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Article M. FORAISSE ON THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE AND ITS DOCTRINE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article GOOD FELLOWSHIP. Page 1 of 1 Article GOOD FELLOWSHIP. Page 1 of 1 Article ON THE ADVANTAGES OF THE FRATERNITY. Page 1 of 2 →
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M. Foraisse On The Order Of The Temple And Its Doctrine.
we never listen to any other voice than that of onr prince , of nature , and of the most ardent charity . God , love , concord , peace towards all mankind , fidelity , unlimited devotion , inviolable attachment to each of our brethren , succour to all in distress , such are the thoughts of every initiate , of every Knight of the Temple . "
Good Fellowship.
GOOD FELLOWSHIP .
A MO ST worthy , estimable man is ho , who is described in the song as—A jolly good follow , And so say all of ns . We may depend upon it the man on whom these convivial
honours were so liberally bestowed had a good deal of the Mason about him . Were we publishers of Masonic music we should feel disposed to include this familiar refrain
among our Masonic songs , especially as there is a marvellous dearth of singable matter in our repertoire . It is tolerably certain that this chorus , though universally applicable in these
times—It's a way wo have in the array , It's a way we havo in the array , & c , & c . must have had originally some " local habitation and a
name' —the demon of quotation is haunting us at the moment , so our readers must excuse any apparent tendency to wander from the paths of common sense or connected ssnse : —
To err is hmnan , to forgive divine . Now it were a difficult , yet withal a most interesting problem to solve , and we specially commend it to those active-minded brethren among us , who dive into tho more
curious , and abstruse points of history relating to the Order , whether this glorious rollicking chorus had or had not a Masonic origin . For our own part Ave incline to the former theory . We give no reason for our belief—not even
on compulsion . " Give you a reason on compulsion ! if reasons were as plenty as blackberries , I Avould give no man a reason upon compulsion , I . " We repeat , we give no reasons , but we feel morally certain they Avill be
forthcoming and " plenty as blackberries too , Avhen the time for settling this knotty point shall have arrived . But Avhile this digression lasts , our jolly good fellow is at a standstill ,
and to have trotted him forth in all his native joviality , and then abandon him to his own resources , Avell , that we call scurvy treatment , such as poor old Jack Falstaff resented on an ever memorable occasion . " There is
nothing but roguery to be found in villanous men , ' and again , " Go thy Avays , old Jack ; die Avhen thou wilt , if manhood , good manhood , bo not forgot upon the face of the earth , then am I a shotten herring . " So this worthy
good felloAv shall not stand alone or unadorned . We will make him for the nonce a convivial peg Avhereon to hang one or more suggestions . So walk in , ladies and gentlemen , Avalk in .
One of the chief aims of Masonry is the promotion of good fellowship . We cannot always be serious , " All work and no play "—well Ave all know the effect this had upon the mind of the unhappy Jack . It is not our duty to be
always serious . To be declared to be both merry and Avise is one of the highest compliments that can be paid a man . Now , in Masonry , of course , Ave take the Avisdom for granted . We have a right to assume that a man who becomes a
Mason affords the best evidence he can that he is the possessor of Avisdom . But it follows not , as of course , that he has in him the AvhereAvithal to be merry . We have no
desire to sow broadcast anything so vulgar as imputations . When we say " the Avherewithal to be merry , " we are not thinking of the " Friar of Orders Grey " Avho described himself—in part
;—thus" Myself , by denial , I mortify "With a dainty bit of a warden pie . With old sack wine I am lined within . "
We mean that he has not in him , or , at all events , that he has not sufficiently cultivated Avhat of geniality there lurks about his system . He carries himself too stiff and
formal . Without being "Hail , felloAv , well met ! " with every one , whether knowing or not knowing them , without going into ecstatic fits of gush over any new acquaintance he
Good Fellowship.
makes—we have no very high opinion of such fellowsthere is plenty of room for him to throw aside a considerable part of that cold reserve which he draAVS so closely about him , just as men do their Ulsters on a wintry day .
We are not going to suggest anything so lunatic as that all social distinctions of rank , all etiquette , all due formalities should be annulled—it is only the silly , soi-disint demagogue who is ranting
continually—When Adam delved and Evo span , Who was then a gentleman ? —who does this . What Ave Avish to see , and what Ave think it is the business of all brethren to promote , is a more genial intercourse among Craftsmen . Masonry is an omnium gatherum
of classes , including in its ranks both prince and peasant . But Masons , as other men , have each their social sphere in which they live , and move , and have their being . There is , as far as we can see , no earthly reason why , Avithin tho limits of this sphere , there should not reign the most
perfect cordiality . Having regard to the mixed character of all corporate bodies , we may take it that members of the same Lodge , as near as possible , occupy the same social rank . We are certain they must not only know but respect each other . Why , then , should not good fellowship
be promoted among those Avorfcby fellows outside , as Avell as inside the Lodge , and how better can it be promoted than by organising such pleasant " outings " as pic-nics , or such excellent "innings" as tea fights , at homes , dancingparties , & c , & c . The old-fashioned plan of half a dozen
friends meeting successively at each other ' s houses , and enjoying either a general chat , a hand at cards , or a little music—a few glees , madrigals , and the like—was a most excellent one . Homely enough these friendly meetings Avere , and hardly to bo mentioned in connection with the
more showy entertainment of to-day , but they were promotive of geniality , of all kindliness—of good felloAVship , in fact ; and AVO question very much if the grand ball , or soiree musicale is as effective . Then an interchange of visits between town Masons and country Masons . Bro .
