Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
have much more correctness in working , the business will be conducted with order and regularity , with quietness and seriousness , and more in accordance with the masonic principles of peace , concord , and harmony , than it is possible to conduct the work , when the three degrees are granted in one night . AVe will avoid that carelessness , that confusion , that hurried manner , and that want of serious attention , which takes lace , and ever must take lacewhen as has hitherto been the casethe
p p , , initiation , passing and raising havebeen given in one evening . If we agree to this motion , many of our members will attend the meeting , who have hitherto been prevented by reason of the late hour to which the meetings have of necessity been kept , as they will be able to leave the lodge at an early hour , they will have no excuse to prevent them attending . And what is of more importance , there will be sufficient time for instruction to those who receive the degreethey will be better able to understand
, the subject , and the brethren will receive a more intimate knowledge of the principles of the Craft , than they have hitherto been enabled to receive , or could have time to receive , at former meetings of the lodge . In every respect in which we can view the question , it will be , in my opinion , a very great improvement and advantage , not only to the members , but also to the lodge , which must increase and prosper more and moreif this alteration take laceI have to request that Bro
, p . . Dewar , of St . Andrew ' s Lodge , will give us his opinion on the subject , as a visiting brother , and one who has seen the work carried on in various parts of the globe . Bro . DEWAR . —Right Worshipful Master and brethren of St , Nicholas , I have much pleasure in giving an opinion on the subject now brought
before the members , as I consider that it is a step in the right direction , and one which will be of the utmost importance to the lodge , and particularly to those who are afterwards to join it . Having visited lodges in various quarters , I have never found them conducted as they are here . In France , where I was initiated , the work is carried on in a regular and systematic manner ; and with the utmost strictness , I had to work as apprentice for six months , before 1 could gain the second
degree ; and during that lapse of time , I had to visit , and did visit , a great many lodges as an apprentice ; by this means I was enabled to understand the work , and gained much more information than it is possible can be obtained by the system which prevails here . During this six months , I never considered it a hardship , that I could not obtain the second degree sooner , as it was the practice , the regular custom , and the business was conducted with regularity and propriety . I have also
visited lodges in America , and there also the work is conducted in a proper manner ; they are as particular as they can be , as to who are admitted members of the Order ; a certain period must elapse after their proposal to the lodge , and enquiry is made as to their character ; if any objections are found against the newly proposed candidate , he is excluded ; by this means , they only admit those to be members , who are considered reallfit and proper persons . The character of the masonic
y body is maintained with the greatest advantage to the lodge and the members . As an instance , I may mention the case of a young friend of mine , that I brought to my own lodge in this town , the St . Andrew ' s Lodge . I arranged that he was to receive the degrees , in the proper way , each step on one night , with a lapse of time betwixt : the consequence of this was what would have been anticipated , he came and received the other degrees able to understand them , in a manner credit-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
have much more correctness in working , the business will be conducted with order and regularity , with quietness and seriousness , and more in accordance with the masonic principles of peace , concord , and harmony , than it is possible to conduct the work , when the three degrees are granted in one night . AVe will avoid that carelessness , that confusion , that hurried manner , and that want of serious attention , which takes lace , and ever must take lacewhen as has hitherto been the casethe
p p , , initiation , passing and raising havebeen given in one evening . If we agree to this motion , many of our members will attend the meeting , who have hitherto been prevented by reason of the late hour to which the meetings have of necessity been kept , as they will be able to leave the lodge at an early hour , they will have no excuse to prevent them attending . And what is of more importance , there will be sufficient time for instruction to those who receive the degreethey will be better able to understand
, the subject , and the brethren will receive a more intimate knowledge of the principles of the Craft , than they have hitherto been enabled to receive , or could have time to receive , at former meetings of the lodge . In every respect in which we can view the question , it will be , in my opinion , a very great improvement and advantage , not only to the members , but also to the lodge , which must increase and prosper more and moreif this alteration take laceI have to request that Bro
, p . . Dewar , of St . Andrew ' s Lodge , will give us his opinion on the subject , as a visiting brother , and one who has seen the work carried on in various parts of the globe . Bro . DEWAR . —Right Worshipful Master and brethren of St , Nicholas , I have much pleasure in giving an opinion on the subject now brought
before the members , as I consider that it is a step in the right direction , and one which will be of the utmost importance to the lodge , and particularly to those who are afterwards to join it . Having visited lodges in various quarters , I have never found them conducted as they are here . In France , where I was initiated , the work is carried on in a regular and systematic manner ; and with the utmost strictness , I had to work as apprentice for six months , before 1 could gain the second
degree ; and during that lapse of time , I had to visit , and did visit , a great many lodges as an apprentice ; by this means I was enabled to understand the work , and gained much more information than it is possible can be obtained by the system which prevails here . During this six months , I never considered it a hardship , that I could not obtain the second degree sooner , as it was the practice , the regular custom , and the business was conducted with regularity and propriety . I have also
visited lodges in America , and there also the work is conducted in a proper manner ; they are as particular as they can be , as to who are admitted members of the Order ; a certain period must elapse after their proposal to the lodge , and enquiry is made as to their character ; if any objections are found against the newly proposed candidate , he is excluded ; by this means , they only admit those to be members , who are considered reallfit and proper persons . The character of the masonic
y body is maintained with the greatest advantage to the lodge and the members . As an instance , I may mention the case of a young friend of mine , that I brought to my own lodge in this town , the St . Andrew ' s Lodge . I arranged that he was to receive the degrees , in the proper way , each step on one night , with a lapse of time betwixt : the consequence of this was what would have been anticipated , he came and received the other degrees able to understand them , in a manner credit-