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Article MASONIC DISCIPLINE.—XII. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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Masonic Discipline.—Xii.
placed , as it were , in loco parentis , to be in a great measure oblivious to the obligations entailed upon thorn ? Can it be right for them to bo so derelict , so lax in the discharge of the trust reposed in them , as literally to allow those confided to their
vigilance and protection , to follow their own devices , and to drift like stray waifs upon the troubled waters of discord , discrepancy , and uncertainty ? When one comes to reflect upon the origin of the numerous discrepancies that exist in the
working of different lodges , it is easy to trace them all to one cause , namely , the absence of any absolutely recognised standard or acknowledged model . There is , moreover , unfortunately , a blind fanaticism prevalent among many of the instructors , or
those who are regarded as authorities upon the ritual , the ceremonies , and the whole working in general of lodges , that does more to perpetuate the evil , than if the actual differences of opinion were multiplied a hundred fold . It will be found
that in the majority of instances , where two different opinions are expressed , it is very rare that any shadow of a reason can be advanced for the
validity of either . Upon interrogation , the usual answer is , that " it is so—how , or why it is so , we do not know ; but so it is , aud that ' s all about it ,. " Now , no one more readily admits than ourselves , that this is the true and proper auswer to a great
many questions of a purely Masonic character . What other answer could be given if it were demanded why the obligations of the E . A ., F . C ., or M . M . are what they are ? The rites aud ceremonies belonging to a fraternity coeval with the creation of
the firmament , are beyond all interrogatory jurisdiction . They stand above the reach of human inquisition . Like the will of the Omnipotent Creator—immutable aud eternal—they come not
within the narrow sphere of mundane criticism . The nature of their origin , and the mystery of their creation , are lost in the oblivion of ages ; their secrets are not to be fathomed by the rules of logic nor by the wiles of sophistry . But while we
recognise the correctness of the ipse dixit reply to the great truths and mysteries of the Craft , we confess that iu many instances it proves a lamentable failure , and only serves to indicate one of two things , or perhaps both . It tends to demonstrate
either that the opinion or statement is incorrect , or that the person advancing it , is unable to support it , and , as frequently hajjpens , really knows nothing about it . It will scarcely bo believed that we have known the grossest grammatical blunders—the
most ridiculous perversions of the vernacular defeuded , upon no other grounds than those of " it is so . 55 It is equivalent to the notorious pontifical non possumus . The effect of such "instruction upon a man of education , even on a comparatively
limited scale , requires no comment . What must it be on others who have the good fortune to be thoroughly educated , as gentlemen and professional men ? In spite of whatever may be asserted to the contrary , we maintain that any portion of the ritual which is couched in terms ,
involving an absolute violation of the rules of grammar and common sense is wrong , aud should be altered by authority , so as to obviate all chance of its provoking an involuntary smile , either of incredulity or contempt , upon the faces of the audience .
The education of the members of the Craft , requires to be taken in hand at once by those who are conscientiously responsible for the welfare and progress of Freemasonry . Instances of this kind could , we regret to assert , be multiplied almost
ad infinitum , and when we treat hereafter more especially of the ritual , its beauties and defects , they will be jjointed out , so far as can be consistently done , to the uninitiated world at large who are not Masons .
Assuming , therefore , as the basis of our plan , that the supreme authority is bound conscientiously and morally to " take up " the question of the educational improvement of the Craft in general , let us now fill in the details of the proposed project . In
the first place , it is essential that a lodge of instruction should be held , under the sanction of Grand Lodge , in which candidates for the certificates of proficiency , alluded to in a former article , would be the officers . There would be no
difficulty , in a city like our mighty metropolis , where there is abundance of Masonic energy and ability in appointing , honoris causa , five or six , or more , principal instructors , or rather Professors of Freemasonry . As the presence of one of these is all
that would be required at a time , it would be an easy matter to hold the lodge of instruction once a week , with the exception , perhaps , of one or two of the ordinary summer vacation months . These are details that present no obstacle to a z'eady
adjustment hereafter , provided the essential points be once agreed t to . This Lodge of Instruction , which [ might be appropriately designated by the addition of the title of " Grand / ' would have a candidate W . M ., candidate principal , and candidate assistant officers . Iu addition , the greater portion .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Discipline.—Xii.
