Public Displays.

PUBLIC DISPLAYS .

A FEW weeks back we raised our voice against the practice that has become very prevalent in our midst , of holding so-called Masonic Church Services ; and we did so because we disapprove of the outside show associated with such public parades , which , as we then argued , are quite unnecessary

from a Churchman ' s point of view , as vain exhibitions of fancy clothing and jewels ; and most objectionable in connection with Freemasonry , whose members should be above the cheap notoriety to be gained by public displays of their

regalia . We have not had to wait very long for a full justification of the indignation we then felt , or a vindication of the opinions we expressed in regard to this question , which has now forced its way to the front in so prominent a manner as to call for some definite action at the hands of

our governing authorities . It will be in the minds of our readers that among other members of the Craft who have recently given their support and encouragement to this particular form of Church Service

was Bro . William Shurmur P . G . Standard Bearer of England , who , as a Churchwarden of St . Mary ' s , Walthamstow , acted as President of the Committee of Freemasons formed to arrange a Service to be held at that Church—to celebrate the

Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty ' s reign , and , by means of a gold and silver collection , assist the Church Dilapidation Fund . Bro . Shurmur was warmly supported in his endeavours by well known Brethren of the district , among them being

Bro . James Speller P . M . 2374 P . P . G . D . Essex , Bro . J . H . Wildash P . M . 1662 2472 , Bro . W . Gower P . M . 2472 W . M . 2501 , Bro . C . J . B . Tijou P . A . G . P ., Bro . Bichard Kershaw P . M . 2374 Sec . 2256 , and many others , and the Service , held on

the 18 th inst ., proved alike interesting to those who took part in it , and of material benefit to the Church Fund with which it was associated , the collection , together with subsequent subscriptions , amounting to £ 45 15 s .

Up to this point our readers will naturally wonder in what way this particular Service endorses the opinion we entertain as to the desirability of allowing such gatherings , and to enlighten them we must refer to an article on the subject in the

" Walthamstow Beporter" of last week , wherein a very scurrilous attack is made upon Bro . Shurmur and the others who worked with him in this matter . Of course we and those who know Bro . Shurmur and his friends who are

personally attacked can look with contempt on the utterings of the " active progressive radical" who airs his views in the " Eeporter , " but that does not do away with the bad impression created in the district , where Freemasonry will for

a considerable period be looked upon with a certain amount of suspicion by those who have read or heard of this latest " exposition " of its principles ; while the honesty of its actions

may even be doubted by some who—probably much against their inclination—will be persuaded that where there is so much smoke there must be some fire . It is to guard against such abusive attacks upon Free-

Public Displays.

masonry as this that we recently urged the desirability of refusing permission for these Church Parades , and we now repeat our warning to the Craft that no good is likely to arise from such public exhibitions of our regalia—they only open

the way to disgraceful attacks such as the one under notice , and , to our mind , possess little or no advantage from the Freemason ' s point of view . It is true they have suddenly become popular , but so would other public displays , if the

authorities of the Craft allowed them , among a certain class of gaily be-decked Brethren . In other words , the Craft must be protected against itself , and one way to do this is for our rulers to step in as they have done before , and put the foot

firmly down on the practice of making public displays of Masonic regalia , whether they take the form of Masonic Church Services , Masonic Funerals , or Masonic anything else . Nine cases out of ten it will be found that Che aid of

Freemasonry is only sought for mercenary purposes , and while there is little for the Craft to gain there is a very great risk of its losing much—in the way of reputation , dignity , and good name .

We shall probably best convince our readers that these displays may be made the means of most undesirable onslaughts upon the Craft and individual Brethren by quoting from the utterings of the writer in the " Eeporter . " He starts by saying :

" It is not our intention to examine or comment upon the principles of Freemasonry as a craft , society , or fraternity . We desire simply and briefly to poind out how Freemasonry , or ,

rather , how the members of Freemasonry in Walthamstow are used by crafty and designing ' brothers' for Tory political and Church of England sectarian purposes . "

He then refers to a little incident relating to a recent local School Board election , and , returning to the subject of the Church Service of the previous Sunday , refers to it as a public illustration of the manner in which the Freemasonry Craft , or , rather , the Freemasonry Brethren of Walthamstow are used for

sectarian purposes . Having quoted the circular letter and form of subscription sent out by Bro . Shurmur and the members of his Committee the writer continues :

" Let us briefly examine the above precious documents . It will be noted that the circular-letter is addressed from the residence of Mr . William Shurmur , who signs it not only as Past Master and Past Grand Standard Bearer of England , but also as

Churchwarden of St . Mary ' s Church . This fact alone stamps the whole affair as absolutely sectarian . All the signatories are Tories or apostate Liberals of the most venomous type , chief among the latter being the ponderous Wildash and Mr . ' Sammy . '

We venture to think we have said enough to prove our statement that Freemasonry in Walthamstow is used for Tory political and Church of England sectarian purposes . We know

that a few earnest Liberals and Badicals are members of the local Craft . Are they content to allow themselves to be used to promote objects with which they cannot have the least possible sympathy ? "

There is only one way to stop such abuse as this—to prohibit exhibitions likely to give rise to it . Will the authorities of the Craft regard the case in that light ?