Masonic Discipline.—Xv.

culpa , mea maxima culpa , but there is a responsible body who has very good grounds to make the self accusation , for with it , and with it alone , rests the responsibility of introducing that reform in "Masonic discipline" and Masonic education

Avhich is the crying Avant of our institution . If there is one subject more than another , that is not only " consonant Avith our feelings as men , but imperative upon us as Masons , " it is the paramount necessity that exists , for raising the standard of

qualifications for Masonic office in lodges , to a much higher pitch than prevails at the present time . Let us take one instance out of many , the truth of Avhich we vouch for as it happened personally to ourselves . We once happened to be

visitors at a metropolitan lodge of some standing and repute . It was short of officers , and a brother voluntered to act as I . G . Upon a side table were placed the callars of the different officers , with the jewels attached . The " volunteer" advanced to

the table , and appeared to be attentively regarding the various insignia , Avithout being able to make up his mind which to adopt . Having a

very strong suspicion of the reason of his hesitation we advanced , and asked him jestingly the cause of his profound meditation , the ansAver was what we expected . He did not know the proper jewel of the I . G . Now we submit that no matter

what his self conceit might have been , a brother that was not even acquainted Avith the insignia of the office for which he voluntarily offered himself , ought to have been afraid to tender his incompetent services to the lodge . As Moliere , says ,

cesont des choses qui orient vengeance au del . It must never be forgotten that Avhile every encouragement should be accorded to emulous and aspiring brethren , there shonld also be some deterrent

against those who thrust themselves into positions , for which they are as much fitted as the Khan of Tartary . From such a beginning , the end might be anticipated . As the classics have it ex nihilo , nihil fit . We were therefore fully prepared to

Avitness the denouement , and to find that in announcing the candidate for initiation , our " volunteer " addressed the W . M ., with his head on one side , while he " inclined his ear " to another brother who acted the part of " prompter . " How many

instances of similar wretched exhibitions could we not give ? How many could not our readers also quote if they were called upon so to do ? The great q \ iestion is , are these things so ? Is this the actual condition of " Masonic discipline " ?

Are our articles true or are they false ? There has never yet appeared , among the many communications to which they have given rise , the slightest refutation , or attempted refutation of the facts stated . It may then fairly

bepresumed that we have accurately and truthfully represented the present condition of Freemasonry , so far as it relates to the Avorking of lodges , its discipline , its state of education , and its official organisation . Can any brother feel gratified at

the prospect ? Can he feel on this account alone , proud of the Order to which he belongs ? Can it be a matter of pleasant reflection to him that the Avorking of his lodge , of our lodges , as a rule , is a burlesque , a parody of Avhat it ought to

be , and of what we sincerely trust it will eventually be ? It is not a question of innate inadequacy in our ancient and honourable institution . Masonry , theoretically considered , is all sufficient . The great evil , to which we have persistently alluded , is caused by the fact , that no means are taken ,

by those Avho are responsible for these matters , that a remedy should be provided for Avhat is undoubtedly a scandal in the Craft . Apart from the duty of the officers of a lodge there are certain duties to be performed by every

brother who attends a lodge . Slight as these duties are , they should nevertheless be properly performed . Let us consider for a moment the duty of a brother , whether a member or visitor , upon entering a lodge . The etiquette is , that

when a brother enters a lodge for the first time in the evening , he salutes " right up" to the degree in which the lodge happens to be open at the time . For example , if the lodge happens to be open in the third degree , then the entering brother goes

through the signs of the first , second and third degrees . This constitutes the full aud proper salute under the circumstances , and anything else is not only disrespectful to the W . M . in the chair , but betrays a disregard for those ordinary Masonic conventionalities and courtesies which , as Ovid

says , " Emollit mores , nee sinit esse feros . " If a brother leaves the lodge for any time and reenters it , he then merely salutes in that degree in wliich the lodge happens to be on his return . It

is also disrepectful to the W . M . for a brother to leave the lodge either tempoi-aiily or permanently , without saluting him . It is comparatively rare when the lodge happens to be opened in the third degree , to witness the salutes properly and accu-