Excerpt from The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Vol. 10 An examination of the volume of the Magazine just closed, will exhibit the gratifying fact, that' our Institution has never held a higher position, in point of character and intelligence, than it does at the present moment nor has there ever been a time when it was under better management, more systematically organized, or more prosperous. Throughout the vast extent of our own highly favored country, new Lodges are daily coming into existence, while the rapid accession of members is wholly without precedent. Believing, as we do, that the influence of Masonry, like the influence of the higher principles of Christianity, on the moral and social character, is calculated to make men better and happier, we most heartily congratulate our Brethren on the encouraging prospect before us. But, in our rejoicings, it may be well to remember, that the hour of prosperity is frequently the hour of danger, - that the fairest flower produces the deadliest poison. Elated by success, we too often become careless and neglectful of the means by which success was acquired, and by which alone its continuance can be secured. To this source may be mainly attributed most of the adverse circumstances to which the Institution in this country has from time to time been subjected. The doors of our Lodges have sometimes swung too easily upon their hinges. The tyler has too often been found sleeping at his post. We are apt to forget that the strength of every society lies in the character and intelligence, not in the number of its members. Let this truth be inscribed in letters of living light over the chair of the Master of every Lodge in the country, and all may be well. Let its op posite obtain, as a rule of practice, and disastrous consequences, if not positive ruin, will inevitably follow. There are two other causes that have been fruitful of detriment to the Institution, to which it may not be out of place here to allude. The first is the want of proper care in the selection of the officers of the Lodges. On this point it will be sufficient to cite the rule, as given in the earliest Constitutions of the Order. It is as follows All preferment among Masons is grounded upon real worth and personal merit only that so the lords may be well served, the Brethren not put to shame, nor the Craft despised therefore, no Master nor Warden is chosen by seniority, but for his merit. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.