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Article STATE OF MASONRY IN IRELAND. ← Page 5 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
State Of Masonry In Ireland.
and experience have suggested , as imperatively necessary in the administration of every other social institution ? If the Grand Lodge is to do nothing but to receive its allotted fees , and then to take its place amongst the other grandees of the earth , the "fruges consumere nati" of uninitiated life , it may become a grave question whether the period for a radical reform of the Masonic constitution in this respecthas riot arrived . AVe dohowever" hope better things'' of our Brethren " though we
, , , thus speak" in the fullness of our anxiety for a removal of those blemishes and deformities which , in the sister kingdom , have retarded the progress ^ arid sadly dimmed the lustre of our ennobling institute . In regard to the fundamentals of Masonry , the more nearly we approximate to a remote antiquity , our system becomes in consequence the purer ; but a very different rule of judgment is to be applied to the secular administration of that system , which administration must keep
pace with : the irnpjfoving spirit , and iiripulsive activities , of the age in which we . live , elsfe'miraculous interposition alone can save it from falling inta ; unproductive'desuetude ^ The time has long gone by sincepopular ignorance familiarl y associated Freemasonry with supernatural agency ^ atidt-absurdly i classed the-mystic " sonsof light "' with the disciples of GorneliusyAgrippa , ahd tlye ; magician priests of " the'Cabala ; but though the ' 'World . 'hasarithisrespect wiserthe Grand Lodof Ireland
> ; grown , ge hayeinotiiin the : discharge of their departmental functions ; taken from the ; world ' s example any beneficial lesson . On the contrary ; they proceed upon the ' antiquated maxims of government , which passed current brie hundred and ^ fiftyyears ago , and which may have been exceedingly well adapted : to the : period : of their original forthation ^ but which , when
viewed in relationto the exigencies as well as to the attainments of the present day , deserve no better designation than that of a system of matured old wifery . A In fact ; the Grand Lodge habitually act as if they really .--believed in the antiquated superstition referred to , and expected some supernatural-influence ( whether an angel from heaven , or "Old Simon ' , ' from the opposite region , it is impossible to guess ) , to ' compensate' . fori their , own utter lack of human exertion , and for their apparently
systematic disregard of ail the ordinary appliances of ecbriornic ' wisdom . They . seem to . have no comprehensive idea of originating , much less of working out the machinery . of the institution on the principle of a ' regulated divisionand subordination ofidepartroerits ; so as to render ' every part complete , and to combine the whole into one great organized iristrumentality , for . the extension and prosperity of the Order , although [ in every , other association in the world they see the all but brririipoferit
principle in ; question , together with its mighty results , daily exemplified before their eyes . ; They haveonly to look at the machineryof missionary ,-educational ; and-even of common political societies , in order to comprehend our meaning , and to gather , from even ah idiot ' s ' glance at things as they ; really , exist , abundant materials for self-abaserrient as well as forself-reprbach as Masons . The case resolves itself irito this plain dilemma , —they , either ie / ieue the ; principles of Masoriry ' to hegd ' od , or they do mot . If they do not believe those princiles' to be good' let
p , them , as men of honour , at once resign powers which they have no right to hold , and give : way to men : of different minds ^ iri this regard ; tb men who-hold principles in- more ; pure accordance with the Order tb ' which . others feign only the mockery of devotion , arid let them cease to riiin , by their indifference , the interests of an institution which , in their eyes , has palpably lost all its primitive value . If , however , their sincere
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
State Of Masonry In Ireland.
and experience have suggested , as imperatively necessary in the administration of every other social institution ? If the Grand Lodge is to do nothing but to receive its allotted fees , and then to take its place amongst the other grandees of the earth , the "fruges consumere nati" of uninitiated life , it may become a grave question whether the period for a radical reform of the Masonic constitution in this respecthas riot arrived . AVe dohowever" hope better things'' of our Brethren " though we
, , , thus speak" in the fullness of our anxiety for a removal of those blemishes and deformities which , in the sister kingdom , have retarded the progress ^ arid sadly dimmed the lustre of our ennobling institute . In regard to the fundamentals of Masonry , the more nearly we approximate to a remote antiquity , our system becomes in consequence the purer ; but a very different rule of judgment is to be applied to the secular administration of that system , which administration must keep
pace with : the irnpjfoving spirit , and iiripulsive activities , of the age in which we . live , elsfe'miraculous interposition alone can save it from falling inta ; unproductive'desuetude ^ The time has long gone by sincepopular ignorance familiarl y associated Freemasonry with supernatural agency ^ atidt-absurdly i classed the-mystic " sonsof light "' with the disciples of GorneliusyAgrippa , ahd tlye ; magician priests of " the'Cabala ; but though the ' 'World . 'hasarithisrespect wiserthe Grand Lodof Ireland
> ; grown , ge hayeinotiiin the : discharge of their departmental functions ; taken from the ; world ' s example any beneficial lesson . On the contrary ; they proceed upon the ' antiquated maxims of government , which passed current brie hundred and ^ fiftyyears ago , and which may have been exceedingly well adapted : to the : period : of their original forthation ^ but which , when
viewed in relationto the exigencies as well as to the attainments of the present day , deserve no better designation than that of a system of matured old wifery . A In fact ; the Grand Lodge habitually act as if they really .--believed in the antiquated superstition referred to , and expected some supernatural-influence ( whether an angel from heaven , or "Old Simon ' , ' from the opposite region , it is impossible to guess ) , to ' compensate' . fori their , own utter lack of human exertion , and for their apparently
systematic disregard of ail the ordinary appliances of ecbriornic ' wisdom . They . seem to . have no comprehensive idea of originating , much less of working out the machinery . of the institution on the principle of a ' regulated divisionand subordination ofidepartroerits ; so as to render ' every part complete , and to combine the whole into one great organized iristrumentality , for . the extension and prosperity of the Order , although [ in every , other association in the world they see the all but brririipoferit
principle in ; question , together with its mighty results , daily exemplified before their eyes . ; They haveonly to look at the machineryof missionary ,-educational ; and-even of common political societies , in order to comprehend our meaning , and to gather , from even ah idiot ' s ' glance at things as they ; really , exist , abundant materials for self-abaserrient as well as forself-reprbach as Masons . The case resolves itself irito this plain dilemma , —they , either ie / ieue the ; principles of Masoriry ' to hegd ' od , or they do mot . If they do not believe those princiles' to be good' let
p , them , as men of honour , at once resign powers which they have no right to hold , and give : way to men : of different minds ^ iri this regard ; tb men who-hold principles in- more ; pure accordance with the Order tb ' which . others feign only the mockery of devotion , arid let them cease to riiin , by their indifference , the interests of an institution which , in their eyes , has palpably lost all its primitive value . If , however , their sincere