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Article THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE W. MASTER. Page 1 of 1 Article THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE W. MASTER. Page 1 of 1 Article Press Exchanges and Books Received. Page 1 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Qualifications Of The W. Master.
THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE W . MASTER .
[ COMMUNICATED . ] ^ y . T Avas said of the French army that " every private soldier clb carried a Field Marshal ' s baton in his knapsack , " and it may _^ £ with equal truth be said that " OA ^ ery Mason who has attained the third degree holds in prospective the Master ' s gaA cl , " for it depends as entirely on himself in the latter case as in the former
A \ dicthor or not he attains the coveted position . But the object ot this short essay is to try and ascertain Avho should , and AA ho should ¦ not bo elected to this high and responsible office , on Avhich the future of each individual lodge , and , collectiA ely of the Avhole Craft , hangs . The Book of Constitutions only stipulates that the Master elect
shall have served for one year the office of Warden ( Senior or Junior being immaterial ) in some regular lodge under the English Constitution , and that he shall have been elected by the A otes of the brethren at a regular meeting of the lodge prior to the installation meeting , and presented to a Board of Installed Masters to receive the secrets of the Chair .
Let us , lioAveA'er , sec if these qualifications arc such as should suffice to maintain the dignity and ensure the future of that Grand Lodge of England AA'hich AVC SO proudly claim as the premier Grand Lodge of the Avorld , or Avhether the time has not arrived Avhen our rulers in the Craft should require something more than the A ery limited directions of the Constitutions IIOAV demand .
A brother may be a most estimable man , upright , honourable , deA oted to the Art , and even " Avord perfect in the Ritual , and yet be utterly unfit to be Master of his lodge , and yet he Avill claim by virtue of the le-r iimiscriptu of custom to pass to "the chair . " In the above description I haA'e a special case in my mind . A short time ago I Avas present at a ceremony Avhere the Master Avas all I
have said . but . he was . from lack of education , utterly incapable of speaking the English language correctly . He Avas an enthusiastic Mason of many years standing , and a successful business man , but he had never repaired the deficiencies of his youthful training . NOAV on this particular occasion the candidate for initiation Avas a man of culture and a uniA ersity graduate , and in spite of his
endeaA ours to be serious the impression produced on him by the Avhole ceremony Avas simply grotesque . The grand ritual Avas rattled off at railroad speed ( not a Avord being omitted , certainly , as the W . Bro . prided himself on being " word perfect" ) , aspirates were shaken freely into the compound , with the result that they usually fell in the wrong place , and the pronunciation of some of
the longer Avords had the effect of a new and unknown language . Now , I Avould ask , Avas this brother fit to be the occupant of the Master ' s chair , and to maintain the honour of the Craft . ' The Avhole Masonic career of that candidate Avas spoilt by his first impressions . What solemnity could there be to him Avhen the ceremony Avas performed by an utterly illiterate man , the division
of Avhose sentences depended on the store of breath he could command . ' So much for one side of the question . NOAV take the other . In another case under my notice , the members of a lodge placed a gentleman in the chair simply because of his position , and he only accepted on the distinct understanding that he should not be
called upon to work any degrees , that duty being undertaken by a P . M . by no means conspicuous for ability . Both these cases show a state of things utterly Avrong . and I am sorry ^ to say that I Jtnoic they are not exceptional . Upon the stability of the foundation depends the stability of the structure , and Ave have a right to demand that Avhen the
cornerstone of a neAV edifice is laid in the N . E . it shall be laid by a Master Architect Avho is competent to produce for the purpose a stone of true die or square , modelled , Avrought into due form , and rendered fit for its place in the intended structure ; and not a stone rough and unheAvn as taken from the quarries Avhich will be liable to give Avay AA'hen any strain is put upon it . My own experience Avas most happy . The Master from A \ 'hom I
received my degrees Avas one AA'ho not only felt , but conveyed what he felt , and I can remember no more solemn occasion in my life than AA'hen I took the S . O . of an E . A ., and so , when I haA e heard an unfortunate candidate stumbling and blundering after a W . M . Avho gave this same S . O . in a manner totally unintelligible to one unused to the Avording , I have felt the deepest regret for the loss he has sustained , and Avhich no future experience can entirely replace .
