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Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1 Article MASONIC PORTRAITS. Page 1 of 1 Article MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE.—THE MARK DEGREE. Page 1 of 1 Article SHARP PRACTICE. Page 1 of 1 Article SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opwions 0 / our Cbrrespondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . AH Letters must bear the name and" address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith , — : o : —
LODGE EEPORTS . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The able letter of your correspondent , Bro . Gottheil , upon the above subject , is one which is well deserving of preservation ; and it is to be hoped that the hints which he has thrown out to those upon whom falls the duty of furnishing reports of
Masonic meetings will be acted upon , and that readers of Craft literature may for the future be spared the tedium of perusing so much of wearisome detail . It is no uncommon occurrence for reports of Lodge meetings to appear in print full of the objectionable matter referred to by Bro . Gottheil , to the exclusion , presumably for want of
space , of what is far more interesting , and certainly of greater value in every way , —the reports of the addresses from able Craftsmen with which we are favoured from time to time at our meetings . Let these appear whenever an opportunity occurs , and your valuable periodical will become still more acceptable to your numerous readers . Yours fraternally , A PAST MASTER .
Masonic Portraits.
MASONIC PORTRAITS .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —My idea is that when a Mason has got anything on his mind respecting a Brother Mason , he shonld take an opportunity of speaking privately to him , and thus settle , if possible , any differences . There is nothing I detest more than to see
Brother Masons writing against one another in a public paper . Showing how ready some are to pick a hole in something said or done by , or of , another , it is not only un-Masonic , but ungentlemanly . This remark has been called forth by reading a letter , by Bro . Frances , in your paper of the 24 th inst ., in which he says : " At no period of the
history of the Frederick Lodge , has there been any want of vitality . " In reply to this , I simply say that Bro . Frances has been misinformed Bro . Frances joined the Frederick Lodgo of Unity in August 1868 , and at that timo I was J . W . and acting Secretary , and had introduced new members , two of them being in office on the day Bro . Frances joined ,
viz ., Bros . Wm . Sugg J . D . and W . C . Poole I . G ., both now being P . M . ' s of the Lodge , and subscribing members . I acknowledge that it may have been rattier strong colouring . " He resuscitated the Lodge , " for I was helped by my friends , and tho willing workers in tho Lodge at the time . But let mo assure Bro . Frances that at times
we had to bring up the landlord from his bar to make a perfect Lodge , and as the members present at the banquet had to pay tho expenses , we have dined three " strong , " and had to pay for the six or seven dinners ordered . At the last meeting wo had 31 to dinner , including 8 visitors ! There were 45 subscribing members on the books , and 3 initiated in addition . Yours fraternally , MAGNUS OHREN , P . M . and Secretary of 452 .
Masonic Jurisprudence.—The Mark Degree.
MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . —THE MARK DEGREE .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — The letter and articles that have appeared from time to time in the pages of the " CHRONICLE , " on " Masonic Jurisprudence , " have attracted considerable notice on this side of the border , and your continued attention to them must , doubtless , eventuate in good to the Craft at large .
I should , therefore , feel much obliged if you , Mr . Editor , Bro . Binckes , or any other of your talented correspondents , conld enlighten me on the legal status of Mark Masters made under the authority of a Craft Lodge Charter . Your so doing would also confer a favour on a large body of Scotch Masons , for your reports in last week ' s issue , from three R . A . Chapters in Glasgow , prove that this is
a question that is exercising some influence on the minds of the brethren north of the Tweed . I think I understand the position of an English Mark Master , for , although he is not recognised either by the Grand Lodge of Freemasons , or the Grand Chapter simpliciter , yet he has a Grand Lodge of his own , which is recognised by several other Grand bodies , and so
he has a locus standi independent of them both . Here , on the contrary , both Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter recognise the degree , and give authority to confer it . The Grand Chapter declaring it an integral part of their system , and making its reception an indispensible prerequisite for exaltation to the R . A . degree . On the other hand , the Grand Lodge of Scotland , while declaring that they will only recognise , sanction and promote the three degrees of St . John's
Masonry , namely those of E . A ., F . C . and M . M ., yet say that they consider the Mark degree as a portion of the Fellow Craft , and it may be conferred , but only upon Master Masons . For many years , very few Lodges availed themselves of this complex arrangement , but lately , several Craft Lodges have opened what they call " Mark Lodges , " with separate officers , meeting on a different night , issuing a distinct Diploma and charging a special fee . All the distinctive features of a separate order , 2 / OM will observe . This being
the actual state of matters , I would feel glad if you will state , first , if the Lodges so acting can be said to be only working the three degrees of St . John Masonry as restricted by their Charters ? and , second , can the Mark Masters thus made claim to be admitted either into an English Mark Lodge , or a Lodge of Mark Masters working under a Charter from the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland P Yours fraternally , W . G . E ELEEHW ,
Sharp Practice.
