European Lodges.

EUROPEAN LODGES .

FROM a highly interesting account given by Bro . George C . Cannor Grand Secretary of Tennessee , of his European trip and visit to Masonio Lodges in Great Britain , and on tho Continent , the following extracts are taken , as showing the difference in the interior of Lodges in Europe . The article is illustrated by diagrams showing the position of Officers and appointments in the various Lodges visited , but what is here given will prove of

interest to the general Masonic reader . Alluding , to the diagram of tho Italian Lodge , Bro . Cannor says : — " It will be observed that an altar , like as in America , is used in Italy . Indeed the arrangements are quite like the American . " There are slight variations in the arrangements of other Lodge rooms visited , but these may be accepted as the standard . The rooms

are all small , few capable of seating more than fifty Brethren . In England , hotels generally build Lodge rooms in their upper stories and several Lodges assemble therein without the payment of rental . The hotels are compensated by the Brethren dining after the conclusion of business , and this dining in full evening dress , and in Masonic clothing and jewels , may be set down as

the universal custom of English Freemasonry . In Germany , the hotel custom does not prevail to any great extent , and Lodges either own , or lease , their rooms . Dinner or luncheon is also served as in England , and chiefly in halls attached to the Lodge rooms . In Italy the hotel custom does not prevail at all , chiefly because of the Papal opposition . Lodge rooms are leased , as a

rule , and dining without Masonic clothing occurs at the restaurant . Intelligent American Masons find no difficulty in making themselves known in Europe . But no attempt should be made to visit a Lodge without first receiving an invitation to do so , from the Secretary . The American way of going to the reception-room and sending in your card to be answered by an

Examination Committee is unknown in Europe . Several Americans , known to the writer , failed to observe this formality , and hence failed to visit the Lodges into whose reception rooms they entered . English and Continental Masons own their own aprons and carry the same along with them when visiting I No aprons are supplied by the Lodges except to its Officers . The

Lodges elect their Masters , Treasurers , and Tylers . The remaining Officers are appointed by the Worshipful Master-elect . The American law as to the powers of Wardens does not prevail in Europe . The retiring Past Master instals his successor , and then presents the remaining Officers for investment by the Master . The Installation ceremony is secret , and is vastly superior

to the ceremony we use in America . The Tyler always proposes the last toasfc at a Masonic Dinner . From a special paper on " American and Foreign Freemasonry , " we make the following excerpts : —The rituals of the Continent of Europe and of the British Isles are different from each other and from those of the United States . The rituals of England , of Scotland , and of

Ireland , differ from each other , the latter more nearly approaching those of the United States . No rituals beyond the seas use D . G . 's in any of the Degrees . These are a purely American invention . The means of recognition are about the same in the rituals of the British Isles , bub differ somewhat on the Continent . Nor is the M . M . W—d exactly the same . The first is

the second , and the second is the first on the Continent . England and United States are alike . The S—s of the first and second are the same all over Europe , the American first is the same as the European , hut the American D . G . of the second is the S of the European . The S of the Third on the Continent is the same as the American , with a

slight addition . The Third in England has five S—s , and a S of D . Only one of these is in the American rituals . The ceremonies are much briefer , especially of the third . Many dramatic features are wanting . While this

brevity detracts from the pageant , it really adds to the solemnity of the work . We candidly believe that many features of the English work could be profitably introduced into the American , after some meaningless things in the American were eliminated . — " American Tyler . "

Is "Masonic Death" Perpetual?

IS " MASONIC DEATH" PERPETUAL ?

IjlXPULSION Freemasonry is usually termed " Masonic death , " - ¦—^ and only follows when , after due trial for some crime , either against the laws of the land or the obligations of Freemasonry , one has been proven guilty . In our estimation there is no redemption from such a judgment save that the fact of innocence or some irregularity in his trial has been

subsequently established . Then , and only then , can his restoration to Freemasonry take place . Illustrious Bro . Sohultz , of Maryland , seems to take a more liberal view of expulsion than this , and says : " We hold that an expelled Brother is still a Mason , for should the sentence of expulsion be

removed , that is , a pardon be granted to him—by no means an unusual occurrence—no re-making is required , therefore he was a Mason all the time , but one to whom , during the continuance of the sentence , all the rights and privileges of the Fraternity were denied . "

Now , there is something to us very illogical in the presumption that when a man has been forced to submit to the unspeakable indignity of expulsion from all the rights , privileges , and benefits of Freemasonry , and debarred from any further association with his Brethren throughout the world , and branded with the " living death " of an expelled Mason , he

should still consider himself under any obligation to hold inviolate thc secrets aud mysteries of Freemasonry . In shorfc , still consider himself a Mason . He has suffered all the indignity possible at the hands of the Institution , in thus throwing him out to a mocking world under a ban second only to that inflicted from a Roman altar by bell , book , and candle . Of course we expect

Is "Masonic Death" Perpetual?

