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A Masonic Library.

A Masonic Library .

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Jmismiiai '

GRAND LODGE possesses probably the finest library in the Alasonic world . But we venture to think it is less of a library than a museum . Regarded as a library in the ordinary sense of the word , it might almost as well be non-existent . Passing brethren , who have nothing to do for

half an hour may look in , and now and then a brother of literary tastes may arrange to spend a few hours in taking notes . It may be said with a certain amount of truth , that the number of brethren with a taste for Craft literature is so small that present conditions amply suffice .

But such an argument cuts both ways . That there should be such a small number of literary brethren is to be deplored . Could not Grand Lodge do something to create , or at till events to foster , such desirable Alasonic zeal ? It is not impossible . The late Bro . G . W . Speth found a literary

constituency with surprising ease . At the time of his death there were close upon 3 , 000 members of the correspondence circle of Lodge Quatuor Coronati , and to these were posted every quarter volumes containing information historical ,

esoteric , and constitutional , in the production of which the brightest Alasonic intellects of the clay were concerned . This fact goes far to disprove the assertion that the highest form of Masonic zeal is confined to an infinitesimal fraction of the Order . Now Alasonic literature is somewhat expensive , and seldom , if ever , pays its author . Lane's

" Alasonic Records , " perhaps the most important work of modern times , is of course published now by Grand Lodge , and probably if the prolit-and-loss account of this work were made public , it would be found that it was no exception to the rule . This fact , of course , points to the necessity of the

Alasonic library . Now * , whilst a good many irresponsible brethren are advising the authorities what in their opinion ought to be done with the premises so unexpectedly thrown on the hands of Grand Lodge , may we add a further suggestion to the list ? Why should not a library in the

best sense of the word be formed ? We mean a library that should not at the same time be a museum . The present library contains much that is priceless , and no reasonable person would suggest that any of its contents should be circulated . But it ought to be possible to form a

supplementary library of current literature that should be circulating , made up , that is to say , of works that could be replaced , if lost , at the cost of the brother concerned . The nayment of a small annual subscription and the further

payment of a deposit would suffice to put the institution in working order . It is to the benefit of the Order that its members should be able to give a reason for the faith that is in them . If there were but one brother in a lodge who was known to be erudite upon all questions concerning the history and the constitution , it would be an advantage to

that lodge to have someone to whom to refer . We have employed the term " museum " in describing the present Grand Lodge Library . Unfortunately , outside of the several Alasonic periodicals there is not much that is modern in Alasonic literature . The well-known fact that Alasonic books

do not pay is a sign of that indifference to Alasonic knowledge which the establishment of a first-class library on modern principles would do so much to correct . We do not wish to belittle the zeal of the antiquarian , but he has done much to unpopularise Alasonic study . It is not everyone who can

grow enthusiastic over the discovery of some out-of-print Alasonic pamphlet , which , possibly , might with advantage never have been printed at all . We have referred to the phenomenal circulation of the " Ars Quatuor Coronati , " which came to nearly 3 , 000 . Of this large number , no less

than 660 represented London lodges , whilst the home counties supplied 200 more . This ought to be sufficient evidence that the desire for Alasonic knowledge exists . At the present time there are a good many brethren who

consider that the formation of a Alasonic Club under the auspices of Grand Lodge , should furnish all the inspiration and knowledge we have been describing . We much doubt it . Assuming that such a club were formed , with every prospect of financial success , and that it were nightly thronged with members—both of them very wide

assumptions—then its tendency would be social . It would , first of all , benefit London members only , and would on that accoutt excite the distrust of the provinces , which are already sufficiently alive to the advantages London brethren possess in being on the spot . London brethren can get all the

inspiration they want out of their ability to put in a continuous attendance at the communications of Grand Lodge , and such a club would tend to become a glorified social board ; and worse than that , it might not inconceivably become an iiuperiiim in imperio , developed under

the worst possible conditions . The social side of the Order is already quite sufficiently in evidence . We are fully aware of the fact that such clubs abound in the provinces , and are not unknown in the London district . But in every case the venture is more or less private . In many instances the club

is a proprietary one , run by the lessee or the caterer of the local Alasonic hall . There is none that is financed or guaranteed by a representative Alasonic body , such as a Provincial Grand Lodge .