New Rules And Regulations Proposed By Bro. Metham.

by a general depression of trade . Their own particular branch of business has been suffering , and they are among the unfortunate victims . A laree firm has failed , and involved them in the wide-spread ruin that ordinarily attends such failure . Or a bank stops payment , and the

accumulated savings of years are swept away in a moment . These are among the most ordinary cases of insolvency , and it occurs to us the insolvents are to be pitied rather than condemned . Indeed , towards this class of cases Freemasonry may practise what it enjoins , and by opportune

relief , help them to win back again the smiles and favours of fortune . If a man works honestly and honourably at his calling till , finding it becoming more and more unprofitable , he pays all he can , if not all he owes , that man is chargeable with poverty , but not with crime . To draw

the line between the two classes of insolvents , it seems to us , will bo a matter of great difficulty , nor do we think any such rule as is proposed is in any wise necessary . Masons will not but sympathise with an unfortunate brother . The dishonest insolvent will find no encouragement to attend our Lodges .

5 . " That the Worshipful Master elect should be pledged to perform all the duties of his chair , and to instal his successor . " One of the greatest misfortunes to a Lodge is to have its chair occupied by a Master careless about , or

incompetent to fulfil , his duties . On the principle of " what is worth doing at all is worth doing well , " ifc can only be an honour to sit in the chair of K . S ., if its responsibilities are fully and faithfully discharged . If the W . M . sets an example of ignorance of , and indifference to , his duty , how

can his subordinate officers and the members generally be expected to fulfil theirs ? We have again and again seen an incompetent W . M . presiding , and we honestly say we never witnessed a more painful sight . Only the gentlemanly feeling and sense of decorum exhibited by those

present prevented the whole thing from degenerating into a most complete farce . If a W . M . elect will not pledge himself to do what his office demands of him , the election should be deemed null and void . Other qualities are

needed , in addition to a knowledge of his duties , in order to make an efficient W . M . ; but we have dealt with the one only point raised by Bro . Metham , and we fully recognise its justice .

" 6 . That the provisions of the emergency clause should be rig idly complied with , and that a notice he duly sent to the Provincial Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master

and Provincial Grand Secretary , the Masters of every Lodge in the town in which the candidate resides , and to the W . M . of every Lodge within three miles in which he is proposed as a candidate . "

This , as tending to greater security against the admission of undesirable candidates , ia worthy of commendation . We have dwelt afc length , in another part of our columns , on the increasing necessity there is for caution in the election of new members . As the general appearance of

a sightly building is oftentimes spoiled by the presence of some piece of unbecoming workmanship , as its general safety is liable to be endangered if a portion of the

material of which it is composed is worthless , so the sightliness of our Masonic Temple will be lessened , nay , the existence of the glorious structure endangered , if unworthv candidates are admitted within our ranks . As we

say elsewhere , we do nofc want increased numerical , but increased moral , strength . Mere numbers are of little avail . At Marathon , the compact little army of intelligent and well disciplined Greeks under Miltiades was more than a match for the Persians . So with the troops of Pausanias

of Kimon , of Alexander ; they fought and conquered in sp ite of the numbers that were arrayed against them . So has it happened in modern times , in our own and other histories . Numbers , indeed , are too often a cause of

weakness . We see every reason to believe that Freemasonry will become weaker morally the stronger it is numerically , unless that caution , on which we have so strenuously insisted elsewhere , is exercised at all times and in all Lodges .

