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Article A MASONIC "GLOBE TROT." ← Page 3 of 3 Article A MASONIC "GLOBE TROT." Page 3 of 3
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Masonic "Globe Trot."
I am truly glad that I am not a Grand Orient Mason . Masonry in France is practically nothing but political clubs of various shades . They certainly possess great political power . The only silver lining in the dense Masonic cloud among our Prankish Brethren which I discovered , was that they frequently give lectures on Science , Arts , and current topics . They are certainly
calculated to instruct . Might we not take a pattern from our neighbours ? In Sweden and Norway my visits were during the summer , and I attended no Lodges . The workings , I hear , are similar to the English and German . At Copenhagen I visited a Lodge where the " Portier " or caretaker of the edifice and contents was a lady ,
the only one known to hold such a function . She is very closely related to the late King Frederick VII ., who in one respect resembled his great prototype K . S ., by begetting offspring outside the legitimate bed . The lady I refer to was his reputed daughter ; she was the exact image of the late- Danish Majesty .
In the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg , Masonic work is similar to that in its related Kingdom of Holland . Not far from Luxemburg , across the border , is Trier or Treves , the old western capital of the Roman Empire . There the Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena once resided . On visiting the ruins of the Imperial Palace I was struck with some marble pedestals upon which statues
once stood . On three of these pedestals I saw distinct Masonic emblems carved . On my return , 1 mentioned the fact at my Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine , but have been able to find no solution to the enigma . Trier is in Germany , and although I should—by right—have begun with that country , for it ' was the first I visited after having become a Mason , I have ,
for certain reasons , reserved it for the last . Lodges vn . that country are never held in hotels or halls , but have always a building exclusively devoted to our Craft , even in insignificant provincial towns . A Lodge answers a double purpose . It is in the fullest sense a Club . Brethren resort to it daily , if not for working , for recreation and social entertainments . A kitchen and cellar are always the adjuncts . Upon Club principles , it costs the
Brother only a trifle more than the cost—market price . Cooks , generally the " Keeper ' s" wife or daughter , and other attendants , reside on the premises . Gardens are invariably attached to Lodges , and , once or twice a week , the ladies of Brethren are allowed to visit . Entertainments in the shape of concerts are occasionally given . " Do you belong to a club also ? " I once asked a Brother . " What need for a club when I have a Lodge . " The German is above all economical .
The first Lodge in which I participated in the working was Breslau , the capital of Silesia . The work is highly impressive and deviates considerably from ours . Thus Instead of B . . . they commence with J . . . when " What is your .... desire now "—the answer comes L . . . the candidate finds himself surrounded by a circle of all the Brethren with d . . .
s .... p .... at the c .... n .... b ... . Grand Lodges have their orators . I have heard some choice flowing language used by some of these orators . Might our English Lodges not emulate their example ? I have already said the German is economical . The price " per couvert" of a Masonic banquet in the fatherland ranges from is 6 d to 3 s our money ; to which an
extra small sum will pay for excellent "lager beer , or 6 d to is for half a bottle of fair wine . When you are invited by a Brother to visit his Lodge and work is to be done , with a banquet to follow , it does not necessarily follow that he will pay for your " couvert . " The waiter or serving Brother- —as he is generally called ( only the first degree is accorded such an one)—will pay
you a visit during the banquet and " collect the dues . " St . John ' s Day , 24 th June , is celebrated in all German Lodges by a great feast . I was invited on such an occasion to the meeting of the Royai York Grand Lodge in Berlin , the serving Brother of course coming fbr the dues . I was struck with a nice decent sized cake—with all possible good things in it—and a neatly folded paper bag lying by its side , near each Brother's plate . In reply to my question I
was informed that it was for " die frau " to be taken home by each Brother . Considerate ! O . . . . does not take place in German Masonry—or , if such they will persist in calling it , it is so mutilated —it no longer deserves the name of O . . —political reasons . I have heard of , a Mason having occupied the chair of K . S . during no less than fifty years , and celebrating his jubilee with great eclat . A W . M . once elected , as a rule , leaves the chair only to ascend the Grand Lodge above . Advancement is therefore almost nil .
