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Article FREEMASONRY'S SUBLIMITY. ← Page 3 of 3 Article SHORT MEETINGS. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry's Sublimity.
and Apprentices ' . Thousands of your most honoured members have heard already the call of the Grand Master above . They have entered , we trust , through the gates of the city—they are before the throne , they are wearing the cincture of Heavenly Masonry , and attending to the
instructions of the great I AM ! We shall soon follow them—one after another wiU go the way of all the living ! You will leave your places in the Lodge and others will fill up your ranks . The procession will be formed—it will walk silently and sadly to
the graveyard . There you will be laid by a brother ' s hands gently and softly with the silent dead . The solemn service will be pronounced over your coffin—the sprig of acacia will fall lightly upon your cold remains , significant
of your rising on the last great day . I cannot raise my hand or voice to address , to instal , or to admonish a brother , without remembering that Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone of Free and Accepted Freemasonry , and the keystone of the topmost arch .
I look around to read your thoughts . Infidelity is not here . You will therefore sustain me when I say , in God ' s name , through Jesus the Son of His love , we will this day consecrate ourselves to the sacred and sublime princip les of our Order , till each member of the Fraternity
becomes a tomplo sacred to virtue and the unsullied elements of goodness . This , brethren , is to be Masons indeed , bringing up no evil report to the disgrace of our
Order—that when we receive the summons from the Grand Lodge above , we may hasten with gladness , clothed in the regalia of the skies , to meet our brethren in the Holy of Holies , to go out no more for ever .
There is a signal known only to tho Fraternity , at which the breath of every Mason is hushed , and deep silence pervades the Lodge ; so , when God rises in the magnificent Temple of the Universe and stretches forth
His hand , sleaping millions start from their graves , and thoy shall stand before Him a multitude no man cau number . There shall we meet our dead again and give them the signals of our immort & l love .
Again the same mysterious vision comes booming across the sea of my imagination , as before , but more palpable and distinct . It is too big a picture for my soul—yet I must
grasp it , whilo my car trembles with strango music , and my eye beholds beings of terrible beuuty standing before me , and takes in the flashing banners of an innumerable multitude .
I see the Christian-Masonic procession as it marches through this to the upper world — thousands upon thousands , millions upon millions ! Havo the Crusaders come again that they direct all their hopes to the East ,
and travel towards the Holy Land ? See ! They all go back the way of Moriah and Calvary—and yet the procession goes onward still , and rises higher than tbo pinnacles of earth .
I see the hierarchies of soul and intellect , the Sovereigns of the Order , the Knights of tho Sun , of the Red Cross , of the Brazen Trumpet , and of the East and West—I sec the Princes of Mercy , of the Tabernacle , of Libanus and Jerusalem—I sec the Templars , the Knights of the Holy
Sepulchre , and of the Ninth Arch . 1 see them como—tbe Masters of Craftsmen , the Apprentices—then come the vast army of Martyrs , the true Templars of tho Cross , the pioneers of Redemption , having on them the marks of fire and violence , red with
their own blood—and then a vast multitude of every nation , kindred , tongue and people . What a procession ! The loud song of cymbal and harp , the harmony of celestial choirs , ring in my cars—the wind of their banners fans my heated brow ! They have washed
their robes aud made them white in the blood of the Lamb . I look higher—far beyond Calvary . I see the everlasting doors of the upper Temple open . " Let there be light !" Bpeaks the great sweet voice of the Grand Master of
Eternit y . An exceeding brightness comes upon the head of the vast procession . Banner and plume and crosier and cross are bathed in the ineffably pure white that rolls down its ocean gush of living purity . I see no more ! —Voice of Masonry .
On Monday next , 22 nd inst ., Mr . Charles Wyndham will reproduce Mr . F . C . Burnand's celebrated comedy " Betsy , " at the Criterion . The caste will include Messrs . Vf . Blakeley , Geo . Giddens , S . Valentine , Walton Dale , D . S . James ; Mesdames Fanny Robertson , Ellis Jeffreys , It . Frances , Marie Stadholme , and Jennie Rogers . " Betsy " will be preceded every ovening by the operetta entitled "Poor Mignonette . "
Short Meetings.
SHORT MEETINGS .
WHATEVER the Lodgo does as a body is done at a meeting . The duties of a Lodge are to presorvo its organisation , that is attend to the necessary business , initiate candidates aud advance them ; to provide for and
protect its sick , afflicted and distressed ; and allow members by contact , conversation and acquaintance in tho Lodge meeting to learn practical fellowship and b otherhood .
To do this it is necessary as a first condition to get all , or as many as possible , of tbe members to attend etch of tbe meetings . How can this be done ? Make the meeting of the Lodge instructive and interesting , not tedious aud
unpleasant . This can be done by transacting the necessary business promptly , varying the exercises , avoiding repetition and monotony , giving opportunity in unrestrained freedom for social intercourse , and adjourning early . Tho last , perhaps , is the most important .
