Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Progress.
PROGRESS .
EVEN the Chinese and Japanese now find that thoy too must advance . Tho Entered Apprentice must advance to the Fellow Craft and then become a Master Mason , aud in time may become an Officer in his Lodgo and the Master oP it ; and
in due time become a Grand Master of Masons . To do this he must advance in tho knowledge , not only of the rituals of the degrees , but in the laws , practice , and usages of Masonry . During our service in tho office AVO hold in
Grand Lodge , and acting as Librarian , we are frequently appealed to by the young Mason , and often by the newly installed Master and Wardens , as to what books we would recommend them to read to obtain a more intimate
knowledge of Masonry . Oftentimes the Master wants ! to take from the library Mackey ' s Jurisprudence , Mackey ' s Parliamentary Law , Chase ' s Digest , & c . It has occurred to us that every Lodge in the whole country should own copies of certain
Masonic works , ancl require , by their by-laws , that these works shall be transmitted regularly every year by the retiring Worshipful Master to his successor upon his installation , and that the latter shall be publicly charged to make them his study and constant reference .
At the present day each Grand Lodge has its own peculiar digest * , therefore it is not for us , in this paper , to dictate as to whioh author ' s works would bo preferable .
The Grancl Lodge should indicate to its Lodges the works preferred . In this way the Masters of Lodges would become proficient in the questions which ordinarily arise in our Lodges .
Of course the Constitution of the Grand Lodge and by-laws of the particular Lodge should invariably be read and studied , not only by tho Worshipful Master , but by the Wardens and other Officers .
There is also another matter which would add greatly to the progress of the members , namely , to have a sufficient number of the printed Proceedings of the Grand Lodge supplied , so that all the members who so desire might have an opportunity of reading not only the regular
Proceedings of the Grand Lodge , but also the reports on correspondence . The Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia has always furnished , gratuitously , to the members of the Lodges copies of the Annual Proceedings in such numbers that all who wish can get a copy .
In consequence of this system the members are constantly making progress in the proper knowledge of Masonic matters , and it is remarked that there is not a more intelligent body of Masons anywhere than in the District of Columbia , and we attribute this to the above mentioned
fact of the free distribution of the printed Proceedings among the brethren . It is true thafc some Masons among us , more shame to them for it , would be willing to curtail our Proceedings by loppiugoff the report on correspondence , yet these never read , arid are so few that they do nofc raise
their voice in Grand Lodge against it . The avidity shown by tho large majority to get hold of the Proceedings when issued , ancl the anxious inquiries nightly propounded as to how soon they will be ready , convinces us that to deprive them of this privilege would be seriously felt and certainly kicked against in this jurisdiction .
Now we infer from this that if in other jurisdictions the same liberal policy were to be followed , the Grancl Lodges would find a great increase in the interest manifested by the brethren , and moreover there would be greater progress in the knowledge of the vital principles of Masonry .
Through the Voice of Masonry , so widely disseminated , we trust that this subject will attract the attention of tbe more advanced Masons and those who lead in all o-ood works , and more particularl y in distributing the Annual Proceedings among the brethren . It is true that three
copies are sent to each Lodge , and the stereotype order is on the back of each : " To be read in open Lodgo , " yet how often is that order neglected ? and how few of the brethren are present to hear the reading ? and moreover the report on correspondence is never read in open
Lodge , as these reports , to be worth reading , are too length y for the Lodge-room . These must be carried home , and there carefully read , and the best parfc of them enre
fully considered ; for in these reports are collected the opinions , upon Masonic questions , of tbe most advan : ed thinkers of the present day , and whose opinions are valuable , and when compared wifch the works of Mackey
Progress.
Chase , Lawrence , Mitchel , and others , will assuredly contribute to the progress of any Mason in Masonic law and practice . Masonry , as now constituted , is a regularly graduated system of progress , from tho first degree to tho third in the Lodge ; from tho fourth to tho seventh in the Chapter ; and the eighth and ninth iu tho Council .
