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employed be adequate to carry out this spirit , no doubt can subsist as to the certainty of the future progress . We cordially thank our Brethren for their unanimous zeal and friendship , and we boldly congratulate whilst we thtok them ; they have served the Craft in serving
us ; and as , on the one hand , they have given encouragement ample and untiring to our endeavours to substantiate the respect of the external world towards Masonry , they have proved their own genuine appreciation of the Order by corroborating the true and perpetual alliance between it and science .
What then can we propose for the good of Masonry ? We admit that here , as in every sanative process , the issue must depend , in some important degree , upon the common sense and tact exhibited by those who adapt the general principles to particular cases . A retrospect of what Masonry has done , and a thoughtful consideration of what we have shown it should avoid , will go far to restore much of
its early efficiency ; for let it be , once for all , well understood that Masonry is not superannuated , but as a most powerful combination of wealth , class , and mind , possesses facilities of adaptation to all times and countries which no other association can enjoy . Still , there are some suggestions of a direct special character , which may well be elaborated by the Masters of Lodges , and the utility of which will soon be so evident as to ensure , we trust , speedy adoption
throughout the Order . These suggestions also will not lessen goodfellowship or festive association , but will induce mind to accept an invitation to our tables . If it be objected that intellectual development , or the exercise of thought , does not well concur with banquets , then let such reunions of Lodges for the purposes we are about to mention take place at some other periods than at the seasons of revelry—all we plead for is that such intellectual and scientific meetings do occur ; how and when , we leave to each W . M . to determine .
1 . We would advise , then , that each Lodge arrange for regular periodical meetings of its members , whereat some scientific or literary paper may be read , similarly to what is done at the convention of our several learned societies , and which might resemble the plan adopted when Masonry was at its zenith , and the W . M . himself instructed the Brethren to become skilled Craftsmen . If well elaborated ,
Masonry contains affinities to all science , and may be made the harbinger of all knowledge ; and when we reflect upon the fact , that its ranks contain men eminent in every walk of scientific inquiry , it seems strange that these should pour out the treasures of their intellect to all but the Fraternity whose interests they are solemnly sworn to serve . It is impossible to over-estimate the power one
Lodge even , possesses of instructing itself and others in the hidden mysteries of nature and science . As an intelligent Brother remarked recently to us : " Under the banner of love and charity the representatives and officers of rival railways forget their opposition , and act in amity , thereby affording an opportunity for the erasure of private piques and differences , by the establishment of a better mutual understanding personally . " Why need this great benefit of our
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
employed be adequate to carry out this spirit , no doubt can subsist as to the certainty of the future progress . We cordially thank our Brethren for their unanimous zeal and friendship , and we boldly congratulate whilst we thtok them ; they have served the Craft in serving
us ; and as , on the one hand , they have given encouragement ample and untiring to our endeavours to substantiate the respect of the external world towards Masonry , they have proved their own genuine appreciation of the Order by corroborating the true and perpetual alliance between it and science .
What then can we propose for the good of Masonry ? We admit that here , as in every sanative process , the issue must depend , in some important degree , upon the common sense and tact exhibited by those who adapt the general principles to particular cases . A retrospect of what Masonry has done , and a thoughtful consideration of what we have shown it should avoid , will go far to restore much of
its early efficiency ; for let it be , once for all , well understood that Masonry is not superannuated , but as a most powerful combination of wealth , class , and mind , possesses facilities of adaptation to all times and countries which no other association can enjoy . Still , there are some suggestions of a direct special character , which may well be elaborated by the Masters of Lodges , and the utility of which will soon be so evident as to ensure , we trust , speedy adoption
throughout the Order . These suggestions also will not lessen goodfellowship or festive association , but will induce mind to accept an invitation to our tables . If it be objected that intellectual development , or the exercise of thought , does not well concur with banquets , then let such reunions of Lodges for the purposes we are about to mention take place at some other periods than at the seasons of revelry—all we plead for is that such intellectual and scientific meetings do occur ; how and when , we leave to each W . M . to determine .
1 . We would advise , then , that each Lodge arrange for regular periodical meetings of its members , whereat some scientific or literary paper may be read , similarly to what is done at the convention of our several learned societies , and which might resemble the plan adopted when Masonry was at its zenith , and the W . M . himself instructed the Brethren to become skilled Craftsmen . If well elaborated ,
Masonry contains affinities to all science , and may be made the harbinger of all knowledge ; and when we reflect upon the fact , that its ranks contain men eminent in every walk of scientific inquiry , it seems strange that these should pour out the treasures of their intellect to all but the Fraternity whose interests they are solemnly sworn to serve . It is impossible to over-estimate the power one
Lodge even , possesses of instructing itself and others in the hidden mysteries of nature and science . As an intelligent Brother remarked recently to us : " Under the banner of love and charity the representatives and officers of rival railways forget their opposition , and act in amity , thereby affording an opportunity for the erasure of private piques and differences , by the establishment of a better mutual understanding personally . " Why need this great benefit of our