An Unusual View.

mighty unpopular man who could not boast of at least one mysterious title . He could at the very least be a Warden of the Outer Portal , the plain English of which was keeper of the outside door , and that was sometimes in the nature of a rather doubtful compliment . Since that time , however , the

passion for secret societies has in good measure passed away , and nothing remains of many of the new orders except memory , while that constantly grows dim . The ' historic ' orders hold sway , as they have for many years and must for many years more , but the seriousness with which they were

at one time regarded by the uninitiate has very materially diminished . In truth , with a large part of the membership there is only a sort of good natured contempt , which laughs at many of their pretensions and which rates them as among the playthings of life . The old type of secret society man , described in a remark made of one of them who was

conspicuous , in this city years ago , that ' he never took any comfort for fear he would do something that was un-Masonic , ' has about disappeared . The times are not so favourable to his evolution as they once were .

" At the foundation of the secret society as we know it in this country is undoubtedly the social instinct . In other times and in other lands , and indeed in our own , the secret society has had a political or a religious purpose . But even that , so far as America is concerned , could not have been

accomplished had it not been for the desire of men having common motives and common objects to meet in a social way , in some place where all could stand on a common plane . Added to this are two or three influences which appeal strongly to many men , and especially to many young

menmystery , exclusiveness , and pomp . The Secret Society attracts because it has , or professes to have , a secret . To be sure , the initiate often finds that there is no secret worth knowing , but so long as those on the outside do not suspect the truth , no harm is done . Then the Secret Society sets

up the claim of rigid selection of membership . Not every one can penetrate to the mysteries . It is worth sometning to enter a circle which not everybody else can enter . In a way , this is a realisation of aristocracy—and , to be frank , often as good an aristocracy as some other circles which

arrogate the name . It has as much and as good a foundation . Surmounting all this is the pomp—the ritual , which says commonplace things in a lofty way , aiid which frames noble sentiments in turgid language ; the regalia , of royal reds and purples , glittering with gold ; the whole theatric panoply of

initiation ; the imposing titles , in which all the glory of mediaeval lore is exhausted . It all went straight in times that are past to the hearts of men with a passion for the theatric—and it does now , for that matter , in men of similar mould . But to the great multitude of men who at early periods of their life

find their way into one Lodge or another , it is only a passing show . Hundreds of those who retain membership in the societies in which they once found pleasure do so only from a regard for the memory oE their own sentimentality , and not

because the thing seems to them now as anything more than a bit of faded acting . It was part of the necessary experience of younger life . Now it is outgrown , and they know it , though they only half make the admission .

' We observe of late some discussion about Secret Societies and their effect upon the religious and social life of the country . Some good men have just been having a convention in Boston , at which they devoted a whole day and evening to dilating upon the malevolence of the Lodge and especially to

deploring and attacking its blasting influences upon the Christian church . Not long ago we reproduced from a southern newspaper , published by a negro , an interesting article upon the abnormal rise of the secret society among the coloured people of the south , and a' coloured clergyman of this

city has stated that the assertions of that article were not overdrawn . In all these instances , the critics were agreed that the secret society constitues a direct and serious menace to the church and , as a deduction , to the best religious life of the people . The reply of the

champion of the secret society to these arraignments is summed up in one sentence , whether the society is black ' or white—that his Lodge is more Christian than the church . We have no disposition to decide on this point as between the

opposing views . Some Lodges may be more Christian than some churches , for aught we know , and some Most Worshipful Potentates may be better followers of the Master ¦ h -: some clergymen . What the foes and the advocates alike overlook is that , barring exceptional cases , the secret

An Unusual View.

society has no staying power with the most of men . It belongs to an early stage of human experience , which in the majority of instances passes away , and gives place to needs that are not satisfied with ornate rituals and glowing attire and majestic titles . Whatever may hereafter become of the

church , we do not pretend to say . That has its own problem which we cannot consider here . But those who see in the secret society a serious foe to the best interests of a race or of social and religious life foreet the very plain and decided limitations of such a society . To by far the most men there

comes a time when it is outgrown , even if the nominal connection with it continues . Its ceremonies pall , its dress rows tawdry , its titles become wearisome . Summing up all there is of undoubted good and of adaptation to the needs of men in such organisations , it is yet true that all their pomp

and glory , all their mysterv and exclusiveness , lose their charm when men come into close relation with the soberness of a life which is filled with secrets such as no Lodge could ever expound and of realities beside which the drama of the initiation is childish . For a childish epoch of life the

Fraternity has its use , and we cannot deny that it has served more than one noble purpose ; but for man grown the Fraternal feeling which the Lodge inculcates in sign and symbol must have a far wider application , and one which is not overlaid with mummeries . And , therefore , we must

conclude that all the forebodings of our friends , white and black , who view the Secret Society with dread and with hate , are wasted . In its day it may flourish vigorously ; but its day must be like the day of all things human . "" American Tyler . "

Rotatio In Office.

ROTATIO IN OFFICE .

THE custom of rotation in Office adopted by many Lodges is the root of much harm , as a visit to many Lodges

will demonstrate , and is a matter for serious consideration . Qualification and not rotation should govern the selection of all Lodge Officers , especially the ¦•Master . To fill this station of honour well is a laudable ambition . To have a

Master who can fill this exalted Office should be the pride of every member . The Master is just what his title implies , not merely a chairman or presiding Officer , but Master , and such he must be in fact as in name , if he is not , the Craft suffers at the expense of the Lodge , the members of which are to

be blamed , or pitied , for with them rests , primarily , the duty of electing a Master fully qualified , " to open , rule , and govern the Lodge . " The person chosen should be one well skilled , not perchance one who has served as Junior or Senior Warden for a term , who owes his election as such to a few new

members because they think him a good fellow , regardless of special qualifications , and whose station has been filled , by request , many times during the year , as this vicious policy of rotation in Office would suggest . The better policy , in our judgment , says the " Pacific Mason , " " is young men in the

South , middle-aged men in the West , and matured men in the East ; and the Lodge that adopts this plan will soon see the benefit of having many members Past Wardens and a few Past Masters . " In a recent visit to an old Lodge the members present consisted entirely of Past Masters , and when the

Degree work was conferred m that Lodge it was simply horrible—and why—rotation in Office ; the Master cared not to perfect himself in his work , knowing that at next election the Senior Warden would succeed him , hence he exerted himself to learn the work sufficiently only to enable him to

stumble through his term , and at the end be a Past Master , with little or no knowledge of the principles of Masonry , landmarks , regulations or constitution . Keep this rotation up for six or ten years and what is the result ? To be a Master in truth is not an easy task , nor one that a man can

quality himself for in a day ; it requires years of study and experience . He should bring with him to the Office a thorough knowledge of the principles of the Institution and be well versed in the work ; from the time of his installation to the end of his term , when another is installed in his nlace .

he is the Master , the source of wisdom to his Lodge , and before he is installed into his exalted station he must assume certain responsibilities , and bind himself by solemn pledge to the ancient usuages , to which special attention is called ,

for the Lodge in particular and the Craft at large has a right to know and demand from every Brother selected to the exalted station of Worshipful Master , that he be a good man and true , a peaceful citizen , obedient to the laws of our country , and not a conspirator against our government ;