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Article UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC PRACTICE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article BRETHREN OF EMINENCE AND ABILITY. Page 1 of 1 Article BRETHREN OF EMINENCE AND ABILITY. Page 1 of 1 Article INVASION OF JURISDICTION. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Uniformity Of Masonic Practice.
countries will continue to do just as the } please , no matter what representations are made
against the many changes continually being introduced into tho working of the several jurisdictions , aud the Craft must stand by and see its boasted
uniformity nullified , well knowing it is quite impossible to remedy it . Still the proposal sot forth in the closing paragraph of Brother Jacob Norton ' z remarks—as to the possible assembly of a Masonic
Congress , composed ol delegates from all the Grand Lodges of the world—is worthy of consideration , and may some day be earned beyond the preliminary stage of mere conjecture . If the day ever arrives
for tho opening of a Masonic Conference there will bo ample work for its members to perform , in striving to secure something like uniformity of practice where there now oxists a mass of confusing ideas .
Brethren Of Eminence And Ability.
BRETHREN OF EMINENCE AND ABILITY .
IT has always been one of the speoial boasts of the Grand Lodge of England that it has been enabled to enlist undor its banner a constant succession of men who by birth or by their own individual efforts have enrolled their names in the list of thoso whom the people delight to honour .
Princes of the blood , shining lights of every rank of the nobility , and men distinguished as divines , soldiers , sailors , statesmen , and administrators , havo thought it no special condescension on their part to don tho Mason ' s apron , and thus testify to themselves and the people at large , the excellencies of our ancient institution . Now this is in
every way a matter of congratulation to ourselves , and we trust that Freemasonry will ever continue to common d itself to thoso who have made their mark outside , but at the same time it does appear to ns that it is possible to go too far in efforts to attract stars of this kind . Whilst
perfectly conceding that we gain by being able to exhibit to tho outside world men of eminence in the state as dignitaries of our Order , we do not think that outside services , however meritorious they may be , should be allowed to act as a substitute for services to the Craft itself , iu
determining tho distribution of the hi ghest honours which wo have to bestow . And yet it does appear not only that tho Constitutions and practice of the Grand Lodge of England distinctly go on the principle of conferring the very highest honours on men whose services to the Craft
are a negative quantity , but that this evil principle is being intensified every year . Membership of Grand Lodge is not only open to men who have never so far gained tho regard of their brethren as to be made the Wardens of a private Lodge , but the collar of the Grand Warden , a very high
honour indeed , can be and not unfrequently is conferred upon men whose highest step in the Masonic ladder was being raised to the Third Degree . That a Mason should bo able to become Grand Warden of England and tack Right Worshipful in front of his name , without having
ever been Warded of a private Lodge , is . to say the least , an anomaly , and an infringement of the privileges of tho Craft . Whilst we perfectly approve of the principle of the Grand Officers being nominated by the Grand Master , wc do think thit the choice of that high functionary should be limited
to those who have already received the suffrages of the Craft , and equally we think that the democratic character of Freemasonry is ignored if even one voice in its highest law making assembly is based upon anything else but popular election . Turning to Rule 9 , we find "that
brethren of eminence and ability who have rendered service to the Craft may , hy appointment of the Grand Master , or by a vote of the Grand Lodge duly confirmed be constituted members of the Grand Lodge , with snob rank and distinctions as may be thought proper . " We have italicised the
words "by appointment of the Grand Master , " because they did not exist in the old edition of the Constitutions , and their introduction marks an advance in a very evil direction . Push the principle to an extreme , aud it would
legally be possible for an unscrupulous Grand Master to " pack " the Grand Lodgo with his nominees . Then , again , a former provision that the Grand Wardens should have served the office of Warden in a private Lodge was likewise struck out at the revision , evidently with a distinct
Brethren Of Eminence And Ability.
object , and as a matter of fact move than one Grand Warden has of late years been appointed without possessing oven tho modest qualification formerly necessary , Lords Alcester and Wantage to wit . We may bo ultra-radical in our Masonic opinions , but we altogether fail to see that
a man , however distinguished as a soldier or a sailor , should bo made Grand Warden on the strength of his having , perhaps iu hia college days , been initiated into the Craft , in whose doings ho has not taken one iota of interest since . Tho absurdity is the more apparent when we find
that the District or Provincial Grand Wardens must havo been Masters , and the District or Provincial Grand Deacon Wardens . The inference one must draw is , that the lower offices are supposed to imply work , the higher merely social position . Now , whatever this principle may bo , it is
not Masonic , according to our Colonial way of thinking . If Dukes and Lords and Lord Mayors will work in Masonry , then by all means let their exalted outside rank lend additional weight to thoir purely Masonic claims , but do not let it bo a substitute for them altogether . —The South African Freemason .
Invasion Of Jurisdiction.
