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Initiation Fees.
and veneration for God , or it may arise from a diabolical abuse of the brightest intellect to gratify a depraved mind and fiendish will . His aims are to tear asunder the most sacred ties , to break the dearest bonds of brotherly union , and undermine the noblest institutions that tend to make earth heavenly , and in their place raise a pandemonium , reducing civilized ,
refined and social beings , male and female , to the level of the lower animals , and thus create a hell upon earth . There is extenuation for a violator of law , who owns that he does wrong , but what reliance can'be placed in a " creature " holding himself amenable to no moral or social law , and only governed like a pig by his obstinate will and appetite . He is not of sound judgment nor strict
morals , and therefore should not be admitted into a society that prizes honour and virtue above thc external advantages of rank and fortune . The genuine Mason venerates the Sacred Law and its Divine Author , whilst the Atheist puts out wilfully his own eyes and sees Gcd in nothing . The Mason says " Thy law have I hid in my heart , "—and surveying the various
objects that decorate and adorn creation , he is led with sacred awe to join the poet in saying : — " These are Thy glorious works , Parent of Good , Thus wond'rous these—Thyself how wond ' rous then , That sit ' st above these heavens , to us invisible , But dimly seen in these Thy lower works , Yet these declare Thy goodness beyond thought
And power Divine . I am in love with the German practice of sculpturing scripture , as suggestce ) by the late illustrious Prince Consort for the Royal Exchange . " Thc Earth is the Lord ' s and the fulness thereof , " and I know of no better motto to chisel in marble in front of our Masonic buildingsglitter in gems on the Grand Master ' s breast , emblazon
in gold over the grand dais , on the banner of every lodge , and to cherish in the heart of every Mason , than the admirable words , suggested by a deep veneration for God , flashed in the first greeting to America by the honoured father of our Grand Master' * Glory to God in the highest , / 1- eC « - 1 ~ 1 ... Ill . „ 11 On earth and goodwill to
peace , men . " Our Grand Lodge cannot , will not , must not , turn its back upon God by countenancing Atheism , whilst wc honour men of every faith , the thing of no faith cannot expect to share our fraternal sympathies , and we hope our brethren of thc Grand Orient of Fiance will rivet themselves to us more closely by a similar policy . Yours fraternally , W , DAHLEY , P . M .
SUPPORT OF THE CHARITIES . To the Editor of the ' •Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Having perused the account in your last issue of the proceedings of the Hereford Masonic Charity Association , a short account of the doings of a Utile country loelge in the same direction may not be uninteresting .
In June last ( you sec we had the start of our Hereford brethren ) it was mooted in a conversation between the W . M . and one or two of his officers that such an association be started , and the idea was actetl upon on the next ordinary lodge n ' -ght ( July ) , when thirteen brethren gave in their names as subscribers , and the S . VV . was appointed Hon . Sec . At our last ordinary meeting nine more
brethren gave in their names , making a total of twentytwo in a lodge numbering less than forty subscribing members , many of whom were already Life Subscribers to or Life Governors of the Charities . The subscription is fixed at 2 S . fid . per mensem , anil we propose balloting for seniority of presentation as the funds accumulate . Without allowing for additional
members , this will bring in £ 33 per annum to the Chanties , and if every loelge in our county ( Kent ) did the same in proportion to its siz-, it would give an additional £ 1500 per annum to the Charities . In conclusion , let me remark that as all business connected with the association is done in the lotlce-room after
closing down , there are no working expenses incurred , and that as brethren we think our Masonic wore ! quite as good as written promises . Trusting to see the movement extend , and our noble Charities the gainers thereby , I am , yours fraternally , \ V . TUFF , S . W . 12 , 3 .