These nine degrees constitute Ancient Craft Masonry ; and no one can be well educated or informed upon the ritualism of the Institution of the modern era withont having carefully studied the dogmas and tho morals of each
and all of theso several degrees . Those who havo philosophically studied Masonry havo fully appreciated tho graduated system , and know that it is the true method of " communication , " by symbols and allegories .
In the First degree—the great lesson is " Faith' —trust in God—or no obligation could possibly be effectual to secure the fidelity of the neophyte , and tho lessons are addressed to his moral faculties . Tho Fellow Craft is
taught the value and necessity of the knowledge of the sciences , and the lessons aro addressed to his intellectual faculties . The Master Mason ' s degreo originally , now the third in the scale , is to teach the Mason that tho morality of tho
first , and the intellectual cultivation in the second , are to qualify him for the spiritual life which is illustrated in the third degree . The fourth , which is a supplement to the second , teacher that man should bo industriously employed in the quarry
of life , to perfect the work given to him to execute , by a written law , so that ifc shall pass the test of the Gr . ind Overseer , and bo adapted to the appropriate use in tho spiritual building . The fifth degree teaches the important lesson of a due preparation for the governing of tho Craft ,
by careful adherence to the laws of tho Institution , its customs and the ancient landmarks so that tho affairs of the Lodge may be harmoniously and successfully conducted . The sixth degree is simply to teach that there should bo
a successful and joyful perfecting and completion of all enterprises , and that every Masonic work should be so conducted and finished , that it may be dedicated to the service of the one living and true God .
The seventh degree , originally the Master ' s degree , crowns fche structure of Masonry , and fui'nishes an intelligible key to all Masonic mysterie ? , —and tho neophyte
who has successfully passed through the preceding steps , grades or degrees , and has philosophically studied the meanings ( exoteric ) of the symbols and allegories , will hore learn the " Truth " for which he has been in search in
all his former steps . The Royal Master s ancl Sulocb Mason's degrees rationally account for matters encountered in the preceding degrees . Some havo held thafc these degrees should precede the Royal Arch Wo do not believe that the Select Mason's degree should bo given
prior to the Royal Arch . In tho firsfc place , tho history of the degree , its origin and purpose , forbid it fro : n being communicated to any ono below the Royal Arch , for ifc rationally accounts for fche mysteries un folded in that degree . To confer ifc prior to the Royal
Arch requires a total change of both rituals and explanations as was dono in Maryland , the district of Columbia and Virginia , tho only two States where the Grand Chapters held possession of these degrees
ancl conferred them prior to the Royal Arch . Maryland , following the District of Columbia , has dropped tbom from the Curriculum , and formed her own independent Councils and Grand Council . Virginia alone holds to tho modern .
way . Any intelligent philosophical Mason must wc that tbe Select Mason should follow the Royal Arch . — Voice of Masonry .
The following festivals have been neld during the week afc Freemasons' Tavern : — Monday , 7 th—Lodgo of Joppa , Old Kinjjs' Arms Chap t er , Caslon Lodge , Urban Chapter ; Tuesday , 9 th— Wanderer ., ' Lolge ,
Jerusalem Chapter , Prudent Brethren Chapter ; Wednesday , Kuoc ' i Lodge , Lodge of Fidelity ; Thursday , 10 th—Iloso of Sharon Chapter , Polish National Lodge , Lodge of Regularity ; Saturday , 12 ; h— Duke of Cornwall Lodge .
HOT . LOWAY ' S PUT , ? . —Easy Disc-tiou . —Theso admirable Pills cannot bo too highly appreciated for the wholesome power they exert over all disorders of the stomach , liver , bowels , ami kidneys . They instantaneously relieve and steadily work out a thorough cure , and in its course dispel bcndichc . biliousness , flatulence , aud depression of spirit . It is wonderful to wt'ch tho daily improvement of the complexion , ns Hollowav ' s Pills purify UH > blond anil restore plumpness to the face which had lost both flrsh and colour . Th- 'so Pills combine every excellence desirable iu a domestic remedy . The most , certain aud beneficial results tlow from the occasional use of this regulating medicine ; even persons in health , or when following sedentary occupation " will find it an invaluable aperient .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Progress.
