The Inner And Outer Guards.

any concession to an ill-limed demand . The applicant himself , if a good Freemason , zealous for the best interests of Masonic work , would himself approve of and commend the necessary delay whilst important charges and addresses are in course of delivery ; and no Inner Guard has yet , we may safely say , been blamed for a strict adherence to the practice we refer to .

A further responsibility rests with the Inner Guard in respect to the entry of the candidate for initiation , which , we regret to know , does not at all times receive the attention which is , in connection with what is to follow , absolutely demanded . Our readers , qualified by membership in our Order , will quite understand what we mean

when we say that the officer within the porcJi should thoroughly know and understand the preparation ; that he should see for himself that the duty attached to the ante-chamber has been fully and properly discharged before he ventures to make the voucher for which the ruler of the Lodge will ask him before the admission of

the candidate . Inability in himself to explain what that preparation is , and a neglect of the necessaiy personal examination before vouching are , in our opinion , disqualifications for the office of Inner Guard .

The jewel which distinguishes the Inner Guard consists of two swords saltier-wise , and should remind him of the necessity for the exercise of double caution , and for obtaining that knowledge which may enable him to correct errors sometimes occurring in the antechamber . For this requisite knowledge Lodges of instruction , or

the services of personal friendship , are open to him , and , if he wishes to qualif y himself for another promotion , he shculd avail himself of these before he accepts the position which places him on the first rung of the ladder which may lead him to the rule and government of his Lodge .

The Outer Guard , or Tyler , is " an Officer in a symbolic Lodge , whose duty it is to guard the Lodge against the intrusion of the profane . As in operative masonry , the tyler , when the edifice is erected , finishes and covers it with the roof , so , in speculative masonry , when the Lodge is duly organised , the Tyler closes the

door , and covers the sacred precincts from all intrusion . " Thus , briefly , does Bro . Dr . Mackey define , in his Lexicon , the office and duty of one of the most important , because the most confidential , of the assistants of the Masters and Wardens of our private Lodges ; and to the foregoing remarks he adds , " he should always be a worthy Mason , and skilful in the Craft . "

A considerable experience in the working of Freemasonry during the past thirty years , has convinced us that , generally speaking , a moie estimable body of men connected with our Order than the Tylers of our several Lodges we should not easil y find , as a class , within our ranks ; and though there may be , we had almost said

there certainly are , a few Brethren who fail to reach our standard of what an Outer Guard should be , these are but a small minority in the aggregate of the more than two thousand under whose charge English Freemasons place so much responsibility in regard to protection and necessary service . It has often pained us to notice that ,

notwithstanding the care and zeal with which most of the Brethren in charge of the outer porch serve us , as well individually when in personal need of their assistance as collectively when at labor and refreshment , the oft-repeated assertion of Masonic equality amongst " members of the same tribe and famil y" is so frequently ignored .

We honor those Lodges , and there are many in our own knowledge , who do not make prominent the subtle distinction between the inner and tlie outer chamber ol the Temple ; and remember that those of our Brethren who , besides being statutory officers in our Lodges , may have seen better days , are cheertd and encouraged in

their zealous labor by the genial smile and hearty grip of each and every member . To our great regret , and certainly to the disadvantage of the Craft as contradicting in practice the precepts of equality taught us by the " mosaic work" and the " level , " we have witnessed many departures from Masonic duty in this respect , and the amount of " side " put on by some Brethren in the way of what they consider condescension—which is , however , but another

name for pride and affectation—has often been the subject of depreciatory remarks from many of their associates . On the other hand , it is proper to state that very much as to the manner of his treatment rests with the Outer Guard himself . The want of a cheerful compliance to reasonable requirements ; the need of ability to understand and appreciate the value of the necessary work of

reception and preparation ; the assumption of volunteering unaskedfor instruction to other Officers of the Lodge ; and a general disregard of ordinary courtesy ;—all or any of these tend towards a disruption of those good feelings which should be , in loyalty to our Craftsmanship , entertained by Brethren towards one another , whatever may be their social status outside the portals of

Freemasonry . We are of opinion that it is not wise , at any rate it is not advisable , to select for the office of Outer Guard a brother who has not passed the Chair of a Lodge . That as a rule : —exceptions there maybe , arising from local circumstances ; but we fear , and at the same time regret for their sakes , that there are many Past Masters

of Lodges who , "from circumstances of unforeseen calamity and misfortune , " would gladly avail themselves of the , in many respects , p leasant position which a competent Outer Guard enjoys . When such can be obtained , the knowledge and experience of many years is applied with great advantage to a Lodge ; and the individual

himself ensures increased appreciation of valuable services . Such an one will know the necessity of attention to even the smallest details of the inner preparation and working of the Lodge ; will see that all its emblems are properly cared for and placed , and not , as in many instances we can call to mind , treated as though no

symbolic meaning were attached to them . We have had very many opportunities , in connection with visits to both Metropolitan and Provincial Lodges , for inspecting the Lodge room or Temple prior

to the commencement of work , and can , as also can any Brother who cares to give thought to the matter , form an opinion at once as to the qualification of the Ty ler for his office in relation to such preparation . The light-bearing columns of the Principal Officers misplaced in order of signification ; the column of the J . W . in perpendicular instead of horizontal position—are amongst the evidences

to good working Masons that the Outer Guard is deficient in Masonic acquirements ; and these are noted by visitors to his personal disadvantage , as well as to that of the Lodge rulers . In our article on the Inner Guard we referred to the oft-times unnecessarj' disturbance of the Lodge work by applications for admission

at unseasonable times . In this same respect the Outer Guard can prove his quality by a firm but courteous refusal to listen to any request for " report " until he knows it may be made without interference with the ceremonial or discussion in progress within the Lodge ; and he should never allow himself to be tempted by personal

considerations of Masonic rank or social position of any applicant into a breach of that most excellent provision for maintaining privacy and order which it is his duty to carry out in its strictest integrity .

There is one particular service winch , although unwritten as forming part of the duty of the Outer Guard , should , in our opinion , be required of and be willingly performed by that Officer : we allude to keeping the W . M . and Secretary duly informed of all communications which may be forwarded in connection with the Lodge to which he is attached , during its vacation . In too many

instances the official letters from Grand Lodge and the severaj Masonic Charitable Institutions , printed matter of Alasonic interest , and other documents of more or less importance , are permitted to remain at the place of delivery for weeks and months together without the slightest attempt to place them in the hands of the proper

recipients . Thereby , not infrequently , many inconveniences , and sometimes great disappointment , ensue , the avoidance of which , by a frequent call , by the Tyler at the place of meeting of the Lodge would render a service to its officers and members , and considerably increase their sense of obligation for thoughtful consideration on his part .