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Article UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC WORK. Page 1 of 2 Article UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC WORK. Page 1 of 2 →
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Uniformity Of Masonic Work.
UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC WORK .
MOST English Masons who are in the habit of visiting other Lodges than their own will have been struck by the absence of uniformity in the work—are the words with with which a
contemporary heads some " Facts for Freemasons " in . its current issue . We shall not go so far as to contradict the statement , as it is probably true in fact , but as a matter of principle it is wholly wrong . The
actual words and forms of Freemasonry do perhaps vary in very minute details in various parts of the globe , but it would take more than an ordinary Mason to detect the small divergencies existing in this
country , while as regards Freemasonry as a whole it is safe to say there is uniformity of working throughout the world . Lodges are to be found in all parts of the globe , and the members arc one and all actuated
by the desire to be happy and communicate happiness . It may , perhaps , be considered somewhat inconsistent on our part to take the line we do on this
occasion , in view of the opinions which have been expressed in the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE in years gone by , but we do not think such is the case . Some time back there was a controversy on the
point , when certain words and forms which were rendered different in different Lodges were pointed out . Much space and argument was devoted to the consideration of such questions as the difference between tweedledum and tweedledee , and perhaps
they were not out of place in a journal wholly devoted to Masonic matters , but to commence such arguments in an outside paper is , without doubt , most iniudicious , and we hone all lovers of the
Craft will at once put their foot on such practices . It would be quite impossible to argue points of difference one way or the other in a public print without explaining matters which are best kept
secret , and it is certainly unwise to start a project that may lead to disaster ; besides which , it is wholly unjustifiable to promulgate such doctrines as lack of unanimity in Masonic work , when , in reality , most
of the small differences which do exist are the whims and fancies of a very small minority . This question of uniformity touches very closely a point on which we have frequently expressed opinion .
We do not regard the Master who is letter perfect in all the lectures and ceremonies of the Craft as necessarily the most desirable ruler for a Lodge , in fact some of the best Masons the world has ever
known were deficient in mere words , although strong in Masonic principles ; while we should not have to travel very far to discover instances proving the direct opposite . Some of the blackest sheep ever .
found in the fold of Freemasonry could rattle through the ritual and work the ceremonies to perfection , and made use of their knowledge to impose on the unwary .
Uniformity Of Masonic Work.
On the lines set down by these uniformity advocates we should look for the best Masons in the workshop of such men as Edison , who could probably turn us out a machine which , commencing with the first
word of the opening ceremony , should gabble through everything , up to the highest rung of the Masonic ladder , without a slip or pause for breath . Would such a machine be a good Mason ? is possibly
an absurd question , but less absurd than some of the doctrines laid down by " uniformity-ists , " who would seem to sacrifice everything to the furtherance of their particular hobby .
The ordinary reader of the paper from which we extract the words at the head of our present remarks might not understand what was meant by uniformity of work , in the sense it is there used . He might
imagine that the boasted universality of tne Craft was not so much a fact as is generally supposed , and would never think that such prominence would be given in an outside publication to the discussion of
such trivial matters as are really referred to , such for instance , as to decide which is correct , to say the banner " or the " banners " of Freemasonry ? We do not doubt the expediency of discussing such
matters in their proper place , but can hardly regard the columns of a public paper , not particularly associated with the Craft , as being entitled to such recognition . The brethren who are so continuous in
harping on this one string 01 uniformity are no doubt sincere in what they do , but they would show much more wisdom if they accepted the " uniform " verdict of the Craft—or at least of a large
majoritythat the matter is not one of such importance as to need any action at the present time . They injure their case by so continuously pushing it forwardboth in season and out of season ; and the amount
of misapprehension they occasion goes far to counteract all the good that is ever likely to arise from their proposals . What is the good of talking of an absence of uniformity in Masonic work when
every part of the world is regularly and continuously supplying instances of uniformity and united action on the part of Freemasons ? At home we find a healthy rivalry between
brethren and Lodges as to who shall do the most good ; abroad it is the same . Here we find Freemasons establishing Educational and Annuity Funds for distressed members of the Craft ; elsewhere the
same is being done—indeed the work of Freemasonry is being uniformly carried on wherever we turn . One paper we open gives an account of a ball in the Metropolis , the object of which is to raise funds for
Masonic benevolence ; the next tells us of a lecture in the Provinces , for a similar object ; going further afield , we learn that the Duke of Abercorn , as Grand Master of Ireland , presided at a
concert in aid of the funds of the Irish Charities , and a large surplus is expected . If we go to India the same uniformity of desire and action is met with . At a far off railway station we learn that the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Uniformity Of Masonic Work.
UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC WORK .
MOST English Masons who are in the habit of visiting other Lodges than their own will have been struck by the absence of uniformity in the work—are the words with with which a
contemporary heads some " Facts for Freemasons " in . its current issue . We shall not go so far as to contradict the statement , as it is probably true in fact , but as a matter of principle it is wholly wrong . The
actual words and forms of Freemasonry do perhaps vary in very minute details in various parts of the globe , but it would take more than an ordinary Mason to detect the small divergencies existing in this
country , while as regards Freemasonry as a whole it is safe to say there is uniformity of working throughout the world . Lodges are to be found in all parts of the globe , and the members arc one and all actuated
by the desire to be happy and communicate happiness . It may , perhaps , be considered somewhat inconsistent on our part to take the line we do on this
occasion , in view of the opinions which have been expressed in the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE in years gone by , but we do not think such is the case . Some time back there was a controversy on the
point , when certain words and forms which were rendered different in different Lodges were pointed out . Much space and argument was devoted to the consideration of such questions as the difference between tweedledum and tweedledee , and perhaps
they were not out of place in a journal wholly devoted to Masonic matters , but to commence such arguments in an outside paper is , without doubt , most iniudicious , and we hone all lovers of the
Craft will at once put their foot on such practices . It would be quite impossible to argue points of difference one way or the other in a public print without explaining matters which are best kept
secret , and it is certainly unwise to start a project that may lead to disaster ; besides which , it is wholly unjustifiable to promulgate such doctrines as lack of unanimity in Masonic work , when , in reality , most
of the small differences which do exist are the whims and fancies of a very small minority . This question of uniformity touches very closely a point on which we have frequently expressed opinion .
We do not regard the Master who is letter perfect in all the lectures and ceremonies of the Craft as necessarily the most desirable ruler for a Lodge , in fact some of the best Masons the world has ever
known were deficient in mere words , although strong in Masonic principles ; while we should not have to travel very far to discover instances proving the direct opposite . Some of the blackest sheep ever .
found in the fold of Freemasonry could rattle through the ritual and work the ceremonies to perfection , and made use of their knowledge to impose on the unwary .
Uniformity Of Masonic Work.
On the lines set down by these uniformity advocates we should look for the best Masons in the workshop of such men as Edison , who could probably turn us out a machine which , commencing with the first
word of the opening ceremony , should gabble through everything , up to the highest rung of the Masonic ladder , without a slip or pause for breath . Would such a machine be a good Mason ? is possibly
an absurd question , but less absurd than some of the doctrines laid down by " uniformity-ists , " who would seem to sacrifice everything to the furtherance of their particular hobby .
The ordinary reader of the paper from which we extract the words at the head of our present remarks might not understand what was meant by uniformity of work , in the sense it is there used . He might
imagine that the boasted universality of tne Craft was not so much a fact as is generally supposed , and would never think that such prominence would be given in an outside publication to the discussion of
such trivial matters as are really referred to , such for instance , as to decide which is correct , to say the banner " or the " banners " of Freemasonry ? We do not doubt the expediency of discussing such
matters in their proper place , but can hardly regard the columns of a public paper , not particularly associated with the Craft , as being entitled to such recognition . The brethren who are so continuous in
harping on this one string 01 uniformity are no doubt sincere in what they do , but they would show much more wisdom if they accepted the " uniform " verdict of the Craft—or at least of a large
majoritythat the matter is not one of such importance as to need any action at the present time . They injure their case by so continuously pushing it forwardboth in season and out of season ; and the amount
of misapprehension they occasion goes far to counteract all the good that is ever likely to arise from their proposals . What is the good of talking of an absence of uniformity in Masonic work when
every part of the world is regularly and continuously supplying instances of uniformity and united action on the part of Freemasons ? At home we find a healthy rivalry between
brethren and Lodges as to who shall do the most good ; abroad it is the same . Here we find Freemasons establishing Educational and Annuity Funds for distressed members of the Craft ; elsewhere the
same is being done—indeed the work of Freemasonry is being uniformly carried on wherever we turn . One paper we open gives an account of a ball in the Metropolis , the object of which is to raise funds for
Masonic benevolence ; the next tells us of a lecture in the Provinces , for a similar object ; going further afield , we learn that the Duke of Abercorn , as Grand Master of Ireland , presided at a
concert in aid of the funds of the Irish Charities , and a large surplus is expected . If we go to India the same uniformity of desire and action is met with . At a far off railway station we learn that the