Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
very natural , they ceased to attend . I do not think they could be blamed . But there were a few who , by their own industry and persevering exertions , have gained that information which they could not obtain from their instructors , and from the way in which the business was conducted they could not receive at their Lodges , —these are honourable exceptions . It has been remarked to-night , that candidates who might pay the full fee , and receive the first degree , would be taken advantage of if they
were prevented by circumstances from receiving the other degrees afterwards . I cannot see the force of this at all ; the fee to this lodge is not so very high , and they will , if properly entered , never consider that any advantage has been taken . Indeed , I consider that it is those wdio are now present , those who were made the three degrees all at once , that were taken advantage of ; that we were cheated , inasmuch as we did not receive that information and instruction which it was our riht to obtain
g , and for which we had paid . All who receive the three degrees in one night are taken the advantage of . Again , it has been said , that candidates , if made only one step , will never come back to receive the others . If this is the case , it will not be their fault ; it will be your fault—the fault of the lodge , as it depends entirely how the business is conducted , —whether or not a candidate be interested in the subject . If it is properly conductedI have no fear but that the candidate will patientlbide
, y his time , and be most anxious to receive the other degrees . As to the question of emergency—say the case of a commercial traveller , or seafaring person—I cannot see the necessity of giving them the three degrees at once ; if they are properly qualified as entered apprentices , they will be equally well received , wherever they may go , as a Master Mason
would be ; and should they never chance to visit the lodge again , if they wish to advance further they can obtain the other degrees in almost any part of the world . I hold that there is no excuse , that there is no plea , and can be none , for cases of emergency . It has been the curse of Scotch Masonry , and has lowered the character of Scotch lodges : and how do many , who have received the three degrees at once , feel on the subject when afterwards they visit lodges , where the work is conducted as it ought to bewith carefulnesscorrectnessand serious attention ; they
, , , must and do feel humiliated to think that they cannot acquit themselves as they see others do , who have received the degree with plenty of instruction , and sufficient time to understand what they did receive . I hope that this motion will be carried , and if it is , I am certain that in a very short time the St . Nicholas Lodge will be one of the best lodges in Scotland ; and I have no doubt whatever , but that the other lodges in Aberdeen will follow the examplewhen they see the brethren of St . Nicholas
, doing the work as it should be . If the motion is not carried , I would just say to the W . Master , that it depends upon him to put this , the proper mode of working , into force ; he has only to say , I will only give one degree in one night , and there must be the proper lapse of time between that degree and the next . The Master has that power , and if he chooses can put it in force , although it will be much more pleasant that the lodge be agreeable to the change . A sufficient time should take
place betwixt the degrees , at least the two weeks as laid down by the Grand Lodge laws ; and I must here regret that the English Grand Lodge should have so far forgotten itself , evidently with a petty jealousy of the Scotch lodges , as to reduce the space of time between the degrees ; such a step is foolish in the extreme , and will tend to bring down English Masonry . There are symptoms of improvement in Scotland ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
very natural , they ceased to attend . I do not think they could be blamed . But there were a few who , by their own industry and persevering exertions , have gained that information which they could not obtain from their instructors , and from the way in which the business was conducted they could not receive at their Lodges , —these are honourable exceptions . It has been remarked to-night , that candidates who might pay the full fee , and receive the first degree , would be taken advantage of if they
were prevented by circumstances from receiving the other degrees afterwards . I cannot see the force of this at all ; the fee to this lodge is not so very high , and they will , if properly entered , never consider that any advantage has been taken . Indeed , I consider that it is those wdio are now present , those who were made the three degrees all at once , that were taken advantage of ; that we were cheated , inasmuch as we did not receive that information and instruction which it was our riht to obtain
g , and for which we had paid . All who receive the three degrees in one night are taken the advantage of . Again , it has been said , that candidates , if made only one step , will never come back to receive the others . If this is the case , it will not be their fault ; it will be your fault—the fault of the lodge , as it depends entirely how the business is conducted , —whether or not a candidate be interested in the subject . If it is properly conductedI have no fear but that the candidate will patientlbide
, y his time , and be most anxious to receive the other degrees . As to the question of emergency—say the case of a commercial traveller , or seafaring person—I cannot see the necessity of giving them the three degrees at once ; if they are properly qualified as entered apprentices , they will be equally well received , wherever they may go , as a Master Mason
would be ; and should they never chance to visit the lodge again , if they wish to advance further they can obtain the other degrees in almost any part of the world . I hold that there is no excuse , that there is no plea , and can be none , for cases of emergency . It has been the curse of Scotch Masonry , and has lowered the character of Scotch lodges : and how do many , who have received the three degrees at once , feel on the subject when afterwards they visit lodges , where the work is conducted as it ought to bewith carefulnesscorrectnessand serious attention ; they
, , , must and do feel humiliated to think that they cannot acquit themselves as they see others do , who have received the degree with plenty of instruction , and sufficient time to understand what they did receive . I hope that this motion will be carried , and if it is , I am certain that in a very short time the St . Nicholas Lodge will be one of the best lodges in Scotland ; and I have no doubt whatever , but that the other lodges in Aberdeen will follow the examplewhen they see the brethren of St . Nicholas
, doing the work as it should be . If the motion is not carried , I would just say to the W . Master , that it depends upon him to put this , the proper mode of working , into force ; he has only to say , I will only give one degree in one night , and there must be the proper lapse of time between that degree and the next . The Master has that power , and if he chooses can put it in force , although it will be much more pleasant that the lodge be agreeable to the change . A sufficient time should take
place betwixt the degrees , at least the two weeks as laid down by the Grand Lodge laws ; and I must here regret that the English Grand Lodge should have so far forgotten itself , evidently with a petty jealousy of the Scotch lodges , as to reduce the space of time between the degrees ; such a step is foolish in the extreme , and will tend to bring down English Masonry . There are symptoms of improvement in Scotland ,