TREASURED TRADITIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 455, 13 March 1909, Page 4

TREASURED TRADITIONS.

FRIENDLY SOCIETY CEREMONIES.

DO THEY SUIT MODERN IDEAS? "Let us rid ourselves of tho incubus of decayed dogmas and of fossilised formulao that had their origin a century ago such as grips, pass words, and signs, coupled with emblematic absurdities as wooden axes and rusty swords. Educated thought and modern ideas will havo none of these." . In this manner, according to a Melbourne cablegram published on Wednesday last, spoke a Grand Master of tho United Order of Oddfellows. "Decayed dogmas—fossilised formulae—emblematic absurdities"—these arc rather strong expressions to apply to tho cherished symbols and ceremonies of tho friendly societies. Hut though tho opinion voiced is a strong one, it is not entirely a growth of recent times—such thoughts liavo boon in tho minds of many people for years, and occasionally have found vent in such speeches as the ono quoted. Sixteen years ago members of different societies engaged in a controversy on the subject, some appealing for the abolition of what appeared to them to he "nonsense," and others arguing that, as Macaulay has stated, tho outward ceremony satisfied tho emotions, so that tho intellect could get full play. With the object of ascertaining in which direction local opinion lay, a Dominion representative mado some inquiries " among representatives of various orders. At tho outset tho reporter was told, by a gentleman m touch with most of tho societies, that ho would find tho opinions of the Melbourne Grand Master wero general, but this was not quite the case, as the following interviews show. No Application to Freamasonry. A prominent Freemason was approached and asked what tho views of tho Freemasons were in regard to the matter mentioned in the cablegram. "Oh, but this has nothing whatever to do ivith Masonry," ho said as he glanced at the paragraph. "It is a body altogether distinct from tho friendly societies." But what would bo tho feeling amongst your members wero ono of them to make such a remark as this? "I do not think such a remark would bo likely to emanate from a Freemason," was the answer. "You see the conditions are so widely different. Friendly societies exist primarily for tho purpose of insurance, but that does not enter into Masonry at all. Of course, I cannot comrv.ro the ceremonies of friendly societies with Freemasonry, but ceremonies arc quite fitting for Freemasons, since their order is an educative institution inculcating tho highest principles of morality." Having said this much, and reiterated hia statement that the cablegram could not have roferenco to tho Freemasons, tho gentleman would say no more on the topic concerning the mystic craft, but he gave some interesting opinions in regard to signs and ceremonies in general. Ho thought that tho signs and passwords wero to a certain extent necessary in friendly societies, so as to secure the members from fraud. The privileges were only to be obtained after careful examination of the applicant, and it was only right that thero should be some precautions taken to prevent the advantages of tho fellowship being lost. Even assuming that the ceremonies of friendly societies might in somo instances bo overdone, it was better that this should bo tho caso than that there should be no precautions at all. Regalia wero useful in giving dignity to tho persons in officeand gaining respect for them. Almost all people wero impressed with outward signs of authority. A policeman, for instance, would lose much of his power were ho to dress in plain clothes. ~ Though tho decorations were not absolutely necessary they were important, ..for,.,,they /.impressed,; tho minds of the in the same way as tho ceremonies of certain of the high Churches tended to uplift tho minds of the congregations. ' '.'

"Though tlio present is a practical nge," he concluded, "sentiment is not yet entirely exhausted.. Even the' wooden axe and the tin sword might be mado to exemplify good moral lessons.". •

"Certainly out of Date." The district secretary of the Foresters, Mr. H. Birch, agreed with what had been said by the Grand Master of the Oddfellows. "Theso initiation ceremonies," ho oxpJaincd, "have been handed down to us from an ago long past. Then, when such societies were looked on with disfavour by tlio Government, secret signs and passwords were necessary, and the 'emblematic absurdities' of wooden axes mid rusty swords were for actual use. Though, as in the case of the initiation ceremonies, some alteration hna taken place, tho old idea has been retained. Some people like a little secrecy, and tho ceremonies' and formality appeal to them, but for modern times the thing ; is certainly, out of date, and a lot of nonsense." Mr. Birch recognised that a great many Foresters might hold opinions different from these,'but it seemed to him that tho societies would, in time, conduct their meetings on the lines adopted by th 6 Australian Natives' Association, to which a member might take a friend if ho vouched for his good character. * . Modification, but not Abolition. An Oddfellow, of the American Order, wat next called upon. Ho expressed himself in favourable to tho modification, but not tha abolition of all tho ceremonies. Tho signs and passwords were, ho said, necessary, es. peciallv in tho large cities, in order to in. sure the protection of tho societies' benefits For instance, a man might come over from Sydney and state that ho was a uicuibei of,tho Oddfellows' Order there, but had lost his papers. Unless there* , was somo method by which his claims to assistance could bo proved, tho society would run tho risk either of turning away an honest member, or of helping an impostor. For the 'regalia and -ceremonies, it could be argued that their abolition would render tlio unions of members' lrothing moro than meetings of business men, with nothing of a social nature attached to.thorn. s

"1 (juito agree," added the official, "that thero'is an objection to such tilings as street, processions of members wearing a great display of regalia; sometimes rather ridiculous. Our menibers in Wellington won't turn out to public functions either with or without decorations."

An Opposite Opinion Approved. At the anniversary of the Antipodean Lodge, 1.0.0. F., M.U., Inst night, brief reforences to t-lio Grand Master's speech > wero mado by Mr. Gcorgn Rend, a prominent oflicc-boarer of the lodge, and Mr. .T. C. Webber, of the Foresters. They both agreed that the ceremonial was not unmeaning, that certain portions of it liad_ a, deep moral significance. If delivered in a proper manner, the ritual was most impressive. Their remarks wero. received with a general chorus of approval. A member of the Druids' Order refused to express his opinion, though ho stated that ho felt strongly on the matter. A cablegram bearing on friendly society _ ceremonial appears in another column.