Masonic Dues.

purpose ; he will hand out the money , and before he know it he has paid all arrearages and one year in advance Richard Roe is in arrear fifeeen dollars . The Secretary reports to the Worshipful Master ( mind , to the East , and

not to the floor of the Lodge ) , that Bro . Roe thinks he was not fairly treated on a certain occasion , or is too poor to pay up . The grievance is removed , or , if poverty be the cause , proper statements are made to the Lodge , the dues

are remitted by the payment of five dollars and the promise recorded to pay in advance hereafter , which will be fulfilled if this business is properly handled . The brethren are saved from suspension and the Lodge from depleted membership .

We will give the promised example here . The Worshipful Master is informed by his Secretary that an aged brother , several years in arrear for dues , wishes to

consult him . The name and amount in open Lodge would precipitate a discussion , and opposing parties probably result . But floor discussion is not in order , hence the

brother ' s case is between himself and the proper officers . This illustration will be found to have been the experience of many . The brother is persuaded by the Worshipful

Master to come into the Lodge and state his cause . He does so and is not prejudiced by any former discussion . His story ia the experience of many another . During active business life he united with the Order . While he

had the means he paid his dues and liberally in other directions as well , and now , verging well on to four-score years he finds himself unable to longer contribute , and asks that the accrued dues of the past few years be abated ,

and an honourable discharge ( dimit ) be granted . What is the result ? The dues are abated , the future dues remitted , and an exhibition of Masonic feeling not often seen makes a deep impression on all present . The " pay up or get out" spirit flees .

In conclusion , the advice , earnestly urged , is to clear up the books . Settle with each brother annually . If the past officers have neglected their duty , close up and begin anew . Nothing will bring to the surface for settlement

the sins of omission and commission of the past as will this , and the good feeling engendered by a fraternal adjustment of these things will go far towards the stoppage

of losses by withdrawal , becoming non-affiliates , and that , other curse—suspension for non-payment of dues . —Voice of Masonry .

The Mason's Family.

THE MASON'S FAMILY .

WE have heard it asserted that a Freemason has no business to be married , or to have a family . Why not ? Aie the six hundred thousand Freemasons in the United States to be relegated to the positions of bachelors or widowers ? Are the Brethren who are not married to

remain single , and those who are to have proceedings commenced against them to sever the marriage tie ? What is the meaning of this wholesale indictment against the members of the Masonic Fraternity ?

It is alleged , we are told , that Freemasons are " never at home , " or— " hardly ever . " Is this true ? for if it be true there is some ground for the complaint , since no man who possesses a family has any right to absent himself from it

continuously . If he has a wife , or children , or both , they have a mortgage upon him for life , payable in daily interest instalments of kindly attentions . He is not his

own man , for he is their husband and father ; he belongs to them , as well as to himself . There is thus a joint interest in his person , possessions and time .

But what ia the foundation iov this charge , that some Freemasons are better known abroad than at home ?

It is replied , that it is due to the multiplication of Masonic degrees , which are about as numerous , or as Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks In Vallambrosa .

We have had a " Masonic Register " sent to us to prove it . Its title-page reads as follows : " Masonic Register , Maitland , Ontario , Canada . Thirty Masonic Bodies meeting under warrants , conferring a total of 282 degrees . "

Thirty Masonic bodies ! If these bodies meet once a month , that would fill every night in the month , so where could the Mason's family find a spare night awarded it ?

With this presentation ofthe matter our sympathies are all with the Mason ' s family . But while the rest of creation is probably not afflicted as Maitland , Canada , is with so-called

The Mason's Family.

" Masonic " bodies , some other sections with which we are acquainted appear to be aspiring to that distinction . The truth is , there are too many miscalled " Masonic" bodies everywhere , and Ancient Craft Masonry suffers from it ,

together with Masons'families . There is a erase for inventing new societies composed of Master Masons . Their inventors forthwith dub them " Masonic , " which they are not . No society is Masonic simply because its membership is composed of Masons . It is " principles , not men , " that make Masonry , and no one by diluting even these principles ,

and serving them up in a different shape , or by making Masons the constituents of a new organization can thereby extend Masonry . But suppose a brother indulges only in what , by

common consent , is regarded as " legitimate " Masonry , in Lodge , Chapter , Council and Commandery . Suppose he is active in all of these bodies at the same time , and an office holder . Necessarily he is a busy Mason . Then add

to these regular duties the incidental ones of committee work , funerals , and the like , and probably it were as well if he were a bachelor instead of a Benedict . It possibly is a question of suffering—whether it shall be his brethren ,

living and deceased , and their widows and orphans , or his wife and children . Which shall it be ? It should bo neither . One ' s duties should be so assumed and so adjusted that they may not interfere with each other . This can be

done . That brother is more than foolish who holds official station in all of his Masonic bodies at the same time . Thereby he does not do justice to them , to himself , nor to his family .

We confess we sympathise with some Masons' families

The man who takes only breakfasts regularly , supper occasionally , and dinner never , at home ( except on Sundays ) , and is but the " sleeping partner " in the household firm , and not statedly that , might almost as well remove to

Maitland , Canada , and join all of its thirty " Masonic " bodies . There is another matter in which Masons' wives and

families are overlooked , and this by the Craft itself . Of course it goes without saying that a woman cannot be a Freemason , nor receive any so-called " side degree " which will communicate to her a particle of Masonry . Nor can

she rightly be present at any meeting of a Lodge , convened for work of any character whatever . But we have often thought that Freemasons should not be as chary as they are , of granting to their wives and daughters an

opportunity to share in reunions with their husbands and fathers who are members of the Craft , upon occasions that are not official . The least that Masonry can do is to grant some pleasure of this description to those from whom they

ask so much . We are all social beings , and bereft of the social feature even Freemasonry itself might find its quietus . Let us occasionally allow the partners of our hearts and

homes to share with us our purely social enjoyments , for they will thereby gain none of our secrets , while they will learn to respect us as Freemasons , and love us the more as

husbands , fathers and brothers . —Keystone .

On the 20 th instant a Masonic demonstration took place at Sunderland , the occasion being the laying of the

foundation stone of the New Masonic Buildings , in North Bridge Street , Monkwearmouth , in connection with the Williamson Lodge , No . 945 . The proceedings commenced with a

Grand Lodge meeting , in the Workmens' Hall , from whence a procession was formed to the site . The foundation stone ceremony was performed by Canon Tristram . Several corner stones were also laid . The company

afterwards adjourned to the Queen ' s Hotel , where a banquet took place . We have received from Bro . W . J . Hughan P . G . D .

a finely executed portrait of himself , which we shall have great pleasure in placing in our collection of worthy Masons . The work has been most artistically carried out by Bro . Bradnee , of Torquay , who has already won for himself renown as a skilful artist . We understand Bro .

Bradnee will be prepared to forward c . pies of this cabinet sized picture to any Lodge or Brother who may wish to secure a copy . The price is 2 s , which should be sent by postal order .

Ar00303

rnO THE DEAF . —A Person cared of Deafness and noises in the JL head of 23 years' standing by a simple remedy , will send a description of it PBBB to any Person who applies to NICHOLSON , 21 Bedford-aq ., London , W . C .