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Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 2 of 2 Article THE SACREDNESS OF THE BALLOT. Page 1 of 1 Article A MASONIC TRIAL. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
Mr . Tew ' s namo should bo withdrawn ; his proposer , however , declined to accede to this course , and the result was tho same as in Mr . Casson ' s case . I then saw there was a probability of some unp leasantness arising , and therefore nt once closed the Lodge . In the hat and cloak room adjoining , tho plaintiff and his friends
boasted of what thoy had done , and stated it was the beginning of a new snstem , and that it had been dono because they wero not satisfied at the result of the late election to the chair . They followed up this now system on the next opportunity , blackballing joining brethren , ono of whom was a P . M . ( twice ) and P . P . G . Officer . Even in
blackballing Messrs . Tew and Casson they stated thafc they had nothing against either of them . You will seo , therefore , that there was no make-believe secrecy in the ballot so far as tho Lodgo was concerned , but the betrayal was by the plaintiff and his friends , out of tho Lodge .
You ask how I came to sanction tho abstaining of any member present from voting . The universal custom in the Hull Lodges ( in ono or more of all of which fcho first members of tho Alexandra had boon made ) is simply to let such brethren as choose vote . The ballotbox is nofc carried round , but is stationed behind the S . W . ' s chair ,
where the brethren can vote without being seen . On tho night in question I pressed tho brethren to vote , but certainly I had no idea thafc I could compel them to do so . Ifc must appear , from what I have stated above , that I never sanctioned or connived afc any inquiry as to how the votes were given , or allowed
any one to state how he had voted ; whatever was declared was outside the Lodge . You say the plaintiff had no opportunity to express to tho proposer or seconder of the gentlemen blackballed his dissent , becanse the Lodge was opened before tho usual timo . I havo already stated it
was not , and Mr . Voigfc could havo seen mo during the seven days prior to the meeting , or the proposer and seconder of fche candidates , and most of the other members in Hull j yet ho never mentioned hia objections to Mr . Tew to any one . As to Bro . Carr summoning the meeting to exclude Bros . Voigfc
Hookney , and Harrison , I can only say that it was fche wish of the Lodge that the conduct of those brethren should be inquired into . I have given , as far as I can , a fair statement of the facts of tho case , and on those I am ready to submit my conduct and tho action of the Lodge to the brethren generally .
Yours truly and fraternally , BBNJ . L . WEILS , P . M . 1511 , P . G . S . B . N . and E . Yorks 1878 . [ We have great pleasure in complying with Bro . Wells ' s request , and giving publicity to his very manly ancl
straightforward letter . It presents certain points in the case in a clearer and more explicit light , but its general tendency will be to spread tbe blame over a wider space of ground . In all its phases , it is a most unsavoury subject , and affords evidence unmistakable that , for all its apparent
harmony at first starting , there musthavebeensomemembers selected who had been better kept outside the Lodge . It is clear that those who announced publicly in the ante-room that they had blackballed Messrs . Tew and Casson were in the wrong , and that the W . M . at the time is exonerated in
snch case from all blame for the disclosure of tbe ballot , assuming , of course , that Bro . Wells ' s version is the correct one . Then , Mr . Tew , who was elected in January 1875 , and never dreamt of taking up his membership till January 1877 , when the process of a ballot had to be gone over a
second time , was undoubtedly guilty of a slight to tbe Lodge ancl to every individual member of it ; and if Bro . Voigt , though he had voted in his favour in 1875 , thought fit to oppose him in 1877 , he was acting within his right in doing so . We are glad the revelation as to who voted for
whom was not made in open Lodge , ancl we regret that Bro . Voigt , who is a Mason of some standing , and his companions should have made known that they had blackballed certain candidates . But was it calculated to mend matters wheu , on hearing this , Bro . Tudor Trevor seems
to have gone further and resolved on asking for a Lodge of emergency for the purpose of excluding Bros . Voigt , & c , & c , and in the notice had the terms of his motion made as objectionable as possible . Then wo should like to know how a Lodge that was consecrated in 1874 , though
it might have resolved on a policy , could possibly have " acquired a habit " in January of the following year . Even the two years which elapsed between Mr . Tew ' s first and second ballots arc hardly a long enough interval for the acquisition of a habit . Another point lias to be considered .
