ELISHA S. FITCH.



rush from the inquisitive populace without. This is indeed a sad and most
deplorable perversion of the original design of the Institution, and one
which, as a Grand Lodge, we should not for a moment tolerate, much less
in any way sustain or sanctions In view of the unprecedented popularity
of the Fraternity, it behooves us to be more vigilant and guarded than ever
before.
  Otherwise, brethren, the pure and beautiful stream of Masonic philanthro
py which for ages past has glided on in quiet majesty within its own ap-
pointed channel, bearing on its bosom the richest argosies of "Good men
and true," to gladden and bless the wasted and destitute portions of our
moral domain, may become, even in its fancied floodtide of prosperity a
wild and unmanageable torrent of popular passion and prejudice overflow-
ing its ancient embankments, only to gather up in its destructive course the
drift wood of our common humanity, and float upon its turbid waters the
worthless wrecks of a former glory and splendor. Such a catastrophe is not
more revolting than the danger is impending, and it becomes all our Lodges,
throughout the land, both Grand and Subordinate, to attend well to this
vociferous alarm at the outer door; to do all in their power to stay anai
direct the heady current of popular impulse which has already set in and
threatens to bear us away Irom our ancient moorings, and set us adrift without
compass or plummet, upon the shoreless sea of expediency. It is the man-
ifest tendency of the times to popularize everything, both in Church and
State, and the same dangerous leaven is at work in our Masonic Lodges.
Hence it is that we find such importunate and persistent appeals for new
Lodges, not only in our cities and larger towns, but also in every village and
hamlet, and at almost every cross roads and wagon stand in the State.
  These Lodges, if established, must secure a membership, and to accom-
plish this the more readily, the fees and dues must be reduced to the lowest
possible rates, and if this vending of Masonry, in "cheap cash store," style
"at greatly reduced prices with a view to replenish stock," does not accom-
plish the desired purpose, the next step by way of "extraordinary induce-
ment" is to lower practically the standard of the qualifications of candi-
dates, until in some instances these proselyting missionaries would seem to
be almost ready to "go into the highways and hedges and compel them to
come in." So true is this, indeed to our shanme be it said-that already in
some portions of our jurisdiction there is scarcely any man in the commu-
nity who may not with perfect impunity petition a Masonic Lodge for ad-
mission. Our high standard of qualification is practically lowered, not only
by receiving into the Lodge those who are not worthy, but also, and per-
haps more frequently, by retaining in our fellowship those who have be..
come unworthy, who habitually and for years set at defiance the preceptive
teachings of the institution, and have even become offensive to the moral
sense of the general community in which they live.



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