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Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1 Article THE UNMASONIC TRIAL. Page 1 of 1 Article RETURN TO THE CLERK OF THE PEACE. Page 1 of 1 Article NORTHUMBERLAND AND BERWICK LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS (T.I.) Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for tlie opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must hear tlie name an I address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR > VND BROTHER , — " DISCIPLE ' S " letter is well timed . The Craft has been largely recruited , but especially from tho educated classes , during the last ton years . Indeed , His Royal Highness tho Princo of Wales is reported to havo said , at the Masonic banquet given by tho Lord Mayor on Monday , tho 25 th ult ., that tho number
of certificates issued annually during tho past dectido was 10 , 000 , and ho , as Grand Master , ia not likely to havo been misinformed . It behoves ns , therefore , to use every effort to impress thoso who join our ranks with tho reality of our claims to bo considered not only a well-organised , but likewise an enlightened body . Bnt how can this bo , if tho dutv of instrnction is left in charge of thoso who
are conspicuous by their ignorance oven of tho commonest requirements of English grammar ? It is some time since I have attended any Lodsro of Instruction , but I did so habitnally two or threo years ago , and I am sorry to say that , except in one or two cases , I was always hesitating between the desire to laugh outright at what I heard and tho determination to run away from such sorrv displays
of unpardonable ignorance . Thero sat the Preceptor—I will state a case without saying aught that may prejudice any particular Lodge of Instruction—pipe in hand , and , as occasion required , ho furnished tho words necessary to complete a sentence , but his English was of the most extraordinary character . I must say he was a most worthy fellow , and kindly gave all his leisure time to the Masonio
enlightenment of his follows . Yet this desire to enlighten was only surpassed by his ignorance of his native tongue . You may imagine . Dear Sir and Brother , that , under these circumstances , the brethren who attended this Lodge of Instrnction were , as a rule , about as brilliant scholars as their Preceptor . The landlord ' s servants' vocabulary must , to borrow an idea from Punch , have been wonderfully
enriched with the H ' s that had been let fall in the course of the evening , and the " Genius of English Pronunciation " must have been sorely puzzled what to do with the surplus stock of the same letter with which the Preceptor and his associate brethren insisted on presenting to him in the most incongruous fashion . As for anything like an exposition of our ritual and its mysteries , that was out of the
question entirely . Great attention was paid to verbal accuracy so far as that was possible with a due regard to the respectable H , but why passages were phrased in this or that manner , and what was their ordinary , what their hidden interpretation—on these points no single word of explanation was ever forthcoming . In fine ,
attendance at a Lodge of Instruction is ono which it is tho dnty of every brother fo fulfil at somo period of his career , but I do not hesitate to say it is a mnst painful ono , nnd will ever remain so until Preceptors of , I will not say extraordinary , but average ability , are appointed to preside over them . Fratema ^ y yor ' 3 , DIGAMMA .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . . DEAR SIK AM ; BROTHER , —Tho able letter from "DISCIPLE" in your last week's issue has . in the opinion of many , come none too soon , and it will undoubtedly prove a boon to the Craft , if only by enlivening up some Preceptors as to the grave responsibility of the office they accept , and thereby enable their pupils to get what they
have a right to expect—i . e ., good sound teaching , with real instruction , and not on l y—what it too often proves—a rehearsal ; and should any Preceptor not be able to givo it , " it were better he should retire , " and bo replaced by an abler exponent of the mysteries of the Craft . "Explanations of Tracing-board , " and personal instrnction in what I may term "Masonic drill , " are generally iguored . Nothing
shews itself quicker than ignorance of the ' proper method of g iving salutes and signs , aud this is but too often the result of want of personal instruction , which , I take it , should be a constituent part of the instruction given . Good Lodges are to be found , although few , but my advice is— " When found , make a note of , " and regularly attend those , and those only .
