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Article EDITORIAL PRÆCOGNITION. ← Page 3 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Editorial Præcognition.
Dr . Crucefix , rising , said— " Brethren and friends , I am flattered by this mark of your attention ; but you must expect little from me , for , as you well know , I am an almost hopeless invalid—but if you will allow me to be seated " " Sit , sit , by all means ! We are too glad to see you amongst us , not to allow you to please yourself in everything . " " Even with this permission , " the Doctor continued , seating himself , " my strength will soon be exhaustedas I am forbidden to partake of your
, potations , and enjoined to follow the regimen spoken of by Pindar , aptcrrov ptv vitup . But faint heart never won fair lady—so here goes . I consider myself competent to speak , even ex cathedra , on the subject of Masonry , as I have done much and suffered much in its behalf " " Tou have both done and suffered , " said Philo-Masonicus , " and your reward is the sympathy of all good and worthy Masons in every quarter of the globe ; and a masonic reputation that will descend to posterity covered with glory and renownof which the Asylum for worthdecayed
Free-, y masons will be an enduring monument ; and the blessing of the aged Mason , the widow , and the orphan , will embalm your memory for ever . " " I am afraid , then , to speak plainly , " the Doctor resumed , " that the spirit which has of late years animated the fraternity , and which ought always to animate it , is gradually declining . There are many sources of dissatisfaction , of which our provincial brethren complain , and which nothing can obviate but a thorough reform in the laws and constitutions ; and it is to be regretted that our Grand Lodge does not follow the example of the
American Grand Lodges , and set itself earnestly to their revision , that they may meet the requirements of the present enlightened rera . As the Historian of Masonry has well observed in his Prospectus of the ' Symbol of Glory . '' The times in which we live are peculiarly characterized by comprehensive enquiries , and ingenious speculations for the improvement of science ; and
while electricity and chemistry , steam and gas , and machinery of every kind , are earnestly engaged in a contention for superiority , Freemasonry must not pause on the threshold . While the world moves on in an uninterrupted progress towards perfection—Masonry must not stand still ; for if she hesitates ever so little—time will pass—and she will be distanced in the race . ' — Our provincial brethren say , as my letters will testify , that the Craft is not fairly represented in Grand Lodge ; that the more distant lodges ought to have the power of appointing delegates , or at the least of voting by
proxies ; that the dais is filled by brethren , and those only , who , though friendly to the ' movement principle' on all other points , refuse to concede the same advantages to Masonry . In a recent number of ' Chambers ' s Journal , ' the writer says— ' No fame is secure but that which is identified with the onward march of mankind . Wit , eloquence , courage—nothing avails but to illustrate the defeat of those who set their faces against all improvement ; and the only consolation they find is in the applause of the congenial rabble , who see no clearer and no farther than themselves . ' Let our purple
brethren apply this observation , for it concerns them more nearly than they imagine . The provincials say further , that the paid officers of Grand Lodge appear to consider Masonry as a commercial speculation , and to estimate its value by the amount of money it puts into their purses ; for which reason they are averse to progress , under an apprehension that it might chance to diminish their fees ; and that the method of appointing Provincial Grand Masters is decidedly hostile to the general interests of the fraternity , and the source of much evilby which the institution is brought into disrepute .
, They contend that the brethren of every province ought to have the privilege of appointing their own Provincial Grand Master annually ; which they conceive would tend , more than anything , to increase both the popularity and numbers of the Order ; because it is quite certain that , under such an arrangement , active and practical men would take tbe lead in every province of the kingdom . It is true , our country brethren have themselves to blame
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Editorial Præcognition.
Dr . Crucefix , rising , said— " Brethren and friends , I am flattered by this mark of your attention ; but you must expect little from me , for , as you well know , I am an almost hopeless invalid—but if you will allow me to be seated " " Sit , sit , by all means ! We are too glad to see you amongst us , not to allow you to please yourself in everything . " " Even with this permission , " the Doctor continued , seating himself , " my strength will soon be exhaustedas I am forbidden to partake of your
, potations , and enjoined to follow the regimen spoken of by Pindar , aptcrrov ptv vitup . But faint heart never won fair lady—so here goes . I consider myself competent to speak , even ex cathedra , on the subject of Masonry , as I have done much and suffered much in its behalf " " Tou have both done and suffered , " said Philo-Masonicus , " and your reward is the sympathy of all good and worthy Masons in every quarter of the globe ; and a masonic reputation that will descend to posterity covered with glory and renownof which the Asylum for worthdecayed
Free-, y masons will be an enduring monument ; and the blessing of the aged Mason , the widow , and the orphan , will embalm your memory for ever . " " I am afraid , then , to speak plainly , " the Doctor resumed , " that the spirit which has of late years animated the fraternity , and which ought always to animate it , is gradually declining . There are many sources of dissatisfaction , of which our provincial brethren complain , and which nothing can obviate but a thorough reform in the laws and constitutions ; and it is to be regretted that our Grand Lodge does not follow the example of the
American Grand Lodges , and set itself earnestly to their revision , that they may meet the requirements of the present enlightened rera . As the Historian of Masonry has well observed in his Prospectus of the ' Symbol of Glory . '' The times in which we live are peculiarly characterized by comprehensive enquiries , and ingenious speculations for the improvement of science ; and
while electricity and chemistry , steam and gas , and machinery of every kind , are earnestly engaged in a contention for superiority , Freemasonry must not pause on the threshold . While the world moves on in an uninterrupted progress towards perfection—Masonry must not stand still ; for if she hesitates ever so little—time will pass—and she will be distanced in the race . ' — Our provincial brethren say , as my letters will testify , that the Craft is not fairly represented in Grand Lodge ; that the more distant lodges ought to have the power of appointing delegates , or at the least of voting by
proxies ; that the dais is filled by brethren , and those only , who , though friendly to the ' movement principle' on all other points , refuse to concede the same advantages to Masonry . In a recent number of ' Chambers ' s Journal , ' the writer says— ' No fame is secure but that which is identified with the onward march of mankind . Wit , eloquence , courage—nothing avails but to illustrate the defeat of those who set their faces against all improvement ; and the only consolation they find is in the applause of the congenial rabble , who see no clearer and no farther than themselves . ' Let our purple
brethren apply this observation , for it concerns them more nearly than they imagine . The provincials say further , that the paid officers of Grand Lodge appear to consider Masonry as a commercial speculation , and to estimate its value by the amount of money it puts into their purses ; for which reason they are averse to progress , under an apprehension that it might chance to diminish their fees ; and that the method of appointing Provincial Grand Masters is decidedly hostile to the general interests of the fraternity , and the source of much evilby which the institution is brought into disrepute .
, They contend that the brethren of every province ought to have the privilege of appointing their own Provincial Grand Master annually ; which they conceive would tend , more than anything , to increase both the popularity and numbers of the Order ; because it is quite certain that , under such an arrangement , active and practical men would take tbe lead in every province of the kingdom . It is true , our country brethren have themselves to blame