THE BUILDER January 1917

A GREAT MASONIC TEACHER

BY BRO. JOSEPH FORT NEWTON

A. S. MACBRIDE

MASONRY had many great teachers in times past, men of the first
order of intellect who devoted their fine powers to the exposition
of its simple, wise and beautiful truth. Pike, Parvin, Mackey,
Fort, Gould, Speth, Crawley, Findel, Hughan, it is an honor to
recall the names of such men, into whose labors we have entered,
and whose legacy of inspiration and instruction is a priceless
inheritance. Noble men, great Masons, tireless students, wise
teachers--our debt to them is beyond calculation. But reverence for
the work of men of other days should not make us forget our leaders
today who are doing so much to interpret Masonry and make it
eloquent and effective for its high purposes.

Masonry has great teachers today, many of them, but no one more
worthy of the honor of his Brethren of every land and rank than
Brother A. S. MacBride, of Lodge Progress, Glasgow. More than once
we have said that his lectures on "Speculative Masonry" is one of
the best Masonic books ever written, and we are ready any time to
give a reason for the faith that is in us. First of all, its style
is the native speech of Masonry--simple, lucid, and aglow with
poetic light and beauty. There are passages that haunt you like
noble music when the book has been laid aside. Second, it is a book
of vision, in which Masonry is shown to be a wise, clear-seeing,
practical Moral Idealism, touched with spiritual meanings and
taught in symbols, parables, emblems, and dramas. Third, it is a
book of careful, painstaking, reliable scholarship--three things
which make it one of the real classics of the Order, and we
sincerely hope that it is a fore-runner of other books of like
spirit and quality.

As will be seen from the accompanying sketch, Brother MacBride was
trained in the tradition and lore of the Craft by wise teachers of
the olden time, whose method was as thorough as their knowledge was
profound. For twenty-five years, or more, he has been a teacher of
Masonry in the land of Robert Burns instructing young men in the
symbolism and ceremonial of the Craft, and he has left a permanent
impress upon the Masonry of his native land. His artist-eye
exquisite sense of the fitness of things, together with his rich
learning and sound common sense, make him an ideal instructor, and
with these are joined a fine enthusiasm. Whether in public printed
lecture, or in the more private teaching of the Order--examples of
which lie before us in the form of rituals of the first three
degrees--his work has the same sagacious insight, the same fine
sanity, and the same delicate touch of poetry which mark him as a
truly great teacher of Masonry. 

Such men are rare, and we wish the work of Brother to be more
widely known on this side of the waters, we present the following
brief sketch of his Masonic career, by one of the Past Masters of
Lodge Progress, with illustrations showing the new home of Lodge
Leven St. John for which he did so much and where he is so beloved.
It is such a sketch as the too great modesty of its subject would
permit, interesting and valuable for its data, but conveying but a
very slight impression of a man of unmistakable distinction of
character of singular personal and intellectual charm, brotherly
withal and winning; a gracious gentleman of Scotland, to know whom
is to have something to remember of the finest tradition of his
country and his race--a Mason to whom the world is a temple, a poet
to whom the world is a song.

Brother A. S. MacBride was initiated in Lodge Leven St. John on the
13th July, 1866. On November the 19th, of the same year, he was
elected Secretary; and on November 22nd, 1867, he was elected
Master. The Lodge Leven St. John was constituted on April 9th,
1788, by several members of the craft residing in and about the
towns of Leven in Dumbartonshire. As stated in the Charter, it was
granted "for holding a Lodge in the said towns of Leven." That is,
it was a movable Charter, and the old minute books which are
preserved in fairly good order and which go back to the 6th
November, 1788, show that meetings were held in various places from
the river Fruin on Loch Lomond side, to the bridge over the river
Leven at Dumbarton. These old minutes seem to indicate the
existence of an unchartered Lodge, previous to the existing Charter
from the Grand Lodge in Edinburgh.