TRURO CATHEDRAL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — It is now some forty-two years ago that I was told tbat Freemasonry possessed many great and invaluable privileges , but in order to secure those privileges to worthy men , and we tiust to worthy men alone , vows of
fidelity were required . Believing this to be so , I have repcatetl them to several candidates for initiation . Have I misled them ? We Masons have all taken those vows , consequently we are entitled to those privileges , anti I contentl that all those , who have not taken those vows arc net entitled to them . Wc pay our initiation fees anel annual subscriptions to form a fund for the relief of each
other , our wives and children in time of need . H the uninitiated arc- allowed to share our monies what is the privilege of being a Mason ? I am one of the many who think that our monies should be applied to Masonic purposes alone ; we need some 30 or /* 40 , ooo a year to suppoit our three great Masonic
Charities , anti if wc continue to vote away our money to cathedrals and various other purposes , by-and-bye we shall want to appeal to the public at large for the support of our charities . By giving this : t pl . t - > : in -. ( I'tr paper yrni will oblige , Yours veiy tiaUrnaUj , ' J . I ' . SHAPLAND , P . M ., '/ ,., Sic .
Initiation Fees.
FEE FOR INITIATION IN ENGLAND . To ( Vie Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In your article advocating an increase of fees under the Grand Lodge of Scotland , a much needed reform , you several times mention the minimum fee for initation under the Grand Lodge of England as being five
guineas . I wish that such was the case , but as a matter of fact it is not so . Thc Constitutions declare that " Nn person shall be made a Mason for less than three guineas , exclusive of the registering fee . " The fee for registration for a Mason made within the London district is one guinea , in a country or military lodge ten shillings and sixpence , and in a colonial or foreign
lotlge seven shillings and sixpence ( including the certificate ) . It is clear , therefore , that the minimum fees under the Grand Lodge of England are as follows : — £ s . d . Initiation , Colonial or Foreign Lodge ... 3 10 6 „ Country or Military ,, ... 3 13 6 „ London District ... ... 440
I have long advocated an increase of fees under the Grand Lodge of England , and have already drawn up a memorial exhibiting the desirability of so doing , as practically the minimum fee is still the same as it was fixeel at the Union of 1813 ( 1815 ) , although the value of money is vastly different to what it was then . Thc minimum fee should be at least five guineas , exclusive of the registration fee
which ought to be a guinea for country and military lodges as for the London district , thereby making the initiation fee really six guineas for country and London lodges , and £ 3 12 s . 6 d . for colonial and foreign lodges . My experience goes to prove that gentlemen do not mind what they have to pay for initiation , though many are most particular afterwards to reduce their payments to as
small a sum as possible . Added to wbich the status of the Craft is raised in many respects by a respectable amount being required for initiation . A large sum on admittance , and a small annual subscription subsequently , is , to my mind , the right method as to fees . With respect to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and under the peculiar
circumstances of the case ( so many members being operative Masons , & c ) , I shall be glad if ti e minimum fee for iniiation is fixed at two guineas , and an anneal subscription of sixpence be payable by every lodge held in Scotland for each brother who has been a member during the whole or part of the year before the return is made .
WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN , P . G . D . [ Bro . Hughan will see that wc deal with thc little " blot " he has hit elsewhere . —ED . ]
MASONIC BANQUETS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I cordially thank " Pythagoras " for his letter in your last issue , condemning extravagance at Masonic banquets , and may say that my sympathy with his views generally on that subject has not been limited to merely verbal
approval . I must , however , be permitted to say that the distribution of four dozen of champagne among a hundred and twenty brethren , many of whom had travelled considerable distances on a sultry day , and probably dined a couple of hours later than usual , was not much more than one would expect to offer at one's private table ; the bill of fare , which you were good enough to publish ,
sufficently refutes any suggestion of "waste ; " and 11 the price of the tickets very much exceeded the amount the brethren of " Pythagoras " would ordinarily pay at a dining room for a dinner , those with whom he associates must be much more modest and abstemious than are the majority of middle-class men in this part of England . If this matter of eating and drinking has been overdone
in the way of extravagance , let us be careful not to attempt too sueldcnly to rush to the other extreme . No single effort can be made in reason to reduce the cost of our banquets , which I shall not warmly support—as , indeed , I fancy 1 have proved in more than one instance . I wrote before , as now , entirely on my own responsibility , without asking or consulting the remaining members of the committee of the entertaining lodges ; and I can , therefore , the
more readily assure all who are concerned that this feeling of strict economy—a worel I use in its best sense—animated every one of them . But in thus acting , they ( as I think wisely ) remembered the scathing condemnation of those who once sought to set aside thc law of ordinary hospitality by complaining that" This ointment might have becn sold for much , and given to the pocr . Yours fraternally , •W . M .