How can a Lodge meeting be made short ? The presiding Officer can do much by his skill , and the members by attention , to push business . No time ought to be wasted in needless explanation or discussion . The oratorical "jiner" must be suppressed . Officers in degree work
ought to know their part , and in cities where there are several Lodges and large accessions degree work onght to be established . Lodges should be limited as to membership , no Lodge being allowed to have more than 200 members . Besides making too much work for tho Lodgo ,
when a Lodge has too many members , it is impossible for them to know one another , and tho anomaly results of brothers in the same Lodge being strangers . Lodge meetings ought to be frequent , and business and work not allowed to accumulate . Each of the above suggestions
would assist to make each meeting short . Why should thoy be short ? From half-past seven until ten o ' clock is as long as is pleasant for anybody human to be in one place . It is physioally tiresome to sit or stand long . Too much music tires , and theatres seldom last longer than three
hours . Much that has been done at one meeting at any order is repeated at another meeting . Variety is the spico of life . Never try to do too much at one mooting—save something for the next . However much members may admire the beauties of the work of any order , those bsanties ,
too often repeated or too much of them given at one tunc , become monotonous and painfnl . Especially is this true to a memhor who has done hard physical labour "' from morn till dewy eve . " In bis interest he may forget for a time his physical exhaustion , but in a contest between
interest and physical exhaustion sooner or later physical exhaustion will trium ' ph . Application to one thing for a long time is painful and unpleasant to tho muscle and brain . And that is one reason why members who attend Lodge meetings leave before the meeting is half
over . To a father , husband and son the home circle has duties . The duties of the father to teach his children by precept and example , and the husband to give loving attention aud society to his wife , and of the son , to comfort , by his presence
and care , his father , arc paramount . These duties are numerous , and by their nature high and holy . Iu this country aud age of push and business rapidity , men
seo little of home except at night and on Sunday . The duties of the home circle are so solemn and sacred and so numerous that a man cannot be prodigal of his time when it takes from them . And tho Lodge loves tho home .
Business men , merchants , mechanics , day labourer , men who get up in the morning at six o'clock and do hard manual labour all day long , are Lodge members . They
cannot afford to sit up in tbe meetings until late . Then sleep at night rests their bodies , builds up their strength , quickens their faculties , and they cannot afford to lose it , Business men must retire early if they would rise early .
Men have other duties , social and religious . The Lodge ought not to interfere with either . A member finds Bocial enjoyment in his Lodge , but then he baa other social duties to the community in which he lives and religious duties to his church . —Lodge Secret .
It is an inexorable law , as applicable to Freomasonry as to indi « vicinal men , that through present worth and present dee's alone can the respeot and approbation of mankind be deserved or maintained .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry's Sublimity.
and Apprentices ' . Thousands of your most honoured members have heard already the call of the Grand Master above . They have entered , we trust , through the gates of the city—they are before the throne , they are wearing the cincture of Heavenly Masonry , and attending to the
instructions of the great I AM ! We shall soon follow them—one after another wiU go the way of all the living ! You will leave your places in the Lodge and others will fill up your ranks . The procession will be formed—it will walk silently and sadly to
the graveyard . There you will be laid by a brother ' s hands gently and softly with the silent dead . The solemn service will be pronounced over your coffin—the sprig of acacia will fall lightly upon your cold remains , significant
of your rising on the last great day . I cannot raise my hand or voice to address , to instal , or to admonish a brother , without remembering that Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone of Free and Accepted Freemasonry , and the keystone of the topmost arch .
I look around to read your thoughts . Infidelity is not here . You will therefore sustain me when I say , in God ' s name , through Jesus the Son of His love , we will this day consecrate ourselves to the sacred and sublime princip les of our Order , till each member of the Fraternity
becomes a tomplo sacred to virtue and the unsullied elements of goodness . This , brethren , is to be Masons indeed , bringing up no evil report to the disgrace of our
Order—that when we receive the summons from the Grand Lodge above , we may hasten with gladness , clothed in the regalia of the skies , to meet our brethren in the Holy of Holies , to go out no more for ever .
There is a signal known only to tho Fraternity , at which the breath of every Mason is hushed , and deep silence pervades the Lodge ; so , when God rises in the magnificent Temple of the Universe and stretches forth
His hand , sleaping millions start from their graves , and thoy shall stand before Him a multitude no man cau number . There shall we meet our dead again and give them the signals of our immort & l love .
Again the same mysterious vision comes booming across the sea of my imagination , as before , but more palpable and distinct . It is too big a picture for my soul—yet I must
grasp it , whilo my car trembles with strango music , and my eye beholds beings of terrible beuuty standing before me , and takes in the flashing banners of an innumerable multitude .
I see the Christian-Masonic procession as it marches through this to the upper world — thousands upon thousands , millions upon millions ! Havo the Crusaders come again that they direct all their hopes to the East ,
and travel towards the Holy Land ? See ! They all go back the way of Moriah and Calvary—and yet the procession goes onward still , and rises higher than tbo pinnacles of earth .