Now , a word for those few Preceptors who do do their duty . Lot them bo encouraged by a regular and punctual attendance of members , for some Preceptors , even though able , lose heart at tho half-hearted way they are supported ; and , whilst Priceptors arc reminded that their doctrine is valued the more lucidl y they
disseminate ifc , members should bo equally reminded thafc the dnt y they owe their Preceptor is no light one , and consists of punctuality , and a " strict attention to tho business immccliatbly before them , " leaving nou-mystical matters until Lodge has closed . How often do we also find that a Lodge cannot be opened on account of inabilit y to say " We are seven ; " and thus goxl time is frittered away ere business
commences . Believing that good will ensue , and thafc soon , from the ventilation of this subject , I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , LEO , SEC . 26 th October 1880 .
The Unmasonic Trial.
THE UNMASONIC TRIAL .
BRO . VOIGT V . BROS . CARR , LAKINB AND TREVOR . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Some little time ago Brother Voigt stated in your columns that " before even issuing the writ in this action he had tho express permission of tho Provincial authorities for doing so , " and this , he added , he was " ready to prove whenever
called upon ? " I bog therefore now thus publicly to challenge Bro . Voigt to abide by his word , and to prove the truth of that statement . I have a letter , dated 1 st inst ., from R . W . Bro . Dr . Bell D . P . G . M . for the N . and E . Ridings of Yorkshire , in which he says that" he had , in the Hornsea case , made every friendly effort to prevent litigation , and thafc tho institution of the late law suit received from him neither
permission nor encouragement , " thus bearing out my surmise on the subject . R . W . Bro . Dr . Bell further adds , that " Bro . Voigt declared that he felt his character as a merchant and a citizen to be at stake ; that be had in tho printed resolution been termed' dishonourable ;' that no Masonic adjudication could possibly satisfy him , and that he should nofc bo content with anything short of the verdict of a puhlic
tribunal . " Whilst thus speaking in his own name , I presume R . W . Bro . Dr . Bell also speaks on behalf of Lord Zetland the P . G . M ., whose Depnty ho is ; and the question naturally arises therefore , who were " the Provincial Masonio authorities " who gave Bro . Voigt their " express permission" to issue the writ of action against Bros . Carr , Laking and myself ?
Common Justice to Lord Zetland and Dr . Bell , and to my oo-defondants and myself , as well as to the credit of our common Fraternity demands , I think , the instant clearing up of this scandal . The latter part of Bro . Dr . Bell ' s letter seems to me a grim commentary on the innocent Masonio forbearance in this matter which some of Bro . Voigt ' s admirers have attributed to him , and for which , if I mistake not , he has himself publicly taken credit . Yours fraternally , TUDOR TREVOR . Kendal , 3 rd November 1880 .
Return To The Clerk Of The Peace.
RETURN TO THE CLERK OF THE PEACE .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AUD BROTHER , —Is what is mentioned in the following excerpt from the Norwich Argus of 14 th August last really the case ? " A P . M . —The best answer we can give relative to 39 Geo . III .,
c . 79 , is to quote the following notice sent yearly to the "W . M . of Lodge 1458 : — ' I beg to call your attention to the provisions of the above Act , which require that every Lodge of Freemasons shall , on or before the 25 th day of March , in each year , register with
the Clerk of the Peace the names and descriptions of all the members of such Lodge , or , in default thereof , such Lodge is liable to a penalty of twenty pounds , half of which is payable to the informers . A fee of fs 6 d must accompany return , otherwise the same can . not be registered and filed . "
[ The Norwich Argus is correct in its statement . The penalty ia seldom , if ever , enforced , but still the fact remains that every Lodge not fulfilling the requirements of the act renders itself liable to the penalty . —ED . F . C . ]
As an old Mason I may say I have never heard of anything of the kind before . Yours fraternally , W . M .
Northumberland And Berwick Lodge Of Mark Master Masons (T.I.)
