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Insignia On Parade.

Insignia on Parade .

LEST there should seem to be anything cryptic in the title with which we have headed this article , and rather than permit the reader to imagine that it is our intention to rival the romancist b y refusing to hand over the key of the mystery until the end of our story , we will—with a change of

metaphor—crack the nut promptly and dispossess ourselves of the kernel . It has often happened that various bodies of Freemasons with the best intentions conceivable have thought it their duty on certain solemn or festive occasions to display themselves to the public in full Masonic regalia , doubtless to

their own satisfaction and not , perhaps , without some little consciousness of that pleasurable mystification which one may imagine the display thereof may have produced in the mind of the onlooker . The whole subject is one , if we mistake not , which raises

—what the lawyer is want to describe as—some nice questions , the phrase being one which may be said to indicate that pastoral enclosure , that verdant field of public opinion , where precedent deponeth not and wise maxims are at rest .

The custom to which we have referred is one which , on many occasions has been honored in the observance ; but as the reader has no doubt surmised from the preceding sentences it is a custom better honored , in our humble opinion , bv consigning it gently but lirmly to the lumberland of oblivion .

It is a matter , however , which fully deserves to be discussed on its merits , and as we do not suppose , or hint , for one moment that any brother has assisted in such a proceeding for anything but the best of good motives , there is no need to concern ourselves with the causes but rather to judge of the matter merely from the point of view of the effect of it .

It is of interest to remember that it was this very question—now a matter of comparative unimportance , and which can lead to nothing more drastic than a somewhat academic discussion—which caused the great schism in the fraternity towards the close of the bast century . It was on the 1 st May , 1777 , that the indefatigible Lord Petre , who had

clone such good work for Masonry , was succeeded by the Duke of Manchester , during whose administration , the historian informs us , the tranquility of the Society was interrupted by private dissensions . An unfortunate dispute having arisen among the members of the lodge of Antiquity ,

on account of some proceeding of the Brethren of that lodge on the festival of St . John the Evangelist after his Grace ' s election , the complaint was introduced into the Grand Lodge , where—let it be noted—it occupied the attention of every committee and communication for twelve months . It

originated from the Master , Wardens -and some of the members , having , in consequence of a resolution of the lodge , attended divine service at St . Dunstan's church in Fleet Street , in the clothing of the Order ; and had walked back to the Mitre tavern in their regalia , without having obtained

a dispensation for the purpose . As in the case of most disputes , political , masonic or otherwise , the original question was quickly lost sight of , but it was the cause of the schism which lasted for the subsequent ten years .

The most superficial examination oi what is implied b y Masonic regalia , should surely enable us to perceive that the public parade of our symbols and of personal insignia can have no meaning to others , and so far as we can perceive has no advantage and certainly no enhancement of dignity to ourselves . That much may be granted as a part of our

syllogism , whilst , on the other hand , we have a shrewd suspicion that while there is naught to he gained there may be much—to put it diffidently—which can be counted as lost in such a proceeding . In the lirst place , it must be remembered—that it can

hardly be thought that anyone will need such a reminderthat our symbolism , like our ritual and indeed all tlv . it pertains to the Craft is not intended to have , and never can have , any popular significance . This is an obvious truism which we take for our premise , and we would ask what purpose can be

served in publicly exhibiting that which , in its inner significance , is not intended to convey anything to the man in the street .

We have heard much of the universality of Masonry in a restricted sense of that well-abused word , when we are speaking of that which pertains to our globe , but its universality is simply that of a wide-reaching and powerful fraternity , bound to a secrecy which may well be extended ,

in some measure , at all events , to its insignia . We have touched upon the question of wearing regalia in public as being a matter ruled by taste and etiquette ; but the pronouncement of the Grand Master on the subject places the matter on lirmer ground , stating , as it does , that the necessary

dispensation will not be granted except on very exceptional occasions . THE EDITOR .