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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
my letter , viz ., that reporters cannot bo too impartial in tho accounts they give of meetings , Ac . Trusting these explanations will prove satisfactory . I remain , yours fraternally , "SEURIC . "
A PLEA FOR AGED MASONS AND THEIR , WIDOWS .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIK AND BROTHER , —I think " A PAST MASTER ' S " suggestion is a very good one . The old folk , like the young folk , are accepted as candidates after duo inquiry as to the merits of their respective cases . Once , therefore , a name has been placed on the list of candidates , it is publicly admitted that its bearer is a worthy object of relief ; and ,
as your correspondent points out , ho must bo " over sixty years of ago ; " ho very probably cannot work , and has outlived most of his friends and relations , so that a " little assistance to him would bo a great boon . " I have heard thero is somo fund already in existence , the proceeds of which aro , or might easily be made , available for this purpose . Bnt this need not prevent tho benefits of tho proposed
Assistance Fund being extended so as to include small grants in aid to unsuccessful male and female candidates for tho benefits of tho Benevolent'Institution . For instance , £ 5 , though a modest sum , would be a great boon to an old lady or gentleman who had been defeated in tho ballot for vacancies , and no ono who reads tho particulars of tho cases as described in tho lists issued by Bro . Terry will say that snch a grant conld possibly bo undeserved , though of courso
somo candidates might bo worthier of such relief than others . If this wero included in tho programme of tho now Fund , its objects would stand out prominently ns ( 1 ) , to assist deserving ex-pupils with advice or interest in obtaining appointments , or with small pecuniary grants , for tho purpose of buying outfits , & c . ; ( 2 ) to make small grants to deserving unsuccessful candidates for admission into our Schools and Benevolent Institution . I hardly think such a programme could bo looked npon as too ambitious a one . Fraternally yours , M . M .
A GEOGEAPHICAL DIFFICULTY .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Will you or any of your readers help me out of the geographical fog in which I havo lost myself through an editorial paragraph which appeared in your contemporary last week . In this said paragraph tho hope is expressed that the change which is announced to tnko placo this week in the
Freemason will commend itself to " many kind friends at homo and abroad , in America , in the Canadas , in India and in 1 he Antipodes , in distant lands , and far-off hemispheres . " I am snre I heartily wish it all tho success it desires and deserves , but I am , perhaps owing to tho weakness of my mental powers , very much in the dark as to where all the places mentioned are located , that is , if I tako them , not
severally , but collectively . Thus I understand well enough all about " at home and abroad ; " tho former , I take it , means "England" and the latter , " all tho other countries of the world . " But it seems your contemporary not only has friends hero and in all other parts of the world , but elsewhere likewise , that is in America , & o . According to this idea , the latter aro outside tho limits of tho world , and if so
where are they ? Then , I may bo wrong , but I have always been under the impression the Canadas were in America , though now , it seems , they prove part of another Continent . I suppose people would not speak of those who live in England and Northumberland , unless the latter were distinct from the former . India and the Antipodes seem all right , except , as I have said before , that in company with
America , & c . they aro outside the world ; but what of tho " distant lands , and far-off hemispheres . " Aro these "lands" which are not contained in tho hemispheres , and are therehemispheresover and above the two which make np our sphere ? And if , as I gather from the sentence quoted , there aro lands that are "distant" and hemispheres which are " far-off , " in contradistinction from thoso which are contiguous and near , am I right in assuming that America and the Canadas
India and tho Antipodes , aro among the latter ? I hopo you will not for one moment imagine I propose impugning the accuracy of this editorial language . All I ask is a solution of this " geographical puzzle , " and I ask because I am not even a deputy-assistant sub-editor , and my stock of geographical knowledge is sadly deficient . At least I know of only two hemispheres , and these between them contain all tho parts of tho world I have ever heard or read of .
I must apologise for troubling you about so small a matter and remain , faithfully yours , FORIS ET DOMI .