FREEMASONRY AND CATHEDRALS . To thc Editor of the " FrcemasM . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have no elesire to run counter to my esteemed friend and Bro . Whytehead , or any other cf your valued correspondents , tut really there is no other course left for me , if the columns of the Freemason are to
be open for the advocacy of sectarianism . That the "Chutch ot England is thc "National Church " of this country is nothing to us who do not think there ought to be any , and to use any part of the funds of a province to assist in building or restoring the edifices of any religious sect , is , to my mind , most un-masonic . All the members of a Provincial GrantI Lodge have a share virtually in the funds accumulated , and a voice in their
disposal , and hence , if a majeitity decide to tlevote a portion of such monies to a sectarian purpose , the minority must be mortified that , without their consent , some of their contributions have been given to religious bodies , which , as a matter of conscience , they would not support . It is really a " matter of conscience" with many of us not to suppieil , dircc-ilv or indirectly , an csUh'iilii'l church ; ami if I consitlLie : I lb _ t it was the tendency uf Freemasonry
Initiation Fees.
to thus violate any religious scruple , I shoultl retire from i at once and for ever .
W . J . HUGHAN . [ We publish this letter , as we do all from Bro . Hughan , at once , though he , with us , will admit the impropriety and itnposibilicy of having a discussion with respect to the Church of England in the Freemason . We do not think that Bro . Holmes , in his well-meaning proposition , intended to raise the " National Church " question , and that has
regrettably cropped up in the discussion . AH such matters must be decided by the Provincial Grand Lodge without sectarian feeling . If the discussion is to continue in our columns all allusion to the National Church or Nonconformists must cease . We will admit letters on the question of the fitness and expediency of the proposition on Masonic grounds . —ED . ]
THE LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION Dear Bio . Kenning , — As it is well known that I took a great interest some time back in West Yorkshire in the noble work of its Charity Committee , of which I was the first Chairman , I think it well , with your permission , to record in your pages , the substance of what I said at the first meeting of the
above new Association , a precis of which , ( admirably reported ) , has already appeared in your well-filled columns : — "The Provincial Charity movement and organisation , which proceeded on the new principle in West Yoikshire , of combination and centralization of the voting power , begun fairly , it may be said , about 1861 . Since that time most of the other provinces have fallowed suit , and the
' Voting Power of the Provinces' has so greatly increased , that many provinces now , without extern help , can secure the return of their various candidates , or , at any rate , by a friendly ' concordat' with another proviuce . London , however , with its 25 6 lodges and an immense list of subscribers to the charities , has no such combination or concentration of voting power , consequently the votes of the
London brethren are given , so to say , in dnblets , '; and have no sensible effect on the elections ; hence , too , the large proportion of unsuccessful London candidates . I will now proceed to point out deferentially , what , in my humble opinion , is the only feasible remedy for an admitted weakness in our London voting arrangements . We must have a somewhat similar
system in London . We must form in London an association of the subscribers to the charities , which by the action of a committee will attend to the combined polling of loting papers for selectt-a candidates . Of course , there is in this , as in all other things , some difficulties . There is , ist , ' Individualism , ' which prefers , for some reason or other , to act by & elf , personally , and not through a
committee . I think , as true Masons , we shall be ready to sink our ' individualism ' for the good of others , But one or two points appear to me to be needful to bear in mind : —First , that as the only object of voting is lo secure the election , all that w e really need is that our candidate be on the list of succesful ones . We should give up any idea of seeking as a point of honour to place our candidate at
the head of the poll or high upon the poll . It is an utter waste of voting power . And then , secondly , unless we combine in a fraternal spirit in London , wc cannot expect that our London cases will be more succssful than they have been . What that success is , it does not need a prophet to tell you . Nay , more than this , unless we adopt thc same , or a somewhat similar system , each year must
witness more succesful provincial candidates , and fewer snecesful London candidates , because the provinces , ( all honour lo them ) , are in right good earnest , and carry out , moreover , a true and proper principal of legitimate and effective voting . I will only add that if such a position is taken up by us in London , it is not one of antagonism or selfishness , or in any
other way open to blame , inasmuch as it is one which common sense itself would suggest , and the rightful claims of our London candidates would undoubtedly dictate to us all . I feel sure , that this movement has not been made without good reason , nor is it set on foot a moment too soon , and I trust that , forgetting all personal feeling , and putting on one side individual preposession , we shall
labour in hearty unison and concert to assist the undoubtedly righteous claims of our London candidates on our time , our sympathy , and our combined and concentrated energies . " I do not think it well here to add anything to these few words of mine , honestly spoken and masonically intended , and am , Dear Bro . Kenning , Yours fraternally , A . F . A . WOODFORD .