NORTHUMBERLAND AND BERWICK LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS ( T . I . )
THE regular meeting of this Lodge took place on Wednesday , the 27 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Maple-street , Newcastle-on-Tyne . The Lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . Dr . Luke Armstrong , Prov . G . Inspector of Works , assisted by the following Officers : — Bros . T . J . Armstrong Prov . G . Sec . S . W ., R . L . Armstrong J . O ., J . E . Robson M . O ., R . G . Salmon S . O ., J . Wood J . O ., R . Lock Treas .,
J . S . B . Bell Sec , S . M . Harris S . D ., J . Usher J . D ., G . Ford I . G ., and G . S . Sims Tyler . The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . Tho ballot was then taken for Bros . Simpson and Lyons , both of the Noi Jiern Counties Lodge , No . 406 , which proved in their favour . The W . M ., through indisposition , had to leave the Lodge , wherenpon Bro . W . E . Franklin I . P . M . P . G . S . W . occupied tho chair , and advanced , in a very efficient manner , the two candidates
to this honourable degree . The election of W . M . was tho next bnsiness , and resulted in tho unanimous choice of the Lodge falling on Bro . T . J . Armstrong S . W . Bro . It . Lock was elected Treasurer , and Bro . G . S . Sims Tyler . Tho Lodge was then closed , and tho brethren adjourned to refreshments , after which the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and the health of the W . M . elect drunk . A very pleasant evening was spent .
ROYAL POLYTECHNIC—Asmodeus , tho Bottle Imp . Yen . triloquism and Magic , hy Professor Ileitis . Modern and Machine Guns , the New Forest , Tho Oxy-hydrogon Microscope , & c , by Mr . . T . L . King . Musical Entertainment by the talented Adison family . Sights of Loudon by Mr . Heath . Elondin and Leotard tho marvellous Automata . Diving Hell , Moving Machinery and Models . The Royal Polytechnic Barometer , & c . Stokes on Memory , Tuesdays and Thursthiys at 7 . Open 12 till 5 , anil 7 till 10 . Admission Is ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for tlie opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must hear tlie name an I address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR > VND BROTHER , — " DISCIPLE ' S " letter is well timed . The Craft has been largely recruited , but especially from tho educated classes , during the last ton years . Indeed , His Royal Highness tho Princo of Wales is reported to havo said , at the Masonic banquet given by tho Lord Mayor on Monday , tho 25 th ult ., that tho number
of certificates issued annually during tho past dectido was 10 , 000 , and ho , as Grand Master , ia not likely to havo been misinformed . It behoves ns , therefore , to use every effort to impress thoso who join our ranks with tho reality of our claims to bo considered not only a well-organised , but likewise an enlightened body . Bnt how can this bo , if tho dutv of instrnction is left in charge of thoso who
are conspicuous by their ignorance oven of tho commonest requirements of English grammar ? It is some time since I have attended any Lodsro of Instruction , but I did so habitnally two or threo years ago , and I am sorry to say that , except in one or two cases , I was always hesitating between the desire to laugh outright at what I heard and tho determination to run away from such sorrv displays
of unpardonable ignorance . Thero sat the Preceptor—I will state a case without saying aught that may prejudice any particular Lodge of Instruction—pipe in hand , and , as occasion required , ho furnished tho words necessary to complete a sentence , but his English was of the most extraordinary character . I must say he was a most worthy fellow , and kindly gave all his leisure time to the Masonio
enlightenment of his follows . Yet this desire to enlighten was only surpassed by his ignorance of his native tongue . You may imagine . Dear Sir and Brother , that , under these circumstances , the brethren who attended this Lodge of Instrnction were , as a rule , about as brilliant scholars as their Preceptor . The landlord ' s servants' vocabulary must , to borrow an idea from Punch , have been wonderfully
enriched with the H ' s that had been let fall in the course of the evening , and the " Genius of English Pronunciation " must have been sorely puzzled what to do with the surplus stock of the same letter with which the Preceptor and his associate brethren insisted on presenting to him in the most incongruous fashion . As for anything like an exposition of our ritual and its mysteries , that was out of the
