Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Verbum Sat Sapienti.
must have been . very great laxity somewhere and we cannot pretend to find any justification , or feel much sympathy for the Lodge itself . It certainly , we at once admit , would not conduce to the happiness or harmony , or respectability of a Lodge , to have a brother belonging to it blessed with
such a peculiar attribute , or to hear the Tyler solemnly announcing to a flustered W . M . and the indignant brethren , that , " " D . 0 . Robinson , " " particularly wanted , " " Bro . Swindle !" This seems a ludicrous instance to most of
us , but it proves , we venture to think , our case completely , by the simple fact , that such a state of things is even possible under our present system . Surely we have a somewhat amusing , if unwelcome warning from such a fact , against . the lower view we . too often takeas to our own duty hi
, the proposal and acceptance of Candidates . If then we wish our lodges to flourish , if we desire ; Ereemasonry to go on and prosper , as it is no doubt doing now , if we wish that our good old Craft may still move on her way amid the admiration and respect
of the age in which we live , let us seek to be more careful than ever , in respect of the Candidates ' we recommend or admit into our lodges . If Freemasonry is to endure ,
it must be built up on the honest work , the good intent , the fair reputation , the moral lives and the faithful discharge of his duty by every Craftsman , otherwise our very prosperity , if accompanied by forgetfulness of our rules , or laxity hi their application ,
will only eventually lead us along a downward path . But if we will endeavour faithfully to carry out , both in' the spirit and letter , our own wise regulations and better teaching in this respect , the building of our own Masonic work will be perfect
in its parts and honourable to the builders , and our Accepted Brotherhood will continue in time to come , as in time past , and at the present hour , to exist and to increase for the glory of God and the welfare of , man . MRNTOR .
Reviews.
Reviews .
The Origin and Early History of Freemasonry , by G . W . Steinbrenner , Masonic Publishing Company , New York . We have perused with very great edification , a work , which though new to English
Masons was published hi America so long ago as 1868 . In that year Bro . G . W . Steinbrenner jiut forth in New York , the volume to which we wish to call attention , The Origin and Early History of
Freemasonry . Of late years the American Freemasons have been honourably distinguished by much of intellectual activity , which has been evidenced by numerous very interesting publications . Among these we may mention with entire approvaland much
, commendation , Bro . Mackey ' s Lexicon . Bro . Steinbrenner may , however , we think , claim this merit , that he is the first American Freemason , who having fully accepted the " Guild theory , " as it is called , devotes his talents and energies to produce
a . work , which we feel bound to say , reflects the highest credit on his conscientious endeavours to bring before us , the accumulated and accumulating evidence which may be adduced hi support of the said theory , by a carefully arranged chain of argument ,
documents and facts . Indeed , were it only for the authorities Bro . Steinbrenner quotes , and the writers to whom he refers us , his " Opusculum" would be of the greatest value to the Masonic student , and is deserving of much praise . But Bro . Steinbrenner ' s contribution -. to
Masonic history and- arclneology . is also marked by singular clearness , of statement and - praiseworthy accuracy of detail . The only little blot , we can venture to hint at , is the somewhat hasty endorsement of Bro . J . G . FiiuM ' s Teutonic claim for the origin of the guild of Freemasons in
German land . Our worthy Bro . Steinbrenner bears a German name and we will only say both of him and of Bro . Findel , " Arcades ambo ; " both of them are good and honest "Deutschers" and worthy of commemoration and commendation in a
new Hans Breitmann ' s . Lied . Seriously , however , the somewhat premature adoption by Bro . Steinbrenner of Bro . Findel ' s ingenious and patriotic hypothesis , detracts from the otherwise undoubted value and authority of his work . The evidence
upon the guild history is gradually becoming so clear that there is no difficulty . in demonstrating that both the earlier theory of our learned Bro . J . G . Findel , and tho later opinion of Bro . Steinbrenner on this head , are equally untenable . They cannot as ¦ we believe , face or outlive the sterner
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Verbum Sat Sapienti.
