E. H. ADDINGTON

ON FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE. 5
The Grand Master ruled that charges could be presented against
an honorary member. Of course he is right, for there is no other way
apparent by which the name of an unworthy honorary member could
be dropped from the rolls.
The Grand Master also ruled as follows:
"Elk Eiver Lodge, before admitting candidates for initiation, has
been in the habit of asking the following questions:
"(1) Do you believe in the existenee'of a Supreme Being?
'' (2) Do you believe that that Supreme Being will punish vice and
reward virtue?
"(3) Do you believe that that Supreme Being has revealed His
will to man?
'' Until last regular meeting those questions have always been
answered in the affirmative. At last meeting a candidate for initiation
answered the first question in the affirmative, but refused to
answer the second any further than saying, 'I do not know.' As he
would not answer the second question, the third question was not put to
him. His initiation was deferred until your ruling could be procured.
"Are we correct in asking these questions? If so, is it imperative
that they be answered in the affirmative?
"Am. The first of the Ancient Charges clearly defines the latitude
in opinion permitted to Brethren of the Craft, and the 19th and 20th
Landmarks, given in our Book of Ceremonies, contain all that may be
considered common matter of belief by Free Masons. Beyond these
tenets Brethren have the utmost liberty, of thought. I am, therefore,
of opinion that, though some may think that questions 2 and 3 are
natural corollaries of question 1, the propounding of such questions is
not only unnecessary but contrary to the usages of the Craft.
'' The initiation of the candidate in question, therefore, should no
longer be deferred for the sole reason that he would not give an affirmative
answer' to question 2.''
The Grand Lodge declined to participate in a Masonic Congress
convened under the auspices of the Grand Orient of Italy.
The Committee on Finance reported the receipts as a seventh larger
than during the previous year; and the expenses as about two thousand
dolla-rs less than the receipts. The sum of $1,500 was transferred
to the Charity Fund.
The Grand Chaplain, V. W. Bro. H. G. Fiennes-Clinton, made an
address. His subject was the ideals of King Solomon. His ideal of the
impressiveness of grandeur as imaging the majesty of God; of unity
of the people; of influence upon the nations round about him. These
ideals should be exemplified in the Freemasonry of to-day even as they
were of its founders and organizers. And then he suggested the application
of them to the individual, and closed Ms address with these
notable words:
"And we may take Solomon's three ideals for ourselves. First,
the glory, beauty, and dignity of the Temple and its services find
their correspondence in the beautiful virtues and graces which should
adorn the true Mason's life. The graces of temperance, humility, self-