INVASION OF JURISDICTION .
ONE of the most essential and best among tho many lossons to be drawn from the symbols of Masonry may be found in the teachings of tho "trowel , " an instrument to be used by Freemasons to sprflad the cement of brotherly love and affection ; that cement which , when properly used , will unite all into one sacred band , or
society of friends and Brothers , among whom uo contention should ever exist , save that noble contention , or rather emulation , of who can best work and best agree . This
sentiment , "A band of brothers among whom no contention should ever exist , " has been so often reiterated , and KO firmly impressed upon our minds , that wo hava come to accept it as a truism , and undisputed fact .
It is beautiful as a theory , and should be a fact undoubted and unquestioned . It constitutes the fraternit y of Masonry , and npon it more than anything else depends the usefulness and stability of the institution . The Masonic use of the trowel has been taught every
member of our Order , and its application has been impressed upon their minds by the most solemn ceremonies . There are , we know , exceptions to all rules , and , unfortunately , unworthy members may be found in every society , " black sheep in every flock . " Yet we are convinced that
among the fraternity , as a whole , this idea is something more than an idle sentiment . It is a recognised fact , and made , to a greater or less extent , the rule of life . There is a tie which binds Freemasons most closely together . That
tie is composed of brotherly love and affection . While individual members are cultivating this sentiment , and , as the years roll around , are more thoroughly applying the trowel and exemplifying the results of its use in daily life .
Yet we regret that too often when organised as a Lodge , which is but an integral portion , an individual branch of the one universal family , this cement is sometimes laid aside , and the use of the trowel , as between themselves and their neighbours , to a largo extent forgotten . Mankind
is by nature selfish . In the early ages of the world ' s history , when the animal nature was in preponderance , following the natural law of evolution— " the survival of the fittest "—it was the strong against the weak . But with the advancement of civilisation and the cultivation of
the intellect , the moral nature of man came to tho front . The common Brotherhood of man and his equality becamo more and more recognised and acted upon . To disseminato this truth and make it practical iu every day life has been the chief mission of Masonry . Uniting as it does men of
every country , sect and opinion , it founds every regulation upon the one idea of Brotherly love , and everywhere inculcates the broadest charity and toleration for the opinions as well as the failings of a brother .
This being the true principle of Masonry , that to which she requires a strict adherence on the part of all her followers , why should it not be made equally obligatory upon her Lodges and other organised associations in their relations each with the other ?
The Lodge is but the aggregate of the individual , governed by the same ends , but united only for their better dissemination . How often is this fact overlooked and forgotten . The
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Uniformity Of Masonic Practice.
countries will continue to do just as the } please , no matter what representations are made
against the many changes continually being introduced into tho working of the several jurisdictions , aud the Craft must stand by and see its boasted
uniformity nullified , well knowing it is quite impossible to remedy it . Still the proposal sot forth in the closing paragraph of Brother Jacob Norton ' z remarks—as to the possible assembly of a Masonic
Congress , composed ol delegates from all the Grand Lodges of the world—is worthy of consideration , and may some day be earned beyond the preliminary stage of mere conjecture . If the day ever arrives
for tho opening of a Masonic Conference there will bo ample work for its members to perform , in striving to secure something like uniformity of practice where there now oxists a mass of confusing ideas .
Brethren Of Eminence And Ability.
BRETHREN OF EMINENCE AND ABILITY .
IT has always been one of the speoial boasts of the Grand Lodge of England that it has been enabled to enlist undor its banner a constant succession of men who by birth or by their own individual efforts have enrolled their names in the list of thoso whom the people delight to honour .
