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  • Sept. 12, 1885
  • Page 10
  • SO VERY HUMAN.
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The Freemason's Chronicle, Sept. 12, 1885: Page 10

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So Very Human.

SO VERY HUMAN .

THERE are some transforming processes in nature and art which are wonderfully rapid and radical . By the skilful employment of certain chemical agents the dyer gives to his fabrics the richest and most varied colours , and after these colours have been fixed he can as readily

change red to black , or yellow to green . True , he has been styled the " devil ' s agent , " and some of his dyes " food for the devil , " for in Queen Elizabeth ' s reign an act of Parliment prohibited the use of indigo , as " a pernicious ,

deceitful , eating and corrosive dye . " His art , indeed , shows how white may be made black , if not black white . So , in the Church of God it is claimed that conversion and participation in certain ordinances work a matei'ial change

in the spiritual character of a man . Now , Freemasonry is neither a dyer of men ' s characters , nor has it any theological power to cleanse from sin . Masters of Lodges are no necromancers , nor masters of the " black art , " nor divinely

commissioned agents . They are only men , and although educated , more or less , as Masons and Masters , after all they are—so very human . Besides , every rough ashlar placed in their hands for shaping is at least as human as

themselves . Freemasonry is a human institution . It claims no orig in higher than that of King Solomon—which is high enough . But some appear to fancy that it is not only a mystic , but a magic society ; that every one who is

made a Mason is at once transformed by it into—we will not say an angel of light , but a pure hearted , right-minded and self-sacrificing Brother . They forget the material whereof we are made . In the language of Coleridge : —

" As there is much beast , and some devil m man , so is there some angel and some God in him . The beast and the devil may be conquered , but in this life never wholly destroyed . " Certainly Masonry cannot destroy them . It

is not a reformatory institution . It is merely an aggregation of men who claim to have a moral likeness , and kindred aspirations . If a mistake is made in the admission of improper material , no power that Masonry

possesses can radically change its character . Masonry s power consists primarily in rejecting , subsequently in expelling , but never in renovating . The black ball is the only omnipotent weapon possessed by every individual

Craftsman , and even its use has been so modified by modern Masonic legislation , b y increasing , in some jurisdictions , the number of black balls necessary for rejection , or by

multiplying , in others , the opportunities for the rejected to present a new petition , that even its power is sometimes materially abridged .

No one in the Craft needs to be told that Freemasons

are not perfect men ; but then they are not , or should not be , very imperfect . Although they are human , like other men , it is fair to presume that the large majority of them were actuated by proper motives in seeking affiliation

with the Fraternity , and that the lessons of initiation have not been taught them in vain . Certainly no true Freemason will ever be guilty of the heartless calumny of , or defamatory accusations against , a Brother . He who has

only the wet blanket of uncharitable words to throw around a Brother Mason ; he who traduces and maligns him , not only does a gross injustice to himself , and places a stain on the escutcheon of Freemasonry , but he restrains

the zeal , chills the affections , and it may be effectually banishes from the Craft one who , it may be , is in every way his superior in moral worth , in mental ability , and in

general Masonic usefulness . The Brother who is honest , earnest and ambitious , although his zeal may at times outrun discretiot and his enthusiasm lead him to exceed

propriety , shoul \ never be treated as a serious transgressor . There are not so many who at once have Masonry at heart and habitually uphold it with their voice and hands , that i ieir number can be presumptuously and

carelessly lessene 1 . The baseless is always graceless . No Brother should t j driven out , or kept out , of the Temple of Masonry by the lash of a misjudged evil report ..

Masonry is noth ' ng if not charitable , and the place fot charit y is first i . i words , and -afterwards in deeds . W < wish none to co ne to us , as Wolsey did to his friends

saymg , " An old t lan , broken w'th tho storms of state , la come o lay his weary bones among ye ; Give ln ' n a l . ttle earth for charity !" 0 ! that is the m ) st empty , painful charity of all ! Orb kind word in life is worth a volume of mortuary eulogy

So Very Human.

