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Article THE FREEMASONS' QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. ← Page 3 of 4 →
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The Freemasons' Quarterly Magazine.
It is also a matter of deep regret , tbat by far too many of those , who have been admitted into Ereemasonry of late years , think too much of the social entertainment of " refreshment , " than of " the work" which has to be performed . Working Brethren are the few ; social Brethren are the many ; and wc sluink not from the assertion that the latter do far more injury to
the Order than good . It was not by these processes that Masonry grew and flourished in this country . Nay , so far from its being so , the palmiest period of its existence was when the plainest " refreshment" Avas allowed , when " thc work" was the chief attraction , and when the Brethren , one and all , hastened to be present at the opening of a Lodge ,
to take part in . all its proceedings , and to continue to fulfil their duties to its close . Lodges which still insist upon these proceedings are not the largest , in point of numbers , but they are the best ; although they may contribute less to the funds of Grand Lodge than others , where their by-laws are less strict , by fees for initiation , yet they do much more to uphold and
maintain the landmarks of the Order , and to preserve those time-honoured traditions , which centimes have neither abolished nor impaired . We often hear terms of congratulation made use of to the effect , that Ereemasonry is so largely on the increase ; and we have often marvelled much to find that growth of membership is considered as a test of sure and certain jxrogress . But to quote the words of the periodical , to which we have already referred , —
" They mistake the nature of the Masonic Institution , who estimate its strength by its numbers , or measure its prosperity by the length of the roll of its initiates . These are not the standards by whieh either the one or the other is to be determined . Its strength is in its principles , and its prosperity in the character of its members . Its principles are strong only as they are rightly interpreted and truthfully applied . A good principle in the hands of a bad man , may be applied to vicious purposes , and become an instrument of evilThe bad perverts and destroys the good .
. On the contrary , a good principle receives strength and vitality in the hands of the virtuous and prudent . The former may deceive and prosper for a season ; but in the latter only are to be found the true elements of a certain and permanent prosperity . The one is true , the other false . One will involve our Institution in dishonour , if not in ruin , —the other will command i ' or it the silence of the bad , and the confidence of the good . Between these we are to choose . If we would keep our principles
in the hands of good men , and thus secure their purity , and the consequent prosperity of our Institution , we must permit none but men of honourable character , of tried principles , and inflexible integrity , to pass within the doors of our Lodges . Our established usages must be observed—our laws enforced . There is no other rule of safety . " Not manv years ago , it was thought discreditable by the Q ' . l
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemasons' Quarterly Magazine.
It is also a matter of deep regret , tbat by far too many of those , who have been admitted into Ereemasonry of late years , think too much of the social entertainment of " refreshment , " than of " the work" which has to be performed . Working Brethren are the few ; social Brethren are the many ; and wc sluink not from the assertion that the latter do far more injury to
the Order than good . It was not by these processes that Masonry grew and flourished in this country . Nay , so far from its being so , the palmiest period of its existence was when the plainest " refreshment" Avas allowed , when " thc work" was the chief attraction , and when the Brethren , one and all , hastened to be present at the opening of a Lodge ,
to take part in . all its proceedings , and to continue to fulfil their duties to its close . Lodges which still insist upon these proceedings are not the largest , in point of numbers , but they are the best ; although they may contribute less to the funds of Grand Lodge than others , where their by-laws are less strict , by fees for initiation , yet they do much more to uphold and
maintain the landmarks of the Order , and to preserve those time-honoured traditions , which centimes have neither abolished nor impaired . We often hear terms of congratulation made use of to the effect , that Ereemasonry is so largely on the increase ; and we have often marvelled much to find that growth of membership is considered as a test of sure and certain jxrogress . But to quote the words of the periodical , to which we have already referred , —
" They mistake the nature of the Masonic Institution , who estimate its strength by its numbers , or measure its prosperity by the length of the roll of its initiates . These are not the standards by whieh either the one or the other is to be determined . Its strength is in its principles , and its prosperity in the character of its members . Its principles are strong only as they are rightly interpreted and truthfully applied . A good principle in the hands of a bad man , may be applied to vicious purposes , and become an instrument of evilThe bad perverts and destroys the good .
. On the contrary , a good principle receives strength and vitality in the hands of the virtuous and prudent . The former may deceive and prosper for a season ; but in the latter only are to be found the true elements of a certain and permanent prosperity . The one is true , the other false . One will involve our Institution in dishonour , if not in ruin , —the other will command i ' or it the silence of the bad , and the confidence of the good . Between these we are to choose . If we would keep our principles
in the hands of good men , and thus secure their purity , and the consequent prosperity of our Institution , we must permit none but men of honourable character , of tried principles , and inflexible integrity , to pass within the doors of our Lodges . Our established usages must be observed—our laws enforced . There is no other rule of safety . " Not manv years ago , it was thought discreditable by the Q ' . l