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Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 5 of 5 Article POPULAR, DELUSIONS ABOUT MASONRY Page 1 of 2 →
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Correspondence.
accepted by another , for the sake of his fees , or to add to their numbers , will of course go to that body where he is received with the least trouble and inconvenience . I would also suggest the possibility of the name of every candidate , AVIIO bad been rejected by a Lodge , being communicated to tbe body in general , with the cause of such rejection , if known , or if done by
blackball , stating the same , and any particulars that could be collected ; the whole , of course , under the strictest seal of Masonic secresy . This might be carried out by having a book kept at the Grand Secretary ' s office in which such entries should be made , and to which no one but the Worshipful Master of a Lodge alone , or a member of Grand Lodge , should have access . Dispensations and emergencies also should be more rarely resorted to than at present ; it Avould even be better to lose a few , than to admit one who hereafter might be a subject for regret .
The examinations between each degree are now merely a form , the Deacon generally answering for , or prompting the candidate ; these I always feel inclined to vary and to make much more severe , not confining them to a few routine questions , but extending them over the course of every-day life , and the studies the candidate pursues , besides requiring him to give some proof of his advancement in Masonic learning and practice . In short , feeling thoroughly
convinced that the ranks of Freemasonry require judicious weeding and thinning out , rather than indiscriminate addition , and that the cause in general would be truly benefited by each particular Lodge being more strict in the admission of members , I have ventured to intrude these remarks , and call the attention of those in authorit y to the subject . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , P . ' M .
Popular, Delusions About Masonry
POPULAR , DELUSIONS ABOUT MASONRY
TO THE EDITOE OP THE EEEEMASONS QUAETEELT MAGAZINE . DEAE ME . EDITOE , — I AM a Freemason . It is quite unnecessary to say that , for the profundity of the following remarks Avill be more than ample evidence that it is an "initiated" who speaks ; consequently , I am a victim to " popular delusions "—delusions Avhich , strange to say , are
most unaccountabl y omitted by my excellent Brother , Charles Mackay , in his entertaining work on the subject . In the first place , my wife has an idea that she has got at the secret . Poor woman ! she is mistaken sometimes , though she is the best creature in the world . But Masonry is the cause of a hundred other mistakes . My eldest boy Tom ( as impudent a good-tempered rascal as ever deserved a thrashing , aud didn't get it ) , Avhen he is VOL . I . 2 N
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
accepted by another , for the sake of his fees , or to add to their numbers , will of course go to that body where he is received with the least trouble and inconvenience . I would also suggest the possibility of the name of every candidate , AVIIO bad been rejected by a Lodge , being communicated to tbe body in general , with the cause of such rejection , if known , or if done by
blackball , stating the same , and any particulars that could be collected ; the whole , of course , under the strictest seal of Masonic secresy . This might be carried out by having a book kept at the Grand Secretary ' s office in which such entries should be made , and to which no one but the Worshipful Master of a Lodge alone , or a member of Grand Lodge , should have access . Dispensations and emergencies also should be more rarely resorted to than at present ; it Avould even be better to lose a few , than to admit one who hereafter might be a subject for regret .
The examinations between each degree are now merely a form , the Deacon generally answering for , or prompting the candidate ; these I always feel inclined to vary and to make much more severe , not confining them to a few routine questions , but extending them over the course of every-day life , and the studies the candidate pursues , besides requiring him to give some proof of his advancement in Masonic learning and practice . In short , feeling thoroughly
convinced that the ranks of Freemasonry require judicious weeding and thinning out , rather than indiscriminate addition , and that the cause in general would be truly benefited by each particular Lodge being more strict in the admission of members , I have ventured to intrude these remarks , and call the attention of those in authorit y to the subject . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , P . ' M .
Popular, Delusions About Masonry
POPULAR , DELUSIONS ABOUT MASONRY
TO THE EDITOE OP THE EEEEMASONS QUAETEELT MAGAZINE . DEAE ME . EDITOE , — I AM a Freemason . It is quite unnecessary to say that , for the profundity of the following remarks Avill be more than ample evidence that it is an "initiated" who speaks ; consequently , I am a victim to " popular delusions "—delusions Avhich , strange to say , are
most unaccountabl y omitted by my excellent Brother , Charles Mackay , in his entertaining work on the subject . In the first place , my wife has an idea that she has got at the secret . Poor woman ! she is mistaken sometimes , though she is the best creature in the world . But Masonry is the cause of a hundred other mistakes . My eldest boy Tom ( as impudent a good-tempered rascal as ever deserved a thrashing , aud didn't get it ) , Avhen he is VOL . I . 2 N