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Article CASUAL ACQUAINTANCE. Page 1 of 2 Article CASUAL ACQUAINTANCE. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Casual Acquaintance.
CASUAL ACQUAINTANCE .
IT often happens that business or pleasure brings us into the company of strangers with whom we contrive to exchange a few words , only to discover , just as we are about to leave them , that they are Brother Masons , with whom the ties of the Fraternity place us on a wholly different footing , and who , when once thev have come to recognise us as being on the
level of Freemasonry , are wholly different towards ' us , banishing reserve , and seeming to at once become old friends . In such cases we can only regret that ; an earlier opportunity did not occur of making our Masonic association known to each other , and we almost feel inclined to register avow to introduce the subject of Freemasonry at the outset of our conversation with strangers in the future . It is these casual
meetings too which prove the great advantages which are associated with Freemasonry , and which often go far towards convincing the outside world that there really is something beyond talk in its boasted principle of Brotherly Love . It is nothing remarkable to
witness two or three old Masonic friends on terms of familiarity with each other , and an outsider would not be impressed in any way , if such happened , but when two strangers are introduced to each other for the first time , and discover they are Brother Masons , the difference which arises as a consequence is very marked , and often causes thought
or remark from outsiders , who cannot wholly understand how two persons , who have only seen each other for a few minutes , can have got beyond , the formal conversation of a first introductionand
, can find subjects in common to discuss with each other as though they had been associated for years . Yet such is often the case , and it is one of the benefits associated with Freemasonry that such introductions are possible . It would be very difficult to find any other Institution membership of which conferred similar advantages , even if there is anything outside of Freemasonry which does so , or even professes to do aa much for its followers .
The casual introduction of Brother Masons to each other , and the great advantages which often accrue from such chance meetings , must be of direct benefit to Freemasonry , just as much as Freemasonry itself is of advantage to the parties concerned , for it not infrequentl y happens that joining members are secured
for a Lodge as the outcome of such meetings , while non-Masonic onlookers have a desire aroused in their mind to seek further light in the Masonic world , and maybe they ultimately ask one of the Masonic members of the party to introduce them to a Lodge , and gradually rise to distinction in the Craft all as the outcome of a casual meeting between two strange brethren !
Un the other hand ; there are a few worthy Masons who . can tell of unpleasantness-which has arisen from a too implicit faith having been placed in Masonic
Casual Acquaintance.
professions . Strangers have met , and by accident have found themselves to be associated with the Order ; as a result they have entered into more friendly relations with each other , only for one of them to regret it at no very distant date , having p ' erhans first discovered that' his companion was not really
a Mason , or , even if he had been regularly initiated , that he had severed his connection with his Lodge long before , and had been making capital ever since his initiation out of his knowledge of the secrets and signs of Freemasonry , wholly oblivious of his obligations , and the true purpose for which he was admitted
a member . Happily these unpleasant results are not often experienced , and a little common caution would , in most cases , have prevented them altogether . As we have urged on many occasions in the past , Freemasons have no right to neglect common precautions in their dealings with other members of tho
Craft . One Mason should not act toward another in matters of business wholly as though the Masonic association was a safeguard against every risk , and then blame Freemasonrv if matters so wrons . If a
Mason trusts another member of the Order without making any inquiries he has no right to blame Freemasonry if disaster results . He should rather blamo himself for being wholly deficient in business capability . Yet this is one of the most prolific sources of discontent among members of the Craft . They comnlain that this or that brother , a member of
then-Lodge , or a casual acquaintance inside or outside of Freemasonry , took advantage of Masonic membership to secure money or credit beyond his means > and as an outcome a bad debt resulted , not , we maintain , as any outcome of Masonic association , but because the loser neglected ordinary safeguards
in his dealings with a customer , who also happened to be a Freemason . We never approve of Freemasonry being introduced into business affairs , and whenever an outsider asks us if Masonic association is not of service in business , we explain our views , and strongly urge the inquirer to give up all idea of joining the Craft in the hope of making a profit out of connection
with it . It is reasonable to suppose that Freemasonry is of indirect service to men of business , just as we have shown how it may serve as an introduction among casual acquaintances , but it is very imwise for any one to imagine they are going to make an addition to their income simply because
they are able to introduce themselves m business quarters as members of the Masonic Order , and this is particularly the case in London and large towns where there are several Lodges , the members of some of which are quite unknown to the others , or if known have not yet gone beyond the limits of casual
acquaintanceship . In country towns where there is but one , or perhaps two Lodges , the case is different ; then Masonic association may be of service , but only so long as it is kept within very narrow limits , for once let it be thought a member of a country Lodge is making capital out of his Masonic connection , and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Casual Acquaintance.