SHARP PRACTICE .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR BROTHER CHRONICLE , —Although an elderly man , I am but a youthful Mason . Before I joined the Craft , I deliberated long and seriously on the ( to me ) important step . I reasoned that , after all , I should find only human nature in the institution , but diligent inquiry convinced me that I should also find within its mystic portals
a human nature that had become elevated , refined , and made more charitable by Masonic training . In the fulness of this faith , I became a Mason . Soon—alas ! too soon—however , I found that my belief was premature . I discovered—nay , had forced under my noticepetty intrigues and jealous cabals at work , to influence elections , that made me blush for human nature in general , and Masonic human
nature in particular . Our acting W . M . was gathered to his fathers , and we were left without a chief , and in straightened circumstances . Then it was that a brother , with Masonic honours full upon him , effusively and patronisingly came to our relief . He would be res ponsible for our circumstances , and ordinary gratitude could do nothing less than elect him to the vacant seat of our deceased W . M .
The matter was broached to the S . W ., who at once gave way . By accident or management this election took place three months before the annual meeting . Some misgivings were felt about the legality , and the ultimate effect of the election ; but the W . M . eleot silenced all opposition by deliberately pointing out that he would do nothing but what was perfectly fair and legal to his brother officers . ( Ah ,
that word legal is too suggestive of Old Bailey sharp practice to bo altogether in place in a Masonic Lodge . If Masonic rules are to be examined and cavilled at with trained legal acumen , it may be bad for the spirit of the law ; tho letter may be so strained that a promise may be kept to the legal ear , and yet be broken to the Masonio sense . ) The W . M . then proposed to depose the acting S . W .,
and place the J . W . in the S . W . ' s chair ; but this idea was ultimately abandoned . In course of time the annual election came on , and then the W . M . took a course that was hardly in accordance with his previous promise . Legally he may have kept it ; but in the sense in which it was understood , at least by me , he broke it . He made a speech , full of fulsome flattery of the good points of a certain brother ,
pointed out how charitable he was , —how he had done this , that and the other , —and how ho would do moro if made W . M . The result was that this brother was elected , and the S . W . ( or P . S . W . as the W . M . styles him ) , who had made way for him , has been completely shunted . Further , the W . M . privately used his influence to procure the election of the W . M . elect , and efforts were actually made to
induce the S . W . to give way a second time , the reason alleged being that the ambitious brother was abont to remove to the country , and wished to go there as a W . M . This last fact scarcely fits in with the talk about the good he would do our Lodge , & c . I havo necessarily been brief in my statement , but it is explicit enough , I think , to show that the S . W . ( or P . S . W . ) has been
somewhat hardly dealt with , and that wrong has been done to those brethren who have been thrown back a year in their chance of election to the highest po 3 t . I hope , for the honour of Masonry , that my experience has been exceptional . It is humiliating to think that such a noble institution can become the arena for fostering petty ambitions . I may be wrong ,
but it seems to me that it is not always a good thing to be able to wear half-a-dozen P . W . M . ' s jewels , each jewel acquired in a different Lodge . Suroly , in such cases , other brethren must have lost an opportunity . You will understand that it is a hard thing for young members to attempt to resist the patronage of P . W . M . ' s who possess the advantage of being persistent , and who do not hesitate to make
their Masonic knowledge a stepping-stone to the highest seat in a struggling Lodge . It would be more Mason-like if they gave their advice and assistance to place and maintain younger workers in the position they themselves grasp ; but then , you see , they could not legally wear so many jewels .
Hoping that you may be able to snow me that the case I have mentioned is isolated , and altogether out of the usual order of Masonio practice , I beg to subscribe myself , what I trust I Bhall continue to be , A "FREE" MASON .
Sir Christopher Wren.
SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . Royal Geographical Society , Saville-row , 23 rd June 1876 . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Are you aware that there exists , carefully preserved by the Lodge of Antiquity , the mallet or gavel which
was used by Sir Christopher Wren on laying the foundation stone of St . Paul ' s Cathedral ? The Deputy W . M . of that Lodgo ( under H . R . H . Prince Leopold ) , Professor Erasmus Wilson , would confer a
great favour upon many brethren if , with his usual courtesy and urbanity , he would afford information through your well circulated pages regarding the career of that historic implement , and the manner iu which it came into possession of his Lodge . I remain , yours fraternally , M , M
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opwions 0 / our Cbrrespondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . AH Letters must bear the name and" address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith , — : o : —
LODGE EEPORTS . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The able letter of your correspondent , Bro . Gottheil , upon the above subject , is one which is well deserving of preservation ; and it is to be hoped that the hints which he has thrown out to those upon whom falls the duty of furnishing reports of
Masonic meetings will be acted upon , and that readers of Craft literature may for the future be spared the tedium of perusing so much of wearisome detail . It is no uncommon occurrence for reports of Lodge meetings to appear in print full of the objectionable matter referred to by Bro . Gottheil , to the exclusion , presumably for want of
space , of what is far more interesting , and certainly of greater value in every way , —the reports of the addresses from able Craftsmen with which we are favoured from time to time at our meetings . Let these appear whenever an opportunity occurs , and your valuable periodical will become still more acceptable to your numerous readers . Yours fraternally , A PAST MASTER .
Masonic Portraits.
MASONIC PORTRAITS .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —My idea is that when a Mason has got anything on his mind respecting a Brother Mason , he shonld take an opportunity of speaking privately to him , and thus settle , if possible , any differences . There is nothing I detest more than to see
Brother Masons writing against one another in a public paper . Showing how ready some are to pick a hole in something said or done by , or of , another , it is not only un-Masonic , but ungentlemanly . This remark has been called forth by reading a letter , by Bro . Frances , in your paper of the 24 th inst ., in which he says : " At no period of the
history of the Frederick Lodge , has there been any want of vitality . " In reply to this , I simply say that Bro . Frances has been misinformed Bro . Frances joined the Frederick Lodgo of Unity in August 1868 , and at that timo I was J . W . and acting Secretary , and had introduced new members , two of them being in office on the day Bro . Frances joined ,
viz ., Bros . Wm . Sugg J . D . and W . C . Poole I . G ., both now being P . M . ' s of the Lodge , and subscribing members . I acknowledge that it may have been rattier strong colouring . " He resuscitated the Lodge , " for I was helped by my friends , and tho willing workers in tho Lodge at the time . But let mo assure Bro . Frances that at times
we had to bring up the landlord from his bar to make a perfect Lodge , and as the members present at the banquet had to pay tho expenses , we have dined three " strong , " and had to pay for the six or seven dinners ordered . At the last meeting wo had 31 to dinner , including 8 visitors ! There were 45 subscribing members on the books , and 3 initiated in addition . Yours fraternally , MAGNUS OHREN , P . M . and Secretary of 452 .
Masonic Jurisprudence.—The Mark Degree.
MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . —THE MARK DEGREE .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — The letter and articles that have appeared from time to time in the pages of the " CHRONICLE , " on " Masonic Jurisprudence , " have attracted considerable notice on this side of the border , and your continued attention to them must , doubtless , eventuate in good to the Craft at large .
I should , therefore , feel much obliged if you , Mr . Editor , Bro . Binckes , or any other of your talented correspondents , conld enlighten me on the legal status of Mark Masters made under the authority of a Craft Lodge Charter . Your so doing would also confer a favour on a large body of Scotch Masons , for your reports in last week ' s issue , from three R . A . Chapters in Glasgow , prove that this is
a question that is exercising some influence on the minds of the brethren north of the Tweed . I think I understand the position of an English Mark Master , for , although he is not recognised either by the Grand Lodge of Freemasons , or the Grand Chapter simpliciter , yet he has a Grand Lodge of his own , which is recognised by several other Grand bodies , and so
he has a locus standi independent of them both . Here , on the contrary , both Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter recognise the degree , and give authority to confer it . The Grand Chapter declaring it an integral part of their system , and making its reception an indispensible prerequisite for exaltation to the R . A . degree . On the other hand , the Grand Lodge of Scotland , while declaring that they will only recognise , sanction and promote the three degrees of St . John's
Masonry , namely those of E . A ., F . C . and M . M ., yet say that they consider the Mark degree as a portion of the Fellow Craft , and it may be conferred , but only upon Master Masons . For many years , very few Lodges availed themselves of this complex arrangement , but lately , several Craft Lodges have opened what they call " Mark Lodges , " with separate officers , meeting on a different night , issuing a distinct Diploma and charging a special fee . All the distinctive features of a separate order , 2 / OM will observe . This being
the actual state of matters , I would feel glad if you will state , first , if the Lodges so acting can be said to be only working the three degrees of St . John Masonry as restricted by their Charters ? and , second , can the Mark Masters thus made claim to be admitted either into an English Mark Lodge , or a Lodge of Mark Masters working under a Charter from the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland P Yours fraternally , W . G . E ELEEHW ,
Sharp Practice.