question entirely . Great attention was paid to verbal accuracy so far as that was possible with a due regard to the respectable H , but why passages were phrased in this or that manner , and what was their ordinary , what their hidden interpretation—on these points no single word of explanation was ever forthcoming . In fine ,
attendance at a Lodge of Instruction is ono which it is tho dnty of every brother fo fulfil at somo period of his career , but I do not hesitate to say it is a mnst painful ono , nnd will ever remain so until Preceptors of , I will not say extraordinary , but average ability , are appointed to preside over them . Fratema ^ y yor ' 3 , DIGAMMA .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . . DEAR SIK AM ; BROTHER , —Tho able letter from "DISCIPLE" in your last week's issue has . in the opinion of many , come none too soon , and it will undoubtedly prove a boon to the Craft , if only by enlivening up some Preceptors as to the grave responsibility of the office they accept , and thereby enable their pupils to get what they
have a right to expect—i . e ., good sound teaching , with real instruction , and not on l y—what it too often proves—a rehearsal ; and should any Preceptor not be able to givo it , " it were better he should retire , " and bo replaced by an abler exponent of the mysteries of the Craft . "Explanations of Tracing-board , " and personal instrnction in what I may term "Masonic drill , " are generally iguored . Nothing
shews itself quicker than ignorance of the ' proper method of g iving salutes and signs , aud this is but too often the result of want of personal instruction , which , I take it , should be a constituent part of the instruction given . Good Lodges are to be found , although few , but my advice is— " When found , make a note of , " and regularly attend those , and those only .
Now , a word for those few Preceptors who do do their duty . Lot them bo encouraged by a regular and punctual attendance of members , for some Preceptors , even though able , lose heart at tho half-hearted way they are supported ; and , whilst Priceptors arc reminded that their doctrine is valued the more lucidl y they
disseminate ifc , members should bo equally reminded thafc the dnt y they owe their Preceptor is no light one , and consists of punctuality , and a " strict attention to tho business immccliatbly before them , " leaving nou-mystical matters until Lodge has closed . How often do we also find that a Lodge cannot be opened on account of inabilit y to say " We are seven ; " and thus goxl time is frittered away ere business
commences . Believing that good will ensue , and thafc soon , from the ventilation of this subject , I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , LEO , SEC . 26 th October 1880 .
The Unmasonic Trial.
THE UNMASONIC TRIAL .
BRO . VOIGT V . BROS . CARR , LAKINB AND TREVOR . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Some little time ago Brother Voigt stated in your columns that " before even issuing the writ in this action he had tho express permission of tho Provincial authorities for doing so , " and this , he added , he was " ready to prove whenever
called upon ? " I bog therefore now thus publicly to challenge Bro . Voigt to abide by his word , and to prove the truth of that statement . I have a letter , dated 1 st inst ., from R . W . Bro . Dr . Bell D . P . G . M . for the N . and E . Ridings of Yorkshire , in which he says that" he had , in the Hornsea case , made every friendly effort to prevent litigation , and thafc tho institution of the late law suit received from him neither
permission nor encouragement , " thus bearing out my surmise on the subject . R . W . Bro . Dr . Bell further adds , that " Bro . Voigt declared that he felt his character as a merchant and a citizen to be at stake ; that be had in tho printed resolution been termed' dishonourable ;' that no Masonic adjudication could possibly satisfy him , and that he should nofc bo content with anything short of the verdict of a puhlic
tribunal . " Whilst thus speaking in his own name , I presume R . W . Bro . Dr . Bell also speaks on behalf of Lord Zetland the P . G . M ., whose Depnty ho is ; and the question naturally arises therefore , who were " the Provincial Masonio authorities " who gave Bro . Voigt their " express permission" to issue the writ of action against Bros . Carr , Laking and myself ?
