-
Articles/Ads
Article MASONIC REFOEM. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Refoem.
MASONIC EEFOEM .
Peobably the title of this article may awaken the susceptibilities or shock the prejudices of many , but we are not without hope that a calm and dispassionate consideration of the arguments shadowed forth
m these prefatory remarks will remove any false impressions from those who consider the word " reform" as meaning yiolent or radical change , to which we are most strongly opposed . Our views , so far from being fraught with danger to Masonry , are directed solely by
an earnest wish to achieve such improvements in its administration , and in the routine of its general management , as may tend to increase its efficiency in carrying out the great objects which lie within the compass of its purpose .
Freemasonry is not a thing of mushroom growth , which need fear scrutiny , or shrink from examination . It boasts a foundation in faroff years of the illimitable past : it has endured scathless the fires of persecution ; triumphed over obstacles and trials ; withstood the shafts of ridicule ; and now stands confessedly one of the noblest institutions in the world . With the views of those who hold that
any discussion of its principles is to be deprecated , we have no sympathy ; neither can we agree in the opinion that in its nature it is so widely different from every other institution that the general maxims of polity which apply to other , and to some extent kindred , bodies , are inapplicable to this . Those secrets and mysteries which
are peculiarly its own cannot , of course , be too securely guarded from the inquisitive ; they naturally belong to and can be known only by the initiated ; but the grand principles on which the Order is founded are cosmopolitan in their effect and tendency , and the more
widespread is the knowledge of them the better for the interests of the craft , and most unquestionably for those of humanity in general Look for a moment at the persecutions which Brethren in various YOL . II . 3 C
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Refoem.
MASONIC EEFOEM .
Peobably the title of this article may awaken the susceptibilities or shock the prejudices of many , but we are not without hope that a calm and dispassionate consideration of the arguments shadowed forth
m these prefatory remarks will remove any false impressions from those who consider the word " reform" as meaning yiolent or radical change , to which we are most strongly opposed . Our views , so far from being fraught with danger to Masonry , are directed solely by
an earnest wish to achieve such improvements in its administration , and in the routine of its general management , as may tend to increase its efficiency in carrying out the great objects which lie within the compass of its purpose .
Freemasonry is not a thing of mushroom growth , which need fear scrutiny , or shrink from examination . It boasts a foundation in faroff years of the illimitable past : it has endured scathless the fires of persecution ; triumphed over obstacles and trials ; withstood the shafts of ridicule ; and now stands confessedly one of the noblest institutions in the world . With the views of those who hold that
any discussion of its principles is to be deprecated , we have no sympathy ; neither can we agree in the opinion that in its nature it is so widely different from every other institution that the general maxims of polity which apply to other , and to some extent kindred , bodies , are inapplicable to this . Those secrets and mysteries which
are peculiarly its own cannot , of course , be too securely guarded from the inquisitive ; they naturally belong to and can be known only by the initiated ; but the grand principles on which the Order is founded are cosmopolitan in their effect and tendency , and the more
widespread is the knowledge of them the better for the interests of the craft , and most unquestionably for those of humanity in general Look for a moment at the persecutions which Brethren in various YOL . II . 3 C