One gentle act to a Brother when he is misrepresented , is worth a whole graveyard of earth vheu he is food for

worms . Dickens introduces his " nncomnercial traveller" by saying , he " travels for the great house of Human Interest Brothers . " Freemasons should represent not only this

house , but also that other and greater house , " Masonic Interest Brothers . " Every Brorhei encircled by the Mvstic Tie is a member of this firm , and entitled to the kindliest consideration . But then , we all are—so very

human . Too true . Yet we may rerrernber , and remembering practise , the admonition in those touching lines of Bro . Robert Burns—who , himself , no doubt , was deeply conscious of the need of the charity he invoked for others

" Then gently scan your Brother man , Still gentler , sister woman ; Though they may go a kennin' wrang , To step aside is human . —Keystone ,

The Proper Title.

THE PROPER TITLE .

THE words Mason and Freemason are used sy nonymously , expressing the same meaning . The words Masonry and Freemasonry are used in the same manner . There seems to be no definite rale followed by

Masonic writers in this regard . Sometimes it is one and sometimes the other , and sometimes both in the same paragraph . The use of either is sanctioned by the best authorities ; and the choice between them , among the best

writers , appears to be as often accidental as showing a preference . Consulting Webster's dictionary we find that a Mason is , " A member of the fraternity of Freemasons , " and Masonry is , " The craft or mysteries of Freemasons . "

Oliver , Preston , Webb , Mackey , and other learned Masonic writers , seem to have made no distinction in the use of these words , except in the titles of books , all then using the word "Freemasonry . "

In notices that we receive of meetings of Scottish Rite bodies , we find them addressed , " To all Regular Free Masons , " & c ., the word Freemasons being divided into two words , and we believe the same form of address is used in

official documents over the signature of the Sov . Grand Commander of the Supreme Council . With due deference to this hi gh authority to sanction such a division of the word , we are of the opinion that it is not warranted , as the

true meaning of it is thereby changed . When thus separated the word Free becomes an adjective , defining the noun Mason . The words Mason and Freemason being synonymous , it would be just as proper to say , " To all Regular Free Freemasons , " & c .

The Grand Locige or Florida uses the title Free-Mason , " making it a compound word . This is preferable to " Free Mason , " but still we do not regard it as correct If separated at all the word Free should be followed by

thewords " and Accepted , " thus making the title " Free and Accepted Masons , " which is so generally used , and from whence comes the initials , " F . & A . M . "

This subject may not be regarded as an important one , but it is certainly an interesting one , and we would like to see it discussed by some of our eminent Masonic writers Let us know whether we are Free Masons , Free-Masons , or Freemasons . —Masonic Advocate .

The Prov . Grand Lodge of Cornwall will hold its annual meeting at the Elementary Schools , Lostwithiel , on the 21 st inst ., at 11 a . m . At 12-30 p . m . the brethren will attend Divine Service , when a sermon will be preached

by Bro . the Rev . K . P . Kendall On the Provincial Grand Lodge being resumed , the Prov . Grand Officers for the year will be appointed and invested . The customary banquet will be held at the Royal Talbot Hotel , the price of tickets ,

which may be obtained of the Stewards , being 4 s each , exclusive of wine . The Railway Company has very kindly undertaken to issue return first and second class

tickets at the price of a sincrle fare and a quarter to all brethren proposing to attend Prov . Grand Lodge on production of their Masonic summons .

