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Article GLASGOW MASONICS. ← Page 7 of 12 →
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Glasgow Masonics.
changes do take place in all societies ; and , in one respect , many changes have happened to Masonry . Tbe individual who might have been best qualified to preside at the Mysteries of Egypt and Greece , might not have been so among- the Dionysian . Artists ; and , novr-adays , we do not make it imper . tt . ive that tbe Chief Oificer , far less an ordinary Member , be either a Clergyman or an Architect . Methinks , I hear some here present whispering- " What then do Masons do in
, their lodge , so as to cause it to resemble the societies of by-gone times ?" To such I will make no reply : let them come and see . There are , indeed , many things that we do which I dare not here mention , and which , even were I to mention , could not be understood by the world at large , from want of previous training . But there are some things we do , which all mankind can understand : we have a system of initiation , in substance the same as has prevailed in all ages , from the days
of the Patriarchs to the present day , as exemplified iu every sect and denomination of Christians ; for every initiation that I have heard of , whether secret or public , consisted in a lustration , a purification , or a setting apart from the rest of the world , and inculcates a raising of the mind from the things of sense , to what lies bej-ond the grave . Then , sir , in a lodge , we enforce charity ; ive meet iu love and unity ; ive inculcate reli gion , without entering into the speculative regions .
In a lodge , the Jew meets on a level with the Christian , the Protestant with the Roman Catholic—all promoting tbe same great end in the same way—without jarring , without acerbity of feeling , or ever offending each other in word or action . Now , sir , far be it from me to
say , that every one who enters our body becomes , from that circumstance alone , able to manage tbe affairs of a lodg-e , so as to produce such happy results ; nor is it expected ; for all have not thesame giftsyet every Brother may assist ; although it must be confessed , that this chief duty lies in the presiding- officer . A lodge is a democracy ; but no autocrat was ever so powerful as the Master of a lodge . Almost everything , then , depending- upon him , a proper selection is requisite ; and therefore I shall givein a few sentenceswhat I believe are
con-, , sidered the characteristics of one eminently qualified for such a hig-li and responsible situation . He ought to be a good , a mora ] , and a religious man—otherwise the Brethren might be deeply injured by his conduct out » f the lodge . He ought to be a man of some education , and have a facility of expressing- his ideas ; for he may encounter candidates , who , in their desire to be enlightened , will not be contented with bare assertions . He ought to be a person well skilled in all the
ceremonial of initiation ; for it is preferable that he go through everything himself , than trust tbis department to others . He ought to have as much leisure as to allow him to attend regularly every meetino- of the loclge . Ancl , lastly , he ought to be such a person , that all ranks of society , while in the lodge may confide in him as an equal , while they obey him as a superior , and , while out of the lodge , may esteem him asj a friend . Such is the bean-ideal of tbe Master of a lodge . I do
not say that none but such ought to be elected ; but I assert , without fear of contradiction , that the nearer tbe approach to such a standard , the more certain is bis lodge to rise in the estimation of Masons and of the public . Perhaps , sonic here present may think that I have drawn the picture of a phantom—of a being to be wished for , but impossible to be found . If such there be , I have only to request them to direct their eyes to my right hand ; for every Brother of St . Mark ' s will have
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Glasgow Masonics.
changes do take place in all societies ; and , in one respect , many changes have happened to Masonry . Tbe individual who might have been best qualified to preside at the Mysteries of Egypt and Greece , might not have been so among- the Dionysian . Artists ; and , novr-adays , we do not make it imper . tt . ive that tbe Chief Oificer , far less an ordinary Member , be either a Clergyman or an Architect . Methinks , I hear some here present whispering- " What then do Masons do in
, their lodge , so as to cause it to resemble the societies of by-gone times ?" To such I will make no reply : let them come and see . There are , indeed , many things that we do which I dare not here mention , and which , even were I to mention , could not be understood by the world at large , from want of previous training . But there are some things we do , which all mankind can understand : we have a system of initiation , in substance the same as has prevailed in all ages , from the days
of the Patriarchs to the present day , as exemplified iu every sect and denomination of Christians ; for every initiation that I have heard of , whether secret or public , consisted in a lustration , a purification , or a setting apart from the rest of the world , and inculcates a raising of the mind from the things of sense , to what lies bej-ond the grave . Then , sir , in a lodge , we enforce charity ; ive meet iu love and unity ; ive inculcate reli gion , without entering into the speculative regions .
In a lodge , the Jew meets on a level with the Christian , the Protestant with the Roman Catholic—all promoting tbe same great end in the same way—without jarring , without acerbity of feeling , or ever offending each other in word or action . Now , sir , far be it from me to
say , that every one who enters our body becomes , from that circumstance alone , able to manage tbe affairs of a lodg-e , so as to produce such happy results ; nor is it expected ; for all have not thesame giftsyet every Brother may assist ; although it must be confessed , that this chief duty lies in the presiding- officer . A lodge is a democracy ; but no autocrat was ever so powerful as the Master of a lodge . Almost everything , then , depending- upon him , a proper selection is requisite ; and therefore I shall givein a few sentenceswhat I believe are
con-, , sidered the characteristics of one eminently qualified for such a hig-li and responsible situation . He ought to be a good , a mora ] , and a religious man—otherwise the Brethren might be deeply injured by his conduct out » f the lodge . He ought to be a man of some education , and have a facility of expressing- his ideas ; for he may encounter candidates , who , in their desire to be enlightened , will not be contented with bare assertions . He ought to be a person well skilled in all the
ceremonial of initiation ; for it is preferable that he go through everything himself , than trust tbis department to others . He ought to have as much leisure as to allow him to attend regularly every meetino- of the loclge . Ancl , lastly , he ought to be such a person , that all ranks of society , while in the lodge may confide in him as an equal , while they obey him as a superior , and , while out of the lodge , may esteem him asj a friend . Such is the bean-ideal of tbe Master of a lodge . I do
not say that none but such ought to be elected ; but I assert , without fear of contradiction , that the nearer tbe approach to such a standard , the more certain is bis lodge to rise in the estimation of Masons and of the public . Perhaps , sonic here present may think that I have drawn the picture of a phantom—of a being to be wished for , but impossible to be found . If such there be , I have only to request them to direct their eyes to my right hand ; for every Brother of St . Mark ' s will have