The crisis through which the world is passing has in-evitably found its reactions in Freemasonry.
The clamorous crowd at our portals has been dissipated by financial and other depression, and Lodges have had to wholly or partially suspend their degree-conferring activities.
And while this condition has been fairly general and somewhat loosely described as bad times," there appears to be an increasing realisation that the position that has arisen is not wholly bad, but was a necessary corrective the Craft had to endure if its ideals were to be preserved.
We heard a great deal some years ago of the extraordinary prosperity and progress of the Craft.
Now we hear the opinion voiced that a few years more of the " prosperity " that preceded the present depression would have irretrievably ruined Freemasonry ; and there is much that could be said in support of this contention.
Certain it is that pressure on our gates had not, as it should have done, increased selective care and the assurance that candidates "Measured up to our standard."
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1932 - Address by the Worshipful Master - Bro Harold Earlam.
