Secrets.

Masonic journal as the " Chronicle " has written this seriously ? . We are inclined to consider the article as a joke , but fearing that some of the Brotherhood who . believe that the chief aim of every member of the Fraternity should be to

increase our membership regardless of the injunction that all must enter of their own free will and accord , may take this article as it reads , to be an attempt to popularise Masonry , we offer the following comments , prompted by a desire to maintain the ancient customs of the Fraternity .

Read the first paragraph and then compare it with the monitorial doctrine inculcated by the symbol , " The Book of Constitutions , Guarded by the Tyler ' s Sword . " Silence and circumspection certainly teach the converse to the statement in this paragraph .

The second paragraph states that " It is not a good policy to maintain an habitual reserve whenever the name of the Lodge is mentioned , " & c . Strike out the word " not " in this quotation and the sentence will express the genuine Masonic doctrine , old as the Institution itself .

In the next paragraph , after advising members to talk about the Lodge and the advantage of joining it , & c , the editor of the " Chronicle " goes on to say that " neither would it be good policy to- be too frank in speaking of the discord or weakness or other undesirable feature that might occur

in the Lodge with a tendency to discourage the profane from joining . ' We are surprised at this statement . It teaches dishonesty . In plain words , we are to tell outsiders all about the good features of the Lodge , but withhold from them all

knowledge of weakness within the body . We dissent from this doctrine . If any information be given let it be the truth and the whole truth . But contrary to the entire teaching of this article we . recommend a discreet silence as regards Freemasonry when in the presence of the profane .

Again , this writer goes on to say , " Put ginger into your talk ; make people think that you are really in earnest and try to . be so , and if you come across anyone who appears to be half inclined to join your Lodge , do not let him escape

until you . have his application stowed away in your pocket . " The writer of the above was certainly jesting ! Can it be possiole that the editor of a Masonic paper writes such stuff as applicable to Masonry ?

Taking up the cue , we will make another suggestion . Get the boys out and mount them on cayuses and round up the herd of outsiders and lasso them and force them into the Lodge . Ye gods and little fishes . What will the " moderns " advocate next?— " Pacific Mason . "

Recent Legislative Enactments.

RECENT LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS .

MANY of the recent alterations made to Constitutional Law are of a progressive character , and demand something more than a mere passing notice . We shall shortly refer to one or two of the most important , as noted in a special circular issued by the Board in Auckland .

Ffonorary Members . —In this matter Grand Lodge can claim to be slightly in advance of the parent Grand Lodge of England . Under that Constitution this class of members has no rights or privileges of any kind as such , but it has evidently been a torgone conclusion for years past that no such

distinction ( sic ) should be conferred by one Lodge unless the recipient was actually a contributing member of another Lodge . And so far as we can gather this has always been the unwritten law under the English Constitution . In New

Zealand it has been the custom to confer the honour in the only Lodge of which the Brother is a member , as a mark of appreciation for special services , and not infrequently on an aged Brother , who had unsuccessfully stemmed the tide of poverty and distress .

To make such an one an honorary member and at the same time cut off every Masonic privilege was , as we have frequently pointed out , a compliment of a very left-handed character . Hence it was that for many years Grand Lodge tacitly allowed this class of membership on the payment by

the Lodge to Grand Lodge of the usual fees , 4 s per annum . As exception was subsequently taken that this was not in accordance with statutory enactment , a law was passed recognising honorary membership on the payment of the ordinary fee . Past Master ' s Enrolment Fee . —At divers times this question has excited considerable attention , and quite latel y

Recent Legislative Enactments.

a considerable amount of ire in those Past Masters who haye received a polite demand for the registration fee , which most of them alleged was disbursed ten years ago . The position has not always been clearly understood . / In many instances

Past Masters have taken it for granted that on leaving the chair they became de facto members of Grand Lodge without further action , and their surprise has been great on finding they had no standing in that body .

The amended law provides that all Lodges are now responsible for the payment of Past Master ' s registration fees , and may recover them at their option . Initiation of Candidates . ^ In amending the law providing that no candidate can be initiated on the night of ballot ,

except under special circumstances , Grand Lodge has been actuated by a desire to increase the value of Freemasonry . There has been too great a desire during the past , few years to rush candidates into the Craft at high pressure speed , and what was formerly a rare practice has developed into common

custom . —indeed some Masters have felt a kind of reproach if they could not complete the making of a Freemason in ¦ three months . In such cases one has felt inclined to envy those countries where the same ceremonies are only concluded in an equal number of years . Apart from what is frequently

urged as to the expediency of custom , there are reasons against it of so obvious a character as to- be all-sufficient for the adoption of a mandatory law . Rejected Candidates . —The rule dealing with this subject now provides that a candidate rejected at the ballot

cannot again be proposed within twelve months . Unfortunately experience has taught 'the necessity for extending the period of probation . Instances have occurred indicating an eagerness to almost force admission after rejection , which does

not inspire confidence in the candidate , and as open to the suspicion of indelicacy , on the part of the proposer . In any case , the longer period will tend to safeguard the Craft , and inflicts no hardship , especially on the deserving candidate , who can always afford to wait .

Dispensation Fees . —Here , again , the action of Grand Lodge has been prompted by a desire to elevate Freemasonry , and while it does not actually prohibit the use of Masonic clothing in public , yet it deprecates it in the most

practical form , by making the charge in many cases prohibitive . The charge for dispensation for wearing regalia in public at all other functions than that of laying foundation stones is £ 2 2 s , instead of ios 6 d . Brethren may attend the funeral of a deceased Brother and conduct the Masonic

funeral service without dispensation , provided no regalia is worn . This license , while removing the necessity for regalia , does not restrict the ceremony in any particular . In connection with dispensation fees , Officers supervising districts should especially make themselves conversant with the

altered scale . A case has been brought under our notice of a Provincial Grand Master insisting on the payment of a fee of two guineas for a dispensation to pass a candidate in less time than twenty-eight days . The Lodge should take steps to have this fee , less ios 6 d , refunded to the candidate .

Funds raised by Lodges . —All funds raised by Lodges by means of appeals are to be vested in trustees under proper deeds , which are to be approved by Board of Benevolence , and must contain an ultimate trust in favour of Grand Lodge as to any money or property unapplied . Such is the intent

briefly , of the law , and we regard it as the next best thing to incorporation . There is some misapprehension as to what funds are to be so vested . We may explain that this law only applies to those raised by means of circular appeals to

Lodges . With the private funds of a Lodge Grand Lodge does not interfere , but so soon as a general appeal is made it becomes the duty of Grand Lodge to see that monies raised are properly applied , and that any residue shall again revert to the Craft for further use .

These are only a few of the alterations made , and at some future time we hope to direct attention to others , but we would impress on Masters of Lodges especially the .

necessity of making themselves fully acquainted with the revised laws , so that they may be able to rule , direct , and instruct their respective Lodges with confidence . — " New Zealand Craftsman . "

Ad01203

EXPERIENCED Reviewer is open to supply a column of criticisms weekly , to Provincial or London newspaper . Will submit specimen notices . T ., care of FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , New Sarnet -