The constitutions of the G . L . of Ireland recommend . - that no brother shall be installed in the chair AAOIO cannot Avork properly all the degrees , but AVC of England have not even this saving clause , and from the variety of private interests Avhich must come into play in all things human , the members of lodges Avill not always be sufficiently strict in their choice , and the educational matter is a
delicate question for local consideration , nor can the personal good taste and feeling of a brother legally eligible , be depended on in all eases to prevent him from taking his stand on the " equality of all M . M . ' s , " instead of standing aside as he should . In the interests of Masonry , therefore , it is time that there should be an addition to those Constitutions referring to the Master , providing that his
' Presentation to a Board of Installed Masters should not be a mere matter of form . At present the said " Board " consists of the Past Masters of the lodge Avho are present , together Avith any other Masters or Past Masters Avho may happen to attend the installation : but the Past Masters of the lodge , even if their poAvers Avere extended , Avould not
like to be too severe , nor Avould the P . M . ' s of neighbouring lodges like to interfere to veto a W . M . elect . What I Avould suggest to meet the difficulty is this : —Give the "Board of Installed Masters " a definite constitution and status , and definite powers .
Let it consist of a certain number of Brethren elected in each Province . They must of course be P . M's . and P . Provincial Officers , and of conspicuous ability and learning in Masonic ritual and jurisprudence , and all matters connected Avith the art ; and of strictest and most unbiassed integrity . Membership of this Board
The Qualifications Of The W. Master.
Avonld naturally be the " Blue Ribbon ' of each Province , and the highest recognition of Masonic culture the Brethren could offer the members . Their duties should be to attend at stated times at various places , chosen to be easy of access from the majority of neighbouring lodges , and there open their " Board of Installed Masters " under the banner of a regular lodge , and examine into
the proficiency of all Avould-be Masters . They should make every candidate Avork all the degrees , and rigidly e-eclude those Avho could not do' so in a proper and effective manner , and their decision should be indisputable ., excepting by appeal to Grand Lodge . They should also instruct the candidate IIOAV to bring out the special points in the various addresses , so that the initiate may really have
some idea of the meaning of the ceremony he is going through . If they find a candidate competent , the Board should certify to his lodge under their hind and seal that he is such , and hence a fit and proper person to rule a lodge Avith credit to himself and those AVIIO have elected him , and AA'hen the time comes for the annual installation , the members of each lodge should select their W . M .
from those so certified . Personally , I consider that it Avould be advantageous for the W . M . Avhen installed to receive a certificate of competency as an ' Installed Master " similar to that issued in Scotland , but that Avould be a matter for after consideration . Of course there Avould be some few Avho would caAdl about the necessity for so-called equality , and question adverse decisions , but
every right-minded Mason Avould support such a Board as I ha \ r e indicated , and I am sure the gain to the Craft would be immense . We should haA e no Masters Avho either did not attempt to do their Avork , or who stumbled through it by the aid of a concealed Ritual ; neither a Master AVIIO considers speed a satisfactory substitute for a ram mar . Those AVIIO are educationally' unfitted for the
Eastern chair should be content with that in the West or South , nor is there any unfairness in this , for he Avho Avould only hold himself up to ridicule by assuming a position for which he is unfitted , Avould in himself hold up the Craft to the same fate , and if ho does not see this of his own accord , others should interfere . Provincial Grand Masters also Avould find their difficulties in
providing "Collars" for Past Masters largely decreased , for the number of them Avould be greatly lessened if every future Master had to " proA'e his title" instead of it being merely a question of time or influence , and at the same time , the value and dignity of the office Avould be greatly increased . It Avould be far better for the welfare of the lodges that Past Masters should be re-elected .
than that a false notion of Masonic equality should place a new and unfit brother in the supreme office . Why do not some of our more thoughtful Grand Officers and other Brethren agitato for this much-needed reform , and refuse to be satisfied until every future occupant of the chair of K . S . is , by
that very fact , certified to be a master architect of our great masonic art in the highest sense of the Avord . ' The brother AVIIO brings about this reform Avill be one of the greatest benefactors the Craft has ever had , and his memory Avill be held in grateful veneration as long as Masonry exists .
Press Exchanges And Books Received.
Press Exchanges and Books Received .
The Sydney Freemason ; Latumia , Aeuc Zeitschrijt Ji ' tr Friema . n rcrei ; Freem , t . fm ' x Journal , NBAV York ; Societii .
Bro . C . Woods , 180 !) , A So ] . 1275 . Avas , on Friday , the 28 th ult . elected chairman of the Organization Committee of the Teachers Provident Society , in Avhich he has taken an active interest for tin past eight years .
