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Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
AN IMPOSTOR . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAE SIR AND BROTHEK , —IU reference to Bro . Pnlsford , in your last issue , I refer him to a letter of mine in your paper of tho 12 th May 1883 , and to pages 259 ancl 296 of last year ' s Freemason . Th « Btory about the shipwreck , and being a member of a New Tork
Lodge , was told to me on tbe above date , and it subsequently occurred to me that he was an impostor , though nothing was said to me about his eyesight . The second statement in Bro . Pulford ' s letter was told to me by another individual , who gave the name of H . Newman , of Lodge 316 , who called here on 16 th June last ; his statement was
that be was wounded in Egypt in the head , he had obtained the rank of sergeant , but was discharged withont a pension , tbe wound affecting his sightj he wore glasses , and said he bad just been discharged from an Ophthalmic Hospital , where he had been under treatment for five months . I belived this to be a genuine case . Is it possible tbat the individual of last year's experience met
Newman and heard his story , and is now making use of it ? Bro . Pulford ' s letter shows how necessary it is that we shonld have an organised system of relief throughout the whole of England and Wales , aa then these impostors would find trading on Masonry a poor game , my experience is that eight out of ten Begging Masons are professional vagrants .
I remain , Yours fraternally , THOS . FRANCIS P . M . 804 . Hat ant , 6 th October 1884 .
The two letters that follow are of such general interest , that we feel we shall gratify our readers if we reproduce them . They are extracted from the pages of that ably conducted journal The Keystone . —[ Ed . F . C ]
BRO . HUGHAN'S NEW MASONIC WORK . To the Editor of the Keystone . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —Bro . Hughan ' s recent work , " Origin of the English Bite of Freemasonry , " has doubtless been forwarded to you for review . I hasten , at the outset of this letter , to state that in alluding to it I have no intention of anticipating your own Critical observations upon a volume of such general interest . It mav
be a question bow far tbe small band of us who write Masonic books , are capable of passing judgment upon the works of one another . The buttons are always ou the foils , and like the congratulations which for the most part greet the retiring W . M . who instals his successor , the rejoicing of the little knot of Masonic students over a new book by one of their number , may arise not so much out of the brilliancy of tbe performance , as from the simple fact of his
having got " through with it all !" But if , on the one hand , we become unduly elated by the commendation of our confrires , the Masonio press , on the other hand , supplies a wholesome corrective in the shape of more critical notices , which are not always agreeable to peruse—that is , of course , by the
person chiefly concerned . To come , however , to Bro . Hughan ' s book . Perhaps I may be excused for saying , that in my opinion it is tho best he has written , and shows , what those who know him well were already convinced of , a wider grasp of the general subject than ia indicated by any other of his previous works .
The absen < e of any index whatever detracts , I feel bound to say , from the utility , if not from tbe merit of the publication . Readers of tbe shapely volume will find the various matters treated in a manner which is at once interesting and instructive . But Bro . Hughan should surely have taken into consideration that a work rnnning to 130 pages , or to 150 if the appendices are included , will
be very inconvenient to consult for purposes of reference , withont some better guide to the contents than a mere descriptive roll of the various chapters . Having done my best to pick out flaws in this—the latest venture of one who has done so much to elevate tbe tone of Masonic literature , I gladly turn to its numerous claims upon our gratitude .
The chapters on the Third degree , and npon that of the Eoyal Arch , are not only eminently readable , but will be found to contain a mass of information , collected with great care and discrimination from sources not available to the ordinary student . Tbat all the conclusions with which Bro . Hughan presents us will be endorsed by his critics , I shall not be so rash as to affirm , but I think it may be predicted , that even those who cannot follow our Brother in his arguments , will derive instruction from the way in which he puts them .
Bro . Hughan has yet to " run the gauntlet" of the Masonic press . I wish him a good deliverance , and if it fares witb him , as it did recently with myself , to incur the unanimous censure of " Reviewers of the Craft , " I sincerely hope that the tone and temper in which you , Bro . Editor , criticise , albeit adversely , the writings of your contemporaries , may be imitated on this side of the water . Fraternally yours , R . P . GOUID .
Correspondence.
THE ENGLISH MASONIC EXHIBITION AT WORCESTER .
