Masonic Discipline.—Iii.

nounced him , and it need not surprise him Avhen he is unable to ansAver in the affirmative , the simple question , " What is your lodge ? " to find that he is looked upon , Ave will not say with suspicion , but , at least , with a doubtful eye . We

have known au unworthy brother to reply to the question , " Why do you not join a lodge ? " with the answer , "It does not pay . " In defiance of his voluntary declaration , Avitnessed by his own hand , he had joined—as it is to be regretted many

do—our ancient and honourable Fraternity with the direct intention of what is termed " trading upon Masonry . " He was either ignorant or careless of the fact that sooner or later his "

mercenary or other unworthy motives " Avould become amply apparent , and that not only his own lodge , into which he had gained admittance by an attested lie , but the whole Craft , would regard with scorn and contempt the man Avho , reckless of his

personal honour and his Masonic fidelity , endeavoured to use his knowledge of Masonry as a lever to extort advantages from his brethren . These instances , unfortunately , are not of isolated occurrence , and although it would not be difficult to

reduce them Avithin comparativel y narrow limits , it would be impossible to altogether prevent them . There must be " black sheep " in every society aud community of men . There were but tAvelve disciples , and yet one of them was a traitor . It

is bufc natural that Masons should be desirous of increasing their numbers , but Ave should be glad to witness more regard paid to " qualify , " and less to " quantity . " It would be an evil

day for the Order , if it could once truthfully be said " Anyone may be made a Mason . " The blame of admitting one who is not " a fit ancl proper person " into a participation of our secrets , does not , in one sense , rest with the candidate ,

but with the proposer aud seconder . While on the one hand , they cannot be expected to ba actually responsible for the thoughts , words , and actions of their protegee , they are bound by the tenor of their OAVII vows of fidelity " to abstain

from recommending anyone to a participation of our secrets , unless they have the strongest grounds for believing that by similar fidelity he will ultimately reflect honour upon their choice . " Were this injunction , which constitues a portion of our

beautiful and admirable initiation charge , more strictly adhered to than ifc is , there would be but few instances of the nature to which Ave have drawn attention .

The loose manner in which candidates are proposed , balloted for , and admitted into many of our English lodges , is deserving of the strictest censure aud condemnation . In many cases not merely the letter , bufc the inCenfc and meaning , the very

spirit of the " Constitutions , " is departed from . We have seen lodge summonses sent to the brethren , Avhere the surnames alone of the proposed initiates were inscribed , unaccompanied by any address or statement of their profession ,

occupation , or calling . This dereliction of duty is not merely a reproach to those Avho hold office in the loclge , but is a direct contravention of the rules laid down by the Grand Lodge respecting the making of Masons . We Avould take this

opportunity of mentioning that there is really little or no " surveillance" exercised by the supremeauthority over individual lodges . The term here is not intended to apply in an inquisitorial sense ,, or in one that Avould for a moment offend thafc

feeling of independence Avhich is unquestionably the birthright of every Englishman ; but ifc signifies that unanimous influence , the superiority of Avhich should be felt by every private lodge or member Avhich is nothing in itself , but something *

as a part of the Avhole great system . All lodges that hold their Avarrant from the United Grand Loclge , are but individual elements of the Fraternity , and their aim should be to be actual copies of chat model .

Apologising for this digression , Ave return to the question of discipline in connection with initiates . Comparing the present requirements with those that were in force in the primitive days of the Craft , there Avill be perceived a notable

difference . The requisition insisted upon now is of a three-fold character , and bears no reference whatever to any physical deformity or defect . This ¦ Bfc least is the practice in the English lodges , although our American brethren still carry out in

many of their lodges the spirit of the ancient conditions . A case arose there respecting * the admission of au officer Avho had lost an arm , aud the lodge in which he sought admission refused to initiate him , not on account of any personal

objection , or of anything against his honour and reputation , bufc upon pure principle . If there were any fact required to prove the antiquity of the Order , and the integrity of its laws and regulations , this Avould suffice . The circumstance of excluding anyone from a participation in our mysteries Avho had lost the use of any of his