The following is from the Alberta Grand Lodge Bulletin of 1936: Alberta, Canada. This was written and published 71 years ago. No matter how old you might be I think you will agree that 71 years is a long time, but when you read what is below I think you will also agree that some things have not changed all that much in all those years. When you read the following you will notice that the piece is as relevant today as it was when it was written. Brother Kevan Van Herd also reproduced this article in his book “A Collection of St. George’s Banner.” Thanks Brother Kevan.
Worthy and Well Qualified
There is a growing feeling among thinking Freemasons that admission to the Order is too easy and that we have dissipated our strength in mere numbers.
True it is that the present apparent qualifications for admission are no more than are required for almost any organization of honest men who demand integrity, ability, and willingness to pay his way, as the principal needs of the initiate.
But Freemasonry demands more than integrity of character and ability to pay. It demands a high intelligence, a desire for knowledge for its own sake, and that type of mentality which can prudently interpret symbols into everyday action, not only in the body of the lodge, but in the day to day business of life.
Too many superlatively honest and kindly men are in our ranks with but a limited idea of what Freemasonry is trying to do, and too many good men have passed through these ranks bored with endless repetition of apparently idle ceremonies, failing to grasp the foundations of the personal and practical philosophy of life which the Masonic ritual strives to teach.
Freemasonry may be, as is all too often the case, at fault in failing to properly instruct its neophytes, but if the material with which the teachers must work is missing; the chances of making Masons rather than lodge members is small.
With a group of members whose ideal of Freemasonry is the endless conferring of degrees with only a limited understanding achieved of what the symbolism and language of these degrees are intended to convey, it is small wonder that eventually these same members imbued with exactitude of repetition as the final goal of perfection will, as officers, control the lodge and unwittingly drive from its ranks those who have caught something of the gleam.
It seems, therefore, that "worthy and well qualified" shall require, not only sterling character and willingness to pay a material price, but the capacity to absorb, develop, and use an ancient philosophy, and the ability to find in the hoary old ceremonies a retreat to eternal truths far from the rampant materialism of our age. Initiates might be fewer, for such qualifications are not given to many, but of them the real Freemason is made.
Please remember: if you would like to participate in the latest Masonic Monday Question, please go to http://www.lodgebuilder.org and click on the Lodge Education forum. Past Masonic Monday Questions and the current one may also be read on the Web Site for the G.L. of MN at www.mn-masons.org under Masonic Monday Q&A When you have an answer send it to masonicmonday@gmail.com This week’s question is:
“ What does the word Libertine signify?” And “Why cannot a Libertine become a Mason?”
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Another reading is The Last Stated on Larry Juncker's Blog. Larry is Junior Steward in Arcadia Lodge and a regular reader of my blog. When he figured out that this is easy to do (It must me even a dummy like me can do it.) he decided to have a go at it. I think we created a monster. Four Postings in one day.
I, of course, have figured something else out. I don't have to write myself to entertain you. Just steal from others. Be sure to read Tim Bonney's Blog for yesterday also.
And now finally some humor Enjoy.
A young farm lad from Iowa went off to college, but after about two months, he had foolishly squandered away all of the money his parents gave him. Then he got an idea. He called his daddy. "Dad," he says, "you won't believe the wonders that modern education is coming up with! Why, they actually have a program here at Iowa State that will teach our dog Ole Blue how to talk!"
"That's absolutely amazing", his father said. "How do I get him in that program?"
"Just send him down here with $1,000", the boy says. "I'll get him into the course."
So his father sent the dog and the $1,000. But after another two months, the money ran out, again. The boy called his father again.
"So how's Ole Blue doing, son", his father asked.
"Awesome, Dad, he's talking up a storm," he replied, "but you just won't believe this - they've had such good results with this program that they've implemented a new one to teach the animals how to READ!"
"READ", exclaimed his father, "No kidding! What do I have to do to get him in that program?"
"Just send $2,500, I'll get him in the class."
So his father sent the money.
The boy now had a problem. At the end of the year, his father would find out that the dog could neither talk, nor read. So he shot the dog.
When he got home at the end of the semester, his father is all excited. "Where's Ole Blue? I just can't wait to see him talk and read something!"
"Dad", the boy said, "I have some grim news. Yesterday morning , just before we left to drive home, Ole Blue was in the living room kicked back in the recliner, reading the Wall Street Journal, like he usually does. Then he turned to me and asked, "So, is your daddy still messing around with that little redhead who lives in town?"
The father shouted, "I hope you shot that SOB before he talked to your mother!"
"I sure did, Dad!"
"That's my boy!"
Naturally, the kid went on to become a lawyer.
Have a great day. Love someone! Hugs. j
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