-
Articles/Ads
Article THE NEW YEAR. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The New Year.
we at all come up to that adaptation to the wants of the day , which it is the genius of Masonry to expand with . The resignation of the Grand Secretary imperatively demands that a successor be appointed , who shall at once be a man of education , of position in society , and of acknowledged talent . We beg to say that toadyism is no
recommendation ; though , we fear , the most supple , not the most sufficient man , will get the place . Well-bred , of highly-cultivated mind , at once a scholar and a gentleman , the Grand Secretary of the Masons of England should , at all events , be able to comport with dignity to his office , and win by his courtesy , equally as elicit confidence by his intelligence . There ought now also to be a decided
improvement made in the constitution of our library , a public Masonic reading-room ought to be opened , to which all properly recommended Brothers might , subject to certain rales , obtain access , and the Librarian ' s office might be well paid out of a portion of the Secretary ' s income , with whom he might also be a coadjutor , that is , if economy be an object . There are Brethren , clergymen of known scholarship , and well placed in the literary world , who might ably fulfil this office ;
at present , we only throw out these suggestions , probably their adoption will be " ad Orcdcas kalenclas" One thing only we hope and trust , that we shall have no person promoted who may be already cumbered with dignities , and whose rise has been marked by the perpetual hypocrisy and venality , —the dogmatism towards the little , and the demure suppleness towards the great , —with which he has disgraced and earned promotion .
No ! let the best man win , and in future , justice , punctuality , courtesy , and efficiency in the Grand Lodge , and Masonry generally , be more attended to . We give much credit to the Grand Master for the way in which he controlled the somewhat turbulent array of successful opponents to his laying down the law . It remains now only for him and his advisers to use far-sightedness rather than personal
prejudice in the selection of officers , and in the reform essential to our well-being . If there be any superficial turmoil , yet the great heart of Preemasonry beats still truly and sympathetically from Brother to Brother . Masons , like married folks , even when they recriminate , love ; they abuse each other ' s faults , but will not allow others to abuse
them ; and if only attention to duty , and a just spirit of promoting true efficiencjr , and of protecting the weak , characterize Grand Lodge , we fear not that , aided by the wholesome though bitter tonic of impartial truth in the Freemasons' Magazine , mutual forbearance and fraternal union will cement the Brotherhood , and each and all usher
m the opening year with cordial good wishes for their Master . Above all , in recognition of the Great Source whence all good emanates , let us not forget we have ascended , by the year 1857 , one bar more in the ladder resting against the entrance of the Eternal Lodge ; nor that , as the breath issues from the climber , and precedes him , so our gratitude for another past year ' s mercies should anticipate eur arrival at the Celestial City . If misfortune has touched , but not discomfited us , if death has shaken our resting-place , yet not ovei * -
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The New Year.
we at all come up to that adaptation to the wants of the day , which it is the genius of Masonry to expand with . The resignation of the Grand Secretary imperatively demands that a successor be appointed , who shall at once be a man of education , of position in society , and of acknowledged talent . We beg to say that toadyism is no
recommendation ; though , we fear , the most supple , not the most sufficient man , will get the place . Well-bred , of highly-cultivated mind , at once a scholar and a gentleman , the Grand Secretary of the Masons of England should , at all events , be able to comport with dignity to his office , and win by his courtesy , equally as elicit confidence by his intelligence . There ought now also to be a decided
improvement made in the constitution of our library , a public Masonic reading-room ought to be opened , to which all properly recommended Brothers might , subject to certain rales , obtain access , and the Librarian ' s office might be well paid out of a portion of the Secretary ' s income , with whom he might also be a coadjutor , that is , if economy be an object . There are Brethren , clergymen of known scholarship , and well placed in the literary world , who might ably fulfil this office ;
at present , we only throw out these suggestions , probably their adoption will be " ad Orcdcas kalenclas" One thing only we hope and trust , that we shall have no person promoted who may be already cumbered with dignities , and whose rise has been marked by the perpetual hypocrisy and venality , —the dogmatism towards the little , and the demure suppleness towards the great , —with which he has disgraced and earned promotion .
No ! let the best man win , and in future , justice , punctuality , courtesy , and efficiency in the Grand Lodge , and Masonry generally , be more attended to . We give much credit to the Grand Master for the way in which he controlled the somewhat turbulent array of successful opponents to his laying down the law . It remains now only for him and his advisers to use far-sightedness rather than personal
prejudice in the selection of officers , and in the reform essential to our well-being . If there be any superficial turmoil , yet the great heart of Preemasonry beats still truly and sympathetically from Brother to Brother . Masons , like married folks , even when they recriminate , love ; they abuse each other ' s faults , but will not allow others to abuse
them ; and if only attention to duty , and a just spirit of promoting true efficiencjr , and of protecting the weak , characterize Grand Lodge , we fear not that , aided by the wholesome though bitter tonic of impartial truth in the Freemasons' Magazine , mutual forbearance and fraternal union will cement the Brotherhood , and each and all usher
m the opening year with cordial good wishes for their Master . Above all , in recognition of the Great Source whence all good emanates , let us not forget we have ascended , by the year 1857 , one bar more in the ladder resting against the entrance of the Eternal Lodge ; nor that , as the breath issues from the climber , and precedes him , so our gratitude for another past year ' s mercies should anticipate eur arrival at the Celestial City . If misfortune has touched , but not discomfited us , if death has shaken our resting-place , yet not ovei * -