We have thus analysed one by one the merits of Bro Metham ' s propositions . We do not agree with him entirely . We are even sanguine enough to believe that the present byelaws in operation in our Lodges , if duly enforced , are enough to guard Freemasonry from any serious misadventure . We fully recognise , however , his zeal in

New Rules And Regulations Proposed By Bro. Metham.

the cause of the Craft . He has done his duty unflinchingly , and he deserves the thanks of the whole Craft throughout England . If others will but imitate the good example he has set us and speak out plainly , calling a spade a spade when occasion requires , we shall have but few

public scandals to complain of . On the other hand , if the Rules of our Society are thought but little of , we may find ourselves , perhaps , stronger as regards mere numbers , but our influence , our moral strength , will he seriously lessened .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor * respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications , All Letters must bear the name and address of tlie Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

-: o : ~ BRO . METHAM'S ADDRESS .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . SIR , —I have read , with much satisfaction , Brother Metham's address , in Devonshire , at the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon , in Angusfc last , and yonr comments thereon . Although contemplating a modification of the remedies proposed by Brother

Metham to cure the evils acknowledged to exist amongst some of the Craft , fully do I endorse your sentiments , as recorded , " that it is absolutely necessary that Masonio Lodges should be pnrged of disgraceful members , " and also the injunction of one of our lato Grand Masters , the late Earl of Zetland K . G ., enunciated in my

hearing , that Masonic Lodges should exercise the utmost caution in the admission and acceptance of candidates as members into the ranks of onr Craft . Visiting Devonshire for the restoration of my health at the time of the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge at South Molton in Devonshire , it would have given me much pleasure

to have been present , and heard Brother Metham's excellent address , having been old school . fellows , and , I believe in the same seminary we both first learned onr primary Latin lessons . It is only proper to add that much credit and gratitude are dne to Brother Boddo , P . P . G . B . of Devon , for his fidelity , perseverance and zeal , amidst much

misrepresentation and obloquy , for taking the initiative in pro . socuting the case , however painful to himself—which imperatively called for the strict enforcement of Masonic discipline , thus maintaining tho honour , integrity and purity of the Craft . I havo the pleasure to testify that I have bad the honour of the acquaintance and friendship of Brother Bodda for many years past .

All who know this distinguished Mason must readily acknowledge his transcendent abilities—his great attainments iu literature and extensive Masonio knowledge : than whom no one is better versed in Masonio lore , or has had greater Masonio charity , experience or zeal for the prosperity of the Order . I am proud to acknowledge him as a true friend and faithful brother .

I am , Sir , yours truly , DANIEL ACE D . D . P . P . G . O . for Lincolnshire , and W . M . 1232 , Laughton Vicarage , near Gainsborough . 25 th September 1876 .

Which Is Correct ?

WHICH IS CORRECT ?

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHBONICXE , DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It causes me much satisfaction to find that the letter I ventured to send yon under the above heading has been answered so ably , and so much to the point . I am encouraged to go on , and shall consider that when arguments bearing on ono rendering of a word or sentence remain unconfuted the common

sense of the brethren generally goes with the writers , and that henceforth this correspondence may be referred to as providing that authority to the want of which I have alluded . Having no desire to maintain that my opinion must be right , and all others to the contrary wrong , I shall not indicate in any manner the interpretation of our working to which I incline . " I want to

know , yon know , " as well as others . It is no mock modesty or assumed humbleness which leads me to say that as yet I am but a probationer in the art of Freemasonry , and have still to learn very much . Tho questions now being put forward will certainly produce the reasonings of other men ' s brains , and although not by any means " enveloped in a cloud of uncertainty , or suspended in a hazy

atmosphere of doubt and perplexity , " I shall secure for myself and othera logical deductions for " the reason why . " My present object is not the early realisation of any pet scheme or theory . It is an appeal to common sense , and the reasoning faculties of those who profess to teach our noble art , not to permit any longer those manifest errors of language and expression which so frequently

render ns the laughing stock of the educated . What can these think of such solecisms as are so frequently to be heard in our Lodges of Instruction ? Fancy a reasonably educated man condemned to hear uttered by the lips of a so-called " preceptor " such an enquiry as " Was you admitted ? and the reply of the brother questioned " I were ! " This is not an exaggeration , but has actually occurred in my presence . Can ifc be wondered afc that with so positive an evidence