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Article MASONIC ARISTOCRACY. ← Page 3 of 5 →
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Masonic Aristocracy.
gentlemen ' s Lodges ( incomparably the worst for Masonic working which can be found , ) ancl turn up their aristocratic noses should a tradesman , however respectable , talented or worthy , be proposed to join or even to banquet with them . It is surprising how these " gentlemen" ( a word by the way which it might puzzle the best of them exactly to define ) can deliver our lectures without their consciences making them feel very uncomfortable ; perhaps the solution is that of cerem ony ; of lecture
and indeed of Masonry in general they are profoundly ignorant . It has not unfrequently happened that the gentleman ' s Lodge has incurred a deep debt of gratitude to the members of the Masonic Lodge in the same town , for the assistance rendered by them in working the business of Masonry ; a debt sometimes paid , but generally with very great ill-will and envy . Now to proceed to facts without names—for though those to whom we allude have but little true Masonry in their
hearts , still they are Brothers , and though their practices be bad , we will strive to touch their feeling , not brand their names . In a town in England , where owing to circumstances there wero many different grades of society , there existed two Lodges ; the one consisting of officers in the army and navy , and professional men , therefore the gentleman ' s Lodge ; the other numbering among its members some of the most respectable tradesmenand not a few gentlemenwho would
, , not lend themselves to the exclusive principles of the former society . Into the first Lodge no one coulcl possibly be admitted who was not in one or other of the above-mentioned categories , from the other none was excluded except on personal or moral grounds . To the aristocratic Lodge was attached a Royal Arch Chapter , which consisting only of
members of the Loclge , was governed after the same fashion . It so happened , that no other Chapter existed in the county , except at a very inconvenient distance , and some of the P . Ms . of what wiis most unmasonically called , by the bon Ion , the Snob ' s Lodge , applied to be exalted in the Chapter held in their own town . This really seemed reasonable , and was duly taken into consideration . Before the result is stated , let the facts be well weighed . Here is a Masonic Loclge , with a
Chapter attached , there being none other in that part of a large and extensive county , Past Masters , old ancl zealous Masons , who hacl , over and over again , attended that Lodge , assisted in its ivorking , instructed candidates , nay , often even the Master himself , but who belonged to another Loclge in the same town , apply for exaltation . They are worthy , honourable , and respectable men ; they are zealous , industrious , able Masons ; they have ruled in the Craft , ancl given all aid in tlieir power ,
frequently at great inconvenience , to help their sister Loclge . They are proposed ; their application is considered ; and—is it credible?—rejected ! Wh y ? AVas there any objection to them , as men ? None . Had scandal ever whispered a disparaging word of them ? Never . Were they ignorant , negligent , or irregular Masons ? Certainly not . AVhat were they , then , that they should be treated thus by those who were bound to be as Brothers to them ? They were tradesmenand
, could not , therefore , be exalted in a Chapter attached to a gentlemen ' s Loclge ! AVho that has one iota remaining in his memory of what he was taught at his initiation , can read this without a shudder ? and yet , it is too true . These tradesmen , however , bestirred themselves , and Grand Chapter has granted them a warrant—fellvfaitstumque sit ; and may father Paul ' s wish be applicable to the young Convocation of R . A . Masons . Esto perpetna !
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Aristocracy.
gentlemen ' s Lodges ( incomparably the worst for Masonic working which can be found , ) ancl turn up their aristocratic noses should a tradesman , however respectable , talented or worthy , be proposed to join or even to banquet with them . It is surprising how these " gentlemen" ( a word by the way which it might puzzle the best of them exactly to define ) can deliver our lectures without their consciences making them feel very uncomfortable ; perhaps the solution is that of cerem ony ; of lecture
and indeed of Masonry in general they are profoundly ignorant . It has not unfrequently happened that the gentleman ' s Lodge has incurred a deep debt of gratitude to the members of the Masonic Lodge in the same town , for the assistance rendered by them in working the business of Masonry ; a debt sometimes paid , but generally with very great ill-will and envy . Now to proceed to facts without names—for though those to whom we allude have but little true Masonry in their
hearts , still they are Brothers , and though their practices be bad , we will strive to touch their feeling , not brand their names . In a town in England , where owing to circumstances there wero many different grades of society , there existed two Lodges ; the one consisting of officers in the army and navy , and professional men , therefore the gentleman ' s Lodge ; the other numbering among its members some of the most respectable tradesmenand not a few gentlemenwho would
, , not lend themselves to the exclusive principles of the former society . Into the first Lodge no one coulcl possibly be admitted who was not in one or other of the above-mentioned categories , from the other none was excluded except on personal or moral grounds . To the aristocratic Lodge was attached a Royal Arch Chapter , which consisting only of
members of the Loclge , was governed after the same fashion . It so happened , that no other Chapter existed in the county , except at a very inconvenient distance , and some of the P . Ms . of what wiis most unmasonically called , by the bon Ion , the Snob ' s Lodge , applied to be exalted in the Chapter held in their own town . This really seemed reasonable , and was duly taken into consideration . Before the result is stated , let the facts be well weighed . Here is a Masonic Loclge , with a
Chapter attached , there being none other in that part of a large and extensive county , Past Masters , old ancl zealous Masons , who hacl , over and over again , attended that Lodge , assisted in its ivorking , instructed candidates , nay , often even the Master himself , but who belonged to another Loclge in the same town , apply for exaltation . They are worthy , honourable , and respectable men ; they are zealous , industrious , able Masons ; they have ruled in the Craft , ancl given all aid in tlieir power ,
frequently at great inconvenience , to help their sister Loclge . They are proposed ; their application is considered ; and—is it credible?—rejected ! Wh y ? AVas there any objection to them , as men ? None . Had scandal ever whispered a disparaging word of them ? Never . Were they ignorant , negligent , or irregular Masons ? Certainly not . AVhat were they , then , that they should be treated thus by those who were bound to be as Brothers to them ? They were tradesmenand
, could not , therefore , be exalted in a Chapter attached to a gentlemen ' s Loclge ! AVho that has one iota remaining in his memory of what he was taught at his initiation , can read this without a shudder ? and yet , it is too true . These tradesmen , however , bestirred themselves , and Grand Chapter has granted them a warrant—fellvfaitstumque sit ; and may father Paul ' s wish be applicable to the young Convocation of R . A . Masons . Esto perpetna !