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Article MASONRY IN SCOTLAND. ← Page 5 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry In Scotland.
save themselves the trouble , as it will be just as ineffectual as the a ] J > plication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ' has been to the P . G . il . to stop their clandestine meetings . The Grand Lodge has surely much to do in regulating and improving its own conduct before it interferes with the " doings " of other Lodges ; it sees clearl y "the mote" which is in other eyes , but—very naturally—it forgets " to take the beam out of its own . "
The advice which it sometimes gives is very good , but , when that is the case , it would be of advantage to itself to keep it , and act up to it , and show to the Craft that it understands the principles which it professes to wish to inculcate , instead of acting with " delusion , cant , and hypocrisy ; " since the Grand Lodge may rest assured that the Lodges will not act in any other way , so long as she sets them an example , which is so much at variance with true Masonic principle , and too often such
- as to cause the utmost repmgnance in eveiy honest mind . I have exceeded the limits whicli I intended , and must defer some remarks upon the application of the "Masonic Fund of Benevolence " to a Joint Stock Masonic Building Association , & c . & c . to a future occasion . Yours fraternally , FELLOW-CRAFT .
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND REVIEW . Edinburgh , Sept . 6 , 1852 . SIR AND BROTHER , — I AM happy to inform you , that there is a growing desire manifested by those of the Brethren , who are truly imbued with the principles of the Craftto raise it to the hih position it once
occu-, g pied in Scotland ; at the same time , I am sorry to have to confess that many are still initiated who consider the societ y in no other light than a social one , and , as they form the largest " class , it will require time to eradicate this idea ; but I would fain hope that the perseverance and zeal of those , who wish well to the Order , may cause them to change their minds sooner than is anticipated . The Grand Lodge of Scotland , as at present constituted , is a great
hinderance to anything like advancement in Masonry , for , according to the present law , auy Brother , who has been advanced to the degree of a Master Mason , the moment after he has been registered in the Grand Lodge books , is eligible to become either a proxy Master or
Warden , and until such time as a law is passed , permitting none to be admitted unless he be a Past Blaster , or has served as the Warden of a regular warranted Lodge , or even been five or more years a Master Mason , and given proofs of his qualifications , Masonry in Scotland will remain as it is . It may be asked of any intelligent Brother , whether a person , six weeks after he has heen ' eutered , can be competent either to open or to close a Lodge , or to be a judge of important matters connected with the business of the Craft . Every
one , who knows anything of Masonry , will at once reply that it requires both time and study to become competent to undertake and perform such duties properly . The imperfect way , in which the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry In Scotland.
save themselves the trouble , as it will be just as ineffectual as the a ] J > plication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ' has been to the P . G . il . to stop their clandestine meetings . The Grand Lodge has surely much to do in regulating and improving its own conduct before it interferes with the " doings " of other Lodges ; it sees clearl y "the mote" which is in other eyes , but—very naturally—it forgets " to take the beam out of its own . "
The advice which it sometimes gives is very good , but , when that is the case , it would be of advantage to itself to keep it , and act up to it , and show to the Craft that it understands the principles which it professes to wish to inculcate , instead of acting with " delusion , cant , and hypocrisy ; " since the Grand Lodge may rest assured that the Lodges will not act in any other way , so long as she sets them an example , which is so much at variance with true Masonic principle , and too often such
- as to cause the utmost repmgnance in eveiy honest mind . I have exceeded the limits whicli I intended , and must defer some remarks upon the application of the "Masonic Fund of Benevolence " to a Joint Stock Masonic Building Association , & c . & c . to a future occasion . Yours fraternally , FELLOW-CRAFT .
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND REVIEW . Edinburgh , Sept . 6 , 1852 . SIR AND BROTHER , — I AM happy to inform you , that there is a growing desire manifested by those of the Brethren , who are truly imbued with the principles of the Craftto raise it to the hih position it once
occu-, g pied in Scotland ; at the same time , I am sorry to have to confess that many are still initiated who consider the societ y in no other light than a social one , and , as they form the largest " class , it will require time to eradicate this idea ; but I would fain hope that the perseverance and zeal of those , who wish well to the Order , may cause them to change their minds sooner than is anticipated . The Grand Lodge of Scotland , as at present constituted , is a great
hinderance to anything like advancement in Masonry , for , according to the present law , auy Brother , who has been advanced to the degree of a Master Mason , the moment after he has been registered in the Grand Lodge books , is eligible to become either a proxy Master or
Warden , and until such time as a law is passed , permitting none to be admitted unless he be a Past Blaster , or has served as the Warden of a regular warranted Lodge , or even been five or more years a Master Mason , and given proofs of his qualifications , Masonry in Scotland will remain as it is . It may be asked of any intelligent Brother , whether a person , six weeks after he has heen ' eutered , can be competent either to open or to close a Lodge , or to be a judge of important matters connected with the business of the Craft . Every
one , who knows anything of Masonry , will at once reply that it requires both time and study to become competent to undertake and perform such duties properly . The imperfect way , in which the