To the Editor of the Keystone . YORK , 31 st August 1884 . BI : AR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have jnst returned home from a pilgrim . age to the great Masonio Exhibition at Worcester , and ns I am some . what conscious of my neglect of yon for a lengthy period , I am going to send yon a rapid sketch of the whole affair , which haa been about
as great a snecess as anybody could have wished , and much more im . portant than anybody conld have hoped . Ever since last February , when the York College of Rosicrucians got up an Exhibition at York , tho leaders of Masonry in the Province of Worcestershire have beeu working away to produce something of the same kind . The Mayor of Worcester , who is a very enlightened Mason , visited the York
Exhibition himself , and then and there expressed a reckless deter , mination to do or die , and he found a pillar of wisdom and strength in Bro . George Taylor , of Kidderminster , the Provincial Grand Secretary , whose services in his Province are well known . These two good and trne men discovered a safe backer in Sir E . A . Lechmere , Bart ., who is one of those rarely-found men of high rank who
really work shoulder to shoulder with the rank and file of onr Craft . Securing the aid of those who had helped in the accumulation of the York collection , these workers went still further a-field , and , by means of circulars and advertisements in the Masonic press , ran . sacked every likely nook and cranny in the world of Lodges wherein might possibly remain some gem nnknown to fame . The effect was
excellent . We , York brethren , had some difficulty in securing loans of treasures , because the owners feared for their nafe return , but they had got them back sound and secure from York , so that there was little or no hesitation in lending them to Worcester . Thus it came to pass that a week before the date fixed for opening the Exhibition , Bro . Taylor found himself facing a most formidable task , and a pile
of packing cases , that looked like the contents of a steamer a miscellaneous cargo . All , however , melted away before the dauntless attacks of onr Worcester consignees , and in a week's time the disgorged treasures were scientifically and tastefully arranged upon the walls or in glass cases and on tables in two spacious rooms in the upper story of Worcester Guildhall .
Bro . Cumberland , of York , and I , both of us exhibitors , had arranged to make the Worcester pilgrimage together , and accordingly , on Tuesday afternoon last , we boarded a Midland train and steamed away for the city that proved so fatally faithful to the unfortunate cause of the Stuarts . Just as we were starting the postman put into my hand a parcel
containing a copy of the catalogue of the Exhibition , sent on in advance , which served to beguile the hours and astonish our weak minds until we arrived at our destination . It is a remarkable catalogne , as I think you also will say when you have glanced through the copy I send you by book post . In its preparation Bro . Taylor has been assisted by our mutual friend Bro . Hughan , who is always
ready to bear a hand in a good cause , and whose newest work , just out , on the " Origin of the English Masonio Rite , " formed one of the objects exhibited . Hospitable to the core , the Worcester Craftsmen arranged to entertain their principal guests under their own roofs , and so Bro . Cumberland and I found ourselves billeted in the domicile of
Bro . H . G . Budd , the Master of the Worcester Lodge , No . 280 , a yonng surgeon , and as amiable and hospitable aa his house was comfortable , and who at once proceeded to make us thoroughly at home . Next morning saw us at the Guildhall , where the finishing touches were being put to the preparations for the evening soiree , at which some five hundred ladies and gentlemen were expected to attend ,
During the day the Masonic luminaries of England kept mustering in great force , and it would have been difficult to have experienced anything more thoroughly in accordance with the spirit of the Royal Art than the series of friendly greetings and introductions that made the hours glide away all too speedily . Here we met , and for the first time gripped lhe hand of brethren whose names and
reputations had for years been familiar to ns , bnt whose voices had never before greeted us , and whose faces we had never seen , yet with whom we had been long in close correspondence . Luncheon came , and with it , in our case , a party embracing brethren from York , London , Malta , Chester , Manchester and Birmingham ; and so it was wherever the Craft gathered . From the uttermost parts tbey
came , from the four cardinal points of heaven . Bat the pleasantest days end soonest , and the time soon arrived for a quiet dinner and preparation for the evening's entertainment . At 7 . 30 , Bro . Sir Edmnnd and Lsidy Lechmere , he in his regalia as Prov . G . Master of Worcestershire , took their place nnder the folds of the Provincial banner , whilst near them the Mayor , Bro . W . B .
