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Article OUR MODEL LODGE. ← Page 4 of 5 →
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Our Model Lodge.
eA'ening , thereby rendering the omission of the charges , and sometimes of other interesting parts of the ceremony , almost unavoidable . Such practices are not only unconstitutional in themselves , but deaden the otherwise powerful impression of Masonic ceremonies . A thing incompletely done , is always unsatisfactory ; anclfor this very reasonthe work at " Lod
, , ges of Emergency" is not unfrequently better done than at the regular meetings , and conveys greater and more lasting feelings of pleasure to the candidate . Hoivever agreeable it may be to find Masonry on a perpetual and steady increase , we must still feel that too many initiations and other ceremonies in the same eveningare rather a proof of the persevering and praiseivorth
, y patience of the worshipful Master and officers , than a proof of the steady good management , which is certain in its very slowness , ancl which Avorks its Avay through difficulties and prejudice without ei'er perilling its credit by rashness ancl impatience . As a rule , we cannot help thinking that no candidate ought to be initiated on the same night on which he is balloted for .
We remember being at a London Lodge , where the Master hacl actually forgotten the name of one of the parties AVIIO Avas to be proposed , and where no one present had any personal knowledge of either . The mistake was rectified by the arrival of the
proposer ; but there was not only much unnecessary delay , but a general feeling that the proceedings exhibited carelessnessan impression heightened try the fact of two or three excellent brethren walking about the room , and chatting sotto voce during the sublime ceremony of the third degree . There is another matter to which Ave must make strong
exception—we mean the formation of small Lodges for the sake of thrusting brethren into office , making them , in fact , a sort of escape-valves for those who are in too great a hurry to assume the " pomp and circumstance" of past officers . It is against all reason that a Lodge should be held in the upper room of a tavern , in a lillage Avhich does not contain more
than two or three Masons , and that whole parties of the brethren should file away from a neighbouring town to play at office , when perhaps there may not be a single initiation throughout the year . We have too many incompetent " past" officers already ; audit is to be feared that , for every really good working Masonto whom these " training-stables " ive an opportunity
, g of gaining his wished-for dignity , we have half a dozen who would never have been invested with jewel or collar , had they depended on then own work . Moreover , these minor Lodges give too many opportunities for canvassing , and indirect influence in the obtaining of office . They also lead to a good deal of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Our Model Lodge.
eA'ening , thereby rendering the omission of the charges , and sometimes of other interesting parts of the ceremony , almost unavoidable . Such practices are not only unconstitutional in themselves , but deaden the otherwise powerful impression of Masonic ceremonies . A thing incompletely done , is always unsatisfactory ; anclfor this very reasonthe work at " Lod
, , ges of Emergency" is not unfrequently better done than at the regular meetings , and conveys greater and more lasting feelings of pleasure to the candidate . Hoivever agreeable it may be to find Masonry on a perpetual and steady increase , we must still feel that too many initiations and other ceremonies in the same eveningare rather a proof of the persevering and praiseivorth
, y patience of the worshipful Master and officers , than a proof of the steady good management , which is certain in its very slowness , ancl which Avorks its Avay through difficulties and prejudice without ei'er perilling its credit by rashness ancl impatience . As a rule , we cannot help thinking that no candidate ought to be initiated on the same night on which he is balloted for .
We remember being at a London Lodge , where the Master hacl actually forgotten the name of one of the parties AVIIO Avas to be proposed , and where no one present had any personal knowledge of either . The mistake was rectified by the arrival of the
proposer ; but there was not only much unnecessary delay , but a general feeling that the proceedings exhibited carelessnessan impression heightened try the fact of two or three excellent brethren walking about the room , and chatting sotto voce during the sublime ceremony of the third degree . There is another matter to which Ave must make strong
exception—we mean the formation of small Lodges for the sake of thrusting brethren into office , making them , in fact , a sort of escape-valves for those who are in too great a hurry to assume the " pomp and circumstance" of past officers . It is against all reason that a Lodge should be held in the upper room of a tavern , in a lillage Avhich does not contain more
than two or three Masons , and that whole parties of the brethren should file away from a neighbouring town to play at office , when perhaps there may not be a single initiation throughout the year . We have too many incompetent " past" officers already ; audit is to be feared that , for every really good working Masonto whom these " training-stables " ive an opportunity
, g of gaining his wished-for dignity , we have half a dozen who would never have been invested with jewel or collar , had they depended on then own work . Moreover , these minor Lodges give too many opportunities for canvassing , and indirect influence in the obtaining of office . They also lead to a good deal of