-
Articles/Ads
Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
MASONIC OFFICERS . TO THE EDirOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —I have read with much care and attention the letters of M . M ., Vindex , and P . W ., the former of which appeared in your magazine for January , and the two latter in your number for February . In all well regulated Lodges , it is the custom , as stated by "Vindex , for the W . M . elect to submit a list of his officers to the Past Masters of the Lodge , in order that their united judgment may assist him in his selection , and that merit , not favouritism , may be the
[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents ^
qualification for office . Before I became W . M . of my Lodge , such a thing as a board of P . M . ' s was never thought of ; but having heard of it in other Lodges , I called it into existence , and on very many occasions has the Lodge been benefited by their decision and advice . That cliques do exist in Masonic Lodges I know full well , and I shall be happy to give Yindex more than one example , and the result of such a state of things , if he expresses any desire for further detail . Our Constitutions say that preferment shall be the reward of merit , and that neither seniority nor rank shall take precedence of that qualification ; and yet how very
often do we see the reverse . I will give you an example . About four years ago , a Brother was initiated into the Order , and when only a F . C ., was requested to fill the office of secretary , in consequence of the Brother who occupied that post leaving through illness . In six months after he was raised to the Third Degree , he was made S . W ., and having served that office for twelve months , was installed W . M . of the Lodge—a post which he filled for two years , during which time he acquired a reputation for the correct performance of his ceremonies and illustrations on the various Tracing Boards , Lectures on Masonry , & c . & c , which many
desire but very few attain to . In due time he was exalted to the B . A .., and having served the qualifying office of P . S ., the Companions were desirous of testifying their approbation of his conduct by electing him to the second chair without serving the third , the third principal and second principal elect having resigned . The Prov . Grand Superintendent was applied to for a dispensation , and refused . The Chapter met and again applied , and were again refused . Now to the pith of my tale . When this Brother was S . W . of his Lodge , he was offered and refused the collar of J . W . of the Province , because it would have been
unconstitutional for him to accept it , although on the same day the collar of Prov . S . G . W . was given to the S . W . of the Lodge of which the Prov . G . M . is a member , and the collar of S . G . D . to another member of the same Lodge , wko had but a short time before been raised to the Third Degree ; and on the same day also the other collars of J . G . W . and Grand Reg . were conferred on two other members of the said Lodge . The Brother I allude to in course of time remonstrated with the
Prov . G . M ., through his Prov . G . Sec , upon his unconstitutional conduct in conferring Provincial honours contrary to the Constitutions of the Order ; and this has raised against him a clique , composed of the P . G . M . and several members of the Lodge before adverted to . The prerogative of the P . G . M . is undoubted , and he can confer ( if done constitutionally ) all the collars upon members of one Lodge . But where there are eight or nine Lodges in his Province , he ought to be the rewarder of merit , and act justly and honourably , and above all Masonically . The
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
MASONIC OFFICERS . TO THE EDirOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —I have read with much care and attention the letters of M . M ., Vindex , and P . W ., the former of which appeared in your magazine for January , and the two latter in your number for February . In all well regulated Lodges , it is the custom , as stated by "Vindex , for the W . M . elect to submit a list of his officers to the Past Masters of the Lodge , in order that their united judgment may assist him in his selection , and that merit , not favouritism , may be the
[ The Editor does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents ^
qualification for office . Before I became W . M . of my Lodge , such a thing as a board of P . M . ' s was never thought of ; but having heard of it in other Lodges , I called it into existence , and on very many occasions has the Lodge been benefited by their decision and advice . That cliques do exist in Masonic Lodges I know full well , and I shall be happy to give Yindex more than one example , and the result of such a state of things , if he expresses any desire for further detail . Our Constitutions say that preferment shall be the reward of merit , and that neither seniority nor rank shall take precedence of that qualification ; and yet how very
often do we see the reverse . I will give you an example . About four years ago , a Brother was initiated into the Order , and when only a F . C ., was requested to fill the office of secretary , in consequence of the Brother who occupied that post leaving through illness . In six months after he was raised to the Third Degree , he was made S . W ., and having served that office for twelve months , was installed W . M . of the Lodge—a post which he filled for two years , during which time he acquired a reputation for the correct performance of his ceremonies and illustrations on the various Tracing Boards , Lectures on Masonry , & c . & c , which many
desire but very few attain to . In due time he was exalted to the B . A .., and having served the qualifying office of P . S ., the Companions were desirous of testifying their approbation of his conduct by electing him to the second chair without serving the third , the third principal and second principal elect having resigned . The Prov . Grand Superintendent was applied to for a dispensation , and refused . The Chapter met and again applied , and were again refused . Now to the pith of my tale . When this Brother was S . W . of his Lodge , he was offered and refused the collar of J . W . of the Province , because it would have been
unconstitutional for him to accept it , although on the same day the collar of Prov . S . G . W . was given to the S . W . of the Lodge of which the Prov . G . M . is a member , and the collar of S . G . D . to another member of the same Lodge , wko had but a short time before been raised to the Third Degree ; and on the same day also the other collars of J . G . W . and Grand Reg . were conferred on two other members of the said Lodge . The Brother I allude to in course of time remonstrated with the
Prov . G . M ., through his Prov . G . Sec , upon his unconstitutional conduct in conferring Provincial honours contrary to the Constitutions of the Order ; and this has raised against him a clique , composed of the P . G . M . and several members of the Lodge before adverted to . The prerogative of the P . G . M . is undoubted , and he can confer ( if done constitutionally ) all the collars upon members of one Lodge . But where there are eight or nine Lodges in his Province , he ought to be the rewarder of merit , and act justly and honourably , and above all Masonically . The