Brahmo Somaj.

gation . Parsees are not required to justify themselves in the dual principle , nor Christians of some sects with regard to disavowal of polytheism , or idolatry . What is required is the recognition of one God , in whose presence all his worshippers may be united .

Masonic Discipline.—Xxi.

MASONIC DISCIPLINE . —XXI .

By CKTJX . Provided a W . M . adheres to the " Spirit" of Masonry , whatever that may be , he is obviously at liberty to use any words he likes , which in fact amounts to an unqualified permission to talk unlimited nonsense . To some extent , it is not his

fault , that he and his officers likewise do sometimes indulge in language that is perfectly meaningless . This brings us to a consideration of the next point in the ritual which claims attention , wherein the duties of the D / s are supposed to be accurately

described . We say supposed , for it is utterly impossible to trace the slightest connection between the oral description , and the practical execution as carried out in the working of a lodge . These two answers invariably give use to an amount of

confusion , reiteration and perplexity that is painful to witness . What between , "bearing , " " carrying , " " messages , " " commands " and " communications , " it is no wonder that the unfortunate respondent should blunder , more especially when the

words have really no practical meaning . Let us examine them in detail . According to the ritual the duty of the J . D . is " to bear all messages and

communications of the W . M . from the S . to the J . W ., and see the same punctually obeyed . " Now will any brother inform us , what on earth this answer has to do with the actual duty of the J . W in the lodge ? What message and

communication of the W . M ., does he bear from the S . to the J . W . ? In fact his progress with the candidate is in the reverse direction ; for after receiving him from the W . M . he proceeds from the J . to the S . W . The duty of the J . D . may be expressed in

a few words . It is to act as the sponsor of the candidate for initiation . It is his duty to receive him , to answer all questions for him , to present him to the several officers , and finally to conduct him to a seat at the close of ceremony . Is there

one single iota of this duty to be gleaned from the incomprehensible answer , that is repeated with more or less attempt at accuracy , night after night a our lodges ? As with the J . D ., so with his

superior brother officer . In his turn his obvious , duty is to act as the sponsor of the candidates for passing and raising . It would be to no purpose to quote the answer from the ritual describing hisduty , as it is equally irrelevant and inapplicable .

Although these defects are so palpable , as to be evident to anyone with an ounce of brains in his . head , we shall not be the least surprised to hear that the answers as given in the ritual are ancient , ancl therefore correct ; that they are perfectly

consistent with the practical working of a lodge , that they describe to a hair's breadth the duty of the-D's . and that in fact , it is little short of Masonic , blasphemy to dare to question their sense , propriety and applicability .

When officers are not even told their duty , is it any wonder that they do not perform it ? Is it any wonder that in nine lodges out of ten , it is a common spectacle to witness a totally ignorant D . endeavouring to impart to a candidate what he does not know himself ? Of all officers the D ' s .

are those generally the most unacquainted with their duties , and of all officers they are those who ought to know them best . What must be the mental reflections of a candidate when he finds his , sponsor unable to answer the simplest questions ^

when he looks to him for a " sign " and finds none ? At our own initiation we distinctly remember that on being presented to the S . W . we were able to repeat the answers infinitely more correctly than the J JD . who conducted us . The working of the

D ' s . is one of the most important in the whole lodge , and cannot when bad , as it generally is , be compensated for by any excellence on the part of the other officers . There are parts of the ceremony in which the D . must be left to himself , and all the prompting in the world will not enable him " to instruct the candidate to advance to the

pedestal in due form unless he knows the proper mode himself . That Masters of lodges are anxious to have efficient officers there is not the slightest doubt . Many a time have we heard a W . M . say to an officer , " come to my office the

night before we meet and I'll put you up to it . " However well meant , this is pure childishness . An officer can no more expect to know his duty by practising it out of a Lodge of Instruction , than a military man could hope to be able to "set

squadron in the field " by playing at soldiers in the barrack room . There is a small discrepancy , not in itself of any consequence , except that it assists