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Article LODGES OF INSTRUCTION. Page 1 of 2 Article LODGES OF INSTRUCTION. Page 1 of 2 →
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Lodges Of Instruction.
LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .
YARIOUS are the ideas wo have recently heard expressed , relative to the mode of admission to , and the conduct of , our Lodges of Instruction ; and although from time to time wo have ventured to express our opinion on these points , probably a brief space may not be
inopportunely occupied if we revert to a few of them in the light of utterances we have overheard within the past few weeks . As most of our readers are aware , these " nurseries "
of the Craft partake too frequently of the " free and easy " character ; their regulations are in many instances lax ; and the test of admission , if any , is far from disciplinarian . We do not moan for a moment that there is often occa .
sion forthe ejaculation " It rains " as regards a Lodge of Instruction ; there is , and ever mnst be , an insurmountable barrier against the cowan ' s approach to the sacred threshold of a Masonic Lodge . But why not the same safeguard
against intrusion into a Lodge of Instruction as is provided for in a regular Lodge . As a matter of fact the almost universal rule is , that the outworks are not guarded , and although the brethren may be in themselves assured
the conclave is properly tyled , there is no difference . Every Lodge of Instruction , as well as a regular Lodge , should have an attendance book as well as a Tyler . To give a case in point . Only very recently we attended a
Lodge of Instruction where several brethren were waiting , during the progress of the ceremony , for admission . Amongst them was a brother—whom we afterwards ascertained was to all intents " good and true "—who , when
challenged by the superior Officer of the Lodge , failed in the first instance to give even the rudimentary proofs of his being a Mason . We have known scores of " rusty " brethren—who from a variety of circumstances have fallen
into arrears in that respect—similarly placed . But in the case to which wo more particularly refer the Officer , insistant upon proof , put our brother through a variety of evolutions , until , in the end , although not au fait , he
convinced the brethren present of his eligibility for admission , and was thereupon received with the same cordiality as though he had been an expert at the Art and had been known for years amongst the members of the Lodge . But
the question arises—Suppose this had been otherwise ? Assuming that a man had " picked up " in his travels—as we know many have done—from incautious brethren many of the preliminary signs and tokens of Freemasonry , and
by those means had gained sufficient notion of gesture to enter an indifferently conducted Lodge of Instruction ? Let it be borne in mind we are only assuming such might bo possible . We do not say the intruder would remain
long undiscovered , or that he would gain much solid insight into the true work of the Craft ; but such an idea has struck us as possible , and it would be as well if the possibilities of such a case were guarded against . Sitting
at dinner in a commercial room one night , iu the country , the subject of Freemasonry cropped up , and remarks upon it were , as we suggested , used rather too freely . Our " next door neighbour , " with signs he , as admittedhad " picked
, up , " expressed himself glad to meet ua " as a brother , " and to find himself in the congenial company of so many other members of the ancient and honourable Institution .
He heartily wished us all well , and the compliment was , though we saw rather suspiciously by some , reciprocated . We ventured to inquire of our newly-found friend where
Lodges Of Instruction.
