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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 14

"Fiat Lux." The New Zealand Craftsman and Masonic Review: — Masonic Courtesy

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"Fiat Lux." The New Zealand Craftsman and Masonic Review:

Masonic Courtesy.

This is a subject to which we ought to draw the attention of the Craft, because it is time a great many of its members were awakened to the fact that, if there is a necessity for practising this accomplishment in business and private life (and none but the ignorant will ignore this truism), there is much more necessity for its possession and practice within the Masonic circle; indeed, in the absence of it, we cannot see how true Masonry can exist. It is a constituent part of the cement of brotherly love, without which the superstructure of our Temple cannot stand. Therefore it is not only necessary but vital to the structure. We may possibly say with some truth that no other member of the Fraternity gets so much evidence to forcibly bring this to mind as the editor of a Masonic periodical. During the time we have edited and managed the New Zealand Craftsman, we have had experience both painful and pleasant in this respect, the former greatly predominating. The want of courtesy on the part of those from whom you expect most, necessarily brings disappointment, and consequently pain. When we started this magazine we naturally looked for help and assistance from brother Masons, no matter in what part of the colony they resided, and we immediately set about to correspond with every Lodge in the colony soliciting their aid and support. One would imagine they could surely reckon on an answer of some kind, either a letter of encouragement, or one courteously declining to subscribe, but it is astonishing in how many cases this simple duty was entirely ignored, or for some months neglected. In the endeavour to establish agencies, we took the liberty of forwarding a few copies of the Craftsman to W.M.'s of Lodges, requesting them to hand them over to some reliable Brother who would act as agent on the usual business terms. We sent these parcels out month after month to some Lodges without a reply. Eventually some acknowledged the receipt, but others have never to this day put themselves so much about. We were under the impression that we might tresspass so far on Masonic courtesy and kindness, but one W.M. undertook to enlighten us page 322 to the contrary; he considered it an insult I and would have none of it. An insult indeed to be asked to assist in the spread of Masonic literature! And this from one who occupied the" eastern chair." What shams we suffer to hold "the chief seats in the synagogue!"

There were others who were full of Masonic courtesy, and wrote the most congratulatory letters even before we published our first number, wished us all sorts of success, and promising to do all in their power to assist in getting subscribers and forwarding reports, or writing articles, &c. These letters were very welcome and gave us much pleasure; but, alas! how fleeting were our expectations. We have never heard from them since, although we have written to some of them several times. No doubt we have been voted a bore, and our missives put behind the fire. This kind of courtesy, like many other things Masonic, is exceedingly evanescent in its character, and fades

"Like the fabric of a vision leaving not a wrack behind."

If it were business and there was money "hanging" to it, answers would come freely, but then you know it is only Masonry! and who can be bothered with that outside the Lodge-room? This goes to show what vicious habits will do with the best of us. For generations it has been the habit for "respectable" people to go to church, mumble through the form of service with a seeming air of attention but really with indifference, uttering the most solemn promises quite unconsciously, and after the service is over come away satisfied they have done the proper Sunday routine, but on Monday morning, or indeed before the Sabbath is well over, they have broken half the vows they made without a thought or without a care. This sort of thing has penetrated even into Masonry. In the church-going case there may be some excuse, men go because it is the fashion, and hundreds of them have never joined the church canonically speaking, but go in a pro forma way that fills up the Sunday and because it is "the thing," or, what is more likely, from motives of trade connection. But with Masons the case is different. No man goes to a Masonic Lodge but he who has entered its portals in the manner prescribed. No man has become a Mason but he who has pledged his honor as a man and a Mason to uphold its principles, hence the Mason who is indifferent to his vows in this connection has already perjured himself, and is less than a man. We should leave the outside world and the churches to talk about "the weakness of human nature," &c. As Masons we should be ashamed to forge such an excuse, at least we should nobly strive to overcome it, and in that strife, if honestly carried on, the very weakest will come out victors.

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Our present number will bear witness of the result of one form of Masonic courtesy—supplying reports of ordinary Lodge meetings. We have written until we are tired asking brethren to supply us with a few lines of their monthly transactions, but with varying success, some not vouchsafing an answer, others sending once or twice and then dropping it, and only the "faithful few" with whom it is indeed a pleasure to correspond) continuing to do their duty. For duty we conceive it to be, and have ever conceived it long before we consented to edit a Masonic journal. It is strange what ideas Masons have on this question. We were making this complaint in conversation with a P.M. the other day, who told us he was strongly of opinion that it was very wrong for us to expect Secretaries of Lodges or other brethren to supply us with reports gratis. It was our duty to obtain these reports in the same way as an ordinary newspaper—by paying for them. If this were not so important a matter, we could have laughed at him. Pay for a small Lodge report! when we ourselves labour on from month to month, late and early outside our regular business hours, to provide a literature for Masons, and at the month end put our hands in our pocket to pay the printer's bill!! This is exceedingly good, and from a Mason who has vowed to aid and assist in all good works of Masonry! from a P.M. who is supposed to have correct views above his fellows of Masonic duty. Well, we live and learn; and it seems we have yet to learn the direction of Masonic courtesy.

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We are aware that we are not the only sufferers in the cause; but that does not make it any the less imperative that we should speak out. There is one good friend and Bro., George Robertson, 1521, E.C., and 517, E.C, fired with a zeal to become useful to the Craft, determined on bringing out a "Masonic Pocket Calendar" for 1885, with a lot of useful information and data for Masons, he wrote to Lodges, Chapters, &c., and was happy in the promises of support obtained, but he had to get the information firs; and now he is "a sadder and a wiser man." Although he commenced his labours in what he considered sufficient time last year to publish about the first of January, yet up to this date he is unable to go to press because of the lack of information that he has written and telegraphed for over and over again, and which a Secretary may provide him with in a few minute, so this useful venture that promised at first to at least pay expenses new holds out a certainty, it it can even be completed, of being a loss to him of several pounds. Brethren, it is not pleasant to grumble, but he who goes on to "labour in vain and spend his strength for naught," without uttering a word in defence of his position, is but a fool and a dullard at the best.