Responsibility.

the paper , and who freely expressed the opinion that it would do no good unless it was materially improved —has asked us to justify the appearance of the extract given in our last issue from the Masonic Record , under the title of " Responsibilities of Committees . "

In answering our critic in this public manner we do not lay ourselves under any obligation to adopt a similar course towards others who may favour us with their views on our selections , but at the same time we express our desire to be criticised by our readers ,

and we promise them that whatever they suggest shall be duly considered , and acted upon to the very best of our ability . But this question of responsibility opens up a subject for discussion , and although we admit the article referred to has little or no connection

with English Freemasonry , on its surface , there is an undercurrent connected with it which provides food for reflection , and material for consideration . Our American brethren have many forms and ceremonies which appear to make their Freemasonry different to

ours , and the same may be said with equal force of other newer organisations in Freemasonry , but we believe those who have lived in the States or in the colonies will endorse our remarks when we say that forms are necessary there which we are not

accustomed to here , the surroundings being so strange and class distinctions so different as compared with those in the older country as to really necessitate the introduction of new ideas , and the enforcement of stronger restrictions .

Going back to the extract which forms the basis of our present remarks , is it too much to say that the opening words of our contemporary apply as much to us English Masons as to any foreign body ? " There are certain duties , " says the Record " which as

Masons we are under obligations to perform , requiring time , a careful discrimination , judgment , and a straight-forward honest decision . " Then our contemporary explains that the most imnortant of these

is the duty of the Committee appointed to investigate the character of the applicant who knocks at the door of our Masonic home for admission . That is purely an American way of putting it , as we in England know nothing of this Committee , in practise .

although in theory each member of the Lodge is supposed to make himself member of just such a Committee , and seek to discover for himself , and on behalf of his fellow members , whether a candidate is

worthy of reception or not . We consider a brief study of the extract under notice will teach the English Craftsman more of his duties under this head than he probably knew , or fully appreciated before . It will prove to him that the oft repeated caution to be

careful who is admitted into our Order is something more than mere verbiage ,, and will show that our American and other distant Brethren adopt greater safeguards than we do in England , in the hope of

admitting worthy men alone into the ranks of Freemasonry . Proceeding onward our contemporary touches upon one or two other matters which apply with equal

force to England as to the part of the world for which they were more particularly written . There is the injunction to fearlessly state the existence of any objection to the candidate rather than adopt the underhand course of seeming to appear favourable

and then , "under cover of the secret ballot , accomplish the desired result . " Brethren who act in such a way can hardly appreciate the responsibility they assume . Their objection may be a just one , and

the exclusion oi the candidate may be most desirable , and absolutely necessary , but we cannot admit they are fully justified in such a case in taking the matter entirely in their own hands . As has been so frequently urged in these pages they should explain their objections to the proposer and seconder of the candidate , and together they might form a

Responsibility.

Committee of inquiry , proving the objections to be without foundation , or having convinced themselves that they were legitimate , they would be able to see that the candidate was withdrawn , and the Lodge and

its members spared the unpleasantness of an unfavourable ballot . Viewed in this light there are some who would like to see Committees of Investigation a regular feature in our Masonry , but we havo

got along so lar witnout it and snail probably continue to do so until the end of time , the responsibilities which would in the ordinary course fall upon the Committee being borne by the whole of

the members of the different Lodges—individually , as well as collectively . The stipulation as to the residence of the candidate

within the jurisdiction of the Lodge , at least one year prior to his application , is another point deserving of consideration , not necessarily with any idea of its introduction into England , so much as to show to us

there are responsibilities m that direction ; but we have already said enough to justify our insertion of the extract , although , on the face of it , there does not seem to be much to identify it with English

Freemasonry . Like many another Masonic lesson it will well repay the time spent in a diligent search for itB hidden meanings .

The Meeting Of Grand Lodge.

THE MEETING OF GRAND LODGE .

( COMMUNICATED ) .

IT is frequently remarked that , when the agenda of a meeting showa little likelihood of there being much to do , it often tarns out there is a great deal . The last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge is a good example of the truth of this theory . No one judging from the agenda could have guessed how

important a meeting it would be . But it turned out a very important and remarkable one . The loyal address was , as a matter of course among Freemasons , agreed to nem con . It equally goes without saying that the vote in aid of our distressed brethren in Queensland was passed with hearty unanimity .

Had these been all the matters before Grand Lodge the meeting , though noteworthy , would not have stood out as a particularly important one . I wish that the rest of the proceedings could . equally command the approval of the Craft . But , unfortunately ,

such is not the case . Two important matters came up , which , if passed by in silence , are fraught to my mind with great and evil consequences . The first was comparatively unimportant , though by no means unimportant in itself . On the reading of the

minutes of the June Quarterl y ! Communication a brother rose to say that he had seconded Bro . Simpson ' s moving of " the previous question . " The Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair , to my surprise , simply said that he had

not seen the brother rise ! Can any of your readers inform us whether they have ever known a case in Grand Lodge where such a motion as " the previous question" has been allowed ?

I am not aware of any case and should have expected the chair to say that such a motion could not be made . The second matter , however , was one of much greater importance , and led to a decision which should not , in my opinion , be allowed to pass unchallenged . Bro . W . P .

Lamonby had given notice of a motion with which , as your roadors will remember , you could not altogether agree , and in your leader of the 2 nd inst ., you had rather spoken against . Still , Bro . Lamonby is a brother of great experience , and as a colonial brother and a Past Grand

Warden of Victoria and a former member of the Colonial Board I was anxious to hear what he had to adduce in favour of his motion . Before Bro . Lamonby could speak , however , the Grand Registrar rose , and as a point of order asked the acting Grand Master to rule that it could not

be discussed . As far as I could understand his argument the real gist of it was that notice of the motion had only been given at the " Board of Masters" and no pievious notice of intention to hand in such a motion had been given to the Grand Secretary