INITIATION FEES IN SCOTLAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am sure that every one who desires the prosperity of the Grand Lodge of Scotland will fully appreciate thc excellent and well-timed advice contained in your leader on the 24 th ult ., anil that all reasonable and unbiassed
brethien will admit the accuracy of your view of recent unpleasant events . Your remarks in the Freemason ot the 31 st , upon Scottish Freemasonry , are to the point . The lawness of the fees with us enables persons to join the Craft who are not in the position ( however they may be otherwise qualified ) to do credit to a charitable institution , such as Freemasonry is ; on the contrary , it is too often
thc case that they become burdens instead , and carry discredit to our institution wherever they go , supplying , as you truly observe , an unenviable majority of casuals for relief in England , as w . ll as elsewhere . Were our minimum fee raised to five ( or even four ) guineas , as you suggest , the class of society joining our order would come to consist of persons who could afford to pay a regular and fixed sum towards the maintenance of their own patticulat
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Initiation Fees.
and veneration for God , or it may arise from a diabolical abuse of the brightest intellect to gratify a depraved mind and fiendish will . His aims are to tear asunder the most sacred ties , to break the dearest bonds of brotherly union , and undermine the noblest institutions that tend to make earth heavenly , and in their place raise a pandemonium , reducing civilized ,
refined and social beings , male and female , to the level of the lower animals , and thus create a hell upon earth . There is extenuation for a violator of law , who owns that he does wrong , but what reliance can'be placed in a " creature " holding himself amenable to no moral or social law , and only governed like a pig by his obstinate will and appetite . He is not of sound judgment nor strict
morals , and therefore should not be admitted into a society that prizes honour and virtue above thc external advantages of rank and fortune . The genuine Mason venerates the Sacred Law and its Divine Author , whilst the Atheist puts out wilfully his own eyes and sees Gcd in nothing . The Mason says " Thy law have I hid in my heart , "—and surveying the various
objects that decorate and adorn creation , he is led with sacred awe to join the poet in saying : — " These are Thy glorious works , Parent of Good , Thus wond'rous these—Thyself how wond ' rous then , That sit ' st above these heavens , to us invisible , But dimly seen in these Thy lower works , Yet these declare Thy goodness beyond thought
And power Divine . I am in love with the German practice of sculpturing scripture , as suggestce ) by the late illustrious Prince Consort for the Royal Exchange . " Thc Earth is the Lord ' s and the fulness thereof , " and I know of no better motto to chisel in marble in front of our Masonic buildingsglitter in gems on the Grand Master ' s breast , emblazon
in gold over the grand dais , on the banner of every lodge , and to cherish in the heart of every Mason , than the admirable words , suggested by a deep veneration for God , flashed in the first greeting to America by the honoured father of our Grand Master' * Glory to God in the highest , / 1- eC « - 1 ~ 1 ... Ill . „ 11 On earth and goodwill to
peace , men . " Our Grand Lodge cannot , will not , must not , turn its back upon God by countenancing Atheism , whilst wc honour men of every faith , the thing of no faith cannot expect to share our fraternal sympathies , and we hope our brethren of thc Grand Orient of Fiance will rivet themselves to us more closely by a similar policy . Yours fraternally , W , DAHLEY , P . M .