must have been . very great laxity somewhere and we cannot pretend to find any justification , or feel much sympathy for the Lodge itself . It certainly , we at once admit , would not conduce to the happiness or harmony , or respectability of a Lodge , to have a brother belonging to it blessed with
such a peculiar attribute , or to hear the Tyler solemnly announcing to a flustered W . M . and the indignant brethren , that , " " D . 0 . Robinson , " " particularly wanted , " " Bro . Swindle !" This seems a ludicrous instance to most of
us , but it proves , we venture to think , our case completely , by the simple fact , that such a state of things is even possible under our present system . Surely we have a somewhat amusing , if unwelcome warning from such a fact , against . the lower view we . too often takeas to our own duty hi
, the proposal and acceptance of Candidates . If then we wish our lodges to flourish , if we desire ; Ereemasonry to go on and prosper , as it is no doubt doing now , if we wish that our good old Craft may still move on her way amid the admiration and respect
of the age in which we live , let us seek to be more careful than ever , in respect of the Candidates ' we recommend or admit into our lodges . If Freemasonry is to endure ,
it must be built up on the honest work , the good intent , the fair reputation , the moral lives and the faithful discharge of his duty by every Craftsman , otherwise our very prosperity , if accompanied by forgetfulness of our rules , or laxity hi their application ,
will only eventually lead us along a downward path . But if we will endeavour faithfully to carry out , both in' the spirit and letter , our own wise regulations and better teaching in this respect , the building of our own Masonic work will be perfect
in its parts and honourable to the builders , and our Accepted Brotherhood will continue in time to come , as in time past , and at the present hour , to exist and to increase for the glory of God and the welfare of , man . MRNTOR .
Reviews.
Reviews .
The Origin and Early History of Freemasonry , by G . W . Steinbrenner , Masonic Publishing Company , New York . We have perused with very great edification , a work , which though new to English
Masons was published hi America so long ago as 1868 . In that year Bro . G . W . Steinbrenner jiut forth in New York , the volume to which we wish to call attention , The Origin and Early History of
Freemasonry . Of late years the American Freemasons have been honourably distinguished by much of intellectual activity , which has been evidenced by numerous very interesting publications . Among these we may mention with entire approvaland much
, commendation , Bro . Mackey ' s Lexicon . Bro . Steinbrenner may , however , we think , claim this merit , that he is the first American Freemason , who having fully accepted the " Guild theory , " as it is called , devotes his talents and energies to produce
a . work , which we feel bound to say , reflects the highest credit on his conscientious endeavours to bring before us , the accumulated and accumulating evidence which may be adduced hi support of the said theory , by a carefully arranged chain of argument ,
documents and facts . Indeed , were it only for the authorities Bro . Steinbrenner quotes , and the writers to whom he refers us , his " Opusculum" would be of the greatest value to the Masonic student , and is deserving of much praise . But Bro . Steinbrenner ' s contribution -. to
Masonic history and- arclneology . is also marked by singular clearness , of statement and - praiseworthy accuracy of detail . The only little blot , we can venture to hint at , is the somewhat hasty endorsement of Bro . J . G . FiiuM ' s Teutonic claim for the origin of the guild of Freemasons in
German land . Our worthy Bro . Steinbrenner bears a German name and we will only say both of him and of Bro . Findel , " Arcades ambo ; " both of them are good and honest "Deutschers" and worthy of commemoration and commendation in a
new Hans Breitmann ' s . Lied . Seriously , however , the somewhat premature adoption by Bro . Steinbrenner of Bro . Findel ' s ingenious and patriotic hypothesis , detracts from the otherwise undoubted value and authority of his work . The evidence
upon the guild history is gradually becoming so clear that there is no difficulty . in demonstrating that both the earlier theory of our learned Bro . J . G . Findel , and tho later opinion of Bro . Steinbrenner on this head , are equally untenable . They cannot as ¦ we believe , face or outlive the sterner