Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
O Ij^
ceremony , then , as it ha , s contravened the moral constitutions of Masonry , its decay has been marked ; for , however some of congenial spirit may revel in banquets , yet the large number of those ^ rt adhered to Masonry moral results , have been disappointed and heartsick . A few men
have been decorated with titles , which with them ha , d n ^ and gave them no power ; their vanity was gratified forthe day , and they emigrated from the Lodges at the stage of ^ main body do at Master Mason . If Masonry be not presented and practised in its moral , intellectual , and active aspect , it is a mere dead institution , and dies out more rapidly than new recruits can be brought in to be taught the same idle lessons . Thus it is that in
towns of great population Lodges have languished and become extinct , while in other places new Lodges hiiVe sprung up and old ones been maintained . By creating a more enlivening spirit , the Fre & masoni Magd ^ melids ' already l > een the means of string the decay of many Lodges , and of creating ^ n ^ essays to prevent the formation of new Lodges in the neighbourhood of old ones , and to drive converts into the old Lodges , M Lodges so attempted to be floured have really lost their vitality .
By drawing attention to the proceedings of Grand Lodge and of the Provincial Grand Lodges , no one doubts 1 ^^ the degree of activity real power communicated to those organizations has been very great . It is no mean thing to record the . trivialities of those ,, who , by the favour of a clique , or of old associates , get into grand office , and in the fuil conviction of self-conceit parade their platitudes in assemblages of
worthier men . There is many a grand dignitary , the death of whose power and influence is owing to the Magazine , and who will have to give way to those more capable of discharging the duties . Such is the inevitable result of giving the earnestness of record to words and acts , which , otherwise slurred over , too often degenerate into insignificance .
On Grand Lodge we have produced a greater influence than , on the Provincial Grand Lodges , but many of the latter , which have slept for years , are now coming to life , and Grand Officers who thought they had been indulged in very pretty titles , find , to their consternation , that they have responsibilities , as well as collars and aprons .
In the Lodges , too , although we have not been able to record the proceedings of all , we have caused , even among those whose names have not appeared in our pages , a greater zeal for ceremonial and a greater exactitude , more regard for the charities , and a stronger conviction of the duties imposed upon the Brethren , Masonic reports have been too often written , apparently only to preserve a record of
how facetiously Bro . Chuffy sang his comic song with the accustomed grimace ; how Bro . Grimaldi astonished the Brethren by disguising himself as an intrusive guest at the banquet ; how fifteen shillings was given to some aged member of the Lodge , whose distressed circumstances and paltry relief are blazoned forth to the world , and how Bro . Publican provided the banquet with his wonted skill in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
O Ij^
ceremony , then , as it ha , s contravened the moral constitutions of Masonry , its decay has been marked ; for , however some of congenial spirit may revel in banquets , yet the large number of those ^ rt adhered to Masonry moral results , have been disappointed and heartsick . A few men
have been decorated with titles , which with them ha , d n ^ and gave them no power ; their vanity was gratified forthe day , and they emigrated from the Lodges at the stage of ^ main body do at Master Mason . If Masonry be not presented and practised in its moral , intellectual , and active aspect , it is a mere dead institution , and dies out more rapidly than new recruits can be brought in to be taught the same idle lessons . Thus it is that in
towns of great population Lodges have languished and become extinct , while in other places new Lodges hiiVe sprung up and old ones been maintained . By creating a more enlivening spirit , the Fre & masoni Magd ^ melids ' already l > een the means of string the decay of many Lodges , and of creating ^ n ^ essays to prevent the formation of new Lodges in the neighbourhood of old ones , and to drive converts into the old Lodges , M Lodges so attempted to be floured have really lost their vitality .
By drawing attention to the proceedings of Grand Lodge and of the Provincial Grand Lodges , no one doubts 1 ^^ the degree of activity real power communicated to those organizations has been very great . It is no mean thing to record the . trivialities of those ,, who , by the favour of a clique , or of old associates , get into grand office , and in the fuil conviction of self-conceit parade their platitudes in assemblages of
worthier men . There is many a grand dignitary , the death of whose power and influence is owing to the Magazine , and who will have to give way to those more capable of discharging the duties . Such is the inevitable result of giving the earnestness of record to words and acts , which , otherwise slurred over , too often degenerate into insignificance .
On Grand Lodge we have produced a greater influence than , on the Provincial Grand Lodges , but many of the latter , which have slept for years , are now coming to life , and Grand Officers who thought they had been indulged in very pretty titles , find , to their consternation , that they have responsibilities , as well as collars and aprons .
In the Lodges , too , although we have not been able to record the proceedings of all , we have caused , even among those whose names have not appeared in our pages , a greater zeal for ceremonial and a greater exactitude , more regard for the charities , and a stronger conviction of the duties imposed upon the Brethren , Masonic reports have been too often written , apparently only to preserve a record of
how facetiously Bro . Chuffy sang his comic song with the accustomed grimace ; how Bro . Grimaldi astonished the Brethren by disguising himself as an intrusive guest at the banquet ; how fifteen shillings was given to some aged member of the Lodge , whose distressed circumstances and paltry relief are blazoned forth to the world , and how Bro . Publican provided the banquet with his wonted skill in