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Peace And Harmony.
PEACE AND HARMONY .
IN" turning over the pages of old minute books , one of the chief pleasures we experience is to find it recorded , almost invariably , that " the Lodge was then closed in peace and harmony . " The mere mention of such a matter , the simple style in which it is noted , shows that one of the
chief objects of Freemasonry was not only recognised , but carried out most dutifully . There can be no question that in those old fashioned days thero was a beautiful reality about the manner in which we practised what we preached ,
which is or ought to be the envy of more modern generations of Masons . Sundry matters , indeed , on which we havo , unfortunately , had occasion to comment of late are evidence that while we have increased in mere numbers
amazingly , there are many Lodges in which it would be very far from the truth if it were recorded in the minutes of sundry of their meetings that" the Lodgo was then closed in peace and harmony . " It may , perhaps , be worth while if we glance at some of the reasons why this desirable
consummation is not always arrived at . Wo have heard , of late , some particulars respecting a very worthy little Lodge in the country , in which it is beyond all question that peace and harmony do not now reign at all times . It is not so very long since that this little Lodge might have served as the
model of a happy family , so cordial were the relations which existed among all its members . Unhappily , some of them have latterly shown themselves better Masons in theory than in practice . In the flux of time , some of the older and more influential brethren have dropped off the roll , by death ,
or it may have been through change of residence , and the habit which once prevailed of consulting tho natural sympathies and antipathies of all has gradually fallen into desuetude . A very wholesome custom—one , indeed , in every way worthy of imitation—was once
adopted whenever a new member , whether as a can - didate for initiation or as a joining member , was proposed . A kind of informal gathering of the brethren was held , at which the proposer and seconder were present , or , at all events , one of them ; and they or he enlightened
their fellow-members , not only on the circumstances and general reputation of the candidate , but likewise on his temper and other points , so that all might judge for themselves of his worthiness . If the general opinion was favourably inclined towards his candidature , recourse , in
the order of things and at the appointed time , was had to the ballot , and he was elected . But if the opinions of sundry were adverse , then it was usual for the name to be withdrawn . No ballot was held , and the candidate was spared the indignity of being rejected . Recently , a
rejoining member , one who had passed the S . W . ' s chair , and might have been Master , was proposed by one of the Deacons , and seconded by the S . W . It should be added that the candidate is one of the most highly respected persons in the town in which he resides , that he was one of the
founders of the Lodge , and that the grounds on which , he declined to fill the office of W . M ., when as S . W . he stood first among the members eligible to occupy that position , redound to his credit . Had he been re-elected as a member , ho would of course have had the opportunity of becoming
a candidate for the Mastership—a fact which is all the more creditable to the S . W . who supported his candidature so conspicuously . But the fates were adverse . He was blackballed , and in a manner which rendered his rejection especially painful . He was opposed by the Master , and the opposition took place in open Lodge . No informal discussion as to
Peace And Harmony.
