Auctions At Lodge Meetings.

AUCTIONS AT LODGE MEETINGS .

A PRACTICE has lately sprung up at some of our **¦ regular Lodges , and in an intensified form at Instruction meetings , which we think it will be advisable to check ere a scandal is created , or some of those who are at fault find themselves in trouble with

the authorities . We allude to the holding of auctions in our midst—a practice which is widely extending , and which , to our mind , can have but one result , that of disaster—and in thus publicly drawing attention

to it we feel we are but acting in the interests of the Craft in general , and particularly of those Brethren primarily concerned , and who probably err rather from want of thought or lack of knowledge , than from any desire to wilfully do wrong .

The popular course of procedure in this direction in our regular Lodges is to put up the contents of the Charity Box , after it has been passed round the table , to auction , the object being to increase the amount

collected , by a system of what we regard as most unbecoming competition , and which is tolerated at the time , we think , only because it is for the good of a good cause ! We remember when this practice first

came under our notice , some twenty years ago , its desirability and even its legality were freely commented upon , and it was only because the Brother who carried the matter through was a really jovial fellow , and met

the objectors in good natured style , by pointing out the good that it might possibly do to increase the charity collection by this means , that the event was allowed—for the time being—to pass . Later on ,

however , we believe the Lodge had a communication from the Inland Revenue authorities as to the holding of an auction under its auspices by a person not qualified with an auctioneer ' s license . As it happened , in

this particular case , the Treasurer of the Lodge , who submitted the " desirable property " to public bidding , was an auctioneer , and after a little good tempered banter at the expense of the powers that be the matter

naturally dropped . But do all our Lodges who act in this way take care that the "Auctioneer" of the occasion is duly licensed ? It may be so , but we do n 6 t think the matter receives a moment ' s consideration .

Turning now to the Lodges of Instruction , we find it by no means a rarity to hear of one or other of the Masonic newspapers being paid for by the Lodge , or presented by one of the members , and put up to

auction at the close of the meeting—for the benefit of the Charity Fund ! And , in many cases , the result is highly satisfactory , from a mere financial point of view , copies of our paper or the " Freemason " generally

fetching ten or twenty times their published price , and often realising as much as ten shillings or more . It is very gratifying to think our efforts in journalism are so

highly appreciated , and it is perhaps ungenerous on our part to criticise the arrangement , but it is manifest that value is not the factor in these purchases—it is simply the excitement of competition among those

Auctions At Lodge Meetings.

present and , if the buyers will excuse us saying so , it is a most unbecoming and un-Masonic practice in the great majority of cases ; but besides all this , there is the actual legality of the proceeding to be taken into

account , and we are much mistaken if those who put up the contents of a Lodge Charity box , or a copy of a Masonic Newspaper , to public auction—even though in the cause of benevolence—do not lay themselves

open to a monetary penalty , beyond the fact of acting in an undignified manner , and running the risk of bringing Masonic meetings into disrepute . Is there any necessity to promote Masonic Charity by such means ?

It is an old story that one has to go abroad to learn home news , and this has been exemplified during the week , when we have learnt that quite a business is done in phrenology at Masonic banquets . Says a contemporary : " An eminent phrenologist has found his profession seriously impaired by

the war . When sued for non-payment of the balance of an hotel bill in the Westmister County Court he said that he had lately been going through a most disastrous period . No fewer than thirty of his engagements had been cancelled . People no longer seemed interested in their own

bumpsthey only cared for those in South Africa . Most of the engagements which had fallen through were for Masonic banquets . ' But surely , ' said Judge Lumley Smith , ' they do not have their bumps felt at Masonic banquets ? ' The professor said they did , ;; nd some one at the back of the court

murmured ' What ho ! ' An order to pay £ 2 , a month was made . " This is certainly news to us , and it appears to open up many possibilities for the future . It has often been suggested that Brethren should prove their iitness for office before being invested with a collar ; the d ; iv may come when such an

examination will include a learned disquisition on their bumps . " Bladders of lard , " as the bald heads are sometimes irreverently called , may then have to give place to " swelled heads , " of which English Freemasonry could easily provide a prolific supply .

The last of the Soirees Dansantes organised by the Mayor of Gravesend , Bro . J . N . Willis W . M . of the Lodge of Sympathy , No . 483 , for the purpose of helping the Transvaal War Funds , took place on Monday , at the Royal Clarendon Hotel , Gravesend , with remarkable success . The

dance was under the patronage of the local Freemasons , and the members of the various Lodges and Chapters rallied round in strong force . There were in addition several Military and Naval Officers , who attended in uniform , and a very gay and pretty scene was presented when the dancing

was going on . The Hall was brightly decorated with flags and festoons of flowers , while the beautiful banners of the Lodges came in for special admiration from the fair sex . Bro . Willis may be congratulated upon his happy idea , which will doubtless lead to an excellent addition being made to the Funds , as all the expenses have been defrayed by him .

A sum of £ 10 16 s 6 d was subscribed on behalf of the " Daily Telegraph " War Fund by a few supporters of the North London Masonic ball , held on Thursday , 25 th ult , at the Freemasons' Tavern , in aid of the funds of the Masonic Institutions .

The Brethren of Walsall propose to form a Preceptory of Knights Templars in the town . The occasion is to be marked by a visit of the Earl of Euston Grand Master of the Order , and many other illustrious Knights .