Contents.

CONTENTS .

EDITORIAL .: MASONIC CRITICISM Frontpage MASONIC BALL AT LIVERPOOL .. 336 THE RITUAL ( continued ') 336 THE MASONIC POET ' S CORNER—ACROSTIC , & C 337 INSTALLATION MEETINGS—LODGE OF TEMPERANCE . NO .

169—ROYAL UNION LODGE , NO . 382 337 OUR TRESTLE BOA * , 337 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE AND ANSWERS .. 338 , 339 NOTIFICATIONS 339 NEW SOUTH WALES— ;< ARCADIA" LODGE 339

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON—PORTRAIT 339 THE NEW GOVERNOR OF NEW ZEALAND—DINNER TO BRO . THE EARL OF ONSLOW 339 " HIGH TWELVE "—EVENINGS ABROAD—OUR CITY ARTICLE 340 REPORTS OF LODGES AND CHAPTERS 341 METROPOLITAN AND PROVINCIAL LODGE AND CHAPTER

MEETINGS 342 , 343 , 344 METROPOLITAN LODGES AND CHAPTERS OF INSTRUCTION 345 ADVERTISEMENTS Front cover , 334 , 346 , 347 . 348

Masonic Criticism.

Masonic Criticism .

NDICATIONS are not wanting that the correspondence which we have thought it our duty , as well as privilege , to insert in the columns of THE MASONIC STAR is not

altogether of a satisfactory nature to certain of our brethren and their through-thick-and-thin supporters . Probably , in the dissatisfaction expressed , the remarks we

have ourselves made may have a share . However that may be , we desire , more especially on behalf of those "who seek our aid than of ourselves , that neither they nor

we shall be misrepresented in reference to the efforts now being made to secure some amount of reform in the management of our respective Institutions , and a more

full and explicit explanation of what is at ' present not understood . Wc know the brethren who are taking action , and can assure our readers that amongst them are

some of the best friends and supporters of our charitable institutions ; supporters of the past , and even now and whilst promulgating their objections to management ,

striving mightily to secure for the present and future an equal amount of monetary aid for them . It is suggested that their action , characterised as "ignorant" and

" silly , " is taken at a time when injury must of consequence ensue , and the forthcoming festival of one of the charities suffer in respect of donations and subscriptions .

We differ altogether from this suggestion , and believe that the stewards' lists will respectively be not " a penny the worse " . because it is known that certain inquiries are

being made and are to be continued until the sought-for reform becomes an accomplished fact . As to the period of time chosen by our correspondents , and tp which objection has been taken , it would be interesting to know

Masonic Criticism.

what other could have been selected as quite unobjectionable to those most concerned in the issues of the current controversy .

Our present purpose has not in view any expression of opinion as to the good or bad management of the Institutions ; that is in reserve . Our object is to defend , to the

utmost of our power , those who use our columns for the purpose of calling attention to the abuses connected therewith ; and to resent the application to them of

epithets which we have no doubt they treat with contempt , but which we choose to denounce as falsely applied to men and masons in every respect the equals in wisdom and

ability of their censors . It has been our lot , not seldom either , in past years , to be in like manner " suppressed " by the writers of " inspired articles , " and have felt the need oi

that championship which we to-day have the gratification of offering to our own correspondents . The day for unchallenged "inspired articles" in the English Masonic

press has passed away , let us hope , for ever ! If , however , it be not so , the fault will rest with that portion of the general body of the craft who prefer subserviency to

independence : — " Who would be free , Themselves nmst strike the blow ! "

To write in comment upon a matter of public interestfor this suggested mismanagement is spoken of in other than masonic circles — that certain correspondents

" having no opinion of their own worth mentioniwj ( italics are ours ) are silly enough to accept whatever the critics may choose to say , " that they are " stupid , " " careless , "

"ignorant , " & c , etc ., may be , perhaps , considered by the writer , presuming upon the tn / is of supposed authority spread over him , and the exercise of a prerogative which

does not exist , very smart ; but there lias been too much of that style of "inspiration" lately , and we do not hesitate to say it is unworthy of any publication which

should seek to lead opinion by fair , temperate and courteous argument to make use of such expressions . We are tempted to ask , and we do ask , in the words of our

great poet : " Upon what meat doth this our Ca'sar feed , that he is grown so great" that his dictation is to be taken as the only course proper to lie adopted by tin .

general body of the craft , and that he should insult those who call attention to matters of widespread interest by such a remark as that thev " make grumbling about

everything and everybody the be-all and the end-all ol their existence " ? Vituperative assertion is not argument .

It is a pity for the managers of the Institutions themselves that . they are not " championed after a different fashion ,-for-the . inevitable result of such pitiful railing is