All design and Graphic Work
Copyright:©Mastermason.com 1998
Web Design by:
Carl A. Davenport
Music:
The Thrill Is Gone
by B.B.King
Our Server is: Mastermason.com,
And yours should be too |
Join Freemasonry's Oldest And Most
Respected WebGuild
We're a lot more than just a fancy logo on your homepage
|
" All preferment among Masons is grounded
upon real worth and personal merit
only."-Constitutions, p. 6.
One of the most important franchises which
the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION
OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. -
"The qualifications necessary are, that the
candidate should be true and trusty, of good
repute, held in high estimation amongst the
fraternity, skilled in Masonic knowledge, and
moreover a lover of the Craft; he ought to be
exemplary in his conduct, courteous in his
manner, but, above all, steady and firm in
principle."
Unless the Brother who aspires to the Chair
of a Freemason's Lodge can conscientiously
feel himself so qualified, he should pause
ere he assumes or rather morally usurps it,
and by tarrying somewhat, profit by the
example of another, by whose conduct lie may
improve his own unskilfulness, or amend in
himself what his observations may have
perceived to be defective in his Brother.
The fulfilment of the duties of a Mastership
requires much personal inconvenience, and
some sacrifice of time. The interests of a
lodge, alike with its immediate welfare and
ultimate prosperity, depend upon the skill
and sagacity of the Master; while the general
peace and harmony of its members take their
tone from his conciliating courtesy, or
suffer from his want of so vital an
attribute.
The Master is called upon to attend (with the
Past-Masters and Wardens of his Lodge) at the
quarterly communications, and by his careful
observation of the current questions to
sanction or prevent what may support or
injure the sacred and glorious institution he
is bound to protect. It is to be remembered,
that upon the ACTIVITY or SUPINENESS of the
actual Masters that the order itself will be
SUPPORTED or DEGRADED.
The Master is directed to attend the monthly
boards of benevolence, that the wants of his
deserving brethren may be generously and
immediately relieved, or the application of
the unworthy summarily rejected; there the
cry of the widow and the orphan is heard, and
there should the Master be to administer the
funds which a confiding Lodge has entrusted
to his vigilance; let him remember that he
has bound himself to observe the ancient
charges in which the foregoing obligations
form some of the clauses; let him not hope to
excuse his own neglect by that of others;
rather let him be foremost in the ranks of
emulation, and shame such who, while they
assume the profession of a Master of a Lodge,
withhold the practice it enjoins. Let his
actions during the year be such, that when it
terminates, the brethren will feel thankful
for his services, and reward him by their
approbation.
How different is the effect produced upon
Freemasonry by those who merely falter
through their official duties, who never show
themselves where a personal service is
demanded, and, in fact, who, if the charges
have ever been read to them, disregard their
importance by a coldness which is alike
insulting to decency as to common sense.
Another important duty of a Master is the
selection of his Wardens - the members of a
Lodge may exercise their franchise in the
election of a Master with a view to please a
friend or to self-gratification, but the
Master in his selection of officers ought
always to have in view the interests of the
Lodge. He should avoid appointing to the
office of Wardens any brethren who may not be
enabled to qualify for the superior dignity
of Master, in order that when the period of
election for that office shall approach, the
Wardens, by attending carefully to their
duties in Lodge and at the public meetings of
the Craft, may become so experienced, that
the brethren will not feel themselves placed
in the difficulty of either wounding the
feelings of an otherwise respectable
individual by passing him over, or by
electing him to an office he is incompetent
to sustain - either of these possible cases
the Master may prevent by timely discretion.
Finally, let him as well as the brethren of
the Lodge diligently read, mark, learn, and
inwardly digest the constitutions of the
fraternity, remembering that "ALL PREFERMENT
AMONG MASONS IS GROUNDED UPON REAL WORTH AND
PERSONAL MERIT ONLY:
POTS
I have ever felt it my duty to support and encourage the
principles
and practice of Freemasonry, because it powerfully
develops all
social and benevolent affections, because it mitigates
without, and
annihilates within, the violence of political and
theological controversy;
because it affords the only neutral ground on which all
ranks and
classes can meet in perfect equality, and associate
without degradation
or mortification, whether for purposes of moral
instruction or social
intercourse. - EARL OF DURHAM.
|
This website does not speak for
the Grand Lodge of Illinois or Freemasonry
|
