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( Contents . PAGE FKEEJIASON S' MAGAZINE : — The Ballot in the Lodge 441 Proxy Masters 442 Tbe Orders of Chivalry in Canada 442 The Defective Stone 445

Masonic Jottings—No 73 446 Masonic Notes and Queries 44 G Correspondence 448 Masonic Sayings aud Doiugs Abroad 449 MASONIC MIKEOK : — Masonic Mems 4 o 0 United Grand Lodge 450 CKAET LODGE MEETINGS : —

Metropolitan 453 Provincial 453 Royal Arch 455 Knights Templar 455 Ancient and Accepted Rite 456 Scotland 456 Laying the Foundation-Stone of the Weymouth Infirmary ... 456 Obituary 459 Poetry 459 List of Lodge , & c , Meetings for ensuing week 460

The Ballot In The Lodge.

THE BALLOT IN THE LODGE .

LONDON , SATURDAY , JUNE 10 , 1871 ,

Simple as tlie matter may appear , the use or the Ballot in the Loclge is not understood as it should be . If the case brought before the Grand Lodge at its last communication should , as we believe ifc to

be proved but one of many , ifc is highfcly necessary that the nature and use of the Ballot should be clearly explained to the Graft . In the case mentioned , the W . M ., according to the evidence , instead of ruling his Lodge in an

impartial manner , constituted himself a parfcizan of the rejected candidate , and threw fche weight and influence of his important position against the expressed objection , whether just or unjust is immaterial fco the candidate . If the ballot

is to be maintained as an an integral part of our Constitutions , then ifc must be carried out in its entirety . The founders of our laws exercised a wise discretion in introducing that clause in our

regulations whicli gives power to a small minority to reject any applicant , however , worthy , apparently , from a society amongst whom perfect harmony is desired to be maintained .

The Ballot having' been taken aud proving unfavourable , we hold that beyond giving a opportunity for correcting an unintentional adverse vote , the subject should be finally considerd disposed of , and that neither the Master , nor any other member of the Lodge should question the propriety

of the vote . Ifc may be that from private knowledge on the part of even one member , there are circumstances connected with the character of the candidate which , though well know to the objector ifc would not be prudent or

proper fco announce . Therein lies the whole power of the ballot , and for the rendering available such knowledge was at first established . The Board of General Purposes , ( in the ranks of which may be numbered some of our best

authorities on Masonic jurisprudence , ) in the case of the Lodge of Israel , strongly expressed their opinion upon this subject , by suspending the Lodge , and bringing under their censure both the Master and Immediate Past Master of the Lodge .

A circumstance recurs to our memory , which was recently related in a Foreign Masonic journal : A Candidate , whose antecedents were of the most unobjectionable character , had on the ballot been rejected , to the surprise of nearly all present . One black ball in this case was sufficient to

exclude . Enquires were made as to the objectors , bufc without response . The feeling arose that some mistake had occured . One by one the brethren disavowed their objection , till bufc one remains . Thus one , on being pressed for his reasons for

voting against the candidate , felt ifc his duty to inform , the AV . M ., that his objection was based on the fact , within his certain knowledge , that the candidate had been guilty of criminal intercourse with a near relative of his ( the W . M / s ) own , and

under these circumstances he coulcl not conscienously vote for him as a Ut ancl proper person to become a Mason . The ballot is open to many objection . In some

cases ifc is used as the means of annoyance to an unpopular W . M ., a small clique posssessing the power fco refuse the admittance of any candidate , worthy or unworthy during the tenure of his office .

The Master has undoubtedly the power to reprimand his Lodge for any dereliction of duty on the part of the members , bufc the ballot must be kept secret . Every master should know sufficient of Masonic Law , to convince him that

every brother has an inherent right to exercise its free use , and that any interference on his part would be a usurpation of power , that will never be tolerated by the Supreme power of English Craft Masonry .