-
Articles/Ads
Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article FREEMASON'S WIFE. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
To recruit , for any cause , it is not necessary that we should parade the streets with , as Othello says : — "The neighing steed , and the shrill trump , The spirit-stirring drum , the ear-piercing fife , The royal banner ; and all quality , Pride , pomp , and circumstance of glorious war . "
Though all these are legitimately transferred to the cause of more glorious peace . It is not necessary that we should literally go in search of candidates to the market-place , the church , the theatre , or the fire-side ; still loss to beat up those back slums and dens of ignorance , vice , and misery , where your coi-respondents assert , it may be correctly , that our army is principally recruited from . Even for procuring
a supply of common soldiers , were your columns the proper place for the purpose , methinks I could propose a better and a fairer plan than the one which is now adopted . I have never proposed that Ave should slacken the strict scrutiny of the ballot-box ; but I have repeatedly proposed that we should be more chary in bestowing the privileges of Freemasonry on candidates , so as to confine them , as originally intended
, " to worthy men and to worthy men alone , " as you , Dear Sir and Brother , can bear testimony , if need be . I have not proposed to lower the initiation fee ; all that I have done is , to propose to allow the common soldier , who may occasionally be a Samuel Taylor Coleridge , to stand on the same level with the tinker , the bailiff , ' the policeman , the hawker of pots , aud the chimney-sweeper ; and
for this grievous crime the foulest vices are laid to my charge , and the innocent expression , " to recruit for Freemasonry , " is rancorously denounced as a breach of my obligation !
I have shown that " to recruit" is merely " to repair anything wasted , by new supplies ; " I have also shown that there is a waste , of necessity , constantly going on in our ranks . In Masonry , as in every thing else , we have but to offer a sufficient inducement , and we shall never want for candidates volunteering to swell our ranks . As it is , the great difficulty is , not to get members , but to take care that
they are all men of the right stamp . Now to help to secure this object , my first step in recruiting would be , to completely cut the cord which connects the working of the Craft with taverns . Though the publican may not always have gained by having a lodge at his house , the Order has always suffered by the connection . Hence I would completely sever that linkas the first step in recruiting
, my progress . In this I trust that Bro . Webster and myself may have something to agree in ; for I see that the Britannia Lodge , No . 162 , of which lie is secretary , meets in the Music-hall , at Sheffield , and I hope it will not he long without , as every town ought to have , a hall solely devoted to the use of the Craft . On which subject more anon .
In my next letter I will give my reasons for taking my proposed first step in recruiting for Freemasonry . It is my intention , in this series of letters , first to state what I would do , and then to give my reasons for doing it . If my Brother can give any reasons for not taking the steps I propose , I for one , will be glad to give them the most attentive consideration . But , I regret to say , from the expei'ience I have
already had in the Craft , I expect abuse , and , therefore , can bear it philosophically . I mention this , not from any wish to traduce or under-rate any Avho have taken upon themselves our solemn obligations , but as an intimation to them that they must chauge their tactics if they wish to oppose me . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Tours , very Fraternally , Oct . 6 th , 1861 . BEOTHEE PETEE .
Freemason's Wife.
FREEMASON'S WIFE .
10 THE MllOJ OT THE EltEEaUSONS MAGAZINE A 2 TD MASOiaC MHItOH . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —A "FEBEMASON ' S WIPE" must be pardoned for entertaining ideas respecting our works and deeds , held by the majority of ladies whose husbands have either " not long joined our body , " or have not the honour to belong to us , there existing too much cause for many of the harsh and discouraging remarks of the tender
sex , arising from the , laxity of our brethren , their want of comprehension of our pinciples , or an indisposition to put them into exercise , arising from a mixture of both . As I remarked , page 10 , No . 27 , 1860 , of your MAGAZINE , "Institution does not make holy men ; confirmation , Christians -, initiation , Freemasons ; castigation , good boys ;"
aud it is to be much regretted that there are many who have so been humoured as to be initiated into the " mysteries " of the Craft , who live a long life ancl die unconscious of its principles—who attend punctually whenever there be a banquet , but seldom seek instruction bow best tbey may Masonically vender themselves more extensively serviceable to their fellow creatures ; and oftimes in the company of
strangers to our ancient and honourable institution , and most especially in the presence of ladies , speak jestingly of our ceremonies , and report to them , prejudically to our honour , that the whole affair , from beginning to the end , is a constant draught on our pockets to pay for banquets , suppers , and convivialties of all sorts . " Bub my dear sir , there he amongst tbe thousandsAvho range under our banners
, many AV'ho never felt their true existence in this world until assisted by that light which is from , above , made known to them first in the course of our very beautiful and religious ceremonies—and I hesitate not to add that many have the applications been to me for explanation and instruction by brethren anxiously desiring to do their duty to the Most High , their duty to their neighbour , and hence their duty
to themselves ; and if the "Freemason's Wife" could only have heard the deep spirit of thankfulness that has upon such occasions been exercised towards me , and recollect that the names of mest of our noblemen and gentlemen known for their liberal donations to all kinds of charitable institutions are to be found in the lists of its members , she would truthfully think that in Freemasonry there must be some very strong attractions other than banquets or suchlike matters of expenditure .
