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Article eOMlSP'O KDEKEl ← Page 4 of 6 →
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Eomlsp'o Kdekel
i to Freemasonry ; such I do not think is the case , fori know several clergymen who , if they have any bias at all , lean towards that pa ^ only menibers of Lodges , but good supporters of societies certainly do not boast any cora
it be a matter of Wonder , when they seethe Order degenerating into a mere benefit society ; and surely no one will assert that a lover of me fine arts will be much delighted hy the instruction he receives in them within a Mason ' s Lodge . When or science in general , again have their place in Masonic meetings , we may justly expect an alliance with the ecclesiologist .
But , Sir , let me observe there are other reasons which frequently prevent the clergy from supporting Freemasonry , apart from feelings of a narrow and bigoted nature . It is true we would prefer Christianity to Ibemore openly recognized in deference to the majority of English Brethren who fill our Lodges , even setting aside the religious view of the case ; and I believe we should find a large number who would take the same viewj if the question were fairly moved . Mind , I do not advocate the exclusion of any man
on account of his religious belief—let all be admitted as heretofore , but put us more on an equality ; for at present the non-Christian gives up nothingthe Christian a great deal . But there are other points I call attention to . According to the constitution of the society , a high standard of morality is insisted on , hut is not acted up to ; the clergyman of a parish sees many candidatesare allowed to join who are fairfrom being a credit , whose standard of morality is peculiarly low , who have nothing at all to recommend them
but the fact that they can pay the usual fee and that they swell the number of members . Brethren forget to calculate whether such men add to their respectability . The efforts of individual Lodges are useless to keep them out , for some other Lodge admits them . I have known a case in which a person was refused in three different Lodges with good reason , yet elsewhere he was admitted . Again , Lodges are held at publichouses of not the best character , and the meetings are frequently not very conducive to edification ; the ceremony is blundered over , the money paid , and the
Brethren proceed to regale themselves at the tap , and show how little they have been affected by the lessons they have just heard . Now , were these matters altered—were Lodges always held in proper places—were their meetings turned to some practical purpose , such as instruction , be it in architecture or what you will , but any rate something useful—few clergymen would speak against the society . Many more would join it , partly for the sake of meeting in a friendly manner their parishioners—of becoming more
intimately acquainted with them , their feelings , their wants—of hearing some profitable matter—and , not least , of adding their talents to the good work of instruction ; and considering that clergymen of the Church of England are generally well educated men , they might and would , do much . I know such changes are not to be made at once ; it takes time to reform corruptions . Your Magazine has done much , by stirring up a better feeling and bringing to light abuses—by arousing those in power to a sense of the position they occupy—by supporting their dignity where others less discreet
would pull it down ; but it remains for the Brethren at large to carry out one extensive scheme of reformation , and to raise the Order to its former high position . Once more . There are some clergymen who , from a mistaken view in my huinble opinion , refuse their pnlpits to the Provincial Grand Chaplain . 1 think they are few in number , and those are generally into tied up by party feelings , indiscriminately high and low . Few clergyinen would be bold enough to stand between man and his Creator , and prevent any body of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Eomlsp'o Kdekel
i to Freemasonry ; such I do not think is the case , fori know several clergymen who , if they have any bias at all , lean towards that pa ^ only menibers of Lodges , but good supporters of societies certainly do not boast any cora
it be a matter of Wonder , when they seethe Order degenerating into a mere benefit society ; and surely no one will assert that a lover of me fine arts will be much delighted hy the instruction he receives in them within a Mason ' s Lodge . When or science in general , again have their place in Masonic meetings , we may justly expect an alliance with the ecclesiologist .
But , Sir , let me observe there are other reasons which frequently prevent the clergy from supporting Freemasonry , apart from feelings of a narrow and bigoted nature . It is true we would prefer Christianity to Ibemore openly recognized in deference to the majority of English Brethren who fill our Lodges , even setting aside the religious view of the case ; and I believe we should find a large number who would take the same viewj if the question were fairly moved . Mind , I do not advocate the exclusion of any man
on account of his religious belief—let all be admitted as heretofore , but put us more on an equality ; for at present the non-Christian gives up nothingthe Christian a great deal . But there are other points I call attention to . According to the constitution of the society , a high standard of morality is insisted on , hut is not acted up to ; the clergyman of a parish sees many candidatesare allowed to join who are fairfrom being a credit , whose standard of morality is peculiarly low , who have nothing at all to recommend them
but the fact that they can pay the usual fee and that they swell the number of members . Brethren forget to calculate whether such men add to their respectability . The efforts of individual Lodges are useless to keep them out , for some other Lodge admits them . I have known a case in which a person was refused in three different Lodges with good reason , yet elsewhere he was admitted . Again , Lodges are held at publichouses of not the best character , and the meetings are frequently not very conducive to edification ; the ceremony is blundered over , the money paid , and the
Brethren proceed to regale themselves at the tap , and show how little they have been affected by the lessons they have just heard . Now , were these matters altered—were Lodges always held in proper places—were their meetings turned to some practical purpose , such as instruction , be it in architecture or what you will , but any rate something useful—few clergymen would speak against the society . Many more would join it , partly for the sake of meeting in a friendly manner their parishioners—of becoming more
intimately acquainted with them , their feelings , their wants—of hearing some profitable matter—and , not least , of adding their talents to the good work of instruction ; and considering that clergymen of the Church of England are generally well educated men , they might and would , do much . I know such changes are not to be made at once ; it takes time to reform corruptions . Your Magazine has done much , by stirring up a better feeling and bringing to light abuses—by arousing those in power to a sense of the position they occupy—by supporting their dignity where others less discreet
would pull it down ; but it remains for the Brethren at large to carry out one extensive scheme of reformation , and to raise the Order to its former high position . Once more . There are some clergymen who , from a mistaken view in my huinble opinion , refuse their pnlpits to the Provincial Grand Chaplain . 1 think they are few in number , and those are generally into tied up by party feelings , indiscriminately high and low . Few clergyinen would be bold enough to stand between man and his Creator , and prevent any body of