Williamson P M ., ancl the Mayoress , stood beneath the civic sword of state and awaited the arrival ol their guests , who were marshalled up the oaken staircase and through the dense bordering of flowering plants and past the trophies of flags and gnns by an energetic and courteous corps of brethren who acted as Stewards . The introductions over , a band of music struck up a grand selection of Masonic
airs , and the large assembly-room was soon filled . Sir Edmund then ascended the dais and welcomed tbe visitors in a pleasant spech , in which he was followed by the Mayor , and al ' terwards by Bro . the Dean of York , who , as usual , was wonderfully happy in the lightness and airiness , and at the same time sound good sense of his remarks . These preliminaries over , the guests dispersed to view the collections . Then was the time when one might see the beauty and
fashion of Worcester at its best and pleasantest . Never were pretty faces looking prettier or bright eyes sparkling more gaily , or charming lips more disposed to » m \\ e and commend . The whole thing was so new , such a complete novtlty , that all onr fair sisters were p leased find happy . No doubt numbers of them anticipated some disclosures , or trusted in their superior sagacity to make some discoveries . But although in these respects they undoubtedly went away as wise as
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
AN IMPOSTOR . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAE SIR AND BROTHEK , —IU reference to Bro . Pnlsford , in your last issue , I refer him to a letter of mine in your paper of tho 12 th May 1883 , and to pages 259 ancl 296 of last year ' s Freemason . Th « Btory about the shipwreck , and being a member of a New Tork
Lodge , was told to me on tbe above date , and it subsequently occurred to me that he was an impostor , though nothing was said to me about his eyesight . The second statement in Bro . Pulford ' s letter was told to me by another individual , who gave the name of H . Newman , of Lodge 316 , who called here on 16 th June last ; his statement was
that be was wounded in Egypt in the head , he had obtained the rank of sergeant , but was discharged withont a pension , tbe wound affecting his sightj he wore glasses , and said he bad just been discharged from an Ophthalmic Hospital , where he had been under treatment for five months . I belived this to be a genuine case . Is it possible tbat the individual of last year's experience met
Newman and heard his story , and is now making use of it ? Bro . Pulford ' s letter shows how necessary it is that we shonld have an organised system of relief throughout the whole of England and Wales , aa then these impostors would find trading on Masonry a poor game , my experience is that eight out of ten Begging Masons are professional vagrants .
I remain , Yours fraternally , THOS . FRANCIS P . M . 804 . Hat ant , 6 th October 1884 .
The two letters that follow are of such general interest , that we feel we shall gratify our readers if we reproduce them . They are extracted from the pages of that ably conducted journal The Keystone . —[ Ed . F . C ]
BRO . HUGHAN'S NEW MASONIC WORK . To the Editor of the Keystone . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —Bro . Hughan ' s recent work , " Origin of the English Bite of Freemasonry , " has doubtless been forwarded to you for review . I hasten , at the outset of this letter , to state that in alluding to it I have no intention of anticipating your own Critical observations upon a volume of such general interest . It mav
be a question bow far tbe small band of us who write Masonic books , are capable of passing judgment upon the works of one another . The buttons are always ou the foils , and like the congratulations which for the most part greet the retiring W . M . who instals his successor , the rejoicing of the little knot of Masonic students over a new book by one of their number , may arise not so much out of the brilliancy of tbe performance , as from the simple fact of his
having got " through with it all !" But if , on the one hand , we become unduly elated by the commendation of our confrires , the Masonio press , on the other hand , supplies a wholesome corrective in the shape of more critical notices , which are not always agreeable to peruse—that is , of course , by the
person chiefly concerned . To come , however , to Bro . Hughan ' s book . Perhaps I may be excused for saying , that in my opinion it is tho best he has written , and shows , what those who know him well were already convinced of , a wider grasp of the general subject than ia indicated by any other of his previous works .
The absen < e of any index whatever detracts , I feel bound to say , from the utility , if not from tbe merit of the publication . Readers of tbe shapely volume will find the various matters treated in a manner which is at once interesting and instructive . But Bro . Hughan should surely have taken into consideration that a work rnnning to 130 pages , or to 150 if the appendices are included , will
be very inconvenient to consult for purposes of reference , withont some better guide to the contents than a mere descriptive roll of the various chapters . Having done my best to pick out flaws in this—the latest venture of one who has done so much to elevate tbe tone of Masonic literature , I gladly turn to its numerous claims upon our gratitude .
The chapters on the Third degree , and npon that of the Eoyal Arch , are not only eminently readable , but will be found to contain a mass of information , collected with great care and discrimination from sources not available to the ordinary student . Tbat all the conclusions with which Bro . Hughan presents us will be endorsed by his critics , I shall not be so rash as to affirm , but I think it may be predicted , that even those who cannot follow our Brother in his arguments , will derive instruction from the way in which he puts them .
Bro . Hughan has yet to " run the gauntlet" of the Masonic press . I wish him a good deliverance , and if it fares witb him , as it did recently with myself , to incur the unanimous censure of " Reviewers of the Craft , " I sincerely hope that the tone and temper in which you , Bro . Editor , criticise , albeit adversely , the writings of your contemporaries , may be imitated on this side of the water . Fraternally yours , R . P . GOUID .
Correspondence.
THE ENGLISH MASONIC EXHIBITION AT WORCESTER .