It has been my great pleasure to introduce at the altar of tbe Most High more than one initiate Avho , on their return therefrom , have , to use their own expression , breathed a very different atmosphere than they had over experienced before , and laid the foundation for the exercise of those heavenly virtues so impressively rendered in our teachings , and who have confessed that from their initiation thej r have
received such information and instruction that they have altered their course of life—have more frequently attended that place of worship actually used by those nearest and dearest to them , that their minds have been directed to their common duty in this world , and led to entertain a firm faith that hy a proper discharge of those duties which had been so forcibl lained to them in the charge delivered
y exp to them on their initiation , they may entertain a reasonable hope that at the close of their earthly career they maj' he found worthy to form part of that Spiritual Mansion—that house not made by bands—the one Eternal—in the heavens . Such arc , in my opinion , properly called Freemasons—and such a one it is hoped the husband ofthe "Freemason's Wife "
will become—and then indeed may she be deeply thankful that he had gained admission through the porchway of a Masonic lodge . It is the abuse of a privilege that is to be censured , hut if a child after confirmation be not a Christian , blame not Christianity . If a husband after initiation be not a Freemason , blame not Freemasonry . Iu both cases there must
be some deficiency , much to be deplored , in the individual . After tho excellent replies that you have offered for the acceptance ofthe "Freemason ' s Wife" have been thoroughly considered by her , let us express a hope that she will encourage her husband to be constant ancl punctual in his attendance at his lodge , that he may , by zeal and assiduity , exhibit such proofs of excellence in his Masonic works as will insure
preferment and progress through the various offices in the Craft , until he may have the honour to be placed in the highest position that can be held in the lodge , resulting in the utmost felicity to him , to her , and to every member of his family . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours , faithfully and fraternally , Oct . 6 th , 1861 . R . E . X .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
To recruit , for any cause , it is not necessary that we should parade the streets with , as Othello says : — "The neighing steed , and the shrill trump , The spirit-stirring drum , the ear-piercing fife , The royal banner ; and all quality , Pride , pomp , and circumstance of glorious war . "
Though all these are legitimately transferred to the cause of more glorious peace . It is not necessary that we should literally go in search of candidates to the market-place , the church , the theatre , or the fire-side ; still loss to beat up those back slums and dens of ignorance , vice , and misery , where your coi-respondents assert , it may be correctly , that our army is principally recruited from . Even for procuring
a supply of common soldiers , were your columns the proper place for the purpose , methinks I could propose a better and a fairer plan than the one which is now adopted . I have never proposed that Ave should slacken the strict scrutiny of the ballot-box ; but I have repeatedly proposed that we should be more chary in bestowing the privileges of Freemasonry on candidates , so as to confine them , as originally intended
, " to worthy men and to worthy men alone , " as you , Dear Sir and Brother , can bear testimony , if need be . I have not proposed to lower the initiation fee ; all that I have done is , to propose to allow the common soldier , who may occasionally be a Samuel Taylor Coleridge , to stand on the same level with the tinker , the bailiff , ' the policeman , the hawker of pots , aud the chimney-sweeper ; and
for this grievous crime the foulest vices are laid to my charge , and the innocent expression , " to recruit for Freemasonry , " is rancorously denounced as a breach of my obligation !
I have shown that " to recruit" is merely " to repair anything wasted , by new supplies ; " I have also shown that there is a waste , of necessity , constantly going on in our ranks . In Masonry , as in every thing else , we have but to offer a sufficient inducement , and we shall never want for candidates volunteering to swell our ranks . As it is , the great difficulty is , not to get members , but to take care that
they are all men of the right stamp . Now to help to secure this object , my first step in recruiting would be , to completely cut the cord which connects the working of the Craft with taverns . Though the publican may not always have gained by having a lodge at his house , the Order has always suffered by the connection . Hence I would completely sever that linkas the first step in recruiting
, my progress . In this I trust that Bro . Webster and myself may have something to agree in ; for I see that the Britannia Lodge , No . 162 , of which lie is secretary , meets in the Music-hall , at Sheffield , and I hope it will not he long without , as every town ought to have , a hall solely devoted to the use of the Craft . On which subject more anon .
