Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
the brethren themselves . AVhatever the cause may be , the effect is and has been certain . AVe must , Scotchmen-like , just put stout hearts to a stae brae . In these days , when we see the lodges of other countries increasing and flourishing , we must try at least and do something to regain for Scotland that name amongst the Craft whicli she has lost . One great evil , and the first that I will notice , is the practice of lodges meeting in public-housestavernsor hotels : in a very great number of
, , cases , if not the great majority , this is the case , and this in my opinion has been the means of lowering the character of the Craft . The respectability of the body has suffered through the conduct of some of its members , and there is good grounds for believing that many have been led away from decent and regular habits by the temptations that they have met with , not in the lodge-room , but at the place where the lodge met . Thusa most respectable body of men suffer for the failings of a
, few—the faults of an individual are laid upon the whole Craft . Again , it is well known that there have heen many keepers of public-houses who have made almost a living by the Craft—have taken a great interest in urging candidates to join the lodges that assembled in their houses , for the sake of the profit that would accrue to themselves . The more frequent the meetings of the brethren , the better chance for trade to themselves . The prosperity of the Craft was never thought of ; the
respectability of the candidates as to character never enquired about . Any one could be admitted , and the consequence was the lowering of the standard of moral character , which used to be the measure for fitness in candidates , and which , if it had been maintained in its ancient purity ancl strictness , would have done much to have kept up the status of the
Scotch Craft . Another evil arising from the lodge-rooms being m places of public refreshment is owing to the circumstance that not a few of the rooms are granted rent free for the use of the lodges , or at a merely nominal sum . It is perfectly evident that such an arrangement is far from beneficial ; the proprietors cannot give the room for nothing , and payment for the use thereof must come from the pockets of those who frequent the lodges;—the quid pro quo must in some shape or another be given . If the lodges were to consider this matter in its true light
, they would soon find that it would be much more economical to give a good fair sum yearly than be dependant on the liberality of an interested brother . This ever lowers the independence of the Craft . In those cases where the brethren have lodge-rooms of their own , these remarks do not apply . Another cause of the decline of Masonry in Scotland was and is the indiscriminate admission of candidates ; any who might choose to applywithout regard to character or qualificationswere freel
, , y initiated ; again , others were urged by the solicitations of their friends , and went to please them , and it was considered by numbers to be a most excellent introduction to good social company , and from the way in which they were initiated have ever since considered that it was intended for no other purpose . This indiscriminate admission bas often taken place for the miserable purpose of replenishing the exhausted exchequer of the lodge , the dignity of the Craft never being considered ,
so long as money could be got , to re-furnish the regalia , or to spend at the refreshment table . The careless or improper selection of candidates , as a matter of course , leads to the careless and improper selection of office-bearers , whether it be by the system of rotation or election . No consideration as to fitness , or any excellent qualification as to knowledge in Masonry was necessary if he was a good fellow—a first rate chap ;
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
the brethren themselves . AVhatever the cause may be , the effect is and has been certain . AVe must , Scotchmen-like , just put stout hearts to a stae brae . In these days , when we see the lodges of other countries increasing and flourishing , we must try at least and do something to regain for Scotland that name amongst the Craft whicli she has lost . One great evil , and the first that I will notice , is the practice of lodges meeting in public-housestavernsor hotels : in a very great number of
, , cases , if not the great majority , this is the case , and this in my opinion has been the means of lowering the character of the Craft . The respectability of the body has suffered through the conduct of some of its members , and there is good grounds for believing that many have been led away from decent and regular habits by the temptations that they have met with , not in the lodge-room , but at the place where the lodge met . Thusa most respectable body of men suffer for the failings of a
, few—the faults of an individual are laid upon the whole Craft . Again , it is well known that there have heen many keepers of public-houses who have made almost a living by the Craft—have taken a great interest in urging candidates to join the lodges that assembled in their houses , for the sake of the profit that would accrue to themselves . The more frequent the meetings of the brethren , the better chance for trade to themselves . The prosperity of the Craft was never thought of ; the
respectability of the candidates as to character never enquired about . Any one could be admitted , and the consequence was the lowering of the standard of moral character , which used to be the measure for fitness in candidates , and which , if it had been maintained in its ancient purity ancl strictness , would have done much to have kept up the status of the
Scotch Craft . Another evil arising from the lodge-rooms being m places of public refreshment is owing to the circumstance that not a few of the rooms are granted rent free for the use of the lodges , or at a merely nominal sum . It is perfectly evident that such an arrangement is far from beneficial ; the proprietors cannot give the room for nothing , and payment for the use thereof must come from the pockets of those who frequent the lodges;—the quid pro quo must in some shape or another be given . If the lodges were to consider this matter in its true light
, they would soon find that it would be much more economical to give a good fair sum yearly than be dependant on the liberality of an interested brother . This ever lowers the independence of the Craft . In those cases where the brethren have lodge-rooms of their own , these remarks do not apply . Another cause of the decline of Masonry in Scotland was and is the indiscriminate admission of candidates ; any who might choose to applywithout regard to character or qualificationswere freel
, , y initiated ; again , others were urged by the solicitations of their friends , and went to please them , and it was considered by numbers to be a most excellent introduction to good social company , and from the way in which they were initiated have ever since considered that it was intended for no other purpose . This indiscriminate admission bas often taken place for the miserable purpose of replenishing the exhausted exchequer of the lodge , the dignity of the Craft never being considered ,
so long as money could be got , to re-furnish the regalia , or to spend at the refreshment table . The careless or improper selection of candidates , as a matter of course , leads to the careless and improper selection of office-bearers , whether it be by the system of rotation or election . No consideration as to fitness , or any excellent qualification as to knowledge in Masonry was necessary if he was a good fellow—a first rate chap ;