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Article OUR GREAT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article WORSHIPFUL MASTERS. Page 1 of 1 Article WORSHIPFUL MASTERS. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Our Great Educational Institutions.
new furniture for new office , £ 113 ; and with some needful establishment expenses and ihe balance of £ 003 6 s . Gd . to credit , making up the amount of £ ' 4 * 2 . 55 os- /" ' !• Such is a " resume " of a year ' s accounts of the Boys' School , and our Order may feel great satisfaction and pride both al its present position educationally , and its excellent management administratively . We trust thai many ol our readers will bear in mind thai thc Boys' School has little
funded property , thai il has began a long wanted preparatory school , and that therefore every effort should be made in this year of grace and light to give il that efficient aid and support which will make it to continue to be a lasting help and blessing to the orphan sons of our Crafl . For it will be seen that as ils fixed income is considerably under £ 1000 per annum , the very lowest sum required lo keep ihe School in working order ii £ 12 , 000 per annum , and that amount , large as it may seem , makes no provision foi emergent expenses .
When the preparatory school , which is urgently needed , is complete , a considerable extra charge will be thrown on thc Society ' s income , and we feci sure thai , in calling ihe attention of out * readers lo the claims and needs of the Boys' School , we are appealing to a bod y of men who will never forget that our great Charities are not only most needful and valuable in themselves , bul constitute alike llic "decus columcnque" of English Freemasonry .
Worshipful Masters.
WORSHIPFUL MASTERS .
V .-UY 11 RO . A . C . I . CALAMINES . The original paper of Bro . Whytehead is being followed up wilh so much interest that il is shown , by this fact alone , how deeply we all feel the necessity of bringing the greatest care to the election of our leaders during each twelve months' term . And the more this matter is being discussed
from all points ol view , the more we are all likely to get at a thorough valuation of this very important question . Bro . Woodford confirms what I expressed in my communication , viz ., that "legislation , " even the most perfect , cannot ensure the election of good W . M . s as long as the laws arc not carried out in tlie spirit in which they were given .
And here , again , we come to the point upon winch Bro . Hughan laid so much stress , and with which I entirely concur , viz ., the greatest care iu the admission ol new candidates . "A \ oung and Earnest Mason " seems to have arrived at the same conclusion . I certainl y advocate that , for the good working and thorough harmonv of a lodge , the great majority of the
brethren should be ol not too different social spheres , or anyhow , a not too different intellectual and moral training . Views about things vary in the different social strata , and the moral code is a different one in each social sphere . Whilst I , therefore , most emphatically declare thai it is contrary to anv iiisl ' uution to exclude a man solely on account of his inferior social
position , I must uphold that no good work can be done 111 a lodge where too heterogenous elements arc mixed together ; and I certainl y think lhat , in judging ol a man ' s lilne-s for admis-iou , wc must take into consideration the ideas which an inferior I'llucation , poor home , or low occupation are likely to have in-tilled into his mind . We , necessarily , must inquire whether tliese
circumstances have not made his mind unlit lo receive , and his character un-iuilable lo understand and practice , those grand moral truths which fonn the keystone of our institutions . We must take a man as a whole , present and past , and ask ourselves the i | iicstion -Will the lotlge gain or lose b y his admission in harmonv , stability , intolerance , and moral advancement ' . '
I think , and 1 suppose many wilh 111 c , that il is belter for any lodge to have few and good men , who regularly attend and earnestl y do their work , thmi a huge number who swell ihe income , but lower the tone of a lodge . I quite agree with Bro . Hughan that a raising of the fees of admission would be a check to a certain degree ; anyhow , il would not make lodges so anxious to get new candidates . As it is , with our present value of money
( so very much lower than at the tunc when the Constitutions were framed ) , the fees are very small in comparison to other institutions . Bro . Wuodlord's remarks ( Article IV . ) 1 quite agree with . 1 tlid not express a desire to see the Constitutions altered or revolutionised in the least . The Constitution-, taken as a whole , arc so splendid a building lhat 1 should nut like lo remove a stone , although 1 may see some Haws in minor points .
