bers feels that his acceptance might be the means of disturbing that harmony and peace which should ever exist in a Masonic Lodge, it is the duty of such member, by the exercise of the ballot, to prevent that admission and to preserve the peace and harmony of the brethren.

candidate may be, if any of the mem-means, however, ought to be used to entrap him into confession. It may be, however, that A, a member of a Lodge, has such an inveterate dislike to B, a candidate, that it is impossible for him to hail him as a brother, no matter how unfounded in reason that dislike may be. Who shall say that A must make himself In the exercise of this prerogative, a martyr for the sake of gratifying no brother, not even the Master, has a fancy of B's, and, by consenting, a right to question the motives of expatriate himself? Here it is to be the member casting the black ball: presumed that the admission of B it is a matter between his conscience would be the signal for the withand his God. There can be no ques-drawal of A. Nay, more: who shall tion that personal pique or prejudice say that other members, as C, D and -for we are all human-frequently E, knowing that the initiation of B controls members in their ballot, and would be the introduction of disit is undoubtedly wrong for any man cordant elements into the Lodge, or to permit himself to be the victim of the compulsory dimission of A, are such unworthy passions; but unless not also bound to prevent such a rehe avows it, or by previous threats sult? In all this no wrong is inflicted that he will do so, make himself upon the candidate; for a wrong by known, he cannot be Masonically jurists is defined to be "a deprivadealt with. Should he do so, he tion of right." Now no man posought to be expelled; and the Lodge sesses the right of initiation; it is a that did not discipline him ought to favor sought for, to be given or withbe silenced for ever. No undue held.-Keystone.

RIGHT OF OBJECTION.

In the discussion of questions of The decision given by our worthy Masonic Jurisprudence, if the object Past Grand Master, Dunscomb, that aimed at is to deduce their true" a member of one Lodge has no meaning and application in the work-right to prohibit the initiation of a ing of our Order, the end to be ob- candidate into another. He may tained is certainly a laudable one; and, influenced alone by this principle, I shall briefly give some of the reasons why some of the decisions of our last Grand Lodge are not in accordance with the true principles of Freemasonry.

state his objections to the Master, the committee, or any member, and it is for either to determine whether they are sufficient," was virtually indorsed by the Grand Lodge, as the committee to whom was referred his decisions on Jurisprudence did not

make any report, and as the question cle. If he has not this inalienable right, then our boasted claim of unity is absurd.

was not raised in Grand Lodge, it is published in the printed proceedings as "Standing Resolutions and Decisions."

That the right of objection to any one being made a Mason is not only an indefeasible one of any affiliated Master Mason, but it is his bounden duty to exercise it at all times, and at all places, when he believes it wonld be for the benefit of the Craft.

Upon the first view of the question it would seem that the decision was carried, and it would be, if we looked at Lodges as local institutions, making Masons alone for their respective localities; but such is not the fact. Lodges are local, for con- The principle upon which this venience and for being better quali- right is claimed has ever been, and fied to judge if the material offered is now, in practical operation in this is worthy of a place in the great jurisdiction. Every member of a moral edifice. Do they make Masons Lodge has the right to object to the for their respective Lodges alone, or ballot being spread upon the petido they make them as members of tion of any one to be made a Mason the universal family of Masons? in his Lodge, and this objection canDoes the profane petition Lodge No. not be, by any power except him1 to be made a member of that self, removed; and if this right is Lodge, or does he petition Lodge awarded to him only in his own No. 1 to receive the mysteries of Lodge, do you not at once localize Masonry, thereby becoming one of Masonry? Every Lodge making the Craft? He certainly petitions to become a Mason, and when he is legally made he is one of the universal brotherhood, and entitled to all the rights and privileges of the fraternity, a member of the family, and has a right to say whether any one shall be admitted within the cir

Masons for their own, and not for that Lodge from which we all hail.

The farther you look into this question, it appears to me, in bolder relief the principle stands, and its practical operation cannot work an injury to our noble Order.-Past Master in Freemason.

THE following decisions have been rendered by Grand Master Reynolds: 22. If the Master elect decline installation, the old Master holds over, unless a dispensation is obtained, by desire of the Lodge, for another

election.

23. The dedication of halls, constitution of Lodges, laying of cornerstones, and installation of Lodge offiVOL. X., 5-2

cers, may be in public, and, when public, the Lodge is not required to be opened.

24. A dispensation is unnecessary to elect any officer under the rank of Treasurer.

25. In trials of persons who cannot be served with notice, the record should set forth that the residence of the accused is unknown.

SECRECY NO OBJECTION TO MASONRY.

BY BBV. N. 8. SAGE.

Reader, do not pass this article most immediately concerned. unread, as you find that it is not a defense of a certain objection to speculative Masonry, but a reply to it. You need not fear to examine these matters, because whatever your conceptions of Masonry may have been, the better you understand its principles the less cause will you find for objections.

The objection which we propose to consider, in this article, is, perhaps, one that has great weight in the estimation of many who are ever seeking for "light" upon the subject, but who are wholly unacquainted with the object and design of our beloved Order. I allude to the question of secrecy.

Many persons honestly suppose that secrecy is not a virtue; and yet, strange as it may appear, we almost invariably find such persons practicing it as such, in their business relations in life, and in their family government. To illustrate. A and B are engaged in some legitimate business enterprise. For mutual aid and protection they form a copartnership. Each of these parties is in possession of some private, or secret matter pertaining alone to the business in which he is engaged. This secret might not do the world any harm, while its revelation would certainly do the world no good; but, kept between the parties interested, the world receives its benefit, and, satisfied there with, it seeks not to pry into the private affairs of those

with the family government. In all well regulated households there are certain secrets, proper and right in themselves, and the purposes songht to be attained, but which, if revealed to the world, would result in an infinite deal of injury. A child, in an unguarded hour, may have yielded to the wiles of the Tempter, and stepped aside from the flowery pathway of virtue. No parent, feeling a sense of his obligation to his child, and to human society, would think for a single moment of braying the child's crime to the world; but, locking it within the repository of a "faithful breast," he will go to the "most retired chamber" of the erring one, clasp him in his arms, and, having gained the heart so lately estranged, the "instructive tongue" will pour such words of wisdom and counsel within the "listening ear" that the power of the Tempter shall be broken forever, and his child be restored to virtue and to love once more.

