Hints to the Craft.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1563, 23 November 1885, Page 4

Hints to the Craft.

IfN.Z. Freemason.] For a brother to neglect to affiliate j to a lodge sifter making any partiou--1 iav place his liome is a grave offence "—in the opinion of some Masouic ♦'♦ authorities," aud yet but little encouragement is given by a certain class of members of the Fraternity to sbjourners to attend their meetings. No matter how poor a man may be, '. if he does not affiliate after a few visits to a lodge, the " cold shoulder " is likely to be given him by brethren who nrofess to be worthy representatives ;of the Craft, itnrt this, too, at a time when, probably, the stranger .requires a friend to put him m the way of getting' a living. It is often the case th«t a new arrival m a colonial town, or city, has to seek a ''' situation! without delay, through being .short' df money, consequent on the great etfiense of travel liiig,, aud he, naturally, depends, on, , a ., brother ' pCiisoii to assist, % advice or influence, lin putting him m,., the way of I (procuring em pfoy ment. It m at such ;avtinie as th.is£-w{ie'n\ >';■ brother- ii -poor jmd needs assktance — that he finds] out who are Freemasons at hearty andjteis not always the de--1 claimed on the • principled of Ihe Fraternity " who put m prac- ''■ tice; tlie 'teadniri <?«' thi>y^prbfebs to ad"mirV.j But, supposing that a sojour- , .ncr rkraimsfrom applying. for a»sistancejhavinw managed to procure employ ihent,' it does follow -that he must bc ; ini a position to pay his affiliatioufce,—circumstauces may compel him to use his' 'spare 1 cash m paying off debts contracted through having 1 had te travel ho seek work, and ho may not make^known — even to a brotner msiso^Miis poverty) and ■many worthy Craftsmen, no doubt, keep' away from meetings after two ; ov three visits, because they consider Me'niHelves expected to* affiliate to a lodge, although residing only a tew months m the district iii which it is held! For this miNon--if for no 'ibthef — the existing provision with re- • spect ro affiliation is a bad one, 'and should not be strictly adhered to. ( Of coarf»e, if it be known that a brother is," in' a position to affiliate and yet does' nokjem .a lodfre, after a reaspnablelperiod of residence m a place, he should be excluded from attending mor* than f three, j)f the bilt ItL certainlf jis *not treatment ,tp prevent a poor brother being pftepiil at gatKerings . of tl)e>Graft. has not .affi-, : litvt^d. Some lodaes -notably the* i»ort Chalmers; iTVEarine-^-mVifke it -a; ?piiin|t JLo specially invite visitors, and many tiraTeUing'.; brethren- (haye i: had cause tt> rpmembe^.the kuly^^apnic.. spirit extended to tHera by r the officersioßhWprosperous body. .A little} f politeness and attention ; on ijhe part : of iofneers of a ( lodge thp'elfect of making a visitor feei 1 at lioine' among them, and he who is too boorish to 'extend the right band of friendship ■to a stranger cannot be -deemed a suitable representative of' tlie Fraternity. Probablyythe'lack^r attention io is pf^nyiittribut&ble -more to jr&nt of rethought than to wilftil disregard* of tlie ortHnary coiirtosies *of society ; excuse can be i; oflfered x for a Mason Who treats a pobr brother witii disrespect. Givea hearty greef-^ irigj 'bjdthr^n^to yis^tor^noWatter^ whe'thei* they wear stylish dress-suits or 4ot, and you will find the atteudance at your meetings increase considerably, wh{l4 ?prq ! uti atid '.^^ pleasure I .will be the result.