Poor Candidates And The Voting System.

only moral influences can weigh with individuals . Something , however , might be done in a manner we have already indicated . When a brother takes up a case , and shows his interest in it by drawing upon his own purse , it is fair to suppose that if he borrows votes he will repay them . He

would not be likely to exceed his means , or rather , his means would be equal to any demands made upon them . The same may bo said of Lodges , whose reputations are the more strongly fortified because of the many who man them , and whose failure would be the more disastrous

from the same cause . Lenders should exercise discretion as to whom they entrust their votes . They should discard the practice of seeking interest , and look to security . Were the means we have suggested carried out , many

brethren would be saved from themselves , the poorer candidates would stand on an equality with others more favoured , and a system full of evils and dangers would be destroyed , or , at any rate , greatly purified .

The Grand Treasurership.

THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP .

ALREADY steps have been taken in this matter in view of the coming election of Grand Officers . We

believe a large majority of the Craft are in favour of the office of Grand Treasurer being held by a different brother each year , and in accordance with this theory a meeting was held on Tuesday last , at the Holborn Restaurant . Over a hundred Metropolitan and Provincial Lodges were

represented , and there were also present several Grand Officers . A resolution was carried unanimously to the effect that Bro . Horace Brooks Marshall , CO ., D . L ., is a fit and worthy brother to succeed Bro . John Derby Allcroft as Grand Treasurer for 1884 , the brethren present

pledging themselves to use their influence to secure his election . There is a rumour afloat that Bro . Colonel Creaton will be put in nomination by an influential section of Grand Lodge . Personally there can be no objection to Bro . Creaton , but it would be well for his friends to

consider the possibilities of the case . Respect ought to be had for the views of the large majority of the Craft , who believe that the honour of the office of Grand Treasurer should be dispensed year by year to worthy brethren , not only as a mark of esteem , but also to stimulate a spirit of

friendly emulation . Bro . Creaton has already received honour at the hands of Grand Lodge ; Bro . Allcroft superseded him last year in accordance with the spirit we have referred to , and now the time has come round again for a further choice . We sincerely hope that the friends of

Bro . Creaton will not persist in their intentions of putting him forward , if they have formed such an intention . They should remember that success would cause wide-spread irritation , and defeat would damage a reputation that stands deservedly high . With regard to Bro . Marshall ,

* we may say that he is a very worthy brother . He is attached to several Lodges , and a Companion of at least one Chapter ; he holds a prominent position in the City of London , and is a most generous supporter of the Masonic Charities . Indeed , Bro . Marshall is noted for his

largeheartedness , and his services are frequently sought when any charitable movement is on foot . He already possesses forty-six silver trowels as mementoes of his labours and those of Mrs . Marshall , who heartily seconds her husband ' s

efforts . The record , therefore , of Bro . Marshall is good ; he is wealthy and benevolent . He is held in great respect in every relation of life , and his ambition seems to lead him in those directions where he can combine personal honour with a large exercise of charity .

MASONIC TEMPLE , HOLBORN RESTAURANT . —We take the following from the pro « pectus issued by the proprietors . They say that the Temple " has been declared by competent anthority to be a very beantifnl example of harmonious aud appropriate decorations . It has been constructed from special designs . . . . The ceiling of

aome snape , is ot a clear , almost turquoise blue , clustered with gold stars , the centre being occupied with an electro sunburner , from which diverge straight and sinuous rays of raised gold . On a blue and gold frieze , beneath the dome , are pictorial and astronomical representations of the signs of the Zodiac . The panelling of the walls ia a light blue , with white and gold ornament , outlined in deeper

Blue , ana centred by smaller panels , alternately containing groups of flowers , and figures representing the Masonio virtues of Temperance , Prudence , Fortitude , Fidelity , Obedience , and Secrecy . The styles are deep red , gold , and black , and in recesses in the walls are red and gold Ionic columns mounting to a cornice of white and gold , bearing mottoes or inscriptions . There are two fine stained . glass ' windows in this room , with figures of Benevolence and Charity .