A . B . C . and a few Masonic intimates run down to Herringtown , and eat the friendly bloater , an honour that is reciprocated by Bro . X . Y . Z ., who is Avhirled from tho land of bloaters to the land of smoke , to take a comfortable chop at the Criterion , or the London , or perchance , the
Albion . For this reason , too , AVO hail with pleasure the establishment of a Masonic Club . This will , indeed , be a gain to Masonry . Here at once Ave have established a central point about Avhich both town and country brethren may collect , and not only interchange the ordinary civilities
of life , but indulge in free and friendly discussion about all that concerns our Order . Passing strange is it that the idea has never occurred before , for Masons arc clubbable men—essentially so , in fact . They have the same objects in view . From frequently meeting together in the same
Lodge they tolerably Avell appreciate each other . Having , as they must , their good and Aveak points severally , they become impressed Avith tho same class of ideas , yielding-, as they constantly do , to the same noble and generous impulses . Hero , then , is excellent ground for the promoters
of such a scheme to Avork upon , and we hope and believe their efforts will prove not unsuccessful , so that ere long Ave shall boast a good Masonic Club Avhere brethren from all parts of the Avorld may meet on the level and part on
the square . So shall we advance the best of all causesgood fellowship . But time ' s up ; so one more toast ere parting , and mind , reader , Avith musical honours— " Good Fellowship ! "" For he's a jolly good fellow , And so say all of ns . "
On The Advantages Of The Fraternity.
ON THE ADVANTAGES OF THE FRATERNITY .
[ FROM A LECTURE TSY MARTIN CLARE , M . A ., JUNIOR G , WARDES , 1735 . ]
Whatever therefore remains is to remind the brethren that Masons have ever been lovers of order . Ifc is tho business of their particular profession to reduce all rude matters to truth . Their aphorisms recommend it . The number of their lights , and the declared end of their coming together , intimate the frame and disposition of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
M. Foraisse On The Order Of The Temple And Its Doctrine.
we never listen to any other voice than that of onr prince , of nature , and of the most ardent charity . God , love , concord , peace towards all mankind , fidelity , unlimited devotion , inviolable attachment to each of our brethren , succour to all in distress , such are the thoughts of every initiate , of every Knight of the Temple . "
Good Fellowship.
GOOD FELLOWSHIP .
A MO ST worthy , estimable man is ho , who is described in the song as—A jolly good follow , And so say all of ns . We may depend upon it the man on whom these convivial
honours were so liberally bestowed had a good deal of the Mason about him . Were we publishers of Masonic music we should feel disposed to include this familiar refrain
among our Masonic songs , especially as there is a marvellous dearth of singable matter in our repertoire . It is tolerably certain that this chorus , though universally applicable in these
times—It's a way wo have in the array , It's a way we havo in the array , & c , & c . must have had originally some " local habitation and a
name' —the demon of quotation is haunting us at the moment , so our readers must excuse any apparent tendency to wander from the paths of common sense or connected ssnse : —
To err is hmnan , to forgive divine . Now it were a difficult , yet withal a most interesting problem to solve , and we specially commend it to those active-minded brethren among us , who dive into tho more
curious , and abstruse points of history relating to the Order , whether this glorious rollicking chorus had or had not a Masonic origin . For our own part Ave incline to the former theory . We give no reason for our belief—not even
on compulsion . " Give you a reason on compulsion ! if reasons were as plenty as blackberries , I Avould give no man a reason upon compulsion , I . " We repeat , we give no reasons , but we feel morally certain they Avill be
forthcoming and " plenty as blackberries too , Avhen the time for settling this knotty point shall have arrived . But Avhile this digression lasts , our jolly good fellow is at a standstill ,
and to have trotted him forth in all his native joviality , and then abandon him to his own resources , Avell , that we call scurvy treatment , such as poor old Jack Falstaff resented on an ever memorable occasion . " There is
nothing but roguery to be found in villanous men , ' and again , " Go thy Avays , old Jack ; die Avhen thou wilt , if manhood , good manhood , bo not forgot upon the face of the earth , then am I a shotten herring . " So this worthy
good felloAv shall not stand alone or unadorned . We will make him for the nonce a convivial peg Avhereon to hang one or more suggestions . So walk in , ladies and gentlemen , Avalk in .
