GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA,

GRAND MASTER'S OFFICE, VERMILIONVILLE, 1874. Grand Master of Grand Lodge of F. and A. M., Michigan :

M. W. BRO.-A few months since, a terrible calamity had befallen our people; a large portion of Louisiana, whose citizens had been gradually brought to poverty by a continued series of reverses and afflictions, were now threatened by flood and famine: the distress that followed was so appalling and so general, that our own resources would be as nothing to relieve the sufferings of our brothers in the hour of danger from hunger and consequent sickness.

The noble benevolence of the Masonic Fraternity, and the promptitude with which their offerings were laid at once upon the altar of our common Brotherhood, has relieved the sufferings and averted the gloomy result that for a time stared us in the face: that of our Brothers and their families perishing in the agonies of famine, unless relieved by public charity, which could not be relied upon with certainty.

Thanks be to God, through our own Brothers, we are now relieved from any further apprehension-the danger is overcome-and we are not in need of any further assistance.

Rest assured that the Masons of Louisiana, more especially those whose necessities were so quickly relieved from the bounties that have been extended to us, will ever bear in grateful remembrance, the timely assistance and the hearty good will and expressions of sympathy and brotherly love, that accompanied the gifts in the hour of our want and distress.

May God in his infinite wisdom and mercy, spare you W. M. Bro. and yours, from such a fearful trial and heart-rending affliction. Most truly and fraternally yours,

M. E. GIRARD,

Grand Master Louisiana.

Grand Secretary.

CHAFFING THE CANDIDATE.

An intelligent man, of earnest and noble character, and of refined and cultivated tastes, but recently made a Mason, was asked, "what he thought of the ceremonies through which he had passed?" After some hesitation, he replied, with indignant feeling, "the vulgarity of my preparation destroyed the impressiveness and sublimity of the ceremony."

It is to be feared that the preparation room is made, quite too often, the scene of buffoonery and of thoughtless chaffing of the candidate, which can have no other effect than that of disgusting, if not of offending, a sensible and self-respecting man. And when this occurs, at the very threshold of his Masonic experience, its effect on his Masonic life cannot but be deleterious. All know the strength and durability of first impressions, especially when approaching new and important transactions. What sensible and thoughtful young man or

woman can avoid painful thoughts and forebodings, as they meet to proceed to the marriage altar, if either betray, by frivolous speech or conduct, an utter failure to comprehend the serious-nay even solemn-nature of the ceremony in which they are about to engage? What earnest, honest man, about to join a church, would fail to be shocked or to question the reality of religion, if during his preliminary intercourse with the officials of the church, their manner and conduct should be marked by levity and an utter want of seriousness and solemnity?

And just so it will be, when a MAN, whose heart contains the material that makes the true Mason, is treated in the preparation room with disrespect, disgusting familiarity-not to speak of vulgarity.

"Immodest words admit of no defense;
For want of decency is want of sense."

We speak strongly because we feel strongly, and wish to demonstrate the necessity of checking, at once, an idle custom that, (as we hear,) is becoming quite too prevalent in some of our Lodges-the custom of congregating, (besides the proper officials,) certain fun-loving Brethren around the candidate while he is being prepared for taking the degrees, for the purpose of chaffing him on the experiences he is likely to encounter. It is an offense against good manners as well as good Masonry; and we shall soon see, (in the neighborhoods where such things are tolerated,) that men of sense and men of character, men of self-respect, and men of influence-the very men that make good Masons-will rarely manifest love or respect for Masonry.

Coming to our doors entertaining a high regard for the institution, if they are met by frivolity and find themselves, while complying with our requirements, made the butt of ridicule and the subjects of rude if not vulgar mirth, their hopeful enthusiasm is chilled by conduct which, it is true, may be but the product of thoughtlessness, but which, (whether thoughtless or designed,) is clearly incongruous with the feelings and purposes with which the candidate comes to us. It needs no argument to prove, that this is a poor preparation to receive and appreciate the beautiful les.

sons of the first degree or the sublime teachings of the third. We seriously and earnestly appeal to all Masons and especially to all Masters of Lodges, to frown upon and arrest snch practices wherever they prevail. Except the proper officials, no Brother should be permitted to witness the preparation of the candidate. He should be politely and quietly informed of what is required, and every look and act, of those who superintend the preparation, should indicate that they feel it to be a serious business. If the candidate's selfrespect be not alarmed or offended and his enthusiasm be not chilled by the rude or unseemly manner or language of those having him in charge-in short, if "everything be done decently and in order," he is then indeed prepared to understand our impressive ritual and to appreciate its force and beauty. That impression, once made, can never be lost, however unfortunate his subsequent experience of Masonry may prove to be; and that impression alone may make or mar his whole Masonic life.

PEACE RATIFIED.

