Good Resolutions.

GOOD RESOLUTIONS .

EVERYBODY knows that about this season of the year good resolutions are in order . Everybody at this time resolves now to do better—to do something that he or she has never done before , or , at least , do it better than heretofore , and as has been frequently and truthfully asserted Masons partake largely of ordinary human nature , they , too , will just about this time

resolve to do better for themselves and their respective Lodges , i . e ., for Masonry , Here is a good " resolve , " which is respectfully and fraternally submitted to everybody , more especially to the new Master ; " Lay hands suddenly upon no man , " by which is meant that however slim the treasury , however great the desire of the new Officers or members for work and for

additions to membership , let no man pass our gates without the closest scrutiny and the best assurance that the applicant is a positive man , capable not only of appreciating and enjoying the rights and benefits of the Craft , but also capable and willing to add something to the common stock by his industry , zeal and

devotion , captble of being tried as so many have been tried before him , and , like them , giving assurance of not being found wanting . Of men like these , of positive men , of members with zeal , with earnest devotion , with sincere love for the Craft and its good teachings , we cannot have too many within our gates , for they

have within themselves the element of strength , and they will lend and contribute a share of their latent force to the Fraternity , and render our Lodges stronger and our meetings more interesting . They will help us in the good work , and not retard our progress . But it behoves all to resolve now to be careful , and

admit none but the best material to our Lodges . " Lay bands suddenly upon no man . " Be particularly careful whom you propose or whom you admit to our mystic circle ; we need careful selection in all our material ; let no man enter unless you are personally satisfied as to his fitness and his ability and

willingness to do some good , bring something to us for allowing him the privilege of calling himself a Freemason . And resolve further bo do some good yourself , attend your Lodge more regularly , " take hold" and work and do . Thus will you , your Lodge , and the Craft at large be benefitted by your good resolution . — " New York Tribune . "

Custom Or Right.

CUSTOM OR RIGHT .

THERE is much confusion among Brethren as to the right to visit . It could easily be disposed of in the manner that the historian of Ireland disposes of the description of snakes in the famous chapter , " There are no snakes in Ireland . " There is no vested "right" to visit any sister Lodge . The

reception of the third degree in a just and duly constituted Lodge of Master Masons and being in good and regular standing in the Craft " qualifies " a Brother to visit any regular Lodge , but as each Lodge is a Masonic family , it has an inherent and indefensible right to conduct its own business , maintain its own

harmony in its own way , even to the exclusion of visiting Brethren already seated , to say nothing of those seeking admission . It follows that the admission of visiting Brethren , however worthy and however welcome as a general thing , is , when properly considered , an act of fraternal courtesy , which

may be granted or withheld as circumstances may warrant , precisely on the principle that a man ' s house in his castle , and although courtesy may prompt him to answer the door-bell , he will exercise his rights in admitting or refusing an intending visitor , and this is exactly the case with every Master

Masonhe may ring the door-bell , that is , he may ask to be admitted to any Lodge , but every member of that Lodge , of that particular Masonic household , has the undeniable privilege to refuse admittance , and the applicant ' s " rights " close then and there . There is absolutely no " righc " in this matter whatever .

And now as to the alleged right to examine the Charter of a Lodge a Brother desires to visit . The visitor asks the privilege of joining in the labour of a Lodge . He practically says : "I propose to myself the pleasure of visiting you this evening , but before introducing myself to you , be good enough to exhibit the authority by which you are now here assembled . " Just as if

some one coming to visit your home should demand an examination of the deed or lease by which you hold it , or your visitor , before taking a seat in your parlour , should demand the " right " to see your receipt for Jast month ' s rent . How many of those who demand to see the Charter of your Lodge are competent to judge as to its regularity or genuineness ?

If tbe reader will endeavour to measure in his own mind the competency of the Brotherhood generally , including , as it does , all grades of intelligence , to pass upon the validity of a document submitted for cursory examination , he will be able to form some idea of the absurdity of the whole proceeding . Most certainly very many of these Charters are old , dilapidated , often illegible by long service , the old-fashioned wax seals " gone and

Custom Or Right.

forgotten , " the signatures are faded and sometimes even obliterated . Who can judge of its being a just and legal document , issued by the Competent Authority of , & c . Masonry can do a great deal for man'in the way of moral instruction and strong incentives to a virtuous and upright life , but it cannot give him powers God and Nature have denied him , hence the

examination of the Warrant is as near an absurdity as anything can be , and furthermore it is the business of a visitor to know in advance that the body he proposes to attend is genuine , and not depend on wits or a skill he may not possess to discover the fact . Warrants are the outcome of our present Grand Lodge system , hence their use must be governed by the regulations made by the

several and respective governing bodies , among which none should be found to require the exhibition of the Charter to' any or all who may wish to look at ii without having the slightest method or knowledge to prove its validity . Let this nonsense be abandoned and abolished altogether . When the Grand Lodge shall meet at its next regular annual convention the revision of

the constitution will be brought before the governing body , and this will be an excellent chance to weed out many of these silly proceedings which have from time to time crept in , and have been allowed to remain without rhyme or season . The " right " to visit is stated distinctly enough ; let this " right " of examining the Charter be " distinctly" done away with . — "New York Tribune . "

In Lodges where there is a multiplicity of offices there is frequently a lack of a sufficient number of jewels , and the installing Officer usually passes over the omission as best he can . The fact remains , however , that regarding the ancient significance of " Investiture , " an Officer , whether in a subordinate or in a

senior position , is not truly qualified until he has been officially invested with the symbol of the office to which he has been elected , and its symbolical meaning explained illustrative of his duties . The investiture of an Officer is no less important than the investiture of a candidate . — " Mallet , " in " Glasgow Evening News . "

THE " Quiver " for February has an article hy the Rev . Dr . Lunn upon " The power of the Press , " which is one of a short series of papers by experts upon " Modern witnesses to the truth . "

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