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Article MASONIC MISSIONS. ← Page 2 of 8 →
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Masonic Missions.
shortcomings in return , because we do nob expect to bo perfect ; and even with tlie best information that is accessible to \ is , we caimot have the local knowledge of resident brethren . Wo therefore welcome " P . P . " and all such critics , who , like Bro . Kelly , supply our deficiencies ¦ while they promote tho cause for which AVO labour . With regard to the lioyal Arch Chapter of No . 597 , wo have no correction to make ,
as we have not shorn the Lodgo of its Chapter ; at page 533 wc said "the wealthy and populous town of Beading supports ono Lodge and one Royal Arch Chapter . " As " P . P . " agrees with us on the general principle of Masonic extension , r . nd that there are towns which ought to have Lodges in Berks and Bucksive shall not contend witli him as to whicli those
, towns should be ; wc leave it to his local knowledge and that of his brethren . With regard to the question of ono or two Lodges in Reading , we caimot agree that one Lodge is enough in a large aud important town like Beading . True , it is a favourite theory that one great and united Lodge in a town is better than two , or as it is said two weak
ones , but v / e are not to assume that two Lodges will be weak , for there are many towns where there are two good working Lodges , and oach stimulates the oilier . We are very sure that no effective injury caii be doho by two Lodges to Masonry , for the funds required for Masonic purposes , or rather , the funds applied to Masonic purposes , aro not considerable ; but we believe it to be quite possible that the result of haviiiff two Lodges in some towns will be to diminish the
funds usually appropriated to banqueting—funds , that is to say , m many cases , embezzled from sacred uses . We believe that two Lodges in a town stimulate each other , although une perhaps may consist of professional men and tho other of shopkeepers , yet there ivill be a rivalry of character between each , and a rivalry in . working . In any large community there is always a diversity of tastes and pursuits , and it is desirable to afford some choice of association . ] 7 or want of this there
are many towns in which active and zealous Ivlasons retire from the Lodges because they cannot comfortably associate with certain of the brethren . Indeed from time to time new Lodges are started under such circumstances . We should not like however to guarantee that , notwithstanding tho large number of members at Beading , there is not a large number of non-subscribing Masons . One great object to
be attained is , to bring in thc noil-subscribing brethren and to make all active members . While great exertions are being made in all directions for the puri-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Missions.
shortcomings in return , because we do nob expect to bo perfect ; and even with tlie best information that is accessible to \ is , we caimot have the local knowledge of resident brethren . Wo therefore welcome " P . P . " and all such critics , who , like Bro . Kelly , supply our deficiencies ¦ while they promote tho cause for which AVO labour . With regard to the lioyal Arch Chapter of No . 597 , wo have no correction to make ,
as we have not shorn the Lodgo of its Chapter ; at page 533 wc said "the wealthy and populous town of Beading supports ono Lodge and one Royal Arch Chapter . " As " P . P . " agrees with us on the general principle of Masonic extension , r . nd that there are towns which ought to have Lodges in Berks and Bucksive shall not contend witli him as to whicli those
, towns should be ; wc leave it to his local knowledge and that of his brethren . With regard to the question of ono or two Lodges in Reading , we caimot agree that one Lodge is enough in a large aud important town like Beading . True , it is a favourite theory that one great and united Lodge in a town is better than two , or as it is said two weak
ones , but v / e are not to assume that two Lodges will be weak , for there are many towns where there are two good working Lodges , and oach stimulates the oilier . We are very sure that no effective injury caii be doho by two Lodges to Masonry , for the funds required for Masonic purposes , or rather , the funds applied to Masonic purposes , aro not considerable ; but we believe it to be quite possible that the result of haviiiff two Lodges in some towns will be to diminish the
funds usually appropriated to banqueting—funds , that is to say , m many cases , embezzled from sacred uses . We believe that two Lodges in a town stimulate each other , although une perhaps may consist of professional men and tho other of shopkeepers , yet there ivill be a rivalry of character between each , and a rivalry in . working . In any large community there is always a diversity of tastes and pursuits , and it is desirable to afford some choice of association . ] 7 or want of this there
are many towns in which active and zealous Ivlasons retire from the Lodges because they cannot comfortably associate with certain of the brethren . Indeed from time to time new Lodges are started under such circumstances . We should not like however to guarantee that , notwithstanding tho large number of members at Beading , there is not a large number of non-subscribing Masons . One great object to
be attained is , to bring in thc noil-subscribing brethren and to make all active members . While great exertions are being made in all directions for the puri-