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Freemasonry and Its Objects

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Freemasonry and Its Objects FREEMASONRY AND ITS OBJECTS. feel that , at any rate, there is nothing in Freemasonry vvhich can chill any devout aspirations , wound any tender conscience, or quicken any feelings or There are few more competent exponents of the aims and objects of aspirations which are at variance vvith our best interests in this life or in of YORK and theaddress Freemasonry than our reverend brother the Dean , another. '' with which he recently inaugurated the series of lectures vvhich will be de- Having shown that Freemasonry is not any of the things he enumerated , livered from time to time under the auspices of the Lodge of Defence, No. our reverend brother proceeded to defime " the object of our Society " as t22i , Leeds, is a model of what such an address should be. It was clear being " to cultivate social intercourse and frater nal fellowship with the view and precise in its several parts , easy of comprehension by the general body of promoting acts of benevolence and Charity, and exalting and inculcating of Craftsmen , and a truthfu l presentation of the purposes vvhich Free- the practice of morality and due reverence and loyal allegiance to the powers masonry has set itself to accomplish. No doubt our distinguished brother that be, whether of heaven or earth." As regards the constitution of our would have felt equally, if not more, at home in addressing an audience Order, he took occasion to point out that, in this country at all of highly cultured Masons desirous of learning more about the abstruser events, " it gathers together men of all ranks and stations, fro m the Heir to the Throne mysteries of the Craft . But we doubt very much if a learned address would to thc working man." There may not, perhaps, be many of the latter have been as generally acceptable as that vvhich vve had the pleasure of , but there is little doubt the Fraternity is " abundantly recruited from the publishing last week, for the reason that it would not have bcen so readily upper and middle classes of society." It includes " men of all shades of comprehended by the general body. It would not have appealed so directly politics and all schools of religious thought , of the highest as well as the to their sympathies or to those of the general public, vvho , though they are not simplest intellectual culture, men of every profession and calling, clerica l themselves members of the Masonic Fraternity, are nevertheless greatly and lay, men of different temperaments and dispositions , of varied ifts, interested in its proceedings. But let us accompany our reverend brother g of various professions, the richest and the poorest, the man of business and through the several sections of his address, and vve shall then be in a better the man of leisure, the man of study and the man of action , the man of position to appreciate its value. He began by pointing out that the old commerce and the man of agriculture, thc man of science and the man conception as to the character of Freemasonry, however much of truth it of politics, the employer and the employed , the man of the most independen t may have contained in former days, holds good no longer. People do not and of the most subordinate positions. " That such an organisation as this now caricature us, and set us down as " mere gluttons and bibulous people, —which " masses all these different classes of the community together whose conversation was flavoured with coarseness, and whose actions " ; which " brings them on to one common neutral ground ," where they meet savoured of indecency." The habits of society, of which Freemasons are " and are honoured , not so much for their rank and position without as for their an important part , forbid any such suggestion. But the belief is still position and rank within ;" which is " a social democracy, and yet controlled widely prevalent that Freemasonry is a kind of goodfellovvshi p club, and by a discipline which is loyally submitted to, and cheerfull y recognised , and in ascribing this belief to the habit so common he is probably not far wrong governed by an executive which retains the confidence of the members among brethren of describing what is nothing more than the simple and generally, and is obeyed and honoured "—should win the admiration of so necessary refreshment which should always follovv labour by " thc pedantic competent a jud ge is not to be wondered at; neither is it surprising that he and archaic " term of " banquets." We meet together for the discharge of should give voice to the opinion that " it would be indeed a shame, grievous and when we have discharged them vve dine or sup our appointed duties , abuse of great opportunities , a criminal waste of a grand and intricate together or spend an hour or two in taking some light refreshments. This organisation (vvhich seems to have been permitted lo grow together for some as the case may be, is magniloquent! refection , slight