Modern Writers Upon Freemasonry.—Iii.

men would never submit to it in any . way . 2 . That if public it would ( in England at least ) fail in the intended effect , as no one would openly plead guilty to intemperance , disobedience to parents , <& c ., . and 3 . That if private , it would involve all the eidls of that great gravamen of tho present day , the confessional . The qualifications for a red or purple apron of subordinate rank

in the provinces have never appeared to us of a very stringent nature , though Dr . Oliver says they are . As for steAvards being difficult to obtain , we know a province in which the office is most eagerly sought after by the younger brethren ; with regard to the expense of the apron , & c ,, in some provinces , the Provincial Grand Lodge keeps a complete set of undress clothing for the use

of the actual officers — past officers having to provide their own ( purple ) clothing . Where this is not tho case , what would be easier than for the incoming Stewards to relieve their predecessors of the clothing thoy aro losing the ri g ht of wearing by a simple agreement ; and if oven then a Provincial Grand Master found any difficulty in making appointments to his stewardshipsan application to the several

, Masters of Lodges in his province would soon find him enough candidates for it , as a probable stepping-stone to something better , if not for its own sake . And though Dr . Oliver says that a Provincial Grand Master " can scarcely be expected to have an . adequate knowledge of the character and capabilities of each individual brother , " we cannot

see why his knowledge , if not universal , should , not at least be adequate . If his province be large it is still within his power to be accpiaintecl Avith at least the installed Masters and Wardens of the several . Lodges , from among whom , at any rate , the principal Provincial Grand Officers would most likely and most justly be selected ; if small , his knowledge of those over whom he ruled , would naturally ( if he were a man of my

energy ) be more extensive ; and indeed we know well , more than one Provincial Grand Master , AVIIO is not satisfied with leaving everything to his deputy , but whose knowledge and appreciation of the brethren of his province is at once creditable to himself ) and most acceptable to them . Wc by no' means intend to underrate the importance , responsibility , and usefulness of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of a

province , an officer whose services may be of the highest value to his Principal . Page 293 , section 2 . "Discrimination Indispensable . " To such of ou readers as appreciate a really good specimen of the schoolboy essay , this paragraph , presents an instance in this peculiar line seldom perhaps equalled , we doubt if ever surpassed . Others are to be found scattered up

and clown the work . We g ive one brief extract : " Whoever undertakes to manage a farm , to sail a ship , to conduct a school , or even to keep a shop , without these qualifications" ( some that were mentioned in the preceding sentence , viz ., " an exact method , vigilant observation , prompt execution , and a thorough oversight , as well as an entire control over all the agents and instruments employed : " )— " soon and deservedly brings his work to au unprofitable and inglorious end . " It