placed , as it were , in loco parentis , to be in a great measure oblivious to the obligations entailed upon thorn ? Can it be right for them to bo so derelict , so lax in the discharge of the trust reposed in them , as literally to allow those confided to their
vigilance and protection , to follow their own devices , and to drift like stray waifs upon the troubled waters of discord , discrepancy , and uncertainty ? When one comes to reflect upon the origin of the numerous discrepancies that exist in the
working of different lodges , it is easy to trace them all to one cause , namely , the absence of any absolutely recognised standard or acknowledged model . There is , moreover , unfortunately , a blind fanaticism prevalent among many of the instructors , or
those who are regarded as authorities upon the ritual , the ceremonies , and the whole working in general of lodges , that does more to perpetuate the evil , than if the actual differences of opinion were multiplied a hundred fold . It will be found
that in the majority of instances , where two different opinions are expressed , it is very rare that any shadow of a reason can be advanced for the
validity of either . Upon interrogation , the usual answer is , that " it is so—how , or why it is so , we do not know ; but so it is , aud that ' s all about it ,. " Now , no one more readily admits than ourselves , that this is the true and proper auswer to a great
many questions of a purely Masonic character . What other answer could be given if it were demanded why the obligations of the E . A ., F . C ., or M . M . are what they are ? The rites aud ceremonies belonging to a fraternity coeval with the creation of
the firmament , are beyond all interrogatory jurisdiction . They stand above the reach of human inquisition . Like the will of the Omnipotent Creator—immutable aud eternal—they come not
within the narrow sphere of mundane criticism . The nature of their origin , and the mystery of their creation , are lost in the oblivion of ages ; their secrets are not to be fathomed by the rules of logic nor by the wiles of sophistry . But while we
recognise the correctness of the ipse dixit reply to the great truths and mysteries of the Craft , we confess that iu many instances it proves a lamentable failure , and only serves to indicate one of two things , or perhaps both . It tends to demonstrate
either that the opinion or statement is incorrect , or that the person advancing it , is unable to support it , and , as frequently hajjpens , really knows nothing about it . It will scarcely bo believed that we have known the grossest grammatical blunders—the
most ridiculous perversions of the vernacular defeuded , upon no other grounds than those of " it is so . 55 It is equivalent to the notorious pontifical non possumus . The effect of such "instruction upon a man of education , even on a comparatively
limited scale , requires no comment . What must it be on others who have the good fortune to be thoroughly educated , as gentlemen and professional men ? In spite of whatever may be asserted to the contrary , we maintain that any portion of the ritual which is couched in terms ,
involving an absolute violation of the rules of grammar and common sense is wrong , aud should be altered by authority , so as to obviate all chance of its provoking an involuntary smile , either of incredulity or contempt , upon the faces of the audience .
The education of the members of the Craft , requires to be taken in hand at once by those who are conscientiously responsible for the welfare and progress of Freemasonry . Instances of this kind could , we regret to assert , be multiplied almost
ad infinitum , and when we treat hereafter more especially of the ritual , its beauties and defects , they will be jjointed out , so far as can be consistently done , to the uninitiated world at large who are not Masons .
Assuming , therefore , as the basis of our plan , that the supreme authority is bound conscientiously and morally to " take up " the question of the educational improvement of the Craft in general , let us now fill in the details of the proposed project . In
the first place , it is essential that a lodge of instruction should be held , under the sanction of Grand Lodge , in which candidates for the certificates of proficiency , alluded to in a former article , would be the officers . There would be no
difficulty , in a city like our mighty metropolis , where there is abundance of Masonic energy and ability in appointing , honoris causa , five or six , or more , principal instructors , or rather Professors of Freemasonry . As the presence of one of these is all
that would be required at a time , it would be an easy matter to hold the lodge of instruction once a week , with the exception , perhaps , of one or two of the ordinary summer vacation months . These are details that present no obstacle to a z'eady
adjustment hereafter , provided the essential points be once agreed t to . This Lodge of Instruction , which [ might be appropriately designated by the addition of the title of " Grand / ' would have a candidate W . M ., candidate principal , and candidate assistant officers . Iu addition , the greater portion .