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PERRIER = JOUET & Cos . CHAMPAGNES . FINEST VINTAGE RESERVE-CUVEES . THE FAVOURITE MASONIC BRAND . Agent—A . BOURSOT , 9 , Hart Street , Hark Lane , London .

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ASSURANCE . EXCHANGE L ROYA -iNCONr-ORATEl ) A . l ) . I 72 O . Funds in Hand Exceed - - £ 5 , 250 , 000 Claims Paid Exceed - - £ 42 , 000 , 000 FIRE , LIFE , SEA , ACCIDENTS , , BURGLARY , EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY , ANNUITIES . The Corporation will act as : — EXI-XTTOK OK WILLS , TKI ' STKK OV WILLS AND SKTTLKMKXTS . Apply for full J'rospccliis In Hie . Sccrclnry . Head Office . —ROYAL EXCHAME , lOFDOfl . E . C .

Qualifications Of Candidates.

Qualifications of Candidates .

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i . —THEIR MOTIVES . THE great privileges with which Freemasonry endows those who are admitted into ( he Order , very properly require that there shall be strict watch kept upon the door by which that admittance is gained . It has to be

remembered that the honour of the Craft is virtually committed to every newly-initiated brother . It is not of course impossible that some among us may , after perhaps years spent in creditable pursuit of the Craft to which they have put their hands , ultimately reflect discredit upon the Order . But it is a rare occurrence , and the majority of ( he cases

over which we have to mourn , are of brethren who have been admitted without due precaution . In this connection , the motives with which an outsider seeks to join us become matters of the highest importance . On this head , the candidate himself makes a declaration , but it is to be presumed that those responsible for his

appearance in Unit capacity are not without previous knowledge . His proposer and seconder have , ipso faclo , assured the lodge thai in his private and public life their nominee has a high reputation . They are themselves under an obligation not to recommend any one who is not qualified to be a credit to ( lie Order .

The lodge , however , is not entirely dependent upon what mav be the partial recommendation of friends . The custodian of the honour of the lodge is its Master , and when he reads out the name and description of the candidate , from the East , before allowing a ballot lo be taken , he is in effect giving the brethren an independent assurance that as far as

he knows , there is no disqualification . It will thus be seen that the Master is not without responsibility for the characters of his candidates . Most of the brethren who go lo the ballot know nothing that would justify ( hem in rejecting the candidate , but they would not like to incur the onus of admitting any one to the Order to whose merits there was

not some independent testimonv on which they could safely rely . But since the Worshipful Master ' s means of acquiring information are necessarily limited , it is the bounden duty of any brother who possesses knowledge affecting the candidate , to communicate with the Master . True there is the ballot box , but at this time of day , the ballot box is the ultima ratio ,

the last line of defence , and it is not exactly in accordance with the spirit of ( he times to resort to the ballot box till other means have failed . Still the ballot box is constitutional ,

and a black ball is as constitutional as a white one , and there is neither rhyme nor reason in abusing the brother who prefers that way of expressing himself . The writer , when in the chair , once had a peculiar case to deal with . A candidate was proposed , who seemed from all visible points of view to be likely to be an ornament lo the Order . He was privately

objected to b y an influential member , who was not likely to be swayed by pique , and his name was reluctantly withdrawn . It transpired subsequently that the proposed candidate had intended going to foreign parts shortl y , and had been heard lo say ( hat the fact of his being a Mason was one likely to further his prospects . This was considered to be an improper

motive , and without expressing anv opinion on the subject , it may be held that the Craft would never suffer if all its members were equally jealous of its honour .

Articles 186 and 187 define what is to be expected of every candidate . We are at present dealing with his motives , other points being referred to later . He has first of all to declare that he has not been improperl y solicited . It might be a question whether any form of solicitation is permissible , proper or improper . The general opinion is that the first

suggestion must proceed from the aspirant , but if so , why say " improper" ? Would it be wrong to suggest to a peculiarly eligible person that his usefulness would be enlarged if he became a member of the Order ? We venture to think that if the candidate and the brother who made the suggestion are able to say that there was no improper

solicitation , nothing more can be required . Still , as a matter of safety and utility , it would be better for younger brethren at all events to refrain from even the appearance of evil . That which is got cheaply is often not valued highly . If the candidate unhappily finds out that the favourable opinion he preconceived of the Craft is not borne out b y the facts , it is

belter that he should have only himself to blame . He has to disclaim any unworthy motive , mercenary motives being especiall y mentioned . A question arises here as to the initiation of a serving brother when such has been chosen who is not at the time a Mason . Or in fact of anyone who seeks to be a Mason with a view to subsequent

emolument . The Dispensation referred to in Article 193 has only to do with the remission of fees , and it would be interesting to know how the difficulty of the declaration is got over .

After a disclaimer of wrong motives , the candidate has to make a positive statement . He has preconceived a favourable opinion of the Order . How he has been able to do this is not slated , but the fact is thai wherever there is a lodge whose members act up to all that is best in Masonry , that is ( he best advertisement the Order can want . It is after all

only a part of Masonry that is secret , and that its least important part . What is not secret , and what cannot help making itself known , is the existence of a true fraternal spirit , of the spirit of true charity both of word and fleed , and ol the deeper sense of mutual responsibility . There is no hiding these things . If they are there , there will be no lack- of

applicants for membership , without an } - suggestive impulse . And if they are not there , the sooner the lodge goes into abeyance the better . Such a lodge acts as a danger post to the Order . And lastly in ( his connection , the candidate expresses his desire of knowledge . This does not mean a curiosity lo

know our secrets , though it is true a good many Aryan brethren get into the Order whose desire for knowledge goes