-
Articles/Ads
Article THE INFLUENCE EXERTED BY DR. OLIVER'S WORKS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article LYING FALLOW. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Influence Exerted By Dr. Oliver's Works.
So convinced in the Avriter of this paper of the happy results that Avould accrue from a thorough acquaintance Avith Bro . Oliver ' s books , that he -hopes to be permitted to propound ere long in the ¦ pages of this MAGAZINE , a plan whereby at least
¦ "the younger members of the Craft may be stimulated to " read , mark , learn , and inwardly digest , " writings that ( notwithstanding some blemishes , for nothing belonging to man can be free from
imperfection ) must exert a salutary influence on their understandings and their hearts , and thus -advance the interests of our beloved Order throughout the Avorld .
Lying Fallow.
LYING FALLOW .
In the economy of nature it is provided that -even the most productive fields shall occasionally . take a period of rest , or , in the language of farmers , "lie fallow , " that in due time the plough may again furrow the surface , and the golden crop
requite the labour and make glad the heart of the husbandman . The natural covetousness of the . human heart Avould prevent obedience to this laAV . of nature were it not that experience , the most persevering * and expensive of schoolmasters , but
the most thorough-paced in the end , has demonstrated that profit is found in compliance . In other affairs of life the same rule prevails ¦ the hardest student is obliged to unbend his mind
occasionally ; the business man forgets UOAV and .. again the heart-searing pursuit ot gain , and letting * the shop lie fallow he mingles Avith his felloAvs and becomes something * better than a mere machine for grinding out dollars . The editor—ah !
.. there is no falloAv spot in the year for the knights of the quill . Summer's heat , and winter ' s cold . are alike to them , their task is never finished , their . toil ever beginning , and Avhen they have rolled one month ' s stone up the hill , they must go to the
bottom and begin again for the next . Theirs , . however , is the exception which proves the rule . This law applies to Ma ' sonry , Avhich is aptly likened to a vineyard , some parts of Avhich must occasionally lie fallow that in the end they may yield more
. fruit . As a general thing we have been under too liigh a state of cultivation . We have applied the principles of heat and moisture in tlie shape of steam till Ave have forced an overgrowth Avhich , . although pleasant to behold , must in tho end prove a , source of weakness rather than of strength . We . have pushed forward our vines rather to make
branches and leaves than bunches of satisfying fruit . In summer time the prudent master of a vineyard goes forth among the plants and trims out the suckers which detract from the strength of the vine and produce no fruit ; but if we look
through our Masonic vineyard Ave shall find a luxuriant crop of suckers sprouting forth from every joint , rioting in the general strength , but yielding nothing in return . In some places they call them non-affiliated Masons and the reader is
at liberty to choose the designation he likes best . The principle is the same in either case . If the portion of our patrimony Avhich encourages this untoward growth Avere left fallow for a while the result must prove a great benefit to the general
crop . In our pursuit of numbers Ave have very generally been too careless in the quality and kind of vines set out in our plantation . We have not taken sufficient pains to knoAv whether the new plant was likely to bear leaves only or fruit in its season , and Avhat kind of fruit . There is a Ions * distance
between the fox grape Avhich hangs uncultivated from the forest branches and the purple Isabella filled Avith luscious juice which rewards the careful tiller . In our inconsiderate haste we have admitted too many fox grapes to occupy the ground
that should have been occupied by a better article ; better , many times better that the ground should have been without any crop . The horticultural theory of fallow fields is not only that they rest after the production of their
yield , but that by the influences of natural causes they are gathering those chemical principles necessary to successful culture . The same reason presents itself why our labours in the accretive direction should occasionally cease . While we
devote our whole energies , exhaust our time and zeal in the mere aggregation of numbers , we may be likened to men who sow all kinds of seed
broadcast Avithout any regard to the fitness of things , or any hope but that there Avill be an abundant yield of green things . But if Ave were discreet farmers Ave should lay out our fields with a view to the future , we should not admit every
claimant because of a plausible exterior or even an ardent desire to be Avithin our fold , rather inquiring Avhat he Avould give back for the place he occupies , and how much his advent would tend to promote the success of the cause entrusted to our supervision . In Masonry , as in nature , lying fallow is not
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Influence Exerted By Dr. Oliver's Works.
