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Article THE REVELATIONS OF A SQUARE. ← Page 2 of 16 →
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The Revelations Of A Square.
plainly appear by sundry revelations which I shall feel bound to make in the period now under consideration . " In the eighteenth century the Lodge expenses were constructed on the most economical scale . The initiation fees ranged from one to two guineas , exclusive of the registration fee ; and the quarterages were from 2 s . 6 d . to 5 s ., including
suppers . Under these circumstances , it required the exercise of great caution and discrimination to prevent the introduction of improper persons . And , accordingly , we had a clause in our Bye-Laws , —which indeed was pretty general amongst the fraternity , —to the following effect : — ' And whereas the Craft hath suffered greatly in its reputation and happiness by the
admission of low and inferior persons , no ways fit to become members of our ancient and honourable institution , whereby men of rank , quality , knowledge , and education , are often deterred from associating with their Brethren at their public meetings : it is hoped that every Brother who is desired to propose any person will be particularly careful that he is one in all respects suitable to the Venerable Society he is to become a member of ; one whose temper and disposition may cement the harmony of the Lodge , and whose conduct and
circumstances in life are such as may not tend to diminish the credit of it . ' " In the choice of a Master , it was recommended in the Bye-Laws , that abilities should be preferred to seniority or station in life ; but this rule was not always observed , and hence the Lodges occasionally fell into inefficient hands , to
the depreciation of their character , and the diminution of their numbers . In many Lodges it was the , practice to elect the Master , Treasurer , Secretary , and Tyler , by ballot ; nor did the former possess the privilege of nominating any officer , except his senior Warden , lest he should possess an undue authority over the Brethren ; and therefore the senior
Warden appointed his junior , and both were then invested by the Master . Decorum was enforced by a rigid exaction of fines , which were frequently directed to be paid in wine or spirits , to be consumed then and there by the Brethren present . And as the Lodges were generally held at an inn or tavern , the landlordto whom the furniture usually
belongedpos-, , sessed considerable influence in the Society , and was in a position to subject the Brethren to great inconvenience if they presumed to interfere in the slightest degree with his views of profit or emolument . From these causes , added to the universal license of the times , they were induced to in-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Revelations Of A Square.
plainly appear by sundry revelations which I shall feel bound to make in the period now under consideration . " In the eighteenth century the Lodge expenses were constructed on the most economical scale . The initiation fees ranged from one to two guineas , exclusive of the registration fee ; and the quarterages were from 2 s . 6 d . to 5 s ., including
suppers . Under these circumstances , it required the exercise of great caution and discrimination to prevent the introduction of improper persons . And , accordingly , we had a clause in our Bye-Laws , —which indeed was pretty general amongst the fraternity , —to the following effect : — ' And whereas the Craft hath suffered greatly in its reputation and happiness by the
admission of low and inferior persons , no ways fit to become members of our ancient and honourable institution , whereby men of rank , quality , knowledge , and education , are often deterred from associating with their Brethren at their public meetings : it is hoped that every Brother who is desired to propose any person will be particularly careful that he is one in all respects suitable to the Venerable Society he is to become a member of ; one whose temper and disposition may cement the harmony of the Lodge , and whose conduct and
circumstances in life are such as may not tend to diminish the credit of it . ' " In the choice of a Master , it was recommended in the Bye-Laws , that abilities should be preferred to seniority or station in life ; but this rule was not always observed , and hence the Lodges occasionally fell into inefficient hands , to
the depreciation of their character , and the diminution of their numbers . In many Lodges it was the , practice to elect the Master , Treasurer , Secretary , and Tyler , by ballot ; nor did the former possess the privilege of nominating any officer , except his senior Warden , lest he should possess an undue authority over the Brethren ; and therefore the senior
Warden appointed his junior , and both were then invested by the Master . Decorum was enforced by a rigid exaction of fines , which were frequently directed to be paid in wine or spirits , to be consumed then and there by the Brethren present . And as the Lodges were generally held at an inn or tavern , the landlordto whom the furniture usually
belongedpos-, , sessed considerable influence in the Society , and was in a position to subject the Brethren to great inconvenience if they presumed to interfere in the slightest degree with his views of profit or emolument . From these causes , added to the universal license of the times , they were induced to in-