Ancient And Accepted Rite.

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE .

The advent of the ever welcome " Red Book " oi the " Ancient and Accepted Rite for England and Wales and the Dependencies of the British Crown , " seems an appropriate time to draw attention to the extraordinary progress of this influential and important organisation . It was started , by authority of the Northern Jurisdiction , Supreme

Council of the United States of America , which was founded by its sister Council—the mother of all the regular Supreme Councils—in the year 1813 . For a time the English body was little known , and had but slight influence . For many years the late Dr . Henry Beaumont Leeson was the Grand Commander , and as new blood was introduced into the governing Nine , the Rite began to spread , and new chapters were started .

In 1865 I had the honour ( with several more brethren ) of being " perfected" by Dr . Leeson prior to the inauguration of the St . Aubyn Chapter , Devonport , at which period there were not quite a score of subordinates on the roll . Now there are over one hundred active chapters , including the " Baldwyn , " Bristol , of last century origin ; the " Coryton and Rougemont Union , " Exeter , and others , formerly working under the wing of Knight Templar preceptories , which also communicated the Degree of Knight Kadosh .

Not in numbers , however , is the real strength of the Rite , but in the distinguished character , Masonically and generally , of the chief members , who freely give their time and money to advance the true interests of their beloved Society . They could not do more on its behalf if they had to depend upon the members for their livelihood , and their courtesy and enthusiasm are reflected generally throughout this branch of the Fraternity .

The position in the Craft of the " Supreme Council " and other members of the Thirty-Third Degree , is a sure indication of their Masonic status and zeal , cicteris paribus . By applying that test we find that the Grand Patron of the Ancient and Accepted Rite is H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master ; the sole honorary member of the Supreme Council is H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught , Past Grand Master , and the historic nine , are all Grand , or Past Grand Officers ; the Earl of Lathom being M . W . Pro Grand Master oi England .

There are also about 20 " Thirty-Thirds , " retired or active , as Inspectors-General , & c , resident in this country , who are all Present or Past Grand Officers , with one exception , several being Provincial Grand Masters , or of high rank , such as Grand Registrar , Grand Secretary , & c , and some are of great scientific attainments , or of high social position . The same may be said of the bulk of the members of the 32 ( 45 ) and the 31 ( 90 ) , who are noted for their enthusiastic devotion to the Fraternity , without which their advancement would practically have been impossible .

An examination of the " Red Book , " so ably edited and compiled by Bro . H . D . Sandeman , the zealous Grand Secretary General , will reveal many more interesting and suggestive facts , but these must suffice for the time . As indicative of the thoroughness of the editorship , the years of admission to the Thirty , Thirty-one , ond Thirty-two Degrees are all duly noted in this most useful annual , and so as to all the members of the " Supreme Council " from 1845 , but not for the other Thirty Thirds ; neither

is there a Roll of the Past Grand Commanders , which would be acceptable to many ; if Bro . Sandeman will pardon my asking for more information , when already he gives so much and so well . I fancy that the Roll of Past Grand Commanders is a very small one , and only include some five names , viz ., Dr . Crucefix , Dr . Leeson , Charles J . Vine , Captain N . G . Philips , ( the oldest member of the Council ) , and the late Earl of Carnarvon . The roll of all the members of the Rose Croix chapters , and the alphabetical list atthe end , showing their present position , is valuable , and must have entailed considerable labour .

The brethren of the Rite can assist the Grand Secretary General in making the roll as perfect as possible by informing him of the decease of any of the retired members . For instance , my old friend , Bro . Vincent Bird , 30 ° , died recently , and unless word is sent to head-quarters , the name would be retained , as such would not be forwarded in the regular way . The map , as frontispiece , is a capital idea to exhibit the districts of the Inspectors-General .

In fact , the book is a real guide to the Ancient and Accepted Rite of this country , as the regulations are also printed ; and as copies may be had for is . each ( plus postage 2 d . ) , brethren are without excuse who fail to procure copies . W . 1 . HUGHAN .

A Growing Evil.

A GROWING EVIL .

One of thc greatest evils to which the institution of Freemasonry is subjected is the introduction of improper candidates . Masonry is becoming a very popular Institution , too popular , we think , and it must be confessed that the Order does not command the respect from the profane world that it has done in the past . This is due in a great measure to the simple

fact that it is no longer an honour to belong to it , and this is because the doors are open to the multitude , too often with very little discrimination shown towards those who flock to enter . F ' ormerly , when a candidate for Masonry made known his intentions to one of the Craft , he was frequently discouraged , told to wait , his character and antecedents

were investigated , difficulties were thrown in his way , and , at last , when he wits allowed to apply , he was made to feel that the Order could get along very well without him , that he should regard his admission as a great privilege , and would be expected to live up to his professions . What is the case now' ! The " active" Mason , vcry often it is

the Master who wants to make a " record , " goes about with a quire or tsvo of blank petitions , a copy of the by-laws , and a list of membership in his pocket . Whenever and wherever he overhears Masonry discussed , out comes a blank petition and the list of membership . " Put that in your pocket , and if you think of coming in , sign it and hand it to me . " " Don ' t

A Growing Evil.

