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Article LODGES OF INSTRUCTION. Page 1 of 2 Article LODGES OF INSTRUCTION. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Lodges Of Instruction.
LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .
RESPONSIBILITIES OP THE PARENT LODGES . LODGE S of Instruction , and more particularly those in the London district , frequently afford unmistakable evidence of the changes which time ¦ works upon Freemasonry—or at least upon its members . If we take the Lodges of Instruction at present working in the Metropolis it would be very
difficult to discover any connection between the majority of them and the regular Lodges from which they were established , and under whose name and sanction they are working , while the question would seem to arise whether it is desirable to continue these Lodges of Instruction under the present regulations
of tho Craft , which impose great responsibilities upon the members of regular Lodges as to the action of those who attend the Lodges of Instruction which exist under their sanction , but in the management or control ol which they take in reality no voice whatever . Let us suppose a Lodge of Instruction to
be so managed—or perhaps it will be better in this connection to say , so mismanaged—as to cause trouble and annoyance to the members of the Lodge under whose sanction it is working , —what is their remedy ? They must wait until thc next meeting of tlie Mother Lodge , ancl then bring forward a proposal to
withdraw the sanction , but tins can only be done provided the notice of such intention to withdraw permission be inserted in the summons for the meeting . All this means delay , and a delay , so far as the majority of London Lodges is concerned , which may extend over a period of some months , according to the season at
which the irregularity occurs , and the frequency of the meetings of the Mother Lodge . Even then the matter has to go to the vote ; and although in the case of any serious irregularity the result may not be in any way uncertain , questions might arise where the action of members of the Lodge of Instruction would be very obnoxious to a section of
tne parent Lodge , wno , under the present laws on the subject , would have to put up with their troubles provided they were outvoted by the other members of their Lodge . This , it may be urged , is the case with every Masonic question ; but where it is a question concerning one ' s own Lodge there is a great difference as compared with a matter relating to a Lodge of Instruction , in which the members concerned have no interest , and in the conduct of which thev can take
no part . Going back to the earlier days of our Lodges of Instruction we shall usually find they sprang into existence in consequence of a special outburst of enthusiasm ; and for a time thev were intimatelv
associated with the Lodge under whose sanction they were established ; the regular officers of the mother Lodge making periodical attendances at the Lodge of Instruction , and occupying by right the same office there as they held in the regular Lodge , the idea being
Lodges Of Instruction.
to give all the opportunity of an actual rehearsal of any functions they might have to perform in the near future in their regular Lodge . This line of procedure might continue perhaps for the first few years of the existence of the Lodge of Instruction , but in the course of time the officers of the Mother
Lodge might lind it inconvenient to attend tne . Lodge of Instruction , or they might be members of a Lodge of Instruction in another district of London , or might even consider themselves too far advanced to require any rehearsals , until , from one cause or other , the attendances of the officers of the
Mother Lodge were discontinued , and new membersbrethren wholly unassociated with the parent Lodge —gradually acquired control of the Lodge of Instruction , and , as has happened on many occasions , decided on its removal to some quarter quite beyond
the reach ot the members ot the Mother Lodge , most of whom at a later date might be wholly unaware of the existence of a Lodge of Instruction connected with their Lodge , until , in consequence of . some unpleasantness , they wore brought face to face with their responsibilities , as set down in the Book of Constitutions .
It may be urged that Grand Lodge should not be asked to study the interests of brethren who are too dilatory or too negligent to look after their own affairs , but on the other hand it looks something like one-sided justice to say that the Mother Lodge shall be answerable for the irregularities and shortcomings
of the Lodge of Instruction , and not to enforce any periodical act of submission upon the members of tho minor body . "We would suggest that each Lodge of Instruction should be ordered to render an annual statement to the Lodge from whence it holds its sanction , giving a list of its members , the time and place of meeting , and the names of its regular Officers . If
this were done the members of a Lodge would , at least , have an annual opportunity of considering the position they occupied in regard to the Lodge of Instruction , and they might also gauge their responsibility . As a counter advantage , the working of the Lodge of Instruction would be brought prominently
under the notice of the members of the Mother Lodge , and it is reasonable to suppose an increase of members and a growth of enthusiasm would result . Turning to smaller Provincial towns we do not find the same relations existing there between regular
Lodges and Lodges of Instruction , for the reason that the fields of operation open to the latter body are so much more limited than is the case in London and other large centres of industry . As a rule the Provincial Lodge of Instruction is an actual adjunct
to the regular Lodge , and the majority ot the members of the one body are also members of the other , and not , as is actually the case with some of the metropolitan bodies , wholly unknown to each other . Such being the case there is , of course , no necessity to make fresh rules to govern these bodies
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Lodges Of Instruction.
LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .
RESPONSIBILITIES OP THE PARENT LODGES . LODGE S of Instruction , and more particularly those in the London district , frequently afford unmistakable evidence of the changes which time ¦ works upon Freemasonry—or at least upon its members . If we take the Lodges of Instruction at present working in the Metropolis it would be very
difficult to discover any connection between the majority of them and the regular Lodges from which they were established , and under whose name and sanction they are working , while the question would seem to arise whether it is desirable to continue these Lodges of Instruction under the present regulations
of tho Craft , which impose great responsibilities upon the members of regular Lodges as to the action of those who attend the Lodges of Instruction which exist under their sanction , but in the management or control ol which they take in reality no voice whatever . Let us suppose a Lodge of Instruction to
be so managed—or perhaps it will be better in this connection to say , so mismanaged—as to cause trouble and annoyance to the members of the Lodge under whose sanction it is working , —what is their remedy ? They must wait until thc next meeting of tlie Mother Lodge , ancl then bring forward a proposal to
withdraw the sanction , but tins can only be done provided the notice of such intention to withdraw permission be inserted in the summons for the meeting . All this means delay , and a delay , so far as the majority of London Lodges is concerned , which may extend over a period of some months , according to the season at
which the irregularity occurs , and the frequency of the meetings of the Mother Lodge . Even then the matter has to go to the vote ; and although in the case of any serious irregularity the result may not be in any way uncertain , questions might arise where the action of members of the Lodge of Instruction would be very obnoxious to a section of
tne parent Lodge , wno , under the present laws on the subject , would have to put up with their troubles provided they were outvoted by the other members of their Lodge . This , it may be urged , is the case with every Masonic question ; but where it is a question concerning one ' s own Lodge there is a great difference as compared with a matter relating to a Lodge of Instruction , in which the members concerned have no interest , and in the conduct of which thev can take
no part . Going back to the earlier days of our Lodges of Instruction we shall usually find they sprang into existence in consequence of a special outburst of enthusiasm ; and for a time thev were intimatelv
associated with the Lodge under whose sanction they were established ; the regular officers of the mother Lodge making periodical attendances at the Lodge of Instruction , and occupying by right the same office there as they held in the regular Lodge , the idea being
Lodges Of Instruction.
to give all the opportunity of an actual rehearsal of any functions they might have to perform in the near future in their regular Lodge . This line of procedure might continue perhaps for the first few years of the existence of the Lodge of Instruction , but in the course of time the officers of the Mother
Lodge might lind it inconvenient to attend tne . Lodge of Instruction , or they might be members of a Lodge of Instruction in another district of London , or might even consider themselves too far advanced to require any rehearsals , until , from one cause or other , the attendances of the officers of the
Mother Lodge were discontinued , and new membersbrethren wholly unassociated with the parent Lodge —gradually acquired control of the Lodge of Instruction , and , as has happened on many occasions , decided on its removal to some quarter quite beyond
the reach ot the members ot the Mother Lodge , most of whom at a later date might be wholly unaware of the existence of a Lodge of Instruction connected with their Lodge , until , in consequence of . some unpleasantness , they wore brought face to face with their responsibilities , as set down in the Book of Constitutions .
It may be urged that Grand Lodge should not be asked to study the interests of brethren who are too dilatory or too negligent to look after their own affairs , but on the other hand it looks something like one-sided justice to say that the Mother Lodge shall be answerable for the irregularities and shortcomings
of the Lodge of Instruction , and not to enforce any periodical act of submission upon the members of tho minor body . "We would suggest that each Lodge of Instruction should be ordered to render an annual statement to the Lodge from whence it holds its sanction , giving a list of its members , the time and place of meeting , and the names of its regular Officers . If
this were done the members of a Lodge would , at least , have an annual opportunity of considering the position they occupied in regard to the Lodge of Instruction , and they might also gauge their responsibility . As a counter advantage , the working of the Lodge of Instruction would be brought prominently
under the notice of the members of the Mother Lodge , and it is reasonable to suppose an increase of members and a growth of enthusiasm would result . Turning to smaller Provincial towns we do not find the same relations existing there between regular
Lodges and Lodges of Instruction , for the reason that the fields of operation open to the latter body are so much more limited than is the case in London and other large centres of industry . As a rule the Provincial Lodge of Instruction is an actual adjunct
to the regular Lodge , and the majority ot the members of the one body are also members of the other , and not , as is actually the case with some of the metropolitan bodies , wholly unknown to each other . Such being the case there is , of course , no necessity to make fresh rules to govern these bodies