The School Elections.

vacancy for their representative with 6 479 votes , and South Wales ( W . D . ) the next , by its own unaided efforts , with 644 > votes , of which 1892 were in hand when the poll opened . Nos . q , 10 , and n hailed from London and polled ' 6 371 ,

6276 , and 6197 votes , respectively , the first and second of the three having in the former case 2906 votes and in the latter 13 S 1 votes to the good . The boy from Buckinghamshire who brought forward 2244 votes emerged from the ballot with 6113 and

thereby "secured the 12 th vacancy , while Gloucestershire carried its case at the first time of asking with 6103 votes . The . second string to the bow ol" South Wales ( W . D . ) was 14 th with 5939 and then came two of the three lads from East Lancashire with

5754 and 5590 votes respectively . No . 17 , with claims on Bermuda , Hong Kong , and South Wales ( E . D . ) , polled 5518 votes , the Bristol candidate 54 8 3 votes , and the remaining East Lancashire youth 5406 votes , while the remaining London lad brought up

the rear with 47 6 S votes , of which 1915 were in hand from April . Of the six Unsuccessful applicants the three highest polled 4555 , 419 6 , and 4220 votes respectively , and the lowest on the poll

secured 1209 votes , which will certainly be of help to him in the future . As regards the general result , London carried all its six candidates , while the other 14 who were admitted were furnished by Provinces or Foreign Stations .

Masonic Jurisprudence.

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE .

[ COMMUNICATED . ] In the series of articles that have already appeared on this subject we have continually referred to the Book of Constitutions , and have discussed the various Masonic problems that have

been passed in review in the light of the lex script a . But Freemasons do not need to be reminded that there is a lex trad it a as well as a lex scrip / a , and it will not be out of place to observe how Masonic practice ought to be , and is , moulded by tradition as well as by constitutional law .

' 1 he candidate for admission into freemasonry makes a series of promises , and it is worth noting in what order those promises occur . After a declaration as to his motives , he first of all promises to abide by the anticnt usages and established customs of the () rder—in other words , to respect its traditions .

I he S . O . follows , expounding and making personal that anticnt landmark which speaks of the secrecy of the Order , lie is invested and in full possession of the . rights and privileges of a Freemason before ever lie hears a word about constitutions , bye-laws , and warrants .

'I he natural inference from all this is , that laws and regulations are of secondary importance compared with the other points mentioned . As a mailer of fact the Book of Constitutions does nol assume a practical importance or value

to ( he Freemason until he takes upon himself the obligations ol office , that is , at the point at which he enters upon official relations with other Freemasons . But the S . O ., and his respect for " usages and customs / ' beset him from the very moment he sees the light .

It is clear then thai the secrecy of the Institution is the first and last care of every Freemason , and , in lad , in language well known to all , it is his constant duly . It is too lale in tin ; day to argue whether such secrecy be a good or a bad thing . It is landmark , and , therefore , Freemasonry cannot exist without it . But , still ,

Freemasonry is not a secret society in the dubious sense in which secret societies are usually regarded . In one respect it is nol secret at all , inasmuch as no man of ordinary repute and

good cli . iracler is denied admission . Once admitted , the secret modes of recognition are useful in assuring him that the man who possesses them is , ordinarily , a man he can trust as he would his brother .

Whilst violation ot the secrecy ol the Order , using the term in its generally accepted sense , is practically unknown , it ought to be remembered that the generally accepted sense is unduly

restricted . It ought not , for instance , ever to be allowed to be known outside the lodge that an unfavourable ballot has been east . . Mailers which are strictly Masonic , even though not necessarily secret , should not be discussed coram publico .

'fhe Freemason next has enjoined upon him that the Volume of the Sacred Law is that by which he is to regulate his life and actions , not only in lodge but everywhere else . The V . S . L . dominates Freemasonry in the most remarkable manner . Not only is it the first thing a Freemason ' s eves ever gaze upon , but it is described as the unerring standard of truth and justice ,

Masonic Jurisprudence.

