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  • Feb. 4, 1882
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  • UNITY! HOW BLESSED ART THOU
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Early Grand Masters.

Before , however , we bring the reign of Carnarvon to a close , we may mention that on the 15 th August 1738 , the Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia , afterwards Frederick the Great , was initiated into Freemasonry , unbeknown to

his father , in a Lodge secretly held at Brunswick , this place being chosen , according toFin del , as it was fair time , and there being so many strangers present it was hoped the annual gathering would the more easily escape the observation of the Prince ' s father .

But against this successful initiation of so important a personage as the young Crown Prince of Prussia , must be set the tremendous blows which were thus dealt out to Freemasonry , and notably by the Romish Church . On 20 th April 1738 Pope Clement XII . issued a bull ,

forbidding all members of the Catholic Church from being Freemasons under the most tremendous penalties . In France but little notice was taken of this measure . In Tuscany the Grand Duke Francis permitted the Craft to enjoy liberty to observe their rites . In Spain and Portugal

great cruelties were afterwards practised towards Freemasons , even torture being employed in the hope of extracting their secrets . Even in Protestant Sweden a Royal Decree was issued , interdicting Freemasons from meeting together on pain of death ; but this interdict was speedily

removed , and now there is no country in Europe in which Freemasonry is more at home than in Sweden . These were the principal events under Lord Carnarvon as Grand Master . In May 1739 he was succeeded by Lord Raymond , and there for the present we must digress from

the regular path of our story , in order to treat of a special subject . It will be noted , however , that during the period I have gone through , the progress has been steady . The initiation of Francis of Lorraine in 1731 was a great gain ; that of the Prince of Wales in 1737 , may be

looked upon , at least , as regards this country , as having exercised even greater influence over the Craft while that of the Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia in 1738 , must be deemed well-nigh equally fortunate . But against these gains and the advantage of a new Code of Laws ,

published in 1738 , with the government of the society reduced to a better system , we must place as a set-off , increasing internal dissatisfaction with the measures of our Grand Lodge , and the more and more determined hostility of the Romish Church . Our chief consolation in these

conflicting fortunes is , that Masonry was making fresh progress throughout the world , and that in Germany , Russia ^ Polan d—perhaps—Sweden , Italy , Switzerland , France , America , and even in Africa , the balance as between gain and loss , inclines most certainly towards the former . ( To be continued ) .

Unity! How Blessed Art Thou

UNITY ! HOW BLESSED ART THOU

FROM THE VOICE OF MASONRY .

AS it is well known thafc the assumed Grand Lodge of New Mexico has manufactured pretexts for presuming to arrest the charter of Silver City Lodge , and for severing fraternal intercourse with Missouri , and has hurled her edict against eaoh with as great nonchalance as a cyclone destroys all in its path , it is merely requisite to state these acts are the text for the subjoined remarks . Assumption , is not fact , dictation is not law , and usurpation is not

sovereignty . New Mexico assumes to be sovereign , bat that does not make ifc so , and its dictums against Silver Cit y Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Missouri really have no greater potency than "the Pope's bull against the comet . " The charter of a legally warranted Lodge is an inalienable title .

BO long as actual malfeasance does not exist . Aye , more , it is a guarantee of the enjoyment of inalienable rights and privileges among which are those of equality , liberty , fraternity , and perfect equity , an of which have been violated by the assumed Grand Lodge of New Mexico in its usurpation of sovereignty over Silver Citv Lodge .

Exercising inalienable rights and privileges is not malfeasance , and , therefore , Silver City Lodge is blameless in this matter , since it simply and only has exercised its free will and accord as to the disposition of its allegiance . Fiat justitia , mat caslum , is not less applicable in this case than in others . This will not be disputed , but what justice can there be in striving to deprive a Lodge of its rights , privileges and existence

at the mere ipse dixit of a man , or a body of men , who originally possessed no superlative prerogatives , and who by combination gained no additional powers or privileges ? Is forming Grand Lodges so necessary fchafc every Masonic right and privilege must be trampled in the dasb to accomplish it ? Is it so essential that all concurrent rights of Grand Lodges and Lodges must be destroyed to effect it ? TEA is the answer of every one who defends the assumed Grand Lodge of New Mexico in her usurpation