PROGRESS .
EVEN the Chinese and Japanese now find that thoy too must advance . Tho Entered Apprentice must advance to the Fellow Craft and then become a Master Mason , aud in time may become an Officer in his Lodgo and the Master oP it ; and
in due time become a Grand Master of Masons . To do this he must advance in tho knowledge , not only of the rituals of the degrees , but in the laws , practice , and usages of Masonry . During our service in tho office AVO hold in
Grand Lodge , and acting as Librarian , we are frequently appealed to by the young Mason , and often by the newly installed Master and Wardens , as to what books we would recommend them to read to obtain a more intimate
knowledge of Masonry . Oftentimes the Master wants ! to take from the library Mackey ' s Jurisprudence , Mackey ' s Parliamentary Law , Chase ' s Digest , & c . It has occurred to us that every Lodge in the whole country should own copies of certain
Masonic works , ancl require , by their by-laws , that these works shall be transmitted regularly every year by the retiring Worshipful Master to his successor upon his installation , and that the latter shall be publicly charged to make them his study and constant reference .
At the present day each Grand Lodge has its own peculiar digest * , therefore it is not for us , in this paper , to dictate as to whioh author ' s works would bo preferable .
The Grancl Lodge should indicate to its Lodges the works preferred . In this way the Masters of Lodges would become proficient in the questions which ordinarily arise in our Lodges .
Of course the Constitution of the Grand Lodge and by-laws of the particular Lodge should invariably be read and studied , not only by tho Worshipful Master , but by the Wardens and other Officers .
There is also another matter which would add greatly to the progress of the members , namely , to have a sufficient number of the printed Proceedings of the Grand Lodge supplied , so that all the members who so desire might have an opportunity of reading not only the regular
Proceedings of the Grand Lodge , but also the reports on correspondence . The Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia has always furnished , gratuitously , to the members of the Lodges copies of the Annual Proceedings in such numbers that all who wish can get a copy .
In consequence of this system the members are constantly making progress in the proper knowledge of Masonic matters , and it is remarked that there is not a more intelligent body of Masons anywhere than in the District of Columbia , and we attribute this to the above mentioned
fact of the free distribution of the printed Proceedings among the brethren . It is true thafc some Masons among us , more shame to them for it , would be willing to curtail our Proceedings by loppiugoff the report on correspondence , yet these never read , arid are so few that they do nofc raise
their voice in Grand Lodge against it . The avidity shown by tho large majority to get hold of the Proceedings when issued , ancl the anxious inquiries nightly propounded as to how soon they will be ready , convinces us that to deprive them of this privilege would be seriously felt and certainly kicked against in this jurisdiction .
Now we infer from this that if in other jurisdictions the same liberal policy were to be followed , the Grancl Lodges would find a great increase in the interest manifested by the brethren , and moreover there would be greater progress in the knowledge of the vital principles of Masonry .
Through the Voice of Masonry , so widely disseminated , we trust that this subject will attract the attention of tbe more advanced Masons and those who lead in all o-ood works , and more particularl y in distributing the Annual Proceedings among the brethren . It is true that three
copies are sent to each Lodge , and the stereotype order is on the back of each : " To be read in open Lodgo , " yet how often is that order neglected ? and how few of the brethren are present to hear the reading ? and moreover the report on correspondence is never read in open
Lodge , as these reports , to be worth reading , are too length y for the Lodge-room . These must be carried home , and there carefully read , and the best parfc of them enre
fully considered ; for in these reports are collected the opinions , upon Masonic questions , of tbe most advan : ed thinkers of the present day , and whose opinions are valuable , and when compared wifch the works of Mackey
Progress.
Chase , Lawrence , Mitchel , and others , will assuredly contribute to the progress of any Mason in Masonic law and practice . Masonry , as now constituted , is a regularly graduated system of progress , from tho first degree to tho third in the Lodge ; from tho fourth to tho seventh in the Chapter ; and the eighth and ninth iu tho Council .