High Degrees.

HIGH DEGREES .

TT is not at all surprising that Freemasons should aspire ¦* ¦ to the possession of high degrees—on the contrary , such a course of conduct is altogether commendable . Usually , whatever is low is unworthy . Low companions are unhealthy , and so is a dwelling-house upon low

ground . We take high ground on this question of degrees —as high as the highest . We say , let us have the highest , or none . Whoever receives the first degree in Masonry , should at the same time hope to attain to the hi ghest and last degree ; if he does not he is a poor Mason .

From the beginning Freemasonry set up a high standard for itself , and p lanted its standard upon high ground . Where did our traditional Grand Master , King Solomon , build his Temple ? Down in a valley , or high on a hill ? Let Mount Moriah answer . For four thousand years , from

Adam to Christ , mountains were sacred places . The prophet Samuel writes of " the hill of God , " and King David asks , " Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord ? or who shall stand in His holy place ? " And again , " The hill of God is * * * a high hill , as the hill of Bashan , "

" I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion . " The First Great Light in Masonry condemns high places only when they are used for the worship of false gods . King Solomon was on Mount Gibeon when the Grand Architect

of the Universe said unto him , " Ask what I shall give thee ? " and Solomon wisely asked , and received " an understanding heart . " Just as the Freemason looks up to his Worshipful Master , or Grand Master , so when he is an Entered

Apprentice he should look forward and upward to the time when he shall receive the highest degree . But what is the hig hest degree in ancient Freemasonry ? One hundred and forty odd years ago , in the fourth decade of the last century , this question was

earnestly asked , as it is to-day . Prior to that time only THREE Masonic degrees were conferred , viz .: Entered depprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason . Then some dissatisfied brethren started a Lodge having a higher degree , conferring FOUR degrees in all , the highest and

last being that of the Royal Arch . This " high degree , whether it was made by division or addition , " took , " and the result is that it is now universally acknowledged over the Masonio world to be the hig hest and last degree of Ancient Craft Masonry . In England it is conferred to this day in

Royal Arch Lodges , as it formerly was in America ; while in the latter it is now exclusively conferred in Royal Arch Chapters , the Grand Lodges having relinquished their jurisdiction over it . We are now prepared to answer the question , What was , and is , the highest degree in Ancient

Freemasonry ? Prior to about 1736-9 , it was the Master Mason's Degree ; since that time it has been the Royal Arch Degree . But , the reader may say , You ignore the genuine High Degrees ? Not at all . We are writing of Ancient , not

Modern Masonry . We are guaging what we say by the old original Masonic degree-metre , in use in the Craft for a century and a-half past , and not by any recently fabricated metre , rising into the hundreds of degrees . A recent writer on political economy says : " It no doubt wounds

the vanity of a philosopher who is just ready with a new solution of the universe , to be told to mind his own business . " Not a few brethren have performed in an analogous role , in seeking to IMPROVE Masonry by adding to it several hundred different sorts of degrees , thus repeatedly offering

a new solution of the question as to which is the highest degree . They have envied King Solomon his honours . They are not satisfied with getting into the newspapers only when they marry , or die , but they wish to be looked up to and published in the Masonic papers during their

lives as great degree inventors , and ritual manufacturers . They want to be sovereigns , Possibly they want also to bo rich , for are not degrees sold for so much money , and must not additional bodies have so many additional salaried Officers ? This is a very low way of looking at very high

degrees , but it is a very fair way . It seems that there is a certain proportion of the Masonic community that must possess all attainable degrees , even if there be no degree 1 nest

of comfort left m their home as a consequence . - brethren the degree manufacturer considers legitimate game , and he captures all of them that he can in hia network . Quite a ludicrous result follows , when , as sometimes happens , two sets of brethren , who are diametrically op-