Contents.

Contents .

__ SAGE FBBEJIASOZfs' MiGiZIXE : — The Selection of Members 401 Ideal Freemasonry ™ jj Masonic Jottings , No . 71 -j-03 Tbe Mystic Beauties of Freemasonry 404 Masonic Notes and Queries 40 ° Correspondence 07

j Masonic Sayings and Doings Abroad 408 MASONIC M IEEOE : — Masonic Mems 410 Board of Masters and Lodge of Benevolence 411 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 411 CEAVT LODGE M EETINGS : — Metropolitan 412 412

Provincial Scotland 41 ? India 'kU > Royal Arch 418 Knights Templar 418 Mark Masonrv '• 41 ^ Obituary " 418 Poetry 419 List of Lodge , & c „ Meetings for ensuing week 420

The Selection Of Members.

THE SELECTION OF MEMBERS .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MAT 27 , 1871 .

BY BRO . W . M . KOAJNSEVILLE . Though it is a good saying and a true one , that ten good men had better be kept out of the lodge than that one bad one should be admitted ., yet Ave cannot but believe that many are i-ejecfced

who would confer honour on the order , and do good to mankind under its auspices . We know that bad men , notwithstanding all the safeguards which the wisdom of the fathers has throAvn around

the door of the lodge , do gain admission ; and we also know , that in spite of all exhortations to charity and brotherly regard , good men are debarred from entering . No Mason has a moral right to reject an

applicant for the degrees of Masonry because he does not like him . He has no business to introduce into that solemn ordeal his likes or dislikes . If he is a man of sound principles ; of honest intentions and philanthropic heart , shall he not be

allowed to congregate around the sacred altar , where those virtues are insisted on ; and Avhen our published Avords shoAv all such persons shall be received when they knock for admission ? What business have I to obtrude my prejudices between

such a man and the benefits of Masonry ? Are rny likes and dislikes to be of more value in a lodge than his sound principles and honest intentions and kind heart ?

And yet every Mason knows that such instances are constantly recurring . None of us but can recollect instances Avhere good men and true

philanthropists have been rejected . And fewm deed are they who have not seen these rejections as the result of an unfounded prejudice , or a groundless caprice . A difference in some trivial business matter , between a member and a

candidate , has pz-evented many good men from becoming Masons . Even a sharp political or religious discussion has freauentlv had the same effect . _ t * f Instances have fallen under our observation Avhere a prejudice against the personal appearance—the

gestures , motions , awkwardness—of a candidate have been fatal to his reception . As long as man is fallible , - and human nature Aveak , these reprehensible acts will be performed by those Avho profess to be permeated by the spirit

of Masonry . But they ought not to . Masonry onght to liberalize the mind , expand the soul , and Avarni the affections , that every one honest , every one possessing a kind disposition , could be sure of admission whenever he should

knock at the door of the lodge . Unfortunately there is no institution , earthly in its origin , or divine in its source , that Avill so influence the human heart as to make this possible . Bnfc we ought to make an approximation to this condition . Private piques and quarrels ought not to so influence us as to make us blind to the

great principles on Avhicli our institution rests . And much could be done to prevent the Avrong thus done to honest men , if the advocates of Masonry would more frequently insist upon the application of Masonic principles in these cases .

We have heard Masons say they could not sit in . a lodge if such an individual was admitted . If asked why not ; Avhat indication of moral obliquity he had discovered ; Avhat disqualification he had unearthed , the answer has been that he was

repugnant to him—that did not believe he would make a good Mason . When further pressed for the particular act or principle that ought to keep him out of the lodge , too frequently it has appeared to be a personal dislike without foundation .

It was a good rule which an old , zealous , and exemplary Mason adopted , and on which he practised during a long life devoted to the Craft , "If I cannot by a fair statement of my objections to a candidate make any other brother believe that he

ought to be rejected , I Avill never cast a black ball against him ; { or I should be convinced that if I had good reason for rejecting him , I could show it so clearly that others Avould see it , and failing to