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Article THE TEMPLE AND HALL. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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The Temple And Hall.
appearance of making Masonic ceremonies an accommodation . Were it proposed to a licensed victualler to turn his house into a church or chapel , he would receive the suggestion with pain , and nothing else than some great necessity would induce him to lend himself to it , and the same feeling is entertained with regard to Masonic celebrations .
In London , out of several hundreds of taverns , less than fifty have Lodges in them , to the annoyance of the trade generally ; and in the country , although it is sometimes a matter of necessity that the hotel should provide room for the Lodge , yet , where the use of the town hall or other public building can be obtained , it is preferred ; and the
banquets are held at a tavern . Although it is seemly for the licensed victualler to pursue his trade , yet , when that trade is assumed by a body of far different pretensions , it is unbecoming and objectionable . To the great mass of Masons it is likewise particularly objectionable to be subject to the reproach of
teaching morals in a tavern , and drawing an income from keeping it . Thus very many most desirable members are restrained from devoting themselves to the Craft , and the support and co-operation of these will be enlisted by the proposed measures , to the great benefit of the Order . The first step in Masonic progress is to do away with the tavern :
we then do away with a reproach—we enlist valuable members—we improve the administration of Grand Lodge—we improve the working of the London Lodges—we induce the London Lodges to concentrate their resources j and , last and not least—we give to provincial and visiting Brethren better working , better accommodation , and worthier hospitality—we cultivate Masonic unity and Masonic perfectionand
, the material fruits of this must be great . Some seem to think that the country Brethren have greater interest in keeping a tavern , nay—such is their love of taverns—in building a larger tavern and that they have no care for the respectability of their Grand Lodge , and not the least interest in the enjoyment of their
own property . Assuredly , at the present moment , they have very little share in it , except to contribute to it and bo ashamed of it . They come up to town for tho first time—they go to Great Queenstreet , they find the Grand Secretary poorly provided with offices , the ancient archives of their Order huddled together—and perhaps the
records of their Lodge being burnt or lost , they have promised themselves to search the Grand Lodge records and restore their annals . They find the Masonic charities over the way ; they ask for the library , and are shown a small room—and thus ends a morning of disappointment . In the evening they attend some Lodge in Freemasons' Tavern , differing
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Temple And Hall.
appearance of making Masonic ceremonies an accommodation . Were it proposed to a licensed victualler to turn his house into a church or chapel , he would receive the suggestion with pain , and nothing else than some great necessity would induce him to lend himself to it , and the same feeling is entertained with regard to Masonic celebrations .
In London , out of several hundreds of taverns , less than fifty have Lodges in them , to the annoyance of the trade generally ; and in the country , although it is sometimes a matter of necessity that the hotel should provide room for the Lodge , yet , where the use of the town hall or other public building can be obtained , it is preferred ; and the
banquets are held at a tavern . Although it is seemly for the licensed victualler to pursue his trade , yet , when that trade is assumed by a body of far different pretensions , it is unbecoming and objectionable . To the great mass of Masons it is likewise particularly objectionable to be subject to the reproach of
teaching morals in a tavern , and drawing an income from keeping it . Thus very many most desirable members are restrained from devoting themselves to the Craft , and the support and co-operation of these will be enlisted by the proposed measures , to the great benefit of the Order . The first step in Masonic progress is to do away with the tavern :
we then do away with a reproach—we enlist valuable members—we improve the administration of Grand Lodge—we improve the working of the London Lodges—we induce the London Lodges to concentrate their resources j and , last and not least—we give to provincial and visiting Brethren better working , better accommodation , and worthier hospitality—we cultivate Masonic unity and Masonic perfectionand
, the material fruits of this must be great . Some seem to think that the country Brethren have greater interest in keeping a tavern , nay—such is their love of taverns—in building a larger tavern and that they have no care for the respectability of their Grand Lodge , and not the least interest in the enjoyment of their
own property . Assuredly , at the present moment , they have very little share in it , except to contribute to it and bo ashamed of it . They come up to town for tho first time—they go to Great Queenstreet , they find the Grand Secretary poorly provided with offices , the ancient archives of their Order huddled together—and perhaps the
records of their Lodge being burnt or lost , they have promised themselves to search the Grand Lodge records and restore their annals . They find the Masonic charities over the way ; they ask for the library , and are shown a small room—and thus ends a morning of disappointment . In the evening they attend some Lodge in Freemasons' Tavern , differing