So convinced in the Avriter of this paper of the happy results that Avould accrue from a thorough acquaintance Avith Bro . Oliver ' s books , that he -hopes to be permitted to propound ere long in the ¦ pages of this MAGAZINE , a plan whereby at least
¦ "the younger members of the Craft may be stimulated to " read , mark , learn , and inwardly digest , " writings that ( notwithstanding some blemishes , for nothing belonging to man can be free from
imperfection ) must exert a salutary influence on their understandings and their hearts , and thus -advance the interests of our beloved Order throughout the Avorld .
Lying Fallow.
LYING FALLOW .
In the economy of nature it is provided that -even the most productive fields shall occasionally . take a period of rest , or , in the language of farmers , "lie fallow , " that in due time the plough may again furrow the surface , and the golden crop
requite the labour and make glad the heart of the husbandman . The natural covetousness of the . human heart Avould prevent obedience to this laAV . of nature were it not that experience , the most persevering * and expensive of schoolmasters , but
the most thorough-paced in the end , has demonstrated that profit is found in compliance . In other affairs of life the same rule prevails ¦ the hardest student is obliged to unbend his mind
occasionally ; the business man forgets UOAV and .. again the heart-searing pursuit ot gain , and letting * the shop lie fallow he mingles Avith his felloAvs and becomes something * better than a mere machine for grinding out dollars . The editor—ah !
.. there is no falloAv spot in the year for the knights of the quill . Summer's heat , and winter ' s cold . are alike to them , their task is never finished , their . toil ever beginning , and Avhen they have rolled one month ' s stone up the hill , they must go to the
bottom and begin again for the next . Theirs , . however , is the exception which proves the rule . This law applies to Ma ' sonry , Avhich is aptly likened to a vineyard , some parts of Avhich must occasionally lie fallow that in the end they may yield more
. fruit . As a general thing we have been under too liigh a state of cultivation . We have applied the principles of heat and moisture in tlie shape of steam till Ave have forced an overgrowth Avhich , . although pleasant to behold , must in tho end prove a , source of weakness rather than of strength . We . have pushed forward our vines rather to make
branches and leaves than bunches of satisfying fruit . In summer time the prudent master of a vineyard goes forth among the plants and trims out the suckers which detract from the strength of the vine and produce no fruit ; but if we look
through our Masonic vineyard Ave shall find a luxuriant crop of suckers sprouting forth from every joint , rioting in the general strength , but yielding nothing in return . In some places they call them non-affiliated Masons and the reader is
at liberty to choose the designation he likes best . The principle is the same in either case . If the portion of our patrimony Avhich encourages this untoward growth Avere left fallow for a while the result must prove a great benefit to the general
crop . In our pursuit of numbers Ave have very generally been too careless in the quality and kind of vines set out in our plantation . We have not taken sufficient pains to knoAv whether the new plant was likely to bear leaves only or fruit in its season , and Avhat kind of fruit . There is a Ions * distance
between the fox grape Avhich hangs uncultivated from the forest branches and the purple Isabella filled Avith luscious juice which rewards the careful tiller . In our inconsiderate haste we have admitted too many fox grapes to occupy the ground
that should have been occupied by a better article ; better , many times better that the ground should have been without any crop . The horticultural theory of fallow fields is not only that they rest after the production of their
yield , but that by the influences of natural causes they are gathering those chemical principles necessary to successful culture . The same reason presents itself why our labours in the accretive direction should occasionally cease . While we
devote our whole energies , exhaust our time and zeal in the mere aggregation of numbers , we may be likened to men who sow all kinds of seed
broadcast Avithout any regard to the fitness of things , or any hope but that there Avill be an abundant yield of green things . But if Ave were discreet farmers Ave should lay out our fields with a view to the future , we should not admit every
claimant because of a plausible exterior or even an ardent desire to be Avithin our fold , rather inquiring Avhat he Avould give back for the place he occupies , and how much his advent would tend to promote the success of the cause entrusted to our supervision . In Masonry , as in nature , lying fallow is not