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Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 4 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
has received the three degrees in one night , —may be made a Proxy Master , and sit in the Grand Lodge the following evening , and vote and speak as freely as any R . W . Master , who may have ruled his lotlge regularly foryears . It is not requisite that Proxy Masters should be Past Masters , or even Wardens , or Deacon .-., or have held any office in a lodge . Tbis is the simple fact ; and should it happen that the lodge he represents be pretty near No . 0 the chance is that on his very first
, appearance in tlie Masonic senate he may have to sway a baton , the name of which he does not know , and fill a situation the duties of ivhich he never saw performed . How such a person will get on , I leave it to any Craftsman to imagine . I would not object to Proxies even if they had attended to any , even to tbe smallest , degree of Masonic skill , absolutely necessary before they were appointed to represent a lodge : for exampleif they could pass an examination to prove that
, they had some little knowledge , and that they could decently pass muster in the presence of g'ood Master Masons . It' such an amount of Masonic knowledge were deemed positively necessary before a proxy could be appointed by a lodge , we should have fewer scenes at the opening and closing of the Grand Lodge , than are sometimes witnessed .
But there are also other reasons than merely that of the impropriety of newly-made Masons filling an office by chance , as I have here supposed . For instance , we may inquire , How does it happen , when ive have the p leasure of seeing old Masons , ivboni , from their constant place , or appearance in the Grand Lodge as Proxies , we take to be part of thefurniture , that they cannot decently do their duty , if it be not from that laxity which obtains in lodges— -that careless and indolent system ,
in fact , " we canua' be fashed " to do our duty , or be at the trouble to instruct those who might be willing ? Such is the Proxy system , and such are the Proxies ; upon the impression which this description may make on English Masons I will offer no opinion . I have perhaps been somewhat too lengthy on this subject ; but its importance must be my excuse , as , it is possible , by drawing the attention of the Brethren to these particularsthe changewhich has already begun even in Grand
, , Lodge , may still further be hastened forward , by active Brethren ,, throughout the Provincial Lodges . From many in this city we must not calculate for much aid or assistance ; butuumbers are ready ; and many more only require to be enlightened to join the ranks of the reformers ; and they will join these ranks , and materially aid that pressure from without , which will most assuredly force on improvement—whether the Grand Lodge will it otherwise or not .
I have already suggested * the advantage that would arise , if the Masters and Wardens of lodges were to come to this city in August to relieve the hard-wrought and ill-paid Proxies of their duties at the Quarterly Communication , to be held on Monday , the 5 th day of that month ; how far this will be responded to at that time , I do not know . If only one lodge , animated by the same feeling that has induced me to write this letter and trouble you with it , should think it worth their while , for the sake and character ivhich Scotch Masonry at one time held in the world , to do their duty ( nothing more ) , and send their K . W . Master and Wardens to Edinburgh , to the meeting of Grand
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
has received the three degrees in one night , —may be made a Proxy Master , and sit in the Grand Lodge the following evening , and vote and speak as freely as any R . W . Master , who may have ruled his lotlge regularly foryears . It is not requisite that Proxy Masters should be Past Masters , or even Wardens , or Deacon .-., or have held any office in a lodge . Tbis is the simple fact ; and should it happen that the lodge he represents be pretty near No . 0 the chance is that on his very first
, appearance in tlie Masonic senate he may have to sway a baton , the name of which he does not know , and fill a situation the duties of ivhich he never saw performed . How such a person will get on , I leave it to any Craftsman to imagine . I would not object to Proxies even if they had attended to any , even to tbe smallest , degree of Masonic skill , absolutely necessary before they were appointed to represent a lodge : for exampleif they could pass an examination to prove that
, they had some little knowledge , and that they could decently pass muster in the presence of g'ood Master Masons . It' such an amount of Masonic knowledge were deemed positively necessary before a proxy could be appointed by a lodge , we should have fewer scenes at the opening and closing of the Grand Lodge , than are sometimes witnessed .
But there are also other reasons than merely that of the impropriety of newly-made Masons filling an office by chance , as I have here supposed . For instance , we may inquire , How does it happen , when ive have the p leasure of seeing old Masons , ivboni , from their constant place , or appearance in the Grand Lodge as Proxies , we take to be part of thefurniture , that they cannot decently do their duty , if it be not from that laxity which obtains in lodges— -that careless and indolent system ,
in fact , " we canua' be fashed " to do our duty , or be at the trouble to instruct those who might be willing ? Such is the Proxy system , and such are the Proxies ; upon the impression which this description may make on English Masons I will offer no opinion . I have perhaps been somewhat too lengthy on this subject ; but its importance must be my excuse , as , it is possible , by drawing the attention of the Brethren to these particularsthe changewhich has already begun even in Grand
, , Lodge , may still further be hastened forward , by active Brethren ,, throughout the Provincial Lodges . From many in this city we must not calculate for much aid or assistance ; butuumbers are ready ; and many more only require to be enlightened to join the ranks of the reformers ; and they will join these ranks , and materially aid that pressure from without , which will most assuredly force on improvement—whether the Grand Lodge will it otherwise or not .
I have already suggested * the advantage that would arise , if the Masters and Wardens of lodges were to come to this city in August to relieve the hard-wrought and ill-paid Proxies of their duties at the Quarterly Communication , to be held on Monday , the 5 th day of that month ; how far this will be responded to at that time , I do not know . If only one lodge , animated by the same feeling that has induced me to write this letter and trouble you with it , should think it worth their while , for the sake and character ivhich Scotch Masonry at one time held in the world , to do their duty ( nothing more ) , and send their K . W . Master and Wardens to Edinburgh , to the meeting of Grand