The Scottish Admission Question.

THE SCOTTISH ADMISSION QUESTION .

THAT Scotland-is altogether behind modern ideas in regard to the enquiries made by its Lodges , and the regulations it officially enforces relating to the

admission of candidates for the mysteries of Freemasonry , is further evidenced by the proceedings at a recent meeting of the St . Vincent Lodge , No . 553 , at

which , as reported by " The Trowel in the " Glasgow Echo , " there was a good deal of talking in regard to a motion " which wished to lay it down as a rule that candidates' names should be put on the circulars calling

meetings of the Lodge . " This proposition , it appears , was the means of

bringing out the largest number of members seen at the Lodge for a considerable period , so that we have evidence at the outset that the subject is one that interests our Scottish Brethren to a considerable extent

and we can also judge from the result of the vote on the proposition—which was defeated by 44 votes to 16—of the opposition with which the whole question is likely to be met when it is brought forward for serious

consideration among the Brethren of the Scottish

Constitution . On submitting his motion the proposer said it was a great compliment to him that " his motion could bring out such a number of members of the Lodge ,

especially the Senior Magistrate of the city , who had not been seen there for four years . " He then proceeded to support his proposition on the ground " that every member had a right to have a voice in the

admission of every candidate to the Lodge . Besides , it was good for the candidate to have his name put on the circular , so that when he came into the Lodge ho would not come as a stranger , but would be known

to the members , and , if worthy , would receive the righthand of fellowship . Masonry was too cheap . He considered it a strange thing that our ancient and

honourable Order , around which our forefathers had built a wall of defence with such care , could be entered with much more ease than some of the little clubs in

a city . Now that they were rich in benevolence , they should see that none became members who would be likely to be launched on the benevolent fund within a few months of their initiation .

The Grand Lodge of Canada was protecting herself from the Scotch Masons by refusing to receive in affiliation a member who had got his three degrees in one night ; and at the June meeting of the Benevolent

Board of New York seventy-two Scotch Masons applied for relief , against forty-seven English Masons and eighteen Irish , showing that there were more applications from Scotland than from England and Ireland put together . That showed that the quality of Scotch

The Scottish Admission Question.

Masons was not improving , and that they should now adopt some plan whereby the interests of the Craft might be protected . He mentioned , in conclusion ,

that his motion had the approval of the Grand Cashier , the P . G . L . of Glasgow Province , and Major F . W . Allan Provincial Grand Superintendent of Eoyal Arch Masonry in the district . "

Looked at from an English Mason ' s point of view it is matter of surprise that such a proposal and such arguments should be necessary in order to enforce a rule which English Masons are accustomed to , and

which doubtless seems to us all absolutely necessary in order to guard the portals of Freemasonry from the inroads of unworthy or undesirable candidates . We

venture to think very many of our readers will now learn for the first time that such laxity in regard to the admission of candidates into the Masonic Order

exists really at their own doors , and it seems almost madness to stand by and allow such procedure when we , under the English Constitution , are being so continually urged to take even greater precautions

than have hitherto been general , and to make more rigid enquiry into the capabilities of candidates before admitting them to a participation of the benefits of Freemasonry .

The report we have already quoted from goes on to state that an amount of oratory was forthcoming in opposition to the vote , among those who spoke against it being some of the Past Masters , and in 0 § result , as we have mentioned , it was defeated by 44

to 16 , so that , as the Brother who wished to enforce the rule said , it will be possible to secure admission to all the benefits of Freemasonry through this Lodge —and doubtless many others in Scotland are similarly circumstanced—with much more ease than it would be

possible to enter some of the little clubs of any ordinary city . Can it be right to allow this to continue without some protest being offered on the part of . Sister

Jurisdictions , the members of which are almost as much interested in the proper management of Freemasonry among their neighbours as those neighbours themselves ? We have shown that the Grand Lodge

of Canada is taking steps to protect itself against what it considers the irregularities of Scotland in one direction , but we do not think it would be equally

possible to exclude Scotch Masons admitted without any previous proposition or notice to the members of the Lodge in which they were originally received .

Having once been admitted a Member of the Order there is no possibility of " uu-makirjg " a Mason , and on that account the greatest caution is necessary

before allowing the first step to be taken , indeed the whole futuro of the Institution depends on the care