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Article ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION AND FOR OFFICE. Page 1 of 2 Article ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION AND FOR OFFICE. Page 1 of 2 →
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Eligibility For Admission And For Office.
ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION AND FOR OFFICE .
A GLANCE at the Grand Lodge Calendar will suffice to show that the period of our holidays is about drawing to its close , and that , in a very brief time , the great majority of our Lodges will be in the full swing of work . It would seem therefore not inopportune to offer a few remarks on two important matters—the eligibility
of persons who offer themselves as candidates for admission into our ranks , and the eligibility of members for office in our Lodges . We are aware we have touched on these two questions already more than once , but nnder existing circumstances we trust our readers will excuse us
for again dealing with them . An apology , indeed , ia hardly necessary , seeing that the future welfare of our Society is regulated , for good or for evil , according as we regard these points seriously or with indifference . Those eminent brethren to whom the duty of consecrating new
Lodges is so often entrusted , never lose an opportunity of cautioning the officers and members of the Lodge against the careless acceptance of candidates , and what they do invariably , we certainly may take upon ourselves to do occasionally .
And first , then , as to candidates for admission , either as initiates or joining members . Some short time since we pointed out , with an emphasis which the importance of the case appeared to us to demand , that the law as to the proposing of candidates was very carelessly observed . If
we may be permitted to use such an expression , in many cases applicants for initiation are rushed through the portals of the Lodge just as though Freemasonry had no other end in view than to include as many members as possible . In the instances we refer to , members , in fact ,
were called upon to vote for a candidate of whose antecedents ^ they probably knew nothing , and about whom hardly sufficient time was allowed to make the necessary inquiries . Having faith in the discretion of the proposers , brethren voted affirmativel y for a person , who might turn
out a worthy addition to our ranks or who mi ght not . We pointed out , further , that if only the provisions of our law were observed , the chance of electing an indifferent person would be reduced to something like a minimum . Now , we do not think so ill of any brother as to imagine
that he would wantonl y propose a candidate who was unworthy of associating with other members of the Lodge . We assume , therefore , that all whose names are placed on a notice of meeting to be balloted for are reputable persons , that is , they stand well before the world as
regards character and means ; but it is a great mistake to suppose that these , though they are essential requirements , are the only ones we have to take into account . A man may be morally and pecuniarily acceptable , bnt it by no means follows that he will be a benefit , much less an
ornament , to a Lodge . He may , for instance , be a cantankerous personage , or , worse still , inclined to quarrel on the slightest provocation . He may be ready to take offence where it was impossible that any offence could possibly be intended . He may be given to scheming for his own ends , inordinately ambitious
, or prone to cliquism , in all which cases we opine he would be unsuited to become the associate of the other members . Before all things , it is necessary that complete harmony should prevail in a Lodge , otherwise the sense of fraternity , which binds brethren together , will be conspicuous by its absence . How is it possible to fraternisewo use the word , in , its proper sense—with a person who
Eligibility For Admission And For Office.
is always objecting to what you say , who makes a point of opposing every proposition which does not emanate from himself , who is ready to misinterpret a brother ' s meaning , and who thinks he is doing all the good in the world by organising a faction or clique in furtherance of his own
peculiar views . There must be discord in a Lodge where a man of this disposition is admitted to the rights and privileges of membership , and , therefore , though his moral character may be unimpeachable , and though his means may be even princely , yet is he not one whom , under any
circumstances , we should be inclined to vote for . We like to see a man have the courage of his opinions . There is nothing pleases us so much as to find a young brother modestly advancing his own views in support , or it may be , in opposition to some measure that was being discussed ,
even though his opinion might differ from our own . We can hardly bring ourselves to take a deep interest in one who agrees with everybody , though we would far rather associate with such a person than with one who differed always on every subject with every one of his fellows .
Differences of opinion deserve to be respected , for it is out of these differences , in fact , by reason of them , that we look to having a question discussed in all its bearings , and trust to arriving ultimately at a just appreciation of what must be done . Here , then , we have shown various sufficient reasons
against the indiscriminate admission of all candidates , even though we began by assuming that all those who offered themselves would come justly under the denomination of " reputable . " How can we have charity where there is no harmony ? How can a Lodge expect to flourish where
there is little or no harmony ? These are points to be considered in the case of our Lodges , as in the case of clubs , as indeed they must be considered in the case of all societies whose members meet together for the purpose of
friendly intercourse . Reputability alone is not a sufficient reason for the admission of a person into Freemasonry , though the absence of such a qualification is reason enough for his absolute rejection .
And if we lay some stress , as we have done , on the importance of weighing well the idiosyncrasies of mere candidates , how much more important is it we should lay even greater stress on the qualifications of those members who aspire to office . If a mere member may cause an
interruption to the harmony of a Lodge , how much more likely is it that an officer , especially in the higher grades , may cause harm , even to the extent of destroying the Lodge itself . If we insist with so much earnestness on the fitness of members , < i fortiori must we insist with even
greater earnestness on the fitness of officers for the posts they aspire to fill . It is no doubt very pleasant , from one point of view , to have a master who is well furnished with the good things of this life , and whose means in fact are very considerable ; yet he may be a vulgar man , or an
overbearing man . His acts may incline to be arbitrary . He may think more of his own aggrandisement than of the welfare of those he has been called upon to govern . We have unfortunately had , during the last year or two , more than one case in which members in high places have sadly
forgotten the respect due to themselves , and when people think lightly of this we may be sure they will evince no particular degree of respect for others . In fine , as the season of action has approached , as there are likely to bo
more new Lodges and more new members in the course of the next six months , it behoves us to so demean ourselves that we may be able to render each a good account of his stewardship . So that we may say , without arriere fensee , we haye conscientiously fulfilled our duty towards
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Eligibility For Admission And For Office.
ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION AND FOR OFFICE .
A GLANCE at the Grand Lodge Calendar will suffice to show that the period of our holidays is about drawing to its close , and that , in a very brief time , the great majority of our Lodges will be in the full swing of work . It would seem therefore not inopportune to offer a few remarks on two important matters—the eligibility
of persons who offer themselves as candidates for admission into our ranks , and the eligibility of members for office in our Lodges . We are aware we have touched on these two questions already more than once , but nnder existing circumstances we trust our readers will excuse us
for again dealing with them . An apology , indeed , ia hardly necessary , seeing that the future welfare of our Society is regulated , for good or for evil , according as we regard these points seriously or with indifference . Those eminent brethren to whom the duty of consecrating new
Lodges is so often entrusted , never lose an opportunity of cautioning the officers and members of the Lodge against the careless acceptance of candidates , and what they do invariably , we certainly may take upon ourselves to do occasionally .
And first , then , as to candidates for admission , either as initiates or joining members . Some short time since we pointed out , with an emphasis which the importance of the case appeared to us to demand , that the law as to the proposing of candidates was very carelessly observed . If
we may be permitted to use such an expression , in many cases applicants for initiation are rushed through the portals of the Lodge just as though Freemasonry had no other end in view than to include as many members as possible . In the instances we refer to , members , in fact ,
were called upon to vote for a candidate of whose antecedents ^ they probably knew nothing , and about whom hardly sufficient time was allowed to make the necessary inquiries . Having faith in the discretion of the proposers , brethren voted affirmativel y for a person , who might turn
out a worthy addition to our ranks or who mi ght not . We pointed out , further , that if only the provisions of our law were observed , the chance of electing an indifferent person would be reduced to something like a minimum . Now , we do not think so ill of any brother as to imagine
that he would wantonl y propose a candidate who was unworthy of associating with other members of the Lodge . We assume , therefore , that all whose names are placed on a notice of meeting to be balloted for are reputable persons , that is , they stand well before the world as
regards character and means ; but it is a great mistake to suppose that these , though they are essential requirements , are the only ones we have to take into account . A man may be morally and pecuniarily acceptable , bnt it by no means follows that he will be a benefit , much less an
ornament , to a Lodge . He may , for instance , be a cantankerous personage , or , worse still , inclined to quarrel on the slightest provocation . He may be ready to take offence where it was impossible that any offence could possibly be intended . He may be given to scheming for his own ends , inordinately ambitious
, or prone to cliquism , in all which cases we opine he would be unsuited to become the associate of the other members . Before all things , it is necessary that complete harmony should prevail in a Lodge , otherwise the sense of fraternity , which binds brethren together , will be conspicuous by its absence . How is it possible to fraternisewo use the word , in , its proper sense—with a person who
Eligibility For Admission And For Office.
is always objecting to what you say , who makes a point of opposing every proposition which does not emanate from himself , who is ready to misinterpret a brother ' s meaning , and who thinks he is doing all the good in the world by organising a faction or clique in furtherance of his own
peculiar views . There must be discord in a Lodge where a man of this disposition is admitted to the rights and privileges of membership , and , therefore , though his moral character may be unimpeachable , and though his means may be even princely , yet is he not one whom , under any
circumstances , we should be inclined to vote for . We like to see a man have the courage of his opinions . There is nothing pleases us so much as to find a young brother modestly advancing his own views in support , or it may be , in opposition to some measure that was being discussed ,
even though his opinion might differ from our own . We can hardly bring ourselves to take a deep interest in one who agrees with everybody , though we would far rather associate with such a person than with one who differed always on every subject with every one of his fellows .
Differences of opinion deserve to be respected , for it is out of these differences , in fact , by reason of them , that we look to having a question discussed in all its bearings , and trust to arriving ultimately at a just appreciation of what must be done . Here , then , we have shown various sufficient reasons
against the indiscriminate admission of all candidates , even though we began by assuming that all those who offered themselves would come justly under the denomination of " reputable . " How can we have charity where there is no harmony ? How can a Lodge expect to flourish where
there is little or no harmony ? These are points to be considered in the case of our Lodges , as in the case of clubs , as indeed they must be considered in the case of all societies whose members meet together for the purpose of
friendly intercourse . Reputability alone is not a sufficient reason for the admission of a person into Freemasonry , though the absence of such a qualification is reason enough for his absolute rejection .
And if we lay some stress , as we have done , on the importance of weighing well the idiosyncrasies of mere candidates , how much more important is it we should lay even greater stress on the qualifications of those members who aspire to office . If a mere member may cause an
interruption to the harmony of a Lodge , how much more likely is it that an officer , especially in the higher grades , may cause harm , even to the extent of destroying the Lodge itself . If we insist with so much earnestness on the fitness of members , < i fortiori must we insist with even
greater earnestness on the fitness of officers for the posts they aspire to fill . It is no doubt very pleasant , from one point of view , to have a master who is well furnished with the good things of this life , and whose means in fact are very considerable ; yet he may be a vulgar man , or an
overbearing man . His acts may incline to be arbitrary . He may think more of his own aggrandisement than of the welfare of those he has been called upon to govern . We have unfortunately had , during the last year or two , more than one case in which members in high places have sadly
forgotten the respect due to themselves , and when people think lightly of this we may be sure they will evince no particular degree of respect for others . In fine , as the season of action has approached , as there are likely to bo
more new Lodges and more new members in the course of the next six months , it behoves us to so demean ourselves that we may be able to render each a good account of his stewardship . So that we may say , without arriere fensee , we haye conscientiously fulfilled our duty towards