Special thanks to George Helmer FPS

OUR DUTY TO THE CRAFT.

THE MASONIC REVIEW 1822

On the 27th of December, 1822, Ohio Lodge, No. 30,
celebrated the Festival of St. John the Evangelist, at
Columbus. It was one of those celebrations of the "olden
time," that still linger in the memory of a few surviving
patriarchs who shared in it. Our country was then
comparatively new; the grey-haired " fathers" of the present
were then in the vigor of life, and in the midst of their labors.
Masons, and even Lodges, were then but few in the West;
and when they met on a festive day, there was truly a
gathering of noble and generous hearts. Strong hands were
clasped, and words of encouraging cheer were uttered, and
fraternal bonds grew stronger around the festive board. The
brethren of those days loved Masonry, for Masonry induced
them to love one another. They were clearing away the
forests, and laying the foundations of our cities and towns,
and preparing our now fruitful fields for their present
productiveness. They were laboring men, and when called to
"refreshment" they did ample justice to the bounteous
provision.

On the occasion alluded to above, Bro. "H. Bacon, P.M.,"
addressed the assembled brotherhood; and from a copy of
that address, which has recently fallen into our hands, we
make the following extract. It furnishes another evidence of
the sound and wholesome sentiments entertained by the
"worthy" of a former generation. Its doctrines are sound; its
advice wholesome; its assumptions in entire harmony with
the genius of Masonry. Read it.

"In order however, to come to a correct understanding of our
duty as, members of one great family, it will be necessary to
consider the subject, in relation to the privileges conferred,
and if it is impartially considered in this point of view, we
shall find our obligations extended - our motives of action
increased - and the consequences of our conduct operating
to an extent, which we never had anticipated. It is not with
us, as with an individual who stands solitary and alone in the
world, who may say to himself, that he will riot in all the
extravagance of vice, and that the consequences only fall
upon himself. We on the other hand have incorporated
ourselves into one great family - we have received a warrant,
which in a certain sense places us upon a level with every
Mason - we carry with us a draft upon a banker, who will
never enter a cold unfeeling protest - we have the certain
pledge of millions - and we know that a brother will not
desert a brother though a stranger; and that although the
clods of the valley may have covered us, that the obligation
shall not cease its operation. With this view of the subject,
shall we hesitate to admit that our duties are not merely to
our God, and to ourselves, but that we owe much to the
memory of our departed brethren; that, we owe much more
to those with whom we are now associated. Every brother
should act therefore not merely with reference to himself, but
in relation to the general good of that great family, to which
he is attached by such innumerable ties, and from whom be
has a right to demand, an accumulated benefit, should he
ever become the child of misfortune and want.

Among all the various duties we are called upon to exercise
in our masonic character, there is no one, which so
imperiously claims the exercise of all our prudence, as when
called upon to decide upon the admission of candidates. It is
a subject which cannot be too often submitted to our
consideration. It is true, that when it is considered that every
member has a complete controlling influence in these cases,
it affords matter of astonishment that there has been so
much to regret from hasty and inconsiderate decisions. The
desire of increasing our numbers is too often suffered to
operate as a most powerful agent in determining our
judgment upon questions of this nature. It is a principle
which is incorporated into the whole human character. We
see it paramount in the operations of every civil and religious
community, and it is not to be expected that Masons should
be exempt from its influence. Nor should they be. To impart
those pure pleasures in which we participate, to add to the
aggregate of social happiness, and to lessen the measure of
human misery, even in this world, is certainly an object well
worthy of the ambition of the highest, and is not beyond the
comprehension of the lowest member of community. Thence
it is, that we can rank among our warmest supporters those
who have stood highest upon the list of fame, and hence it
is, that the poorest peasant returns from the Lodge to the
bosom of his family with a fulness of soul, which makes him
love them better, and which ascends with his evening
devotions as an acceptable return to that Being, who
manifests his goodness and loving kindness to the most
undeserving of his creatures. But in obtaining this end, the
great danger lies in not discriminating between the proper
means in our power for its accomplishment. We are too apt
to forget when called upon to decide upon the admission of a
candidate, that by the introduction of one who is unworthy,
we may perhaps deter from making the application a great
number of others, who if admitted would do honor to their
profession. By this course, our numbers are indirectly
lessened, and we suffer our imprudent zeal to defeat its own
object. The same reason applies with equal force to those
who are induced to act in opposition to the dictates of their
judgment, from a mistaken benevolence, and the principles
and objects of the institution become less extended in
proportion to the extremity of their zeal. But of all the
arguments I have heard suggested upon similar occasions,
that is certainly the most dangerous, notwithstanding it may
be the most absurd, which would admit a candidate of
acknowledged immoral habits in anticipation, that when
subjected to the discipline of our rules, and induced by the
beauty of our system, that a reformation would be produced.
Certainly those who have advanced this idea, have not
reflected, that it violates every rule and is in direct hostility to
every principle, by which Masons ought to be governed.
They certainly cannot have reflected, that we have no means
of regaining the possession of that which may have been
imparted, and that however easy it may be for us to reduce
ourselves upon the level with such an applicant, it will be
difficult indeed to give him a standing higher than his merit in
the world will entitle him to claim. Suffer me to urge this
subject upon your attention as one upon which much
depends. As one upon which depends the well-being and
character of the Fraternity in no inconsiderable degree.

What should be the particular qualifications of a candidate
for admission, is a subject with which all of you either are, or
may be familiar. Is it one who has long trod in the crooked
path of infidelity who makes the application? I leave to you to
determine as to the obstacles which will present themselves
to the passage of such a person through the different
degrees. I leave you to determine whether we recognize the
volume which now lies before us, as being the fables of
priestly craft and delusion, or the eternal gospels of Heaven?
It may be that Masonry is perfectly reconcilable, with a
disbelief of those Holy writings, but for one, I must enter my
protest against that kind of benevolence, which in the last
moment of expiring nature, can resign its brother into the
cold and merciless embrace of an hopeless infidelity. Surely
God has not made man in vain. He has not said to the proud
oppressor, that he may riot upon the spoil of the poor and
defenseless, and that death shall forever close the account.
He has not said to the votaries of ambition, that they may
slay their thousands, and tens of thousands, upon the altar
of their usurped power, and that no memorial shall hereafter
exist, which shall record the sacrifice. Nor does the genius of
Masonry, say to the sons of poverty, want and toil, that that
hope and confidence which has been their stay, is a mere
phantom of the imagination, and their only resource against
the ills which seem to encumber them, is in that last act of
despair, which drops forever the curtain of their existence.

Does the slow, calculating miser knock at your gate for
admission? Avoid him as a pestilence ! He is if possible,
more to be dreaded, than the confirmed infidel. How will
such a wretch participate in those social and benevolent
pleasures which bring such a vast increase to the general
treasury of our happiness. His will be a kind of cold
calculating philosophy, that can look, with the most perfect
apathy, upon every object of pity, until be shall have minutely
investigated the causes. He will bring with him that kind of
frigid insensibility, which will be able to wrest every obligation
into an instrument for gratifying its own selfishness."

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