These nine degrees constitute Ancient Craft Masonry ; and no one can be well educated or informed upon the ritualism of the Institution of the modern era withont having carefully studied the dogmas and tho morals of each
and all of theso several degrees . Those who havo philosophically studied Masonry havo fully appreciated tho graduated system , and know that it is the true method of " communication , " by symbols and allegories .
In the First degree—the great lesson is " Faith' —trust in God—or no obligation could possibly be effectual to secure the fidelity of the neophyte , and tho lessons are addressed to his moral faculties . Tho Fellow Craft is
taught the value and necessity of the knowledge of the sciences , and the lessons aro addressed to his intellectual faculties . The Master Mason ' s degreo originally , now the third in the scale , is to teach the Mason that tho morality of tho
first , and the intellectual cultivation in the second , are to qualify him for the spiritual life which is illustrated in the third degree . The fourth , which is a supplement to the second , teacher that man should bo industriously employed in the quarry
of life , to perfect the work given to him to execute , by a written law , so that ifc shall pass the test of the Gr . ind Overseer , and bo adapted to the appropriate use in tho spiritual building . The fifth degree teaches the important lesson of a due preparation for the governing of tho Craft ,
by careful adherence to the laws of tho Institution , its customs and the ancient landmarks so that tho affairs of the Lodge may be harmoniously and successfully conducted . The sixth degree is simply to teach that there should bo
a successful and joyful perfecting and completion of all enterprises , and that every Masonic work should be so conducted and finished , that it may be dedicated to the service of the one living and true God .
The seventh degree , originally the Master ' s degree , crowns fche structure of Masonry , and fui'nishes an intelligible key to all Masonic mysterie ? , —and tho neophyte
who has successfully passed through the preceding steps , grades or degrees , and has philosophically studied the meanings ( exoteric ) of the symbols and allegories , will hore learn the " Truth " for which he has been in search in
all his former steps . The Royal Master s ancl Sulocb Mason's degrees rationally account for matters encountered in the preceding degrees . Some havo held thafc these degrees should precede the Royal Arch Wo do not believe that the Select Mason's degree should bo given
prior to the Royal Arch . In tho firsfc place , tho history of the degree , its origin and purpose , forbid it fro : n being communicated to any ono below the Royal Arch , for ifc rationally accounts for fche mysteries un folded in that degree . To confer ifc prior to the Royal
Arch requires a total change of both rituals and explanations as was dono in Maryland , the district of Columbia and Virginia , tho only two States where the Grand Chapters held possession of these degrees
ancl conferred them prior to the Royal Arch . Maryland , following the District of Columbia , has dropped tbom from the Curriculum , and formed her own independent Councils and Grand Council . Virginia alone holds to tho modern .
way . Any intelligent philosophical Mason must wc that tbe Select Mason should follow the Royal Arch . — Voice of Masonry .
The following festivals have been neld during the week afc Freemasons' Tavern : — Monday , 7 th—Lodgo of Joppa , Old Kinjjs' Arms Chap t er , Caslon Lodge , Urban Chapter ; Tuesday , 9 th— Wanderer ., ' Lolge ,
Jerusalem Chapter , Prudent Brethren Chapter ; Wednesday , Kuoc ' i Lodge , Lodge of Fidelity ; Thursday , 10 th—Iloso of Sharon Chapter , Polish National Lodge , Lodge of Regularity ; Saturday , 12 ; h— Duke of Cornwall Lodge .
HOT . LOWAY ' S PUT , ? . —Easy Disc-tiou . —Theso admirable Pills cannot bo too highly appreciated for the wholesome power they exert over all disorders of the stomach , liver , bowels , ami kidneys . They instantaneously relieve and steadily work out a thorough cure , and in its course dispel bcndichc . biliousness , flatulence , aud depression of spirit . It is wonderful to wt'ch tho daily improvement of the complexion , ns Hollowav ' s Pills purify UH > blond anil restore plumpness to the face which had lost both flrsh and colour . Th- 'so Pills combine every excellence desirable iu a domestic remedy . The most , certain aud beneficial results tlow from the occasional use of this regulating medicine ; even persons in health , or when following sedentary occupation " will find it an invaluable aperient .