How To Secure A Full Attendance At Lodge.

HOW TO SECURE A FULL ATTENDANCE AT LODGE .

The duty of reading the formidable volumes of Foreign Correspondence which the Grand Lodges in the United States are so pertinacious in issuing year by year is one that is constantly devolving upon us . It is a duty which we discharge with such patience as we are able to command , with exemplary resignation in the majority of cases , and occasionally with extreme pleasure .

What we find in these ample reports affords a capital insight into Freemasonry as it is understood in a large number of these Grand Lodge jurisdictions , where the idea apparently prevails that the Craft is a Society which it is impossible to govern too stringently . There is a law for almost every act which a man or society of men may do , and the conclusion we

have come to as regards these particular jurisdictions is that the one thing which the member of a lodge or a lodge collectively is not at liberty to do is to exercise that freedom on which , as we have always understood it , the whole fabric of Freemasonry is based . True , there are several among the older jurisdictions in which a more generous latitude is permitted , and where a

man who has joined our ranks finds himself in the enjoyment of a considerable amount of liberty and able to do pretty much as he likes—within , of course , ihe limits of reason—without subjecting himself to " discipline . " That Freemasonry in the United Slates is in a very nourishing condition ; that ils increase during the last 20 or 30 years has been marvellous ; that it is

still continually ini _ reasing , and ever establishing for itself new htibilals , and that in time it will become , if , indeed , it has not already become , a great power in the land -all these are facts which are undeniable . But in ? pite of this amazing popularity and the influence which Freemasonry is consequently in a position to exercise , it is only occasionally we come across

evidence in the before-mentioned Reports on Foreign Correspondence that there is much in common between Freemasonry in its old home in the United Kingdom and what is understood as such in the United States , the senior jurisdictions being at all times most especially excepted . Here , for instance , is a case in point , which has come under our notice in the

Report appended to the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa at its annual communication in June . The compiler of the Report notes in his review of " California" that a certain oration delivered by Bro . REUHEN II . 1 . 1 . 0 YD of that jurisdiction was devoted principally to a consideration of

" the cause of and remedy for meagre attendance at lodge meetings . " Bro . l . i . ( ivj ) is said to have consulted the Masters of all the lodges in the State , and , from the replies he received from them , he appears to have arrived at tht- conclusion that sufficient care is not exercised in the admission

of members . He considers the difficulty which is experienced in securing a full attendance at lodge meetings is due to the fact " that the extensive and powerful Order has attracted many men merely for selfish ends . " He , therefore , holds that greater care should be taken in accepting candidates , and that " no one

should be recommended whom the members would not willingly introduce to their own family circles . " Bro . LLOYD also suggests a greater " sociability in the lodge , " with " occasional repasts , and the social cheer which accompanies tasting salt together . " Hence , the suggestions he offers , with a view to remedying indifference on the part of members to the duties of the

lod ge are " First—friendly relations between the members ; Second—an intimate social communion ; Third—pleasant and attractive meetings ;¦ Fourth " ¦ '' higher standard for admission . " We will not quarrel with Bro . LLOYD for placing the most important of his suggestions last instead of first . It is enough that , in our opinion , he has hit the right nail on the head , when he

wakes these propositions , which are so much to the purpose , and show such a correct understanding of the true spirit and requirements of Freemasonry , " at we may be forgiven if we suggest that such , or similar advice would assuredl y have been offered by our own officials had their opinion on this "" portant question of ensuring full attendance at lodge meetings been

Soil ght . For what , after all , must have been the objects which the originators ° f our modern system of Freemasonry set themselves to attain when they la , d the foundations on which our Society is based V Was it not their Princi pal aim to provide a common or neutral ground on which men of Querent religious and political faiths might meet and learn by "freer

sociability " to esteem and respect each other ? And how can that aim be eit tr secured than by insisting , in the first place , that all candidates for lenibershi p shall be men in whose favour the tongue of good report is

er 'am to be heard ; and in the next , that when lodges composed of such ^ libers meet for the fulfilment of their appointed duties , they shall be ' ded tht . opportunity of enjoying social intercourse together , and in that a i' acquiring a more intimate knowledge of each other's character and points '" is country there are few lodge meetings in which the appointed duties

How To Secure A Full Attendance At Lodge.

of the day are not followed by some degree or kind of social gathering , at which the members have the opportunity afforded them of learning what manner of men their fellow-members are . The form which this special gathering usually takes is that of the dinner , at which the Master , supported by his officers and Past Masters , presides , and the lodge visitors are

entertained as guests . There is nothing extravagant about the dinner , nor are the pleasures of the table indulged in excessively . The chief aim of every one present at these meetings is to enjoy himself rationally and promote the general enjoyment , and thus it is that men , starting as members of the same lodge , become gradually acquainted with each other , while in many instances

what at first was nothing more than acquaintance ripens slowly but surely into firm and lasting friendship . . Again , we are told that the grand principles on which Freemasonry is founded arc Brotherly Love ,, Relief , and Truth , but it seems to be forgotten that active measures of some kind or other must be adopted in order to promote the growth of these principles .

