Rule 210- Exclusion.

also to be taken into account the possibility—we might fairly say the probability—that , whilst entertaining the belief that the malfeasance of the incriminated brother deserves severe censure , it may not merit the infliction of the severest penalty , and those who entertain doubt on

either point should , by their abnegation of their votingpower , be counted as favouring the retention of the erring brother on the roll of members of the lodge . For our part , and in view of what the penalty sought to be inflicted

masonically means , if any alteration to this clause were necessary , which we do not think is the case , we would rather see the proportion of " excluding " voters raised to two-thirds of the number of brethren on the roll of members irrespective of all absentees or non-voters .

We are m full agreement with Bro . Woodward and his supporters as to the necessity for expressing in our laws and regulations the fullest meaning which can be attached to each requirement in resj ^ ect of Masonic procedure ; and that if the same be not generally understood , fitting

amendments should be made . In regard to the first portion of Rule 210 there is , no doubt , reason for alteration . As to the second , it is explicit enough , as intending that " all present , " whether passive or active , are to be considered in the final decision , and that unless two-thirds of the total number say " Aye " the " Noes " have it .

It is possible that this question may be again brought before Grand Lodge . If so , it is to be hoped that any honest attempt to make plain that which is at present confused , may not be met by unmasonic expressions . " Tinkering , " applied to a Brother desirous of amending

that which he thinks in the interest of the Craft requires amendment , is not a pleasant epithet to hear in the course of debate ; and we do not wonder that a somewhat general feeling exists that the distinguished brother , who , probably in the heat of argument did not readily hit upon a less

offensive word , should have been called upon to withdraw it . It is also a pity that a too strict adherence to parliamentary form and custom , not universally understood by the members of Grand Lodge , should have misled some who would otherwise have made the answer to the enquiry of the M . W . G . M . in the chair not quite so apparently unanimous in their negative as is supposed .

The Qualifications Of Our Members.

The Qualifications of our Members .

COMMUNICATED . ( Continued from page 220 . ) H ; N our previous article under this heading we dwelt upon the qualifications necessary for admission to the ranks of our Order , and also those which ought to be possessed by all I who are elected to the offices connected with our private lodges , pointing out that in this latter case " merit and ability "

should be the first consideration of those in whom the power of appointment is vested . It goes without saying that any , and every , thing must be first learnt before it can be taught , and , as our readers must be aware , a good deal of "learning" is necessary for the acquisition of the various set sentences and phrases which it is

imperatively necessary for any lodge officer to be thoroughly cognizant of , if he wishes to do himself and his companions credit - As we have said , there is no lack of Lodges of Instruction all over the country , and many of our brethren take advantage of the opportunities afforded them thereby of gaining Masonic education , but we would submit that there is room for reformation in some of

these . " Qualifications are of the highest import so far as preceptors are concerned , and any brother accepting such a position ought to be thoroughly aufait with every detail of craft ceremonial and ritual . Many of our worthy brethren are , without doubt , so qualified , but , on the other hand , some are not . In many cases an amount of pedantry is apparent , verbiage familiar only to the |

preceptor and his regular students is used , often in the most autocratic manner , innovations introduced and omissions insisted upon in accordance with his lights , frequently utterly wrong , so that the student who has , as he may have fondly imagined , been acquiring the knowledge he so diligently sought , finds himself , on visiting another Lodge ( fancying himself well coached ) , confronted

by a mass of alterations , corrections , mterweavings and differences ; and is as much at sea as students of old Lindley Murray are amongst grammarians of the present day . This , our readers must admit , is not as it should be ; but how can it be rectified , they ask ? Well , for much , the members of our Lodges of Instruction have no one but themselves to blame . In them is vested the power of appointment of their teachers , and care ought to be exercised in

using this power . The office , though purely a labour of love , should only be filled after mature consideration and deduction , bearing in mind that besides the knowledge , which is the primary consideration , a preceptor ought to possess as qualifications both " tact and temper . " We know of many Lodges of Instruction which , from a flourishing condition , have become like " the deserted village " simply through change in the preceptorship , the new-comer not happily uniting these in his person ; but beyond all this we would point

The Qualifications Of Our Members.