The treaty of peace, between the Grand Lodges of Canada and Quebec, was ratified by the former at its recent Grand Communication held at Toronto, July 9th, last. The Grand Lodge of Canada, by the adoption of a formal resolution, relinquished jurisdiction over the Province of Quebec and gave, to the Grand Lodge of that Province, its fraternal recognition.

We greatly rejoice at this auspicious termination of an unhappy controversy which, by outside interference, has been embittered and prolonged.

On account of the principle involved, we are constrained to say that all those Grand Lodges which declared Masonic war on the Grand Lodge of Canada, as a Masonic invader of an established jurisdiction, must now declare its "relinquishment of jurisdiction" to be an unwarranted assumption of right and power: consistency will compel them them to demand a withdrawal of the act "relinquishing jurisdiction" and to in

sist that it shall, like other Grand Lodges, content itself with the simple recognition of the Grand Lodge of Quebec. We are curious to see how the Grand Lodges of Vermont, Illinois and others, that passed acts of non intercourse, will deal with. the logic of the situation.

ADVANCE.

The Canadian Freemason, Volume 1, Number 1 is received. It is published monthly by Bro. M. L. Aldrich & Co., at Toronto, Ontario, at $1.50 a year in advance.

We welcome this new organ of Masonry to the Journalistic ranks of the Craft and bespeak for it a cordial support. We like its terms-" in advance"-we hope it will nail that flag to its mast and never surrender. "The laborer is worthy of his hire"; and that Journal, whose revenue is secured by "advance" payments, will steadily advance in its spirit, power and usefulness.

The inspiration of the age is "advance"- the genius and spirit of Masonry demand "advance" in literature, in learning, in practical charity and in all that makes it the universal and real Brotherhood. Our Masonic imagery constantly suggests an advance: we are travelers-we approach the source of light-new scenes, new thoughts, new inspirations, new aims, new charities, under a constantly increasing Masonic light, reveal themselves to us as we advance, and only he who advances is the true man, the true Mason and the true Christian. There is inspiration in the idea-there is magnetism in the word-and there is the highest practical usefulness and wisdom in the fact. Advance is life-physical, intellectual, moral life-when we cease to advance we die: and advance payment is the motive power and life of jour nalism.

May the Canadian Freemason have a long, a useful and a prosperous career.

THE Grand Lodge of British Columbia levies a tax of ten dollars on every initiate.

The Grand Lodge of New York makes its tax three dollars; and The Grand Lodge of Michigan one dollar on the same class.

EDITORIAL NOTES,

CORRECTION.

In the July number of the FREEMASON we gave the beautiful "St. Bernard Song" sung at the banquet, given by St. Bernard Commandery, No. 16, to the officers and members of the Grand Commandery of Michigan at its late Grand Conclave. We were informed that Sir Knight Edwin Saunders, E. C of No. 16, was the author of the lines and so stated in the printing. But it seems we were mistaken; and give a full correction of it by publishing his letter to us on the subject:

ST. BERNARD COMMANDERY, No. 16, K. T.,

OFFICE OF THE EMINENT COMMANDER, EAST SAGINAW, July 15, 1874 Foster Pratt, M. D., Editor Michigan Freemason.

MY DEAR SIR KNIGHT:-I have just seen a copy of the MICHIGAN FREEMASON for July, and find that I am credited with the authorship of the St. Bernard Song." The song was originally written for St. Bernard Commandery of Boston, Mass., and was set to the air, "Bonny Havens." Upon examination, I found that by making some slight changes it could be sang to the air of "Auld Lang Syne." I made these changes and had the same printed for the use of our Commandery, it being understood by all, as I supposed, that I was not the author. I sincerely regret that this mistake should have occurred, and you will do me a favor by correcting the error in your next issue.

Courteously Yours,

EDWIN SAUNDERS.

ANDROGYNOUS POLITICS AND MASONRY.

A canvass is going on in the principal towns of Michigan to ascertain whether a majority of the women want to vote. While the larger number think they would vote on temperance and other kindred topics if they had a chance, the result of the canvass thus far seems to show that they are not anxious for the ballot on the general questions of political policy. Should suffrage be granted them, will the Freemason advocate granting them Masonic rights also?

This paragraph from the Masonic Dispatch, published at Suspension Bridge, N. Y., closes with a "conundrum" propounded particularly to us. Why Bro. Ransom should fire his catechism at the Freemason we do not exactly comprehend. We are not aware that our pages have ever advocated mixing Masonry with either politics or religion-and this woman's movement is, we believe, claimed to be both; it is clearly made a political question by many, and by some it is said to be religious --that is, if Free Love is religious.

Before fully answering the question, we are under obligation, as W. M. of our Lodge, to consult the feelings of our Senior Deacon and