was he made a Mason ? and then came the innocent reply , " at Cheltenham ! " It need hardly be said that the incip ient Ananius who had "tried it on , " no doubt with
partial success at other places , was quietly advised to get back to Cheltenham as rapidly as ho could , and sent to Coventry for the remainder of the evening . It is an undeniable fact that the Masonic signs and secrets are too frequently expressed in mixed assemblies , regardless of
that strict caution which is so rigidly enjoined in the earlier stages of the Mason's career ; and it may be that the insidious are able to glean much from indiscreet members of the Craft to insinuate themselves far into the
regions where they speedily come to grief . We think it was in Bunyan ' s "Pilgrim's Progress" where somebody who wanted to get to the celestial spheres by royal road vaulted " over the garden wall" instead of entering by the
prescribed wicket gate , and who very soon fell amongst thieves and repented of his temerity . Such a fate always meets the man who is foolish enough to assume a virtue he does not possess , and who thinks it wonderfully clever
to steal a march in the direction we have indicated . We admit there are few mean or base enough to attempt such a deceit ; but there would be more if they thought that by practice and ingenuity they could accomplish a clever
feat . It remains , therefore , a question with those who have the interest of our Lodges of Instruction at heart to use every precaution against the possibility of intrusion ; and we only re-echo an expression we overheard the other
night that absolute security should be provided by the approval of a voluntary Ty ler on the occasion of each meeting , and . the requirement also of an attendance book such as is used at the regular Lodges . Brethren would bo
readily found to accept the outer guardship of a Lodge of Instruction as a preliminary step to other offices , and who would see that the applicants for admission were perfectly eligible . Another point which has been
frequently argued is , that of the importation of " refreshments " during the periods of labour , and this is one which we think should be seriously considered by Preceptors and members generally of Lodges of Instruction . It may be
argued that it is a matter of conscientious scruple , and entirely at the individual option of the brethren , whether the consumption of " liquor" and tobacco during the rehearsal of solemn ceremonies is the " correct thing . "
But be that as it may , we apparently protest against a custom , which is emphatically on the increase , that requires every attendant at a Lodge of Instruction to mingle refreshment with labour , whether or not he is so inclined .
It may not be that he is directly coerced into giving his " orders to the waiter , " as he may be in an hotel or restaurant ; but the look , either askant or derisive , is to a sensitive miud sufficient to divert the attention of the
student , and to render his mind uneasy during the rehearsal of sublime ceremonies . As a matter of stern decorum , refreshment should never be mingled with solemn and impressive rites ; but at any rate brethren who are
scrupulous on the point should be free from reproach if they prefer to defer their predilections for the fourth degree until they are called off by the Jun ' or Warden . There is yet another question to which our attention has
often been directed , and that is the compulsion almost which is placed upon visitors to joiu Lodges of Instruction , There are many Lodges in which , when a stranger appears invited it may be for an evening by a friend , he is immemediatcly pounced upon ancl—amidst felicitations , no
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Lodges Of Instruction.
LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .
YARIOUS are the ideas wo have recently heard expressed , relative to the mode of admission to , and the conduct of , our Lodges of Instruction ; and although from time to time wo have ventured to express our opinion on these points , probably a brief space may not be
inopportunely occupied if we revert to a few of them in the light of utterances we have overheard within the past few weeks . As most of our readers are aware , these " nurseries "
of the Craft partake too frequently of the " free and easy " character ; their regulations are in many instances lax ; and the test of admission , if any , is far from disciplinarian . We do not moan for a moment that there is often occa .
sion forthe ejaculation " It rains " as regards a Lodge of Instruction ; there is , and ever mnst be , an insurmountable barrier against the cowan ' s approach to the sacred threshold of a Masonic Lodge . But why not the same safeguard
against intrusion into a Lodge of Instruction as is provided for in a regular Lodge . As a matter of fact the almost universal rule is , that the outworks are not guarded , and although the brethren may be in themselves assured
the conclave is properly tyled , there is no difference . Every Lodge of Instruction , as well as a regular Lodge , should have an attendance book as well as a Tyler . To give a case in point . Only very recently we attended a
Lodge of Instruction where several brethren were waiting , during the progress of the ceremony , for admission . Amongst them was a brother—whom we afterwards ascertained was to all intents " good and true "—who , when
challenged by the superior Officer of the Lodge , failed in the first instance to give even the rudimentary proofs of his being a Mason . We have known scores of " rusty " brethren—who from a variety of circumstances have fallen
into arrears in that respect—similarly placed . But in the case to which wo more particularly refer the Officer , insistant upon proof , put our brother through a variety of evolutions , until , in the end , although not au fait , he
convinced the brethren present of his eligibility for admission , and was thereupon received with the same cordiality as though he had been an expert at the Art and had been known for years amongst the members of the Lodge . But
the question arises—Suppose this had been otherwise ? Assuming that a man had " picked up " in his travels—as we know many have done—from incautious brethren many of the preliminary signs and tokens of Freemasonry , and
by those means had gained sufficient notion of gesture to enter an indifferently conducted Lodge of Instruction ? Let it be borne in mind we are only assuming such might bo possible . We do not say the intruder would remain
long undiscovered , or that he would gain much solid insight into the true work of the Craft ; but such an idea has struck us as possible , and it would be as well if the possibilities of such a case were guarded against . Sitting
at dinner in a commercial room one night , iu the country , the subject of Freemasonry cropped up , and remarks upon it were , as we suggested , used rather too freely . Our " next door neighbour , " with signs he , as admittedhad " picked
, up , " expressed himself glad to meet ua " as a brother , " and to find himself in the congenial company of so many other members of the ancient and honourable Institution .
