Removal Of Lodges.

REMOVAL OF LODGES .

SPEAKING of the removal of a Canadian Lodge from one part to another , and to which we referred in our issue of 10 th ult ., the Grand Master of that Jurisdiction , at the fortieth annual communication , said : During the year a Lodge was , by consent of the D . D . G . M ., moved from

one place to another . This occasioned considerable adverse comment , and representations were made to me respecting the same . On looking into the matter , I found that , by clause 69 of the Constitution , tho D . D . G . M . has the power to give or refuse his consent in such a case . And , as no charge of irregularity or impropriety was made , I do not feel at liberty to arbitarily

cancel the consent given by the D . D . G . M . I felt bound to assume that , acting within his powers , he had acted properly , that if the parties concerned felt aggrieved they could appeal to Grand Lodge , which would meet shortly . It may be well to consider , in the light of this case , whether the powers of D . D . G . Ms ., in such matters , should not be restricted somewhat .

Misplaced Confidence.

MISPLACED CONFIDENCE .

PROBABLY there is one thing that causes more trouble among Masons , and brings Masonry more into ill-repute among the profane than any . thing else , and that . is misplaced confidence and broken faith among Craftsmen themselves . There is no use beating about the bush in this matter . It is woll known to Masons , and is much talked of by those outside of the Institution , and the day is not far distant when it will be taken up by

the Grand Bodies , and summary action taken upon the offenders . Occurrences of this kind havo become altogether too frequent of late years for the good of the Institution . Scarcely a Lodge can be found but which contains someone who has been ill-used by a Brother Mason . Some sharp practice has been performed , promise broken , or misleading advice given , by a Brother Mason , against one who had a right to expect entirely different usage at his hands .

Election to a Masonic Lodge is one of the best character recommendations any man can possess , providing the committee properly performed its duties , and the Brethren voto intelligently . And there is no gainsaying the fact that our Lodges are , as a rule , composed of tho best men in the

community . But it does not follow that they are all of that class , neither can it bo helped if some fall from grace and do things they should not , but a strict weeding out of this class of people would have a salutary effect upon others , and would increase the public respect for Masonry an hundredfold .

Freemasonry is a Brotherhood , a family wherein we are taught to help each other , to keep sacred a Brother ' s secrets , and should we hear a Brother ' s character wrongfully traduced , we should speak up in his behalf ; should we

deem him to be in danger , we should fore-warn him ; in faot , we should have full confidence in one another . But can we always rely upon receiving just treatment from our Masonic Brethren ? We regret to be compelled to answer in the negative .

Backbiting and petty jealousies among Masons should never be countenanced . There are some who seem to take great delight in spreading unsavory reports concerning their Brethren . Such persons should have a quietus put upon them whenever they indulge in such reprehensible and un-Masonic conduct . Masons should pull together , and not permit anything to come between them .

At times it seems to us that the " broad mantle of Masonio charity " has grown so old and threadbare that it sadly needs repairing , or , perhaps , it would be better to have an altogether new one made . — " The Masonio Record . "

No Innovation.

NO INNOVATION .

THE following paragraph has confronted us in several exchanges , generally without credit , though once it was credited to the " Tyler : " What is wanted as an element of self-protection is a quarterly password in Masonry . Other societies are in advance of us in that respect , and consequently suffer less from peripatetic impostors . Of course the difficulty in this respect would be found in the separation of several jurisdictions all

independent of each other . But all are subject to the approach of the " tramp Mason , " which would be obviated were the Brethren furnished every quarter with a word which would show him to be in good standing . Had the Masonic Congress which met in mutual admiration in Chicago advised on this point it would have been something to show for their ponderous assembling together .

We havo often had occasion to remark that Masons who belong to other Fraternities are frequently desirous of " improving" the institution by borrowing the regulations of other orders . They fail to appreciate the fact that Masonry is a peculiar institution , having nothing in common with other orders , except what the latter have borrowed from it . Many of the new

orders are excellent in their way , but they can not do the work of Masonry , and are not in any proper sense its rivals . They have a right to make such improvements as they may desire in their ritual and laws , but " it is not in the power of any man , or any set of men , to make innovations in the body ol Masonry . "

As to the quarterly password , we shall express no opinion whether it would be an innovation in the body of Masonry . Certainly , it would make a great change in the practical workings of the institution . It would restrict

No Innovation.

the right of visitation mainly to Lodges in a single jurisdiction . This is not tho case , to be sure , among the Oddfellows , for example ; but the Oddfellows have a Sovereign Grand Lodge , while Masons have none , and are not likely to have any . The universality of Masonry , along witb its divisions into numerous independent Grand Lodges , is inconsistent with an arrangement such as that suggested .

The Masonic tramp is , no doubt , a nuisance , but there are other means of restricting his pernicious activity . A little more care on the part of relief boards has already done much to discourage him , and it is by no means clear that he can be reached by a quarterly password . — " Home Journal . "

Canvassing For Office.

CANVASSING FOR OFFICE .

REPRESENTATIONS have been made to me that the practice ol canvassing for office is becoming prevalent in both private Lodges and Grand Lodges , and having been convinced , through developments made in an appeal against the election of an Officer in a certain private Lodge , that the most open and unblushing canvassing had taken place in that particular

instance , I deem it my duty to condemn as strongly as possible any suoh practice . Friends may speak well of one whose merit and ability entitle him to be promoted to Office in either private Lodge or Grand Lodge , but the making of slates , the pledging of Brethren to vote one way or the other , and all the other wiles and dodges so well known to the politician , are utterly

foreign to the genius and spirit of Masonry , and should he most emphatically frowned upon and discountenanced by every true Mason . Let us hope , for the credit of Grand Lodge , as well as private Lodges , that this evil does not exist to any alarming extent , and that the representations made to me are either without foundation or somewhat exaggerated . —Grand Master ol Canada , in his annual address .

On Tuesday last was published the first number of a new illustrated paper , " The "Unicorn , " at threepence . The permanent artistic staSwill include Messrs . Phil May , Raven-Hill , Maurice Greifienhagen , F . H . Townsend , Oscar Eckhardt , T . Wright Manuel , G . D . Armour , and Max Beerbohm ( who will caricature ) , while Mr . Raven-Hill , who was responsible for the production of " The Butterfly , " will have the directorship . " The

Unicorn" will not , however-, depend wholly on its illustrations . The conductors intend that the new paper shall be above all eminently readable and eminently up-to-date . A special feature will he made of the short story , while everything of interest to society , both at home and abroad , will find a place in its columns . The offices of the new paper are at 94 St . Martin ' s Lane , W . O .

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GAIETYEESTAUMNT, STIR-AIt-TID . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and RESTAURANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GRILL ROOM . AFTERNOON TEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , at 1 / - per head ; served from 4 till 6 in RESTAURANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERS IN RESTAURANTErom 5-30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 5 / - ) and a la Carte . In this room the Viennese Band performs from 6 till 8 . Smoking after 7 * 45 . AMERICANBAR. THE GRILL ROOM is open till Midnight . PRIVATE DDIDIG E 00 MS POR LARGE AHD SMALL PARTIES ,