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Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
tion is at once intimated to one of the office-bearers ; a meeting is called to suit the candidate ' s convenience , the convenience of the Lodge never for one moment being taken into consideration . He pays his money to the Treasurer , or he may take credit , and pay for the honours when it suits his pocket , credit not being difficult to obtain . Well , the Lodge is opened in the first degree , or at least it is supposed to be so constituted , and he is made a Mason ; he then obtains the second degreeafter which
, the fun grows fast and furious—he is made a Master—all in the same Lodge , in the short space of an hour , or an hour and a half ; he is now initiated into the mysteries of refreshment , and more pains is often taken in communicating the lessons of this degree , by some called that of knife and fork , than in any of the former ; so much so , that it produces a lasting impression on his mind , and it has often been the case that the newly-manufactured M . M . never again entered a Lodge .
But we will suppose that he has been pleased with the fun , and that at the next meeting he has been appointed Junior Steward , i . e . I . G ., or perhaps made a Warden—I will not add elected to the office of W . M , although there is not a single word in the Grand Lotlge laws to prevent him being chosen to fill the chair . Now we must open the Lodge thus officered ; and how is this done ? Generally by the assistance of a Brother whose traditions are the rule and practice of the Lodge ; one who
never missed a meeting , and who- may be with propriety called an immoveable jewel ; he will do all the duty of the officers , from the first case to the last ; and as none of the officers can enter , or pass , or raise , this Brother will undertake to do so , as he is quite an fait at the job . It is not to be wondered at that Lodges so conducted do not produce better Craftsmen ; the wonder is , that there are so many Lodges working ,
or continuing to hold meetings , and that Brethren so instructed should be expected to know anything of , or belonging to , Freemasonry . There is no trouble taken to enquire into the characters of Members proposed to be made Masons ; in many cases , instead of " the tongue of good report being heard in their favour , " if this were at all necessary , the report would have to be changed . Again , if it were customary to ask the candidate whether " he was prompted to solicit admission from a favourable inion preconceived of the Societyand unbiassed by the
op , improper solicitations of friends , " he would at once say that he thought the Society good , but that he was pestered to join it by Masons of his acquaintance ; but , that he may get information , instructors are appointed by him , under the sanction of the Lodge : their duty is to inform him , and render . him perfect on the duties he has engaged to perform , ami the ceremonies of the Order . Here it is truly " the blind leading the blind . " This duty of instructing is not very often performed ; it is put
off generally from time to time , and so left undone ; very often the instructor is more ignorant than the newly-made Mason ( if he be sharp at the uptake ); and that is one reason why the lessons never are given . Our friend is elected an officer—1 say a Steward or Deacon ; how does he get on in his new situation ? Why , he blunders through it during the twelvemonth , assisted by the officious kindness of an equally intelligent prompter ; butas he has attended the meetingsand has exhibited
, , anxiety that the Lodge should prosper , why , at the next election he is made W . M ., assisted by our friend , the immoveable jewel , -he conducts the Lodge as his predecessor has done before him , and , when his period of office has expired , he is , to all intents , the Past Master of a Lodge , and entitled to all the honours pertaining thereto . The education of the Brother may be said to have finished as it began . He was intro-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
tion is at once intimated to one of the office-bearers ; a meeting is called to suit the candidate ' s convenience , the convenience of the Lodge never for one moment being taken into consideration . He pays his money to the Treasurer , or he may take credit , and pay for the honours when it suits his pocket , credit not being difficult to obtain . Well , the Lodge is opened in the first degree , or at least it is supposed to be so constituted , and he is made a Mason ; he then obtains the second degreeafter which
, the fun grows fast and furious—he is made a Master—all in the same Lodge , in the short space of an hour , or an hour and a half ; he is now initiated into the mysteries of refreshment , and more pains is often taken in communicating the lessons of this degree , by some called that of knife and fork , than in any of the former ; so much so , that it produces a lasting impression on his mind , and it has often been the case that the newly-manufactured M . M . never again entered a Lodge .
But we will suppose that he has been pleased with the fun , and that at the next meeting he has been appointed Junior Steward , i . e . I . G ., or perhaps made a Warden—I will not add elected to the office of W . M , although there is not a single word in the Grand Lotlge laws to prevent him being chosen to fill the chair . Now we must open the Lodge thus officered ; and how is this done ? Generally by the assistance of a Brother whose traditions are the rule and practice of the Lodge ; one who
never missed a meeting , and who- may be with propriety called an immoveable jewel ; he will do all the duty of the officers , from the first case to the last ; and as none of the officers can enter , or pass , or raise , this Brother will undertake to do so , as he is quite an fait at the job . It is not to be wondered at that Lodges so conducted do not produce better Craftsmen ; the wonder is , that there are so many Lodges working ,
or continuing to hold meetings , and that Brethren so instructed should be expected to know anything of , or belonging to , Freemasonry . There is no trouble taken to enquire into the characters of Members proposed to be made Masons ; in many cases , instead of " the tongue of good report being heard in their favour , " if this were at all necessary , the report would have to be changed . Again , if it were customary to ask the candidate whether " he was prompted to solicit admission from a favourable inion preconceived of the Societyand unbiassed by the
op , improper solicitations of friends , " he would at once say that he thought the Society good , but that he was pestered to join it by Masons of his acquaintance ; but , that he may get information , instructors are appointed by him , under the sanction of the Lodge : their duty is to inform him , and render . him perfect on the duties he has engaged to perform , ami the ceremonies of the Order . Here it is truly " the blind leading the blind . " This duty of instructing is not very often performed ; it is put
off generally from time to time , and so left undone ; very often the instructor is more ignorant than the newly-made Mason ( if he be sharp at the uptake ); and that is one reason why the lessons never are given . Our friend is elected an officer—1 say a Steward or Deacon ; how does he get on in his new situation ? Why , he blunders through it during the twelvemonth , assisted by the officious kindness of an equally intelligent prompter ; butas he has attended the meetingsand has exhibited
, , anxiety that the Lodge should prosper , why , at the next election he is made W . M ., assisted by our friend , the immoveable jewel , -he conducts the Lodge as his predecessor has done before him , and , when his period of office has expired , he is , to all intents , the Past Master of a Lodge , and entitled to all the honours pertaining thereto . The education of the Brother may be said to have finished as it began . He was intro-