1 only pointed out an evil which 1 have seen lo result ; but 1 distinctly said lhat I could not for the present point out a remedy , as I was not sure in my own mind whether an alteration would rot produce greater evils . But I may here . state that I have seen the system referred to by me work satisfactoril y in fc reign lodges . Only , 1 think Bro . Woodford will agree wilh mc , thai when there is an inclination to turn the lodge into a caucus and favour
parties , this will show itself as much at thc e ' ection of a W . M . who appoints his officers as it could display itself in a radical selection of all officers . And where harmony and good feeling exists amongst the members—as 1 hope il docs in most lodges --then a slate of things will always prevail as was happily described by Bro . Woodford ; then the harmony of ihe lodge would not be upsjt at election time , let thc mode of election be whichever von like .
The best , and only guarantee ol success is , and will always be , lo have good men and only such , and lo do such really good work as will induce members lo attend all meetings they possibl y can , and not stay away because they only sec and hear al lodge nights thc eternal repetitions of initiations and raisings , Sec
VI .-UY BRO . I . 13 . WIIYTIillliAU . By his characteristic remarks on my late contribution on this subject , Bro . Hughan has led up to another point on which I had purposed touching , and lhat is , the duties devolving upon a Worshipful Master of a lodge , lo
brethren in thai distinguished ofiice who arc incapable or careless il would be useless to make any suggestions or throw out any hints , but we know there are many young Masters and Masters clccl who arc anxious to do their duty faithfully , and who would gladly avail themselves of llic experience of others who have preceded them if they could obtain it .
Thc day is happily passing away quickly for the Masonic inonopolist--a species of lodge-member al once useful and mischievous . Partl y through the extension of the Masonic Press , and partly in consequence of the widespreading spirit of enquiry that has been so strongly aroused of late years , brethren are not satisfied to remain in llic same condition ol Masonic ignorance as they were a lew ycars ago . Mosl of us can remember , and many
of us yet know , ihe Pasl Master who is the sole repository of all the information , Masonic law and ritual in his lodge . No one else knows anything of the history of thc lodge ; of the whereabouts of thc old papers and minutes ; hc is referred to in every case of danger and difficulty ; and his word is law . The W . M . would not dare to express an opinion without firsl consulting him , and any member of the lodge below thc dais who ventured an expression , or dared lo record his vote against him , might bid farewell to his chances of
Worshipful Masters.
ever occupying thc chair . He is undoubtedly a useful member ; he has very likely kept the lodge together in ils struggling days ; hc has given much attention to il and to Masonry ; he has a good knowledge of Masonic law , and he has a genuine love for his lodge ; but , on the oilier hand , hc admits no one into his confidence ; he docs not encourage a study of Masonry in others ;
he prefers to make his knowledge and information a monopoly ; and when thc Great Architect summonses him away he leaves no successor . Miserable is , for some lime , the p light of the lodge . No one knows anything ; and the sole pillar and prop having been knocked aivaj ' , confusion reigns supreme for a time , until another prophet may arise to guide his fellow Craftsmen .
that brother is thc real friend , guide and mentor of his lodge who , whilst perfecting himself in Masonic ritual and knowledge , is ready al the same time to lead his juniors in the same path , and extend as much as possible the knowledge which his own leisure , opportunities , attainments , and capacity have enabled him to acquire .
A short time ago a Masonic friend and worth y brother met mc and informed mc that he had been elected W . M . of a strong lodge and would shortly be installed in llic chair . "Canyon givemeafew hints " he said " as to anything I should do . " M y reply was the advice 1 should give to every brother under similar circumstances * . Read the Book of Constitutions , and especiall y thc portion relating lo ihe conduct of private lodges . Nothing looks worse ,
or detracts more from the dignity of the Master in ihe chair than ignorance of the ordinary points of Masonic law . Questions of difficulty must occasionall y crop up , but r . Worshiplul Master should certainly be able to give a reply to a member on any ordinary or usual point of constitutional law without havingtoturn helplessly right and left to tlie Pasl Masters , and appeal to them for that information with which an hour or two of study of the Boole of Constitutions would have amply supplied him for life .