I have seen a Brother who became an E . A . twelve years ago and an E . A . he still is ; go ahead ? Great precautions are taken in enquiring and sifting the past of an intended candidate . The proposer and seconder both undertake very heavy responsibilities .
The sittings into a candidate ' s character are by no means pro forma matters in Germany , if unfortunately they often are here . In catholic countries Masonry is tabooed by the clergy ; the Mason as well as his family are excommunicated from the church , baptism and confession withheld from his wife and children .
During a visit to the Bavarian Spa , Kissingen , the Americans celebrated the " glorious 4 th " and I had the honour of being chosen to the chair . I invited the heads of the Government as well as the Communal functionaries to the banquet . •The former had some compunction about partaking in the celebration of Independence day . The latter readily accepted . The following year we again
celebrated the 4 th of July , and I again invited those high dignitaries . It had however become known that I was a member of the Fraternity , by occasionally joining a little summer Lodge , for the social enjoyment of Brethren who visited the Spa for their health . This time , both Communal as well as Government officials refused my invitation . On visiting—by invitation—Grand Lod ge at Dresden , the King ' s birthday was celebrated ; and although His Majesty , who is a
A Masonic "Globe Trot."
Roman Catholic is openly opposed to our Order , during the work in the Lodge ( an initiation ) and at the banquetting table the continual plaudits and laudation of that high and mighty monarchalthough inimical to the Craft—was so fulsome that nothing but disgust permeated me . At the banquet—although an "invitee " the " dues" were duly collected . I was called upon to say a few words in answer to the toast of " Visitors . " I must here observe
that napkins , in which our German friends do not over indulge , are actually " de rigeur" at Masonic banquets , for the simple reason that the Brother who rises to speak must throw his napkin over his arm in the most approved waiter fashion , and thus "hold forth . - When my turn came , with the napkin adjusted for me by a Brother , I was expected—I assume—to beslaver once more his
mighty Majesty . To the disappointment and—I might say—stupour of the nigh 300 gaping Brethren , I proposed the toast of the cook , whose " pomme de ter de Strasbourg" on the menu 1 partook of with ' great gusto . To the Brother Initiate , to whom I had previously addressed a few words , I pointed out , that the little ivory key attached to a blue ribbon with which he had been
entrusted , would be recognised where all other decorations , including those of the three legged elephant and the humpbacked monkey , scarcely survive beyond the confines of their country . When I left the festive board I fancied I heard a sigh of relief buzzing through the marble hall , and only died out when the doors were close tiled after me .
Let me now , my Brethren , look at the obverse side of the medallion . Proud at my having been raised , I went for my holiday —intent upon seeing something of the Order I had just joinedabroad . On a visit to Breslau , the capital of Silesia , I enquired for a Lodge . The porter or hausmeister showed me through the building , and to my question whether religion interfered with those who were desirous of joining the Craft , his answer was " No ! we
are ' Confessionslos , ' Protestant , Catholic , or Mahommedan , all are accepted with the . same facility . " " A Jew alone we refuse to accept . " " To-morrow , my dear Brother , we have both ' work and a banquet '" added my guide . I was determined to see the work , and was received with marked cordiality . The W . M . referring to the " Stranger Brother" from the chair , all eyes at once turned upon me . "
When Lodge was closed , a cordial invitation to the banquet was given me , I however gratefully declined . The M . C . was greatly surprised and sent for the Ehrenwcrter ( W . M . ) who strongly impressed me with the slur I cast upon them by my refusal . " Ehrenwerter ! would you press me as you do , if you knew that I was a Hebrew ? " Incredulity was at first depicted on his countenance ( as you see , my Brethren , I cannot boast of Jewish features ) , then he
looked aghast . With an " Adieu , Ehrenwerter" I quitted that un-Masoniic Masonic . Lodge . "All but Jews are admitted ! " One might as well ask by what right does an Irishman visit Dublin ? Are our German Brethren aware , that without the Jew there would be no Masonry ? Are they still further aware , that their very Christian God—or shall I say Saviour—would not exist without the Jew ! German Lodges are " conf essionlcss" ( regardless of creed ) all—all—but Jews are admitted .
