Criticisms Fair And Unfair.

CRITICISMS FAIR AND UNFAIR

A CORRESPONDENT who addresses us under this heading , whose effusion is published below , concerns himself most anxiously lest our subscribers list should suffer owing to our exercising our privileges in the criticism of Masonic functions . We have , in the course of our business , to employ some reporters

who are not P . M . ' s , but whose youthful , as well as Masonic education and subsequent experience quality them most thoroughly to report and comment upon Lodge work , and even to suggest criticisms which are of course approved or qualified in our editorial sanctum . Now when these comments have " got

home" add touched even tenderly the minor failings of some P . M . ' s , "we have heard of some of them babbling feeble protests in the streets , and lobbies of our Lodge rooms , and deprecating criticisms from the floor of the Lodge and even threatening us

with condign punishment . They forget tbat the " rank and file in Freemasonry are they to whom they should set a safe and appropriate example , and are ever the severest critics of their teachers .

It is also most apparent that those who are most resentful of criticism are ever those who have need of ^ reproof and admonition , in some cases in a direction quite outside the mere ceremonial work of Freemasonry . Now whilst we take no less author than Simms for our guide upon criticism who says : —

" Justly to discriminate , freely to establish , wisely to prescribe , and honestly to award , these are the true aims and duties of criticism . " we cannot possibly injure our prospects by the loss of subscribers or support , because for every name so lost we win at least a dozen or twenty good men who fully appreciate the objects of our

work . Indeed , we have been most' lenient in our methods . If there be instances where faults have been heinous and exposure would possibly reflect injuriously upon Lodges which otherwise were aiming at high standards of excellence , then our work has been garbed in mere suggestion and hypothesis , and if the cap

fits so admirably that the culprits must put it on , then we congratulate them upon wearing it as a warning and example to others , but when happily we are honestly able side by side with just and carefully considered criticism , to commend for other

excellences , no Lodge or individual need be unhappy , even if named . We are glad to be able to command the testimony of many Lodges that we have been the means of improving their ceremonies and inciting their members to nobler efforts towards a higher standard .

When indignation and threats at well deserved criticism have been hurled at us in some territories , and Lodge doors tyled against our representatives , the pen of the reporter has still been at work , mightier than the sword , to correct and chastise . No doubt some Lodges are represented by hypersensitive persons

who in their ignorance of the fitness of things are rebellious at admonition , but whilst we have persisted in our work with singleness of purpose , the old fashioned and pusillanimous Masonic publications in South Australia and New South Wales

have one by one ceased to issue , whilst in Victoria our circulation has doubled in the past three months and quadrupled during the past twelve months , a marked and satisfactory proof of the appreciation of good men .

For those who cannot see any better way than that which they have been blindly following , our remarks are often , no doubt , caustic enough , but would even these Brethren honestly appreciate the fulsome flattery of which they have been made the subject in past years by a servile and imbecile Masonic Press ? If they

would we submit the following sample of a Lodge report for their approval , but suggest that they should send their invitations elsewhere than to our office , and leave us to procure our information through the numberless and unfailing channels which are open to us :

LODGE OF INFALLIABLE FREEMASONS , No . OOO , Z . C .

THE Lodge met on the 16 th February , under the presidency of that honoured , learned and Grand Mason , Wor . Bro . Blank . The minutes were dul y discoursed by the erudite Very Wor . Bro . Secretary , and teemed with the choicest and most brilliant phrases of the English language , and set forth the important proceedings of the previous meeting ( tho reading of the Bye-laws ) in a terse and business-like manner highly creditable to the compiler of this difficult record . The Treasurer M . Wor . Bro . Shilling , gave

an exhaustive resume of the transactions of the Lodge , which showed : — Balance in Bank , lslld ; receipts from dues , 4 s ; outstanding arrears of dues , ± 270 9 s 4 ^ d ; expenses on refreshments , £ 30 19 s Id ; charity , 5 s ; Secretarial emoluments , £ 2 2 s ; rent , £ 15 ; circulars and postage , £ 10 7 s ; fee to Installing Master £ 2 2 s ; four rituals for the use of chief Officers in Lodge , 12 s ; gloves for Tyler , 3 s ; subscription to Masonic monthly ( three years in arrears ) , 6 s . Balance debit , under however favourable prospects , if dues be got in , £ 66 11 a 7-j-d . The accomnanvinff renort of the Anditnrswn . srpflnnr 1 n . rikwit . il

