Contents. MASONIC DISCIPLINE AND

Contents. and ritual are concerned, it is a piain, but deplor- tPAGE. Masonic Discipline and the Ritual-—By Crux 3S1 able case of " Every man his own Instructor," and Grand Chapter of Canada 383 this in an Institution which, in many countries it Gothic Architecture and Operative Freemason ry—By Bro. W. , P. Buclian 384 may be truthfull y affirmed , " the King delightetk. Masonic Celestial Mysteries—By Bro. Henry Melville 387 Masonic Notes and Queries 388 to honour." AVith no datum, no standard , no Correspondence 390 Masonic Mems 392 criterion of what is right, and what is wrong, CEAST LODGE MEETINGS :— the cry of Masons is Da nobis lux, and this, in Metropolitan 392 Provincial 303 an Institution which affixes to the certificates Isle of Man 395 Scotland 305 issued by its supreme authority, the date, A.L.. Channel Islands 30G South Australia 396 However brightly the light may have shone in Mark Masonry .'¦¦¦ ,, . 397 by-gone days, there is very little of it now re- Religious and Military Order of the Temple '..".".' 397 Theatrical aud Musical STotes 397 maining to enlighten its benighted and bewildered Reviews 397 Obituary 398 votaries. When the metropolitan brethren are so Constanthiian Order of the Knights of St. George 398 Scientific Meetings for the Week 390 much in the dark, imagine what must be the con- List of Lodge, &c, Meetings for ensuing week 399 dition of those who are in the provinces ? The To Correspondents 400 excellent letter of a " Provincial Grand Officer " in the last issue full y corroborates the truth LONDON, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1869. of the statements we have persistently and un- weariedly advanced. It has often struck us, when MASONIC DISCIPLINE AND THE considering the inefficient and pitiable condition BITTJAL.—XXIII. to which modern working Masonry has sunk, that the li ght of a M.M. is indeed a "feeble ray." By CRUX . The bitterest enemy of our Order could hardly The first step towards tlie remedy of an evil, is have devised a more biting sarcasm than the in- tlie full perception and knowledge of its nature and troduction of the whole of that beautiful paragraph extent. Unless a person is conscious of his fault into the ceremony of the third degree. How many he, cannot correct it. It is true that he may be a candidate must have given his fullest, but silent assent to the remark as he thought of the person perfectly aware of his defect s, and yet either , who with great difficulty and assistance stumbled neglect or refuse to " depart from his evil ways." through that solemn and dignified ceremonial ! It In that case he is simply laying up for himself is not the physical, but the mental " feeble ray " that punishment, which sooner or later must in- which calls for the greatest fortitude on the part fallibly overtake those who despise the paths of of the candidate. It is high time all this was wisdom , and voluntarily stray amid the labyrinths altered ; incompetent and. uneducated officers are of folly. We have now arrived at such a stage of bringing the Craft into contempt even among its our discussion upon the present subject, and have own members. Laxity of disci pline, and a lethargic elicited in their course, such overwhelming evi- administration, which takes no pains to correct dence of the imperative necessfty that exists for errors, reform abuses, or advocate improvement, improvement in the modern Masonic reg ime, that will not advance the internal welfare ol' the Order. it may be truly said of the whole system , corrigen- The pontificial non possumus is an answer that dum, est. We have not the slightest hesitation in may do very well for a time and for certain classes, asserting that the feeling is unanimous, that some- but there are others who do not regard it as a thing ought to be done to impart more uniformity valid reply, and who are able to think, to jud ge,, and regularity to the working of our lod ges. and if necessary to act for themselves. This opinion is held, not alone by brethren who, Resuming our ritualistic criticism , it may be like ourselves, have carefull y studied the whole remarked that the wording of the penalty differs in question , but is shared in by those who can per- different lod ges, so that absolutely, it is a mere ceive, humble as their rank of life may be, the chance whether any two brethren are ever " obli- anomalous ancl contemptible position in which the gated " according to the same formula. This Craft is placed by the indecision, inaction and would be equivalent to administering the oath of apathy of those, who have its affairs in their rule allegiance to one person , in certain