Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Distribution Of Honours In The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.
their disposal as if there were no brethren worthy of regard but those resident in Edinburgh ; and , in fact , even of these , none have had the least chance of being elected to any high office but those of a certain very small and select circle , who
can hold a private meeting before the meeting of the Grand Lodge , and arrange all that is to take place in ifc . It is not to the honour of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , nor of Freemasonry in Scotland , that
the Grand Lodge has come to be commonly spoken of as the Grand Lodge of Edinburgh , instead of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . But there is no wonder that this is the case , when it is considered how exclusively the honourable
offices of the Grand Lodge are filled by brethren resident in Edinburgh , and to how great an extent the Grand Lodge itself is composed of the members of Edinburgh Lodges . One Edinburgh Lodge sends no fewer than twelve Grand
Stewards as its representatives to the Grand Lodge , which is out of all proportion beyond the representation of any Provincial Lodge . The
Provincial Lodges are thus discouraged , and their representatives do not care to attend the meetings of the Grand Lodge ; whereas , if their proper place and influence were granted to them , they would probably make an effort to attend as
frequently as possible , and would carry home to the most distant parts of the country an increased knowledge of Freemasonry , and impressions highly favourable to its interests . The existing state of things is utterly contrary to that great
principle of equality amongst brethren which is the boast of Freemasonry , It is not , indeed , to be supposed that each Lodge ought to have the same number of office-bearers in Grand Lodge as another , but it might be
exnected that a rule should be adopted for the representation of Lodges in something like proportion to the number of their members . A rude approach to this is made in the representation of the citizens of our towns in Town Councils . The
Presbyterian Churches also proceed upon this principle in the representation of Presbyteries in their General Assemblies .
The principle is one evidently right iu itself , and and which commands approbation whenever it is stated . It is a principle which seems especially to accord with the fundamental laws and principles of Masonry , and the only wonder is that it has been
Distribution Of Honours In The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.
so long and so much disregarded . A complete prajtical acknowledgment of it conld not fail to have most beneficial results . It is worthy of notice thafc the pcesent state of the Grand Lodge of Scotland is an anachronism .
Freemasonry has of late years made great progress in Scotland , but the management of affairs in the Grand Lodge has remained unchanged . Not very many years ago , there were sometimes only a few members present at a meeting of the Grand
Lodge , and it was a thing to be talked of among tho brethren if there more than thirty . Now there are often three hundred present , and often there are many more . When only a few members were present , all , or
almost all , resident in Edinburgh ancl its immediate neighbourhood , it was only to be expected that they should elect each other to all the honourable offices at their disposal . It was almost impossible for them to do otherwise . But fche state of the
case is now changed , and a greater liberality of spirit displayed towards brethren belonging to all parts of the country would redound to the honourofthe Order ; would aid in elevating the Grand Lodge to that high position which it ought to hold , and promote brotherly feeling among all the Masons of Scotland .
A proposal is about to be made , m the form of a motion , at the approaching Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge , "Thafc no officebearer shall hold the same office for a longer period than three years , and , on the expiry of his
term of office , shall not be eligible for re-election to the same office , and that at leasfc three years must elapse before he is appointed to it ap'ain / This , however , is not to apply to tho Grand Master or paid officials .
This , of it-elf , wou'd go far to cure the evils of which there is so much cause to complain . Honouis would be more extensively distributed , among brethren , and a better and more kindly feeling would be promoted ; and if , at the same
time , a mo '* e equal system of representation were adopted , brethren would feel—as they do not at present—that their attendance at tlio meetings of the Grand Lodge was not a thing of mere formality aud sociality , but that they were called
upon to take a real part in the concerns of the Grand Lodge and of the Brotherhood . The great facilities of communication by railroad and telegraph make ifc possible for Masons
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Distribution Of Honours In The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.
their disposal as if there were no brethren worthy of regard but those resident in Edinburgh ; and , in fact , even of these , none have had the least chance of being elected to any high office but those of a certain very small and select circle , who
can hold a private meeting before the meeting of the Grand Lodge , and arrange all that is to take place in ifc . It is not to the honour of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , nor of Freemasonry in Scotland , that
the Grand Lodge has come to be commonly spoken of as the Grand Lodge of Edinburgh , instead of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . But there is no wonder that this is the case , when it is considered how exclusively the honourable
offices of the Grand Lodge are filled by brethren resident in Edinburgh , and to how great an extent the Grand Lodge itself is composed of the members of Edinburgh Lodges . One Edinburgh Lodge sends no fewer than twelve Grand
Stewards as its representatives to the Grand Lodge , which is out of all proportion beyond the representation of any Provincial Lodge . The
Provincial Lodges are thus discouraged , and their representatives do not care to attend the meetings of the Grand Lodge ; whereas , if their proper place and influence were granted to them , they would probably make an effort to attend as
frequently as possible , and would carry home to the most distant parts of the country an increased knowledge of Freemasonry , and impressions highly favourable to its interests . The existing state of things is utterly contrary to that great
principle of equality amongst brethren which is the boast of Freemasonry , It is not , indeed , to be supposed that each Lodge ought to have the same number of office-bearers in Grand Lodge as another , but it might be
exnected that a rule should be adopted for the representation of Lodges in something like proportion to the number of their members . A rude approach to this is made in the representation of the citizens of our towns in Town Councils . The
Presbyterian Churches also proceed upon this principle in the representation of Presbyteries in their General Assemblies .
The principle is one evidently right iu itself , and and which commands approbation whenever it is stated . It is a principle which seems especially to accord with the fundamental laws and principles of Masonry , and the only wonder is that it has been
Distribution Of Honours In The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.
so long and so much disregarded . A complete prajtical acknowledgment of it conld not fail to have most beneficial results . It is worthy of notice thafc the pcesent state of the Grand Lodge of Scotland is an anachronism .
Freemasonry has of late years made great progress in Scotland , but the management of affairs in the Grand Lodge has remained unchanged . Not very many years ago , there were sometimes only a few members present at a meeting of the Grand
Lodge , and it was a thing to be talked of among tho brethren if there more than thirty . Now there are often three hundred present , and often there are many more . When only a few members were present , all , or
almost all , resident in Edinburgh ancl its immediate neighbourhood , it was only to be expected that they should elect each other to all the honourable offices at their disposal . It was almost impossible for them to do otherwise . But fche state of the
case is now changed , and a greater liberality of spirit displayed towards brethren belonging to all parts of the country would redound to the honourofthe Order ; would aid in elevating the Grand Lodge to that high position which it ought to hold , and promote brotherly feeling among all the Masons of Scotland .
A proposal is about to be made , m the form of a motion , at the approaching Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge , "Thafc no officebearer shall hold the same office for a longer period than three years , and , on the expiry of his
term of office , shall not be eligible for re-election to the same office , and that at leasfc three years must elapse before he is appointed to it ap'ain / This , however , is not to apply to tho Grand Master or paid officials .
This , of it-elf , wou'd go far to cure the evils of which there is so much cause to complain . Honouis would be more extensively distributed , among brethren , and a better and more kindly feeling would be promoted ; and if , at the same
time , a mo '* e equal system of representation were adopted , brethren would feel—as they do not at present—that their attendance at tlio meetings of the Grand Lodge was not a thing of mere formality aud sociality , but that they were called
upon to take a real part in the concerns of the Grand Lodge and of the Brotherhood . The great facilities of communication by railroad and telegraph make ifc possible for Masons