The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-01-06
The Tendency to Cheapen Masonry.

of Bro: Elisha S. Fitch, Grand Master OF
Kentucky, is applicable in its general fea-
lures to the craft in every Jurisdiction;
It is lamentable fact that too rapid
multiplication of Lodges has tended only
TO cheaper Masonry, and this cheapenlng
policy, in Its turn, has tended only to les
sen its dignity to depreciate It's compaVa-
tive value and Importance in the estima-
tion of the world, and to render the prIvl-
leges of the fraternity matter OF too
easy attainment, and therefore instead of
the door of our mystic temple being
closely tiled to all, save tho worthy and
we'll qualified, it is virtually thrown wide
open, and thus invites an indiscriminate
rush from the inquisitive populace with
out. This is indeed sad and most de-
plorable perversion of the original design
of the institution and one which, as q
Grand Lodge, we should not for a mo-
ment tolerate much less in any way sus-
tain or sanction. In view of the unpre-
cedented popularity of the fraternity, it
|; behooves US to be more vigilant and guar
)ded than. ever before.
/ Otherwise, brethren, the pure and beau
tifnl stream of Masonic philanthropy,
which for ages past glided on in quiet
+ majesty within its own appropriate chan
mel, bearing on its bosom the richest ar
gosies of "good news and true," to glad.
den and bless the wasted aud destitute
portions of our moral domain, may be-
come even in its fancied foodtide of pros
perity wild and unmanageable torrent
of popular passion and prejudice; over
flowing it's ancient embankments, only to
gather up in it's destructive course the
driftwood of our common humanity, and
float upon its turbid wators the worthless
wrecks of a former glory and splendor.
Such catastrophe is not more revolving
than the danger is impending, and it be-
comes all our Lodges, throughout the land,
both grand and subordinate, to attend
we'll to this vociferous alarm at tho outer
door; to do all in their power to stay and
direct the heady current of popular i'm
pulse, which is already set in and threat
ems to bear US away from our ancient
moorings, and set us adrift without COM
pass or plummet, upon the sboreless sea
of cxpediency. 1t is tho manifest ten
,dency of the times to popularize every
thing both in Church and State, and the
same dangerous leaven is at work in our
Masonic Lodges. Hence it is thatwe find
such importunate and persistent appeals
for new Lodges, not only in our cities and
larger towns, but also in every village
and hamlet, and at almost every cross
roads and wagon-traclk in the State.
These Lodges, if established, must Sc
cure membership, and to accomplish this
the more readily the fees and dues must
be reduced to the lowest possible rates,
andif this vending of Masonry, in "cheap
cash store" style, Eat greatly reduced
prices, with view to replenish stock"
does not accomplish the desired purpose,
the next step by way of extraordinary
inducement" is to lower practically the
standard of the qualifications of candi-
dates, until in some instances proselyting
missionaries would seem to be almost
ready 10 "go into the highways and
hedges and compel them to come in" So
true is this, indeed-to our shame bo it
said-that already in somo portions ofour
jurisdiction there is scarcely any man In
Cne community VIII may noC Win Poiioel
impunity petition Masonic Lodge for
admission. Our high standard of qualiti-
cation is practically lowered, not only by
receiving into the Lodge those who are
not worthy, but also, and perhaps more
frequently, by retaining in our fellowship
those who have become unworthy, who
habitually and for years set in defiance
the preeeptive teachings of the institu-
ton, and have become offensive to the
moral sense, Of the general community in
which they live.
s'Can such things be,
And o'ercome us like summers cloud,
Without our special wonder?'
We may rest assured that such demora-
lizaton of our Lodges will do infinitely
more to prejudice and degrade the insti-
tuition, in the estimation of all thinking
and sensible men, than all the fanatical
conventions of political clcrgymen which
have met or may ever assemble for the
purpose of Masonic misrepresentation
and abuse, This generalization is indeed
only the fruitful cause and occasion of
such conventions, and without it they
would have no stock in trade.