Unity! How Blessed Art Thou

of supreme power , and NAY is the reply of all who demur to her gross nn . Masonio doings . If tho three-Lodsre-majorifcy-Lodge theory of forming Grand Lodges is correct , and the New Mexican exemplication of it is its legitimate

practical effect , then it is plain that Masonically tho re-enactment of Magna Qharta is a necessity , as without it , minorities have no guarantee of the enjoyment of their rights and privileges , and have bnt tho alternative of submitting to their dictators , or being crushed ont of Masonic existence .

FREEMASONRY , the glory of the ages , is it possible that in thy name such wrong as this can be done ? Is it possible that in thy behalf two brothers , can assume to absolutely control a third , wholly regardless of his will or wish , and pnt him ont of existence if he dissents ? Is it possible that the majority of thy devotees , all of whom fcheoretioally < rlibly prate of friendship , morality and brotherly love , and

peace and harmony , practically sweep those disagreeing with them with a besom of destruction ? "Veril y , ifc thus appears , else the three . Lodge-majority-Lodge theory of forming Grand Lodges never would have fonnd an advooate , and the UNITY theory would have perfectly prevailed . UNITY ! now BLESSED ART THOU ! What oneness , what ooneord ,

what agreement , what symmetry , and what harmony are thine ! How excellent and how desirable is thy supremacy ! In all thy realm no discordant voice is heard , and no unbrotherly deed is done ! wherever thou art honoured and loved , there peace and harmony prevail , and FREEMASONRY is the synonym of all that is great and good ! Wherever thy influences soothe passion and tone conduct there love reigns

and man is to his fellow wondrous kind ! Ah ! well did the sweet singer of Israel exclaim : Behold ! How pleasant and how good it is for BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY ! It is like the precious ointment upon the head , hat ran down upon the beard , even Aaron ' s beard : that went down to the skirts of his garments : as the detv of Herraon , and as the dew

that descended upon the mountain of Zion : for there the LORD commanded the blessing , even life for evermore . Oh , that the spirit of unity had descended into the hearts and ruled the conduct of those over-ambitions and far " too previous " craftsmen in New Mexico , whose assumptions of sovereignty havo indelibly stained the Masonic escntoheon , and whose usurpations have

trailed the Masonio banners in the dust ! Oh , that UNITY , as a precious ointment , had been poured upon their heads and ran down their garments and persons until their every pore was saturated with ifc , and nntil not ; one thought of aught else , Masonio , could penetrate their brains or move their hearts ! And , oh , that suoh DEW had

covered all the mountains and filled all the valleys of that region , and thus thafc the Masonic Institution had been saved from tho terrible evil which now rolls upon it from that territory . The contrast between the two theories is great , and yet we have not too blackly painted the one , nor too snblimely portrayed the other . Which is the better is easily discerned ; that let us choose and for ever sustain .

Eelative to New Mexico's charge against Missouri of inconsistency we mnst say , errors in pleading , or mistakes in admission , cannot affect the equities of the case , since they neither rest upon nor are decided by any of the technicalities of law , bnt are founded on and governed by the eternal principles of righteousness and Freemasonry , as written in the Great Light , without which no Lodge or Grand Lodge

can exist . Ifc follows , then , thafc despite Missouri ' s errors in handling this case Silver City Lodge ' s rights and privileges , in equity , are unimpaired , and " the life given it by the Missouri Grand Lodge " has neither been forfeited nor ended . It is still a regularly warranted Lodge , whoso jurisdiction is coextensive with the limits of the territory in which

it exists , and it may receive petitions and confer degrees precisely as if no action toward the formation of a Grand Lodge had ever been had . This is so because only by assent of all of the Lodges interested can a Grand Lodge be formed , and no such action has ever been had in New Mexico , and , in fact , there is no Grand Lodge there . The reputed Grand Master admits that originally the territory was