In my next letter I will give my reasons for taking my proposed first step in recruiting for Freemasonry . It is my intention , in this series of letters , first to state what I would do , and then to give my reasons for doing it . If my Brother can give any reasons for not taking the steps I propose , I for one , will be glad to give them the most attentive consideration . But , I regret to say , from the expei'ience I have
already had in the Craft , I expect abuse , and , therefore , can bear it philosophically . I mention this , not from any wish to traduce or under-rate any Avho have taken upon themselves our solemn obligations , but as an intimation to them that they must chauge their tactics if they wish to oppose me . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Tours , very Fraternally , Oct . 6 th , 1861 . BEOTHEE PETEE .
Freemason's Wife.
FREEMASON'S WIFE .
10 THE MllOJ OT THE EltEEaUSONS MAGAZINE A 2 TD MASOiaC MHItOH . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , —A "FEBEMASON ' S WIPE" must be pardoned for entertaining ideas respecting our works and deeds , held by the majority of ladies whose husbands have either " not long joined our body , " or have not the honour to belong to us , there existing too much cause for many of the harsh and discouraging remarks of the tender
sex , arising from the , laxity of our brethren , their want of comprehension of our pinciples , or an indisposition to put them into exercise , arising from a mixture of both . As I remarked , page 10 , No . 27 , 1860 , of your MAGAZINE , "Institution does not make holy men ; confirmation , Christians -, initiation , Freemasons ; castigation , good boys ;"
aud it is to be much regretted that there are many who have so been humoured as to be initiated into the " mysteries " of the Craft , who live a long life ancl die unconscious of its principles—who attend punctually whenever there be a banquet , but seldom seek instruction bow best tbey may Masonically vender themselves more extensively serviceable to their fellow creatures ; and oftimes in the company of
strangers to our ancient and honourable institution , and most especially in the presence of ladies , speak jestingly of our ceremonies , and report to them , prejudically to our honour , that the whole affair , from beginning to the end , is a constant draught on our pockets to pay for banquets , suppers , and convivialties of all sorts . " Bub my dear sir , there he amongst tbe thousandsAvho range under our banners
, many AV'ho never felt their true existence in this world until assisted by that light which is from , above , made known to them first in the course of our very beautiful and religious ceremonies—and I hesitate not to add that many have the applications been to me for explanation and instruction by brethren anxiously desiring to do their duty to the Most High , their duty to their neighbour , and hence their duty
to themselves ; and if the "Freemason's Wife" could only have heard the deep spirit of thankfulness that has upon such occasions been exercised towards me , and recollect that the names of mest of our noblemen and gentlemen known for their liberal donations to all kinds of charitable institutions are to be found in the lists of its members , she would truthfully think that in Freemasonry there must be some very strong attractions other than banquets or suchlike matters of expenditure .
It has been my great pleasure to introduce at the altar of tbe Most High more than one initiate Avho , on their return therefrom , have , to use their own expression , breathed a very different atmosphere than they had over experienced before , and laid the foundation for the exercise of those heavenly virtues so impressively rendered in our teachings , and who have confessed that from their initiation thej r have
received such information and instruction that they have altered their course of life—have more frequently attended that place of worship actually used by those nearest and dearest to them , that their minds have been directed to their common duty in this world , and led to entertain a firm faith that hy a proper discharge of those duties which had been so forcibl lained to them in the charge delivered
y exp to them on their initiation , they may entertain a reasonable hope that at the close of their earthly career they maj' he found worthy to form part of that Spiritual Mansion—that house not made by bands—the one Eternal—in the heavens . Such arc , in my opinion , properly called Freemasons—and such a one it is hoped the husband ofthe "Freemason's Wife "
will become—and then indeed may she be deeply thankful that he had gained admission through the porchway of a Masonic lodge . It is the abuse of a privilege that is to be censured , hut if a child after confirmation be not a Christian , blame not Christianity . If a husband after initiation be not a Freemason , blame not Freemasonry . Iu both cases there must
be some deficiency , much to be deplored , in the individual . After tho excellent replies that you have offered for the acceptance ofthe "Freemason ' s Wife" have been thoroughly considered by her , let us express a hope that she will encourage her husband to be constant ancl punctual in his attendance at his lodge , that he may , by zeal and assiduity , exhibit such proofs of excellence in his Masonic works as will insure
preferment and progress through the various offices in the Craft , until he may have the honour to be placed in the highest position that can be held in the lodge , resulting in the utmost felicity to him , to her , and to every member of his family . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours , faithfully and fraternally , Oct . 6 th , 1861 . R . E . X .