It has been a practice from 1788 at least, as shown by the Minutes
of the Lodge, to appoint instructors to every newly initiated
member; and Brother MacBride in this respect had the good fortune
to have as his instructors two of the very oldest Masons in the
Lodge. It is to the instruction he then received that he attributes
the enthusiastic interest with which he has for fifty years studied
the history and symbolism of Masonry. It was at one time the
universal custom in all Scottish Lodges to appoint these
instructors (or "intenders" as they were called) to newly entered
brethren, and it is to be regretted that this good old custom has
been abandoned generally. It is still, however faithfully observed
in Lodge Leven St. John.

In the second year of his accession to the chair, Brother MacBride
introduced his system of lectures and instruction. He began, first
o all, with the office-bearers, and in a year or two with the
members of the Lodge. After seven years he retired from the chair,
but still maintained a close connection with the Lodge. In 1879,
with some reluctance and only at the unanimous and strong desire of
the members, he once more accepted the position of Master. He
continued in office until 1884, and as Past Master continued taking
an active interest in the Lodge affairs. He was recalled again to
the chair in 1887, and was in harness until 1896.

During this period of nearly thirty years the Lodge established a
reputation for a high standard of "work," discipline and
enterprise, and its members became celebrated for their knowledge
of Masonry. The Lodges in Scotland generally, at that time, met in
licensed premises; and Leven St. John met in the Black Bull Inn, in
the village of Renton. The higher ideals of the craft, however,
began to dominate the minds of the members, and the incongruity of
having solemn and sacred ceremonies in a hall devoted to the
worship of Bacchus determined them in 1891 to have a building of
their own. Although a country Lodge, whose membership was small in
number and practically composed of workmen, yet such was its vital
energy and enthusiasm that, despite many difficulties, a commodious
Lodge Room was erected. In a few years the Lodge building was not
only completed free from debt but a new building fund was formed of
upwards o three-hundred pounds for extensions. These extensions
have now been completed and the building stands a monument to the
enthusiasm and loyal devotion of the members, for, with the
exception of three brethren belonging to other Lodges who
unsolicited sent donations, all the expense amounting to about
three thousand pounds has been defrayed by them. The Lodge Room
presents some unique features which the accompanying photographs
will partly show, in its pillars, winding stair of three, five and
seven steps, and its middle chamber.

Sixteen years ago Brother MacBride removed to Glasgow and there
threw in his lot with Lodge "Progress," which had been established
two years previous. This Lodge is founded on temperance principles,
a part of its constitution being, "No intoxicating or spirituous
liquors shall be permitted at any meeting or communication of the
Lodge, or held under the auspices of the Lodge." This was in
Brother MacBride's opinion a movement that deserved the
encouragement of every well wisher of the craft. Personally, he was
not a total abstainer, but the drinking customs in connection with
many lodges had become such a serious evil that some counterweight
was greatly needed, and he therefore joined Lodge Progress. His
long experience gave him an early opportunity of being of service
to that Lodge; its members, while full of enthusiasm, being
practically inexperienced in the work of Masonry.

In November, 1900, he was elected Master, and during that year he
applied himself to the training of office-bearers in a knowledge of
their duties and of the "work" in connection with the various
degrees. In the succeeding year, and for fully ten years as a Past
Master, he applied himself to the work of instruction. Enthusiastic
instructive Lodge meetings were carried on for three or four months
every winter. At these meetings lectures were delivered by him
which have been revised and printed in a work entitled "Speculative
Masonry." Besides this, various symbols and ceremonies were
explained in detail and the students attending were also given an
opportunity of "working." The result has been this: Lodge Progress
stands out, not only as the strongest Lodge in Scotland, but also
as representing the highest ideal in its method of "working." It is
no boast, but a plain fact that these two Lodges, Leven St. John
and Lodge Progress, are models in the manner in which they "work"
the ceremonies of the various degrees, and in the knowledge
possessed by their members of the symbolism and principles of
Masonry.

When residing in the province of Dumbarton Brother MacBride took an
interest in the proceedings of the Provincial Grand Lodge of
Dumbarton. He was Secretary for a number of years and filled the
offices successively of Provincial Grand Junior Warden, Provincial
Grand Senior Warden, and Deputy Provincial Grand Master. On
removing to Glasgow he was asked to allow himself to be nominated
for office in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow but refused,
considering that his energies could be directed to better purpose
in the Lodge of Instruction connected with Lodge Progress. He,
however, gave his services as a member of Provincial Grand
Committee for a number of years.