“The Freemason's Chronicle: 1885-09-12, Page 10” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 5 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fcn/issues/fcn_12091885/page/10/.
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THE OCTOBER ELECTION OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL. Article 1
MASONRY. Article 2
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 4
A DEARTH OF CANDIDATES. Article 5
AN EMPLOYMENT BUREAU. Article 5
A TRIP BY BOAT FROM SOUTHAMPTON TO BOURNEMOUTH. Article 5
REVIEWS. Article 6
THE THEATRES. Article 7
Untitled Ad 8
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Untitled Article 8
" THE YORKSHIRE LODGES."* Article 8
SO VERY HUMAN. Article 10
THE PROPER TITLE. Article 10
NOTICES OF MEETINGS. Article 11
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DIARY FOR THE WEEK. Article 12
LAUREATE EDITION OF DR. ROB MORRIS'S MASONIC POEMS. Article 13
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

So Very Human.

SO VERY HUMAN .

THERE are some transforming processes in nature and art which are wonderfully rapid and radical . By the skilful employment of certain chemical agents the dyer gives to his fabrics the richest and most varied colours , and after these colours have been fixed he can as readily

change red to black , or yellow to green . True , he has been styled the " devil ' s agent , " and some of his dyes " food for the devil , " for in Queen Elizabeth ' s reign an act of Parliment prohibited the use of indigo , as " a pernicious ,

deceitful , eating and corrosive dye . " His art , indeed , shows how white may be made black , if not black white . So , in the Church of God it is claimed that conversion and participation in certain ordinances work a matei'ial change

in the spiritual character of a man . Now , Freemasonry is neither a dyer of men ' s characters , nor has it any theological power to cleanse from sin . Masters of Lodges are no necromancers , nor masters of the " black art , " nor divinely

commissioned agents . They are only men , and although educated , more or less , as Masons and Masters , after all they are—so very human . Besides , every rough ashlar placed in their hands for shaping is at least as human as

themselves . Freemasonry is a human institution . It claims no orig in higher than that of King Solomon—which is high enough . But some appear to fancy that it is not only a mystic , but a magic society ; that every one who is

made a Mason is at once transformed by it into—we will not say an angel of light , but a pure hearted , right-minded and self-sacrificing Brother . They forget the material whereof we are made . In the language of Coleridge : —

" As there is much beast , and some devil m man , so is there some angel and some God in him . The beast and the devil may be conquered , but in this life never wholly destroyed . " Certainly Masonry cannot destroy them . It

is not a reformatory institution . It is merely an aggregation of men who claim to have a moral likeness , and kindred aspirations . If a mistake is made in the admission of improper material , no power that Masonry

possesses can radically change its character . Masonry s power consists primarily in rejecting , subsequently in expelling , but never in renovating . The black ball is the only omnipotent weapon possessed by every individual

Craftsman , and even its use has been so modified by modern Masonic legislation , b y increasing , in some jurisdictions , the number of black balls necessary for rejection , or by

multiplying , in others , the opportunities for the rejected to present a new petition , that even its power is sometimes materially abridged .

No one in the Craft needs to be told that Freemasons

are not perfect men ; but then they are not , or should not be , very imperfect . Although they are human , like other men , it is fair to presume that the large majority of them were actuated by proper motives in seeking affiliation

with the Fraternity , and that the lessons of initiation have not been taught them in vain . Certainly no true Freemason will ever be guilty of the heartless calumny of , or defamatory accusations against , a Brother . He who has

only the wet blanket of uncharitable words to throw around a Brother Mason ; he who traduces and maligns him , not only does a gross injustice to himself , and places a stain on the escutcheon of Freemasonry , but he restrains

the zeal , chills the affections , and it may be effectually banishes from the Craft one who , it may be , is in every way his superior in moral worth , in mental ability , and in

general Masonic usefulness . The Brother who is honest , earnest and ambitious , although his zeal may at times outrun discretiot and his enthusiasm lead him to exceed

propriety , shoul \ never be treated as a serious transgressor . There are not so many who at once have Masonry at heart and habitually uphold it with their voice and hands , that i ieir number can be presumptuously and

carelessly lessene 1 . The baseless is always graceless . No Brother should t j driven out , or kept out , of the Temple of Masonry by the lash of a misjudged evil report ..