I see the hierarchies of soul and intellect , the Sovereigns of the Order , the Knights of tho Sun , of the Red Cross , of the Brazen Trumpet , and of the East and West—I sec the Princes of Mercy , of the Tabernacle , of Libanus and Jerusalem—I sec the Templars , the Knights of the Holy
Sepulchre , and of the Ninth Arch . 1 see them como—tbe Masters of Craftsmen , the Apprentices—then come the vast army of Martyrs , the true Templars of tho Cross , the pioneers of Redemption , having on them the marks of fire and violence , red with
their own blood—and then a vast multitude of every nation , kindred , tongue and people . What a procession ! The loud song of cymbal and harp , the harmony of celestial choirs , ring in my cars—the wind of their banners fans my heated brow ! They have washed
their robes aud made them white in the blood of the Lamb . I look higher—far beyond Calvary . I see the everlasting doors of the upper Temple open . " Let there be light !" Bpeaks the great sweet voice of the Grand Master of
Eternit y . An exceeding brightness comes upon the head of the vast procession . Banner and plume and crosier and cross are bathed in the ineffably pure white that rolls down its ocean gush of living purity . I see no more ! —Voice of Masonry .
On Monday next , 22 nd inst ., Mr . Charles Wyndham will reproduce Mr . F . C . Burnand's celebrated comedy " Betsy , " at the Criterion . The caste will include Messrs . Vf . Blakeley , Geo . Giddens , S . Valentine , Walton Dale , D . S . James ; Mesdames Fanny Robertson , Ellis Jeffreys , It . Frances , Marie Stadholme , and Jennie Rogers . " Betsy " will be preceded every ovening by the operetta entitled "Poor Mignonette . "
Short Meetings.
SHORT MEETINGS .
WHATEVER the Lodgo does as a body is done at a meeting . The duties of a Lodge are to presorvo its organisation , that is attend to the necessary business , initiate candidates aud advance them ; to provide for and
protect its sick , afflicted and distressed ; and allow members by contact , conversation and acquaintance in tho Lodge meeting to learn practical fellowship and b otherhood .
To do this it is necessary as a first condition to get all , or as many as possible , of tbe members to attend etch of tbe meetings . How can this be done ? Make the meeting of the Lodge instructive and interesting , not tedious aud
unpleasant . This can be done by transacting the necessary business promptly , varying the exercises , avoiding repetition and monotony , giving opportunity in unrestrained freedom for social intercourse , and adjourning early . Tho last , perhaps , is the most important .
How can a Lodge meeting be made short ? The presiding Officer can do much by his skill , and the members by attention , to push business . No time ought to be wasted in needless explanation or discussion . The oratorical "jiner" must be suppressed . Officers in degree work
ought to know their part , and in cities where there are several Lodges and large accessions degree work onght to be established . Lodges should be limited as to membership , no Lodge being allowed to have more than 200 members . Besides making too much work for tho Lodgo ,
when a Lodge has too many members , it is impossible for them to know one another , and tho anomaly results of brothers in the same Lodge being strangers . Lodge meetings ought to be frequent , and business and work not allowed to accumulate . Each of the above suggestions
would assist to make each meeting short . Why should thoy be short ? From half-past seven until ten o ' clock is as long as is pleasant for anybody human to be in one place . It is physioally tiresome to sit or stand long . Too much music tires , and theatres seldom last longer than three
hours . Much that has been done at one meeting at any order is repeated at another meeting . Variety is the spico of life . Never try to do too much at one mooting—save something for the next . However much members may admire the beauties of the work of any order , those bsanties ,
too often repeated or too much of them given at one tunc , become monotonous and painfnl . Especially is this true to a memhor who has done hard physical labour "' from morn till dewy eve . " In bis interest he may forget for a time his physical exhaustion , but in a contest between
interest and physical exhaustion sooner or later physical exhaustion will trium ' ph . Application to one thing for a long time is painful and unpleasant to tho muscle and brain . And that is one reason why members who attend Lodge meetings leave before the meeting is half
over . To a father , husband and son the home circle has duties . The duties of the father to teach his children by precept and example , and the husband to give loving attention aud society to his wife , and of the son , to comfort , by his presence
and care , his father , arc paramount . These duties are numerous , and by their nature high and holy . Iu this country aud age of push and business rapidity , men
seo little of home except at night and on Sunday . The duties of the home circle are so solemn and sacred and so numerous that a man cannot be prodigal of his time when it takes from them . And tho Lodge loves tho home .
Business men , merchants , mechanics , day labourer , men who get up in the morning at six o'clock and do hard manual labour all day long , are Lodge members . They
cannot afford to sit up in tbe meetings until late . Then sleep at night rests their bodies , builds up their strength , quickens their faculties , and they cannot afford to lose it , Business men must retire early if they would rise early .
Men have other duties , social and religious . The Lodge ought not to interfere with either . A member finds Bocial enjoyment in his Lodge , but then he baa other social duties to the community in which he lives and religious duties to his church . —Lodge Secret .
It is an inexorable law , as applicable to Freomasonry as to indi « vicinal men , that through present worth and present dee's alone can the respeot and approbation of mankind be deserved or maintained .