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Masonic Fancies And Foibles.
MASONIC FANCIES AND FOIBLES .
IT may seem Paganini-like , playing on the one string too frequently , to repeat the rebuke so often administered in the columns of Jour own and other journals with regard to the foibles—we will hardly call them viceswhich ever and anon present themselves amongst certain sections of the Craft . But it cannot be borne too forcibly in mind that except for some such reminders and
admonitions the circumstances we regret may assume a deeper and more ¦ wide-spread character , leading to more flagrant abuses of the fundamental principles of the Order . We have on many previous occasions pointed out the evil
effects , morally and practically , of that trading spirit which has of late years appeared on the outward guise of Freemasonry . It is by no means to be conceded that because a man displays Masonic emblems on his shop-front , or
upon his trade cards and circulars , he is thereforo bound to secure a larger amount of support , especially from the brethren of the Craft , than if he exhibited no such symbojs at all . On the contrary , we firmly believe that such
decorations , instead of presenting a magnetic attraction to the members of the Fraternity appealed to , act in a manner quite the reverse , and tend rather to repel even those who under other circumstances may have been disposed to
patronise the establishment . At any rate we havo known many instances of the kind where young Masons , in their early enthusiasm , having adopted this mistaken idea of advertising , have been glad enough , after a brief experience ,
to revert to the old and moro legitimate mode of carrying on their businesses , having discovered that good Masons are too wise to be gulled by such deceptions , whilst indifferent Masons are not likely to be warmed into newness
of life by any such artifices . The flash man of business , the traveller , the canvasser , or the " commercial representative , " who sports the emblems of the Craft on his cravat , watch chain , and finger , and who talks loudly in
company of the advantages which accrue from his connections with the Order , is not likely to succeed so well as his quiet , solid , and persevering counterpart , who makes no such pyrotechnic display of his Masonic " virtues ! " It
may be that these ornamental announcements are sometimes dictated by a spirit other than that of trading , for we know how prevalent amongst certain classes of men is the love of show—of the glitter and glare of personal adornment .
let that does not alter the fact , to which we feel bound once more to refer namely that it betrays a reprehensible weakness on the part of those who resort to such devices , either through personal conceit or in the matter of trade ,
and that it is to all intents and purposes contrary to the spirit of those principles which are inculcated by Freemasonry . The deduction , therefore , to be drawn is , that those men should be avoided who prostitute the emblems of
the Craft to their own personal or interested objects , and if it could be made apparent to such individuals that the display of Masonic signs on shop fronts or trade advertisements tends only to evoke a feeling of disgust , we
should speedily find there would be a sensible diminution of such questionable practices . Of course , when competition is so keen in all branches of trading and commercial iixe
, when every clever artifice and " dodge " is employed to attract custom and to outpace your rivals in the field , one must expect that at times there will be shady actions and dishonest advantages taken . Nor is there any great
Masonic Fancies And Foibles.
