The Ballot In Masonic Lodges.

THE BALLOT IN MASONIC LODGES .

LONDON , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 17 , 1801 .

( Go mmunicated . J In all societies where the ballot is introduced , each , member is invested with an extraordinary power , Avhich he is to use and not abuse . In a Masonic lodge especially , where the most humble

may black-ball the most illustrious candidate , from , it may be caprice , or other reasons and vice versa—where questions ot differences are sometimes remembered a ! -nd raked up— -where brethren meeting iu charity forget their principles

—where the inferior dictates are unhappily allowed to have the ascendancy—and where wicked instigation prevails—the efBcacy of the system is stultified , and the ballot—the instrument of precaution—becomes the instrument of wrath and cruelty ( we use the latter word advisedly ) , most disastrous to the vital interests of our Order . In

duelling , if a man " pinks" his adversary , his honour is considered satisfied . In a literary or other fight , one must eventually own himself beaten , or the quarrel cannot cease ; but it is a grievous thing Avhere differences of the smallest

nature exist without an opportunity occurring for their adjustment by mutual explanation and concession ; or in any other way , as is often the case , Avhere each fancies himself right and the other wrong , and Avhere probably both are at

fault ( and in such cases the powerful barrier of pride ancl ill-nature are sufficient , unhappily , to preclude , it may be for years , the possibility of a settlement ) . It is a grievous thing , Ave say , if , under such circumstances , the ballot in a Masonic

lodge is made the first medium for satisfactionthat the grievance so long smouldering , as it Avere , is there and by such means to be avenged .

It is a notorious fact in many instances that one half of the inenVho are black-balled in our lodges are black-balled through , pique or spite for some long past but not-forgotten grievance ; and , indeed , it sometimes happens that the candidate

becomes the victim of a displeasure contracted by his proposer , aud to which he has been no party—Avhich is worse and worse I Por example : A . and B ., AA o Avill say , are both Masons in the same lod ge . A . has offended B ., and B . black-balls the

first man whom A . proposes . Another case : 0 . is , Ave will say , a prominent member of another lod ge . He either has been , or fancies he has been , slighted by D . ;—ho-wever , he has not been "

consulted" in some matter by the latter , who proposes shortly afterwards a string of candidates—it may be they are officers in three different corps of her Majesty's service , and in every Avay unexceptionable , and well qualified candidates for Masonry

—yet each is black-balled ignominiously as though he were a black-leg , either by C . —or , Avhat is still more cowardly on his part—by some leagued friends ' at his instigation !

NOAV , how is it possible that lodges should prosper under such influences and . connivance , AA here men forget , or do not act in accordance with , their solemn obligations—where " envy , hatred , and malice , and all uncharitableness" reign

instead of charity , which " is not easily provoked , " and " cloth not behave itself unseemly , " but " endureth all things ?"

Let us take a brighter instance , where' frailty , Avhichisthecommon lot of all , may exist Avithout cor- - ruption . We once knew a man who had a serious difference with a brother ; no doubt both Avere at fault , as is usually the case . Perhaps one " more

so" than the other . The former was proposed as a candidate for Masonry in the very lodge of which the latter was Junior Warden . It Avould have obviously been the easiest thing in the world for the latter to have black-balled the other ; but did hedo so ? No ! he said to himself " He knows I am .

a member and an officer of the lodge , and still he comes determinate ! / forward . He comes , there- fore , evidently in a charitable and forgiving spirit ,.. Charity ' hopeth all things / he perhaps hopes I Avill refrain . At first I acknoAvledge I feel'half

inclined to exclude him—to pain him ; but it is . only an angry passing thought . He has certainlyoffended me , but what then ? are there any rea- - sonable grounds further ? Does there exist in my own mind the slightest stain upon his moral or

social character ? No ; on the contrary , I consider him unexceptionable in both respects ; butstill he has offended me . This is all I can urge . Let me hope , then , that his character as a Mason may confirm his ' good report . ' Instead of

blackballing , let me assist to shoAV him the ' light' by extending to him the right hand of fellowship which . Avill be my province to do one of the first . " Depend upon it , brethren , our conscience is our high appeal . In all things it exists as our earthly

monitor . If too Aveak , through our OAVII perversity , it may be strengthened by an appeal which cannot fail—an appeal to the Great Architect of the Universe , Avho is always listening