It took Mr . Tew two years to make up his mind that ho really wanted to be a Mason , but if ho was so deliberate , why was an emergency meeting called , and brethren living at Hull put to the trouble of travelling- about sixteen miles and the same distance back again , for the purpose of voting
a second time for Mr . Tew ? Wc cannot say that Uro . Voi gt is as free from blame as he seemed to ho on reading the early version of the . circumstances , aud wc think he would have acted wisely had he followed the advice offered by Justice Field before the preliminary steps were taken . But his error ancl the mistaken resolution he adopted of
Correspondence.
seeking his remedy in a court of law do not acquit his opponents of blnme . We are sorry we should have been called upon to offer remarks on a case connected with this Lodge , particulars of whose doings have frequently appeared in
our columns , and which gave promise of so harmonious a career . We also accept the correction that . Bro . Voigt was not a founder , though it seems from our report of fche
consecration , m the EKKEMASON ' CHKOXJCM-:, Vol . T . p 135 , that he was on that occasion appointed and invested as D . of C—ED . P . C ]
The Sacredness Of The Ballot.
THE SACREDNESS OF THE BALLOT .
To the Editor of the I I : KI : MASO \' S Ctnto . vrcr . f :. Hornsea , East Yorks , 'J 1 st August LSSO . DEAR SIR ANO BROTHER , —It was not my intention to reply fco your article under the above heading in your issue of Ihe L'lsfc iusfc ., its I hoped that the whole mttttor ( unpleasant as ifc litis been to all
concerned in it ) might now be , buried , but f think ifc my duty to inform your correspondent , " SI ' ONTK SUA , " thafc Bros . Voigt , IToekuoy , and Harrison did appeal to tho Provincial Grand Master of North and East Yorks from fcho resolution of tho Alexandra Lodge , by which
thoy were excluded ; fcho Provincial Grand Master , however , uphold the decision of the Lodge . Bros . Hocknoy and Harrison bowed to fche Provincial Graud Master's authority , but Bro . Voigfc proceeded with an action for t libel .
Yours fraternally , COOK LAKINO , Sec . Alexandra Lodgo , No . 1511 .
A Masonic Trial.
A MASONIC TRIAL .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BnOTrrar ., —Pray do nofc imagine from fche heading of this letter thafc I am about t . > re-open a discussion upon fcho miserable proceedings at the recent Leeds Assises , which have already been—perhaps fcoo much—commented upon . I wish , however , to direct , attention : —1 st . To tho statement of counsel , as
reported in fche Times , thafc "tho plaintiff was n naturalised Englishman , who was an active Freemason , belonging to no fewer titan ton Lodges , and having , it was said , taken thirty degrees id- Masonry . " 2 nd . To tho article in fcho Daily New * , reprinted in the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE of the 21 st nit ., which , referring to thu plaintiff , says ,
"This gentleman , a naturalised subject of fcho Queen , is rightly described as a very active Mason . Ho has taken no less than thirty Masonic degrees , and if nofc yefc a passed hodman he must be pretty near the top of the ladder . " 3 rd . To a letter from one of the defendants , published in fcho Freemason of last week , signed P . M . P . Z . P . E . C . 30 ° , & c . "
From these extracts ifc wonld appear that both parties claim to have taken thirty degrees in English Freemasonry , and as such statements , if uncontradicted , may nofc only convey false impressions to non-Masons , but may also be misleading to many young members of tho Craffc , I venture to ask thafc yon , as a recognised organ of tbo Order , will give them a most unqualified denial . " Masonry consists
of three degrees and no more" ( vide ' Book of Constitutions , ' p 10 ) . " It is not in the power of any man , or body of men , to make innovations in the body of Masonry " ( vide ' Antient Charges ' ) . Of course , in this free land of ours thero is no law to prevent a few mon , possessed of a dozen stage banners , somo property swords , and a small collection of pinchbeck jewellery , from meeting in some out
of the way room and dubbing themselves ( say ) " The Illustrious Knights of the Mystic Square Circle . " Having elected from amongst their number an Illustrissimo Graudioso Sir Knight Commendatore of tho Golden-Gates , and adopted a trumpery emblem—value one and ninepence , price to a novitiate two guiueas—they may then fish for flats , offering their valuable decoration to those blessed with more