room for surprise that Masonry has not altogether escaped from the grovelling vices of the age . How frequently we hear men in conversation speculating on the benefits to be derived , or supposed to be derived , from a connection with the Craft . The general idea seems to be that such an association with the Order is to secure at once an " open , Sesame " to a better class of society than would be possible under any other circumstances , that it is a passport to
increase of trade by reason of . such extended circumference of friends , and that it inevitably secures a speedy recuperation of the dreaded " first cost " of joining a Lodge . It is
hardly worth while to waste ink in pointing out the ridiculous absurdity of such notions as commonly prevail in the outside , world respecting the uses to which Freemasonry may be applied . The " mercenary and other unworthy motives " against which every novitiate is cautioned on his entrance to a Lodge appear to be the stimulating power which actuate many men in their expressed desire to be admitted to a participation in the mysteries and privileges of the Craft . And how often do we see cases when material
advantage being the motive power of joining the Order , the man who thus undertakes the responsibility of such a position , but who fails immediately to realise his mercenary hopes , lapses into the ranks of the disappointed
and dissatisfied ones , who " see nothing in Freemasonry " only from a social or club-like point of view ? It has been often suggested to us by people who are prone to be continually pecking at the hem of the Masonic garment that there are by a long way too many publicans associated
with the Craft , that huge emblems of Freemasonry stare at us from the gilded and gaudy facades of gin palaces and restaurants , and that the landlords wield their Masonic influence merely for the purpose of increasing business . There may be some truth in this supposition , though we are by no means prepared to go the length of such an imputation . We overheard the other day snatches of conversation amongst a group of " Brother Bungs , " how that a certain member of their trade had joined a Masonic Lodge , and how that by stirring up a number of his " pals " to
start a Lodge of Instruction at his house , he had materially enhanced his custom , and consequently the value of his business . It has always been a moot point whether a public-house is the most appropriate place of meeting for a Lodge of Instruction , but we have failed as yet to see any remedial proposition placed before the Craft . It must be
admitted that , as sociality is an essential feature of Freemasonry , it can be more readily and conveniently supplied in the private rooms of a tavern or hotel than anywhere else ; and if the publican , for the accommodation he thus places at the disposal of the brethren , reaps a certain amount
of pecuniary benefit , there are few who will begrudge him that reward , or tax him with abusing his Masonic principles . Whilst , therefore , decrying the use of Masonic emblems in a general sense as a means of trade advertising and " puflT , "
we can scarcely bend to the opinion often expressed that publicans form an undesirable element of our Lodges . As a rule " mine host" is of a genial temperament , cutting a better figure , perhaps , at the banquet table than in the rites
and ceremonies of the Lodge room ; but we have substantial reason for knowing that he is not far in the back ground when an appeal is made for assistance towards any of the
charitable institutions of the Craft . It is against the trading spirit imported into Masonry by the many grades of professional and commercial life that the arrow of reprehension should be pointed . Does any sane man seriously
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Fancies And Foibles.
MASONIC FANCIES AND FOIBLES .
IT may seem Paganini-like , playing on the one string too frequently , to repeat the rebuke so often administered in the columns of Jour own and other journals with regard to the foibles—we will hardly call them viceswhich ever and anon present themselves amongst certain sections of the Craft . But it cannot be borne too forcibly in mind that except for some such reminders and
admonitions the circumstances we regret may assume a deeper and more ¦ wide-spread character , leading to more flagrant abuses of the fundamental principles of the Order . We have on many previous occasions pointed out the evil
effects , morally and practically , of that trading spirit which has of late years appeared on the outward guise of Freemasonry . It is by no means to be conceded that because a man displays Masonic emblems on his shop-front , or
upon his trade cards and circulars , he is thereforo bound to secure a larger amount of support , especially from the brethren of the Craft , than if he exhibited no such symbojs at all . On the contrary , we firmly believe that such
decorations , instead of presenting a magnetic attraction to the members of the Fraternity appealed to , act in a manner quite the reverse , and tend rather to repel even those who under other circumstances may have been disposed to
patronise the establishment . At any rate we havo known many instances of the kind where young Masons , in their early enthusiasm , having adopted this mistaken idea of advertising , have been glad enough , after a brief experience ,
to revert to the old and moro legitimate mode of carrying on their businesses , having discovered that good Masons are too wise to be gulled by such deceptions , whilst indifferent Masons are not likely to be warmed into newness
of life by any such artifices . The flash man of business , the traveller , the canvasser , or the " commercial representative , " who sports the emblems of the Craft on his cravat , watch chain , and finger , and who talks loudly in
company of the advantages which accrue from his connections with the Order , is not likely to succeed so well as his quiet , solid , and persevering counterpart , who makes no such pyrotechnic display of his Masonic " virtues ! " It
may be that these ornamental announcements are sometimes dictated by a spirit other than that of trading , for we know how prevalent amongst certain classes of men is the love of show—of the glitter and glare of personal adornment .