"This is the Mason's part,

A Mason's boundén duty;
This rears the Mason's heart

In wisdom, strength and beauty." Many good people attach a false idea to this word, secret. They make it a synonym for deceit, trickery and fraud. This is all wrong, and the reader's good sense will teach him this truth when he reflects seriously upon the matter.

Secrecy is a great and important virtue, necessary for both social and

personal happiness and peace. No not with him." And again, mark one can be truly happy, nor can he the contrast which he draws beadd to the happiness of those by tween these mischief-making diswhom he is surrounded, who has not turbers of the peace of society and learned to keep a vigilant guard at the "faithful breast" that knows the door of his lips. Families and how and when to keep a secret: neighborhoods are kept in a constant "A tale-bearer revealeth secrets; uproar where this virtue is not prac- but he that is of a faithful spirit ticed. Societies, political and relig- concealeth the matter." ious, can only be preserved from utter ruin and overthrow by the observance of this virtue.

Numerous other arguments might be offered, but, lest our article. should prove too long, we will close Hear what the "Wise Man of here by saying: Let the objector Old" said of one who was not say what he may against secrecy, taught to keep a secret, and learn he himself esteems it a virtue for wisdom from his experience: "He himself, and despises the man who that goeth about as a tale-bearer cannot and does not keep a serevealeth secrets; therefore, meddle cret.

WHEN A DIMIT MAY BE GRANTED.

THE Ancient Constitutions say if he is a resident of another grand that no Mason should live in the vi- jurisdiction, or if he wishes to join cinity of a Lodge without becoming a Lodge nearer or more convenient a member thereof, and that every to his place of residence. The Mason should become a member Grand Lodge has also provided that of a Lodge. where a brother's peace in his family or his church can be preserved in no other way, that he, too, may dimit. We hope there are few such. We do not believe in sacrificing any good principle to gratify any clamor, whim, or caprice.

No application should be entertained for a dimit while the applicant is in bad or doubtful standing, or not clear on the books. If in good standing and clear on the books, he may be lawfully dimitted

GRAND LODGE OF MICHIGAN.

The M. W. Grand Lodge of the Thos. N. Lee, Jr., Houghton, DisState of Michigan closed its Annual trict Deputy Grand Master (for UpCommunication at Detroit, Friday, per Peninsula.) January 15. The following are the names of the Grand Officers elected and installed:

A. T. Metcalf, Kalamazoo, Grand Master.

A. Partridge,Birmingham,Deputy Grand Master.

E. R. Landon, Detroit, Senior Grand Warden.

J.V.Lambertson, Rochester, Junior Grand Warden.

R. W. Landor, Niles, Grand Treasurer.

Jas. Fenton, Detroit, Grand Secretary.

EXPLORATION OF PALESTINE.

Mr. Grove sends the following feet deep, and concluding from the communication to the papers:

size of the cistern that help would be required in measuring, I signaled for Sergeant Birtles to come down.

"On lighting up the magnesium wire, and looking about me, I was astonished; my first impression being that I had got into a church similar to that of the cathedral (formerly a I could see mosque) at Cordova. arch upon arch north and east; ap

"JERUSALEM, Feb. 1, 1869. "At the northern end of the Haram Area at Jerusalem, east of the gate known as Bab Hytta, are two tank mouths, which were not examined by Captain Wilson; they are closed by heavy stones. To the west of these there is a private garden which projects out into and forms a part of the Haram Area; in this gar-parently rows of them. den there are two other tank mouths. "After floundering about some litI examined one of these some months tle distance, however, I could see ago, but was unable to get down the that there was a limit to the subother on account of the small size of structure at no great distance, to the opening. On Monday last I went north and east. In the meantime again to this garden to have another Sergeant Birtles (somewhat stouter try at these cisterns, and first exam- than myself) was making great efined that to the west, which is sim- forts above, with very little result; ply a tank about 8 feet by 15 feet, do what he would he could not get with a semi-circular arch over it, into the narrow opening to this cisand no appearance of rock about it. tern, and at last had to give up the I then went to the other, situate at trial and go and get leave from the the south-east angle of the little gar- owner to pull down the upper mouth den, which at this point is elevated of the shaft, and then he very soon about 10 feet above the Haram Area. appeared at the bottom, his shoulders On sounding I found it 42 feet down considerably injured through his exto the water. I tried to descend, ertions. In the meantime the exbut to no purpose until I had nearly citement of our 'find' had begun to stripped to the skin, and even then wear off, and the water felt cold. I in my contortions I managed to slip was just giving the sergeant some the rope over one arm; the narrow sage advice as to how he should dipassageway only 3 feet: at 10 feet rect his steps to the best advantage, from the surface I came on the floor when I stumbled over a large stone of a little chamber, about 6 feet and fell into the water flat on my square, apparently on a level with face. As just at present the weather the Harem Area. The shaft down is frosty, a bath in one's clothes is to the cisterns continues through the anything but pleasant. I found the floor of this chamber, and is a mod-stones on which I stumbled to be erate sized opening. On getting about six in number, averaging 7 feet down to the water I found it only 3 in length, and 3 feet in depth and