Brother MacBride has been a member of the "Quatuor Coronati Lodge,"
London, since May, 1893, and has found the transactions of that
Lodge of immense value to him in the course of his Masonic studies
He has always been an advocate for reform in Lodge "working," and
his criticisms of the coarse, vulgar methods adopted in some lodges
brought on him occasionally the condemnation of his brethren, who,
not having studied the symbolism of the craft, had very little
conception of its real beauty and significance. These
controversies, however, are all now things of the past, and he has
been able to overcome, or modify, the news adverse to his mode of
"working," and to gain generally the respect and esteem of those
who at one time were his opponents.

Everywhere in the west of Scotland there has been of late years a
marked improvement in the "work" of Masonry. The atmosphere of the
lodges has been purified and elevated to a very considerable
extent, and a larger and closer knowledge of its symbolism has been
diffused amongst its members; and Brother MacBride rejoices at
having been able in some degree to have contributed to this
beneficial result.

All of which is true as to facts and dates, but not all of the
truth, being a bare statement and far too conservative in its
restrained recital, needing an added touch of appreciation and
estimate of a distinguished service to the Fraternity. The work of
Brother MacBride in behalf of Masonry may be divided into three
parts, as things Masonic are so often divided: First, his genius as
an expositor of the history, philosophy and symbolism of the Craft,
proof of which may be known and read by all in the book to which we
have referred. Second, his mastery of the ritual, and his poetic
insight and literary skill in making it not only more luminous, but
more perfect as a medium through which the spirit and truth of
Masonry may be conveyed to the initiate. Of this aspect of his work
we may not write in detail, except to say that the ritual prepared
by him comes nearer to our ideal of what a Masonic ritual should
be, alike in accuracy, dignity and beauty of form, and depth and
suggestiveness of meaning, than any we have ever seen. It is an
unalloyed delight to eye and ear and heart--Masonry wearing a robe
woven by a poet-hand, and worthy of its spirit and truth.

And the third part of his labor is equally important --the manner
in which he uses the ritual, thus wrought out, not only to evoke
the Spirit of Masonry and to promote its fellowship, but to teach
the truth it was meant to teach. He is a teacher who trains
teachers--following the teachers who trained him--using the ritual,
keeping close to the ritual, and through it leading his pupils to
the wider questions that grow out of it and are suggested by it.
Herein his method is sound, both Masonically and pedagogically, and
it is a hint to put those who would teach Masonry on the right
track. Moreover, his first care is to train the officers of the
Lodge, making them leaders and teachers of the Craft as they should
be. Take, for example, the following "Hints to Masters," which
serve as a preface to the ritual of Lodge Progress:

1. The Master should not be Craftsman, laborer, and everything. He
should superintend and direct the work.

2. Have a meeting of the Office-bearers, as soon after the election
as possible, to arrange your work, and to encourage them to study
and enter upon their duties with an enthusiastic spirit.

3. Get each Office-bearer to learn the duties of the Office
immediately above his, so that he may, when required, be able to
perform them.

4. Always remember it is the Master's work to plan, and to draw out
the plan of work. Treat your Office-bearers confidentially and show
them your plan, and then you may rightly expect them to work to it.

5. Give every encouragement to any one who wishes to work, and get
your Officers to do the same; but bear in mind that your own
members have the first claim on your assistance and encouragement.

6. Don't parade your authority, but prove yourself worthy of the
power placed in your hands, by using it as seldom as possible.

7. Remember the best Master is he who best serves the Craft.
'Tis no wonder that such a method, used in a spirit of Masonic
idealism made effective by a fine practical capacity, has attested
its worth and wisdom in rich results. It was the rare pleasure of
a lifetime to visit Lodge Progress--of which we offer a brief
account elsewhere in this issue to meet its members, and to join
with them in paying homage to one of the wisest Masonic teachers of
our generation whose work has won, and will continue to win
increasingly, the lasting and grateful honor of the Craft in all
lands where its gentle labors are known.