words, and to and governance. So far as our rites, ceremonies, another, iu certain others. Comment is snperfluoua, It is difficult for brethren to imagine themselves Initiate the emblematic lights in Masonry, and bound together by the same chain, when the repeated the sentence which follows. The whole forging of it is dependent upon ignorance and in- ceremony is frequently completely spoiled, and competency. A large proportion of W.M.'s are its solemnity and impressiveness destroyed by some about as much fitted to occupy that position as the of the brethren sitting down prematurely, while Khau of Tartary is to fill the primacy. In order others remain in a standing position. Before to entitle a brother to wear the jewel of a quitting the " obligation " we would take the P.M. there ought to be some other qualifica- opportunity of remarking that we have never wit- tion required, than what in in nine cases out nessed its rehearsal, without noticing that but very of ten, is the mere farce of passing the chair. few brethren appear to order correctly. We have Instead of the jewel representing the 47th propo- watched newly-initiated members glancing from sition of Euclid, that usually known as the " Pons one brother to the other, in the vain hope of Asiuorurn" would have been a more appropriate making up their minds which they ought to copy. selection in many instances that have come under If brethren would only bear in mind that the our ovv?i observation. There is besides a g-ood " obligations " in the three degrees are note deal of quiet satire in presenting a man with a " prayers," and that they contain an allusion to jewel, upon which is engraved a problem of geo- pe nalty, they will have no difficulty in remember- metry, when the recipient probably knows as much ing what is the proper " sign " to show. A word about that science as he does of the " black art." from the W.M. would be quite sufficient to put Might we suggest, that as " Masonry is an art the brethren d' accord in points like these, but founded on the principles of geometry," it would unfortunately that officer is frequently in the same not be asking too much of the candidates for its dilemma himself, and is therefore unable to set honours that they should be able to demonstrate them right, for fear he should make a blunder. that they possess, at least, some elementary know- He therefore very wisely leaves them alone, and ledge of the scieuce before they are decore, as the error is thus perpetuated on all subsequent our French friends term it ? It is not to be under- occasions. In explaining the " three lesser lights," stood by this suggestion that no one but an able a mistake is very often perpetrated. This arises from geometrical! should wear the jewel, but it is the fact that the " point" of the explanation is not intended to signify that one who is totally ignorant understood , nor the peculiar Masonic propriety of it of the principles, practice, propositions, aud ap- perceived. The order of the position and that of the exposition is reversed which is a well kn own Masonic plications of that ancient science should be ex- , facon do purler. The order is " East, south, and cluded from receiving it. No good, earnest Mason west ; sun , moon , and "W.M." There is nothing in- who has the interest of the fraternity at heart, is congruous or uniutelh'gble in this style of language. acquainted with the sections , and can work a lodge It is similar to that employed in geometry under the thoroughl y, is ignorant of the principles and prac- term " invertendo ," and is one of those " niceties " tical application of geometry, although he may of the JRifrual to which we Ziave already alluded , and never have heard of the problem in question, or which we hope will always he retained. It is par- any other of a similar nature. It is not technical ticularly unfortunate that the parrot-like manner in knowledge that is needed to render a brother which the working of a lodge is got up, altogether eligible for distinction, but Masonic knowledge, precludes the possibil ity of the brother either com- and a sincere desire to use " the talents with prehending or appreciating the many beauties of the which God has blessed him " for the benefit of the Ritual. They are oftentimes altogether omitted , Institution and the advantage of its members. slurred over, or delivered in such a manner that they The " obligation " being finished, it is a very become absurd , and pass from the sublime—which they really are—to the ridiculous—which they common occurrence to witness the members of a cer- tainly are not. The transit is hut a step, and it is lodge resume their seats.

Load more