MASONIC DESIGNATIONS .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I seo no harm to Freemasonry , either ns an innovation or extreme laudation , in calling brethren " gallant " who have served in the Army or Navv . Moreover , thero is reasonable
justification for it in the practice adopted by our House of Commons . There an officer or ex-olficer of either of tho sister Services K addressed or spoken of as tho "honourable and gallant gentleman , " or " honourable and gallant member for , " itisfc ; is a barrister is sno .
Correspondence.
ken of or addressed as " tho honourable and learned ; " or a mem - ber having a courtesy title , as tho Marquis of Hartington , or that of au Irish peer , as tho lato Lord Palmerston , who is or was addressed or spoken of as " the noble lord , " perhaps with the addition of " the member for . " I boliovo tho official designation is " honourable , " or in tho caso of a Privy Councillor , " right honourable" gentleman or
member , bnt the additions I have mentioned and others are of daily occurrence both in the Houso and out of it , thongh tho gallantry , tho learning , and tho title havo nothing to do with tho membership of this branch of onr Legislature . So in tho army a man ' s profession has nothing to do with his membership of our fraternity , but ho may still
bo our "learned" brother , as in tho caso of Grand Eegisfcrar , " gallant , " as in thoso of Grand Treasurer and Secretary , and " reverend , " as in that of Eev . 0 . J . Martyn , who is a Past Grand Chaplain . Faithfull y and fraternally yours , N . OR M . AS THE CASE "MA'S BE .
Wo have great pleasure in reproducing tho following interesting letter : —
THE TEMPLARS AND THE FREEMASONS . T 6 [ the Editor of The Canadian Craftsman . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —From time to timo I havo perused with a great amount of pleasure tho articles which havo appeared in your columns from tho able pen of tho Great Prior of Canada , Colonel W . J . B . MacLeod Moore . I thoroughly sympathise with him in his desire to trace a connection between tho warrior monks and tho
Templars of our own day , and , setting tho doubtful charter of Larmenius quite on ono side , I havo and shall yet maintain that tho probabilities in favour of a direct descent are exceedingly great . It may be , nay , it is , said that probabilities aro nob proofs , and in this I concur , but in all efforts to traco historical connections and to sift the truth from out the masses of fablo which encrust even the main stem of the
history of our own country , tho careful historian will not be found to ruthlessly svveep aside everything that will not admit of direct proof . He knows very well that analogy is ono of the truest guides to tho fountain of truth , and therefore when an assertion comes before him which ho regards aa doubtful , but which bears on it the marks of probability or even possibility , he treats it by the rules of analogy
and brings to bear upon it the light of contemporary history , the forco of contemporary character , tho manners of contemporary society , — and so ho draws his own conclusions , which ho presents in his own point of view to his readers . If in doing this ho outrages neither tho personal feelings of any party , nor tho acceptor ! bounds of common sense , he is entitled to a hearing , and no sensible man will push his
arguments on ono side as unworthy of consideration simply because he possesses pre-conceived and adverse notions on tho same question . I very much fear that in this Templar question a lar « o number of otherwise evenly balanced Masonio minds havo pre-judged the caso , and that no amount of argument would for one moment bo regarded by them ns worth tho trouble of consideration . It has for so lonjr
been tho fashion for a certain " sot" iu tho Craft to look with disapproval npon tho Christian Orders , that they havo a decided objection to any movement which might tend to draw tho chain of connection closer . Aud yet thoso opponents of tho " Chivalric Degrees " show a strange inconsistency , for whilst with ono voice thoy tako their stand by the articles of uuion , and stickle for " puro and ancient "
Masonry , they aro wilfully blind to tho allusion in the samo articles ( No . 2 ) of union which gives permission to any Craft Lodgo to work the " Chivalric Degrees , " which term was especially meant to include the Knight Templar , Eoso Croix and Kadosh , then worked under tho samo warrant , the very terms of the article proving that tho leaders of Masonry of that day acknowledged tho historic value of thoso
