Of The Society Of Freemassons.

12 . They are recommended , above all things , to avoid drunkenness . This vice is so opposed to the mysteries and secrets of Freemasonry that it is impossible too much to exhort the brethren to avoid it . Besides these general regulations there are particular ones , which concern the rights of the G . M ., of the Masters of private lodges , and of the subaltern officers of the confraternity , the time and the order of the assemblies , the manner of electing new brethren , etc .

One of these regulations teaches us that no one can be received a Freemason who has not reached the age of twenty-five years ; that they can only receive five brethren in the same day ; that no one can be received as a member of a private lodge without one month ' s notice , in order to give time for information as regards his morals and capacity ; that he cannot be received but with the uncmimous approbation of the brethren of the lodge ; and that at his reception into the lodge he must make a liberal present to the brethren who assist at this ceremony ;* he gives , also , a sort of offering to God which , from what appears , is more or less considerable , and such as the brother deems fitting-, or

is in a position to give . According to " Masonry Dissected , " f those of the inferior classes of society only pay six or seven shillings for their reception . This money goes into the lodge chest , and serves to augment the funds destined for the needs of the poor brethren . There are also regulations in detail which tend to keep up a fraternal correspondence among all the lodges and their mutual relations , to maintain

subordination among the members , and their submission to the laws of the fraternity ; some to make remonstrances in case of need to the Grand Officers , and even to Grand Lodge ; some others in order to keep an uniformit y of usage , etc ., among all the lodges . The Grand Lodge , where the G . M . presides , acts as a court of appeal . It is there also that a review of the state of all the lodges is made , and , in a word , of all that concerns the fraternity . Lastl y , it is there where an appeal is made from the decisions of the other lodges , as has been already stated .

We say nothing of other regulations which relate to the general chest and the treasurers of the fraternity ; that which has to be done in the absence or sickness of some Grand Officer , the general assembly of all the London lodges , which is to take place annually , ceremoniously , and with befitting rejoicings . It is a solemn festival , and on that day the brethren make a procession in carriages through the town . The G . M . has the riht of nominating his successorbut the election is

g , only made with the unanimous approbation of the brethren . Here , it is said , is all that is known concernin g the statutes and regulations observed in the society of Freemasons , and it must be admitted that these regulations have nothing in them but what is very wise and very reasonable .

We will finish the article b y an extract from a letter J written from Utrecht , quoted by Mascrier in the same essay , March 16 , 1736 . Let us see what it says concerning the society of Freemasons , established and persecuted in Holland . " The spirit of party , of faction , of society , of fraternity , pushed beyond a certain degree degenerates into fanaticism . We have an example under our