It is hardly necessary to say that an intimate acquaintance with the ritual of the Three Degrees is a sine qua non for the successful and satisfactory occupation of the chair . Anybody can sit in a chair , but everybody cannot fill it ; and a Master who is satisfied to open and close the lodge and leave the rest lo be worked by the Past Masters , cannot expect to be looked up to
as a leader in the Craft . Vet after all , ceremonial is but the skeleton of the thing , and will always remain bul a ghastly shadow if it be not warmed and covered by the flesh and blood of realism ; and it is expected in a Master thai he shall not only be able to teach his fellows , but set an example of those teachings in his own life and conversation .
Much must always depend upon the appearance of a Master . Wc all know the W . M ., who , in spite ol many delects of memory and temper , goes creditably through his year , and gives dignity to his lodge , simply through his natural gifts and personal aspect . I le is literall y un Ires venerable . On the other hand , we can easily recall the figure of the brother who , in spite of his utmost efforts and good qualities , always presents a comical appearance in the East , and always tails lo impress his candidates with any lecling of solemnity .
In large lodges , in town , members must necessaril y be , to a great extent , strangers to each other ; bul in the provinces this is not generally thc case , and a Master who wishes lo carry with him an honest inlluence for good shonld try lo make himself personally acquainted wilh his brethren , and to show an actual interest in their individual welfare . It must always be
pleasant to feel oneself trusted and regarded with friendl y eyes by his brethren ; and il has many limes been to me a source of genuine pleasure to be sought out b y brethren and made the confidant of their difficulties and troubles , and to have been able to advise and sympathise with them . Depend upon il , such relations between Masons nil ) do far more to consolidate the
Brotherhood , and make it a power for social good , than large grants of funds to charitable objects , without any real sympathy or interchange of kindnesses , at some personal sacrifices . Not for one instant do I wish to detract from the value of the Charities ; but I cannot concur with the dictum of a wellknown brother nnd great worker in those Charities , who once said lo mc that " Masonrv would not be worth live minutes of any rational man ' s attention if it were not for its charitable institutions . " This is a huge error , for it
docs not require a Masonic system , with all its machinery and expenses , to found and maintain great charil . iblc institutions . There arc plenty of charities quite as important maintained by casual subscriptions from the general public . Il is the highest kind of charity thai should specially be looked for from . Masons , and il that order of chant ) ' were more sought after we should hear less of those wretched ami petty jealousies sometimes sadly existing between lodges and between individual brethren , creating blemishes thai no amount of noble charily lists can cover .
Masonry , is of course , no more to blame for the black sheep under its banners than is the Christian church for thc occasional consummate
scoundrels who have lived within her fold ; but that is 110 reason why Masons should be careless as to the admission of candidates . At ihe same time I regard the ballot box as a fearful weapon , and only to be used as a dernier resort . Bro , Hughan says truly , that * ' two or three of the better class of members can keep out unsuitable candidates ; " but , on the other hand , I agree with Bro . Calaminus that this remedy may almost be worse than the
disease . If in a lodge there exists anything like that feeling * of fraternal confidence amongst ihe members which should be found , blackballing will seldom be necessary . Most of us have known instances in whicii the use of the black ball has caused ihe complete disruption of the lodge , at least of all fraternal feeling ; and I have always considered the Masonic and wisest course lo be for anv member who knows of a valid objection lo a candidate
to communicate with the W . Master of his lodge on the subject , aud request the withdrawal of the name . If the proposer is made aware of the objection ( and a W . M . should certainly be able to preserve secrecy in thc matter ) it is only reasonable to suppose that he would nol push his man to the ballot ; of course , if he persists , there is still the ballot to fall back on . But my experience leads me to the belief that objections to candidates are often very
frivolous ; thai well-known men are often , because they are known , rejected , and unknown individuals accepted , simply because they arc unknown . I forget at this moment who il is lhat has said " that a man who goes through the world wilhoul making an enemy is of little weight or value himself ; " and I fear thai man )* a good man is refused admission inlo Masonry through some petty personal pique and for no belter reason , whilst his neig hbour ,
whose character is unfamiliar , finds an open door . Scandal , as Shakespcrc says , " stuffing the cars of men with false reports" has excluded many a man from Masonry who would have been an ornament to thc Craft ; and I rejoice to know that I have assisted , at the expenditure of slig ht trouble , in silencing more than once the foul breath of slander , and introducing into our Fraternity men who would otherwise have been rejected , and in whom we should have lost amiable and active workers . But I am trespassing too far upon the good nature of the Editor and must reserve further remarks for a future opportunity .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Our Great Educational Institutions.
