Our Good Bro. Valleton.

the subject than does Bro . Valleton . As , however , , e should always " live and learn , " if there are W ally any brethren who prefer the French or f nV other foreign system to our own wise and tolerant English teaching , we shall not refuse them a hearing , under certain limits , in the pages

of the Freemason . But we fancy that our good Bro . Valleton , like a good many other people , has swam out beyond his depth , and that whatever he may know of French Freemasonry , he rrertainly knows nothing yet whatever of English freemasonry .

The Admission Of New Members.

THE ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS .

We publish a letter in the Correspondence column which calls attention to a very serious subject . If written in a homely way , and with " unadorned eloquence , " it yet , we think , deserves the attention of our readers . There can be no doubt that the hasty admission of members

is a great and growing evil . Not only is it too often the " epidemic " which affects new lodges , but there are a great many of the older lodges which a * e far too lax in this particular . There are some brethren who seem to think that they have a vested right , so to say , in the proposal of

members . Any one who receives their " approval , " they think the brethren ought to admit , and often retire from a lodge in dudgeon , because some particular candidate is not approved of by the lodge generally . In some lodges there is a prevailing tendency to make admission of

members more a question of special approval by a select few , than any consideration of special aptitude for Freemasonry . Hence , in these lodges , the admission of members is directed by a clique , and all cliques are , we say , hurtful to lodges . There are again those who take a lax

view of the reception of members . As long as a man is a well-to-do man , prosperous in the world , in a good social position , a flourishing business , they deprecate any further enquiry as unnecessary and undesirable . Many , in consequence , are admitted into Freemasonry either

from worldly rank or personal consideration , who do no good , and never will do a'riy , to Freemasonry proper , and who constitute much of the " dead weight" of our Masonic organization . To them the lodge is but the amusement of an idle , easy , social time , and they never pass or

seek to pass , beyond the " arcana " of the " knife and fork degree . " In that they are A i . If any lodge is so unwise as to promote any such to the Master ' s chair , that lodge will live to repent of its weakness , as they never know their work , and they never perform their duties . There

is just now another temptation to many lodges . Candidates are numerous , the fees are ready , and some W . M . ' s and brethren do not seem to consider whether the candidate is in a position to keep up his Masonic privileges . Freemasonry has now many material benefits to offer , and it

is to be feared that not a few are unworthily attracted to Freemasonry by the prospect of what they may obtain on a " rainy day , " as an insurance , so to say , a " benefit society" for infirmities , old age , and the unavoidable calamities of human life . With these three classes of applicants

Freemasonry has ever to contend , and we know how difficult is the task often to keep them out , especially the last class of all . If they are not received in England they go into Scotland , and are made there , and come back and become ioining members . All Freemasons must be

struck with the growing applications for our charities . This year , as Bro . Binckes points out , for our four great metropolitan institutions , they are 147 . What will they be next year ? No doubt with increasing numbers we must always expect additional claims , but the fact tl at we have 68 claimants for the Benevolent Institution

and only 12 vacancies , in the Girls 31 candidates and only 13 to be elected , in the Boys' 48 candidates and only 8 to be elected , in all 114 rejected candidates , is a most serious reflection . We can only then urge upon all our brethren

still greater scrutiny and sifting of all candidates proposed for Freemasonry . It probably is the weak point in our admirable system which requires watchfulness and amendment . We know , indeed , that it is a very difficult question in itself , and has admittedly two sides to it , and we

The Admission Of New Members.

shall be therefore glad to receive any expression of opinion on so important a subject in our correspondence columns which our readers may like to favour us with . There are many brethren in our Order who can write very effectively on this and many other subjects , if only they will .

Grants To The Educational Institutions.

GRANTS TO THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS .

Bro . Binckes seems to be a little surprised that we again reverted to this subject , but those who read Bro . Binckes ' s letter , to which we alluded , will not have shared , we venture to think , in his professed astonishment . We note one point , however , to which we deem it only

fair to Bro . Binckes to call attention . He does not say that sSSoo is the amount he actually expects or considers fair , he states the fact that the 2 S . 6 d . on certificates would yield that amount now , not s £ i $ o , and that in the face of this fact , and the increased expenditure ofthe Boys' School ,

he urges thr . t it is not unfair to ask for a revision . There is another point we wish to notice . Bro . Binckes suggests a grant for the Girls' School as well as for the Boys' School . But what says Bro . Little ? We doubt very much whether Bro . Little can go to the Craft and ask for a

grant from Grand Lodge for the Girls' School . At present the Girls' School is full , and we believe , though Bro . Little can set us right , that there is no possibility of increasing its present accommodation . How can he ask for a grant from Grand Lodge with the amount of funded

property and with the financial prosperity of the Girls' School ? It may be a case for the revision of the grant of s & i $ o to the Boys' School , but , as we said before , the one endeavour , in our humble opinion , for the Boys" School , is to try and replace its capital . In the present state of

the Fund of Benevolence and of the constantly increasing claims upon us , any additional amount given to the Boys' School could be but small , and we therefore beg leave to repeat to Bro . Binckes our old fashioned , if unpalatable advice , " quiela non movere . "

The Steward's Lists Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Anniversary.

THE STEWARD'S LISTS OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION ANNIVERSARY .