Princes of the blood , shining lights of every rank of the nobility , and men distinguished as divines , soldiers , sailors , statesmen , and administrators , havo thought it no special condescension on their part to don tho Mason ' s apron , and thus testify to themselves and the people at large , the excellencies of our ancient institution . Now this is in
every way a matter of congratulation to ourselves , and we trust that Freemasonry will ever continue to common d itself to thoso who have made their mark outside , but at the same time it does appear to ns that it is possible to go too far in efforts to attract stars of this kind . Whilst
perfectly conceding that we gain by being able to exhibit to tho outside world men of eminence in the state as dignitaries of our Order , we do not think that outside services , however meritorious they may be , should be allowed to act as a substitute for services to the Craft itself , iu
determining tho distribution of the hi ghest honours which wo have to bestow . And yet it does appear not only that tho Constitutions and practice of the Grand Lodge of England distinctly go on the principle of conferring the very highest honours on men whose services to the Craft
are a negative quantity , but that this evil principle is being intensified every year . Membership of Grand Lodge is not only open to men who have never so far gained tho regard of their brethren as to be made the Wardens of a private Lodge , but the collar of the Grand Warden , a very high
honour indeed , can be and not unfrequently is conferred upon men whose highest step in the Masonic ladder was being raised to the Third Degree . That a Mason should bo able to become Grand Warden of England and tack Right Worshipful in front of his name , without having
ever been Warded of a private Lodge , is . to say the least , an anomaly , and an infringement of the privileges of tho Craft . Whilst we perfectly approve of the principle of the Grand Officers being nominated by the Grand Master , wc do think thit the choice of that high functionary should be limited
to those who have already received the suffrages of the Craft , and equally we think that the democratic character of Freemasonry is ignored if even one voice in its highest law making assembly is based upon anything else but popular election . Turning to Rule 9 , we find "that
brethren of eminence and ability who have rendered service to the Craft may , hy appointment of the Grand Master , or by a vote of the Grand Lodge duly confirmed be constituted members of the Grand Lodge , with snob rank and distinctions as may be thought proper . " We have italicised the
words "by appointment of the Grand Master , " because they did not exist in the old edition of the Constitutions , and their introduction marks an advance in a very evil direction . Push the principle to an extreme , aud it would
legally be possible for an unscrupulous Grand Master to " pack " the Grand Lodgo with his nominees . Then , again , a former provision that the Grand Wardens should have served the office of Warden in a private Lodge was likewise struck out at the revision , evidently with a distinct
Brethren Of Eminence And Ability.
object , and as a matter of fact move than one Grand Warden has of late years been appointed without possessing oven tho modest qualification formerly necessary , Lords Alcester and Wantage to wit . We may bo ultra-radical in our Masonic opinions , but we altogether fail to see that
a man , however distinguished as a soldier or a sailor , should bo made Grand Warden on the strength of his having , perhaps iu hia college days , been initiated into the Craft , in whose doings ho has not taken one iota of interest since . Tho absurdity is the more apparent when we find
that the District or Provincial Grand Wardens must havo been Masters , and the District or Provincial Grand Deacon Wardens . The inference one must draw is , that the lower offices are supposed to imply work , the higher merely social position . Now , whatever this principle may bo , it is
not Masonic , according to our Colonial way of thinking . If Dukes and Lords and Lord Mayors will work in Masonry , then by all means let their exalted outside rank lend additional weight to thoir purely Masonic claims , but do not let it bo a substitute for them altogether . —The South African Freemason .
Invasion Of Jurisdiction.
INVASION OF JURISDICTION .
ONE of the most essential and best among tho many lossons to be drawn from the symbols of Masonry may be found in the teachings of tho "trowel , " an instrument to be used by Freemasons to sprflad the cement of brotherly love and affection ; that cement which , when properly used , will unite all into one sacred band , or
society of friends and Brothers , among whom uo contention should ever exist , save that noble contention , or rather emulation , of who can best work and best agree . This
sentiment , "A band of brothers among whom no contention should ever exist , " has been so often reiterated , and KO firmly impressed upon our minds , that wo hava come to accept it as a truism , and undisputed fact .
It is beautiful as a theory , and should be a fact undoubted and unquestioned . It constitutes the fraternit y of Masonry , and npon it more than anything else depends the usefulness and stability of the institution . The Masonic use of the trowel has been taught every
member of our Order , and its application has been impressed upon their minds by the most solemn ceremonies . There are , we know , exceptions to all rules , and , unfortunately , unworthy members may be found in every society , " black sheep in every flock . " Yet we are convinced that
among the fraternity , as a whole , this idea is something more than an idle sentiment . It is a recognised fact , and made , to a greater or less extent , the rule of life . There is a tie which binds Freemasons most closely together . That
tie is composed of brotherly love and affection . While individual members are cultivating this sentiment , and , as the years roll around , are more thoroughly applying the trowel and exemplifying the results of its use in daily life .
Yet we regret that too often when organised as a Lodge , which is but an integral portion , an individual branch of the one universal family , this cement is sometimes laid aside , and the use of the trowel , as between themselves and their neighbours , to a largo extent forgotten . Mankind
is by nature selfish . In the early ages of the world ' s history , when the animal nature was in preponderance , following the natural law of evolution— " the survival of the fittest "—it was the strong against the weak . But with the advancement of civilisation and the cultivation of
the intellect , the moral nature of man came to tho front . The common Brotherhood of man and his equality becamo more and more recognised and acted upon . To disseminato this truth and make it practical iu every day life has been the chief mission of Masonry . Uniting as it does men of
every country , sect and opinion , it founds every regulation upon the one idea of Brotherly love , and everywhere inculcates the broadest charity and toleration for the opinions as well as the failings of a brother .
This being the true principle of Masonry , that to which she requires a strict adherence on the part of all her followers , why should it not be made equally obligatory upon her Lodges and other organised associations in their relations each with the other ?
The Lodge is but the aggregate of the individual , governed by the same ends , but united only for their better dissemination . How often is this fact overlooked and forgotten . The