Verbum Sat Sapienti.

—redolent as that name is of length of years and wise experience—to submit our views on such matters calmly and respectfully to the earnest consideration of our Masonic readers . Mr . Wcller , Senr ., seemed to think that " width and wisdom" invariably " went hand in hand , " but without endeavouring to prove to-day the axiomatic soundness of the data of that memorable

old gentleman , we will fam hope , that our lucubrations , as they certainly are put forward in all good intent , will also ever be marked alike by genial good sense , and kindly and tolerant wisdom . And the subject we wish to touch upon to-day is rather a delicate one in itself for many

reasons , we allude to the Admission of Candidates . Now , many and widely divergent views exist amongst us English Freemasons on the subject . Despite what is commended alike to us by the teaching of our own

formularies and the dictates of common sense , we may add the instinct of selfpreservation , our practice is very often , in marked contrast to our theory , since the former is often as careless and lax , as the latter is distinct and precise .

We are all quite aware , that the desire for admission is , and ought to be , spontaneous on the part of the candidate , and that we as Masons never recommend our candidature to others , or , to use a somewhat vulgar expression , never " tout" for members . The universal rule of our

Brotherhood is , never to exhort or advise any One to seek the privileges of Freemasonry . But when we come to consider the qualifications of those we wish to receive or admit into our Lodges , how different in truth is our too common custom in this

respect . Is it not true , that there is a tendency in us all to forget , or lose sight of , the higher teaching of our own wise regulations and cautious recommendations on the subject ? Do we not all of us too often sacrifice the express directions of our Order to our

personal feelings , if kindly in themselves , of active interest hi a friend or a neighbour ? Some of us look to his agreeable qualities , his social position , his own hasty wish on the subject ; the probability of his being a very agreeable companion for

future hours ; the possibility of his becoming an ornamental , rather than an useful member of our Order . But , yet all the

while , our good old Craft is ever warning and telling' us , in many impressive words , that what Masonry requires , is in truth something very different to each and . all of these qualities and qualifications , however good or agreeable in itself . The members that Freemasonry is intended to gather

under its banners , are , men of kindly disposition and moral lives , men of sterling worth and upright walk , men who when they are admitted will seek to improve , to progress and to rise .

But it is lamentable to think how many are introduced annually into Freemasonry , from personal good feelings or from some ephemeral motive , who remain " Cyphers " ever in the Craft , as stationary as the buoys in the Channel but not so useful ; ornamentalit maybe , but not efficient

, Masons ; somewhat careless and irregular in the hours of work , but marked by special and praiseworthy regularity in the hours of refreshment , or the more unbending moments of the social Lodge festivity . Now we say thisin all sincere goodwill

, and love for our brethren and our Order , and we trust that it will be as kindlyreceived by them as it is kindly intended by us . The one weak point in our English Ereemasonry just nOw is the somewhat hasty and too ready admission of

Candidates . Many lodges , for instance , only require one month ' s notice , while no lodge in our humble opinion ought to accept any Candidate under two months' notice . The

Candidate may be recommended by some leading brother , or by a " set" of brethren , no questions are asked about his actual character , or moral qualifications , and the consequence often is , as we all must admit , that , without adopting' the old proverb , " one black sheep makes many ; " yetas .

, the Candidate thus hastily accepted , is not really suited for the atmosphere of Ereemasony , the harmony of the Lodge is essentially impaired by his presence , and by some

one unwise admission as wo know in many instances , tho seeds of the ultimate dissolution of such Lodge have been sown by the reception of an uncongenial and unqualified member . Our able and distinguished Bro . J . R . Stebbing alluded in a recent speech of his in Grand Lodge to tho factthat a

, Lodge in Liverpool , the name of which was happily suppressed , had received into its bosom a member graced with aticket-ofleave . Yet surely , if such be the case , there