New-York tribune., 1896-01-19
MASONIC DEPARTMENT
CONDUCTED BY THE GRAND LIBRARIAN OF THE
GRAND LODGE OF THE STATE OF NEw-YORK.
OrP yET MlSTERS IN THE EAST.

orr NEW MASTERS IN THE EAST.
The elections in our lodges are over and the
omcers for the ensuing Masonic year chosen
and duly installed In some cases success sits
complacently and smilingly enthroned in the
Masters chair while in others disappointed am
,,.,on stalks through the lodge or sulks away
from the meetings. Many brethren. too among
,be floor members may be delighted to see their
tovorite elected, while others feel sore because
,hs,r particular man has not been successful
IN the whole however. the rank and file. tie
hu,k Of the membership usually satisfied
.rd turn to assist the officers for the bene-
AZ of the lodge and the good of Masonry. And
now. as 10 the new man in the East How many
NJ those who were chosen to occupy that Ori-
entail chair Of King Solomon" really fill 1t? And
how many are there among the newly elected
Masters who really and sincerely strive 10
all II? Too many. 1t is feared. only grasp at the
gavel for the honor it brings and for the title 1t
confers in Masonic circles, not thinking or car
ing for the real work to be done or for the
GOOD they may do to their lodge or the craft;
A common error of many Of those elected to
the East Of our lodges is the suppoSition that
heipg well posted in the ritual. they are in pos
session Of everything that is required or gooc
Master 4 man may swallow the entire die
ing good grammar. In like manner the Master
,ho ascends the East with no other qualification
than knowledge of the ritual will prove
NOR filler of the soil committed TO his charge
no tho brethren and the harvest will scarce pay
him for his labors. And with the lodge. II
the brethren are deluded with the notion that the
mare fact of lodge organization is sufficient for
Masonic purpose they will find themselves COM
ing short of the legitimate expectations OF the
profane whom they profess to make Masons'
as well az those who already within the pale
OF our order and who. by study and applica-
tion have qualified themselves to judge or the
duties required Of a Master. an officer or or
the lodge as we'll to the manner in which
those duties should be discharged The organ
zaton Of a lodge. though perfect In every detail
will not produce Masonic life; the effect OF or
ranizing dead elements cannot produce life.
The utter failure. not OF Free Masonry, but OF
many lodges, is primarily due to the want OF
Masonic life" And here the new Master should
apply himself for the responsibility is mainly
with the Master He must inspire as well as
direct the work Of the lodge. and in order to do
this he must be thoroughly acquainted with the
material which composes his lodge. He must
know the makeup of his members Every Mas
ter, with the aid Of good and judcious ADVISERS
should organize his lodge with special reference
IN the workers in and around it; with special ref
erence of the material in his lodge. and with
constant care to what each individual mem
her can best do for the benefit of the whole body.
He should call out all its working power ana
its ufe-giving power He should provide fit and
appropriate work for each. overlooking none,
and encourage the peculiar faculties Of ALL using
the services Of the humble and the exalted, the
reader. the student, the ritualist and the 'hus-
tier" so that every member may feel that he
has something to say, something to do. that he Ia
accounta BILE, that he has a responsibility work,
a duty to perform for his lodge and for the
craft.
Let our new Masters be something more than
mere "gavel Masters" and our lodges places for
something more and beyond the mere repetition
of work and ritual and the bestowing Of mite
of charity by formal vote of the brethren and let
our new Masters apply themselves TO the acqusi-
ton Of Masonic ID dIca:.-T Of Masonic light and
knowledge. and 70 tie |'as ,ranaton of the light
they have thus acquired and they will receive
their reward in better attendance at their lodge
meetings and in the satisfaction Of knowing
that the talent committed to them not suf-
fered TO remain idle in their keeping First then.
educate yourselves in all appertaining to the
necessities Of the craft: then see to 1t that you
epread your Masonic light and knowledge to
your less informed brethren.
You need not neglect the ritual. 1t Is equally
important that the neophyte receive not only
favora BILE impression of your work. but also that
the degree be intelligently and impressively i'm
parted but still remember that the ritual Is only
the shell in which the truer and higher lessons
OF Masonry are encased. Study Masonry; there
Is much In 1t to learn and 1t will become pleas
ure and profit to you. Being we'll posted In the
ritual is an ornament to any Master Dut
being we'll posted in the history usases
and antiquities of the craft Is very very
useful TO the new Master; aye, ana 10
the old. too. and to every member or the
craft. who may well feel proud of It's antiquity
Of It's record and Of its lfegiving tenets and its
divine. hence eternal, principles. Study well your
ritual, but place 1t not above the more Important
duties of governing your lodge with wsdon
truth and earnest devotion to its best interest.