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Article A LODGE'S RESPONSIBILITY. Page 1 of 1 Article A LODGE'S RESPONSIBILITY. Page 1 of 1 Article THE SPIRIT OF MASONRY. Page 1 of 2 →
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A Lodge's Responsibility.
A LODGE'S RESPONSIBILITY .
THE extracts from our American and other contemporaries "which * we give from time to time in onr pages may occasionally read strange to English brethren , as the systems of Freemasonry to which they refer are in
many ways different to what is practised in this country , bnt there is always some point of similarity which may be traced , and the same spirit of brotherhood is discernible throughout the many and varied opinions to which we give
publicity . From some of the excerpts , which at first sight may appear the most widely opposed to English ideas , knowledge may be acquired which would prove of great advantage if properly grafted on to the English system , while from all it is possible to gather both information and inat . rnftt . inn .
In a recent issue we inserted an extract from the Louisiana Proceedings as to a Lodge ' s responsibility , which is worthy of special consideration , although we may not be able to endorse the opinions therein expressed . The idea
of our Louisiana brethren appears to be that a Lodge is , morally , responsible for the support of the distressed and destitute , the widows and orphans of its own membership , whether they reside within its jurisdiction or otherwise .
This idea will be at once rejected by many English brethren , on the plea that if true it would place Freemasonry on the level of a benefit society pure and simple , as every brother wonld have a claim for subsistence from the Lodge wherein
he was initiated . Whatever may be the opinion in regard to the practical working of this theory of responsibility there is no doubt that it morally exists , as our American brethren say , and it would be well if brethren bore this in
mind and carefully considered it ere they sought to extend the number of members in their Lodge . We fear a great change would be necessary in many quarters in the rules regarding tbe admission of candidates if it became
recognised that a Lodge was liable for the support and maintenance of each of its initiates , should they be overtaken by misfortune , or for their widows and orphans , should they be left unprovided for . The responsibility will no doubt
be looked upon as impossible , and yet it exists—morally , and among a class of men who pride themselves on the sincerity of their doings , and the force of the obligations they voluntarily enter into .
As we have said , it would be well if the brethren would look upon their responsibility from a practical rather than from a moral point of view , and learn to consider that it is actually their duty to render aid to their distressed
fellows , rather than , as is at present recognised , a matter of favour , to be decided one way or other as they may think best . This would not be so serious an undertaking as at first sight appears , as those already belonging to the
Craft would exercise greater caution than - } hey now do as to the gentlemen they admitted , and on whose behalf they undertake grave responsibilities . It is not that unworthy candidates would be rejected , but in many cases gentlemen
"would be excluded to whom the privileges of Masonry are nothing short of unnecessary extravagance , for from the point of view at present occupied Freemasonry must be considered as a luxuryonlyavailable for those who can afford to
patronise it . Its teachings , it is true , are intended alike tor the rich and poor , but its obligations—if properly understood—are of such a character as to make it in a Measure exclusive for those who cannot afford to pay a good price for their amusement or instrnction .
A Lodge's Responsibility.
Our American brethren follow up their idea as to primary responsibility with some instructive and well meant rules as to the action of a Lodge towards a strange brother , and the liability of a brother ' s mother Lodge for any aid rendered by others , all of which appears to be opposed to English ideas , and yet we could hope that it was nofc only otherwise , but that it was really the system under which our Freemasonry was worked ; although we know it is practically impossible for such ever to be fche case , as there are so many obstacles to prevent it , first and foremost being the feeling that any extension of Masonic benefits in the direction intimated , would open the door too wide for imposition . When we consider that it would be possible for any one to seek admission to Freemasonry so as to secure for himself and his family certainty of subsistence in years to come , we see how impossible it would be to practically carry out the obligations to which Freemasons are morally bound .
The Spirit Of Masonry.
THE SPIRIT OF MASONRY .
" Canst thon by searching find out God ? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection ? " —JOB xi . 7 . nHHERE hangs in the writer ' s sanctum , the gift of a good - *• brother many years ago , a picture of the ocean , in the
midst of which is a rock , and on the top is an altar , surrounded with three candles . The altar contains a bible , square and compasses . The scene represents a raging storm , but the " three great lights " are so secure that even
the tempestuous waves do not reach them . The lesson of this picture is easily discovered . It is a most appropriate symbol of the durability as well as the spirit of Masonry . The verse that I have selected from Job seems to explain the object of our Order . According to my view of this grand Fraternity , the design for which it is
intended is a much broader one than is afc first supposed , and the searching of the scriptures is the first duty . Zophar named the spirit of Masonry of to-day when he said to Job , " Canst thon by searching find out God ?" This fact should be prominent in all our deliberations .
The making of the Bible alone furnishes one of the most important histories extant . The various councils tbat have been in session , the books that have been rejected , and all the details , taken together , is a history of itself . The great
object of life is to find out what is to follow at the end . We look around us , and the very formation of the planet and surroundings surprise us . In ancient times men would fall down and worship . Not that they were more reverential in spirit than we are , but something prompted
them that there must be a great august Being who controls
this great system , and for fear that he would deprive them of the necessaries of life they gave great homage and reverence . In our day we are more formal . The Arabian , at a certain hour of the day , falls on his knees and prays . We
do not ! We imagine thafc we can fathom all things , bufc tbe recent earthquake at Charleston , | S . C , has demonstrated our weakness , and that we have as much reason to be reverent as our primitive fathers had . Over three
thousand years ago was written this passage , " Canst thou by searching find out God ? " To-day we are still searching . New creeds are being constantly devised , all tending to this point . Society and chnrch work is being conducted on
a larger scale than ever before , simply to purify mankind ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Lodge's Responsibility.