On my return to London I protested in my Mother Lodge against the iniquity ; the Grand Lodge sent the German representative at Grand Lodge to report . I proposed that Grand Lodge be petitioned that no German Mason be allowed to visit an English Lodge until this disgraceful state of things was done away with . The Lodge , chiefly consisting of Jews , with their habitual
indifference to affronts , did nothing . Shortly afterwards , during a visit of the then Crown Prince , the late Emperor Frederick , to Bonn , of which University he—in his young days—was an alumni , I had the honour of being introduced to him . I referred to the sad state of things in Germany concerning those who were the very fulcrum of Freemasonry . He admitted the great injustice , but remarked ,
" As long as my father lives , things will not change in that direction . " The Emperor William is dead ; so is that good and noble Brother , the Emperor Frederick ; have things changed ? My friend , the late Sir Morell-Mackenzie , who attended the Emperor Frederick in his last illness , assured me that the suffering ruler on several occasions requested his son—the present Emperor—to
become a Mason , and replace the departing sire in his capacity of Grand Master and Protector of Masonry in Germany . This excellent and pious son persistently refused compliance . A few days before the demise of the great sufferer he again requested Dr . Mackenzie—alas ! no longer in words , but on the slate- —to ask his heir to comply with one of his last , his dying requests .
No ! This pious son , replete with filial piety , gave a further remarkable proof of how great , how irreparable , is the loss we Masons have to deplore by his declining the honour of presiding over German Masons ; the poor ninety-day Emperor requested that the Palace in which he died should henceforth be called , instead of the " New Palace" " Frederick's-Krone" ( the Crown of Frederick ) .
The departing Sovereign's wish was of course at once complied with . No sooner was the good Prince dead , than the fiat was issued , by order of the son and successor , Emperor William the Second , that the old name of Neue Schloss ( New Palace ) should be restored , and the new name , well—to be buried in the grave his father occupied .
We , in England , have many blemishes and imperfections in our Order . There arc Brethren who after they receive the grand principles inculcated in them in Lodge , not satisfied with "locking up the secrets in their hearts "—they , with excess of caution , lock
up not only the secrets , but that which they are taught to practice in the Lodge , for fear that amongst " die profanen" ( as non-Masons are styled ) they should lose those invaluable precepts . Notwithstanding those drawbacks , we in England have reason to be proud of the Order to which we belong .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Masonic "Globe Trot."
I am truly glad that I am not a Grand Orient Mason . Masonry in France is practically nothing but political clubs of various shades . They certainly possess great political power . The only silver lining in the dense Masonic cloud among our Prankish Brethren which I discovered , was that they frequently give lectures on Science , Arts , and current topics . They are certainly
calculated to instruct . Might we not take a pattern from our neighbours ? In Sweden and Norway my visits were during the summer , and I attended no Lodges . The workings , I hear , are similar to the English and German . At Copenhagen I visited a Lodge where the " Portier " or caretaker of the edifice and contents was a lady ,
the only one known to hold such a function . She is very closely related to the late King Frederick VII ., who in one respect resembled his great prototype K . S ., by begetting offspring outside the legitimate bed . The lady I refer to was his reputed daughter ; she was the exact image of the late- Danish Majesty .
In the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg , Masonic work is similar to that in its related Kingdom of Holland . Not far from Luxemburg , across the border , is Trier or Treves , the old western capital of the Roman Empire . There the Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena once resided . On visiting the ruins of the Imperial Palace I was struck with some marble pedestals upon which statues
once stood . On three of these pedestals I saw distinct Masonic emblems carved . On my return , 1 mentioned the fact at my Conclave of the Red Cross of Constantine , but have been able to find no solution to the enigma . Trier is in Germany , and although I should—by right—have begun with that country , for it ' was the first I visited after having become a Mason , I have ,
for certain reasons , reserved it for the last . Lodges vn . that country are never held in hotels or halls , but have always a building exclusively devoted to our Craft , even in insignificant provincial towns . A Lodge answers a double purpose . It is in the fullest sense a Club . Brethren resort to it daily , if not for working , for recreation and social entertainments . A kitchen and cellar are always the adjuncts . Upon Club principles , it costs the
Brother only a trifle more than the cost—market price . Cooks , generally the " Keeper ' s" wife or daughter , and other attendants , reside on the premises . Gardens are invariably attached to Lodges , and , once or twice a week , the ladies of Brethren are allowed to visit . Entertainments in the shape of concerts are occasionally given . " Do you belong to a club also ? " I once asked a Brother . " What need for a club when I have a Lodge . " The German is above all economical .
