New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-12
dASONIC DEPARTMENT
coxnrcrED BY THE GRAND LIBRARIAN OF THE
GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE OF NETWORK.
DANGER IN QUANTITY-QUALITY ONLY
WANTED.

.,.ro, survey Of the present condition OF
the craft in the Empire state Will reveal 'he
tart that never before has 1t been in so prosper
- .rd harmonious a condition now. Mason
= ,ore never was stronger in numbers, greater
=, ,nerence and richer in material wealth.
,,,ho,ber this is the result Of the labors of Law
-.,oa and his leutenants of years ago, in raising
A., ,o.crnitv out of the slough Of debt; whether
!, Ia tho result Of the brilliant array of Past
Grand Masters who followed him. or whether 1t
,s the result Of the sound and dignifed course
:, the present administration, or the SOUND
.snse the excellent character OF the rank and
e,a NJ the members. together with the ennoohhg
ND elevating influence Of the teaching ana tehets
~ the Order, the fact remains that over ninety
.nousand Masons are enrolled upon the records
., the Grand Lodge Of New-York. comprising the
',,,n ~ intelligent and honored American cti-
zenship-ninety thousand men banded together
-, ,hs strongest and sweetest ties Of charity.
Goodwill tolerance and equality, bound together
-, Ties most ennooling and elevating. What
over differences may exist between the indlvid-
"a, or even between lodges or districts is trifing
es COMPARED with the unity existing in the entire
fraternity: and here the warning voice Of the
leaders and Of the Masonic press should be heard
throughout the land for there is danger in this
very prosperity; wealth attracts the sordid. in
Auence attracts the selfish and the mercenary,
and numbers always attract the minimizing
crowd hence II behooves us now more tnan ever,
n ne careful in selecting our material. Guard
we'll the outer door, and admit none but those
who are thoroughly worthy of the honor or De-
coming members of our great FRATERNITY
II is idle to say an applicant may be good
enough for Lodge No. &c. but is not mt 10 Delong
IN Lodge No 81. Every lodge, every MEMBER is
mart and parcel Of the whole. and Is personally
resnonsible to all his brethren. Any lodge that
knowingly admits an unworthy man commits
a crime against the entire fraternity for tnat
one member may disgrace the lodge and impair
ia usefulness to the rest Of the craft TOO
much stress is laid upon numbers Masters
pride themselves In having added ten twenty
or forty members TO the roll of the lodge. IN
fortunately very few of the members VIII take
the trouble or time or have the patience TO wait
and see how many of those who have been rail-
roaded through during the "successful' % ad-
ministratIon of this Master will remain members
in good standing. 1t is quality we want; not
quantity The lodge with 100 good. solid.
earnest and sincere Masons is better, VIII 90
more good and accomplish more and better re-
sults than your lodge with 400 members actively
engaged in the struggle for the 800 mark" and
when this 500 Is gained the successful tC master
may point with pride to the long liet or I'M
affliates created by his railroadng process, by
his specials" and by his branless. silly struggle
for numbers for quantity without due regard 10
quality