PROPOSED MEMOIMAL , TO THE DATE CANON POI . TAU . —An influential and representative meeting Avas held on Wednesday , the 1 'Jth ult ., in the Schoolroom , at Burghclere , for the purpose of agreeing upon a suitable memorial of the late lamented rector , the Rev . Canon Portal . The attendance included the Earl of Carnarvon ( AVIIO presided ) , the Countess of Carnarvon , Sir Alexr . Arbuthnot :
K . C . S . I .. Mrs . Fox , Mrs . Fanshaw , Mrs . Arkwright , Admiral Herbert . Mr . W . Holding , Mr . Fox , Major-Gen . Maunsell , Rev . C . A . Sladan , Mr . ArkAvright , Rev . F . C . Gosling , and Messrs . Rutherford , S . Went-Avorth , T . Hearn , AVhite , Plenty , Pavey , Kellcway , BroAvn , and others . Lord Carnarvon , in explaining the object of the meeting , spoke at some length , and ivith considerable emotion . The noble Earl
expressed his hope that they Avould be able to agree , Avithout one dissentient A'oice , in the course they Avould adopt . He AA'as quite sure there Avas but one feeling in those two parishes of Burghclere and NeAvtown , and indeed in all the surrounding parishes , namely , a feeling of respect and affection for the memory of their late lamented rector and friend , Canon Portal . It Avas about 18 years
since Canon Portal came into that parish , lie Avas one of his ( Lord Carnarvon's ) oldest , and he might say dearest , friends . He first knoAV him at Oxford , and from first to last there never Avas the slightest break in their friendship . When it fell to his lot to present Canon Portal with the living of Burghclere , he kneAV him so Avell that he felt he could not give them a better man , and the
event justified that opinion . After referring to Canon Portal ' s AVOJ k in the parish , and to the respect and esteem in Avhich he Avas held , ho proposed that the memorial should take the form of a painted AvindoAV in the Parish Church of Burghclere . This resolution Avas unanimously carried . Our readers will hardly require to be reminded that the late Canon Portal Avas a Past Grand Master of Mark Master Masons of England , and the Colonies and dependencies
of the British CroAvn ; or of the great services he had rendered to the Order during his many years connection Avith it . It is to be hoped that amongst the several tributes Avhich Avill doubtless be paid to his memory , as AVCII in private lodges as in the IIOAV home into Avhich Mark Masonry Avill presently enter as a Grand Lodge , the " suitable memorial" proposed to bo erected in the Parish Church Avith Avhich his ministry Avas identified Avill not bo lost sig ht of by those who are attached to the Mart Degree .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Qualifications Of The W. Master.
THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE W . MASTER .
[ COMMUNICATED . ] ^ y . T Avas said of the French army that " every private soldier clb carried a Field Marshal ' s baton in his knapsack , " and it may _^ £ with equal truth be said that " OA ^ ery Mason who has attained the third degree holds in prospective the Master ' s gaA cl , " for it depends as entirely on himself in the latter case as in the former
A \ dicthor or not he attains the coveted position . But the object ot this short essay is to try and ascertain Avho should , and AA ho should ¦ not bo elected to this high and responsible office , on Avhich the future of each individual lodge , and , collectiA ely of the Avhole Craft , hangs . The Book of Constitutions only stipulates that the Master elect
shall have served for one year the office of Warden ( Senior or Junior being immaterial ) in some regular lodge under the English Constitution , and that he shall have been elected by the A otes of the brethren at a regular meeting of the lodge prior to the installation meeting , and presented to a Board of Installed Masters to receive the secrets of the Chair .
Let us , lioAveA'er , sec if these qualifications arc such as should suffice to maintain the dignity and ensure the future of that Grand Lodge of England AA'hich AVC SO proudly claim as the premier Grand Lodge of the Avorld , or Avhether the time has not arrived Avhen our rulers in the Craft should require something more than the A ery limited directions of the Constitutions IIOAV demand .
