The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-03-20
Ukf Orlbuue.
MASONIC.

Our ancient brethren required that
none should be made Masons, but sound
able bodied men, who were capable at
the time of admission of maintaining
themselves and doing TOR other Masons,
much as other Masons might reasonably
be expected to do for them; that IS, no
new member was taken into the Assocla-
ton, and allowed to share equally in the
profits and advantages of the trm, I'M
less his condition was such that he could
be reasonably expected to pay his part
of the losses and expenses of the Asso-
citation. Now it is a long established
principle 10 both, operative and specu'a-
tive, that the Institution is to be weak
ened By new members; that however
worthy they may be as individuals, and
however lauda BILE may be their motives
in wishing to become Masons if the bur-
dens they impose on the fraternity are
greater than the strength and support
they may reasonably be supposed to give
it. then Masonry loses by such additions;
the Institution is weakened, and # all
were of such material, the Temple IT.
self would fall. | cannot too strongly re-
mind you that Masonry is not a Relief
Association no person should be adj
mitted with the view to benefit him or
hii family The motive in taking in
members is to benefit and 9ice strength
to the order. What would be thought
Of recruiting officer who would enlist
for the army, the palsied, the blind and
the cripple, and give as reason for 1t,
that they were worthy and needy,
and by entering the army they
would secure a support for themselves
and family. The government wants |
none but able-bodied, brave fighting men,
who can carry their standard against the |
enemy. Hence, a man who is hopeless
10 insolUent, ought rarely to be made a
Mason, after such misfortune, especially
if he has wife and children, unless un-
der peculiar circumstances. A man who |
has arrived at middle age with large |
family to maintain, and is barely able to |
provide for them, as general rule ought |
not to be admitted, not because he
is unworthy, but because the probabili
ties are, he viii become burden to the |
Fraternity. and that Masonry will have |
to do more fot him than he can do for |
Masonry Our charities should be bes- |
sowed on those unfortunate brethren and |
their families who have become so, since |
they were admitted among us. If we |
do our duty to them we will find plenty |
to do without adding new and unneces-
sary burdens.
Now there may be some good healthy |
young man in the bounds of Lodge, |
having q wife and several children. who
pays his debts and provides for his fami-
ly, but from year to year, little or no
surplus, and nothing to rely upon but |
his own labor and irreproachable eharac- |
ter, if he were to petition a Lodge IN
der ordinary circumstances, he should be |
received, because the probabilities that |
he would attain the average longevity |
for men of his age, would be a reason |
able guarantee that his family would |
not add to the burdens of Masonry,
and besides fortune might smile on his |
honest efforts, and he become patron |
of the order. But suppose that man
contemp plated entering the army, there |
by diminishing his prospect of life /; or
suppose he had consumption or some |
other incurable disease, the case would |
be different. Our syDpathies might be |
with him, and the Lodge, doubtless, |
would be willing to assume her part of |
the increased burdens on Masonry |
But it would not be right to impose
such additional burdens on the Masonic |
world. The Lodge is the custodian of |
Masonry in its particular jurisdiction for !
all the Fraternity, aud this sacred trust |
is con6ded to US upon the express con-
dition a. laid down in the old charges, |
that we will not make any man a mason |
who is not able bodied. hale and sound;
capable of earning a livelihood, and |
doing something for the craft, which in
speculative Masonry, means that we are
never TO admit "a man if we cannot |
reasonably calculate that he will do as |
much, nay, more, for Masonry, than the
Fraternity will have to do for him. We |
are required not to admit any one who
cannot or will not give strength and sup
port to the Institution.