns designated as the " dear patron of my virgin muse—he who read me into fame . "

In 1811 , an office-bearer oi Ayr and Renfrew Militia St . Paul was found guilty of " communicating to neutral persons , in a clandestine and illegal manner , the whole supposed proceedings of St . Paul's Lodge and defaming the character and government of said Lodge . " The sentence following upon this indiscreet

Brother ' s conviction was humiliating enough : "That he be suspended from his office for two months from date hereof ; and that upon the first monthly meeting after this term is expired he shall in open Lodge read the following words : ' I have been guilty of a crime highly prejudical to the good order of society

and the interest of St . Paul ' s Lodge ; and I declare this to be a proof of my contrition , and hope it may be a warning to all members , and in case of a complaint that they may lay it in a legal manner before an open Lodge , and not to be misled by those who neither consider their own nor the interest of the

Lodge . '" In 1819 , three Brethren of the same Lodge had sentence of expulsion pronounced upon them for refusing , while on a visit to a sister Lodge , to reply on behalf of their mother Lodge when toasted from fche chair . Two of the delinquents , whose excessive modesty had in this instance led to their

" dishonouring" their own Lodge , afterwards acknowledged their " crime , " sought forgiveness , and were restored to their place in the Lodge . Not less absurd and unconstitutional was the acfc of the Lodge Mauchline St . Mungo when some sixty

years ago it summarily expelled one of its sons for refusing when the Lodge was sitting on " refreshment , " to drink to " the Duke of Wellington "—the toast having been proposed at a time when that great man was , as a politician and head of the Ministry , very unpopular .

At the period to which the preceding cases refer , the charges upon which Lodge trials proceeded were wont to be remitted to a Committee of Investigation , whose sealed report upon the question , signed by each member , was submitted to the ensuing monthly communication of the Lodge . The accused , if objecting

to the decision of this committee , had the privilege , in open Lodge , of defending his cause ; he was then required to retire to the adjacent room while the subject of complaint was being discussed and the vote taken . This was gone about with great solemnity . Beginning at the senior member present , each

Brother , on the invitation of the Master , rose in succession , and , placing his hand upon his heart and addressing the Chair , delivered his opinion as to the guilt or innocence oi the accused , and approval of or dissent from the sentence , if any , that had been proposed by the Commiteee of Investigation . On his

re-admission , the accused was apprised from the chair of the decision of the Lodge . If innocent he was saluted by the Master , who beckoned him to a seat ; if guilty he was escorted

out of the Lodge and the Brethren were asked to give effect to the sentence which " shut the door of Masonry against" the erring one—the limit of such punishment extending to periods of from one month to ninety-nine years . —D . Murray Lyon in the " Scottish Freemason . "

French Freemasonry.

FRENCH FREEMASONRY .

IN an article on " Church and State in France" in the "Speaker" the writer concludes as follows : Freemasonry of late years has become , to a far greater extent than is usually believed in England , the cover to the most amazing

conglomeration of fantastic beliefs and stmi-religious observances , most of which , in derision of the Catholic ritual on which they are founded , are consecrated to some form or other of Satan-worship . Paris society is honeycombed by the most grotesque forms of faith , and men and women devote themselves with all solemnity

French Freemasonry.

to the most elaborate ceremonial functions in honour of mysterious deities . Many curious details on this subject are contained in a recently-published book , " Lucifer Deinasque , " by a former initiate of tlio most secret Lodges of France . Needless to say , no love is lost between the votaries of these various

shrines ; they are united only by their common hatred of the Catholic Church ; and the French bishops will have need of all the resources at their command , and all the intrepidity of their American Brethren if , iu the approaching struggle , they are to triumph over their enemies .

Questions And Answers.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

• • T'N our Lodge recently when action was about to be taken JL on a petition , the Worshipful Master having asked the usual question , several Brethren responded , all of them except one recommending the applicant . One member expressed an opinion adverse to the petitioner . A ballot followed and the

petition was rejected . The Brother who questioned the fitness of the applicant is now accused of having cast the negative ballot . Does not this course destroy the secrecy of the ballot ? Was it proper for the objecting Brother to express his opinion as he did , and thus give his Brethren good reason to infer who voted in the negative ?

It has always seemed to the present writer unwise to criticise adversely in open Lodge the character of a petitioner for tho degrees . The better course is to let the positive objection appear in the ballot . We recall a few instances where a discussion has taken place in regard to the character of an

applicant , and such a discussion did not help matters as regarded the candidate , while some heart-burnings followed a severe arraignment of the petitioner by one member who violently

opposed him . But the right to discuss , in open Lodge , before the ballot is passed , the fitness of a petitioner for Freemasonry , cannot be gainsayed . If a member decides so to do he can declare the reasons which lead him to the conclusion that the man about

to be balloted for is not a desirable acquisition to the Fraternity . The member is not obliged to do this . In some cases at least , he would put himself and his Lodge in an awkward position , by making remarks derogatory to an applicant ' s character . If his mind is made up , —if he has such knowledge as will justify

his casting a negative ballot—why should he invite a discussion by stating his own adverse opinion . Past Grand Master Drummond , of Maine , whose judgment we generally approve , takes a different view from that here expressed . He thinks there should be a discussion of the merits of a petitioner for the degrees

before a vote is taken . Dealing with one of the points we have noticed , Bro . Drummond says , that if a member opposes an applicant and gives reasons why he should not be admitted to the Fraternity , and a negative vote follows , the Brethren ought not to infer that the objecting member cast the adverse ballot .

" Masonically , no such inference can be drawn , for his objections may have been overcome by the statements of others ; but if it is practically so , still is it better for the Craft to have it so , occasionally , rather than blindly elect candidates , especially in a large city , who are strangers to most of the members , upon the mere report of an investigating committee . "

Our thought is that such an inference would be drawn ; and not infrequently harm rather than good would come from the discussion . Here again comes in the statement : " All things lawful are not expedient . " Of course in a small Lodge , where all the members form a sort of family circle , such a discussion may

well take place , and the merits of a candidate be fully canvassed . In such a Lodge , representing the ideal of a Masonic organisation , there would be no inferences drawn , and the ballot would be still a secret one to all intents and purposes . — " Freemasons ' Eepository . "

"A Sprig Of Acacia."

"A SPRIG OF ACACIA . "

npHE funeral of the late Bro . Walter H . Hayes , for many _|_ years head-master of Christ Church Schools , Clifton , and member of Colston Lodge , No . 610 , took place at the Parish Church , Winscombe , the first part of the service having been held at Christ Church , Clifton . Assembled at fche Church were

a large number of friends of the deceased , the various institutions with which he had been identified being represented . Among others were Bros . H . J . Spear , Pearce , H . T . Davis , W . M .

Gauge , G . M . W . Cass , T . Govier , E . T . Grubb , Smith , A . Barratt , Rossiter , Machen , C L . Thomas , Stoate , Hughes , and J . H . Davis .

In Memoriam.

In Memoriam .

MORGAN . —Iu memory of Brother William Wray Morgan , founder of the FKEEJIASOVS CiiitoaicLE , who died 23 rd June 1893 .