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Article COERESPONDENCE. ← Page 2 of 2
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Coerespondence.
It is true that amongst the Order that class ( licensed victuallers ) forms a very small proportion , and there are doubtless many of them ivho are not immaculate ; it , nevertheless , cannot be concealed that amongst the other classes of the great body , there are equal proportions of Brethren who Avould hardly dare to " throw the first stone , " or attempt to claim for themselves the dignity of being more zealous or assiduous in the discharge or
observance of their Masonic duties and obligations . Are there not many avIio do not happen to be licensed victuallers , but who claim the high privileges of the Craft , that on examination and due trial may be found greatly wanting in the principles they profess to admire and practise ? What Avould numbers of Lodges do without the accommodation and comfort it is in the poAyer
and pleasure of the licensed victuallers to provide ? Where would they hold their respective Lodges ? We are not all able to pay the costs and charges of building ; and supporting establishments separately appropriated to the purposes and ceremonies of the Craft , and are often too glad to accept the best arrangements that can be offered at hotels or taverns of good repute .
I have for a long time observed that a great proportion of the initiated are lax in their common duties toAvards their Brethren Avho happen to be Auctuallers . Are the benefits which are in the possession of the other Masonic classes conferred on the victualling Brethren ? I unhesitatingly ansAver No . Many cases are kno \ Am to me ivhere good services , materials ,
and assistance are constantly required and obtained from tradesmen not belonging to the Craft , ivho vend articles not of a superior quality nor at a loAver price than those of the same trade Avho have assisted the Lodges in Avhich the emploj ^ ers and the would-be employed equally contribute in pecuniary , mental , and personal dues .
It is Avithin my own knowledge that , amongst " commercial men" there are many who have beeii initiated , and the only notice or benefit they confer on a victualler , unless he be the proprietor of the celebrated commercial house , is to seek his order—using all the enticing blandishments they so Avell command , mingled with Masonic advances of the most daring character , and frequently so publicly practised as to require me to ask them to remember their Ob . In my bar , which is on market days open to the better order of customers , Masonic secrets have been offered to me in so ostentatious and
unguarded a manner , as to require me to leave their presence ; and Avhen they are asked , Why do you use such advances Avhen soliciting an order , Avhilst you visit for your personal comforts houses not kept by members of the Fraternity ? " they answer , " Oh , I don't like to leave old quarters !" A notice of the proper kind through your excellent Maqazine , addressed to
the gentlemen of the road and rail , might call them to their respective duties , and give to the striving victuallers some of the benefits which they think are justly their due . Believe me , I could name to you amongst the victuallers some as good , perfect , . and regular-working Masons as are to be found in the Craft . Do not , therefore , write of their being allow ei > to be rn embers . "
J am , Sir , yours fraternally , 10 * 7 * Jxdy , 1858 . A Licensed Victualler & S . W . [ We are convinced that , in using the expression , the Avriter of the article did not mean to cast any reflection on the licensed victuallers—many of Avhom we know to bo as good and enthusiastic Masons as any in the Order ; and as munificent contributors to the various Masonic charities they may fairly challenge comparison with any other body of men in the Craft . —End
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Coerespondence.
It is true that amongst the Order that class ( licensed victuallers ) forms a very small proportion , and there are doubtless many of them ivho are not immaculate ; it , nevertheless , cannot be concealed that amongst the other classes of the great body , there are equal proportions of Brethren who Avould hardly dare to " throw the first stone , " or attempt to claim for themselves the dignity of being more zealous or assiduous in the discharge or
observance of their Masonic duties and obligations . Are there not many avIio do not happen to be licensed victuallers , but who claim the high privileges of the Craft , that on examination and due trial may be found greatly wanting in the principles they profess to admire and practise ? What Avould numbers of Lodges do without the accommodation and comfort it is in the poAyer
and pleasure of the licensed victuallers to provide ? Where would they hold their respective Lodges ? We are not all able to pay the costs and charges of building ; and supporting establishments separately appropriated to the purposes and ceremonies of the Craft , and are often too glad to accept the best arrangements that can be offered at hotels or taverns of good repute .
I have for a long time observed that a great proportion of the initiated are lax in their common duties toAvards their Brethren Avho happen to be Auctuallers . Are the benefits which are in the possession of the other Masonic classes conferred on the victualling Brethren ? I unhesitatingly ansAver No . Many cases are kno \ Am to me ivhere good services , materials ,
and assistance are constantly required and obtained from tradesmen not belonging to the Craft , ivho vend articles not of a superior quality nor at a loAver price than those of the same trade Avho have assisted the Lodges in Avhich the emploj ^ ers and the would-be employed equally contribute in pecuniary , mental , and personal dues .
It is Avithin my own knowledge that , amongst " commercial men" there are many who have beeii initiated , and the only notice or benefit they confer on a victualler , unless he be the proprietor of the celebrated commercial house , is to seek his order—using all the enticing blandishments they so Avell command , mingled with Masonic advances of the most daring character , and frequently so publicly practised as to require me to ask them to remember their Ob . In my bar , which is on market days open to the better order of customers , Masonic secrets have been offered to me in so ostentatious and
unguarded a manner , as to require me to leave their presence ; and Avhen they are asked , Why do you use such advances Avhen soliciting an order , Avhilst you visit for your personal comforts houses not kept by members of the Fraternity ? " they answer , " Oh , I don't like to leave old quarters !" A notice of the proper kind through your excellent Maqazine , addressed to
the gentlemen of the road and rail , might call them to their respective duties , and give to the striving victuallers some of the benefits which they think are justly their due . Believe me , I could name to you amongst the victuallers some as good , perfect , . and regular-working Masons as are to be found in the Craft . Do not , therefore , write of their being allow ei > to be rn embers . "
J am , Sir , yours fraternally , 10 * 7 * Jxdy , 1858 . A Licensed Victualler & S . W . [ We are convinced that , in using the expression , the Avriter of the article did not mean to cast any reflection on the licensed victuallers—many of Avhom we know to bo as good and enthusiastic Masons as any in the Order ; and as munificent contributors to the various Masonic charities they may fairly challenge comparison with any other body of men in the Craft . —End