The Question Of Certificates.

such a way that I could be present in time for the meeting . So after visiting the Exhibition , and taking there a hasty dinner , I proceeded to my hotel , and from thence to Great Queen-street again , where I came at the appointed hour , not a little tired by all the AA * alking I had done that day . I looked rather silly Avhen on my arrival at the hall I heard that , to join the brethren , I had

to mount all the staircases , the lodge being held in the roof . Well , thought I to myself , if in my country lodges are held on the first floor , every country has its own manners ; and , perhaps , in the Emulation Lodge astronomical lectures are given ; or it may be that its members meet so high , in order that they should be nearer to "heaven . So I took courage , Avalked up , and arrived at

the top of the staircase without accident , but rather out of breath . In the ante-room I found a brother , to Avhom I expressed my Avish to witness the proceedings . I handed him my card , which he returned to me , asking me at the same time if I could show my certificate . My answer was that I could not ; and , in ' act , I never , when visiting Belgium , France , or Germany , took any with me , my name being sufficiently known in these countries as that of a man who is accustomed to grant diplomas ,

and not to be asked to produce any himself . I showed , however , the apron and badge , being those of a P . G . S . W . and Grand Officer of the Grand Orient of the Netherlands . I mentioned your name and ray quality as your correspondent ; I declared myself ready to answer any questions that should be put to me about every degree of Masonry practised in England , from that of Apprentice

up to those of S . P . R . S ., Knight Templar or Knight of the Royal Order . Nothing would do ; ancl even my request that I should see the Master and Wardens of the lodge Avas not granted , to whom I could have shown such proofs of my nob being- an impostor as would hare convinced all reasonable men . I was told that even if my assertions were believed , the law ( I did not exactly

understand if it was tbe law by Avhich all English Masons are ruled , or one of the bye-laws of the lodge itself ) forbade them to admit anybody who could not shoAV his certificate , and so I was obliged to retire , and to look elsewhere how to spend the evening . My hope to enjoy a friendly and instructive meeting with English brethren so far , was frustrated ; but this was not totally the casetwo brethren from Manchester were in the same predicament as myself .

" Solamen miseris socios habuisse malormn . " So AVO left together , ancl , being in due number , Ave held a meeting ou a smaller scale . If our labours 'were not very important , and our refreshments of the simplest kind , the spirit of Masonry was with us , ancl it Avas not Avithout' having reaped some fruit from our mutual conversation that wo separated that night .

My story is told ; and if , 1 have thought it necessary to tell it , it is not to complain about the proceedings used against me , but simply to call the attention of ray brethren in England to the following question , which -arises from it . Is there any laiv or regulation , by which the want of a certificate bars the entrance of a lodto a visitorwho

ge , by pass-Avord , grip , and token , can prove himself a Mason , in conformity with the fundamental law of oiu- holy Order ? I think tho only reply can be in the negative . When a candidate is admitted , the Master of the lodge not only imparts to him the mysterious signs by which Ave know each other , but he also tells him that by these he will be recognised as a Mason the v . 'hole

world round , and be admitted where brethren meet : even more , he plainly proclaims him ( at least such is the case in the lodges on the continent where I have visited ) to be a brother Mason , and declares that every Mason on the whole surface of the world will be bound in future , to respect him as such ; but he does not toll him a word about a certificate . If a certificate is the required sine qua , non , I wonder why it still seems necessary to communicate to the

neophyte any pass-word or sign . The tokens to which Ave Avere learned to attach great importance are in future to be considered as useless forms , belonging to an obsolete state of things . The Emulation Lodge held a lodge of Instruction . Perhaps they Avent through the Masonic catechism ancl charges . I wonder if they found in these a " single word

about certificates . I question if Apnelius in his time , when Avishing to join a meeting of the initiated in the sacred mysteries , was ever sent back for Avant of a certificate . Of course I speak of the time Avhen he ivas restored to human shape , and no longer a golden ass ; although , heaven knows ! in onr clays golden asses have free entrance

every Avhere , even without a diploma . The chronicles of Masonry record several instances of prisoners' released , of soldiers saved from death , of shipwrecked travellers relieved , only by making themselves known as Masons . I wonder whether they did so by showing their certificates . I will grant that the modern iuA'ention of

certificates is , in some cases , of use to the bearer . When , for instance , a candidate , being on the point of starting for a foreign climate , has , therefore , been initiated , passed , and raised on the same clay , or in a very small compass of time , it is ten to one that his memory will but confusedly retain the different secrets imparted to him ; ancl in such case he would cut but a silly figure at the gate of a foreign lodge ; were ho not in possession of a

diploma . But for Masons of long standing , ' and Avho have iDersevered in their working , they have better proofs to show that they belong to the Order than any certificate . Nay , there is more ; a certificate is not always a proof that tbe bearer is a true Mason ; the certificate itself can be hut a worthless piece of parehment . There are spurious lodges everywhere . Wc have one

in our country . The candidates initiated in that unlawful body are not to be considered as Masons , not only on account of the irregularity of their admission , but also because nobody can tell if the real doctrine and the real secrets of our Order have been communicated to them . Well , that same unlawful body grants diplomas to its members . Suppose one of these members had presented

himself , certificate in hand , at the door of the Emulation Lodge on that same Friday night when I claimed admittance . Most likely the lodge , not being aware of tho fact I have stated , AVOUIC ! not have objected to the document produced by him ; and he , the false brother , would have been admitted , while I , the true Mason of forty years ' standing , would have been rejected .

As I said before , I leave the matter to the serious consideration of my English brethren , especially of such as are in authority . We live in days when passports everyAvhere have been , or soon will be , abolished . When even Governments haA'e learnt by experience that passports were a nuisance to travellers without answering to the purpose for which they were established , will the obsolete rule , " No admittance Avithout a passport" bo retained bv Masons aolne ? I am , clear Sir ancl Brother .

YOUR AMSTERDAM CORRESPONDENT . P . S . —A severe illness of a near relation of mine , and my absence for some time from home , caused my letter to remain in my desk unfinished till now . The matter ivas , happily , not one of urgency . [ We feel convinced there must haA * e been some error on the ] 3 art of the Tyler , who is new in his office . We

ourselves paid our first visit to the lodge , being then unknown , Avithout a certificate , and gained admission after being examined by Bro . John Hervey , P . G . D ., our certificate having been destroyed by fire in 184 * 2 , two years after our initiation . Foreign brethren without certificates have to our knowledge been admitted to Grand Lodge on giving other proofs of their being Masons , Bro . S . B . Wilson , P . G . D ., the talented Preceptor of the Emulation Lodge of Instruction , being generally selected to examine them . ]