-
Articles/Ads
Article MASONIC ARISTOCRACY. ← Page 4 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Aristocracy.
Not a few ridiculous distinctions have been the result of these unmasonic divisions of society . Once upon a time , to begin as fairy tales are wont to open , and would that our narratives were purely fictions as they are—once upon a time , in a certain Provincial Loclge , notorious , as well for its incorrect working as for the incorrigible obstinacy of its worthy board of rulers , there was a by-law to the effect that none but professional men and gentlemen were to be admitted within its portals , leading
to the abode of dense stupidity . The latter term seemed clear , enough ; a gentleman , according to their ideas , being much the same as a vagrant is in the eyes of a magistrate , namely , a man who " has no ostensible means of gaining his livelihood ; " but , in the instance presently to be told , the interpretation of the former expression admitted of doubt . A most agreeable , clever , ancl estimable man , was desirous of being initiated into Masonry , and a near relation of his offered to propose him , offer ladl
an gy accepted , as he was on intimate terms with several members of the Lodge . One of the Past Masters of the Lodge was applied to , ancl asked to second the nomination , when he gravely saicl it would be advisable first to consult some of the seniors ; and what thinks the reader was the result of this consultation ? AVhy , that in the teeth of common sense , they literally decided that a dentist was not a professional manwithin the meaning of their b-lawand thus this really
honour-, ye ; able , amiable , and excellent man was refused admission , and , to this day , is numbered among " the profane world , who are not Masons . " Another case , and then to our conclusion . A Lodge of great antiquity had , somehow or other , ceased to work , ancl the warrant , though it hacl never been forfeited , still , as far as Masonic working went , had become a
nonentity . A few active Masons resolved to rescue this ancient Lodge from its dormant state , and to make it , to use a forcible expression , " a great fact . " It may easily be supposed that this was not to be done without considerable labour ; it was to be entirely a gentlemen ' s Lodge , ( heaven knows , by the by , what induced one of its members to join in this notable scheme , ) not a soul or body , savouring , as the lawyers say , of trade , was to be , on any account , permitted to join it . AVell , all started prosafter the first stone laid
perously , was , several of the privileged order joined , and being mostly Masters , were appointed to fill various offices . Some also who were of inferior grades , were duly admitted to higher rank , ancl received appointments . All this promised success , but so it did not befall , for first one dropped off , then another , very few ever attending their duties in the Lodge ; and at last the whole structure of aristocracy vanishedleaving the architects to contemplateat their leisurethe foun
, , , - dation stone . One of the poor builders , who viewed this failure as a just judgment , took the chair , and , kindly assisted by a Lodge , not formed on such unmasonic principles , once more endeavoured to raise the building . The new Master , having no counteracting force to resist , may possibly erect the structure ; ancl it is to be hoped it may be as honourable to those who have aided him as it will be valuable to the Craft , by remaining a permanent evidence of the foll £ combining two such
y o heterogeneous elements as Masonry and aristocracy in a Lodge . Very true all this—may some supporter of the system exclaim—but though at our social banquet we wish to have none but gentlemen , yet vou knoiv that all Masons , whatever they may be else , can visit the ' Loclge . —Indeed ! how extremely liberal to allow this privilege , a refusal to suffer which in any Loclge would be followed by the loss of its warrant of constitution . But the Masonic banquet is an integral part , ancl a most
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Aristocracy.
Not a few ridiculous distinctions have been the result of these unmasonic divisions of society . Once upon a time , to begin as fairy tales are wont to open , and would that our narratives were purely fictions as they are—once upon a time , in a certain Provincial Loclge , notorious , as well for its incorrect working as for the incorrigible obstinacy of its worthy board of rulers , there was a by-law to the effect that none but professional men and gentlemen were to be admitted within its portals , leading
to the abode of dense stupidity . The latter term seemed clear , enough ; a gentleman , according to their ideas , being much the same as a vagrant is in the eyes of a magistrate , namely , a man who " has no ostensible means of gaining his livelihood ; " but , in the instance presently to be told , the interpretation of the former expression admitted of doubt . A most agreeable , clever , ancl estimable man , was desirous of being initiated into Masonry , and a near relation of his offered to propose him , offer ladl
an gy accepted , as he was on intimate terms with several members of the Lodge . One of the Past Masters of the Lodge was applied to , ancl asked to second the nomination , when he gravely saicl it would be advisable first to consult some of the seniors ; and what thinks the reader was the result of this consultation ? AVhy , that in the teeth of common sense , they literally decided that a dentist was not a professional manwithin the meaning of their b-lawand thus this really
honour-, ye ; able , amiable , and excellent man was refused admission , and , to this day , is numbered among " the profane world , who are not Masons . " Another case , and then to our conclusion . A Lodge of great antiquity had , somehow or other , ceased to work , ancl the warrant , though it hacl never been forfeited , still , as far as Masonic working went , had become a
nonentity . A few active Masons resolved to rescue this ancient Lodge from its dormant state , and to make it , to use a forcible expression , " a great fact . " It may easily be supposed that this was not to be done without considerable labour ; it was to be entirely a gentlemen ' s Lodge , ( heaven knows , by the by , what induced one of its members to join in this notable scheme , ) not a soul or body , savouring , as the lawyers say , of trade , was to be , on any account , permitted to join it . AVell , all started prosafter the first stone laid
perously , was , several of the privileged order joined , and being mostly Masters , were appointed to fill various offices . Some also who were of inferior grades , were duly admitted to higher rank , ancl received appointments . All this promised success , but so it did not befall , for first one dropped off , then another , very few ever attending their duties in the Lodge ; and at last the whole structure of aristocracy vanishedleaving the architects to contemplateat their leisurethe foun
, , , - dation stone . One of the poor builders , who viewed this failure as a just judgment , took the chair , and , kindly assisted by a Lodge , not formed on such unmasonic principles , once more endeavoured to raise the building . The new Master , having no counteracting force to resist , may possibly erect the structure ; ancl it is to be hoped it may be as honourable to those who have aided him as it will be valuable to the Craft , by remaining a permanent evidence of the foll £ combining two such
y o heterogeneous elements as Masonry and aristocracy in a Lodge . Very true all this—may some supporter of the system exclaim—but though at our social banquet we wish to have none but gentlemen , yet vou knoiv that all Masons , whatever they may be else , can visit the ' Loclge . —Indeed ! how extremely liberal to allow this privilege , a refusal to suffer which in any Loclge would be followed by the loss of its warrant of constitution . But the Masonic banquet is an integral part , ancl a most