money than brains , who may be induced to believe that the said Illustrious Knights are the creme-de-la-creme of the Antient Order of Freemasons , who , for a few pounds in cash ( this is a sine qwX nm ) , and as a great ; personal distinction , will entrust thorn with the secrets and . invest them with tho ribbon and star of this select and eminently aristocratic order , in which afc that particular moment one vacancy
happens to exist . Tho bait being taken , a solemn conclave of investiture may be convened ( and dinner ordered ) , tho neophyte maybe treated to a procession of six banner bearers round a small room , tho Illustrissimo Grandiose may administer the oaths of secrecy and fidelity- —the former thafc the candidate would be internally scalded to death by iced champagne , rather than divulge thoso
grand secret watchwords , " Whcclabontitd , TuriiabouUmi , Jumpjim . orowjemima ; " and the latter that ho would submit to be trampled to death by butterflies if ever lie should refuse to stand drinks round to the Sir Knights of tho honourable body to which ho now craved admittance . The oaths having beeu sealed on Hie . holy ooker , with
¦ thwack over the head from a tin sword , and the t ; h ' -.. pping 0 r « pair of brummagem gold spurs ou to IIH heels , tho novice may be iirectcd to vise duly invested Illustrious Sir Knight ol : tho Mystic ¦ "S quare Circle and member of the SfiOth degree . Bufc to call such r . omfoolery a degree of Freemasonry worth ! be a much grosser libel r . han fcho Hornsea , Lod ? -o Circular .
When tlie big navvy was remonstrated with for allowing his littlo ' ¦ "ifc to thrash him , his laughing reply was , thai it pleased her aud did not hurt him , Freemasons may apply tho same reasoning to spurious orders so long as their members do not ; publicly cla ' n them
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
Mr . Tew ' s namo should bo withdrawn ; his proposer , however , declined to accede to this course , and the result was tho same as in Mr . Casson ' s case . I then saw there was a probability of some unp leasantness arising , and therefore nt once closed the Lodge . In the hat and cloak room adjoining , tho plaintiff and his friends
boasted of what thoy had done , and stated it was the beginning of a new snstem , and that it had been dono because they wero not satisfied at the result of the late election to the chair . They followed up this now system on the next opportunity , blackballing joining brethren , ono of whom was a P . M . ( twice ) and P . P . G . Officer . Even in
blackballing Messrs . Tew and Casson they stated thafc they had nothing against either of them . You will seo , therefore , that there was no make-believe secrecy in the ballot so far as tho Lodgo was concerned , but the betrayal was by the plaintiff and his friends , out of tho Lodge .
You ask how I came to sanction tho abstaining of any member present from voting . The universal custom in the Hull Lodges ( in ono or more of all of which fcho first members of tho Alexandra had boon made ) is simply to let such brethren as choose vote . The ballotbox is nofc carried round , but is stationed behind the S . W . ' s chair ,
where the brethren can vote without being seen . On tho night in question I pressed tho brethren to vote , but certainly I had no idea thafc I could compel them to do so . Ifc must appear , from what I have stated above , that I never sanctioned or connived afc any inquiry as to how the votes were given , or allowed
any one to state how he had voted ; whatever was declared was outside the Lodge . You say the plaintiff had no opportunity to express to tho proposer or seconder of the gentlemen blackballed his dissent , becanse the Lodge was opened before tho usual timo . I havo already stated it
was not , and Mr . Voigfc could havo seen mo during the seven days prior to the meeting , or the proposer and seconder of fche candidates , and most of the other members in Hull j yet ho never mentioned hia objections to Mr . Tew to any one . As to Bro . Carr summoning the meeting to exclude Bros . Voigfc
Hookney , and Harrison , I can only say that it was fche wish of the Lodge that the conduct of those brethren should be inquired into . I have given , as far as I can , a fair statement of the facts of tho case , and on those I am ready to submit my conduct and tho action of the Lodge to the brethren generally .
