What Manner Of Men Are Masons?

WHAT MANNER OF MEN ARE MASONS ?

Our article of last week on " 1 he cost of Masonry can hardly be considered complete unless we take a step further and examine for ourselves the still more important question—What manner of men arc they who are eligible to be received , and indeed are from time to lime received , into the

Fraternity ? It is admitted on all hands that there are to be found in our ranks a very large number of men of rank and opulence , while on the other hand it is undeniable that among us are many members who in the majority of cases , but by no means in all , have been reduced by unavoidable misfortune to a state of almost abject poverty . But these general statements are

not more applicable to Freemasonry than they are to any other society which the world has known at different epochs in its history . There is hardly a community of men that was ever formed for political , social , religious , or moral purposes of which it might not be truly affirmed that men of wealth

and men distinguished by their lack of wealth were alike included in its ranks . Therefore , if we would gratify our curiosity as to what manner of men Freemasons are , we must go further afield and into more minute detail in order to formulate an answer which may be truly and justly given .

There is perhaps one character which has been repeatedly ascribed to us without a shadow of evidence to justify it—so far at least as those branches of our Society are concerned , which have been established in the 1 'nited Kingdom , its Colonies and Possessions , and the United States of Americathat we are a community of men which has been formed for the special

purpose of counteracting , and , if possible , destroying whatever influence for good is exercised by reli gion and constituted authority . The statement is absurd on the face of it , that a Society which respects all religious and political creeds equally should be opposed to religion and the determined enemy of every form of government that has been dreamt of in our philosophy .

But though absurd , the statement , as we have said , has been again and again repeated ; and when we and others have with equal persistency denied the assertion , our denials have been treated contemptuously , as though we had no knowledge whatever of a Society into which , of our own free will and accord , we have sought and obtained admission . In vain have we

pointed out that a body which included in its ranks men of exalted position , ministers of religion , members of legislative bodies , ministers of State , and speaking generally those who were most deeply interested in- the maintenance of religion and in upholding the civil power , was unlikely to be the enemy of religion and order , the only notice

vouchsafed us in reply has been the further and equally monstrous assertion that , though Freemasonry was ostensibl y composed of men of this description , there was an inner band of members who ruled and directed the organisation , and by whom the reputable portion of the Society was used as a mask to hide from the world their own sinister designs . But \ vc need not pursue this

branch of our inquiry , firstly , because no amount of proof we mi ght adduce in denial of these assertions would have the sli ghtest effect in silencing our opponents ; and , secondly , because it is open to every one who becomes a Mason to acquire the fullest knowledge of the organisation and objects of I'leemasonry . Bui who , then , arc Freemasons , or rather what manner of

men are they who constitute the bulk of our members 1 The answer may be given briefl y and at once . They are not necessarily rich men , as we have already shown , and they are not poor men , for poor men do not seek to become members of a Sociely which requires of them certain fees for initiation , certain annual subscription ; -, and the expenditure of such a sum as

will furnish them with the necessary paraphernalia . But they are fairly well-to-do men , and are drawn from every class of society , as will be seen from the enumeration of the following occupations as furnished in

a list of candidates for one of our Scholastic Institutions : surgeon , accountant , commercial traveller , merchant ' s clerk , dentist , professor of music , schoolmaster , master mariner , builder , auctioneer , merchant tailor , hotel proprietor , licensed victualler , and leather merchant . The list in which these

<» ccupati 0 ns are mentioned is issued by the authorities of one of our Schools to its governors and subscribers , and the information it contains as to the social standing and Masonic career of the fathers of those children who have « on accepted as candidates for its benefits , is intended as a guide to those who have and intend exercising the privilege of voting for the admission of

< andidates . It is , in fact , the evidence that the fathers of these applicants ! ave been in reputable circumstances , that , as far as it is possible to determine a matter of so much delicacy , their circumstances would have enabled 'em to give lheir children a decent education , had it not been for those

unavoidable calamities and misfortunes which befel them and reduced them from ¦ i s ate of comfort to one of poverty . Again if we glance through the list of those v ave been admit ted as initiates or joining members into the average English f , , we shall find it composed of men of every class and description of

What Manner Of Men Are Masons?

occupation , together with a few who are of independent means , or who have acquired independence after years of honest labour . Such a lodge will be found . to consist indiscriminately of gentlemen of fortune , professional men , and tradesmen , who have been accepted , not because they had means and influence , not because they were members of this or that church , or

because they held this or that set of political opinions , but because they had it in their power at the time they offered themselves freely and voluntarily as candidates for the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry , to satisfy those with whom their election or rejection rested that they were honest and honourble . Some lodges may have a preponderance of members who are men of

independent means , or who have acquired independence after years of honourable work ; some of members who fitly answer to the description of gentlemen by birth and education ; some of members among whom the professional or commercial callings are more numerously represented ; and others of men who follow more laborious , but not less honest and honourable ,

avocations ; but in all cases equally it is necessary that they who seek admission into our ranks should be men of good character , and , as far as worldly circumstances are concerned , in such a position that no one can justly charge them with being influenced to join us by mercenary or unworthy motives-These , then , are the men who constitute the general body of Freemasons

throughout the British Empire and in the United States ; men who ma ) -or may not be rich , but who were certainly not poor at their initiation ; men whom it is a pleasure to be associated with in everyday life , and who do not usuall y furnish forth the material of which conspirators against religion and the good

order of society are composed . \\ e are not angels , but the world generally looks kindl y upon us , and it is just possible that a little of that Charity we strive to exhibit in our own quiet and unobtrusive way towards our fellow creatures might be found useful in the case of those who so persistently denounce us for our alleged wickedness .