A brother may be a most estimable man , upright , honourable , deA oted to the Art , and even " Avord perfect in the Ritual , and yet be utterly unfit to be Master of his lodge , and yet he Avill claim by virtue of the le-r iimiscriptu of custom to pass to "the chair . " In the above description I haA'e a special case in my mind . A short time ago I Avas present at a ceremony Avhere the Master Avas all I
have said . but . he was . from lack of education , utterly incapable of speaking the English language correctly . He Avas an enthusiastic Mason of many years standing , and a successful business man , but he had never repaired the deficiencies of his youthful training . NOAV on this particular occasion the candidate for initiation Avas a man of culture and a uniA ersity graduate , and in spite of his
endeaA ours to be serious the impression produced on him by the Avhole ceremony Avas simply grotesque . The grand ritual Avas rattled off at railroad speed ( not a Avord being omitted , certainly , as the W . Bro . prided himself on being " word perfect" ) , aspirates were shaken freely into the compound , with the result that they usually fell in the wrong place , and the pronunciation of some of
the longer Avords had the effect of a new and unknown language . Now , I Avould ask , Avas this brother fit to be the occupant of the Master ' s chair , and to maintain the honour of the Craft . ' The Avhole Masonic career of that candidate Avas spoilt by his first impressions . What solemnity could there be to him Avhen the ceremony Avas performed by an utterly illiterate man , the division
of Avhose sentences depended on the store of breath he could command . ' So much for one side of the question . NOAV take the other . In another case under my notice , the members of a lodge placed a gentleman in the chair simply because of his position , and he only accepted on the distinct understanding that he should not be
called upon to work any degrees , that duty being undertaken by a P . M . by no means conspicuous for ability . Both these cases show a state of things utterly Avrong . and I am sorry ^ to say that I Jtnoic they are not exceptional . Upon the stability of the foundation depends the stability of the structure , and Ave have a right to demand that Avhen the
cornerstone of a neAV edifice is laid in the N . E . it shall be laid by a Master Architect Avho is competent to produce for the purpose a stone of true die or square , modelled , Avrought into due form , and rendered fit for its place in the intended structure ; and not a stone rough and unheAvn as taken from the quarries Avhich will be liable to give Avay AA'hen any strain is put upon it . My own experience Avas most happy . The Master from A \ 'hom I
received my degrees Avas one AA'ho not only felt , but conveyed what he felt , and I can remember no more solemn occasion in my life than AA'hen I took the S . O . of an E . A ., and so , when I haA e heard an unfortunate candidate stumbling and blundering after a W . M . Avho gave this same S . O . in a manner totally unintelligible to one unused to the Avording , I have felt the deepest regret for the loss he has sustained , and Avhich no future experience can entirely replace .
The constitutions of the G . L . of Ireland recommend . - that no brother shall be installed in the chair AAOIO cannot Avork properly all the degrees , but AVC of England have not even this saving clause , and from the variety of private interests Avhich must come into play in all things human , the members of lodges Avill not always be sufficiently strict in their choice , and the educational matter is a
delicate question for local consideration , nor can the personal good taste and feeling of a brother legally eligible , be depended on in all eases to prevent him from taking his stand on the " equality of all M . M . ' s , " instead of standing aside as he should . In the interests of Masonry , therefore , it is time that there should be an addition to those Constitutions referring to the Master , providing that his
' Presentation to a Board of Installed Masters should not be a mere matter of form . At present the said " Board " consists of the Past Masters of the lodge Avho are present , together Avith any other Masters or Past Masters Avho may happen to attend the installation : but the Past Masters of the lodge , even if their poAvers Avere extended , Avould not
like to be too severe , nor Avould the P . M . ' s of neighbouring lodges like to interfere to veto a W . M . elect . What I Avould suggest to meet the difficulty is this : —Give the "Board of Installed Masters " a definite constitution and status , and definite powers .
Let it consist of a certain number of Brethren elected in each Province . They must of course be P . M's . and P . Provincial Officers , and of conspicuous ability and learning in Masonic ritual and jurisprudence , and all matters connected Avith the art ; and of strictest and most unbiassed integrity . Membership of this Board
The Qualifications Of The W. Master.
Avonld naturally be the " Blue Ribbon ' of each Province , and the highest recognition of Masonic culture the Brethren could offer the members . Their duties should be to attend at stated times at various places , chosen to be easy of access from the majority of neighbouring lodges , and there open their " Board of Installed Masters " under the banner of a regular lodge , and examine into
the proficiency of all Avould-be Masters . They should make every candidate Avork all the degrees , and rigidly e-eclude those Avho could not do' so in a proper and effective manner , and their decision should be indisputable ., excepting by appeal to Grand Lodge . They should also instruct the candidate IIOAV to bring out the special points in the various addresses , so that the initiate may really have
some idea of the meaning of the ceremony he is going through . If they find a candidate competent , the Board should certify to his lodge under their hind and seal that he is such , and hence a fit and proper person to rule a lodge Avith credit to himself and those AVIIO have elected him , and AA'hen the time comes for the annual installation , the members of each lodge should select their W . M .