SUPPORT OF THE CHARITIES . To the Editor of the ' •Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Having perused the account in your last issue of the proceedings of the Hereford Masonic Charity Association , a short account of the doings of a Utile country loelge in the same direction may not be uninteresting .
In June last ( you sec we had the start of our Hereford brethren ) it was mooted in a conversation between the W . M . and one or two of his officers that such an association be started , and the idea was actetl upon on the next ordinary lodge n ' -ght ( July ) , when thirteen brethren gave in their names as subscribers , and the S . VV . was appointed Hon . Sec . At our last ordinary meeting nine more
brethren gave in their names , making a total of twentytwo in a lodge numbering less than forty subscribing members , many of whom were already Life Subscribers to or Life Governors of the Charities . The subscription is fixed at 2 S . fid . per mensem , anil we propose balloting for seniority of presentation as the funds accumulate . Without allowing for additional
members , this will bring in £ 33 per annum to the Chanties , and if every loelge in our county ( Kent ) did the same in proportion to its siz-, it would give an additional £ 1500 per annum to the Charities . In conclusion , let me remark that as all business connected with the association is done in the lotlce-room after
closing down , there are no working expenses incurred , and that as brethren we think our Masonic wore ! quite as good as written promises . Trusting to see the movement extend , and our noble Charities the gainers thereby , I am , yours fraternally , \ V . TUFF , S . W . 12 , 3 .
TRURO CATHEDRAL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — It is now some forty-two years ago that I was told tbat Freemasonry possessed many great and invaluable privileges , but in order to secure those privileges to worthy men , and we tiust to worthy men alone , vows of
fidelity were required . Believing this to be so , I have repcatetl them to several candidates for initiation . Have I misled them ? We Masons have all taken those vows , consequently we are entitled to those privileges , anti I contentl that all those , who have not taken those vows arc net entitled to them . Wc pay our initiation fees anel annual subscriptions to form a fund for the relief of each
other , our wives and children in time of need . H the uninitiated arc- allowed to share our monies what is the privilege of being a Mason ? I am one of the many who think that our monies should be applied to Masonic purposes alone ; we need some 30 or /* 40 , ooo a year to suppoit our three great Masonic
Charities , anti if wc continue to vote away our money to cathedrals and various other purposes , by-and-bye we shall want to appeal to the public at large for the support of our charities . By giving this : t pl . t - > : in -. ( I'tr paper yrni will oblige , Yours veiy tiaUrnaUj , ' J . I ' . SHAPLAND , P . M ., '/ ,., Sic .
Initiation Fees.
FEE FOR INITIATION IN ENGLAND . To ( Vie Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In your article advocating an increase of fees under the Grand Lodge of Scotland , a much needed reform , you several times mention the minimum fee for initation under the Grand Lodge of England as being five
guineas . I wish that such was the case , but as a matter of fact it is not so . Thc Constitutions declare that " Nn person shall be made a Mason for less than three guineas , exclusive of the registering fee . " The fee for registration for a Mason made within the London district is one guinea , in a country or military lodge ten shillings and sixpence , and in a colonial or foreign
lotlge seven shillings and sixpence ( including the certificate ) . It is clear , therefore , that the minimum fees under the Grand Lodge of England are as follows : — £ s . d . Initiation , Colonial or Foreign Lodge ... 3 10 6 „ Country or Military ,, ... 3 13 6 „ London District ... ... 440
I have long advocated an increase of fees under the Grand Lodge of England , and have already drawn up a memorial exhibiting the desirability of so doing , as practically the minimum fee is still the same as it was fixeel at the Union of 1813 ( 1815 ) , although the value of money is vastly different to what it was then . Thc minimum fee should be at least five guineas , exclusive of the registration fee
which ought to be a guinea for country and military lodges as for the London district , thereby making the initiation fee really six guineas for country and London lodges , and £ 3 12 s . 6 d . for colonial and foreign lodges . My experience goes to prove that gentlemen do not mind what they have to pay for initiation , though many are most particular afterwards to reduce their payments to as
small a sum as possible . Added to wbich the status of the Craft is raised in many respects by a respectable amount being required for initiation . A large sum on admittance , and a small annual subscription subsequently , is , to my mind , the right method as to fees . With respect to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and under the peculiar
circumstances of the case ( so many members being operative Masons , & c ) , I shall be glad if ti e minimum fee for iniiation is fixed at two guineas , and an anneal subscription of sixpence be payable by every lodge held in Scotland for each brother who has been a member during the whole or part of the year before the return is made .
WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN , P . G . D . [ Bro . Hughan will see that wc deal with thc little " blot " he has hit elsewhere . —ED . ]
MASONIC BANQUETS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I cordially thank " Pythagoras " for his letter in your last issue , condemning extravagance at Masonic banquets , and may say that my sympathy with his views generally on that subject has not been limited to merely verbal
approval . I must , however , be permitted to say that the distribution of four dozen of champagne among a hundred and twenty brethren , many of whom had travelled considerable distances on a sultry day , and probably dined a couple of hours later than usual , was not much more than one would expect to offer at one's private table ; the bill of fare , which you were good enough to publish ,
sufficently refutes any suggestion of "waste ; " and 11 the price of the tickets very much exceeded the amount the brethren of " Pythagoras " would ordinarily pay at a dining room for a dinner , those with whom he associates must be much more modest and abstemious than are the majority of middle-class men in this part of England . If this matter of eating and drinking has been overdone
in the way of extravagance , let us be careful not to attempt too sueldcnly to rush to the other extreme . No single effort can be made in reason to reduce the cost of our banquets , which I shall not warmly support—as , indeed , I fancy 1 have proved in more than one instance . I wrote before , as now , entirely on my own responsibility , without asking or consulting the remaining members of the committee of the entertaining lodges ; and I can , therefore , the
more readily assure all who are concerned that this feeling of strict economy—a worel I use in its best sense—animated every one of them . But in thus acting , they ( as I think wisely ) remembered the scathing condemnation of those who once sought to set aside thc law of ordinary hospitality by complaining that" This ointment might have becn sold for much , and given to the pocr . Yours fraternally , •W . M .
FREEMASONRY AND CATHEDRALS . To thc Editor of the " FrcemasM . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have no elesire to run counter to my esteemed friend and Bro . Whytehead , or any other cf your valued correspondents , tut really there is no other course left for me , if the columns of the Freemason are to
be open for the advocacy of sectarianism . That the "Chutch ot England is thc "National Church " of this country is nothing to us who do not think there ought to be any , and to use any part of the funds of a province to assist in building or restoring the edifices of any religious sect , is , to my mind , most un-masonic . All the members of a Provincial GrantI Lodge have a share virtually in the funds accumulated , and a voice in their
disposal , and hence , if a majeitity decide to tlevote a portion of such monies to a sectarian purpose , the minority must be mortified that , without their consent , some of their contributions have been given to religious bodies , which , as a matter of conscience , they would not support . It is really a " matter of conscience" with many of us not to suppieil , dircc-ilv or indirectly , an csUh'iilii'l church ; ami if I consitlLie : I lb _ t it was the tendency uf Freemasonry
Initiation Fees.
to thus violate any religious scruple , I shoultl retire from i at once and for ever .