" common to all Grand Lodges , " but denies that it is so now . That is , he concedes thftfc concurrent jurisdiction prevailed there up to the time that three of the seven Lodges interested assumed to form a Grand Lodge , but contends that ifc then ceased , because the territory then became oocupied . In other words , just so far as it serves his selfish purpose he admits the truth , and , for the remainder , sets np a

fallacy . Missouri having chartered all of the Lodges then existing in New Mexico , had not only the common right there , possessed by all Grand Lodges , bnt also that of sole occupancy , whioh certainly entitled her to a voice in the matter of forming a Grand Lodge . The jurisdiction of each of her Lodges was co-extensive with the territorial limits , and their rights and privileges were joint , or concurrent , and hence could

not be abridged nor taken away by the action of any THREE , nor even four of the seven , nor indeed by anything short of THE ASSENT OF ALL . Hence , only by the concurrence of ALL of the Lodges interested could a , Grand Lodge be formed , that is ifc had to be UNITY , or no Grand Lodge , and the latter it is . Consequently , instead of Silver City Lodge or Missouri transgressing , all of the wrong is on the other side .

The first duty of the aggressors , then , is to recall their nn-Masonic edicts , and next to strive Masonically for thafc UNITY whioh commands the blessing of the LORD , which is life for evermore .

THE LITTLE FOLKS' HUMANE SOCIETY . —We are glad to learn that this scheme , inaugurated by the Editor of Little Folks , with a view to inculcating in the minds of children kindness towards animals , is being most cordially supported . Within a few days of the publication of the Jannary nnmber of Little Folks Magazine ( in which particulars as to membership are given ) , upwards of one thonsand children have enrolled themselves , and the nnmber is dail y increasing .

“The Freemason's Chronicle: 1882-02-04, Page 2” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 12 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fcn/issues/fcn_04021882/page/2/.
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EARLY GRAND MASTERS. Article 1
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 1
UNITY! HOW BLESSED ART THOU Article 2
INSTALLATION MEETINGS, &c. Article 3
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 7
Untitled Ad 7
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MASONIC PORTRAITS. Article 7
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ROYAL ARCH. SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER. Article 9
JOPPA CHAPTER, No. 188. Article 9
METROPOLITAN CHAPTER OF IMPROVEMENT. Article 9
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF DEVONSHIRE. Article 10
FREEMASONRY IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. Article 11
THE DRAMA. Article 11
DIARY FOR THE WEEK. Article 12
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Early Grand Masters.

Before , however , we bring the reign of Carnarvon to a close , we may mention that on the 15 th August 1738 , the Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia , afterwards Frederick the Great , was initiated into Freemasonry , unbeknown to

his father , in a Lodge secretly held at Brunswick , this place being chosen , according toFin del , as it was fair time , and there being so many strangers present it was hoped the annual gathering would the more easily escape the observation of the Prince ' s father .

But against this successful initiation of so important a personage as the young Crown Prince of Prussia , must be set the tremendous blows which were thus dealt out to Freemasonry , and notably by the Romish Church . On 20 th April 1738 Pope Clement XII . issued a bull ,

forbidding all members of the Catholic Church from being Freemasons under the most tremendous penalties . In France but little notice was taken of this measure . In Tuscany the Grand Duke Francis permitted the Craft to enjoy liberty to observe their rites . In Spain and Portugal

great cruelties were afterwards practised towards Freemasons , even torture being employed in the hope of extracting their secrets . Even in Protestant Sweden a Royal Decree was issued , interdicting Freemasons from meeting together on pain of death ; but this interdict was speedily

removed , and now there is no country in Europe in which Freemasonry is more at home than in Sweden . These were the principal events under Lord Carnarvon as Grand Master . In May 1739 he was succeeded by Lord Raymond , and there for the present we must digress from

the regular path of our story , in order to treat of a special subject . It will be noted , however , that during the period I have gone through , the progress has been steady . The initiation of Francis of Lorraine in 1731 was a great gain ; that of the Prince of Wales in 1737 , may be

