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Article A CENTURY OF FREEMASONRY* ← Page 11 of 15 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Century Of Freemasonry*
deemed it an honour to perform . In fact , they attributed it to the delegation of authority to the Deputy Grancl Masters . In a document of the period , Ave find these Avords ( alluding to M . Baure , the first Deputy Grancl Master ) : *—" This inactivity resulted in the most frightful abuses . Some Masters of Lod dared to issue warrantswhich was the sole prerogative of the
ges , Grand Lodge . Restaurateurs , who had fitted up their houses for Masonic purposes , and had been admitted as serving Brethren , desired to gain farther profits from the banquets , and assumed the position of Masters . It may be easily understood that such Masters would not exercise the utmost circumspection in the choice of their candidates . They only considered the numbers , without accurate inquiry into their rank , education , character , or carriage . This inconsiderate fertility produced an infinite
number of Lodges , —Masons bought the privilege to hold Lodges , privileges which belonged to them once and for ever , —the mysteries ancl the constitutions became articles of commerce ; and in this anarchy it was resolved , as a fundamental principle , that three Masters of a Lodge had a right to constitute a fourth . Soon the taverns re-echoed with their shameless orgies , where they held large Lodges with much noise , and dispensed our distorted mysteries to any one who came , —to the lowest condition of citizens , to artists , mechanics , day-labourers , even to servants . "
But , as Kloss hints , the cause of the fall of Masonry lay yet deeper , —the passion for the high grades lay at the bottom of it . The French mind , so volatile , and the German mind so fantastical , was not satisfied by the pure , quiet , unobtrusive Avorking of English Masonry . As soon as there was the slightest excuse for it , the ancient precepts Avere neglected ancl the IIBAV
ideas ivere caught up greedily . The French character ahvays strives to connect itself with everything that is grand , noble , or haughty , in the world's history . No wonder , then , that the knightly Orders of the Middle Ages attracted their attention . The riddle of their secret ceremonies mi ght be loosed , they felt , ancl accomplished swindlers soon unveiled this for them . Thus
it is that the high grades , springing from an anti-Masonic soil , obtained such a mastery over them . Who , indeed , ivould care to be an Apprentice , a FelloAV-Craft , a simple Master , Avhen it Avas possible to be a Grancl Commander , an Elect , or a Knight at the very least ! And so it must be in every nation that takes up a science as a bauble , and casts it aAvay when the next best notion comes uppermost , f
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Century Of Freemasonry*
deemed it an honour to perform . In fact , they attributed it to the delegation of authority to the Deputy Grancl Masters . In a document of the period , Ave find these Avords ( alluding to M . Baure , the first Deputy Grancl Master ) : *—" This inactivity resulted in the most frightful abuses . Some Masters of Lod dared to issue warrantswhich was the sole prerogative of the
ges , Grand Lodge . Restaurateurs , who had fitted up their houses for Masonic purposes , and had been admitted as serving Brethren , desired to gain farther profits from the banquets , and assumed the position of Masters . It may be easily understood that such Masters would not exercise the utmost circumspection in the choice of their candidates . They only considered the numbers , without accurate inquiry into their rank , education , character , or carriage . This inconsiderate fertility produced an infinite
number of Lodges , —Masons bought the privilege to hold Lodges , privileges which belonged to them once and for ever , —the mysteries ancl the constitutions became articles of commerce ; and in this anarchy it was resolved , as a fundamental principle , that three Masters of a Lodge had a right to constitute a fourth . Soon the taverns re-echoed with their shameless orgies , where they held large Lodges with much noise , and dispensed our distorted mysteries to any one who came , —to the lowest condition of citizens , to artists , mechanics , day-labourers , even to servants . "
But , as Kloss hints , the cause of the fall of Masonry lay yet deeper , —the passion for the high grades lay at the bottom of it . The French mind , so volatile , and the German mind so fantastical , was not satisfied by the pure , quiet , unobtrusive Avorking of English Masonry . As soon as there was the slightest excuse for it , the ancient precepts Avere neglected ancl the IIBAV
ideas ivere caught up greedily . The French character ahvays strives to connect itself with everything that is grand , noble , or haughty , in the world's history . No wonder , then , that the knightly Orders of the Middle Ages attracted their attention . The riddle of their secret ceremonies mi ght be loosed , they felt , ancl accomplished swindlers soon unveiled this for them . Thus
it is that the high grades , springing from an anti-Masonic soil , obtained such a mastery over them . Who , indeed , ivould care to be an Apprentice , a FelloAV-Craft , a simple Master , Avhen it Avas possible to be a Grancl Commander , an Elect , or a Knight at the very least ! And so it must be in every nation that takes up a science as a bauble , and casts it aAvay when the next best notion comes uppermost , f