let that does not alter the fact , to which we feel bound once more to refer namely that it betrays a reprehensible weakness on the part of those who resort to such devices , either through personal conceit or in the matter of trade ,
and that it is to all intents and purposes contrary to the spirit of those principles which are inculcated by Freemasonry . The deduction , therefore , to be drawn is , that those men should be avoided who prostitute the emblems of
the Craft to their own personal or interested objects , and if it could be made apparent to such individuals that the display of Masonic signs on shop fronts or trade advertisements tends only to evoke a feeling of disgust , we
should speedily find there would be a sensible diminution of such questionable practices . Of course , when competition is so keen in all branches of trading and commercial iixe
, when every clever artifice and " dodge " is employed to attract custom and to outpace your rivals in the field , one must expect that at times there will be shady actions and dishonest advantages taken . Nor is there any great
Masonic Fancies And Foibles.
room for surprise that Masonry has not altogether escaped from the grovelling vices of the age . How frequently we hear men in conversation speculating on the benefits to be derived , or supposed to be derived , from a connection with the Craft . The general idea seems to be that such an association with the Order is to secure at once an " open , Sesame " to a better class of society than would be possible under any other circumstances , that it is a passport to
increase of trade by reason of . such extended circumference of friends , and that it inevitably secures a speedy recuperation of the dreaded " first cost " of joining a Lodge . It is
hardly worth while to waste ink in pointing out the ridiculous absurdity of such notions as commonly prevail in the outside , world respecting the uses to which Freemasonry may be applied . The " mercenary and other unworthy motives " against which every novitiate is cautioned on his entrance to a Lodge appear to be the stimulating power which actuate many men in their expressed desire to be admitted to a participation in the mysteries and privileges of the Craft . And how often do we see cases when material
advantage being the motive power of joining the Order , the man who thus undertakes the responsibility of such a position , but who fails immediately to realise his mercenary hopes , lapses into the ranks of the disappointed
and dissatisfied ones , who " see nothing in Freemasonry " only from a social or club-like point of view ? It has been often suggested to us by people who are prone to be continually pecking at the hem of the Masonic garment that there are by a long way too many publicans associated
with the Craft , that huge emblems of Freemasonry stare at us from the gilded and gaudy facades of gin palaces and restaurants , and that the landlords wield their Masonic influence merely for the purpose of increasing business . There may be some truth in this supposition , though we are by no means prepared to go the length of such an imputation . We overheard the other day snatches of conversation amongst a group of " Brother Bungs , " how that a certain member of their trade had joined a Masonic Lodge , and how that by stirring up a number of his " pals " to
start a Lodge of Instruction at his house , he had materially enhanced his custom , and consequently the value of his business . It has always been a moot point whether a public-house is the most appropriate place of meeting for a Lodge of Instruction , but we have failed as yet to see any remedial proposition placed before the Craft . It must be
admitted that , as sociality is an essential feature of Freemasonry , it can be more readily and conveniently supplied in the private rooms of a tavern or hotel than anywhere else ; and if the publican , for the accommodation he thus places at the disposal of the brethren , reaps a certain amount
of pecuniary benefit , there are few who will begrudge him that reward , or tax him with abusing his Masonic principles . Whilst , therefore , decrying the use of Masonic emblems in a general sense as a means of trade advertising and " puflT , "
we can scarcely bend to the opinion often expressed that publicans form an undesirable element of our Lodges . As a rule " mine host" is of a genial temperament , cutting a better figure , perhaps , at the banquet table than in the rites
and ceremonies of the Lodge room ; but we have substantial reason for knowing that he is not far in the back ground when an appeal is made for assistance towards any of the
charitable institutions of the Craft . It is against the trading spirit imported into Masonry by the many grades of professional and commercial life that the arrow of reprehension should be pointed . Does any sane man seriously