Every ceremony authorised in our lodges is illustrated by refer , ewces U > God ' s-Wovd , and , were it possible , if that word should be banished from fhe Order , there would be practically nothinw left . And , as further illustrating the religious obligations of the

Order , it is interesting to compare the words of the charge with the ipsissima verba of the English prayer book—¦ " To God ... to your neighbour ... to your , self ... "

" ... that we may hereafter live a godly righteous and sober life . " A Freemason should not only be known by his acquaintance

with certain secrets , but should also be known bvbis possession of certain other " excellencies of character . " Obedience is the one we would specially draw attention to . What this entails upon the Freemason is explicitly referred to in the charge .

Freemasonry is free only in so far as it demands perfect freedom of inclination , otherwise it is thoroughly disciplined , well-organised , and , one might say , autocratic . It should move with the precision of a machine . Read ) ' acquiescence in the opinion of the majority , however much opposed to private inclination , is demanded .

It ma } 7 be hard , as recent correspondence 111 these columns has shown , but there is no help for it . The Freemason had it clearly pointed out to him at the outset of his career . Another valuable tradition to which the neophyte ' s attention is drawn at his investiture with the badge of a Freemason is the

necessity of harmony . No tradition is more valued than this , and within certain limits there is no sacrifice he should be unprepared to make to secure it . No brother occupies a higher place in the estimation of the members of the lodge than he

whose influence is always on the side of peace and harmony . The brother anxious to air his knowledge , the brother with a fad , the brother with that keen sense of the unities which always seems to inspire a genius for criticism , all these- brethren recognise the influence of the peacemaker . Tradition also dictates to the Freemason what should be his

attitude to the popular and uninstructed world who are not Freemasons . There is no injunction to conceal the fact of membership of the Order . On the other hand , the address of

the Installing Master to the Master he has just installed assumes the existence of such knowledge , i . e ., " So that when a member ol" your lodge is known to be a Freemason , the world may know also that he is one . . . . "

That is to say , the honour and reputation of the Order are confided to the safe keeping of every individual member , and the discredit of his un-Masonic conduct is not confined to

himself alone . The suggestion is that when the outside world beholds in the Freemason the qualities described in the charge just referred to , a high opinion of the Craft will be formed which will resull in accessions to the Order . No other form ol advertisement of the Order is sanctioned . Whether it is

allowable for one to ask his friends is a point , the exact legality of which is , ( o say ( he least of it , doubtful , fn our ceremonies we refer lo ( he " improper" solicitations of friends , and a purist in language might argue that certain forms of solicitation might

be allowable provided they were not improper . On the oilier hand , the adjective might lie held to apply lo every form ol solicitation , and this would be the writer ' s personal opinion . It is contrary lo Masonic tradition to hold out any inducement , however worthy , to any person , however desirable his accession

might be , to join the Order . 'I he writer remembers a very eminent brother who was asked by a personal friend whether it would be a good thing for him to seek admission . The caution , reply was thai it might be a very good thing for him to think about it .

Unfortunately there is a tendency lo estimate the prosperity of the Craft by reference to numbers . An Institution such a ^ ours cannot be measured in any sucf way . There is only on . direction in which numbers are valuable , and doubtless mam useful lessons can be karned from the number of resignations .

The Worshipful Master , when handing the . Hiram to his successor , naturally refers to the condition of the lodge , and is in the habit of quoting the number of candidates and ceremonies as evidence of its prosperous condition , and generally looks iiiion them as the only evidence . But there are many worthier

and higher evidences of prosperity possible than the mullip h 1 '; ' lion fable affords . Has each member made some progress m Masonic knowledge ? Has the W , Master instructe . l tin brethren , not merely by opening and ( dosing in the tin ' ' ' .

Degrees at each meeting , but b y expounding lo them d " science of FYeeinasonry , explaining its laws , usages , ami customs .

Not only should the Freemason be careful in his intercom ' ^ with the profane : to refrain from even the appearance of solicitation , but , lo quote familiar language , he should refrain h ' "