his candidature took place , in accordance with the laudablo custom we have already mentioned , so that , in the event of his name not being well received , it might have been withdrawn . None , indeed , seemed necessary ia the case of one who had only momentarily resigned his membership , and
who was so generally popular . We do not say the officer who opposed him was not acting within his undoubted right when he black-balled this or any other candidate , but wo think he exhibited a sad want of magnanimit y in acting aa he did so publicly . It was , to say the least , extremely bad
taste to have departed , in this instance , from the usual practice of the Lodge , and we are given to understand that it has created a feeling which will certainly not bo promotive of peace and harmony . No one can possibly be surprised at this ; tho surprise , indeed , would bo if any
other feeling than one of disgust and indignation had been aroused . It was bad enough , in all conscience , that one who , as a founder and Past Senior Warden , was highly respected by his fellows , and was esteemed by his fellow townsmen , as integer vitce scelerisque punts , should be thus
summarily rejected , bnt tho manner in which it was dono makes the affront imposed upon him still more gross . Nor is this the only matter which , has occurred latterly and caused dissatisfaction among many of the members . When certain business was brought forward at a recent meeting
of the Lodge , and it was proposed to vote a further sum of money towards the cost of entertaining the Grand Lodge of the Province—tbe balance remaining unpaid to be raised among the committee who had been appointed
to conduct tho arrangements—a brother rose and asked why the whole of these expenses were not defrayed out of the Lodge funds , which were in a most satisfactory condition . To this a reply was mado , to the effect that it had " all been settled . " As the matter had not
been settled during a meeting of the Lodge , the settlement must have been made in some private and unofficial manner . In a case of this kind , the sound old Constitutional maxim that what concerns all should be approved of by all is certainly applicable . Every member should have a voice
in the financial policy of his Lodge . It is in the highest degree censurable that any officers of a Lodge , be they principal or subordinate , should meet together privately and " settle " that so much of a certain expenditure shall be submitted to vote in Lodge , and so much left to bo
raised by public subscription amongst a committee . A matter of this kind can only bo legally determined by members in open Lodge assembled , and after due notice given . What would be said by the British public if tho business of Parliament were transacted in the lobbies ; and
if when any member arose and asked certain questions ho were told the matter had already been settled . There is not the slightest harm in a W . M . and the most experienced members of this or any other Lodge consulting among themselves as to the best plan to adopt in certain
eventualities , or to satisfy needs that have already arisen ; and we doubt not if , having so done , a W . M . should rise and tell his Lodge he had consulted the P . M . ' s , and that it was their and his opinion that such and such things should be done , that the Lodge would act on tho recommendation of their
most experienced members , and agree to their suggestions ; but this private consultation , followed by a public proposal in open Lodge , is quite a different affair from the hole-andcorner settlement we have been referring to . In the case
before us , a member having asked why a certain something had not been done , was told the whole thing had been settled , no information being vouchsafed as to the where , when , or by whom . In other words , he was officially snubbed ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Peace And Harmony.
PEACE AND HARMONY .
IN" turning over the pages of old minute books , one of the chief pleasures we experience is to find it recorded , almost invariably , that " the Lodge was then closed in peace and harmony . " The mere mention of such a matter , the simple style in which it is noted , shows that one of the
chief objects of Freemasonry was not only recognised , but carried out most dutifully . There can be no question that in those old fashioned days thero was a beautiful reality about the manner in which we practised what we preached ,
which is or ought to be the envy of more modern generations of Masons . Sundry matters , indeed , on which we havo , unfortunately , had occasion to comment of late are evidence that while we have increased in mere numbers
amazingly , there are many Lodges in which it would be very far from the truth if it were recorded in the minutes of sundry of their meetings that" the Lodgo was then closed in peace and harmony . " It may , perhaps , be worth while if we glance at some of the reasons why this desirable
consummation is not always arrived at . Wo have heard , of late , some particulars respecting a very worthy little Lodge in the country , in which it is beyond all question that peace and harmony do not now reign at all times . It is not so very long since that this little Lodge might have served as the
model of a happy family , so cordial were the relations which existed among all its members . Unhappily , some of them have latterly shown themselves better Masons in theory than in practice . In the flux of time , some of the older and more influential brethren have dropped off the roll , by death ,
or it may have been through change of residence , and the habit which once prevailed of consulting tho natural sympathies and antipathies of all has gradually fallen into desuetude . A very wholesome custom—one , indeed , in every way worthy of imitation—was once
adopted whenever a new member , whether as a can - didate for initiation or as a joining member , was proposed . A kind of informal gathering of the brethren was held , at which the proposer and seconder were present , or , at all events , one of them ; and they or he enlightened
their fellow-members , not only on the circumstances and general reputation of the candidate , but likewise on his temper and other points , so that all might judge for themselves of his worthiness . If the general opinion was favourably inclined towards his candidature , recourse , in
the order of things and at the appointed time , was had to the ballot , and he was elected . But if the opinions of sundry were adverse , then it was usual for the name to be withdrawn . No ballot was held , and the candidate was spared the indignity of being rejected . Recently , a
rejoining member , one who had passed the S . W . ' s chair , and might have been Master , was proposed by one of the Deacons , and seconded by the S . W . It should be added that the candidate is one of the most highly respected persons in the town in which he resides , that he was one of the
founders of the Lodge , and that the grounds on which , he declined to fill the office of W . M ., when as S . W . he stood first among the members eligible to occupy that position , redound to his credit . Had he been re-elected as a member , ho would of course have had the opportunity of becoming
a candidate for the Mastership—a fact which is all the more creditable to the S . W . who supported his candidature so conspicuously . But the fates were adverse . He was blackballed , and in a manner which rendered his rejection especially painful . He was opposed by the Master , and the opposition took place in open Lodge . No informal discussion as to
Peace And Harmony.