its compliments to the Treasurer . The candidate Mr . Gamaliel , was duly balloted for , it transpiring prior to the election that this gentleman could neither read nor write , but owing to his high social position and great abilities as a rollicking songster this slight drawback was overlooked . Musical accompaniments to the ceremonial of initiation were dispensed with as wholl y unnecessary in view of the eloquence of the chief Officers , the complete lack of the aspirates in Bro . Blank ' s delivery considerably enhancing the impressiveness of the ceremony , and embellishing whilst giving originalitc to the ritual . The work throughout was faultless , and the mobt eulogistiy

Criticisms Fair And Unfair.

adjectives fail to adequately express the truly magnificent proceedings . _ One candidate was proposed in solemn formalities , which showed careful training , by a Brother on tho floor . The D . C . carried his wand with a grace and ease rarely equalled . We sincerely and humbly trust that our efforts to do justice to this Lodge will be fully appreciated by all tho members , and that the tone

of fearless criticism we have assumed will meet with their approval , and that none of them will withdraw their valuable support , not even those in arrears ou our books . Should additio ' nal notices be required the proprietors are prepared to cater for tho Lodge by gratuitously adding extra pages to contain them , and all other Lodges are invited to apply this hint in their own cases .

We are assured however , that there are many Brethren who still appreciate our present independent course , which has been to criticise in as terse and kindly a manner as the occasion and circumstances will admit . — " Masonry . "

The following is the letter referred to above : To the Editor of "Masonry . " DEAK Sin AND Bito . —It was with feelings of doubt , aad therefore regret , that I read your various criticisms in your late issues . There can be no doubt that you have always been exceeding the bounds of duty which a Masonic newspaper should observe , and I feel confident tho tone assumed by you cannot fail to injuriously affect your subscribers roll . What is wanted

is a fair and exact record of facts , and if a Lodge likes to havo choral accompaniments during the entire evening it has nothing to do with your reporters . I am afraid my advice is rather outspoken , but it is given with the best intentions , and I hope you will find space for what expresses the views of many influential brethren . Yours fraternally , AN OLD P . M . South Melbourne , 2 nd March 1895 .

The new _ and revised edition of " Cassell ' s Illustrated History of England , " which is just completed , has occupied nearly nine years to produce . The new illustrations prepared expressly for this edition have alone cost upwards of £ 11 , 000 . The work has been thoroughly revised and reset in new type .

In acknowledging the receipt of the first part of Messrs . Cassell & Co . 's new serial work , " Battles of the Nineteenth Century , " Lieut .-Col . Sir G . S . Clarke , E . E ., writes— " In times of peace there is too little to attract the mind of thc nation to the army . Your serial , ' Battles of the Nineteenth Century , ' as I understand its objects , should provo of great value in keeping

active an interest in military matters and counteracting the depressing influence of debates on Army Estimates . It is a good thing for civilians and for soldiers to bo reminded of noble deeds , and nothing could he better for our young officers and men than to read of tho splendid achievements of tbo army to which they belong . "

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GAIETYRESTAURANT, STttJLJSTJD . LUNCHEONS ( HOT and COLD)—At Popular Prices , in BUFFET and EESTAUEANT ( on 1 st floor ) . Also Chops , Steaks , Joints , Entrees , & c , in the GEILL EOOM . AFTERNOONTEAConsisting of Tea or Coffee , Cut Bread and Butter , Jam , Cake , Pastry , ad lib , at 1 / - per head ; served from 4 till 6 in EESTAUEANT ( 1 st floor ) . DINNERSINRESTATJRANTFrom 5-30 till 9 at Fixed Prices ( 3 / 6 and 6 / - ) and a la Carte . In this room the VIENNESE BAND performs from 6 till 8 . Smoking after 7-45 . AMERICANBAR. THEGRILLROOM is open till Midnight . PET 7 ATE DDIII & EOOMS TOE LARGE AND SMALL PAETIES .