CASUAL ACQUAINTANCE .
IT often happens that business or pleasure brings us into the company of strangers with whom we contrive to exchange a few words , only to discover , just as we are about to leave them , that they are Brother Masons , with whom the ties of the Fraternity place us on a wholly different footing , and who , when once thev have come to recognise us as being on the
level of Freemasonry , are wholly different towards ' us , banishing reserve , and seeming to at once become old friends . In such cases we can only regret that ; an earlier opportunity did not occur of making our Masonic association known to each other , and we almost feel inclined to register avow to introduce the subject of Freemasonry at the outset of our conversation with strangers in the future . It is these casual
meetings too which prove the great advantages which are associated with Freemasonry , and which often go far towards convincing the outside world that there really is something beyond talk in its boasted principle of Brotherly Love . It is nothing remarkable to
witness two or three old Masonic friends on terms of familiarity with each other , and an outsider would not be impressed in any way , if such happened , but when two strangers are introduced to each other for the first time , and discover they are Brother Masons , the difference which arises as a consequence is very marked , and often causes thought
or remark from outsiders , who cannot wholly understand how two persons , who have only seen each other for a few minutes , can have got beyond , the formal conversation of a first introductionand
, can find subjects in common to discuss with each other as though they had been associated for years . Yet such is often the case , and it is one of the benefits associated with Freemasonry that such introductions are possible . It would be very difficult to find any other Institution membership of which conferred similar advantages , even if there is anything outside of Freemasonry which does so , or even professes to do aa much for its followers .
The casual introduction of Brother Masons to each other , and the great advantages which often accrue from such chance meetings , must be of direct benefit to Freemasonry , just as much as Freemasonry itself is of advantage to the parties concerned , for it not infrequentl y happens that joining members are secured
for a Lodge as the outcome of such meetings , while non-Masonic onlookers have a desire aroused in their mind to seek further light in the Masonic world , and maybe they ultimately ask one of the Masonic members of the party to introduce them to a Lodge , and gradually rise to distinction in the Craft all as the outcome of a casual meeting between two strange brethren !
Un the other hand ; there are a few worthy Masons who . can tell of unpleasantness-which has arisen from a too implicit faith having been placed in Masonic
Casual Acquaintance.
professions . Strangers have met , and by accident have found themselves to be associated with the Order ; as a result they have entered into more friendly relations with each other , only for one of them to regret it at no very distant date , having p ' erhans first discovered that' his companion was not really
a Mason , or , even if he had been regularly initiated , that he had severed his connection with his Lodge long before , and had been making capital ever since his initiation out of his knowledge of the secrets and signs of Freemasonry , wholly oblivious of his obligations , and the true purpose for which he was admitted
a member . Happily these unpleasant results are not often experienced , and a little common caution would , in most cases , have prevented them altogether . As we have urged on many occasions in the past , Freemasons have no right to neglect common precautions in their dealings with other members of tho
Craft . One Mason should not act toward another in matters of business wholly as though the Masonic association was a safeguard against every risk , and then blame Freemasonrv if matters so wrons . If a
Mason trusts another member of the Order without making any inquiries he has no right to blame Freemasonry if disaster results . He should rather blamo himself for being wholly deficient in business capability . Yet this is one of the most prolific sources of discontent among members of the Craft . They comnlain that this or that brother , a member of
then-Lodge , or a casual acquaintance inside or outside of Freemasonry , took advantage of Masonic membership to secure money or credit beyond his means > and as an outcome a bad debt resulted , not , we maintain , as any outcome of Masonic association , but because the loser neglected ordinary safeguards
in his dealings with a customer , who also happened to be a Freemason . We never approve of Freemasonry being introduced into business affairs , and whenever an outsider asks us if Masonic association is not of service in business , we explain our views , and strongly urge the inquirer to give up all idea of joining the Craft in the hope of making a profit out of connection
with it . It is reasonable to suppose that Freemasonry is of indirect service to men of business , just as we have shown how it may serve as an introduction among casual acquaintances , but it is very imwise for any one to imagine they are going to make an addition to their income simply because
they are able to introduce themselves m business quarters as members of the Masonic Order , and this is particularly the case in London and large towns where there are several Lodges , the members of some of which are quite unknown to the others , or if known have not yet gone beyond the limits of casual
acquaintanceship . In country towns where there is but one , or perhaps two Lodges , the case is different ; then Masonic association may be of service , but only so long as it is kept within very narrow limits , for once let it be thought a member of a country Lodge is making capital out of his Masonic connection , and