looked upon , at least , as regards this country , as having exercised even greater influence over the Craft while that of the Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia in 1738 , must be deemed well-nigh equally fortunate . But against these gains and the advantage of a new Code of Laws ,

published in 1738 , with the government of the society reduced to a better system , we must place as a set-off , increasing internal dissatisfaction with the measures of our Grand Lodge , and the more and more determined hostility of the Romish Church . Our chief consolation in these

conflicting fortunes is , that Masonry was making fresh progress throughout the world , and that in Germany , Russia ^ Polan d—perhaps—Sweden , Italy , Switzerland , France , America , and even in Africa , the balance as between gain and loss , inclines most certainly towards the former . ( To be continued ) .

Unity! How Blessed Art Thou

UNITY ! HOW BLESSED ART THOU

FROM THE VOICE OF MASONRY .

AS it is well known thafc the assumed Grand Lodge of New Mexico has manufactured pretexts for presuming to arrest the charter of Silver City Lodge , and for severing fraternal intercourse with Missouri , and has hurled her edict against eaoh with as great nonchalance as a cyclone destroys all in its path , it is merely requisite to state these acts are the text for the subjoined remarks . Assumption , is not fact , dictation is not law , and usurpation is not

sovereignty . New Mexico assumes to be sovereign , bat that does not make ifc so , and its dictums against Silver Cit y Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Missouri really have no greater potency than "the Pope's bull against the comet . " The charter of a legally warranted Lodge is an inalienable title .

BO long as actual malfeasance does not exist . Aye , more , it is a guarantee of the enjoyment of inalienable rights and privileges among which are those of equality , liberty , fraternity , and perfect equity , an of which have been violated by the assumed Grand Lodge of New Mexico in its usurpation of sovereignty over Silver Citv Lodge .

Exercising inalienable rights and privileges is not malfeasance , and , therefore , Silver City Lodge is blameless in this matter , since it simply and only has exercised its free will and accord as to the disposition of its allegiance . Fiat justitia , mat caslum , is not less applicable in this case than in others . This will not be disputed , but what justice can there be in striving to deprive a Lodge of its rights , privileges and existence

at the mere ipse dixit of a man , or a body of men , who originally possessed no superlative prerogatives , and who by combination gained no additional powers or privileges ? Is forming Grand Lodges so necessary fchafc every Masonic right and privilege must be trampled in the dasb to accomplish it ? Is it so essential that all concurrent rights of Grand Lodges and Lodges must be destroyed to effect it ? TEA is the answer of every one who defends the assumed Grand Lodge of New Mexico in her usurpation

Unity! How Blessed Art Thou

of supreme power , and NAY is the reply of all who demur to her gross nn . Masonio doings . If tho three-Lodsre-majorifcy-Lodge theory of forming Grand Lodges is correct , and the New Mexican exemplication of it is its legitimate

practical effect , then it is plain that Masonically tho re-enactment of Magna Qharta is a necessity , as without it , minorities have no guarantee of the enjoyment of their rights and privileges , and have bnt tho alternative of submitting to their dictators , or being crushed ont of Masonic existence .

FREEMASONRY , the glory of the ages , is it possible that in thy name such wrong as this can be done ? Is it possible that in thy behalf two brothers , can assume to absolutely control a third , wholly regardless of his will or wish , and pnt him ont of existence if he dissents ? Is it possible that the majority of thy devotees , all of whom fcheoretioally < rlibly prate of friendship , morality and brotherly love , and

peace and harmony , practically sweep those disagreeing with them with a besom of destruction ? "Veril y , ifc thus appears , else the three . Lodge-majority-Lodge theory of forming Grand Lodges never would have fonnd an advooate , and the UNITY theory would have perfectly prevailed . UNITY ! now BLESSED ART THOU ! What oneness , what ooneord ,

what agreement , what symmetry , and what harmony are thine ! How excellent and how desirable is thy supremacy ! In all thy realm no discordant voice is heard , and no unbrotherly deed is done ! wherever thou art honoured and loved , there peace and harmony prevail , and FREEMASONRY is the synonym of all that is great and good ! Wherever thy influences soothe passion and tone conduct there love reigns

