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  • The Masonic Press
  • Jan. 1, 1866
  • Page 18
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The Masonic Press, Jan. 1, 1866: Page 18

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    Article OBJECTS OF MASONIC REFORM. ← Page 8 of 9 →
Page 18

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Objects Of Masonic Reform.

the laws of the craft they haA e been so irequently changed , that the body of masonry can have but very little soul attached to it UOAV . If it is contended that the term applies to the ritual the innovations , and innovators , are , and haA'e been , equally frequent and numerous . That portion of Freemasonry having undergone so many ultra changes •—reforms they cannot be called , because they have been destructive

and not preservative—now differs so materially from that in use at the period of the revival that , to use a familiar though forcible phrase , its OAVU parents could scarcely recognize it . Every one AVIIO chooses to introduce a IIOAV reading , good , bad , or indifferent , either in the laAV or the ritual , does it at his sole Avill and pleasure , and is sure to findas his opportunities are extended or contractedmore

, , or less supporters . " Men are machines , with all their boasted freedom , " Their movements turn upon some favorite passion ; " Let art but find the latent foible out , " We touch the spring , and wind them at our pleasure . " Bitoox

. It is problematical if this art is really understood by the Grand Secretary who boasts " I am the Grand Master ; " and , laying doAvn his version of our taws , Avould Avish all masonic slaves to fall doAvn and AVorship him as a Sir Oracle , but even oracles have been notorious for their falsehood and double dealing . Thus no faith can be pinned to this amateur Grand Master ' s decisions , for the Grand lodge claims

for itself the poAver of framing . IIOAV laivs , abrogating old ones , and settling Avhat is , and shall be , the ritualistic language and observance of the craft , and this shoAA r s us that , both a man , and a body of men , not oidy have the AVIU , but actually , and Avhenever they choose , make innovation in the body of masonry . If AVC survey Freemasonry from pole to pole one of the most striking phenomena that Avill

present itself to our TIOAV is the utter absence of -unity in its laws , history , ceremonies , and customs . In no two countries , states , kingdoms , or empires , do these particulars accord .. England and France are , in these matters , at direct variance . France does not agree with Germany ; Germany Avith Holland ; Holland Avith Sweden ; SAveden A \ ith America ; America Avith Scotland ; Scotland with Ireland , or

Ireland Avith England . In short there is no Masonic unity on the face of the earth . Again if AVC take Rites , or systems , Ave shall find as great , or greater , diversity than there are countries , but confining ourselves to those practised in England , What do Ave see 1 The Craft is separated from the Arch , although the latter is declared to be the completion of the former . The Craft Avas entirely changedor

, innovated on , in 1813 , and the Arch underwent a similar process in 1835 . The Arch repudiates the Mark degree and is equally unconcerned about it Avhether it is derived from the old Northern usage , the Irish , Scotch , or the more modern burlesque located in Bedford-roAA , Avith a ritual barely three years old . Knight Templary underwent serious innovations in 1851 , and is ignored by

“The Masonic Press: 1866-01-01, Page 18” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 23 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/msp/issues/mxr_01011866/page/18/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
Untitled Article 3
NUMBER ONE. Article 4
"LIVE AND LET LIVE." Article 9
OBJECTS OF MASONIC REFORM. Article 11
MASONIC ANTIQUITIES, DOCUMENTS, &c. JERUSALEM ENCAMPMENT, MANCHESTER. Article 20
REPRINT OF SCARCE, OR CURICUS, BOOKS ON FREEMASONRY. Article 27
THE RITE OF MISRAIM. Article 32
NOTES AND QUERIES FOR FREEMASONS. Article 36
MASONIC ENCLAVES. Article 38
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 38
EVENTS AND THINGS TO BE REMEMBERED. Article 41
CLOTHING FOR THE RISING STAR OF WESTERN INDIA. Article 43
REVIEWS. Article 43
POETRY. Article 44
THE MASONIC REPORTER. Article 46
KNIGHT TEMPLARY. Article 47
CRAFT FREEMASONRY. Article 50
OBITUARY. Article 50
NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 51
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Objects Of Masonic Reform.

the laws of the craft they haA e been so irequently changed , that the body of masonry can have but very little soul attached to it UOAV . If it is contended that the term applies to the ritual the innovations , and innovators , are , and haA'e been , equally frequent and numerous . That portion of Freemasonry having undergone so many ultra changes •—reforms they cannot be called , because they have been destructive

and not preservative—now differs so materially from that in use at the period of the revival that , to use a familiar though forcible phrase , its OAVU parents could scarcely recognize it . Every one AVIIO chooses to introduce a IIOAV reading , good , bad , or indifferent , either in the laAV or the ritual , does it at his sole Avill and pleasure , and is sure to findas his opportunities are extended or contractedmore

, , or less supporters . " Men are machines , with all their boasted freedom , " Their movements turn upon some favorite passion ; " Let art but find the latent foible out , " We touch the spring , and wind them at our pleasure . " Bitoox

. It is problematical if this art is really understood by the Grand Secretary who boasts " I am the Grand Master ; " and , laying doAvn his version of our taws , Avould Avish all masonic slaves to fall doAvn and AVorship him as a Sir Oracle , but even oracles have been notorious for their falsehood and double dealing . Thus no faith can be pinned to this amateur Grand Master ' s decisions , for the Grand lodge claims

for itself the poAver of framing . IIOAV laivs , abrogating old ones , and settling Avhat is , and shall be , the ritualistic language and observance of the craft , and this shoAA r s us that , both a man , and a body of men , not oidy have the AVIU , but actually , and Avhenever they choose , make innovation in the body of masonry . If AVC survey Freemasonry from pole to pole one of the most striking phenomena that Avill

present itself to our TIOAV is the utter absence of -unity in its laws , history , ceremonies , and customs . In no two countries , states , kingdoms , or empires , do these particulars accord .. England and France are , in these matters , at direct variance . France does not agree with Germany ; Germany Avith Holland ; Holland Avith Sweden ; SAveden A \ ith America ; America Avith Scotland ; Scotland with Ireland , or

Ireland Avith England . In short there is no Masonic unity on the face of the earth . Again if AVC take Rites , or systems , Ave shall find as great , or greater , diversity than there are countries , but confining ourselves to those practised in England , What do Ave see 1 The Craft is separated from the Arch , although the latter is declared to be the completion of the former . The Craft Avas entirely changedor

, innovated on , in 1813 , and the Arch underwent a similar process in 1835 . The Arch repudiates the Mark degree and is equally unconcerned about it Avhether it is derived from the old Northern usage , the Irish , Scotch , or the more modern burlesque located in Bedford-roAA , Avith a ritual barely three years old . Knight Templary underwent serious innovations in 1851 , and is ignored by

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