out that a more sweeping and radical reform could bo , and the day is approaching when it will have to be , effected . For years past the question of uniformity of ritual has from time to time cropped up ; suggestions have been made and resolutions passed dealing with the subject , but at these points it appears that all efforts have ceased , for nothing whatever has been done to put into practical

shape or carry out , the suggested , and much-to-be-desired end . Why this apathetic neglect has been displayed we know not ; certainly an universal authorised version would be preferable to those concocted by many of our preceptors . Quite recently several lodges have had this subject under consideration , and on the 29 th ult . the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Isle of Man received

the following " recommendation " from the Spencer Walpole Lodge : " That with a view to securing uniformity of working , the Provincial Grand Lodge be requested to take such steps as may be necessary to promote the holding of combined Lodges of Instruction . " It was , at the same time , pointed out that in some lodges there were variations in working which would be better removed ,

and the whole province brought to work on one uniform system . This recommendation was referred to a representative committee , and we trust , for the good of the craft in general , that a step will be taken in the direction suggested , and which will only be the precursor of similar ones affecting the Instruction Lodges nearer home . The question is , of course , a large

one to deal with , but surely with the organization at command , and cheerful co-operation on the part of all interested , the difficulties of arrangement which at the first blush may appear insurmountable could be overcome , and the anomaly at present existing done away with . We commend for serious consideration to the whole craft the action of the Spencer Walpole

Lodge . If similar representations could be made by our multifarious Provincial Lodges to their Grand Lodges , and thus the whole question be brought prominently forward , we do not think any great length of time would elapse before this , as we consider , imperatively necessary result would be attained ; meanwhile the instruction vouchsafed is as diversified as Joseph's many coloured

coat , for a good deal of which we have to thank certain preceptors and their so-called qualifications , as well as the laxity which has allowed variations to creep in , apparently without any other authority than their good pleasure . Our final remarks on the subject of this article may be approved by some , reprobated by others , still as they are , we consider , very

germane to the matter , they may not be altogether ill-timed . For a long time past , Grand Lodge honours have been distributed in a manner which has , to our knowledge , evoked a spirit of hostile criticism amongst many members of the craft , members in all stations of life , even including those whose names have become household words amongst us . It is stated , we think rightly , that

in conferring - such honours the external advantages of rank and fortune have been made more a . tine qua non than merit and ability . Cases have occurred in which young sprigs of nobility , the jeunesse dorce , \\ a , \ Q been pitchforked into high office and prominent position for no other reason than their social standing . Brethren who , in scores of ways , have unwearingly for years given , and that

ungrudgingly , their most earnest efforts for the furtherance of the interest of the craft , have been passed aside ; sometimes entirely ignored , sometimes with a half-apologetic minor recognition ; and find , though they have borne the burden and heat of the day , some practically newly-made brother is awarded the fruit which they , with justice , ought to have gathered . We do not know the

circumstances under which appointments to the higher offices of our orderare advised to our M . W . G . M ., or who proposes and makes them , but it is nevertheless a fact that , whoever may be responsible for such appointments , would do well to consider the advisability of making some alteration in the system which appears to regulate choiceand

, so avoid causing feelings nearly akin to bitter resentment in the breasts of those who , though amply fitted in every respect to sustain dignity and discharge high office , are ignored in favour of those whose sole ( apparent ) " qualification " is the advantage of having , vulgarly speaking , "friends at court . "

The Ritual.

THE RITUAL .

CONTINUATION OF CHAP . V . OF H . J . WHYMPER ' "RELIGION OF FREEMASONRY . " —( See page 236 . ) | | T 3 j HIS is not all . The Ritual proceeds to give reasons why the H Mason is to accept it as his authority through life , by 1 11 stating that the Almighty has been pleased to reveal more lliyill of his Divine word and ivill in that Holy Booh than by any other means . Now the height of absurdity would be reached if it were insisted on that this Ritual was ever meant to apply where other means . Now the height of absurdity would be reached if it were insisted on that this Ritual was ever meant to apply where

several sacred volumes were under consideration . If it is Masonic , as we ourselves believe it to be , to try to make men earnest by living- up to their religious belief , no matter what that belief may several sacred volumes were under consideration . If it is Masonic , as we ourselves believe it to be , to try to make men earnest by living- up to their religious belief , no matter what that belief may be , how could such an end be attained by the misuse of this Ritual , or by interpreting it in any sense save in that conveyed by the strict words we have employed ? It is not an altogether insignificant circumstance that the Mark Degree which now flourishes as a side or independent Degree was onceor some portion of it was oncepart of the original Fellow

, , Craft Degree . It is not now recognised by the Craft proper in England , but it is the Fourth Degree in American Freemasonry , coming between the Third and the Royal Arch . There is some doubt as to what portion of the Mark Degree was used in the Second , but it is tolerably certain that the Christian allusion to " the stone rejected by the builders becoming the head-stone of the corner , " was used in Craft Masonry . *