Examination Of Candidates.

p lace until the officers and members of private Lodges are thoroughly convinced of the extent of the evil ; these may be persuaded by argument , but cannot be compelled hy an assumption of authority . Let ns imagine that a candidate for Ereemasonry , after the requisite preliminaries have been duly observed , presents

himself for initiation . Unless the ballot has proved adverse ( an occurrence of extreme rarity ) , this desire is promptly attended to ; at the expiration of the time necessary to comp lete the ceremony of initiation , the Lodge is in all likelihood summoned to refreshment , ancl the new brother informed that upon a return to labour a further insight into the lessons

of the Craft in the form of a charge , and an explanation of the tracing board , shall be afforded him if time shall permit , and in the majority of cases , time , or rather the flaggingattention of members , does not permit of these important matters being imparted to him . The initiate is told that in consequence of the lateness of the hour , the additional

information will be deferred until the next meeting , at which a similar procrastination possibly occurs . A mouth having elapsed since initiation , the newly initiated member presents himself for advancement , and eventually , after a similar probation , obtains the degree of Master Mason , without jiorhaps having received the explanation of a single tracing board or

the slig htest instruction concerning his future duties as a Mason . ' Nothing has been exacted but a parrotlike repetition of certain answers to questions addressed to him before the confirming of the degrees of Eellow Craft and Master Mason ; during which he has been entirely dependent upon the kind prompting of an attendant Deacon . On the night of initiation , nothing , if j . ossible , should be omitted , but if the Master is compelled , by the lateness of the

hour or other sufficient cause , to close the Lodge without completing the revelation proper to the degree , the ceremony of passing should be deferred until the candidate is thoroughly conversant with the lessons appertaining to his former degree , ancl a far stricter examination than the one usually in vogue should be deemed imperative . Prior to the conferring of either tlie second or the third degreethe candidate should be placed

, in the centre of the Lodge , every other brother ( not even excepting Deacons or tho Director of Ceremonies ) being seated in their assigned places . In conformity with the ritual the regular questions should next be addressed to tho candidate , and by him answered to the best of his ability ; after ivhich , if his proficiency so far be apparentbrethren who are

, members of the Lodge should be allowed to interrogate him upon subjects connected with the degrees he has taken . These questions to be in all instances put through the \ V . M ., who ivould decide as to their fairness . Of a Eellow Craft a good deal might be expected . He should give evidence of having carefully perused the Constitutions ; and should be

questioned thereon , for on attaining a higher degree , he is at once eligible to become in his turn a ruler in the Craft , being enabled to hold any office in a Lodge , not even excepting that of Master , ivhich may be granted b y dispensation , or upon the establishment of a new Lodge . Should a brother recently received into the societ y be placed in such a

rank as to have to administer summary justice , or to decide upon the legality of a disputed point , an ignorance of the Constitutions would render him liable , unwittingly , to violate the statutes , and prevent him from adhering to our antient landmarks ; besides which he would be subjected to the scorn of his Lodge for having consented to occupy a position for which his unfitness is so evident .

There are , doubtless , many Lodges where the observances herein suggested , together with others of a stricter nature , are attended to with zeal and rigour , though it can scarcely be disputed that the great majority are not sufficiently particular . Yet even if it be conceded that a minority of Lodges , or even one Lodge only , neglect so important a feature in oui ; systep ., and such a stringent command of the Constitutions ,

this would justify our enlarging upon the subject . Not even ono individual brother should be turned loose on the Blasonic world with an imperfect education in matters relating to the Craft . Very slight care and attention would guard against this possibility , ancl in future years the duties of the principal officers in properly instructing neophytes—always a laborious

and occasionally an irksome task—ivould be lessened by the superior capabilities of members generally , they having severally experienced , in their days of learning , the kindness aud patience of brethren who , though not naturally inclined to soften thc labours of the executive , yet considered it a duty to impart instruction . From brethren so situated much ,

might be expected , and the careful system under which they were advanced in Masonry , would exemplify its advantages hy the proof of so vast an accession of competent teachers . Until such a desirable state of affairs is generally prevalent , Masters , when unassisted by voluntary instructors , must consent to do thc work themselves ; it is certainly a thankless undertaking to seek out unwilling brethren aud instruct them in things they do not at once comprehend , and of

which they arc content to remain in ignorance , not perceiving the necessity of gaining information , when , perhaps , the patient ancl attentive Master has been the same day engaged for hours in drilling refractory ancl incompetent officers . There are probably three or four candidates for a degree at tlie next Lodge meeting , the Master requests a previous

attendance , one of them comes at the specified time , and after an hour spent in his behalf , another appears , and last of all , the Master has to make personal search for a missing brother , who , if not found , either presents himself for the . degree totally unprepared , or calls upon the Master at an inconvenient hour , and grumbles at not receiving a welcome

reception . A good Master has much to contend with ; for though the advisability of refusing instruction if candidates neglect an attendance at meetings specially convened in their behalf , may be recommended , such conduct bears the appearance of churlishness , and until brethren have been some little time admitted into the Order , they cannot comprehend the labours aud responsibilities of a AVorshipful Master .

Ihe position of Master confers on a brother the highest preferment in Craft Masonry . Elected by the members of : i Lodge to preside at its meetings ancl watch its interests , being answerable to the Grand Lodge for the correct performance of these duties—such a trust should never be lightly or carelessly entered upon ; but at the expiration of

his year of office a Master ought to hand over the Lodge in his successor in a state requiring neither alteration or reorganization . This desirable termination to official labour demands the most strenuous exertions on the part of the various officers , under the immediate ancl active superintendence of a vi gilant ruler : the duties necessarily devolving

upon this latter personage ( clearly defined in the Constitutions ) , however well acted up to in a general sense , should he accompanied by a certain amount of zeal , perseverance , nnd fixity of purpose . Yet if it be a Master ' s earnest wish to obey the spirit , as well as the letter , of the Constitutions , there is no part of them that deserves a more literal

construction being placed upon it than the laws imperatively requiring strict examinations prior to the conferring of highc degrees on brethren otherwise qualified for advancement . The vigorous and hearty co-operation of every member of a . Lodge is necessary , to enable even the most painstaking and attentive Master to continue his Lodge in as perfect a condition as is compatible with the errors of human nature .

Even those brethren most favourabl y disposed towards tin continuance of our present lax system of instruction , •« ' ¦" generally admit the possibility ancl desirability of Lodge examinations being rendered more exacting in their reqni' ' '' meats , and what is there , then , to delay the adoption o ( a ijesy ancl wove satjslVtovy pl > m ' . JfothinEf . we liejipve , bu t