The Haughfoot Lodge And Speculative Masonry.

From Andrew Hardie entree money 4 : 00 : — And and fine 1 : 00 : — Prom John Clapperton entree money 1 : 00 : — „ John Young „ „ 1 : 00 : — „ Thumas Frier „ „ 1 : 00 : — „ John Sanderson , 1 : 00 : — Which with a year ' s rent of the amount of 31 £ 12 sh rent from Candle

. bearing a - mas , 1707 , to Candlemas , 1708 , being ... 1 : 14 : 9 Extends in haill to 10 : 14 : 9 which is now in his hands , besides the amount 43 £ 1 sh . bearing a rent from Candlemas , 1708 .

" 5 . They find that all entrees and fines preceeding this day are payd into the Box Master , except these following : — Sir James Scott remainder of his entry 0 : 13 : — „ „ of fines 2 : 10 : — John Pringle , 1 : 00 : —

In all 4 : 03 : — which report being considered by the meeting , they approved the same , and appointed the Box Master to call in these debts with the fines imposed this day , all which together amount to 8 £

03 sh ., and particular nott of the debts to be given the Box Master for that end . "Andrew Thomson continued Box Master anoyr year , and the former recommendation anent lending out the publick stock committed to him

and William Cairncross . " John Sanderson continued officer for another year . " James Frier was publickly reproved for some rash expressions he had made in relation to admission to the society . " The Box Master is allowed to lend to James

Pringle in Haughfoot twenty-four punds of the public stock for a year upon his personall bond , bearing a rent . "Follows the state of the publick money , a double whereof given to the Box Master .

State of the publick money in the Box Master ' s hands : — Att Candlemas , 1708 43 : 01 : — A year ' s rent of 31 £ 12 sh 1 : 14 : 9 Received by Mm since that time 9 : 00 : —

In all . 53 : 15 : 9 " List of deficients to be called : — Sir James Scott , remainder of entry ... pyd . 0 : 13 : — fine , 14 Jany ., 1704 ... „ 1 : 10 : — „ 27 Deer ., T 704 1 : 00 : — John Pringle „ 27 Deer ., 1707 ... „ 1 : 00 : — " Fines , 27 Deer ., 1708 : —¦ Falahill

pyd , 1 : 00 : — Alexr . Young „ 1 : 00 : — Ashistiell „ 1 : 00 : — John Younger „ 1 : 00 : — In all £ 8 : 03 : — { To be continued . )

Masonic Government.

MASONIC GOVERNMENT .

By CRESCENT . In several letters , and communications to the MAGAZINE , we have observed strictures on , and complaints of , the present mode of appointing the officers of the lodge , who , with the exception of

the Secretary , Treasurer and Tyler , are appointed by the newly installed W . M . With all deference to the opinion of those worthy brethren who think otherwise , we think that , in this case , as in so many others where innovation is suggested ,

the plan adopted by the wisdom , and experience of our forefathers is the best . We experience of the government of small communities inclines to the opinion that a mild and responsible despotism is the best . Now the W . M . of a lodge has ,

undoubtedly , very extensive power ; but , in the first place , the lodge elect their own W . M ., and , in the second , he only holds that office for twelve months . His anxiety then is so to discharge its duties , as to conduce to the welfare of the lodge , and to merit the respect , and gratitude of his brethren

when he takes his seat as P . M . Now , as the responsibility rests with him , it is only fair that he should be allowed to select his own coadjutors . It is true that a bad workman quarrels with his tools ; but it is only fair that he should be allowed to

choose them himself , and not have thrust upon him men with whom he knows that he cannot get on . A W . M , should be very careful in selecting his Wardens , as , in appointing them , he is probably nominating the future Master of the lodge . It

is this which makes it , to our minds , so objectionable to make promotion a matter of seniority . If the W . M . be obliged to make the J . W . the new S . W ., etc ., he cannot select those he thinks will best support him , and may only have the post of

I . G . to give away . As we pointed out in a former article , all Past Wardens and Past Masters are available for the chair ; and , should the W . M . not appoint to office the J . W ., he is still a Past Warden , and may be elected W . M . the next year . That which is attained as a mere matter of seniority is no great honour .

There is nothing like having one head , to which all cheerfully submit . It is thi 3 which makes us think the practice which prevails in Irish lodges injudicious , by which a W . M . only occupies the chair for six months ; he is scarce settled in the

saddle before it is time to dismount . The result is that the real power falls into the hands of two or three old Past Masters , by whom his wishes .