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Article A CENTURY OF FREEMASONRY* ← Page 5 of 15 →
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A Century Of Freemasonry*
Certain propositions which , if adopted , would have been great improvements , as far as the admission of candidates was concerned , are mooted about this time , and they were printed both in 1741 and 1742 . Their position immediately after Ramsay ' s oration caused them to be ascribed to him , whether truly or otherwise is matter of doubtstillas Kloss remarks " these
, , , articles would have been energetical propositions against the crowding of the Lodges with unprofitable and injurious members . " * It is a singular fact , however , that a non-Mason should be the first to call for reform in the Craft ; that a comparatively unprejudiced and disinterested bystander should be the first
to point out the abuses worthy of reformation , is not so singular . Free from the influence of any obligation , he might unhesitatingly come forward with Ms suggestions , and , as he came forward in a kindly spirit , he might expect that he would be met in a straightforward manner . This non-Mason was the Abbe Perauin his hook •• Le Secret des Francmacons" 1742 . t
, , , He even proposes that the signs ancl passwords should be modified , after the exclusion of those unprofitable ancl undesirable persons Avho had been wrongly and unadvisedly admitted into the order . " This great business , " he says , speaking of reformation , " completed , it will be necessary to agree upon neiv signs ; for of what little use Avould it be to add to the old ones ,
Avhen a mistake might be easy . Indeed , Avhy should anything be spared , when the cost is so trifling ?" Perau had the satisfaction , so seldom accorded to mankind , of seeing his suggestion acted upon . On the 30 th of November , 1744 , the Lodge of the Three Globes , at Berlin , sent to the Lodge of Unity , at Frankfort , and to the Hamburg Lodge , proposing such changes . And while such changes are to be regretted , as giving a precedent for introducing the ceremonies of
no immoral or scandalous men , but of good report . "—Anderson ' s Constitutions , 1777 , p . 312 , Charge III . "You may enjoy yourselves with innocent mirth , treating one another according to ability , but avoiding all excess , or forcing any Brother to eat or drink beyond his inclination , or hindering him from going when his occasions call him , or doing or saying anything offensive , or that may forbid an easy and free conversation ; for that would blast our harmony and defeat our laudable purpose . "—Anderson , p . 316 , II . of Behaviour , 2 .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Century Of Freemasonry*
Certain propositions which , if adopted , would have been great improvements , as far as the admission of candidates was concerned , are mooted about this time , and they were printed both in 1741 and 1742 . Their position immediately after Ramsay ' s oration caused them to be ascribed to him , whether truly or otherwise is matter of doubtstillas Kloss remarks " these
, , , articles would have been energetical propositions against the crowding of the Lodges with unprofitable and injurious members . " * It is a singular fact , however , that a non-Mason should be the first to call for reform in the Craft ; that a comparatively unprejudiced and disinterested bystander should be the first
to point out the abuses worthy of reformation , is not so singular . Free from the influence of any obligation , he might unhesitatingly come forward with Ms suggestions , and , as he came forward in a kindly spirit , he might expect that he would be met in a straightforward manner . This non-Mason was the Abbe Perauin his hook •• Le Secret des Francmacons" 1742 . t
, , , He even proposes that the signs ancl passwords should be modified , after the exclusion of those unprofitable ancl undesirable persons Avho had been wrongly and unadvisedly admitted into the order . " This great business , " he says , speaking of reformation , " completed , it will be necessary to agree upon neiv signs ; for of what little use Avould it be to add to the old ones ,
Avhen a mistake might be easy . Indeed , Avhy should anything be spared , when the cost is so trifling ?" Perau had the satisfaction , so seldom accorded to mankind , of seeing his suggestion acted upon . On the 30 th of November , 1744 , the Lodge of the Three Globes , at Berlin , sent to the Lodge of Unity , at Frankfort , and to the Hamburg Lodge , proposing such changes . And while such changes are to be regretted , as giving a precedent for introducing the ceremonies of
no immoral or scandalous men , but of good report . "—Anderson ' s Constitutions , 1777 , p . 312 , Charge III . "You may enjoy yourselves with innocent mirth , treating one another according to ability , but avoiding all excess , or forcing any Brother to eat or drink beyond his inclination , or hindering him from going when his occasions call him , or doing or saying anything offensive , or that may forbid an easy and free conversation ; for that would blast our harmony and defeat our laudable purpose . "—Anderson , p . 316 , II . of Behaviour , 2 .