Common Justice to Lord Zetland and Dr . Bell , and to my oo-defondants and myself , as well as to the credit of our common Fraternity demands , I think , the instant clearing up of this scandal . The latter part of Bro . Dr . Bell ' s letter seems to me a grim commentary on the innocent Masonio forbearance in this matter which some of Bro . Voigt ' s admirers have attributed to him , and for which , if I mistake not , he has himself publicly taken credit . Yours fraternally , TUDOR TREVOR . Kendal , 3 rd November 1880 .
Return To The Clerk Of The Peace.
RETURN TO THE CLERK OF THE PEACE .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AUD BROTHER , —Is what is mentioned in the following excerpt from the Norwich Argus of 14 th August last really the case ? " A P . M . —The best answer we can give relative to 39 Geo . III .,
c . 79 , is to quote the following notice sent yearly to the "W . M . of Lodge 1458 : — ' I beg to call your attention to the provisions of the above Act , which require that every Lodge of Freemasons shall , on or before the 25 th day of March , in each year , register with
the Clerk of the Peace the names and descriptions of all the members of such Lodge , or , in default thereof , such Lodge is liable to a penalty of twenty pounds , half of which is payable to the informers . A fee of fs 6 d must accompany return , otherwise the same can . not be registered and filed . "
[ The Norwich Argus is correct in its statement . The penalty ia seldom , if ever , enforced , but still the fact remains that every Lodge not fulfilling the requirements of the act renders itself liable to the penalty . —ED . F . C . ]
As an old Mason I may say I have never heard of anything of the kind before . Yours fraternally , W . M .
Northumberland And Berwick Lodge Of Mark Master Masons (T.I.)
NORTHUMBERLAND AND BERWICK LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS ( T . I . )
THE regular meeting of this Lodge took place on Wednesday , the 27 th ult ., at the Masonic Hall , Maple-street , Newcastle-on-Tyne . The Lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . Dr . Luke Armstrong , Prov . G . Inspector of Works , assisted by the following Officers : — Bros . T . J . Armstrong Prov . G . Sec . S . W ., R . L . Armstrong J . O ., J . E . Robson M . O ., R . G . Salmon S . O ., J . Wood J . O ., R . Lock Treas .,
J . S . B . Bell Sec , S . M . Harris S . D ., J . Usher J . D ., G . Ford I . G ., and G . S . Sims Tyler . The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . Tho ballot was then taken for Bros . Simpson and Lyons , both of the Noi Jiern Counties Lodge , No . 406 , which proved in their favour . The W . M ., through indisposition , had to leave the Lodge , wherenpon Bro . W . E . Franklin I . P . M . P . G . S . W . occupied tho chair , and advanced , in a very efficient manner , the two candidates
to this honourable degree . The election of W . M . was tho next bnsiness , and resulted in tho unanimous choice of the Lodge falling on Bro . T . J . Armstrong S . W . Bro . It . Lock was elected Treasurer , and Bro . G . S . Sims Tyler . Tho Lodge was then closed , and tho brethren adjourned to refreshments , after which the usual Loyal and Masonic toasts were given , and the health of the W . M . elect drunk . A very pleasant evening was spent .
ROYAL POLYTECHNIC—Asmodeus , tho Bottle Imp . Yen . triloquism and Magic , hy Professor Ileitis . Modern and Machine Guns , the New Forest , Tho Oxy-hydrogon Microscope , & c , by Mr . . T . L . King . Musical Entertainment by the talented Adison family . Sights of Loudon by Mr . Heath . Elondin and Leotard tho marvellous Automata . Diving Hell , Moving Machinery and Models . The Royal Polytechnic Barometer , & c . Stokes on Memory , Tuesdays and Thursthiys at 7 . Open 12 till 5 , anil 7 till 10 . Admission Is ,