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Article MASONIC ARISTOCRACY. ← Page 2 of 5 →
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Masonic Aristocracy.
ought to meet upon the square—that is , on entering a Lodge ; but it must not be forgotten that we also should part upon the level—that is , on retiring from the Lodge . The social rank we had deposed on passing within the door is to be resumed , and even by Masons acknowledged and respected . Masonry indeed levels within its pale all worldly rank ancl honours , recognising those distinctions only which itself confers on worthy Brothers of the Craft ; but to promote perfect equality ,
Masonry strives to raise the inferior , not to degrade the superior . Many instances might be adduced in which the equalizing tendency of the Order has promoted , not disturbed the peace ancl well-being of society ; has made men respect one another , who but for this tendency would never have met , except at a time and in places where the difference of their worldly positions would have been a bar to their ever really becoming acquainted . What is it that divides mankindwhat is it that foments
, ill-will , breeds disturbances , and too often causes crime ? To one cause may nearly all these evils be attributed ; not to mere difference of opinion , not to mere distinctions of rank—for Masonry itself acknowledges and teaches that in every society of men some must of necessity rule ancl others obey—but to the ignorance which exists in one class respecting the other . Political and polemical war often is the result of parties attributing to their opponents opinions which the latter never
held ; and no positive insults have ever produced half tbe social evil that has arisen from misunderstandings between men . The low in the scale of society attribute to the great many feelings and many opinions ivhich are merely the creation of their own imagination . The great , in like manner , view the conduct , the actions of the humble , mostly
through a distorted or false medium . The poor look too frequently on wealth as the certain companion of pride ancl oppression , and the rich too frequently associate poverty with the commission of every species of crime and wickedness . All this arises from these respective classes being as ignorant of the real feelings and motives for action of one another , as if they were not the children of a common country , the subjects of one sovereign . AAlien they meet in the ivorld , it is not in a
manner to enable them to understand one another , but when they meet in Masonry , all external differences of position are merged in the holy fraternity ivhich then alone binds them together . Alas ! that it should occur to Masons so to have acted as to prevent a portion of our Craft from carrying out this sound principle ! Strictly men who coulcl do any act which directly or indirectly tends to introduce into the fane of Masonry those ranks and distinctions which are admitted into society ,
cannot be considered worthy of the name they so disgrace . Social position , wealth , rank , dignity or power—language , country , religious belief or political principles — all are forgotten when men meet as Masons . Not that they are abandoned , but that to them no allusion is to be made . Once the badge of our Order laid aside , all these are reassumed , and the Mason becomes what he was before . Will it be denied that his temporary forbearance has made him a more temperate
or a better man ? AVould however that this were universally true ; but some there are so wedded to die paltry rank they hold in the ivorld , that rather than lose it for a moment , even within the sacred precincts of a Loclge , they erect themselves into a self-constituted superior order of Masons , and cautiousl y exclude all who cannot boast an equal position with themselves in society . These worthies , form what they are pleased to call
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Aristocracy.
ought to meet upon the square—that is , on entering a Lodge ; but it must not be forgotten that we also should part upon the level—that is , on retiring from the Lodge . The social rank we had deposed on passing within the door is to be resumed , and even by Masons acknowledged and respected . Masonry indeed levels within its pale all worldly rank ancl honours , recognising those distinctions only which itself confers on worthy Brothers of the Craft ; but to promote perfect equality ,
Masonry strives to raise the inferior , not to degrade the superior . Many instances might be adduced in which the equalizing tendency of the Order has promoted , not disturbed the peace ancl well-being of society ; has made men respect one another , who but for this tendency would never have met , except at a time and in places where the difference of their worldly positions would have been a bar to their ever really becoming acquainted . What is it that divides mankindwhat is it that foments
, ill-will , breeds disturbances , and too often causes crime ? To one cause may nearly all these evils be attributed ; not to mere difference of opinion , not to mere distinctions of rank—for Masonry itself acknowledges and teaches that in every society of men some must of necessity rule ancl others obey—but to the ignorance which exists in one class respecting the other . Political and polemical war often is the result of parties attributing to their opponents opinions which the latter never
held ; and no positive insults have ever produced half tbe social evil that has arisen from misunderstandings between men . The low in the scale of society attribute to the great many feelings and many opinions ivhich are merely the creation of their own imagination . The great , in like manner , view the conduct , the actions of the humble , mostly
through a distorted or false medium . The poor look too frequently on wealth as the certain companion of pride ancl oppression , and the rich too frequently associate poverty with the commission of every species of crime and wickedness . All this arises from these respective classes being as ignorant of the real feelings and motives for action of one another , as if they were not the children of a common country , the subjects of one sovereign . AAlien they meet in the ivorld , it is not in a
manner to enable them to understand one another , but when they meet in Masonry , all external differences of position are merged in the holy fraternity ivhich then alone binds them together . Alas ! that it should occur to Masons so to have acted as to prevent a portion of our Craft from carrying out this sound principle ! Strictly men who coulcl do any act which directly or indirectly tends to introduce into the fane of Masonry those ranks and distinctions which are admitted into society ,
cannot be considered worthy of the name they so disgrace . Social position , wealth , rank , dignity or power—language , country , religious belief or political principles — all are forgotten when men meet as Masons . Not that they are abandoned , but that to them no allusion is to be made . Once the badge of our Order laid aside , all these are reassumed , and the Mason becomes what he was before . Will it be denied that his temporary forbearance has made him a more temperate
or a better man ? AVould however that this were universally true ; but some there are so wedded to die paltry rank they hold in the ivorld , that rather than lose it for a moment , even within the sacred precincts of a Loclge , they erect themselves into a self-constituted superior order of Masons , and cautiousl y exclude all who cannot boast an equal position with themselves in society . These worthies , form what they are pleased to call