Masonic Notes And Queries.

observed than any other of the old landmarks . While the cotemporaneous rules , in relation to the exclusion of maimed candidates , to the absence of religious -tests , and many more of equally positive enactment , have from time to time been neglected or denied , we know of no Grand Lodge that has thought proper to abolish the ' due inquiry' into character .

" The object of this inquiry , the time during which "it is to be exercised , and the only ivay in which it . can be disregarded , are all set forth in the last of the . regulations which we have quoted .

' The inquiry is made that the ' reputation aud capacity' of the candidate may be discovered . There is , then , a tivo-fold object in the investigation . The -one as relates to the reputation , the other as to his ¦ capacity . The reputation of the candidate will affect . the standing and character of the institution into which he applies for admissionfor good or for evil

, , according as he shall be found Avorthy or unworthy of the favour that has been bestowed upon him . He must be ' under the tongue of good report , ' and the lodge which should admit a member without this indispensable qualification , would , to use the language of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina , ' be bringing

into our fold , not a lamb , the emblem of innocence . and purity , but a ravenous wolf , who will inevitably destroy the flock . ' " Eight years ago a reverend brother was so impressed with the importance of these moral claims to admission , that he thus addressed the lodge before which he was discoursing : —

" In order , my brethren , to obviate that objection which so many make against Masonry , namely , ' that very unworthy persons areofcenadmitted into this honourable society , ' let me recommend it to you , in the strongest manner , to be very cautious whom you admit as brothers . Let neither the wealth nor figure of any man deter you from performing this real piece of

service to the Craft in general . Let neither interest sivay nor friendshi p bind you . Regard no man ' s persons or fortune . If his life be scandalously immoral , and he be proposed to be a Mason , immediatel y reject him . ' And he charges them , in the language of the Apostle' that they suffer neither wine bibbers

, , nor slanderers , nor tale bearers , nor liars , nor profane jesters , to approach our peaceful ground . ' " But it isnotsimply into thereputation of the candidate that inquiry is to be made ; his' capacity ' presents also a subject of investigation . By the capacity of the

candidate , ive understand his fitness to receive and and comprehend our sublime mysteries . According to the unwritten law of the Order , a , fool or an idiot , an old man in his dotage , or a young one under age , is considered as an improper applicant for initiation , because , in these instances , there is either a total want of mindor an impaired or undeveloped intellect

, , which would render it impossible for the party initiated properly to appreciate the moral or philosophical instructions imparted to him . Hence the Grand Lodge of England , in view of this mental capacity , has provided in its regulations that the candidate ' should be a lover of the liberal arts and

sciences , and have made some progress in one or other of ^ them . "These two distinctions of the ' reputation' and the ' capacit y' of the candidate are alluded to in what as technicall y called ' the investiture , ' or the

presentation of the lamb skin apron , which the neophyte is told to wear ' Avith pleasure to himself and honour to the Fraternity . ' The pleasure to himself must depend on his capacity to appreciate and enjoy the symbolic instruction of the institution . The honour to the Fraternity will result from the reputation which he may bring to the support of the Order .

" These then being the objects of the inquiry , the time employed for accomplishing it is amply sufficient . ' No man can be accepted , without previous notice one month before . ' That is to say , the petition for application must be read at one regular communicationand the report of the committee of investigation

, made at the succeeding meeting . This is the least time permitted , although it may , by permission of the lodge , be protracted to a still longer period , where doubts or difficulties arise , that prevent the committee from obtaining , within that period , a sufficient knoivledge of the character of the applicant . This

time is prescribed not merely to afford the committee an ample opportunity for investigation , but that by the ' previous notice' every one ivho knows anything unfavourable of the applicant may , by being advertised of his petition , be euabled to come forward and state his objections . It is a sacred duty which every

Mason owes to his Order , that he should not wait until he is asked for the information in his possession , but that he should voluntarily and Avithout any solicitation , make known all that he thinks would render the proposed candidate unworthy of initiation . Every member of the Order should be , in fact , a guardian , watching at the portals of the templeand seeing that

, none pass into the sanctuary but he ivho has clean hands and a pure heart . " There are , however , occasions on which the safeguard thus thrown around the purity of the institution , by this system of ' due inquiry , ' is permitted to be neglected . The regulation which we have cited ,

prescribed that no one should be a Mason , without this previous iuvestigatiou into his character , ' unless by dispensation . ' The dispensing poAver of the Grand Master may , in certain cases of emergency , be exercised to enable a lodge at once to entertain an application for initiationwithout the necessity of a

, previous inquiry . It has been doubted by many intelligent Masons , ivhether in these cases , the prerogative of dispensation , vested in the chiefs of the Order , was not oftener productive of evil than of good . This will , of course , principally depend on the character of the individual who exercises it . Iu the hands of a

wise , prudent , and conscientious officer , it may be with safety trusted . Its exercise by one of a contrary character , will probably be often productive of the most mischievous results . The jiovrer of dispensing ivith a clue inquiry into character has , certainly in the present day , been carried to a greater extent , than was ever originally intendedaud we are free to

, admit that it is ' a custom more honoured in the breach than in the observance . ' It is probable that the cases of emergency in which the necessity of an inquiry into character was dispensed with , were originally confined to the application of royal or noble candidateswhose admission ivas expected to throw

, luster upon the Order , to extend its influence , and increase its usefulness . We do not believe that it was ever thought advisable in ancient times , to make it subservient to the speedy initiation of transient candidates .