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Article THE BOOK OF THE LODGE.* ← Page 7 of 7
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The Book Of The Lodge.*
When Doctors in Divinity sit quietly down to write Hand Books , it is perfectly clear that their object is utility and not fame . In fact a literary reputation would rather be lowered than advanced by such a course ; currents rota , cur ttrceus exit . The author of the " Book of tbe Lodge " has therefore a double claim on the gratitude of the fraternity for devoting his time to a subject of such extensive usefulness , in which their benefit has alone been consulted . The author has not
touched on the ordinary lodge lectures , for obvious reasons ; and although some will perhaps feel disappointed at what they may conceive to be an omission , the judicious brother will see that it was utterly impossible for the historian of Masonry to sacrifice his well-earned reputation , by treading in the footsteps of Finch , Carlile , and other empirics , who have
foisted on the public , fictions rituals , and unauthorised ceremonies , as the genuine lectures of Masonry . The memory of these men is unhonoured , and their very names stink in the nostrils of the fraternity . If our venerable author had copied their example , it would have been a woful falling off , and grievous to all his friends and admirers . He would have placed himself in a worse situation than " the dog which returns to his vomit again , or the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire . " As Aristotle told Alexander the Greatthat there is no royal
, road to the sciences—which can only be attained by close study and sedulous application ;—so we tell every anxious brother that there is no short cut to the lectures of Masonry , and he who would acquire them must attend his lodge regularly , and learn them from oral communication .
The "Book of the Lodge" is exceedingly well executed , and the explanations go quite as far as are consistent with the author ' s solemn obligations . It behoves every Master and Warden of a lodge , at the least , who wishes to attain a perfect acquaintance with the ordinary ceremonies of the Order , to avail himself of the assistance of this little manual ; and we predict that there are few brethren of the craft whose previous knowledge will not be augmented by its perusal . There is throughout the "Book of the Lodge" the freshness that pervades all Dr . Oliver ' s works ; with him the experience of age fastens or cements itself with the past as if it were the present , and , but that
time will reckon with memory , the masonic tyro would scarcely know that our historian had reached the full tide—so vigorous , so powerful , and so ardent are his writings . What a blessing for himself and for his readers ! How he must rejoice in the conviction that he has created , embellished , and sustained our Order , ancl that , in the womb of time , there will be nascent intelligences owing their developement to his wondrous conception of thoughtful enquiry into the pure system of Freemasonry .
We learn that a crowning labour has been commenced by the masonic historian , " the Symbol of Glory , " a prospectus of which is in type . The work is intended to form the cape stone of Dr . Oliver ' s inestimable publications .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Book Of The Lodge.*
When Doctors in Divinity sit quietly down to write Hand Books , it is perfectly clear that their object is utility and not fame . In fact a literary reputation would rather be lowered than advanced by such a course ; currents rota , cur ttrceus exit . The author of the " Book of tbe Lodge " has therefore a double claim on the gratitude of the fraternity for devoting his time to a subject of such extensive usefulness , in which their benefit has alone been consulted . The author has not
touched on the ordinary lodge lectures , for obvious reasons ; and although some will perhaps feel disappointed at what they may conceive to be an omission , the judicious brother will see that it was utterly impossible for the historian of Masonry to sacrifice his well-earned reputation , by treading in the footsteps of Finch , Carlile , and other empirics , who have
foisted on the public , fictions rituals , and unauthorised ceremonies , as the genuine lectures of Masonry . The memory of these men is unhonoured , and their very names stink in the nostrils of the fraternity . If our venerable author had copied their example , it would have been a woful falling off , and grievous to all his friends and admirers . He would have placed himself in a worse situation than " the dog which returns to his vomit again , or the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire . " As Aristotle told Alexander the Greatthat there is no royal
, road to the sciences—which can only be attained by close study and sedulous application ;—so we tell every anxious brother that there is no short cut to the lectures of Masonry , and he who would acquire them must attend his lodge regularly , and learn them from oral communication .
The "Book of the Lodge" is exceedingly well executed , and the explanations go quite as far as are consistent with the author ' s solemn obligations . It behoves every Master and Warden of a lodge , at the least , who wishes to attain a perfect acquaintance with the ordinary ceremonies of the Order , to avail himself of the assistance of this little manual ; and we predict that there are few brethren of the craft whose previous knowledge will not be augmented by its perusal . There is throughout the "Book of the Lodge" the freshness that pervades all Dr . Oliver ' s works ; with him the experience of age fastens or cements itself with the past as if it were the present , and , but that
time will reckon with memory , the masonic tyro would scarcely know that our historian had reached the full tide—so vigorous , so powerful , and so ardent are his writings . What a blessing for himself and for his readers ! How he must rejoice in the conviction that he has created , embellished , and sustained our Order , ancl that , in the womb of time , there will be nascent intelligences owing their developement to his wondrous conception of thoughtful enquiry into the pure system of Freemasonry .
We learn that a crowning labour has been commenced by the masonic historian , " the Symbol of Glory , " a prospectus of which is in type . The work is intended to form the cape stone of Dr . Oliver ' s inestimable publications .