Consecration Of The Concordia Lodge,

CONSECRATION OF THE CONCORDIA LODGE ,

No . 2492 . This new lodge for the Province of Bucks was consecrated on Monday , at Wendover , in the new hall of the Red Lion Hotel , which was built expressly for the lodge by Bro . Holland , the proprietor of the hotel . The ceremony of consecration was performed by Bro . the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg ,

P . G . C ., Deputy Prow G . M . Bucks , who was assisted by Bros . J . E , Bowen , Prow G . Sec , as J . W . ; J . Williams , Prow G . Treas ., as J . W . ; and Jas . Stephens , I . P . M . 2420 , as Director of Ceremonies . There were present the following : Bcos . Rev . Oliver lames Grace , P . G . Chap . ; J . W . Burgess , P . P . S . G . D . West

Lancashire ; F . J . Hubbard , J . W . Markham , Henry Jowett , Thomas W . Allsop , E . T . Mackrill , George Willson , George F . Phillpot , J George BusheJI , Frederick Gott , Joseph Holland , T . J . Sewell , Thomas Dowden , R . E . Sanders , A . Bush , R . G . Lee , G . C . Jones , E . V . Bake , W . J . Mackay , John Start , W . J . Cattle , George I . Phillpot , James Williams , P . M . 591 ; Lewis Poulton , P . M . 591 ;

James D . Coates , 591 ; W . Sinfieet , 591 i H . H . Shenvin , 591 ; Hy . Turnham , 2420 ; W . F . Taylor , 591 ; J . K . H . Fowler , P . M . 591 ; John Soper , P . M . 55 ; Thomas Page . 591 ; Alexander Watson , 591 ; A . Ball , 2266 ; Henry Martin , P . M ., Sec . 591 ; George A . Sims , S . D . 504 ; Arthur Wilson , 591 ; Frederick T . Edeington , 1321 ; E . Gibbs , 591 ; H . Taylor , 2420 ; Leon Bladief , 1563 ;

William Simmonds , 1087 ; R . G . D . White , 591 ; J . S . Simcox , 591 ; W . H , Ro-. ve , 591 ; F . F . Lehmann , 591 ; John Reader , S . D . 591 ; Geo . James , P . M . 1501 ; R . Willoughby , G . Std . Br . ; J . McCubbin , 948 , P . P . J . G . W . Bucks ; J . J . Thomas , W . M . elect 2241 ; J . H . Roberts , P . M . 153 8 ; W . J . Squire , I . P . M . 1 743 ; J . W . Pearson , P . M . 1567 ; M . Lincoln , P . M . 534 ; Herbert F . Adams , 1706 ;

S . R . Lovett , P . M . 3 ; G . Sales , 2012 ; R . Patinson , P . M . 180 ; B . Holeyman , 73 ; Edward F . New , P . M . 173 ; J . M . Fraser , J . D . 1426 ; W . J . Harris , P . M . 1321 ; P . J . Ward , P . M . 3 ; E . Hill , I . P . M . 948 ; Charles O . Burgess , 2191 ;

F . Fein , 1563 ; George B . Fletcher , P . M . 180 ; E . H . Crate , P . M . 6 97 ; J . Newton Burns , 291 ; Col . F . J . Gardiner , P . M . 905 ; J . M . Brill , 780 ; O . Smith , 988 ; W . J . Crutch , P . M . 1278 ; W . H . Muking , P . M . 1278 ; H . Massey , 160 , P . M . 619 and 192 S ; and F . Payne , Prov . G . T . Bucks .

The ceremony was very ably performed , and at its conclusion Bro Brownrigg installed Bro . J . W . Burgess as the first W . M . of the lodge . The following brethren received the other collars : Bros . Joseph Holland , acting I . P . M . ; F . J . Hubbard , S . W . ; li . T . Mackrill , J . W . ; Rev . O .

| . Grace , Chap . ; ( . W . Markham , Treas . ; Henry Jowett , Sec . ; Bushel , Asst . Sec ; T . W . Allsop , S . D . ; John Stait , J . D . ; George Willson , D . C . ; G . F . Phillpott , I . G . ; R . C . Sanders and Thomas Dowden , Stwds . ; and Somersgill , Tyler . The Consecrating Officers were elected honorary members of the lodge .