Masonry is noth ' ng if not charitable , and the place fot charit y is first i . i words , and -afterwards in deeds . W < wish none to co ne to us , as Wolsey did to his friends

saymg , " An old t lan , broken w'th tho storms of state , la come o lay his weary bones among ye ; Give ln ' n a l . ttle earth for charity !" 0 ! that is the m ) st empty , painful charity of all ! Orb kind word in life is worth a volume of mortuary eulogy

So Very Human.

One gentle act to a Brother when he is misrepresented , is worth a whole graveyard of earth vheu he is food for

worms . Dickens introduces his " nncomnercial traveller" by saying , he " travels for the great house of Human Interest Brothers . " Freemasons should represent not only this

house , but also that other and greater house , " Masonic Interest Brothers . " Every Brorhei encircled by the Mvstic Tie is a member of this firm , and entitled to the kindliest consideration . But then , we all are—so very

human . Too true . Yet we may rerrernber , and remembering practise , the admonition in those touching lines of Bro . Robert Burns—who , himself , no doubt , was deeply conscious of the need of the charity he invoked for others

" Then gently scan your Brother man , Still gentler , sister woman ; Though they may go a kennin' wrang , To step aside is human . —Keystone ,

The Proper Title.

THE PROPER TITLE .

THE words Mason and Freemason are used sy nonymously , expressing the same meaning . The words Masonry and Freemasonry are used in the same manner . There seems to be no definite rale followed by

Masonic writers in this regard . Sometimes it is one and sometimes the other , and sometimes both in the same paragraph . The use of either is sanctioned by the best authorities ; and the choice between them , among the best

writers , appears to be as often accidental as showing a preference . Consulting Webster's dictionary we find that a Mason is , " A member of the fraternity of Freemasons , " and Masonry is , " The craft or mysteries of Freemasons . "

Oliver , Preston , Webb , Mackey , and other learned Masonic writers , seem to have made no distinction in the use of these words , except in the titles of books , all then using the word "Freemasonry . "

In notices that we receive of meetings of Scottish Rite bodies , we find them addressed , " To all Regular Free Masons , " & c ., the word Freemasons being divided into two words , and we believe the same form of address is used in

official documents over the signature of the Sov . Grand Commander of the Supreme Council . With due deference to this hi gh authority to sanction such a division of the word , we are of the opinion that it is not warranted , as the

true meaning of it is thereby changed . When thus separated the word Free becomes an adjective , defining the noun Mason . The words Mason and Freemason being synonymous , it would be just as proper to say , " To all Regular Free Freemasons , " & c .

The Grand Locige or Florida uses the title Free-Mason , " making it a compound word . This is preferable to " Free Mason , " but still we do not regard it as correct If separated at all the word Free should be followed by

thewords " and Accepted , " thus making the title " Free and Accepted Masons , " which is so generally used , and from whence comes the initials , " F . & A . M . "

This subject may not be regarded as an important one , but it is certainly an interesting one , and we would like to see it discussed by some of our eminent Masonic writers Let us know whether we are Free Masons , Free-Masons , or Freemasons . —Masonic Advocate .

The Prov . Grand Lodge of Cornwall will hold its annual meeting at the Elementary Schools , Lostwithiel , on the 21 st inst ., at 11 a . m . At 12-30 p . m . the brethren will attend Divine Service , when a sermon will be preached

by Bro . the Rev . K . P . Kendall On the Provincial Grand Lodge being resumed , the Prov . Grand Officers for the year will be appointed and invested . The customary banquet will be held at the Royal Talbot Hotel , the price of tickets ,

which may be obtained of the Stewards , being 4 s each , exclusive of wine . The Railway Company has very kindly undertaken to issue return first and second class

tickets at the price of a sincrle fare and a quarter to all brethren proposing to attend Prov . Grand Lodge on production of their Masonic summons .

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