new furniture for new office , £ 113 ; and with some needful establishment expenses and ihe balance of £ 003 6 s . Gd . to credit , making up the amount of £ ' 4 * 2 . 55 os- /" ' !• Such is a " resume " of a year ' s accounts of the Boys' School , and our Order may feel great satisfaction and pride both al its present position educationally , and its excellent management administratively . We trust thai many ol our readers will bear in mind thai thc Boys' School has little
funded property , thai il has began a long wanted preparatory school , and that therefore every effort should be made in this year of grace and light to give il that efficient aid and support which will make it to continue to be a lasting help and blessing to the orphan sons of our Crafl . For it will be seen that as ils fixed income is considerably under £ 1000 per annum , the very lowest sum required lo keep ihe School in working order ii £ 12 , 000 per annum , and that amount , large as it may seem , makes no provision foi emergent expenses .
When the preparatory school , which is urgently needed , is complete , a considerable extra charge will be thrown on thc Society ' s income , and we feci sure thai , in calling ihe attention of out * readers lo the claims and needs of the Boys' School , we are appealing to a bod y of men who will never forget that our great Charities are not only most needful and valuable in themselves , bul constitute alike llic "decus columcnque" of English Freemasonry .
Worshipful Masters.
WORSHIPFUL MASTERS .
V .-UY 11 RO . A . C . I . CALAMINES . The original paper of Bro . Whytehead is being followed up wilh so much interest that il is shown , by this fact alone , how deeply we all feel the necessity of bringing the greatest care to the election of our leaders during each twelve months' term . And the more this matter is being discussed
from all points ol view , the more we are all likely to get at a thorough valuation of this very important question . Bro . Woodford confirms what I expressed in my communication , viz ., that "legislation , " even the most perfect , cannot ensure the election of good W . M . s as long as the laws arc not carried out in tlie spirit in which they were given .
And here , again , we come to the point upon winch Bro . Hughan laid so much stress , and with which I entirely concur , viz ., the greatest care iu the admission ol new candidates . "A \ oung and Earnest Mason " seems to have arrived at the same conclusion . I certainl y advocate that , for the good working and thorough harmonv of a lodge , the great majority of the
brethren should be ol not too different social spheres , or anyhow , a not too different intellectual and moral training . Views about things vary in the different social strata , and the moral code is a different one in each social sphere . Whilst I , therefore , most emphatically declare thai it is contrary to anv iiisl ' uution to exclude a man solely on account of his inferior social
position , I must uphold that no good work can be done 111 a lodge where too heterogenous elements arc mixed together ; and I certainl y think lhat , in judging ol a man ' s lilne-s for admis-iou , wc must take into consideration the ideas which an inferior I'llucation , poor home , or low occupation are likely to have in-tilled into his mind . We , necessarily , must inquire whether tliese
circumstances have not made his mind unlit lo receive , and his character un-iuilable lo understand and practice , those grand moral truths which fonn the keystone of our institutions . We must take a man as a whole , present and past , and ask ourselves the i | iicstion -Will the lotlge gain or lose b y his admission in harmonv , stability , intolerance , and moral advancement ' . '
I think , and 1 suppose many wilh 111 c , that il is belter for any lodge to have few and good men , who regularly attend and earnestl y do their work , thmi a huge number who swell ihe income , but lower the tone of a lodge . I quite agree with Bro . Hughan that a raising of the fees of admission would be a check to a certain degree ; anyhow , il would not make lodges so anxious to get new candidates . As it is , with our present value of money
( so very much lower than at the tunc when the Constitutions were framed ) , the fees are very small in comparison to other institutions . Bro . Wuodlord's remarks ( Article IV . ) 1 quite agree with . 1 tlid not express a desire to see the Constitutions altered or revolutionised in the least . The Constitution-, taken as a whole , arc so splendid a building lhat 1 should nut like lo remove a stone , although 1 may see some Haws in minor points .
