Always assuming that a candidate cares for the objects for which he proposes to associate, and that it is worth while knowing whom it is with whom you propose to work them out; answers to such inquiries as the following would tend to impart a working knowledge and quality to the society:-- Is he a person previously or recently acquainted with the principles he is about to profess? Does he understand what is meant by "taking sides" with a public party? Would he be faithful to the special ideas of Secularism so long as he felt them to be true? Would he make sacrifices to spread them and vindicate them, or enable others to do so? Would he conceive of Secularism as a cause to be served loyally, which he would support as well as he was able, if unable to support it as well as he could wish? Is he of decent, moral character, and tolerably reliable as to his future conduct? In presenting his views to others, would he be likely to render them in an attractive spirit, or to make them disagreeable to others? Is he of an impulsive nature, ardent for a time, and then apathetic or reactionary--likely to antagonize to-morrow the persons he applauds to-day? Is he a person who would commit the fault of provoking persecution? Would ridicule or persecution chill him if it occurred? Is he a man to stand by an obscure and friendless cause--or are notoriety, success, applause, and the company of others, indispensable to his fidelity? Is he a man of any mark of esteem among his friends--a man whose promise is sure, whose word has weight? Is his idea of obedience, obedience simply to his own will? Would he acquiesce in the authority of the laws of the Society, or the decision of the Society where the laws were silent? Would he acknowledge in democracy the despotism of principles self-consented to--or as an arena for the assertion of Individualism before winning the consent of colleagues to the discussion of special views? The membership sought may be granted, provided the actual knowledge of Secular principles be satisfactory, and evident earnestness to practise them be apparent. The purport of the whole of the questions is to enable a clear opinion to be formed as to what is to be expected of the new member--how far he is likely to be reliable--how long he is likely to remain with us--under what circumstances he is likely to fail us--what work may be assigned him--what confidences he may be entrusted with, and in what terms he should be introduced to colleagues, and spoken of to others.