degrees , and so registered their desire for their preservation . It is very much to bo deplored , I think , for the sake of Kni ght Templary , that any attempts should havo been made to exalt the Order at tho expense of truth , and perhaps one of its most vulnerable points has been the unfortunate French charter , which cannot for a moment be maintained as genuine . But then , in thoso days it seems
to have been tho fashion to draw upon tho imagination largely in Masonic history . It was a fantastic ago , and Craft Masonry itself must be content to stand side by sido with tho Order of tho Templo as regards tho veracity of its written history . If French Masonic Knight Templars claimed to have had a direct series of G . Masters from Jacques DeMolay , the English Craft Masons declared that they owned
an unbroken series of Grand Masters from Adam , or at any rate from Solomon , and of the two " yarns" tho latter may certainly be said to have carried the day in point of absurdity . Tho fact is , both tho Craft Masonry and the Knight Templary of the present day stand very nearly on a level as regards their history . It may be saidlike their practice—to be almost purely speculative , and the chivalric
Order is just as well entitled to frame for itself a connection with its brethren who fell under extreme persecutions , as the Free and Accepted Masons to endeavour to lay hold on the skirts of thoso who inspired tho marvellous cathedrals of Cologne or York . A few days since I visited the site of tho onco flourishing Preceptory of Coppinthorpe , about four miles from York . Had it not been
for tho friendly guidance of tho parson of the parish I should never havo discovered the spot , for at the first glance , when we arrived at the place , nothing was visible but an almost level expanse of green sward , on which a herd of short-horned cattle wero peacefully grazing . But when I was told that I was standing in tho centre of tho old
court-yard , then a glance aronnd revealed a slight indentation in tho ground , forming an oblong enclosure , and tracing tho lino of tbo former moat . Everything was gone , not a stono was to bo seen . But on returning to tho village tho reason was patent . Not an old house , cottage , stable or pig-stye but contained amongst its building
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
my letter , viz ., that reporters cannot bo too impartial in tho accounts they give of meetings , Ac . Trusting these explanations will prove satisfactory . I remain , yours fraternally , "SEURIC . "
A PLEA FOR AGED MASONS AND THEIR , WIDOWS .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIK AND BROTHER , —I think " A PAST MASTER ' S " suggestion is a very good one . The old folk , like the young folk , are accepted as candidates after duo inquiry as to the merits of their respective cases . Once , therefore , a name has been placed on the list of candidates , it is publicly admitted that its bearer is a worthy object of relief ; and ,
as your correspondent points out , ho must bo " over sixty years of ago ; " ho very probably cannot work , and has outlived most of his friends and relations , so that a " little assistance to him would bo a great boon . " I have heard thero is somo fund already in existence , the proceeds of which aro , or might easily be made , available for this purpose . Bnt this need not prevent tho benefits of tho proposed
Assistance Fund being extended so as to include small grants in aid to unsuccessful male and female candidates for tho benefits of tho Benevolent'Institution . For instance , £ 5 , though a modest sum , would be a great boon to an old lady or gentleman who had been defeated in tho ballot for vacancies , and no ono who reads tho particulars of tho cases as described in tho lists issued by Bro . Terry will say that snch a grant conld possibly bo undeserved , though of courso
somo candidates might bo worthier of such relief than others . If this wero included in tho programme of tho now Fund , its objects would stand out prominently ns ( 1 ) , to assist deserving ex-pupils with advice or interest in obtaining appointments , or with small pecuniary grants , for tho purpose of buying outfits , & c . ; ( 2 ) to make small grants to deserving unsuccessful candidates for admission into our Schools and Benevolent Institution . I hardly think such a programme could bo looked npon as too ambitious a one . Fraternally yours , M . M .
