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  • June 12, 1869
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, June 12, 1869: Page 7

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    Article MASONIC DISCIPLINE.—XV. ← Page 3 of 4 →
Page 7

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic Discipline.—Xv.

culpa , mea maxima culpa , but there is a responsible body who has very good grounds to make the self accusation , for with it , and with it alone , rests the responsibility of introducing that reform in "Masonic discipline" and Masonic education

Avhich is the crying Avant of our institution . If there is one subject more than another , that is not only " consonant Avith our feelings as men , but imperative upon us as Masons , " it is the paramount necessity that exists , for raising the standard of

qualifications for Masonic office in lodges , to a much higher pitch than prevails at the present time . Let us take one instance out of many , the truth of Avhich we vouch for as it happened personally to ourselves . We once happened to be

visitors at a metropolitan lodge of some standing and repute . It was short of officers , and a brother voluntered to act as I . G . Upon a side table were placed the callars of the different officers , with the jewels attached . The " volunteer" advanced to

the table , and appeared to be attentively regarding the various insignia , Avithout being able to make up his mind which to adopt . Having a

very strong suspicion of the reason of his hesitation we advanced , and asked him jestingly the cause of his profound meditation , the ansAver was what we expected . He did not know the proper jewel of the I . G . Now we submit that no matter

what his self conceit might have been , a brother that was not even acquainted Avith the insignia of the office for which he voluntarily offered himself , ought to have been afraid to tender his incompetent services to the lodge . As Moliere , says ,

cesont des choses qui orient vengeance au del . It must never be forgotten that Avhile every encouragement should be accorded to emulous and aspiring brethren , there shonld also be some deterrent

against those who thrust themselves into positions , for which they are as much fitted as the Khan of Tartary . From such a beginning , the end might be anticipated . As the classics have it ex nihilo , nihil fit . We were therefore fully prepared to

Avitness the denouement , and to find that in announcing the candidate for initiation , our " volunteer " addressed the W . M ., with his head on one side , while he " inclined his ear " to another brother who acted the part of " prompter . " How many

instances of similar wretched exhibitions could we not give ? How many could not our readers also quote if they were called upon so to do ? The great q \ iestion is , are these things so ? Is this the actual condition of " Masonic discipline " ?

Are our articles true or are they false ? There has never yet appeared , among the many communications to which they have given rise , the slightest refutation , or attempted refutation of the facts stated . It may then fairly

bepresumed that we have accurately and truthfully represented the present condition of Freemasonry , so far as it relates to the Avorking of lodges , its discipline , its state of education , and its official organisation . Can any brother feel gratified at

the prospect ? Can he feel on this account alone , proud of the Order to which he belongs ? Can it be a matter of pleasant reflection to him that the Avorking of his lodge , of our lodges , as a rule , is a burlesque , a parody of Avhat it ought to

be , and of what we sincerely trust it will eventually be ? It is not a question of innate inadequacy in our ancient and honourable institution . Masonry , theoretically considered , is all sufficient . The great evil , to which we have persistently alluded , is caused by the fact , that no means are taken ,

by those Avho are responsible for these matters , that a remedy should be provided for Avhat is undoubtedly a scandal in the Craft . Apart from the duty of the officers of a lodge there are certain duties to be performed by every

brother who attends a lodge . Slight as these duties are , they should nevertheless be properly performed . Let us consider for a moment the duty of a brother , whether a member or visitor , upon entering a lodge . The etiquette is , that

when a brother enters a lodge for the first time in the evening , he salutes " right up" to the degree in which the lodge happens to be open at the time . For example , if the lodge happens to be open in the third degree , then the entering brother goes

through the signs of the first , second and third degrees . This constitutes the full aud proper salute under the circumstances , and anything else is not only disrespectful to the W . M . in the chair , but betrays a disregard for those ordinary Masonic conventionalities and courtesies which , as Ovid

says , " Emollit mores , nee sinit esse feros . " If a brother leaves the lodge for any time and reenters it , he then merely salutes in that degree in wliich the lodge happens to be on his return . It

is also disrepectful to the W . M . for a brother to leave the lodge either tempoi-aiily or permanently , without saluting him . It is comparatively rare when the lodge happens to be opened in the third degree , to witness the salutes properly and accu-