The mere congregation of a . dozen or . a score of members under the same lodge roof will not of itself ensure the love and . respect of each towards the others ; the passing of innumerable laws for the guidance o brethren under every possible contingency that can befall them during their Masonic career will not have the desired effect . Lectures from time to time

as to the aims and objects of . our Society are no doubt desirable as a means to this end , while it is equally desirable that , members should make themselves as full } ' acquainted as their abilities will admit of with our ritual . But when the duties of the lodge have been discharged , and the requirements of the law have been satisfied , we are still a very long way off frohi

that brotherly love and Charity in its widest sense which it is the aim of Freemasonry , as we are told , to promote . It is important that a man should acquire-a knowledge of himself , but it is equally important -thatyhe should acquire a knowledge of bis fellow creatures , and especially of his brothers in Masonry . Hence the wisdom of this Bro . REUBEN LLOYD ' advice to be

careful in the acceptance of candidates ; to provide a means for establishing friendly relations among the members of a lodge ; and to adopt whatever course will ensure that the meetings arc pleasant and attractive . . Let us , as he says , take care that men arc not elected into Masonry whom we

would not . willingly admit into our own family circles , and all the rest of the path of Masonry will be comparatively easy . In that case there will be no risk of our ever being called upon to know in . Masonry ' men whom we should decline to know outside its ranks .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cornwall.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CORNWALL .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall was held on the 15 th inst . in the Public Buildings , Wadebridgc , under the banner of the ' Molcsworth Lodge , No . 1954 . The large hall and ; its approaches were nicely decorated for the occasion . The P . G . M ., the Earl of Mount lidgcumbe , Deputy Grand Master , sat on the throne , and was supported by Bro . Sir Charles B . Graves-Sawle , Bart ., Deputy Prov . G . M . ; and the following officers of Prov . Grand Lodge :

Bros . C . R . Prideaux Brune , 1785 , P . S . G . W . ; W . J . Johns , 131 , P . J . G . W . ; Rev , 1 . J . Gratrex , 1529 , P . G . Chap . ; C . Bryant , 331 , P . G . Treas . ; T . Chirgwin , 131 , P . G . Sec . ; H . W . W . Durant , 977 , and J . Duckett , 8 93 , P . S . G . D . s ' . ; VV . Hall , 699 , and H . Lander , 1594 , P . J . G . D . s ; W . Wales , jun ., 589 , P . G . S . of W . ; W . H . Stanton , 510 , P . G . D . C . ; J . P . Polglase , 75 , P . A . G . D . C ; R . C . Revell , 1071 ,

P . G . S . B . ; W . Colenso , 121 , and J . H . Philp , 5-57 , P . G . Snd . Brs . ; . J : Pearce , 1136 , P . G . P . ; J . Langdon , I 3 I .. P . A . G . P . ; T . Gatley , 1529 , J . Willey , 318 , R . Rundell , 1151 , Sh ' olto H . Hare , 1954 , and G . Timmins ; 1006 , P . G . Stwds . ; J . N , Francis , P . P . G . Tyler ; and J . C . 'R . Crewes , P . A . G . Sec . There were in all about "too brethren present .

The PROV . GRAND MASTER said he had learnt that morning with deep regret of the death of the Rev . John Core , 1785 , Senior Grand Chaplain ol the Province , after undergoing a most painful operation .. Bro . Gore was well known and highly respected among the members of the Craft , and he felt sure that the parishioners of Padstow had sustained a heavy loss , as he was doing great and good work there . Bro . R . S . LANGIORII , as Bro . Core ' s churchwarden , endorsed the

remarks of the liarl . It was unanimously resolved to send a vote of condolence to the widowed mother of the deceased . The roll of lodges was then called , and all answered with the exception of No . 1528 ( Newquay ) . Several letters of apology were announced . The P . G . Treas ., Bro . CHARLES BRYANT , reported' that the year was

commenced with a balance in hand of £ 174 , and receipts included ' ^ 202 fees from the lodges , and £ 36 12 s . fees of honour from the brethren ; £ 150 had been paid to Masonic Charities and in relief to the distressed brethren and widows of deceased brethren , and there was a balance in hand of £ 192 . is ., the . largest amount known-in the histbryof theprovince . i ••