or substantial , )' great purpose) if it was allowed to subside into a mere occasion for in- described as a banquet ," and hence, no doubt , the belief he referred to " dul gence, for mere parade, for mere utterance of familiar formularies and lhat Masons are a " goodfellovvship rlub," who meet together for no mere platitudes , and for the mere assumption of costume." F.qually other purpose than that of enjoy ing themselves. But even if they merit important is it to note that " a good example is catching, and that the this appellation there is, as he truly says, a sufficient apology for their , evidence, on such a large scale as ours, of men able to differ, and yet able conduct. There is indeed , no reason why frugal and necessary refresh- , to teach a fellowshi p of harmony and mutual respect , will not be ineffectual Masonic bod ment should not be taken by members of the y when they if only it is sincere." meet together for thc transaction ot business. It is " consistent vvith Much else might be quoted from this instructive address, but we have humanity itself that the partaking of food should be social rather than selected enough to show how justly the objects of Freemasonry are under- solitary." In short , we meet as a lodge and dine or sup together as a stood by the Dean of YORK , and how grand a future lies before the Craft, famil y. This we do some eight or ro times in the course of 12 months , if only its members will appreciate and act up to his teachings. It is, and the people must indeed be censorious who can deduce harm from indeed , an able exposition of Freemasonry, and the Lodge of Defence will customs so simple and indulged in at intervals so rare. be fortunate indeed if the rest of the series of the lectures which are to Again , as our reverend brother points out, Freemasonry is not a be delivered under its auspices equal , or even approach , the one we have benefit society ; it does not lend itself , except on very special occasions, to just been summarising. anything in the nature of spectacular display, and , above all , it is not, neither has it ever advanced any claim to be, a religion. It is not a benefi t society, because men do not join our ranks for the sake of any benefits they INTRODUCTION TO BRO. VERNONS SCOTTISH "lay hope to derive from it on their own account, but in order to be able, MASONIC HISTORY. through its instrumentality, to render services to others. Benefit societies are, no doubt , usefu l , and, as the Rev. Bro. PUREY -CUST remarks, "it may The following introduction by Bro. W. J. Hughan to Bro. Vernon 's work he an act of prudence " to belong to one, " and it is, no doubt , great want recently published , has been reprinted by permission of the Author, and °f prudence to belong to nothing of the sort , and to make no provision for will , we think, prove of interest to our readers -.— possible dark days, or for those dependent on us." But , as he goes on to I am exceedingly pleased that Bro. W. Fred. Vernon has so promptl y •idd, " surely it is a different and a higher course if the object is not self but responded to the wishes of several students in writing a comprehensive others , not what we may get for ourselves, but how vve can best utilise our "History of I' reemasonry in the Province of Roxburghshire and Selkirk- means and capabilities to promote the welfare of our brethren." Again , shire," not only as such a work is much needed (containing as it does •'reemasonry is no religion , but " it recognises religious truths; it inculcates numerous particulars respecting old lodges from 16 74 to 1892), but ¦ind practises much which lies at the base of all true religion , and promotes primarily because rny friend is most thoroug hly conversant with the subject , •t frame of mind and a temper which are most helpful to religion." It nnd has virtually been preparing for this " labour of love " (though without occupies ground " which i.s common to all who hold anything deserving lo intending it) for many years past. Amidst the multitudinous duties of a oe recognised as serious and sensible religious opinions. It accentuates, busy life he has contrived to find time to do justice to the important records dwells upon , inculcates, and encourages those cardinal princi ples and of the old Lodge of Melrose , vvith minutes from 1674; the Lodge of Kelso s Piritual foundations without which anything worthy to be called a religion from 1701 , and those of the extinct lod ge at Haughfoot , fro m 1702 , besides cannotif exist , and when vve meet we do not suppress the very name of GOD other ancient ateliers whose transactions are duly described in musty s His out very being were of place in social life and philanthrop ic work." volumes, and now, for the first time, see the li ght by being placed at the ^ Moreover , " it is something in an age when men arc enticed to associate service of the universal Craft for examination and comparison with kindred emsclves together where the very name of Goi> and the very mention of MSS.
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