A GEOGEAPHICAL DIFFICULTY .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Will you or any of your readers help me out of the geographical fog in which I havo lost myself through an editorial paragraph which appeared in your contemporary last week . In this said paragraph tho hope is expressed that the change which is announced to tnko placo this week in the
Freemason will commend itself to " many kind friends at homo and abroad , in America , in the Canadas , in India and in 1 he Antipodes , in distant lands , and far-off hemispheres . " I am snre I heartily wish it all tho success it desires and deserves , but I am , perhaps owing to tho weakness of my mental powers , very much in the dark as to where all the places mentioned are located , that is , if I tako them , not
severally , but collectively . Thus I understand well enough all about " at home and abroad ; " tho former , I take it , means "England" and the latter , " all tho other countries of the world . " But it seems your contemporary not only has friends hero and in all other parts of the world , but elsewhere likewise , that is in America , & o . According to this idea , the latter aro outside tho limits of tho world , and if so
where are they ? Then , I may bo wrong , but I have always been under the impression the Canadas were in America , though now , it seems , they prove part of another Continent . I suppose people would not speak of those who live in England and Northumberland , unless the latter were distinct from the former . India and the Antipodes seem all right , except , as I have said before , that in company with
America , & c . they aro outside the world ; but what of tho " distant lands , and far-off hemispheres . " Aro these "lands" which are not contained in tho hemispheres , and are therehemispheresover and above the two which make np our sphere ? And if , as I gather from the sentence quoted , there aro lands that are "distant" and hemispheres which are " far-off , " in contradistinction from thoso which are contiguous and near , am I right in assuming that America and the Canadas
India and tho Antipodes , aro among the latter ? I hopo you will not for one moment imagine I propose impugning the accuracy of this editorial language . All I ask is a solution of this " geographical puzzle , " and I ask because I am not even a deputy-assistant sub-editor , and my stock of geographical knowledge is sadly deficient . At least I know of only two hemispheres , and these between them contain all tho parts of tho world I have ever heard or read of .
I must apologise for troubling you about so small a matter and remain , faithfully yours , FORIS ET DOMI .
MASONIC DESIGNATIONS .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I seo no harm to Freemasonry , either ns an innovation or extreme laudation , in calling brethren " gallant " who have served in the Army or Navv . Moreover , thero is reasonable
justification for it in the practice adopted by our House of Commons . There an officer or ex-olficer of either of tho sister Services K addressed or spoken of as tho "honourable and gallant gentleman , " or " honourable and gallant member for , " itisfc ; is a barrister is sno .
Correspondence.
ken of or addressed as " tho honourable and learned ; " or a mem - ber having a courtesy title , as tho Marquis of Hartington , or that of au Irish peer , as tho lato Lord Palmerston , who is or was addressed or spoken of as " the noble lord , " perhaps with the addition of " the member for . " I boliovo tho official designation is " honourable , " or in tho caso of a Privy Councillor , " right honourable" gentleman or
member , bnt the additions I have mentioned and others are of daily occurrence both in the Houso and out of it , thongh tho gallantry , tho learning , and tho title havo nothing to do with tho membership of this branch of onr Legislature . So in tho army a man ' s profession has nothing to do with his membership of our fraternity , but ho may still
bo our "learned" brother , as in tho caso of Grand Eegisfcrar , " gallant , " as in thoso of Grand Treasurer and Secretary , and " reverend , " as in that of Eev . 0 . J . Martyn , who is a Past Grand Chaplain . Faithfull y and fraternally yours , N . OR M . AS THE CASE "MA'S BE .