The Steward's lists of the last anniversary present one or two striking features . —The leading province this year is Lincolnshire , where the exertions of our worthy Bro . Chadwick , with others , have returned £ 573 . West Yorkshire takes the second place with £ 242 10 s ., which ,

considering all pats returns , is not amiss . The Metropolitan Lodges , as usual , are well represented , and bring in a good round sum , exceeding considerably the provincial returns . We are glad to notice how well the younger lodges are represented , and we are glad to think how very

truly the principles of Freemasonry are appreciated and manifested by some of the newest offshoots of our evergreen Masonic tree . May the lists for the Girl ' s and Boy ' s Schools Anniversaries tell as good a tale for the general sympathy and genuine charity nf our Order .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

I . We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . ]

THE MASONIC CHARITIES . To the Editor ( if the Freemason , Dear Sir and Brother , — Can you inform me , through thc columns of the Freemason , how many annual subscriptions of one Guinea

lucre are to each of the Boy ' s and Girl's Schools , also how many subscribers of £ 1 , 10 s ., and 5 s ., to the Old Men and Women Institution ? I am , sir , yours fraternally , H . W . M . [ H . W . M . should apply to the three Secretaries . Eu . ]

FAST MASTERS . To Ihe Editor of ihe Freemason , Dear Sir and Brother , — I would wish to add a word to the many letters that have recently appeared in your valuable journal on

the subject of thc status of a rejoining Past-Master . Presuming it to be generally acknowledged that a qualified Past-Master carries his rank with him wherever he goes , I submit that a brother holding that position would , on ioining or on rejoining a lodge , take his seat

Original Correspondence.

below any Past Masters then subscribing to it ; and would , as it seems to me , be unfair to them to allow a rejoining brother to rank next to the immediate Past Master from any feeling of deference to former membership or services . The answer to such a brother complaining of a " loss of steps" would obviously be that he should not have left the lodge .

Thc case of an absent member is , I think , very different . He does not rejoin his lodge after ballot , but simply resumes attendance ; and he would do this with a full retention of his original rank , sitting below all those who were Past Masters when he first joined the lodge , but above those who had attained to the distinction during his

absence ; unless he had himself , during such absence , forfeited his privileges by having for twelve months ceased to subscribe to any regular lodge . In such case he can only regain his position by a fresh installation as Master , the Wardens of a lodge being members of Grand Lodge during their tenure of office only . Yours fraternally , Busy BEE .

BROTHERLY LOVE . To the Editor of thc Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Allow me to congratulate you on the able article on " Brotherly Love . " I sincerely hope you will continue , from time to time , to show our failings and foibles . If you wish to see our Masonic virtues brought from under

the bushel , you must grasp the common gavel and chisel , and with a little perseverance you will , I have no doubt , make your mark , but it must be on the Rock of Truth . You must stand in the same position as the sincere clergy or ministers of religion . When they preach a homely sermon to their congregation and take each class seriatim ! they will be sure to touch the hearts of some in their

assembly who have been walking under the mantle of a gentleman or the cloak of religion . So it is with Masonry ; if each member of the Craft would endeavour to eschew from his breast that selfish feeling which predominates , to a very large extent , among the brotherhood , how much more pure would the Craft be , not only in the public eye , but to the brethren in general S Sir , I remain , yours fraternally , P . M .

THE ADMISSION OF NEW MEMBERS . 7 b the Editor of tlie Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — It has often been , and is now , a surprise to me that Grand Lodge does not interfere with the wholesale making of Masons which is continually taking place in the vicinity of the town in whicb I reside . Each candidate

seems to be judged alone by the standard whether he has five guineas in his pocket to pay the usual fees . This ought not to be . An initiate for Freemasonry ought to be a man capable of appreciating the beauties of its ceremonies , and its allegorical allusion to life here and hereafter . He should also have sufficient acumen in his nature to be able to seize at once upon its theoretical teaching ,

anti not be merely one of that great number who have joined our ranks merely for the sake of company and goodfellowship ; both good in their way , but not sufficient to raise the thoughts of the man and the mortal to the Great Architect and the Immortal . My humble opinion of Masonry is that it is one means whereby the nations of the world will be brought into unity and peace . Our tenets

not allowing us to join in strife , it at once becomes apparent how very suitable Freemasonry is to unite the hearts of man in one common brotherhood , and if we initiate men who cannot appreciate such a high function for the Order , we do Masonry incalculable harm and cannot have , ourselves , very bright notions of it . Again , there is another blot or mischief-making source

to Freemasonry , and that is the holding of our lodges in public houses . Many a good man and true is kept out of our ranks in consequence of this great eye-sore . Our ceremonies do not allow really of being associated with public houses—it is a false position for us to be in . Solemn and heart-stirring are our rites—all is blunted and destroyed by being held in such places . Surely amongst the

thousands in our chief towns in England who range under our banners we could build Halls of our own , and keep them separated from the profane world . I might say more , but I think it better to stop , and am Yours , fraternally , A SINCEKE MASON . [ By some mischance the sheet containing the proper signature has been mislaid , but our brother will recognize his own letter . ED . ]

Multum In Parbo; Or Masonic Notes And Quaries.

Multum in parbo ; or Masonic Notes and Quaries .

Can any brother give me the name and number of the Freemason ' s Lodge held at Ballatar , Scotland , fifty years ago ? HEHEWAUO . How WAS THE "LODGE OF ANTIQUITY" "AMEHICAN LODGE ?" We have before us the latter part of a very curious old Masonic pamphlet ( from page 25 to the end , page 64 ) ,

issued , we presume , about A . D . 1759 . The first paragraph reads as follows : "The following is a correct List of Regular Lodges , according to their seniority and Constitution , when this new edition went to press ; but if there should be any errors , or new Lodges arise , upon the members giving notice thereof

to Charles Corbett , they shall be carefully corrected , and probably placed in the next edition . " Then follows a List of Lodges , 241 in all , thc last of which is recorded as having been constituted July 2 , 1759 It is from this date , that we infer the year of the pamphlet ' s publication . " The ;; most curious items in this list are the first and second , viz , ;