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Article MASONIC REPORTING. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Reporting.
We know of nothing more gratifying tha , n , when at a distance from our former lodge , to see in the pages of the MAGAZINE an account of a happy and prosperous meeting ; similarly , brethren who remain see their exiled brother ' s name in the
account of some meeting * in a distant colony , where this chip of the Old Ashlar is very likely founding a new lodge , resuscitating dormant old ones , and generally trying to carry out the principles taught him in his mother lodge at home .
At such meetings also , old and experienced brethren often address the assembly , and the Craft generally derive both pleasure , and profit from perusing the reported speech . Thus , also , do brethren hear of lodges which they would like to
visit or join . In short the advantage of this portion of the MAGAZINE is universally acknowledged , and , I am sure , Bums himself would have felt a thrill of pleasure , could he , when an exile , have read an account of
" The round , he aslcecl with a sigh . To him the Bard that ' s far a * va ' . " being drunk with three times tliree , and Masonic honours ! In sending these reports , however , it is very necessary that a wise discretion be used ,
both not to mention things with which it is not desirable that the unenlightened should become acquainted , and not to import into such communications private matters , only concerning and interesting the members of the particular lodge , and
in no way affecting the Craft at large . What can be more incorrect than to publish the fact of a candidate being black-balled ? If a charge be brought against any brother , or he be excluded ,
our lodges are not public criminal courts , and such matters should be kept strictly private . If any disagreement , or discussion take place among the members are garbled , and contradictory reports to appear in print , that the whole Craft be
invited to join in the petty squabble ? Thank heaven , such occurrences are rare amongst Masons , but it is not long since an account was published of a very stormy meeting in the bleak North , when the business was the election of W . M . and
the partisans of the disappointed candidate for that office published a detailed account of all the un-Maspnic observations made , attributing the basest motives to their opponents ; an animated
correspondence ensued , m which brethren from all parts of the kingdom took part on either side . Now , surely the members of the lodge were the best qualified to decide which was the most suitable candidate , and , if they elected an unqualified
brother , their own Grand Lodge would disallow the appointment ; but how does this interest the whole Craft ? What would any non-Mason , or young brother think of it all ? Why , that in lieu of being abodes of friendship , and fraternal unity ,
our lodges were hotbeds of jealousy and dissension . We know for a fact that several lodges discontinued sending reports , and some even gave up taking the MAGAZINE , in consequence of such ill-advised communications . There is an old adage about where dirty linen should be washed , and these brethren would have done well to have
thought of it . On the other hand , let us urge brethren to encourage the sending of decorous , and fraternal communications . We are convinced that much good is thereby effected , and we much regret the
rarity of recent Colonial news about Eremasonry and its progress . One likes to hear of the spread c £ Masonry throughout the civilized world . In our opinion no report should be sent without the knowledge , and sanction of the W . M .,
or under the supervision of a P . M . The same remarks apply to other communications to the MAGAZINE , in which we would strongly deprecate the personal , and un-Masonic tone which we have occasionally seen of late . The prohibition of religious and political discussion , which exists in lodge should equally apply to such
communications . In our opinion nothing can be in worse taste than letters abusing Roman Catholicism , or other form of religion ; we have many excellent brethren who hold those views , and should respect their feelings . Equally out of place are attempted
dogmatical definitions of " The religion of Freemasonry . " As well talk of the religion of the Old Bailey , or the Divorce Court ! The same rules apply in both . Neither will administer an oath to a person who does not believe in a future
state , but both admit a person who believes in a God , and in a future state ; both will swear a Jew , Chinese , or Mohammedan ; neither interfere in any way with the particular belief of the witness , or candidate . It is absurd to talk of the reli gion of
a law court , or a club , and it is equally absurd , in our opinion , to talk of the religion of Freemasonry as being a Theism , Deism , etc . Each Mason
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Reporting.
We know of nothing more gratifying tha , n , when at a distance from our former lodge , to see in the pages of the MAGAZINE an account of a happy and prosperous meeting ; similarly , brethren who remain see their exiled brother ' s name in the
account of some meeting * in a distant colony , where this chip of the Old Ashlar is very likely founding a new lodge , resuscitating dormant old ones , and generally trying to carry out the principles taught him in his mother lodge at home .
At such meetings also , old and experienced brethren often address the assembly , and the Craft generally derive both pleasure , and profit from perusing the reported speech . Thus , also , do brethren hear of lodges which they would like to
visit or join . In short the advantage of this portion of the MAGAZINE is universally acknowledged , and , I am sure , Bums himself would have felt a thrill of pleasure , could he , when an exile , have read an account of
" The round , he aslcecl with a sigh . To him the Bard that ' s far a * va ' . " being drunk with three times tliree , and Masonic honours ! In sending these reports , however , it is very necessary that a wise discretion be used ,
both not to mention things with which it is not desirable that the unenlightened should become acquainted , and not to import into such communications private matters , only concerning and interesting the members of the particular lodge , and
in no way affecting the Craft at large . What can be more incorrect than to publish the fact of a candidate being black-balled ? If a charge be brought against any brother , or he be excluded ,
our lodges are not public criminal courts , and such matters should be kept strictly private . If any disagreement , or discussion take place among the members are garbled , and contradictory reports to appear in print , that the whole Craft be
invited to join in the petty squabble ? Thank heaven , such occurrences are rare amongst Masons , but it is not long since an account was published of a very stormy meeting in the bleak North , when the business was the election of W . M . and
the partisans of the disappointed candidate for that office published a detailed account of all the un-Maspnic observations made , attributing the basest motives to their opponents ; an animated
correspondence ensued , m which brethren from all parts of the kingdom took part on either side . Now , surely the members of the lodge were the best qualified to decide which was the most suitable candidate , and , if they elected an unqualified
brother , their own Grand Lodge would disallow the appointment ; but how does this interest the whole Craft ? What would any non-Mason , or young brother think of it all ? Why , that in lieu of being abodes of friendship , and fraternal unity ,
our lodges were hotbeds of jealousy and dissension . We know for a fact that several lodges discontinued sending reports , and some even gave up taking the MAGAZINE , in consequence of such ill-advised communications . There is an old adage about where dirty linen should be washed , and these brethren would have done well to have
thought of it . On the other hand , let us urge brethren to encourage the sending of decorous , and fraternal communications . We are convinced that much good is thereby effected , and we much regret the
rarity of recent Colonial news about Eremasonry and its progress . One likes to hear of the spread c £ Masonry throughout the civilized world . In our opinion no report should be sent without the knowledge , and sanction of the W . M .,
or under the supervision of a P . M . The same remarks apply to other communications to the MAGAZINE , in which we would strongly deprecate the personal , and un-Masonic tone which we have occasionally seen of late . The prohibition of religious and political discussion , which exists in lodge should equally apply to such
communications . In our opinion nothing can be in worse taste than letters abusing Roman Catholicism , or other form of religion ; we have many excellent brethren who hold those views , and should respect their feelings . Equally out of place are attempted
dogmatical definitions of " The religion of Freemasonry . " As well talk of the religion of the Old Bailey , or the Divorce Court ! The same rules apply in both . Neither will administer an oath to a person who does not believe in a future
state , but both admit a person who believes in a God , and in a future state ; both will swear a Jew , Chinese , or Mohammedan ; neither interfere in any way with the particular belief of the witness , or candidate . It is absurd to talk of the reli gion of
a law court , or a club , and it is equally absurd , in our opinion , to talk of the religion of Freemasonry as being a Theism , Deism , etc . Each Mason