from those so certified . Personally , I consider that it Avould be advantageous for the W . M . Avhen installed to receive a certificate of competency as an ' Installed Master " similar to that issued in Scotland , but that Avould be a matter for after consideration . Of course there Avould be some few Avho would caAdl about the necessity for so-called equality , and question adverse decisions , but
every right-minded Mason Avould support such a Board as I ha \ r e indicated , and I am sure the gain to the Craft would be immense . We should haA e no Masters Avho either did not attempt to do their Avork , or who stumbled through it by the aid of a concealed Ritual ; neither a Master AVIIO considers speed a satisfactory substitute for a ram mar . Those AVIIO are educationally' unfitted for the
Eastern chair should be content with that in the West or South , nor is there any unfairness in this , for he Avho Avould only hold himself up to ridicule by assuming a position for which he is unfitted , Avould in himself hold up the Craft to the same fate , and if ho does not see this of his own accord , others should interfere . Provincial Grand Masters also Avould find their difficulties in
providing "Collars" for Past Masters largely decreased , for the number of them Avould be greatly lessened if every future Master had to " proA'e his title" instead of it being merely a question of time or influence , and at the same time , the value and dignity of the office Avould be greatly increased . It Avould be far better for the welfare of the lodges that Past Masters should be re-elected .
than that a false notion of Masonic equality should place a new and unfit brother in the supreme office . Why do not some of our more thoughtful Grand Officers and other Brethren agitato for this much-needed reform , and refuse to be satisfied until every future occupant of the chair of K . S . is , by
that very fact , certified to be a master architect of our great masonic art in the highest sense of the Avord . ' The brother AVIIO brings about this reform Avill be one of the greatest benefactors the Craft has ever had , and his memory Avill be held in grateful veneration as long as Masonry exists .
Press Exchanges And Books Received.
Press Exchanges and Books Received .
The Sydney Freemason ; Latumia , Aeuc Zeitschrijt Ji ' tr Friema . n rcrei ; Freem , t . fm ' x Journal , NBAV York ; Societii .
Bro . C . Woods , 180 !) , A So ] . 1275 . Avas , on Friday , the 28 th ult . elected chairman of the Organization Committee of the Teachers Provident Society , in Avhich he has taken an active interest for tin past eight years .
PROPOSED MEMOIMAL , TO THE DATE CANON POI . TAU . —An influential and representative meeting Avas held on Wednesday , the 1 'Jth ult ., in the Schoolroom , at Burghclere , for the purpose of agreeing upon a suitable memorial of the late lamented rector , the Rev . Canon Portal . The attendance included the Earl of Carnarvon ( AVIIO presided ) , the Countess of Carnarvon , Sir Alexr . Arbuthnot :
K . C . S . I .. Mrs . Fox , Mrs . Fanshaw , Mrs . Arkwright , Admiral Herbert . Mr . W . Holding , Mr . Fox , Major-Gen . Maunsell , Rev . C . A . Sladan , Mr . ArkAvright , Rev . F . C . Gosling , and Messrs . Rutherford , S . Went-Avorth , T . Hearn , AVhite , Plenty , Pavey , Kellcway , BroAvn , and others . Lord Carnarvon , in explaining the object of the meeting , spoke at some length , and ivith considerable emotion . The noble Earl
expressed his hope that they Avould be able to agree , Avithout one dissentient A'oice , in the course they Avould adopt . He AA'as quite sure there Avas but one feeling in those two parishes of Burghclere and NeAvtown , and indeed in all the surrounding parishes , namely , a feeling of respect and affection for the memory of their late lamented rector and friend , Canon Portal . It Avas about 18 years
since Canon Portal came into that parish , lie Avas one of his ( Lord Carnarvon's ) oldest , and he might say dearest , friends . He first knoAV him at Oxford , and from first to last there never Avas the slightest break in their friendship . When it fell to his lot to present Canon Portal with the living of Burghclere , he kneAV him so Avell that he felt he could not give them a better man , and the
event justified that opinion . After referring to Canon Portal ' s AVOJ k in the parish , and to the respect and esteem in Avhich he Avas held , ho proposed that the memorial should take the form of a painted AvindoAV in the Parish Church of Burghclere . This resolution Avas unanimously carried . Our readers will hardly require to be reminded that the late Canon Portal Avas a Past Grand Master of Mark Master Masons of England , and the Colonies and dependencies
of the British CroAvn ; or of the great services he had rendered to the Order during his many years connection Avith it . It is to be hoped that amongst the several tributes Avhich Avill doubtless be paid to his memory , as AVCII in private lodges as in the IIOAV home into Avhich Mark Masonry Avill presently enter as a Grand Lodge , the " suitable memorial" proposed to bo erected in the Parish Church Avith Avhich his ministry Avas identified Avill not bo lost sig ht of by those who are attached to the Mart Degree .