Yours truly and fraternally , BBNJ . L . WEILS , P . M . 1511 , P . G . S . B . N . and E . Yorks 1878 . [ We have great pleasure in complying with Bro . Wells ' s request , and giving publicity to his very manly ancl
straightforward letter . It presents certain points in the case in a clearer and more explicit light , but its general tendency will be to spread tbe blame over a wider space of ground . In all its phases , it is a most unsavoury subject , and affords evidence unmistakable that , for all its apparent
harmony at first starting , there musthavebeensomemembers selected who had been better kept outside the Lodge . It is clear that those who announced publicly in the ante-room that they had blackballed Messrs . Tew and Casson were in the wrong , and that the W . M . at the time is exonerated in
snch case from all blame for the disclosure of tbe ballot , assuming , of course , that Bro . Wells ' s version is the correct one . Then , Mr . Tew , who was elected in January 1875 , and never dreamt of taking up his membership till January 1877 , when the process of a ballot had to be gone over a
second time , was undoubtedly guilty of a slight to tbe Lodge ancl to every individual member of it ; and if Bro . Voigt , though he had voted in his favour in 1875 , thought fit to oppose him in 1877 , he was acting within his right in doing so . We are glad the revelation as to who voted for
whom was not made in open Lodge , ancl we regret that Bro . Voigt , who is a Mason of some standing , and his companions should have made known that they had blackballed certain candidates . But was it calculated to mend matters wheu , on hearing this , Bro . Tudor Trevor seems
to have gone further and resolved on asking for a Lodge of emergency for the purpose of excluding Bros . Voigt , & c , & c , and in the notice had the terms of his motion made as objectionable as possible . Then wo should like to know how a Lodge that was consecrated in 1874 , though
it might have resolved on a policy , could possibly have " acquired a habit " in January of the following year . Even the two years which elapsed between Mr . Tew ' s first and second ballots arc hardly a long enough interval for the acquisition of a habit . Another point lias to be considered .
It took Mr . Tew two years to make up his mind that ho really wanted to be a Mason , but if ho was so deliberate , why was an emergency meeting called , and brethren living at Hull put to the trouble of travelling- about sixteen miles and the same distance back again , for the purpose of voting
a second time for Mr . Tew ? Wc cannot say that Uro . Voi gt is as free from blame as he seemed to ho on reading the early version of the . circumstances , aud wc think he would have acted wisely had he followed the advice offered by Justice Field before the preliminary steps were taken . But his error ancl the mistaken resolution he adopted of
Correspondence.
seeking his remedy in a court of law do not acquit his opponents of blnme . We are sorry we should have been called upon to offer remarks on a case connected with this Lodge , particulars of whose doings have frequently appeared in
our columns , and which gave promise of so harmonious a career . We also accept the correction that . Bro . Voigt was not a founder , though it seems from our report of fche
consecration , m the EKKEMASON ' CHKOXJCM-:, Vol . T . p 135 , that he was on that occasion appointed and invested as D . of C—ED . P . C ]
The Sacredness Of The Ballot.
THE SACREDNESS OF THE BALLOT .
To the Editor of the I I : KI : MASO \' S Ctnto . vrcr . f :. Hornsea , East Yorks , 'J 1 st August LSSO . DEAR SIR ANO BROTHER , —It was not my intention to reply fco your article under the above heading in your issue of Ihe L'lsfc iusfc ., its I hoped that the whole mttttor ( unpleasant as ifc litis been to all
concerned in it ) might now be , buried , but f think ifc my duty to inform your correspondent , " SI ' ONTK SUA , " thafc Bros . Voigt , IToekuoy , and Harrison did appeal to tho Provincial Grand Master of North and East Yorks from fcho resolution of tho Alexandra Lodge , by which
thoy were excluded ; fcho Provincial Grand Master , however , uphold the decision of the Lodge . Bros . Hocknoy and Harrison bowed to fche Provincial Graud Master's authority , but Bro . Voigfc proceeded with an action for t libel .