The first Lodge in which I participated in the working was Breslau , the capital of Silesia . The work is highly impressive and deviates considerably from ours . Thus Instead of B . . . they commence with J . . . when " What is your .... desire now "—the answer comes L . . . the candidate finds himself surrounded by a circle of all the Brethren with d . . .
s .... p .... at the c .... n .... b ... . Grand Lodges have their orators . I have heard some choice flowing language used by some of these orators . Might our English Lodges not emulate their example ? I have already said the German is economical . The price " per couvert" of a Masonic banquet in the fatherland ranges from is 6 d to 3 s our money ; to which an
extra small sum will pay for excellent "lager beer , or 6 d to is for half a bottle of fair wine . When you are invited by a Brother to visit his Lodge and work is to be done , with a banquet to follow , it does not necessarily follow that he will pay for your " couvert . " The waiter or serving Brother- —as he is generally called ( only the first degree is accorded such an one)—will pay
you a visit during the banquet and " collect the dues . " St . John ' s Day , 24 th June , is celebrated in all German Lodges by a great feast . I was invited on such an occasion to the meeting of the Royai York Grand Lodge in Berlin , the serving Brother of course coming fbr the dues . I was struck with a nice decent sized cake—with all possible good things in it—and a neatly folded paper bag lying by its side , near each Brother's plate . In reply to my question I
was informed that it was for " die frau " to be taken home by each Brother . Considerate ! O . . . . does not take place in German Masonry—or , if such they will persist in calling it , it is so mutilated —it no longer deserves the name of O . . —political reasons . I have heard of , a Mason having occupied the chair of K . S . during no less than fifty years , and celebrating his jubilee with great eclat . A W . M . once elected , as a rule , leaves the chair only to ascend the Grand Lodge above . Advancement is therefore almost nil .
I have seen a Brother who became an E . A . twelve years ago and an E . A . he still is ; go ahead ? Great precautions are taken in enquiring and sifting the past of an intended candidate . The proposer and seconder both undertake very heavy responsibilities .
The sittings into a candidate ' s character are by no means pro forma matters in Germany , if unfortunately they often are here . In catholic countries Masonry is tabooed by the clergy ; the Mason as well as his family are excommunicated from the church , baptism and confession withheld from his wife and children .
During a visit to the Bavarian Spa , Kissingen , the Americans celebrated the " glorious 4 th " and I had the honour of being chosen to the chair . I invited the heads of the Government as well as the Communal functionaries to the banquet . •The former had some compunction about partaking in the celebration of Independence day . The latter readily accepted . The following year we again
celebrated the 4 th of July , and I again invited those high dignitaries . It had however become known that I was a member of the Fraternity , by occasionally joining a little summer Lodge , for the social enjoyment of Brethren who visited the Spa for their health . This time , both Communal as well as Government officials refused my invitation . On visiting—by invitation—Grand Lod ge at Dresden , the King ' s birthday was celebrated ; and although His Majesty , who is a
A Masonic "Globe Trot."
Roman Catholic is openly opposed to our Order , during the work in the Lodge ( an initiation ) and at the banquetting table the continual plaudits and laudation of that high and mighty monarchalthough inimical to the Craft—was so fulsome that nothing but disgust permeated me . At the banquet—although an "invitee " the " dues" were duly collected . I was called upon to say a few words in answer to the toast of " Visitors . " I must here observe
that napkins , in which our German friends do not over indulge , are actually " de rigeur" at Masonic banquets , for the simple reason that the Brother who rises to speak must throw his napkin over his arm in the most approved waiter fashion , and thus "hold forth . - When my turn came , with the napkin adjusted for me by a Brother , I was expected—I assume—to beslaver once more his
mighty Majesty . To the disappointment and—I might say—stupour of the nigh 300 gaping Brethren , I proposed the toast of the cook , whose " pomme de ter de Strasbourg" on the menu 1 partook of with ' great gusto . To the Brother Initiate , to whom I had previously addressed a few words , I pointed out , that the little ivory key attached to a blue ribbon with which he had been
entrusted , would be recognised where all other decorations , including those of the three legged elephant and the humpbacked monkey , scarcely survive beyond the confines of their country . When I left the festive board I fancied I heard a sigh of relief buzzing through the marble hall , and only died out when the doors were close tiled after me .