his candidature took place , in accordance with the laudablo custom we have already mentioned , so that , in the event of his name not being well received , it might have been withdrawn . None , indeed , seemed necessary ia the case of one who had only momentarily resigned his membership , and
who was so generally popular . We do not say the officer who opposed him was not acting within his undoubted right when he black-balled this or any other candidate , but wo think he exhibited a sad want of magnanimit y in acting aa he did so publicly . It was , to say the least , extremely bad
taste to have departed , in this instance , from the usual practice of the Lodge , and we are given to understand that it has created a feeling which will certainly not bo promotive of peace and harmony . No one can possibly be surprised at this ; tho surprise , indeed , would bo if any
other feeling than one of disgust and indignation had been aroused . It was bad enough , in all conscience , that one who , as a founder and Past Senior Warden , was highly respected by his fellows , and was esteemed by his fellow townsmen , as integer vitce scelerisque punts , should be thus
summarily rejected , bnt tho manner in which it was dono makes the affront imposed upon him still more gross . Nor is this the only matter which , has occurred latterly and caused dissatisfaction among many of the members . When certain business was brought forward at a recent meeting
of the Lodge , and it was proposed to vote a further sum of money towards the cost of entertaining the Grand Lodge of the Province—tbe balance remaining unpaid to be raised among the committee who had been appointed
to conduct tho arrangements—a brother rose and asked why the whole of these expenses were not defrayed out of the Lodge funds , which were in a most satisfactory condition . To this a reply was mado , to the effect that it had " all been settled . " As the matter had not
been settled during a meeting of the Lodge , the settlement must have been made in some private and unofficial manner . In a case of this kind , the sound old Constitutional maxim that what concerns all should be approved of by all is certainly applicable . Every member should have a voice
in the financial policy of his Lodge . It is in the highest degree censurable that any officers of a Lodge , be they principal or subordinate , should meet together privately and " settle " that so much of a certain expenditure shall be submitted to vote in Lodge , and so much left to bo
raised by public subscription amongst a committee . A matter of this kind can only bo legally determined by members in open Lodge assembled , and after due notice given . What would be said by the British public if tho business of Parliament were transacted in the lobbies ; and
if when any member arose and asked certain questions ho were told the matter had already been settled . There is not the slightest harm in a W . M . and the most experienced members of this or any other Lodge consulting among themselves as to the best plan to adopt in certain
eventualities , or to satisfy needs that have already arisen ; and we doubt not if , having so done , a W . M . should rise and tell his Lodge he had consulted the P . M . ' s , and that it was their and his opinion that such and such things should be done , that the Lodge would act on tho recommendation of their
most experienced members , and agree to their suggestions ; but this private consultation , followed by a public proposal in open Lodge , is quite a different affair from the hole-andcorner settlement we have been referring to . In the case
before us , a member having asked why a certain something had not been done , was told the whole thing had been settled , no information being vouchsafed as to the where , when , or by whom . In other words , he was officially snubbed ,