Yours fraternally , COOK LAKINO , Sec . Alexandra Lodgo , No . 1511 .
A Masonic Trial.
A MASONIC TRIAL .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BnOTrrar ., —Pray do nofc imagine from fche heading of this letter thafc I am about t . > re-open a discussion upon fcho miserable proceedings at the recent Leeds Assises , which have already been—perhaps fcoo much—commented upon . I wish , however , to direct , attention : —1 st . To tho statement of counsel , as
reported in fche Times , thafc "tho plaintiff was n naturalised Englishman , who was an active Freemason , belonging to no fewer titan ton Lodges , and having , it was said , taken thirty degrees id- Masonry . " 2 nd . To tho article in fcho Daily New * , reprinted in the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE of the 21 st nit ., which , referring to thu plaintiff , says ,
"This gentleman , a naturalised subject of fcho Queen , is rightly described as a very active Mason . Ho has taken no less than thirty Masonic degrees , and if nofc yefc a passed hodman he must be pretty near the top of the ladder . " 3 rd . To a letter from one of the defendants , published in fcho Freemason of last week , signed P . M . P . Z . P . E . C . 30 ° , & c . "
From these extracts ifc wonld appear that both parties claim to have taken thirty degrees in English Freemasonry , and as such statements , if uncontradicted , may nofc only convey false impressions to non-Masons , but may also be misleading to many young members of tho Craffc , I venture to ask thafc yon , as a recognised organ of tbo Order , will give them a most unqualified denial . " Masonry consists
of three degrees and no more" ( vide ' Book of Constitutions , ' p 10 ) . " It is not in the power of any man , or body of men , to make innovations in the body of Masonry " ( vide ' Antient Charges ' ) . Of course , in this free land of ours thero is no law to prevent a few mon , possessed of a dozen stage banners , somo property swords , and a small collection of pinchbeck jewellery , from meeting in some out
of the way room and dubbing themselves ( say ) " The Illustrious Knights of the Mystic Square Circle . " Having elected from amongst their number an Illustrissimo Graudioso Sir Knight Commendatore of tho Golden-Gates , and adopted a trumpery emblem—value one and ninepence , price to a novitiate two guiueas—they may then fish for flats , offering their valuable decoration to those blessed with more
money than brains , who may be induced to believe that the said Illustrious Knights are the creme-de-la-creme of the Antient Order of Freemasons , who , for a few pounds in cash ( this is a sine qwX nm ) , and as a great ; personal distinction , will entrust thorn with the secrets and . invest them with tho ribbon and star of this select and eminently aristocratic order , in which afc that particular moment one vacancy
happens to exist . Tho bait being taken , a solemn conclave of investiture may be convened ( and dinner ordered ) , tho neophyte maybe treated to a procession of six banner bearers round a small room , tho Illustrissimo Grandiose may administer the oaths of secrecy and fidelity- —the former thafc the candidate would be internally scalded to death by iced champagne , rather than divulge thoso
grand secret watchwords , " Whcclabontitd , TuriiabouUmi , Jumpjim . orowjemima ; " and the latter that ho would submit to be trampled to death by butterflies if ever lie should refuse to stand drinks round to the Sir Knights of tho honourable body to which ho now craved admittance . The oaths having beeu sealed on Hie . holy ooker , with
¦ thwack over the head from a tin sword , and the t ; h ' -.. pping 0 r « pair of brummagem gold spurs ou to IIH heels , tho novice may be iirectcd to vise duly invested Illustrious Sir Knight ol : tho Mystic ¦ "S quare Circle and member of the SfiOth degree . Bufc to call such r . omfoolery a degree of Freemasonry worth ! be a much grosser libel r . han fcho Hornsea , Lod ? -o Circular .
When tlie big navvy was remonstrated with for allowing his littlo ' ¦ "ifc to thrash him , his laughing reply was , thai it pleased her aud did not hurt him , Freemasons may apply tho same reasoning to spurious orders so long as their members do not ; publicly cla ' n them