Wo have great pleasure in reproducing tho following interesting letter : —
THE TEMPLARS AND THE FREEMASONS . T 6 [ the Editor of The Canadian Craftsman . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —From time to timo I havo perused with a great amount of pleasure tho articles which havo appeared in your columns from tho able pen of tho Great Prior of Canada , Colonel W . J . B . MacLeod Moore . I thoroughly sympathise with him in his desire to trace a connection between tho warrior monks and tho
Templars of our own day , and , setting tho doubtful charter of Larmenius quite on ono side , I havo and shall yet maintain that tho probabilities in favour of a direct descent are exceedingly great . It may be , nay , it is , said that probabilities aro nob proofs , and in this I concur , but in all efforts to traco historical connections and to sift the truth from out the masses of fablo which encrust even the main stem of the
history of our own country , tho careful historian will not be found to ruthlessly svveep aside everything that will not admit of direct proof . He knows very well that analogy is ono of the truest guides to tho fountain of truth , and therefore when an assertion comes before him which ho regards aa doubtful , but which bears on it the marks of probability or even possibility , he treats it by the rules of analogy
and brings to bear upon it the light of contemporary history , the forco of contemporary character , tho manners of contemporary society , — and so ho draws his own conclusions , which ho presents in his own point of view to his readers . If in doing this ho outrages neither tho personal feelings of any party , nor tho acceptor ! bounds of common sense , he is entitled to a hearing , and no sensible man will push his
arguments on ono side as unworthy of consideration simply because he possesses pre-conceived and adverse notions on tho same question . I very much fear that in this Templar question a lar « o number of otherwise evenly balanced Masonio minds havo pre-judged the caso , and that no amount of argument would for one moment bo regarded by them ns worth tho trouble of consideration . It has for so lonjr
been tho fashion for a certain " sot" iu tho Craft to look with disapproval npon tho Christian Orders , that they havo a decided objection to any movement which might tend to draw tho chain of connection closer . Aud yet thoso opponents of tho " Chivalric Degrees " show a strange inconsistency , for whilst with ono voice thoy tako their stand by the articles of uuion , and stickle for " puro and ancient "
Masonry , they aro wilfully blind to tho allusion in the samo articles ( No . 2 ) of union which gives permission to any Craft Lodgo to work the " Chivalric Degrees , " which term was especially meant to include the Knight Templar , Eoso Croix and Kadosh , then worked under tho samo warrant , the very terms of the article proving that tho leaders of Masonry of that day acknowledged tho historic value of thoso
degrees , and so registered their desire for their preservation . It is very much to bo deplored , I think , for the sake of Kni ght Templary , that any attempts should havo been made to exalt the Order at tho expense of truth , and perhaps one of its most vulnerable points has been the unfortunate French charter , which cannot for a moment be maintained as genuine . But then , in thoso days it seems
to have been tho fashion to draw upon tho imagination largely in Masonic history . It was a fantastic ago , and Craft Masonry itself must be content to stand side by sido with tho Order of tho Templo as regards tho veracity of its written history . If French Masonic Knight Templars claimed to have had a direct series of G . Masters from Jacques DeMolay , the English Craft Masons declared that they owned
an unbroken series of Grand Masters from Adam , or at any rate from Solomon , and of the two " yarns" tho latter may certainly be said to have carried the day in point of absurdity . Tho fact is , both tho Craft Masonry and the Knight Templary of the present day stand very nearly on a level as regards their history . It may be saidlike their practice—to be almost purely speculative , and the chivalric
Order is just as well entitled to frame for itself a connection with its brethren who fell under extreme persecutions , as the Free and Accepted Masons to endeavour to lay hold on the skirts of thoso who inspired tho marvellous cathedrals of Cologne or York . A few days since I visited the site of tho onco flourishing Preceptory of Coppinthorpe , about four miles from York . Had it not been
for tho friendly guidance of tho parson of the parish I should never havo discovered the spot , for at the first glance , when we arrived at the place , nothing was visible but an almost level expanse of green sward , on which a herd of short-horned cattle wero peacefully grazing . But when I was told that I was standing in tho centre of tho old
court-yard , then a glance aronnd revealed a slight indentation in tho ground , forming an oblong enclosure , and tracing tho lino of tbo former moat . Everything was gone , not a stono was to bo seen . But on returning to tho village tho reason was patent . Not an old house , cottage , stable or pig-stye but contained amongst its building