1 only pointed out an evil which 1 have seen lo result ; but 1 distinctly said lhat I could not for the present point out a remedy , as I was not sure in my own mind whether an alteration would rot produce greater evils . But I may here . state that I have seen the system referred to by me work satisfactoril y in fc reign lodges . Only , 1 think Bro . Woodford will agree wilh mc , thai when there is an inclination to turn the lodge into a caucus and favour
parties , this will show itself as much at thc e ' ection of a W . M . who appoints his officers as it could display itself in a radical selection of all officers . And where harmony and good feeling exists amongst the members—as 1 hope il docs in most lodges --then a slate of things will always prevail as was happily described by Bro . Woodford ; then the harmony of ihe lodge would not be upsjt at election time , let thc mode of election be whichever von like .
The best , and only guarantee ol success is , and will always be , lo have good men and only such , and lo do such really good work as will induce members lo attend all meetings they possibl y can , and not stay away because they only sec and hear al lodge nights thc eternal repetitions of initiations and raisings , Sec
VI .-UY BRO . I . 13 . WIIYTIillliAU . By his characteristic remarks on my late contribution on this subject , Bro . Hughan has led up to another point on which I had purposed touching , and lhat is , the duties devolving upon a Worshipful Master of a lodge , lo
brethren in thai distinguished ofiice who arc incapable or careless il would be useless to make any suggestions or throw out any hints , but we know there are many young Masters and Masters clccl who arc anxious to do their duty faithfully , and who would gladly avail themselves of llic experience of others who have preceded them if they could obtain it .
Thc day is happily passing away quickly for the Masonic inonopolist--a species of lodge-member al once useful and mischievous . Partl y through the extension of the Masonic Press , and partly in consequence of the widespreading spirit of enquiry that has been so strongly aroused of late years , brethren are not satisfied to remain in llic same condition ol Masonic ignorance as they were a lew ycars ago . Mosl of us can remember , and many
of us yet know , ihe Pasl Master who is the sole repository of all the information , Masonic law and ritual in his lodge . No one else knows anything of the history of thc lodge ; of the whereabouts of thc old papers and minutes ; hc is referred to in every case of danger and difficulty ; and his word is law . The W . M . would not dare to express an opinion without firsl consulting him , and any member of the lodge below thc dais who ventured an expression , or dared lo record his vote against him , might bid farewell to his chances of
Worshipful Masters.
ever occupying thc chair . He is undoubtedly a useful member ; he has very likely kept the lodge together in ils struggling days ; hc has given much attention to il and to Masonry ; he has a good knowledge of Masonic law , and he has a genuine love for his lodge ; but , on the oilier hand , hc admits no one into his confidence ; he docs not encourage a study of Masonry in others ;
he prefers to make his knowledge and information a monopoly ; and when thc Great Architect summonses him away he leaves no successor . Miserable is , for some lime , the p light of the lodge . No one knows anything ; and the sole pillar and prop having been knocked aivaj ' , confusion reigns supreme for a time , until another prophet may arise to guide his fellow Craftsmen .
that brother is thc real friend , guide and mentor of his lodge who , whilst perfecting himself in Masonic ritual and knowledge , is ready al the same time to lead his juniors in the same path , and extend as much as possible the knowledge which his own leisure , opportunities , attainments , and capacity have enabled him to acquire .
A short time ago a Masonic friend and worth y brother met mc and informed mc that he had been elected W . M . of a strong lodge and would shortly be installed in llic chair . "Canyon givemeafew hints " he said " as to anything I should do . " M y reply was the advice 1 should give to every brother under similar circumstances * . Read the Book of Constitutions , and especiall y thc portion relating lo ihe conduct of private lodges . Nothing looks worse ,
or detracts more from the dignity of the Master in ihe chair than ignorance of the ordinary points of Masonic law . Questions of difficulty must occasionall y crop up , but r . Worshiplul Master should certainly be able to give a reply to a member on any ordinary or usual point of constitutional law without havingtoturn helplessly right and left to tlie Pasl Masters , and appeal to them for that information with which an hour or two of study of the Boole of Constitutions would have amply supplied him for life .
It is hardly necessary to say that an intimate acquaintance with the ritual of the Three Degrees is a sine qua non for the successful and satisfactory occupation of the chair . Anybody can sit in a chair , but everybody cannot fill it ; and a Master who is satisfied to open and close the lodge and leave the rest lo be worked by the Past Masters , cannot expect to be looked up to
as a leader in the Craft . Vet after all , ceremonial is but the skeleton of the thing , and will always remain bul a ghastly shadow if it be not warmed and covered by the flesh and blood of realism ; and it is expected in a Master thai he shall not only be able to teach his fellows , but set an example of those teachings in his own life and conversation .