A LODGE'S RESPONSIBILITY .
THE extracts from our American and other contemporaries "which * we give from time to time in onr pages may occasionally read strange to English brethren , as the systems of Freemasonry to which they refer are in
many ways different to what is practised in this country , bnt there is always some point of similarity which may be traced , and the same spirit of brotherhood is discernible throughout the many and varied opinions to which we give
publicity . From some of the excerpts , which at first sight may appear the most widely opposed to English ideas , knowledge may be acquired which would prove of great advantage if properly grafted on to the English system , while from all it is possible to gather both information and inat . rnftt . inn .
In a recent issue we inserted an extract from the Louisiana Proceedings as to a Lodge ' s responsibility , which is worthy of special consideration , although we may not be able to endorse the opinions therein expressed . The idea
of our Louisiana brethren appears to be that a Lodge is , morally , responsible for the support of the distressed and destitute , the widows and orphans of its own membership , whether they reside within its jurisdiction or otherwise .
This idea will be at once rejected by many English brethren , on the plea that if true it would place Freemasonry on the level of a benefit society pure and simple , as every brother wonld have a claim for subsistence from the Lodge wherein
he was initiated . Whatever may be the opinion in regard to the practical working of this theory of responsibility there is no doubt that it morally exists , as our American brethren say , and it would be well if brethren bore this in
mind and carefully considered it ere they sought to extend the number of members in their Lodge . We fear a great change would be necessary in many quarters in the rules regarding tbe admission of candidates if it became
recognised that a Lodge was liable for the support and maintenance of each of its initiates , should they be overtaken by misfortune , or for their widows and orphans , should they be left unprovided for . The responsibility will no doubt
be looked upon as impossible , and yet it exists—morally , and among a class of men who pride themselves on the sincerity of their doings , and the force of the obligations they voluntarily enter into .
As we have said , it would be well if the brethren would look upon their responsibility from a practical rather than from a moral point of view , and learn to consider that it is actually their duty to render aid to their distressed
fellows , rather than , as is at present recognised , a matter of favour , to be decided one way or other as they may think best . This would not be so serious an undertaking as at first sight appears , as those already belonging to the
Craft would exercise greater caution than - } hey now do as to the gentlemen they admitted , and on whose behalf they undertake grave responsibilities . It is not that unworthy candidates would be rejected , but in many cases gentlemen
"would be excluded to whom the privileges of Masonry are nothing short of unnecessary extravagance , for from the point of view at present occupied Freemasonry must be considered as a luxuryonlyavailable for those who can afford to
patronise it . Its teachings , it is true , are intended alike tor the rich and poor , but its obligations—if properly understood—are of such a character as to make it in a Measure exclusive for those who cannot afford to pay a good price for their amusement or instrnction .
A Lodge's Responsibility.
Our American brethren follow up their idea as to primary responsibility with some instructive and well meant rules as to the action of a Lodge towards a strange brother , and the liability of a brother ' s mother Lodge for any aid rendered by others , all of which appears to be opposed to English ideas , and yet we could hope that it was nofc only otherwise , but that it was really the system under which our Freemasonry was worked ; although we know it is practically impossible for such ever to be fche case , as there are so many obstacles to prevent it , first and foremost being the feeling that any extension of Masonic benefits in the direction intimated , would open the door too wide for imposition . When we consider that it would be possible for any one to seek admission to Freemasonry so as to secure for himself and his family certainty of subsistence in years to come , we see how impossible it would be to practically carry out the obligations to which Freemasons are morally bound .
The Spirit Of Masonry.
THE SPIRIT OF MASONRY .
" Canst thon by searching find out God ? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection ? " —JOB xi . 7 . nHHERE hangs in the writer ' s sanctum , the gift of a good - *• brother many years ago , a picture of the ocean , in the
midst of which is a rock , and on the top is an altar , surrounded with three candles . The altar contains a bible , square and compasses . The scene represents a raging storm , but the " three great lights " are so secure that even
the tempestuous waves do not reach them . The lesson of this picture is easily discovered . It is a most appropriate symbol of the durability as well as the spirit of Masonry . The verse that I have selected from Job seems to explain the object of our Order . According to my view of this grand Fraternity , the design for which it is
intended is a much broader one than is afc first supposed , and the searching of the scriptures is the first duty . Zophar named the spirit of Masonry of to-day when he said to Job , " Canst thon by searching find out God ?" This fact should be prominent in all our deliberations .
The making of the Bible alone furnishes one of the most important histories extant . The various councils tbat have been in session , the books that have been rejected , and all the details , taken together , is a history of itself . The great
object of life is to find out what is to follow at the end . We look around us , and the very formation of the planet and surroundings surprise us . In ancient times men would fall down and worship . Not that they were more reverential in spirit than we are , but something prompted
them that there must be a great august Being who controls
this great system , and for fear that he would deprive them of the necessaries of life they gave great homage and reverence . In our day we are more formal . The Arabian , at a certain hour of the day , falls on his knees and prays . We
do not ! We imagine thafc we can fathom all things , bufc tbe recent earthquake at Charleston , | S . C , has demonstrated our weakness , and that we have as much reason to be reverent as our primitive fathers had . Over three
thousand years ago was written this passage , " Canst thou by searching find out God ? " To-day we are still searching . New creeds are being constantly devised , all tending to this point . Society and chnrch work is being conducted on
a larger scale than ever before , simply to purify mankind ,