and man is to his fellow wondrous kind ! Ah ! well did the sweet singer of Israel exclaim : Behold ! How pleasant and how good it is for BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY ! It is like the precious ointment upon the head , hat ran down upon the beard , even Aaron ' s beard : that went down to the skirts of his garments : as the detv of Herraon , and as the dew

that descended upon the mountain of Zion : for there the LORD commanded the blessing , even life for evermore . Oh , that the spirit of unity had descended into the hearts and ruled the conduct of those over-ambitions and far " too previous " craftsmen in New Mexico , whose assumptions of sovereignty havo indelibly stained the Masonic escntoheon , and whose usurpations have

trailed the Masonio banners in the dust ! Oh , that UNITY , as a precious ointment , had been poured upon their heads and ran down their garments and persons until their every pore was saturated with ifc , and nntil not ; one thought of aught else , Masonio , could penetrate their brains or move their hearts ! And , oh , that suoh DEW had

covered all the mountains and filled all the valleys of that region , and thus thafc the Masonic Institution had been saved from tho terrible evil which now rolls upon it from that territory . The contrast between the two theories is great , and yet we have not too blackly painted the one , nor too snblimely portrayed the other . Which is the better is easily discerned ; that let us choose and for ever sustain .

Eelative to New Mexico's charge against Missouri of inconsistency we mnst say , errors in pleading , or mistakes in admission , cannot affect the equities of the case , since they neither rest upon nor are decided by any of the technicalities of law , bnt are founded on and governed by the eternal principles of righteousness and Freemasonry , as written in the Great Light , without which no Lodge or Grand Lodge

can exist . Ifc follows , then , thafc despite Missouri ' s errors in handling this case Silver City Lodge ' s rights and privileges , in equity , are unimpaired , and " the life given it by the Missouri Grand Lodge " has neither been forfeited nor ended . It is still a regularly warranted Lodge , whoso jurisdiction is coextensive with the limits of the territory in which

it exists , and it may receive petitions and confer degrees precisely as if no action toward the formation of a Grand Lodge had ever been had . This is so because only by assent of all of the Lodges interested can a Grand Lodge be formed , and no such action has ever been had in New Mexico , and , in fact , there is no Grand Lodge there . The reputed Grand Master admits that originally the territory was

" common to all Grand Lodges , " but denies that it is so now . That is , he concedes thftfc concurrent jurisdiction prevailed there up to the time that three of the seven Lodges interested assumed to form a Grand Lodge , but contends that ifc then ceased , because the territory then became oocupied . In other words , just so far as it serves his selfish purpose he admits the truth , and , for the remainder , sets np a

fallacy . Missouri having chartered all of the Lodges then existing in New Mexico , had not only the common right there , possessed by all Grand Lodges , bnt also that of sole occupancy , whioh certainly entitled her to a voice in the matter of forming a Grand Lodge . The jurisdiction of each of her Lodges was co-extensive with the territorial limits , and their rights and privileges were joint , or concurrent , and hence could

not be abridged nor taken away by the action of any THREE , nor even four of the seven , nor indeed by anything short of THE ASSENT OF ALL . Hence , only by the concurrence of ALL of the Lodges interested could a , Grand Lodge be formed , that is ifc had to be UNITY , or no Grand Lodge , and the latter it is . Consequently , instead of Silver City Lodge or Missouri transgressing , all of the wrong is on the other side .

The first duty of the aggressors , then , is to recall their nn-Masonic edicts , and next to strive Masonically for thafc UNITY whioh commands the blessing of the LORD , which is life for evermore .

THE LITTLE FOLKS' HUMANE SOCIETY . —We are glad to learn that this scheme , inaugurated by the Editor of Little Folks , with a view to inculcating in the minds of children kindness towards animals , is being most cordially supported . Within a few days of the publication of the Jannary nnmber of Little Folks Magazine ( in which particulars as to membership are given ) , upwards of one thonsand children have enrolled themselves , and the nnmber is dail y increasing .

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