W . J . HUGHAN . [ We publish this letter , as we do all from Bro . Hughan , at once , though he , with us , will admit the impropriety and itnposibilicy of having a discussion with respect to the Church of England in the Freemason . We do not think that Bro . Holmes , in his well-meaning proposition , intended to raise the " National Church " question , and that has
regrettably cropped up in the discussion . AH such matters must be decided by the Provincial Grand Lodge without sectarian feeling . If the discussion is to continue in our columns all allusion to the National Church or Nonconformists must cease . We will admit letters on the question of the fitness and expediency of the proposition on Masonic grounds . —ED . ]
THE LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION Dear Bio . Kenning , — As it is well known that I took a great interest some time back in West Yorkshire in the noble work of its Charity Committee , of which I was the first Chairman , I think it well , with your permission , to record in your pages , the substance of what I said at the first meeting of the
above new Association , a precis of which , ( admirably reported ) , has already appeared in your well-filled columns : — "The Provincial Charity movement and organisation , which proceeded on the new principle in West Yoikshire , of combination and centralization of the voting power , begun fairly , it may be said , about 1861 . Since that time most of the other provinces have fallowed suit , and the
' Voting Power of the Provinces' has so greatly increased , that many provinces now , without extern help , can secure the return of their various candidates , or , at any rate , by a friendly ' concordat' with another proviuce . London , however , with its 25 6 lodges and an immense list of subscribers to the charities , has no such combination or concentration of voting power , consequently the votes of the
London brethren are given , so to say , in dnblets , '; and have no sensible effect on the elections ; hence , too , the large proportion of unsuccessful London candidates . I will now proceed to point out deferentially , what , in my humble opinion , is the only feasible remedy for an admitted weakness in our London voting arrangements . We must have a somewhat similar
system in London . We must form in London an association of the subscribers to the charities , which by the action of a committee will attend to the combined polling of loting papers for selectt-a candidates . Of course , there is in this , as in all other things , some difficulties . There is , ist , ' Individualism , ' which prefers , for some reason or other , to act by & elf , personally , and not through a
committee . I think , as true Masons , we shall be ready to sink our ' individualism ' for the good of others , But one or two points appear to me to be needful to bear in mind : —First , that as the only object of voting is lo secure the election , all that w e really need is that our candidate be on the list of succesful ones . We should give up any idea of seeking as a point of honour to place our candidate at
the head of the poll or high upon the poll . It is an utter waste of voting power . And then , secondly , unless we combine in a fraternal spirit in London , wc cannot expect that our London cases will be more succssful than they have been . What that success is , it does not need a prophet to tell you . Nay , more than this , unless we adopt thc same , or a somewhat similar system , each year must
witness more succesful provincial candidates , and fewer snecesful London candidates , because the provinces , ( all honour lo them ) , are in right good earnest , and carry out , moreover , a true and proper principal of legitimate and effective voting . I will only add that if such a position is taken up by us in London , it is not one of antagonism or selfishness , or in any
other way open to blame , inasmuch as it is one which common sense itself would suggest , and the rightful claims of our London candidates would undoubtedly dictate to us all . I feel sure , that this movement has not been made without good reason , nor is it set on foot a moment too soon , and I trust that , forgetting all personal feeling , and putting on one side individual preposession , we shall
labour in hearty unison and concert to assist the undoubtedly righteous claims of our London candidates on our time , our sympathy , and our combined and concentrated energies . " I do not think it well here to add anything to these few words of mine , honestly spoken and masonically intended , and am , Dear Bro . Kenning , Yours fraternally , A . F . A . WOODFORD .
INITIATION FEES IN SCOTLAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am sure that every one who desires the prosperity of the Grand Lodge of Scotland will fully appreciate thc excellent and well-timed advice contained in your leader on the 24 th ult ., anil that all reasonable and unbiassed
brethien will admit the accuracy of your view of recent unpleasant events . Your remarks in the Freemason ot the 31 st , upon Scottish Freemasonry , are to the point . The lawness of the fees with us enables persons to join the Craft who are not in the position ( however they may be otherwise qualified ) to do credit to a charitable institution , such as Freemasonry is ; on the contrary , it is too often
thc case that they become burdens instead , and carry discredit to our institution wherever they go , supplying , as you truly observe , an unenviable majority of casuals for relief in England , as w . ll as elsewhere . Were our minimum fee raised to five ( or even four ) guineas , as you suggest , the class of society joining our order would come to consist of persons who could afford to pay a regular and fixed sum towards the maintenance of their own patticulat