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Article LODGE LIBRARIES. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Lodge Libraries.
m various ways we think is beyond a matter of doubt , as they would tend to introduce a healthier feeling in some special respects , and open the door to a more cultured representation of our ritual , as well as a more living and active developement of Masonic studies . Freemasom-y suffers from a riid use of ritualand ritual onl
g , y ; from stereotyped formalities and unchanging usages . Beyond the mere current version of ignorantly perused legends , and the customary " hash up " of uncritical Masonic writers , some seem to think it unadvisable to proceed , and hardly " good form " to seek
to advance . All ori ginal efforts of thought or-enquiry are too often " tabooed , " and the consequence undoubtedl y is that with too many of our good brethren ( and in all jurisdictions alike for the matter of that ) we have a halting , because unscientific , rendering of archaic formula ? , a staunch adherence to usages whose meaning has been
forgotten , and a sort of curiously formed history of Freemasonry , partly transcendental , and partly chaotic , which cannot face for one moment the sterner demands of a sifting criticism of the one safe test , historical accuracy . Many Avriters in the last twenty-five years , and some at the beginning of the present and end of the last century
, sought after a more health y treatment of our curious and numerous authorities , MS . and printed ; and the last work of Bro . Gould shows us how carefully and critically , and on what a scientific basis , and with what lucid statement of facts , a Masonic history can and ought to be written .
At York lately a small band of brethren have sought to vitalize the current of ancient Freemasonry of that famous city ; and we owe much to their zealous efforts in favour of Masonic archasology , and their numerous contributions , to elucidate moot points in our ancient history and common Masonic life .
And if there are some faint signs of a revival amongst us of a tendency to encourage Masonic literature , we trust that it may continue and increase . It certainly does make some of us , who value a Masonic library and knew what its worth is and might be to English Freemasomy and to our lodges , long for better days in this respect .
For the library would form so useful an adjunct to all Masonic work , and , if it were regarded with more favour and supported Avith more zeal amongst us , we need not be put to the blush by the commendable efforts and energy of our American brethren , for instance , in this respect .
Take the following account , for instance , of the Grand Lodge Library of Iowa , from the loica City Republican ; it will , we think , have some interest and afford a few kindly hints and ideas to some of our readers . This is bhe library , as our readers will recollect ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Lodge Libraries.
m various ways we think is beyond a matter of doubt , as they would tend to introduce a healthier feeling in some special respects , and open the door to a more cultured representation of our ritual , as well as a more living and active developement of Masonic studies . Freemasom-y suffers from a riid use of ritualand ritual onl
g , y ; from stereotyped formalities and unchanging usages . Beyond the mere current version of ignorantly perused legends , and the customary " hash up " of uncritical Masonic writers , some seem to think it unadvisable to proceed , and hardly " good form " to seek
to advance . All ori ginal efforts of thought or-enquiry are too often " tabooed , " and the consequence undoubtedl y is that with too many of our good brethren ( and in all jurisdictions alike for the matter of that ) we have a halting , because unscientific , rendering of archaic formula ? , a staunch adherence to usages whose meaning has been
forgotten , and a sort of curiously formed history of Freemasonry , partly transcendental , and partly chaotic , which cannot face for one moment the sterner demands of a sifting criticism of the one safe test , historical accuracy . Many Avriters in the last twenty-five years , and some at the beginning of the present and end of the last century
, sought after a more health y treatment of our curious and numerous authorities , MS . and printed ; and the last work of Bro . Gould shows us how carefully and critically , and on what a scientific basis , and with what lucid statement of facts , a Masonic history can and ought to be written .
At York lately a small band of brethren have sought to vitalize the current of ancient Freemasonry of that famous city ; and we owe much to their zealous efforts in favour of Masonic archasology , and their numerous contributions , to elucidate moot points in our ancient history and common Masonic life .
And if there are some faint signs of a revival amongst us of a tendency to encourage Masonic literature , we trust that it may continue and increase . It certainly does make some of us , who value a Masonic library and knew what its worth is and might be to English Freemasomy and to our lodges , long for better days in this respect .
For the library would form so useful an adjunct to all Masonic work , and , if it were regarded with more favour and supported Avith more zeal amongst us , we need not be put to the blush by the commendable efforts and energy of our American brethren , for instance , in this respect .
Take the following account , for instance , of the Grand Lodge Library of Iowa , from the loica City Republican ; it will , we think , have some interest and afford a few kindly hints and ideas to some of our readers . This is bhe library , as our readers will recollect ,