Objectors.

OBJECTORS .

riTO what extent a member of a Lodge may exercise his I " right" to object to a visitor is a matter for individual decision . To harbour malice is un-Masonic . To object to a visitor , just from a personal animosity , is foreign to the spirit of Brotherly Love , which , the Mason is told when he starts on his new life , is one of the tenets of his profession .

Profession ? Yes , of his profession . Is it only to be professional ? What about the practice ? Does it speak well for a member of a Lodge simply because he can do so , to say " I am in , but you shall not come in . I do not like you ? " It reminds me of little girls and boys who are favoured by

fond and loving parents with toys . When Dot or Willie wants to play , Lalla says , " You shan ' t ; ' oo des' do ' way , I won ' t play wis ' oo . 'Oore grand-pa ' s dot no hair on hia

head . " There is just as much sense in much of the personal spite manifested in some objections as in the childish objections of Lalla , who takes a dislike to Dot , because Dot ' . - ; " dranpa is bald-headed . "

No member ought to object to a visitor simply because he does not like him . He should have good reasons for such a course and not do so from " strong prejudice . " Men of strong " convictions " often make themselves ridiculous by the " strength " displayed . They jump like a mad hyena at the

mention of the name of a man with whom they once—well , some time ago— had a disagreement . They do not show the slightest spirit of reconciliation , or disposition to meet him half way . I have often been struck with the lack of a proper forgiving spirit in those who are loud in preaching Masonic

charity . It makes a great deal of difference whose ox is gored . " Oh ! well" said a good Brother one day " you ought not to think such hard things about Robbins , he is a good fellow , and perhaps you are as much to blame in this matter as he is . " Good , wholesome , friendly , Masonic charity ! But how does

it work ? The good Brother who thus advised his friend , to ¦ ' be easy" on his enemy , a few moments later was in a perfect rage , at the mention of the name of a Brother with whom

he ( the lecturer ) had had a little tilt . His ox was being gored , and the way he did " go for " that Brother put the one to whom he had given good advice away off in the dark shade . Hyperian to a satyr .

Peace and harmony should be preserved m every Lodge , and a Brotherly spirit should be manifested on all occasions . And if the admission of a visitor would cause disturbance , he should not be admitted , but it may happen that the best man is outside . I am satisfied that nine-tenths—yes , fully

ninetenths—of the difficulties of life could be amicably settled if there was the slightest disposition to listen to explanations . Of course both parties are absolutely right , as they each see the matter , but as you and I who stand off and look on see it , they are both absolutely wrong .

I have sometimes thought the teachings of Masonry ought to be revised . We ought not to be living encyclopedias of mere professional moralists . We ought not to teach one thing and practice another . Suppose we say the tenets of our profession are " friendship when it suits us ; morality when

convenient ; and brotherly love on his side toward us . " How would that suit ? Or suppose we make the " broad mantle of Masonic charity " to apply only when it does not in any way affect our own personal feelings . The " Masonic Charity

Mantle is " now a shield of glass ; you can see clear through it . It does not hide " his foibles " one single bit . I think the mantle ought either to be repaired , or a new one made . — Lounger , in " New York Dispatch . "

Life Membership.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP .

WE have as yet failed to discover any reason why " life membership " should exist in Masonry . 1 he most enthusiastic advocates of this scheme have but one argument of any strength whatever , and that is , that there are many Masons who , after years of faithful service , have become

poor and deserve to be exempt from the payment of dues . That is all very well , bu ; t we already have ample provision made for our " deserving poor . " And , if a Brother has too much pride to ask his Lodge to remit his dues , it is not life

membership but an investigation committee that should be established . Lodges should , of course , take most excellent care of those who have grown grey in Masonic service , and the older and poorer members should be carefull y looked

Life Membership.

after—but this must be done by a careful investigation of each and every individual case . To make the sweeping provision that all who have been Masons for , say twenty-one years , are thereafter exempt from the duty of paying dues is to cut off no small amount of revenue which would , did no such

provision exist , be paid willingly enough . We are not a benefit society ; there are no endowment policies in Masonry . If there is any fault to be found with the treatment of aged members who are short of purse , it is not our law , but the administration of it , which is at fault . Our present provision

for remission of dues to those who deserve such consideration at the hands of their Lodge is a law which should cover all cases . Any further or more general exemption from Masovir obligations' is , we believe , useless and unjust . — "American Tyler . "

Short Sessions Desirable.

SHORT SESSIONS DESIRABLE .

rr ^ HE principal cause of slim attendance at Lodge Meetings JL is because they are too drawn out . Men object to be cooped up in a hot and badly ventilated room three or four hours , and besides they do not care to loose sleep . As a usual thing most Lodge meetings are late in opening , the

routine business drags , some members want to occupy the floor all the time , disputing about questions that do not amount to anything , the degree work is long drawn out and everything lags , so that the members grow impatient and maciy of them seldom visit the Lodge room . If you want a good attendance

convene the Lodge promptly and let everything move along with a snap and a vim . Put plenty of ginger into the whole proceedings , and if you have not anything of importance to say , why keep still . Do not intrude your personality at every opportunity for the sake of being prominent , or with the idea

of impressing the new members with your importance . Ten chances to one if they will not become disgusted with you and stay away from the Lodge . Let everyone work to get through with the business promptly , and then if there is any time for chin music it can be brought forth under Good and

Welfare and the member who wants to get home early can be excused . If church services kept up from 8 p . m . until midnight there would be a mighty big kick , and they would soon have to shut down for lack of attendance . Men do not care to stay

much longer in a Lodge room than in a church and are not to be blamed for eschewing long sessions . When there is degree work we think the Lodges should meet a half hour earlier to transact the regular business . —Exchange .

Order Of The Garter.

ORDER OF THE GARTER .

W HILE the Order of the Garter may not be per se a parcel of Masonry , the happy and appropriate reference made to it by the Master upon the presentation to the candidate of the lambskin , the first badge of a Mason , gives it a peculiar Masonic significance , and makes by a pleasing association its motto , "Evil to him who evil thinks , " a wholesome tenet of the

Order . It may have been the inspiration of a refined and courtly gallant that called these golden words to the lips of the royal Jtdward as he rebuked his ribald courtiers , when he presented the blushing Countess of Salisbury with her truant garter , the

tribute of manly politeness to the blush of womanly modesty , or these utterances may have found an inspiration deeper down in his soul . From trifles light as air are sometimes evolved the most weighty ( principles of moral philosophy , as from the mouth of babes' and sucklings men may sometimes learn wisdom .

And thus , from the frivolous gaiety and fashion of that court , where the flutter of pleasure and the sparkle of wit engaged the hearts , the motto of an order , less ancient but not less honourable than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle , was uttered , and whatever may have been the inspiration that

moved the king , whether of chivalric gallantry or a true sense of moral philosophy , no utterance of human lips ever formed itself into words more nearly akin to the divine injunction , " Judge not that ye oe not judged , " than these words of King Edward , " Evil be to him who evil thinks . "

What a volume is written in these few words I What a sermon is preached in this short text ! And yet how few of our Brethren appreciate their force , or heed the truth of their " wisdom ! How few in their rigid virtue to condemn pause a