SHARP PRACTICE .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR BROTHER CHRONICLE , —Although an elderly man , I am but a youthful Mason . Before I joined the Craft , I deliberated long and seriously on the ( to me ) important step . I reasoned that , after all , I should find only human nature in the institution , but diligent inquiry convinced me that I should also find within its mystic portals
a human nature that had become elevated , refined , and made more charitable by Masonic training . In the fulness of this faith , I became a Mason . Soon—alas ! too soon—however , I found that my belief was premature . I discovered—nay , had forced under my noticepetty intrigues and jealous cabals at work , to influence elections , that made me blush for human nature in general , and Masonic human
nature in particular . Our acting W . M . was gathered to his fathers , and we were left without a chief , and in straightened circumstances . Then it was that a brother , with Masonic honours full upon him , effusively and patronisingly came to our relief . He would be res ponsible for our circumstances , and ordinary gratitude could do nothing less than elect him to the vacant seat of our deceased W . M .
The matter was broached to the S . W ., who at once gave way . By accident or management this election took place three months before the annual meeting . Some misgivings were felt about the legality , and the ultimate effect of the election ; but the W . M . eleot silenced all opposition by deliberately pointing out that he would do nothing but what was perfectly fair and legal to his brother officers . ( Ah ,
that word legal is too suggestive of Old Bailey sharp practice to bo altogether in place in a Masonic Lodge . If Masonic rules are to be examined and cavilled at with trained legal acumen , it may be bad for the spirit of the law ; tho letter may be so strained that a promise may be kept to the legal ear , and yet be broken to the Masonio sense . ) The W . M . then proposed to depose the acting S . W .,
and place the J . W . in the S . W . ' s chair ; but this idea was ultimately abandoned . In course of time the annual election came on , and then the W . M . took a course that was hardly in accordance with his previous promise . Legally he may have kept it ; but in the sense in which it was understood , at least by me , he broke it . He made a speech , full of fulsome flattery of the good points of a certain brother ,
pointed out how charitable he was , —how he had done this , that and the other , —and how ho would do moro if made W . M . The result was that this brother was elected , and the S . W . ( or P . S . W . as the W . M . styles him ) , who had made way for him , has been completely shunted . Further , the W . M . privately used his influence to procure the election of the W . M . elect , and efforts were actually made to
induce the S . W . to give way a second time , the reason alleged being that the ambitious brother was abont to remove to the country , and wished to go there as a W . M . This last fact scarcely fits in with the talk about the good he would do our Lodge , & c . I havo necessarily been brief in my statement , but it is explicit enough , I think , to show that the S . W . ( or P . S . W . ) has been
somewhat hardly dealt with , and that wrong has been done to those brethren who have been thrown back a year in their chance of election to the highest po 3 t . I hope , for the honour of Masonry , that my experience has been exceptional . It is humiliating to think that such a noble institution can become the arena for fostering petty ambitions . I may be wrong ,
but it seems to me that it is not always a good thing to be able to wear half-a-dozen P . W . M . ' s jewels , each jewel acquired in a different Lodge . Suroly , in such cases , other brethren must have lost an opportunity . You will understand that it is a hard thing for young members to attempt to resist the patronage of P . W . M . ' s who possess the advantage of being persistent , and who do not hesitate to make
their Masonic knowledge a stepping-stone to the highest seat in a struggling Lodge . It would be more Mason-like if they gave their advice and assistance to place and maintain younger workers in the position they themselves grasp ; but then , you see , they could not legally wear so many jewels .
Hoping that you may be able to snow me that the case I have mentioned is isolated , and altogether out of the usual order of Masonio practice , I beg to subscribe myself , what I trust I Bhall continue to be , A "FREE" MASON .
Sir Christopher Wren.
SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . Royal Geographical Society , Saville-row , 23 rd June 1876 . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Are you aware that there exists , carefully preserved by the Lodge of Antiquity , the mallet or gavel which
was used by Sir Christopher Wren on laying the foundation stone of St . Paul ' s Cathedral ? The Deputy W . M . of that Lodgo ( under H . R . H . Prince Leopold ) , Professor Erasmus Wilson , would confer a
great favour upon many brethren if , with his usual courtesy and urbanity , he would afford information through your well circulated pages regarding the career of that historic implement , and the manner iu which it came into possession of his Lodge . I remain , yours fraternally , M , M