staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Dec 24, 2004 14:13:42 GMT
In the balloting on Petitions for Initiation and Affiliation, "white balls elect, black cubes reject". What is the origin of the "black ball"?
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Post by taylorsman on Dec 24, 2004 17:48:00 GMT
In some Lodges the Ballot Box has a Round hole for the White Balls and a Square one for the Black Cubes.This has the advantage that a mistake cannot be made too easily.
Most Lodges either use a Ballot Box with one drawer and two colours of ball, black and white, or two drawers, Yea and Nay and one colour of ball.
If a Ballot is being taken the WM ought to first take out the Nay Drawer (or the single drawer if that is the type of Box) and hold it up for the Brethren to see that it is empty. Once the Ballot is taken and if there be no Black Balls he should gavel then say, "The Ballot proves Perfect in favour of the Candidate" and can again show the empty Nay Drawer. If there is one Black Ball he should leave out the word Perfect, but if two or more Black Balls he has a problem. He CAN take the Ballot again saying that "A mistake may have been made" but if it is still against then he has to accept it. I have only seen this happen once and unfortunately the Candidate was outside the door of the Lodge.
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Post by leonardo on Dec 24, 2004 23:07:19 GMT
Here in Ireland they're called beans
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staffs
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Staffs
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Post by staffs on Dec 29, 2004 12:27:28 GMT
I am suprised that no one has replied about the origin of white and black balls.
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Post by leonardo on Dec 29, 2004 13:49:47 GMT
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Michael
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... as you have passed through the ceremony of your initiation...
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Post by Michael on Dec 29, 2004 15:29:43 GMT
Can't help with the answer to your question. But I can help to muddy the waters - our master when presented with the ballot box responds with " The ballot proves all white in the east". Apart from heart failure, I'm not sure what would happen if it was not 'all white'.
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Post by middlepillar on Dec 29, 2004 16:04:24 GMT
[quote author=Michael I'm not sure what would happen if it was not 'all white'.[/quote]
'All Black in the East'!;D (Dont get Whistler Started on the All Blacks again ;D
Unfortunately I cant help with the original question, but I would like to know the origin
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staffs
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Post by staffs on Dec 29, 2004 18:18:57 GMT
Ahh found it at last and originally sent to Me by Richard from my TFM days:
In the balloting on Petitions for Initiation and Affiliation, "white balls elect, black cubes reject". What is the origin of the "black ball"? The use of Black balls can be traced to Ancient Rome, where it was the custom in trials to condemn the prisoner by the use of black balls and to acquit him by using white ones.
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Post by leonardo on Dec 29, 2004 21:49:19 GMT
Glad you found it Lee. Great stuff.
I also love this, a quote I found in the link I provided earlier in this very thread.
"First, let us seek the answer to why black and white; Black and white are extreme opposites. They are not considered colors; One is referred to as light the other absence of light. Some artists may consider them shades, but they present the most perfect symbols of complete opposites. Also they represent day and night, since the beginning of man's knowledge, black has been associated with night, while white has been the symbol of the day."
Classic. I love hearing why things are done and the reasons behind such symbols, etc.
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