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Article STATE OF MASONRY IN IRELAND. ← Page 3 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
State Of Masonry In Ireland.
of Ireland were to do its duty , is this an abuse which ought to be , for a moment , tolerated ? One object of the parties interested in all cases of this kind is , through one agency or another , to multiply the numbers of Lodge members , in order that an extra consumption of liquors may be secured , and hence no nice scrupulosity is encouraged in reference to tbe characters or qualifications of candidates for admission to the exalted mysteries of our system . The natural consequence is that low characters are introduced—men who are utterly unfit for the hih privilege of
, g initiation ; the sober part of the community become justly alarmed , and stand aloof from an institution , which , however intrinsically excellent , they see administered by men with whom on moial grounds they cannot freely associate , much less enter into fraternal companionship ; and hence Masonry itself necessarily falls into general disrepute . There is no use in disguising the fact , that , for many years past , this has been the p . ctual condition of Masonry in Irelandwith the exception of a few relativel
, y favoured localities , in which the spirit of the Order as well as its appropriate discipline has been happily maintained . A movement , however , in the direction of a salutary reform has been , in some quarters , begun ; and though it has heen obstructed by the vicious , and inadequately sustained by many of the really good , yet is it steadily progressing in a riianner which cheeringly demonstrates the self-adjusting character of cur admirable institute , even in opposition to internal as well as to
external . agencies of disturbance . It is possible that , in some rural localities , Lodge accommodation could not be had except in one of the public houses of a district , but instances of this kind must be comparatively rare , and can , at most , claim only a
place in the limited category of exceptions from a general rule , which exceptions ought to be allowed exclusively in cases of necessity , or cf proved expediency , and in no other . The general proscription of public houses ; as places for holding Lodges , is a matter of vital , and , we advisedly add , of indispensable importance to the good of Masonry in Ireland , —and a single brotherly intimation on the part of the Grand Lodge would , in a majority of instances , have all the effect desired . It is the absolute duty of the Grand Lodto move in this affairunless its
ge , members will have Masonry to fall into utter contempt . Beer shops and cohimon : taverns " where drinkers drink and swearers swear , " to use the language of Burns , have , at no period of our social history , been very reputable places of habitual assemblage ; but they are incomparably less so at the present day than they have ever before been , in consequence ofthe teetotal and temperance organizations , which have , in this respect , given to public opinion at large an incalculably stronger tone than ever .
and have rendered it utterl y impossible that the abusive system which has'hitherto existed can be much longer tolerated . Will it be believed in England that in many of the tavern Lodges , to which reference is made , the whole three degrees of Masonry are often conferred upon a single individual in the course of one night ? Nay , more , we haveheard of a well-authenticated instance , in which , after this most irregular procedure—we had almost called it a profane desecration of our solemn
mysteries , —the whole was terminated in a drunkeri FORGETFUL . VESS of the necessity of BINDING OVER TO SECRECY the candidate who had been so unwarrantably introduced . 'I Of this fact , however , no rational doubt can'be entertained ,- . that in the vast majority of the Lodges in question the most anomalous irregularities are in continuous existence ' , while it is certain '[ that , ' without their speedy and effective removal , ' ' -Masonry in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
State Of Masonry In Ireland.
of Ireland were to do its duty , is this an abuse which ought to be , for a moment , tolerated ? One object of the parties interested in all cases of this kind is , through one agency or another , to multiply the numbers of Lodge members , in order that an extra consumption of liquors may be secured , and hence no nice scrupulosity is encouraged in reference to tbe characters or qualifications of candidates for admission to the exalted mysteries of our system . The natural consequence is that low characters are introduced—men who are utterly unfit for the hih privilege of
, g initiation ; the sober part of the community become justly alarmed , and stand aloof from an institution , which , however intrinsically excellent , they see administered by men with whom on moial grounds they cannot freely associate , much less enter into fraternal companionship ; and hence Masonry itself necessarily falls into general disrepute . There is no use in disguising the fact , that , for many years past , this has been the p . ctual condition of Masonry in Irelandwith the exception of a few relativel
, y favoured localities , in which the spirit of the Order as well as its appropriate discipline has been happily maintained . A movement , however , in the direction of a salutary reform has been , in some quarters , begun ; and though it has heen obstructed by the vicious , and inadequately sustained by many of the really good , yet is it steadily progressing in a riianner which cheeringly demonstrates the self-adjusting character of cur admirable institute , even in opposition to internal as well as to
external . agencies of disturbance . It is possible that , in some rural localities , Lodge accommodation could not be had except in one of the public houses of a district , but instances of this kind must be comparatively rare , and can , at most , claim only a
place in the limited category of exceptions from a general rule , which exceptions ought to be allowed exclusively in cases of necessity , or cf proved expediency , and in no other . The general proscription of public houses ; as places for holding Lodges , is a matter of vital , and , we advisedly add , of indispensable importance to the good of Masonry in Ireland , —and a single brotherly intimation on the part of the Grand Lodge would , in a majority of instances , have all the effect desired . It is the absolute duty of the Grand Lodto move in this affairunless its
ge , members will have Masonry to fall into utter contempt . Beer shops and cohimon : taverns " where drinkers drink and swearers swear , " to use the language of Burns , have , at no period of our social history , been very reputable places of habitual assemblage ; but they are incomparably less so at the present day than they have ever before been , in consequence ofthe teetotal and temperance organizations , which have , in this respect , given to public opinion at large an incalculably stronger tone than ever .
and have rendered it utterl y impossible that the abusive system which has'hitherto existed can be much longer tolerated . Will it be believed in England that in many of the tavern Lodges , to which reference is made , the whole three degrees of Masonry are often conferred upon a single individual in the course of one night ? Nay , more , we haveheard of a well-authenticated instance , in which , after this most irregular procedure—we had almost called it a profane desecration of our solemn
mysteries , —the whole was terminated in a drunkeri FORGETFUL . VESS of the necessity of BINDING OVER TO SECRECY the candidate who had been so unwarrantably introduced . 'I Of this fact , however , no rational doubt can'be entertained ,- . that in the vast majority of the Lodges in question the most anomalous irregularities are in continuous existence ' , while it is certain '[ that , ' without their speedy and effective removal , ' ' -Masonry in