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1869-06-12, Page 7” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 2 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_12061869/page/7/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
CHIPS OF FOREIGN ASHLAR. Article 1
EARS OF WHEAT FROM A CORNUCOPIA. Article 3
MASONIC DISCIPLINE.—XV. Article 5
ORATION. Article 8
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 10
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 12
BRO. DNALXO'S ARTICLE " FREEMASONRY AND CHRISTIANITY." Article 14
INTENDED REDUCTION IN PRICE OF THE "MAGAZINE." Article 15
METROPOLITAN. Article 15
PROVINCIAL. Article 16
SCOTLAND. Article 17
CANADA. Article 17
ROYAL ARCH. Article 17
MARK MASONRY. Article 17
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 18
A RAILWAY INCIDENT. Article 18
THE TEACHINGS OF NATURE. Article 18
Poetry. Article 19
MASONIC LIFEBOAT FUND. Article 19
LIST OF LODGE, &c., MEETINGS FOR WEEK ENDING 19TH JUNE, 1869. Article 20
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic Discipline.—Xv.

culpa , mea maxima culpa , but there is a responsible body who has very good grounds to make the self accusation , for with it , and with it alone , rests the responsibility of introducing that reform in "Masonic discipline" and Masonic education

Avhich is the crying Avant of our institution . If there is one subject more than another , that is not only " consonant Avith our feelings as men , but imperative upon us as Masons , " it is the paramount necessity that exists , for raising the standard of

qualifications for Masonic office in lodges , to a much higher pitch than prevails at the present time . Let us take one instance out of many , the truth of Avhich we vouch for as it happened personally to ourselves . We once happened to be

visitors at a metropolitan lodge of some standing and repute . It was short of officers , and a brother voluntered to act as I . G . Upon a side table were placed the callars of the different officers , with the jewels attached . The " volunteer" advanced to

the table , and appeared to be attentively regarding the various insignia , Avithout being able to make up his mind which to adopt . Having a

very strong suspicion of the reason of his hesitation we advanced , and asked him jestingly the cause of his profound meditation , the ansAver was what we expected . He did not know the proper jewel of the I . G . Now we submit that no matter

what his self conceit might have been , a brother that was not even acquainted Avith the insignia of the office for which he voluntarily offered himself , ought to have been afraid to tender his incompetent services to the lodge . As Moliere , says ,

cesont des choses qui orient vengeance au del . It must never be forgotten that Avhile every encouragement should be accorded to emulous and aspiring brethren , there shonld also be some deterrent

against those who thrust themselves into positions , for which they are as much fitted as the Khan of Tartary . From such a beginning , the end might be anticipated . As the classics have it ex nihilo , nihil fit . We were therefore fully prepared to

Avitness the denouement , and to find that in announcing the candidate for initiation , our " volunteer " addressed the W . M ., with his head on one side , while he " inclined his ear " to another brother who acted the part of " prompter . " How many

instances of similar wretched exhibitions could we not give ? How many could not our readers also quote if they were called upon so to do ? The great q \ iestion is , are these things so ? Is this the actual condition of " Masonic discipline " ?

Are our articles true or are they false ? There has never yet appeared , among the many communications to which they have given rise , the slightest refutation , or attempted refutation of the facts stated . It may then fairly

bepresumed that we have accurately and truthfully represented the present condition of Freemasonry , so far as it relates to the Avorking of lodges , its discipline , its state of education , and its official organisation . Can any brother feel gratified at

the prospect ? Can he feel on this account alone , proud of the Order to which he belongs ? Can it be a matter of pleasant reflection to him that the Avorking of his lodge , of our lodges , as a rule , is a burlesque , a parody of Avhat it ought to

be , and of what we sincerely trust it will eventually be ? It is not a question of innate inadequacy in our ancient and honourable institution . Masonry , theoretically considered , is all sufficient . The great evil , to which we have persistently alluded , is caused by the fact , that no means are taken ,

by those Avho are responsible for these matters , that a remedy should be provided for Avhat is undoubtedly a scandal in the Craft . Apart from the duty of the officers of a lodge there are certain duties to be performed by every

brother who attends a lodge . Slight as these duties are , they should nevertheless be properly performed . Let us consider for a moment the duty of a brother , whether a member or visitor , upon entering a lodge . The etiquette is , that

when a brother enters a lodge for the first time in the evening , he salutes " right up" to the degree in which the lodge happens to be open at the time . For example , if the lodge happens to be open in the third degree , then the entering brother goes

through the signs of the first , second and third degrees . This constitutes the full aud proper salute under the circumstances , and anything else is not only disrespectful to the W . M . in the chair , but betrays a disregard for those ordinary Masonic conventionalities and courtesies which , as Ovid

says , " Emollit mores , nee sinit esse feros . " If a brother leaves the lodge for any time and reenters it , he then merely salutes in that degree in wliich the lodge happens to be on his return . It

is also disrepectful to the W . M . for a brother to leave the lodge either tempoi-aiily or permanently , without saluting him . It is comparatively rare when the lodge happens to be opened in the third degree , to witness the salutes properly and accu-

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