A Check On Outside Show.

A CHECK ON OUTSIDE SHOW .

\ X / E are not egotistical , and therefore we do not ^* take to ourselves all the credit of having induced the advisers of the Grand Master to publish an edict against the frequent and wholly unnecessary

parading of Masonic regalia in public which has lately grown up with every increasing frequency in all parts of the country .

imitation may be regarded as the sincerest form of flattery , but even those who are in such a position as to be able to set an example to large sections of the community occasionally err , and must be excused if

they at times make a sli p when , led away perhaps by a sudden outburst of enthusiasm , they overstep the limits of prudence or diplomacy . We have witnessed more than one such error in Freemasonry , notably ,

when the Grand Master himself led the regulation " Masonic fire" on the occasion of the Centenary Festival of the Girls School in 1888 : and in more

recent years when a special service was held at St . Paul ' s Cathedral and , by a combination of unforeseen circumstances , resulted in anything but a creditable display of Freemasonry , or Masonic forbearance .

Luckily the general body of the Craft recognised in the one case that even the Grand Master could err , in his desire to benefit a good cause , and although very many Worshipful Masters of the time argued that the

action of the Grand Master made it legal for them also to give the " Fire " in the presence of ladies and others , the practice never became general , and we believe has now been virtually stamped out .

The lesson taught at St . Paul ' s Cathedral , and at other places of worshi p since , had not , however , appeared to make any impression on the authorities , and although we know the matter of allowing such

public displays of Masonic Regalia was under consideration as far back as December last , we were afraid those who love show and parade had secured the victory—until we read in the outside press that the Grand Master had taken decided action .

No one who respects Freemasonry will regret the prohibition decided upon , and we may safely look forward to an improved general tone for the Craft as a

consequence ; with greater admiration from outsiders . It is much better that the good done by Freemasonry should be carried out . without such ostentatious show as has been made on several occasions in the

near past—when , as we have more than once urged , actual outsiders have not hesitated to virtually trade on the well known charitable proclivities of our Order , and at the same time have pandered to the vanity of members of the Craft who like to parade in public .

We give elsewhere the text of the letter sent out from the offices of Grand Lodge , but Ave , presume this onl y applies to Lodges within the London District , although , no doubt , Provincial and District Grand Masters will take note of the prohibition issued from

A Check On Outside Show.

head quarters , and will probably be less ready to grant dispensations than heretofore . As might be expected , the outside press has

given prominence to this subject , many of the leading provincial and other papers commenting on the letter from Grand Lodge , among the more important expressions of opinion being the following :

The Prince of Wales , as Grand Master of the Order , has just taken a step of considerable interest to Masons . Of late years members have developed a habit of wearing regalia at functions not in themselves Masonic and attended by

non-Masons . After considering the matter , the Prince has issued an official letter declaring the practice to be one which is not calculated to increase the dignity of the Order . — "Morning Leader . "

The Prince of Wales has taken a significant step , as Grand Master of the English Freemasons , in connection with the wearing of Masonic regalia . There has been a . growing habit of late to don regalia at assemblies at which non-Masons , and particularly ladies , have been present , and at

other gatherings which could not by any means be regarded as Masonic in character . For this purpose special dispensations have been sought . His Royal Highness has now resolved to set his face against this habit , and in a special letter from the offices of the United Grand Lodge of England

it is declared that the Prince's advisers " are ver ) ' strongly of opinion that the wearing of Masonic clothing and regalia both at religious services in churches and at places of entertainment when ladies and others who are not Masons

are present is not calculated to increase the dignity of the Order or to raise it in the estimation of those who have not been admitted to its secrets and mysteries . — "Manchester Guardian . "

To most Freemasons it comes as a surprise that the wearing of Masonic regalia at assemblies at which non-Masons , and especially ladies , are present is " irregular , " but after the special letter which the Prince of Wales , as Grand Master of the English Freemasons , has caused to be written ,

the practice , it is needless to say , will be stopped . The custom grew up somewhat slowly , but has become general . Freemasons do not express any opinion upon the letter sent

from the offices of the United Grand Lodge of England but in future the wearing of Masonic clothing and regalia will be discontinued . — " Western Morning News . "

The Prince of Wales has just taken a significant step in connection with the Masonic Order—a step for which , indeed , it would be difficult to find a parallel in the history of Masonry . For some time now there has been a growing desire among a certain section of the Brotherhood to exhibit

the regalia not only on occasions when non-Masons , including ladies , are present , but on occasions which could not by any stretch of the imagination be regarded as Masonic in their character—at church openings , civic functions , and the like . The Prince of Wales has from the first regarded this growing

desire with distaste , but now an order has been issued from the Central Office of the United Grand Lodge , in which it is distinctly and specifically stated that the advisers of his Royal Highness are of opinion that the wearing of Masonic clothing and regalia both at religious services and in places

of entertainment when ladies and others not Masons are present is not calculated to increase the dignity of the Order or to raise it in the estimation of those who have not been

admitted to its secrets and mysteries . The Prince has in recent years been given semi-despotic powers in Masonry , and as a result we shall see this injunction sedulously obeyed . —" Glasgow Daily Record . "