Masonic Etiquette.

suggests the necessity for members seeking office to sink their Masonic ambition under their absolute fitness for office , and to study the rationale of Freemasonry . In the case of the second instance quoted , the action was positive ,

and can only be excused upon the grounds of ignorance , but then see how the excuse reflects upon the members of the Craft who put a man in a position for which both Masonic and social qualifications were wanting .

In the course of conversations with experienced brethren , I have been informed that the two cases just quoted are not by any means exceptional . Another form of offence under Masonic etiquette is the continual conversation by floor members during the conduct of

Lodge business . It is a common practice for some members of Lodges , and visitors to Lodges , to carry on animated little discussions , quite regardless of tbe fact that there may be brethren around who take interest in the work , and who wish to learn something from the

ceremonies of the meeting . It was my lot , not long ago , in one of our leading city Lodges , to be surrounded by a number of visitors , all evidently well known to each other and residents of the same locality . A degree was the work of the evening , and

it was given in absolute perfection , but although the W . M . spoke well and spoke clearly , he was almost inaudible where I was seated , and , instead of hearing the text , I was constrained to sit and listen to some four or five men who traversed a variety of subjects from the sublime embodied

in the concert hall comic song to tho prosaic peculiarities of municipal kerbing and guttering . You will ask why I did not change my seat and get rid of the infliction ? My answer is simple enough .

Circumstances govern cases , and without letting my tormentors see my annoyance , I could not effect a change unless I were guilty of a rudeness quite equal to what I was subjected to .

The interchange of fraternal visits is desirable from every point of view , and the practice appears on the increase , especially with the younger members of the Order . It may not bo generally known that no brother is

justified in visiting any Lodge except upon the special invitation of the W . M . for the time being of the Lodge visited . The rale is not strictly observed , but for every reason it should be enforced in the interest of Lodges . The W . M . for the time holds in his hands the welfare of

his Lodge , the Constitution and the elective wisdom of the brethren of the Lodge vesting that welfare in bim , presumably upon his ability to discharge the trust to the satisfaction of the Grand Lodge authorities , the Craft in general , and his own Lodge in particular .

Masonically , the first duty of a brother is to his Lodge and the W . M . thereof , and a brother extending an invitation to visit bis Lodge without first submitting the name of the brother to be invited , is de facto guilty of an act of insubordination . The value of the etiquette which

vests the right of approving or disapproving of the judgment of a brother , perhaps of less knowledge and experience than his W . M ., is too obvious to be dilated on , and a quantity that under onr Constitution will not admit of argument . It will , of course , be understood that I am

only referring to the duties of members of Lodges as such , and not advocating such hard and fast adhesion to the rule as would deprive stranger brethren of the privileges and pleasures which visiting out of their district or Masonic

territory so often affords . Under existing and prescribed regulations , such visits are more than desirable ; they are necessary under the conditions of fraternal recognition of and by the various Grand Lodges throughout the world .

The whole question of Masonic etiquette is one well worthy the attention of every brother , and especially of such brethren as hold office . It was my own experience as well as pleasure to have belonged to a Lodge which at the particular time I am about to mention had attained a

high standard of working . One of the visitors at one of our meetings was the W . M . of a Lodge in the same locality , who was accompanied by his officers and several other members of his own Lod ge . At the refreshment-board this W . M . stated that he thought Freemasonry suffered much

very indeed because of the High Church tone adopted b y many of the Lodges in carrying out their work . He deprecated Hi gh Church tone in Lodges , because so many of the brethren , himself among the number , did not hold with High Church rigid ceremony , and would not conform to it , and for such reason , evidently

Masonic Etiquette.

to him a very satisfactory one , he always believed in conducting business in a way that would be in consonance with the wishes of his Lodge members . This case is a peculiar one in itself , and it would be bard indeed to suggest a remedy which would meet it . The statement expressed

as for himself—and , I presume , for such brethren as this worthy and Worshipful Master was acquainted withargued simply mental and social unfitness for our brotherhood , ignorance of our principles , and ignorance of what the plain language of the obligations of Freemasonry

means . In discussing matters Masonic with several more experienced brethren than myself , I have very frequently brought up the matter of etiquette under our ceremonies ,

and one and all have come to the same conclusion , viz ., that it is not observed as it should be , and not enforced because it is so little studied by the majority of the brethren .

The time permitted me by our W . M . will not admit of any attempt to analyse the position , my mission for tbe time being to direct attention to some of tho instances of violation of etiquette which are of not infrequent occurrence , and to point out what such violation actually means

when subjected to logical consideration . It may be said by some brethren that my opinions are but the results of individual observation , on the look-out , perhaps , for actions which are magnified into offences when they should be looked upon with charity . The charge would be quite

true were it not for the fact that the cases I have cited are of frequent occurrence , and patent to every brother who visits Lodges . If one brother sees in them grounds for complaint , others must do the same , and it is our duty one to another to make such interchange of opinions as will best servo the interests of the Craft .

In conclusion , it will be observed that although I have cited four cases of violation of Masonic etiquette , they resolve themselves actually into only three different forms of it , and it will be further observed that they refer only to the relations existing between the chair and the brethren in

Lodge assembled . The matter , is altogether too much to deal with at one time , and I have left untouched tho relations as between the floor and other Lodge officers , and as between the brethren on the floor , with the hope that

some brother of experience may think those relations sufficiently important to justify him in devoting a little time to affording the Craft some information concerning them . —New South Wales Freemason .

The consecration of the Columbia Lodge , No . 2397 , took p lace on Thursday last , at the Cafe Royal , Regent-street , with the greatest success . Being desirous of giving a full account of the proceedings we withhold report until our

next issue . Suffice it now to state that the ceremony was admirably rendered by Bro . Col . Shadwell Gierke G . S ., assisted by Bros . Rev . R . J . Simpson P . G . C ., T . Fenn , W . G . Lemon , C . F . Matier , and Col . Bristow . Bro . Adol phus Clark was duly installed as the first Worshipful Master .

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Festival account has been still further increased this week . Additions have been made to the tune of £ 130 17 s . This proves that the Benevolent Institution has the best wishes of the Craft at large .

On the nomination of Bro . M . R . Wobb W . M ., seconded

by Bro . Alderman Renals P . M ., Bro . H . S . Foster , who is a candidate for the Shrievalty , has been elected a member of the Aldersgate Lodge .

WELSH MASONIC OHAKITIES . —At a meeting of the members of the North Wales Masonic Charities , recently held at Chester , Brother T . E . Harris ( Bangor ) retired from the Honorary Secretaryship , and H . A . Steer ( Rhyl ) was appointed his successor , with Bro . D . Wynn Williams ( Bangor ) as acting Secretary . The Treasurer Brother C . W . Richards announced that there was £ 324 in hand on the two

funds . Four boys were now in the schools , and one girl , tho daughter of Bro . R . Griffith , National School ? , Llanfairfechan . Grants were voted for the education of brethren ' s children , the son of the late Bro . Nevin , Colwyn Bay , well known in commercial circles in North Wales , being adopted by the Province aa a candidate for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Bro . C . K . Benson ( Wrexham ) was unanimously elected Chairman of the association .