The Use Of The Ballot.

THE USE OF THE BALLOT .

IN recent articles we have been urging on our readers the absolute necessity there is for exercising the extremest caution in the election of new members . We have endeavoured to impress upon them that mere increase in numerical strength does not necessarily bring with it

increased moral weight . Oftentimes , indeed , the moral influence of a society or other body of men is in an inverse ratio to its numbers , being weaker according as its numbers are greater , and stronger when its circle of members is restricted . We pointed out in two recent articles , entitled

respectively " Indiscriminate Charity " and the " Indiscriminate Admission of Candidates , " that , as regards the former , the abuse of charity was one of the surest means of encouraging into our ranks the needy and unscrupulous adventurer , who would join ns with the sole object of

making as much profit as possible out of Freemasonry ; while , as to the latter , the incautious admission of applicants would furnish a never-failing supply of these adventurers . The indiscriminate bestowal of charity must exercise a magnetic influence on the worthless alms-seeker ,

who prefers living on other people ' s good-nature to living by honest labour , and the careless admission of all candidates indiscriminately must facilitate the purpose he has in view . We therefore urged it as a principal duty on the part of all Freemasons that they should be cautious in the

distribution of alms , and still more cautious in the proposal and election of candidates , or Freemasonry will sink below the lovel of a benefit society . We now purpose devoting a brief space to the proper use of the ballot , partly because cases now and again occur which show

unmistakably there are many who do not attach due importance to the exercise of this right , but chiefly because the more careful we are in the use of the ballot , the likelier are we to secure Freemasonry from the intrusion of worthless members .

Too many regard the ballot with supreme indifference . They consider it a mere form , which may be used or abused at pleasure . They seem not to be aware that it is a right accorded to them under the Constitutions , and that when they join our Society , they bind themselves by a most

solemn obligation to exercise this right in common with all other rights and privileges , in a manner conducive to the honour and well-being of Freemasonry . We noted in our article on the "Indiscriminate Admission of Candidates , " two most flagrant cases of the abuse of the ballot , in one of

which a P . M . openly boasted of having blackballed a candidate , and of the reason which had induced him so to do . The other occurred in a District Lodge in Australia , and led to a scene of violence , which we believe we are justified in describing as well nigh without parallel in the history

of Freemasonry . It is clear that in neither of these cases had the offenders the slightest notion of the object of the ballot ; and it is certain that though these were probably exceptional cases , others less objectionable are constantly occurringeven in Lodges which are ordinarily well governed .

We frequently hear of slight contretemps in connection with our system of voting , while the fact of our highest dignitaries laying so much stress on it is sufficient evidence that its abuse is not infrequent , and moreover is generally known

throughout the Craft . A word or two in support of these dignitaries will not be out of place just now , when fresh Lodges are being constituted all over the country , and the number of the inexperienced is on the increase . In a Society like ours , the plan of voting by ballot for

The Use Of The Ballot.

tho admission of candidates is obviously necessary . Were any other than the secret plan of voting adopted , then in the case of an applicant who was admitted , bnt not unanimously , it would be well nigh impossible for him to associate comfortably with the one or two members who had opposed

his election . It is only in accordance with human nature that a feeling of soreness should influence him in his relation with them , and they , too , probably would reciprocate this feeling to a certain extent . Hero , then , we have a terrible cause of discord among those whose relations

should be harmonious . The ballot , then , being absolutely necessary in order to secure general harmony , it must be apparent to every one that the purpose with which it was adopted will be entirel y lost sight of , if the necessary secrecy is not observed , If Bro . A . proclaims openly that

he has cast , or intends casting , a blackball in the case of this or that candidate , the essential condition of tho ballot system is violated , and open voting might as well be the order of the day . It is clearly of little avail for learned writers , skilled in all the intricacies of

Masonic jurisprudence , to rule emphatically that under no circumstances must a brother make known his vote , if , as a matter of fact , brethren think lightly of tho ballot , and are never so happy as when announcing that they havo voted , or intend voting , black in certain cases . It is

indisputable that voting is one of our most important duties . We bind ourselves , on our admission into Freemasonry , to observe faithfully all the duties required of us by the Constitutions . There is no graduated scale of obligation . "We do not undertake to observe certain

duties absolutely and unreservedly , while in tho case of certain others the observance is simply contingent on our likes or dislikes . The obligation includes all , and wo are as much bound to vote secretly and conscientiously as we ai * e to fulfil the tenour of our other undertakings .

Again , it must not be overlooked that neglect of our duty in the case of the ballot is well nigh certain to entail most serious consequences to the well-being of the Craft . Wherever there is an abuse of the ballot , there it is well nigh certain that discord will prevail . As for instance ,

A . proposes a candidate , who is rejected—it may bo rightly , but ifc may equally well be , unjustly . B . or C . proposes a candidate , who is likewise rejected , not , however , on his merits , but simply because ho is the nominee of B . or C , and B . or C . is pretty generally believed to have blackballed A . ' s nominee . Then rival

cliques are formed in a Lodge , and , apart from such general dangers as are inevitable where there is cliquism , it is manifestly impossible that any applicant for admission , how respectable soever he may be , will find hia application successful , except , indeed , by accident . In

these and similar cases , the ballot is made a means for the exercise of spite or favouritism . There is nothing like the conscientious observance of a duty we are bound to fulfil , and thus the character of Freemasonry is depreciated . "VVe are presumed to exercise towards one another ,

in private as well as m public , the strictest honour , but where the ballot is misemployed , as we have said it is , too frequently , there is an entire absence of this honourable feeling . Instead of being the moral examplars we hold ourselves out to be , we descend to the exercise of the pettiest

and most lamentable malice . We are not worthy of the name of Masons , for we deliberately set at naught the most cherished principles of Masonry—those of honour and of justice . While , however , on the one hand , the ballot is oftentimes employed in satisfying the paltry dislikes of this or that