E. H. ADDINGTON

52 APPENDIX—REPORT OF COMMITTEE
raise Candidates had ceased by the terms of the grant. Those men
did not have a Master or a Warden among them, and consequently a
Lodge could not be opened even if they were a regular Lodge, which
by the terms of the law they were not.
He says that he does not catch the point of a decision, of Grand
Master Thomas that objection cannot be made to the reception of a
petition, but if anyone does so his action must be subsequent; and asks,
"What is the difference as to the time when the objection is offered?"
We regret that we cannot help Brother Wroth in this matter, for our
inability to see the point is like his. We ourselves need to be enlightened.
In respect to the punishment of an unaffiliate guilty of crime, he
says that an unaffiliate possesses something. '' He is simply an orphan
without a home, and an orphan can be put in jail." But what is it
that he possesses? It seems to us only the one Masonic right, that to
petition a Lodge for membership. Suppose an unaffiliate is charged with
a crime against the moral law. The Lodge in whose jurisdiction he is
has charges presented against him; he is tried; found guilty. The
Lodge votes expulsion or suspension. What effect will the verdict
have? The man has a demit in his possession declaring him worthy of
being received into any Lodge. It cannot be taken from him. He goes
to some distant place; applies for affiliation, presenting the demit.
The Lodge ignorant of the action against him while unaffiliated, elects
him to membership. Now what can be done about it? The Lodge
that has pronounced sentence against him may never hear of his affiliation.
Brother Wroth is liberal in his quotations, and perfectly fair. He
thoroughly believes in not only hearing both sides of a question, but in
giving his Brethren of New Mexico equal opportunity.
NEW SOUTH. WALES, 1910.
The Grand Master, M. W. Bro. H. Montgomerie-Hamilton, well
said in his Address:
'' I would urge members of Lodges to be more sympathetic with
the Masters in the difficulties their position involves, and before bringing
any charge—and I speak here with a full knowledge that I speak
only, as I have said, to W. M.'s and P. M.'s, and that my remarks do
not to-night reach the ordinary floor member of the Lodge, though they
apply equally to them—I repeat, that before bringing any charge they
should endeavor to speak to the Masters upon the subject privately,
and not unless the matter cannot otherwise be adjusted bring it forward
in the form of a charge. On the other hand, I earnestly implore Masters
to be kind and considerate with those who do raise objections, and not
be autocratic or arbitrary, or refuse to listen to a member, however
humble he may be in the Lodge, and whether he be right or wrong to
exhaust every possible means of conciliation before reverting to the
exercise of their undoubted authority. Every member, equally with
a Master of a Lodge, has rights as well as duties, and these rights
must be respected by every Master who wishes to claim and receive
the respect and duty due to him."