Much must always depend upon the appearance of a Master . Wc all know the W . M ., who , in spite ol many delects of memory and temper , goes creditably through his year , and gives dignity to his lodge , simply through his natural gifts and personal aspect . I le is literall y un Ires venerable . On the other hand , we can easily recall the figure of the brother who , in spite of his utmost efforts and good qualities , always presents a comical appearance in the East , and always tails lo impress his candidates with any lecling of solemnity .
In large lodges , in town , members must necessaril y be , to a great extent , strangers to each other ; bul in the provinces this is not generally thc case , and a Master who wishes lo carry with him an honest inlluence for good shonld try lo make himself personally acquainted wilh his brethren , and to show an actual interest in their individual welfare . It must always be
pleasant to feel oneself trusted and regarded with friendl y eyes by his brethren ; and il has many limes been to me a source of genuine pleasure to be sought out b y brethren and made the confidant of their difficulties and troubles , and to have been able to advise and sympathise with them . Depend upon il , such relations between Masons nil ) do far more to consolidate the
Brotherhood , and make it a power for social good , than large grants of funds to charitable objects , without any real sympathy or interchange of kindnesses , at some personal sacrifices . Not for one instant do I wish to detract from the value of the Charities ; but I cannot concur with the dictum of a wellknown brother nnd great worker in those Charities , who once said lo mc that " Masonrv would not be worth live minutes of any rational man ' s attention if it were not for its charitable institutions . " This is a huge error , for it
docs not require a Masonic system , with all its machinery and expenses , to found and maintain great charil . iblc institutions . There arc plenty of charities quite as important maintained by casual subscriptions from the general public . Il is the highest kind of charity thai should specially be looked for from . Masons , and il that order of chant ) ' were more sought after we should hear less of those wretched ami petty jealousies sometimes sadly existing between lodges and between individual brethren , creating blemishes thai no amount of noble charily lists can cover .
Masonry , is of course , no more to blame for the black sheep under its banners than is the Christian church for thc occasional consummate
scoundrels who have lived within her fold ; but that is 110 reason why Masons should be careless as to the admission of candidates . At ihe same time I regard the ballot box as a fearful weapon , and only to be used as a dernier resort . Bro , Hughan says truly , that * ' two or three of the better class of members can keep out unsuitable candidates ; " but , on the other hand , I agree with Bro . Calaminus that this remedy may almost be worse than the
disease . If in a lodge there exists anything like that feeling * of fraternal confidence amongst ihe members which should be found , blackballing will seldom be necessary . Most of us have known instances in whicii the use of the black ball has caused ihe complete disruption of the lodge , at least of all fraternal feeling ; and I have always considered the Masonic and wisest course lo be for anv member who knows of a valid objection lo a candidate
to communicate with the W . Master of his lodge on the subject , aud request the withdrawal of the name . If the proposer is made aware of the objection ( and a W . M . should certainly be able to preserve secrecy in thc matter ) it is only reasonable to suppose that he would nol push his man to the ballot ; of course , if he persists , there is still the ballot to fall back on . But my experience leads me to the belief that objections to candidates are often very
frivolous ; thai well-known men are often , because they are known , rejected , and unknown individuals accepted , simply because they arc unknown . I forget at this moment who il is lhat has said " that a man who goes through the world wilhoul making an enemy is of little weight or value himself ; " and I fear thai man )* a good man is refused admission inlo Masonry through some petty personal pique and for no belter reason , whilst his neig hbour ,
whose character is unfamiliar , finds an open door . Scandal , as Shakespcrc says , " stuffing the cars of men with false reports" has excluded many a man from Masonry who would have been an ornament to thc Craft ; and I rejoice to know that I have assisted , at the expenditure of slig ht trouble , in silencing more than once the foul breath of slander , and introducing into our Fraternity men who would otherwise have been rejected , and in whom we should have lost amiable and active workers . But I am trespassing too far upon the good nature of the Editor and must reserve further remarks for a future opportunity .