He heartily wished us all well , and the compliment was , though we saw rather suspiciously by some , reciprocated . We ventured to inquire of our newly-found friend where
Lodges Of Instruction.
was he made a Mason ? and then came the innocent reply , " at Cheltenham ! " It need hardly be said that the incip ient Ananius who had "tried it on , " no doubt with
partial success at other places , was quietly advised to get back to Cheltenham as rapidly as ho could , and sent to Coventry for the remainder of the evening . It is an undeniable fact that the Masonic signs and secrets are too frequently expressed in mixed assemblies , regardless of
that strict caution which is so rigidly enjoined in the earlier stages of the Mason's career ; and it may be that the insidious are able to glean much from indiscreet members of the Craft to insinuate themselves far into the
regions where they speedily come to grief . We think it was in Bunyan ' s "Pilgrim's Progress" where somebody who wanted to get to the celestial spheres by royal road vaulted " over the garden wall" instead of entering by the
prescribed wicket gate , and who very soon fell amongst thieves and repented of his temerity . Such a fate always meets the man who is foolish enough to assume a virtue he does not possess , and who thinks it wonderfully clever
to steal a march in the direction we have indicated . We admit there are few mean or base enough to attempt such a deceit ; but there would be more if they thought that by practice and ingenuity they could accomplish a clever
feat . It remains , therefore , a question with those who have the interest of our Lodges of Instruction at heart to use every precaution against the possibility of intrusion ; and we only re-echo an expression we overheard the other
night that absolute security should be provided by the approval of a voluntary Ty ler on the occasion of each meeting , and . the requirement also of an attendance book such as is used at the regular Lodges . Brethren would bo
readily found to accept the outer guardship of a Lodge of Instruction as a preliminary step to other offices , and who would see that the applicants for admission were perfectly eligible . Another point which has been
frequently argued is , that of the importation of " refreshments " during the periods of labour , and this is one which we think should be seriously considered by Preceptors and members generally of Lodges of Instruction . It may be
argued that it is a matter of conscientious scruple , and entirely at the individual option of the brethren , whether the consumption of " liquor" and tobacco during the rehearsal of solemn ceremonies is the " correct thing . "
But be that as it may , we apparently protest against a custom , which is emphatically on the increase , that requires every attendant at a Lodge of Instruction to mingle refreshment with labour , whether or not he is so inclined .
It may not be that he is directly coerced into giving his " orders to the waiter , " as he may be in an hotel or restaurant ; but the look , either askant or derisive , is to a sensitive miud sufficient to divert the attention of the
student , and to render his mind uneasy during the rehearsal of sublime ceremonies . As a matter of stern decorum , refreshment should never be mingled with solemn and impressive rites ; but at any rate brethren who are
scrupulous on the point should be free from reproach if they prefer to defer their predilections for the fourth degree until they are called off by the Jun ' or Warden . There is yet another question to which our attention has
often been directed , and that is the compulsion almost which is placed upon visitors to joiu Lodges of Instruction , There are many Lodges in which , when a stranger appears invited it may be for an evening by a friend , he is immemediatcly pounced upon ancl—amidst felicitations , no