Let me now , my Brethren , look at the obverse side of the medallion . Proud at my having been raised , I went for my holiday —intent upon seeing something of the Order I had just joinedabroad . On a visit to Breslau , the capital of Silesia , I enquired for a Lodge . The porter or hausmeister showed me through the building , and to my question whether religion interfered with those who were desirous of joining the Craft , his answer was " No ! we
are ' Confessionslos , ' Protestant , Catholic , or Mahommedan , all are accepted with the . same facility . " " A Jew alone we refuse to accept . " " To-morrow , my dear Brother , we have both ' work and a banquet '" added my guide . I was determined to see the work , and was received with marked cordiality . The W . M . referring to the " Stranger Brother" from the chair , all eyes at once turned upon me . "
When Lodge was closed , a cordial invitation to the banquet was given me , I however gratefully declined . The M . C . was greatly surprised and sent for the Ehrenwcrter ( W . M . ) who strongly impressed me with the slur I cast upon them by my refusal . " Ehrenwerter ! would you press me as you do , if you knew that I was a Hebrew ? " Incredulity was at first depicted on his countenance ( as you see , my Brethren , I cannot boast of Jewish features ) , then he
looked aghast . With an " Adieu , Ehrenwerter" I quitted that un-Masoniic Masonic . Lodge . "All but Jews are admitted ! " One might as well ask by what right does an Irishman visit Dublin ? Are our German Brethren aware , that without the Jew there would be no Masonry ? Are they still further aware , that their very Christian God—or shall I say Saviour—would not exist without the Jew ! German Lodges are " conf essionlcss" ( regardless of creed ) all—all—but Jews are admitted .
On my return to London I protested in my Mother Lodge against the iniquity ; the Grand Lodge sent the German representative at Grand Lodge to report . I proposed that Grand Lodge be petitioned that no German Mason be allowed to visit an English Lodge until this disgraceful state of things was done away with . The Lodge , chiefly consisting of Jews , with their habitual
indifference to affronts , did nothing . Shortly afterwards , during a visit of the then Crown Prince , the late Emperor Frederick , to Bonn , of which University he—in his young days—was an alumni , I had the honour of being introduced to him . I referred to the sad state of things in Germany concerning those who were the very fulcrum of Freemasonry . He admitted the great injustice , but remarked ,
" As long as my father lives , things will not change in that direction . " The Emperor William is dead ; so is that good and noble Brother , the Emperor Frederick ; have things changed ? My friend , the late Sir Morell-Mackenzie , who attended the Emperor Frederick in his last illness , assured me that the suffering ruler on several occasions requested his son—the present Emperor—to
become a Mason , and replace the departing sire in his capacity of Grand Master and Protector of Masonry in Germany . This excellent and pious son persistently refused compliance . A few days before the demise of the great sufferer he again requested Dr . Mackenzie—alas ! no longer in words , but on the slate- —to ask his heir to comply with one of his last , his dying requests .
No ! This pious son , replete with filial piety , gave a further remarkable proof of how great , how irreparable , is the loss we Masons have to deplore by his declining the honour of presiding over German Masons ; the poor ninety-day Emperor requested that the Palace in which he died should henceforth be called , instead of the " New Palace" " Frederick's-Krone" ( the Crown of Frederick ) .
The departing Sovereign's wish was of course at once complied with . No sooner was the good Prince dead , than the fiat was issued , by order of the son and successor , Emperor William the Second , that the old name of Neue Schloss ( New Palace ) should be restored , and the new name , well—to be buried in the grave his father occupied .
We , in England , have many blemishes and imperfections in our Order . There arc Brethren who after they receive the grand principles inculcated in them in Lodge , not satisfied with "locking up the secrets in their hearts "—they , with excess of caution , lock
up not only the secrets , but that which they are taught to practice in the Lodge , for fear that amongst " die profanen" ( as non-Masons are styled ) they should lose those invaluable precepts . Notwithstanding those drawbacks , we in England have reason to be proud of the Order to which we belong .