The Duties Of The Worshipful Master.

for imitation and example : but in a society like that of the Freemasons , where plans and precepts for our guidance are so plainly laid down , it is difficult to imagine how such numbers can differ so widely in what they conceive to be the duties

and responsibilities of their position . We have known some W orshipful Masters , Nvho devoted a great deal of time and energy to the getting up of Masonic rituals and set formularies , and when they had delivered themselves of these before their

lodge , with schookboy exactness and monotony , congratulate themselves on , not only having performed their duty , but as having distinguished themselves as Masters , in a manner Avorthy of imitation—while at the same time their lodo-e is o

shamefully ruled as regards discipline and Masonic harmony . Others Ave have knoAvn who pay but little heed to Masonic ritual or ceremonial observance , stumbling and blundering through them in a most painful

and unimpressive manner , while they rule their lodge with iron hand and an iron will , proud ofthe position Avhich gives them despotic poAver . Officers

and members soon become disgusted with this overbearing and domineering conduct , but discover too late that they have made a mistake in the selection of their Worshipful Master . Another class is perhaps more common than

either of those we have just mentioned ; AYS allude to those AVIIO , from apathy and indifference to the cause , and entire disregard of the duties and responsibilities they have solemnly undertaken , neither pay attention to the ritual nor the proper ruling

of their lodge , the result of which is that the members soon fall into the same apathy and indifference—they find nothing- in the lodge to interest them , and consequently allow other

engagements of a minor and trifling nature to interfere with their regular attendance , ancl instead of a healthy , flourishing lodge , dispensing light and knowledge to its members , and promoting the best interests of the Fraternity at large , we find

one Avhich had much better yield up its charter and have its very name erased from the register , as well as from the memory of eveiy true and faithful brother . There is still another class , perhaps less

common than either of the above , and one which enlists our Avarmest sympathies . We sometimes find " good men and true , " Avho possess many , if not all the qualifications enumerated in the ancient charges , and who are competent to govern and in-

The Duties Of The Worshipful Master.

struct a Lodge of Master Masons , but who from IOAV circumstances and want of social position are incapable of filling the office with credit to themselves or their lodge . While Masonry does not recognise worldly goods with social rank and

position as qualifications for the office of W . M ,, we maintain that these , as well as knowledge and experience , are required to preserve respect and maintain authority , and that it is impossible to discharge all the duties of the office without

possessing some claim to them . We admire the thorough ritualist and disciplinarian , and contend that no lodge can flourish unless its Worshipful Master is more or less of both , but aside from these indispensable requisites ,

there are other duties devolving upon him , which are frequently omitted and ignored . "We allud to affording the members of the lodge proper Masonic instruction , upon the principles and tenets of the Order , and information on Masonic

literature m general ; the latter , we wish to refer to in particular . A very small portion ^ of the members of lodges are regular subscribers to any Masonic journal or periodical , and if Masonic news , and matters of general import and interest to the

brotherhood are not brought up and discussed in open lodge , the majority of the brethren remain in total ignorance of what is transpiring in the Masonic World . It is true in a Masonic sense , as well as in a secular , that what is news and

politics to-day becomes history to-morrow ; and if we Avant enlightened and intelligent members of our Fraternity , they must be instructed and interested in those matters , by him who has assumed the positioiA of their teacher ; and who has solemnly

engaged , by his assent to the ancient charges , to be true to his trust . We may mention as in point in point , the object of the special communication of Grand Lodge , held in Montreal on the 1 st ultimo .

We should like to know , as a matter of curiosity , if for no higher motive , hoAV many brothers there are within this jurisdiction , who have not merly heard that such a communication occurred , much less being acquainted with the object of it .

We think Ave are justified in concluding that there are many , when we take into consideration the fact , that more than one-third of all the lodges Avithin the jurisdiction , was not represented by either their own properly qualified officers or by proxy , and we doubt if those lodges , Avhich were represented by proxy , in nine cases out of ten