give it to , give it to me , I will endorse you ( although I scarcely know your name ) . " And , when this petition is presented , it must go through . The Master of No . wants to make more Masons during his year of office than the Master of No . . If he does so the brethren will probably elect him for a second term and present him with a jewel , or perhaps some admiring brother will nominate him in the next Grand Lodge for

Grand Junior Deacon ; therefore , the petition must go through ; and he svho would so demean himself as to dare to cast a rejecting ballot is considered unworthy of the confidence and respect of Masons . Who is he ? Take the ballot again ! Get some good brother to get a little in front of the box and watch carefully the hands of every man as he casts his vote . If the culprit is caught , make an example of him ! Destroy the secrecy of

the ballot , overturn the ancient landmarks , make him tell his reason I Then go from the lodge straightway and inform the candidate that so and so is his enemy . If the offender be not caught red-handed in the act , after the lodge is closed , poll every member , and as caught then he must be , " jump " on him , defeat him for the next office he runs for , boycott him in his business , give him the cold shoulder everywhere ; your Masonic obligations are not binding tosvards him , for he is a Masonic outlaw !

Numerical strength is the tendency in the cities , and as long as the profane world is made to feel that Masons are sitting in their lodges weeping because candidates come not , eagerly desiring to open wide their portals and pull them in , so long will the ancient honour of Masonry be sullied . When a worthy candidate is found who will , by his own good works and reputation , shed lustre on Freemasonry , then there should be cause for great joy . Too

often , however , the Order is made use of to shield the wrongs and hide the infirmities of the candidate . Every intelligent Craftsman knows that it is not essentially necessary that a Degree should be worked at every meeting . Matters pertaining to the history and literature of the Order might be discussed , lectures might be given , portions of the work might be exemplified , and thus the lodge night might be entertaining in the highest measure .

Moreover , a small lodge of a score or two congenial spirits is not as unweudy as five or ten times that number of " howling dervishes . " Don ' t let your lodge overgrow and run to seed . Hoe out the weeds , make clean the soil , and plant only good fruit . The world at large will admire the quality of your members and feel the benefit of your deeds of Charity , but will only regard mere quantity with suspicion .

Another evil , near akin to the one we have been discussing , is the rushing through of the election of a candidate immediately after the opening of a lodge . Of course it is legal ; we don't pretend to say that it isn ' t ; but it isn ' t fair , and is only done for fear of the arrival of some member who may know something detrimental to the candidate ' s character . If he does know anything , then he has a right to object , and perhaps he has a good reason for not arriving at the lodge the very moment it was called . Infirmity ,

illness , or a business engagement may have detained him . Give him the benefit of a little grace in the matter , and wait a reasonable time for some of the late-comers to assemble . It is a discredit to any candidate to have been elected by those who only man the chairs when he is afraid to undergo the scrutiny of the full lodge . Act squarely , not only towards him who is waiting for initiation , but also towards the brethren , always remembering that one of the tenets of our profession is Brotherly Love , and one of our cardinal virtues , Justice . —The Rough Ashlar .

The Ballot And Objections.

THE BALLOT AND OBJECTIONS .

Among the many laws and regulations which have been passed and established , from time to time , for the government of Masonic bodies and the guidance of the Craft of Free and Accepted Masons , there are none more important and far-reaching in effect than those which control thc making of Masons , and thereby the admission of new members . The

central controlling idea is established that there must be perfect unanimity among the members of a lodge , or other Masonic body , before an outsider can be admitted . That each one may exercise his own will in this matter entirely independent of fear or favour , and without a knowledge of how he

voted being known to any one except himself , the privacy of a secret ballot has been established , and as a further protection it is made a Masonic offence for any member to disclose the nature of his ballot , whether white or black .

But the secret ballot when favourable to the petitioner was not made final in its effect . It has been further provided lhat any member , whether present or not , when the ballot was taken may interpose an objection at any time before thc candidate has been admitted , and thus close the door against him . This objection may be made in open lodge , or privately to the

presiding officer if the objector does not desire himself known to any one else . All this precaution in thc admission of new members was evidently intended to sustain the dignity , peace , and harmony of the body itself , ana to promote goodfellosvship and fraternal love among the brethren . It would seem that it ought to accomplish that purpose . It would if all members

were Masons , in accordance with the tenets of their profession ; properly understood their duties . and obligations as such , and werc disposed to act 11 accordance with them . Unfortunately , however , all Masons do not stand 0 that plane . With all this precaution in making Masons , we are sorry lo 5 a ^ that in nearly every lodge in the world may be found one or more memo * who are not Masons . .,., svnu ceil ; nut Jii . isuus . i

, The law designed to protect Masonry against thc admission of unwori ) members , in their hands is made a convenient means of keeping oat m * 1 . worthy applicants , and thus instead of promoting the peace and ¦ iar il ^ ot the lodge is often destructive to both with all its resultant bad ciic , ^ As the result of our long experience in Masonry we are ready to affirm \ no regulation for the government of the Craft has been so grossly a " ' j and has been as much instrumental in destroying the usefulness and P ^ pcrity of Masonic bodies as that which enables an unworthy member ¦ his evil work under the protection of secrecy ; which , if it could kee / P , , would expel him from all the rightjs and privileges of Masonry . *—& C P