Ar00902

SATURDAY , 21 ST JANUARY 1893 .

How To Overcome Apathy.

HOW TO OVERCOME APATHY .

Light on Matters Appertaining to the Craft . —Meetings of Lodges must bc made both Pleasant and Attractive to the Members . An Oration before the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in California ,. October 1802 , by Bro . Iteuben 11 . Lloyd , Grand Orator .

ONE of the duties of my office is to address yoa " on matters appertaining to the Craft . " That is a very wide text ; under ifc the origin , history , rise , progress , glories , advantages and beauties of Freemasonry have

already heen fully dilated upon . I will not attempt to throw light upon fields already swept by the brilliant search-lights of tlie master minds of those who have

preceded me , but content myself with calling yonr attention to a few practical matters which have come nnder my observation during the many years I have been a member of the Order .

I have been frequently struck with the light attendance afc Lodge meetings . Only on very rare and extraordinary occasions do a majority of the members meet at any session . As a general thing , from a seventh to a tenth of

those on the roll put in an appearance , and often only just enough to open the Lodge . I have turned over in my mind many a time the question , " What is the cause of this , and what remedv , if any , is there for ifc ?"

When , by the gracious pleasure of onr Most Worshipful Grand Master , I was installed in this office , I concluded to make an effort to answer the riddle . M y first step was to get a consensus of the opinions of all the Masters in tho State , and for that purpose I addressed them a circular

inquiring the total membership of each Lodge ; an estimate of the average attendance during the year ; whether the attendance was increasing or decreasing ; if increasing or decreasing , what was the cause ; requesting each to give me what , in his opinion , would awaken renewed interest in

the meetings and attract the members thereto . In reply I received a largo number of very interesting letters . From them it appeared the average attendance in the country was much larger than in the city—running about

one-third-, though in numerous instances that attendance required the member to travel many miles , frequently at considerable expense , and often accompanied by tho loss of a day ' s work .

Some correspondents attributed the falling off of attendance to the decrease in business in their locality and removal of members ; others that business was so " brisk thero was no time to attend ; others lack of interest , the

reason for which they did not understand ; others because the Officers were not up in their parts , and the manner in which they conferred the degrees was not in accordance with the ritual , or entertaining to the hearers ; others lack of interest because the Officers of the Grand Lodye never

visited their localities ; others because the dues were too too high—they were kept at a standard ruling in the golden days , and in effect debarred membership , and also prevented members of Eastern Lodges , located here , from dimittiug and joining in California ; others because the

principles of Masonry were nofc properly observed outside as well as inside the Lodge ; others because other societies "wore more attractive—they had socials and parties aud friendly gatherings , which we have nofc ; by the rules of the Grand Lodge entertainments were practically

prohibited—if any of fche members of a Lodge desired to get up a little social , thoy had to put their hands in their own pockets for it , hence it became an unequal burthen on the members' ; the large majority were in favour of frequentl y having coffee and cakes and a nice spread ; Uiauy thought there should bo literary ontertainmentti aud

How To Overcome Apathy.

subjects of discussion fco attract the members ; a great many appreciated the fact that apathy was spreading over the Lodges , but the cause they could not tell and hoped I would solve it . Some of my correspondents , I think , touched the

keynote of the trouble . Our Order his bson lauded in soug and story ; eloquent tongues have pictured its beauties and advantages ; it has become a great factor in the world ' s moral existence ; it has gradually spread over the earth and become a power in every laud , until at last its

greatness is dangerous to itself . When an Order becomes BO large that it i . universally recognised as one of great influence , immediately it attracts those who seek admittance , not to be guided by its precepts and teach its moral code , but mainly to use its supposed influence for

their own selfish purposes and trade upon it for their own personal gains . Look around you , and I am confident y u will bo able to name many who , after thi-y enter ifcs folds , never study or practise the principles of fcho Order , . but

on tho contrary , violate them every week of their Jives . Who is to blame for this ? I answer : The Lodges brjng it partially about by tho loose way in which thoy admit members .

In the olden times it was a difficult thing to get iu , tp a Lodge . A man had to be long and favourably known to all the members before ho could hope for an affirmative answer to his application . It was un-Masonic for any man to solicit his petition . His stinding in the country , his

moral character , his business , his family ties and social relations , had to be all known and thoroughly understood by every member before a vote was , taken on his application . His appreciation of a moral and upright life , his

belief that the teachings of the Order had a favourable effecb upon some friend induced him to go and : do likewise . He had to be an applicant of his own free will and accord ; or , in other words , by the voluntary and unaided action of his own inclination . How is it now ?

In many Lodges , when the finances run low , or when fche Officers think they ought to excel their predecessors , by initiating more members than they did , or that frequent initiations will sfcir up an interest in the Lodge , petitions , from any quarter , are but lightly scanned , and almost sure of a favourable consideration . The members are asked to

drum up candidates . They go out in the highways and byways , and persuade those of whom they know comparatively little to join . When successful , the petition is presented , and a committee appointed . Perhapi only one of that . committee really acts , tho others , relying upon his

judgment , report favourably . The application comes to a ballet . Out of the many members how many personally know the stranger ? How many know his family bistoiy ? How many know how he stands in his trade or calling amongst those wbo are similarly engaged ? How

many know whether or not he belongs to any church , or what his religious proclivities are ? How many know what his real moral character is ? flow many know whether he is married or single ; if married , what kind of a husband or father is he ? How many know whether he

is a careful and prudent man , or an improvident . or reckless one ? How many know whether they would like him for their daily associate and friend ? How many know whether or not he is free from bodily or mental disease , or has within hereditary taint- * which will end in his

lingering destruction , and make him in all probability a burthen on the Lodg .. *? How many know whether or nofc he is a man thoy would like to introduce to their wife , or their sons , or their daughter ? , and have them look up to him as an example ? Nofc one , perhaps , in that whole Lodge .

And yet , they stand roidy to vote to make that stranger of whom they aro so densely ignorant , what ? To make him , next to a member's wife , mother or child , the most intimate companion and associate a man can have on earth . They stand ready to obligate themselves to receive and cherish

him as a brothor ; to confide to , and trust him with the dearest secrets of life ; to wait on him in sickness ; ti soothe him in sorrow , and help him in distress ; to cherish ,

protect and defend his good name , and take care of his wife and family , should the Supreme Being call him away . They stand ready to obligate that stranger to do the same thiner towards themselves and all the membeiv * of tho

Lodge , and yet , for aught they know , he is entirely ignorant as to who a lar-jo m » joritv of tho members are . In all probability there may be atmugst them several wifch whom it would bc impossible for him to keep up the relations his obligations will require . When ho comes to be