Lights And Shadows Of Scottish Freemasonry.

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF SCOTTISH FREEMASONRY .

ARTICLE SECOND . NOT the least among the various causes which have tended towards the demoralization of the Freemasonry of Scotland has been the extreme lowness of the nutation fees . That they are so very low is matter

of great regret to all AVIIO have the interests of the Craft at heart , and the attention of the Grand Lodge has repeatedly been directed towards devising means whereAvith to remedy the evil . As yet , hoAvever , nothing has been done ; but there is a

groAving feeling in the country that something must be done , and that , too , very shortly , if Ave arc to bo able to raise our heads with any degree of pride at all . During the past month we have made many inquiries of the most eminent

craftsmen as to what kind of influence the raising of the fees Avould have upon the status of the Craft , and among these there seems to be but one undivided opinion , viz ., that the influence exerted Avould be a most beneficial one . Only a few weeks agothe Provincial

, Grand Master of Glasgow paid an official visit to a lodge in the west end of the city , and the fees question cropping up , ho gave it as his opinion that the initiation fees all over the country Avere disgracefully IOAV , aud expressed a hope that the time would

soon be Avhen five guineas Avould bo , not the maximum , but the minimum fee of CA'ery province in Scotland . To this Ave say from the bottom of our hearts , Amen , Amen .

How many lodges in the country charge a fee of five guineas 1 We only know of two . How many charge three guineas ? Say forty or fifty ; Avhile as for those which charge the very lowest possible , why their names are legion . Will it bo believed by

our English Brethren if AVO tell thoin that Ave are ourselves aware of the existence of lodges which not only charge the loAvest allowable fee , but require that the candidate pay on the evening of his initiation only half the sumresting quite contented

, at getting the remainder within the ensuing twelve months ? What a lamentable state of affairs this is . Can any one believe anght else , but that this sort of thing has

a very decided tendency to Avork mischief ? Surely the Grand Lodge ought to interfere and prevent this occuring any more . A friend of ourshappened somelittle time ago to visit a lodge in Ayrshire to which a

charter had been but recently granted . Upon asking the R . W . M . as to the amount of the fees , he found that they were the very lowest alloAvable , and Avas considerably astonished at the further information , that only fifteen shillings Avere required on the

ni g ht of initiation . This suggested a question , "Do you always have the rest paid ?" ' Oh , dear no , " said the master , "it sometimes occurs that the initiate leaves the toAvn , and we hear no more about him or his money . "

Just fancy this . A man being put through his three degrees , registered in the Grand Lodge , and receiving a certificate , and all for the sum of fifteen shillings . It is truly deplorable . It is little Avonder that our English and Irish Brethren feel inclined to despise us of Scotland . Why , such proceedings Avould never be tolerated in their countries .

And now comes the question : —Is the Grand Lodge aAvare of this ? If it be , and do not at once put a stop to it , then it is very much to be blamed ; and if it be not , then it is still to blame , because it ought to be aAvare of it . What are our

Provincial Grand Lodges about , if these matters can be concealed from them ? Surely they are not doing the duty for Avhich they Avere formed . What is their object in keeping the knowledge of these facts from the Grand Lodge , if they know them ? Alas , we cannot tell unless it may be that the

thing has become a matter of use and wont , and they are afraid of the consequences to themselves . If Lodges do not act up to the spirit of the Constitution they should not be alloAved to exist . They are bringing a stain upon the banners of the Craft ; AvithdraAVthe

charter . If Provincial Grand Lodges are so negligent of their duties , what is the use of them ? Remove their office-bearers . What do Ave Avant Avith men Avho will wink at such proceedings ? Nothing . Give us men in our Provincial Grand Lodges

who have not only the mind to have the matter thoroughly sifted and put to rig hts , but the courage to see the thing actually done . That it Avould not be a very agreeable task Ave feel ourselves bound to confess ,