that man to still remain faithful to his obligations , but by what authority or power by his Brethren possessed can ho be made to so observe and preserve ? Freemasonry has done all possible to him in the punishment of expulsionwhich virtually stigmatises him as being a worthless character , unworthy of the confidence , esteem , or respect of , not only Freemasons universal , but

also of all his fellow-men . Now , why should we not expect from such a man retaliation ? What worse in character could he be to imitate Morgan , Dr . Richardson , Blanchard , or other enemies of Freemasonry ? We have said to him , in substance : " You are a scoundrel , sunk so low as to be beyond our contempt , and we therefore throw you in the rubbish heap . Don't ever dare to come near a Freemason ' s Lodge or converse upon Masonry with any

of us , but keep all your obligations and remember your vows . You were once a Mason , and will remain so for life , although we have expelled you as worthless . So off with you , and don't you dare to consider yourself released from your Masonic obligations , or we will consider you still worse than even our expulsion brands you . " What , from a human standpoint , might be supposed would be the reply of this expelled Mason ?

Now , in this connection Bro . Philip G . Malcolm Grand Master of Oregon says , in one of his decisions : " A man who has been regularly made a Mason remains a Mason for ever , unless expelled from the Order by proper authority , after due trial and conviction . " Now here again the question arises what is he " after due trial and conviction ? " The inference , according to Bro .

Malcolm , would be that after expulsion he ceases to be a Mason . Our view of this question is that there is no possible time in which the man ceases to be a Mason , and no power on earth can take away from a man his Masonry when once received . He may be disciplined to the extreme of Masonic law and technically

deprived of all rights and benefits accruing to him from the Institution , but the fact does not " kill , " but simply banishes him from fraternal association with his fellow-Masons . Therefore , this so-called " Masonic death" is not perpetual any more than would expulsion from church membership remove a man froin personal experience in the benefits of religion . Nothing can

remove the impression of Masonry first made in the heart and finished in the Lodge . To sum up , we look upon the term " expulsion" as an illogical misnomer which should be changed to some such expression as " banished " or " outlawed . " No man can be expelled from Masonry , although he may

be placed under the ban of non-association with his former Brethren , but he still remains a Mason . There is no such thing as expulsion from Freemasonry . You may discharge your bookkeeper , but he still has the combination of your safe . That you can change , but Freemasonry cannot change its combination . — "American Tyler . "

Weak Or Waning Lodges.

WEAK OR WANING LODGES .

WHEN Lodges run down so that , attendances become smaller and smaller , the hour of meeting is delayed , or things become so bad that periods of recess are decided upon . This is a matter for very general regret . To trace all the causes for such circumstances is perhaps not an easy task , and yet in tho majority of instances the fault lies wifch the Worshipful

Master . As soon as any Lodge exhibits signs of weakness or decay , it is the duty of the Worshipful Master to examine himself and see if the cause can be traced to his own neglect or incapacity . It will too frequently be found that it is there if the examination be an honest one . But the individual brethren

of a lodge are each responsible for having assisted to place him in the position . In one case will be found one who murders the Queen's English in wholesale fashion , addresses half a dozen Candidates as if they were but one man , scatters his aspirates around like rice at a wedding send off , or reduces the supply where they are most wanted , until " he " is turned into " ee " and

" home " into " ome . " If the brethren be asked how it is that such an uncultured brother has been raised to the chair , they admit his deficiencies , but tell you that he was S . W . and it was " his turn to go on . " Their duty to their Lodge and the Craft has been allowed to make way for their sentiments and weakness . Another Worshipful Master , from want of tact and firmness ,

has all the members sadly "by the ears , " and blundering stupidly , puts the Lodge at a disadvantage amongst its compeers , and perhaps when called upon to respond to a toast he makes some faux pas , which brings him into ridicule

whilst he is posing as the Exalted Ruler and representative of King Solomon , so that visitors who otherwise would adorn its meetings absent themselves , and then its own members lose heart and interest and feel ashamed because it so evidently lacks the attractiveness which others possess .

The cure is not far to seek , as has frequently been pointed out in these columns . Firm discrimination is requisite in the election of Officers , and the Worshipful Master and the Lodge who fail in exercising that palpable duty are false to themselves and to tho Craft in general , because an injury is in that way done to every member of the Lodge as well as to the credit of the

entire Draft in the territory . Only recently we heard a Freemason who had been an active and useful member , deplore the fact " that men of such low mental calibre and attainments were to be found ruling Lodges , and that the present condition was very much lower than ifc was ten years ago . " Whilst we cannot endorse this assertion in full , we can point out ; too many instances

in which the lack of education , refinement of manners , and total absence of tact , characterise thc mon who are the choice of the Lodges for the highest office in them , and , as a consequence , the withdrawal or indifference of many

men of education , intelligence and power for good . In too many of theso instances the brethren were fully aware that this would be thc result before the election , but allowed sentiment to prevail over right and manifest duty . Their argument being it is "his turn , " without using a counter argument