One of the chief aims of Masonry is the promotion of good fellowship . We cannot always be serious , " All work and no play "—well Ave all know the effect this had upon the mind of the unhappy Jack . It is not our duty to be
always serious . To be declared to be both merry and Avise is one of the highest compliments that can be paid a man . Now , in Masonry , of course , Ave take the Avisdom for granted . We have a right to assume that a man who becomes a
Mason affords the best evidence he can that he is the possessor of Avisdom . But it follows not , as of course , that he has in him the AvhereAvithal to be merry . We have no
desire to sow broadcast anything so vulgar as imputations . When we say " the Avherewithal to be merry , " we are not thinking of the " Friar of Orders Grey " Avho described himself—in part
;—thus" Myself , by denial , I mortify "With a dainty bit of a warden pie . With old sack wine I am lined within . "
We mean that he has not in him , or , at all events , that he has not sufficiently cultivated Avhat of geniality there lurks about his system . He carries himself too stiff and
formal . Without being "Hail , felloAv , well met ! " with every one , whether knowing or not knowing them , without going into ecstatic fits of gush over any new acquaintance he
Good Fellowship.
makes—we have no very high opinion of such fellowsthere is plenty of room for him to throw aside a considerable part of that cold reserve which he draAVS so closely about him , just as men do their Ulsters on a wintry day .
We are not going to suggest anything so lunatic as that all social distinctions of rank , all etiquette , all due formalities should be annulled—it is only the silly , soi-disint demagogue who is ranting
continually—When Adam delved and Evo span , Who was then a gentleman ? —who does this . What Ave Avish to see , and what Ave think it is the business of all brethren to promote , is a more genial intercourse among Craftsmen . Masonry is an omnium gatherum
of classes , including in its ranks both prince and peasant . But Masons , as other men , have each their social sphere in which they live , and move , and have their being . There is , as far as we can see , no earthly reason why , Avithin tho limits of this sphere , there should not reign the most
perfect cordiality . Having regard to the mixed character of all corporate bodies , we may take it that members of the same Lodge , as near as possible , occupy the same social rank . We are certain they must not only know but respect each other . Why , then , should not good fellowship
be promoted among those Avorfcby fellows outside , as Avell as inside the Lodge , and how better can it be promoted than by organising such pleasant " outings " as pic-nics , or such excellent "innings" as tea fights , at homes , dancingparties , & c , & c . The old-fashioned plan of half a dozen
friends meeting successively at each other ' s houses , and enjoying either a general chat , a hand at cards , or a little music—a few glees , madrigals , and the like—was a most excellent one . Homely enough these friendly meetings Avere , and hardly to bo mentioned in connection with the
more showy entertainment of to-day , but they were promotive of geniality , of all kindliness—of good felloAVship , in fact ; and AVO question very much if the grand ball , or soiree musicale is as effective . Then an interchange of visits between town Masons and country Masons . Bro .
A . B . C . and a few Masonic intimates run down to Herringtown , and eat the friendly bloater , an honour that is reciprocated by Bro . X . Y . Z ., who is Avhirled from tho land of bloaters to the land of smoke , to take a comfortable chop at the Criterion , or the London , or perchance , the
Albion . For this reason , too , AVO hail with pleasure the establishment of a Masonic Club . This will , indeed , be a gain to Masonry . Here at once Ave have established a central point about Avhich both town and country brethren may collect , and not only interchange the ordinary civilities
of life , but indulge in free and friendly discussion about all that concerns our Order . Passing strange is it that the idea has never occurred before , for Masons arc clubbable men—essentially so , in fact . They have the same objects in view . From frequently meeting together in the same
Lodge they tolerably Avell appreciate each other . Having , as they must , their good and Aveak points severally , they become impressed Avith tho same class of ideas , yielding-, as they constantly do , to the same noble and generous impulses . Hero , then , is excellent ground for the promoters
of such a scheme to Avork upon , and we hope and believe their efforts will prove not unsuccessful , so that ere long Ave shall boast a good Masonic Club Avhere brethren from all parts of the Avorld may meet on the level and part on
the square . So shall we advance the best of all causesgood fellowship . But time ' s up ; so one more toast ere parting , and mind , reader , Avith musical honours— " Good Fellowship ! "" For he's a jolly good fellow , And so say all of ns . "
On The Advantages Of The Fraternity.
ON THE ADVANTAGES OF THE FRATERNITY .
[ FROM A LECTURE TSY MARTIN CLARE , M . A ., JUNIOR G , WARDES , 1735 . ]
Whatever therefore remains is to remind the brethren that Masons have ever been lovers of order . Ifc is tho business of their particular profession to reduce all rude matters to truth . Their aphorisms recommend it . The number of their lights , and the declared end of their coming together , intimate the frame and disposition of