To the Editor of the Keystone . YORK , 31 st August 1884 . BI : AR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have jnst returned home from a pilgrim . age to the great Masonio Exhibition at Worcester , and ns I am some . what conscious of my neglect of yon for a lengthy period , I am going to send yon a rapid sketch of the whole affair , which haa been about
as great a snecess as anybody could have wished , and much more im . portant than anybody conld have hoped . Ever since last February , when the York College of Rosicrucians got up an Exhibition at York , tho leaders of Masonry in the Province of Worcestershire have beeu working away to produce something of the same kind . The Mayor of Worcester , who is a very enlightened Mason , visited the York
Exhibition himself , and then and there expressed a reckless deter , mination to do or die , and he found a pillar of wisdom and strength in Bro . George Taylor , of Kidderminster , the Provincial Grand Secretary , whose services in his Province are well known . These two good and trne men discovered a safe backer in Sir E . A . Lechmere , Bart ., who is one of those rarely-found men of high rank who
really work shoulder to shoulder with the rank and file of onr Craft . Securing the aid of those who had helped in the accumulation of the York collection , these workers went still further a-field , and , by means of circulars and advertisements in the Masonic press , ran . sacked every likely nook and cranny in the world of Lodges wherein might possibly remain some gem nnknown to fame . The effect was
excellent . We , York brethren , had some difficulty in securing loans of treasures , because the owners feared for their nafe return , but they had got them back sound and secure from York , so that there was little or no hesitation in lending them to Worcester . Thus it came to pass that a week before the date fixed for opening the Exhibition , Bro . Taylor found himself facing a most formidable task , and a pile
of packing cases , that looked like the contents of a steamer a miscellaneous cargo . All , however , melted away before the dauntless attacks of onr Worcester consignees , and in a week's time the disgorged treasures were scientifically and tastefully arranged upon the walls or in glass cases and on tables in two spacious rooms in the upper story of Worcester Guildhall .
Bro . Cumberland , of York , and I , both of us exhibitors , had arranged to make the Worcester pilgrimage together , and accordingly , on Tuesday afternoon last , we boarded a Midland train and steamed away for the city that proved so fatally faithful to the unfortunate cause of the Stuarts . Just as we were starting the postman put into my hand a parcel
containing a copy of the catalogue of the Exhibition , sent on in advance , which served to beguile the hours and astonish our weak minds until we arrived at our destination . It is a remarkable catalogne , as I think you also will say when you have glanced through the copy I send you by book post . In its preparation Bro . Taylor has been assisted by our mutual friend Bro . Hughan , who is always
ready to bear a hand in a good cause , and whose newest work , just out , on the " Origin of the English Masonio Rite , " formed one of the objects exhibited . Hospitable to the core , the Worcester Craftsmen arranged to entertain their principal guests under their own roofs , and so Bro . Cumberland and I found ourselves billeted in the domicile of
Bro . H . G . Budd , the Master of the Worcester Lodge , No . 280 , a yonng surgeon , and as amiable and hospitable aa his house was comfortable , and who at once proceeded to make us thoroughly at home . Next morning saw us at the Guildhall , where the finishing touches were being put to the preparations for the evening soiree , at which some five hundred ladies and gentlemen were expected to attend ,
During the day the Masonic luminaries of England kept mustering in great force , and it would have been difficult to have experienced anything more thoroughly in accordance with the spirit of the Royal Art than the series of friendly greetings and introductions that made the hours glide away all too speedily . Here we met , and for the first time gripped lhe hand of brethren whose names and
reputations had for years been familiar to ns , bnt whose voices had never before greeted us , and whose faces we had never seen , yet with whom we had been long in close correspondence . Luncheon came , and with it , in our case , a party embracing brethren from York , London , Malta , Chester , Manchester and Birmingham ; and so it was wherever the Craft gathered . From the uttermost parts tbey
came , from the four cardinal points of heaven . Bat the pleasantest days end soonest , and the time soon arrived for a quiet dinner and preparation for the evening's entertainment . At 7 . 30 , Bro . Sir Edmnnd and Lsidy Lechmere , he in his regalia as Prov . G . Master of Worcestershire , took their place nnder the folds of the Provincial banner , whilst near them the Mayor , Bro . W . B .
Williamson P M ., ancl the Mayoress , stood beneath the civic sword of state and awaited the arrival ol their guests , who were marshalled up the oaken staircase and through the dense bordering of flowering plants and past the trophies of flags and gnns by an energetic and courteous corps of brethren who acted as Stewards . The introductions over , a band of music struck up a grand selection of Masonic
airs , and the large assembly-room was soon filled . Sir Edmund then ascended the dais and welcomed tbe visitors in a pleasant spech , in which he was followed by the Mayor , and al ' terwards by Bro . the Dean of York , who , as usual , was wonderfully happy in the lightness and airiness , and at the same time sound good sense of his remarks . These preliminaries over , the guests dispersed to view the collections . Then was the time when one might see the beauty and
fashion of Worcester at its best and pleasantest . Never were pretty faces looking prettier or bright eyes sparkling more gaily , or charming lips more disposed to » m \\ e and commend . The whole thing was so new , such a complete novtlty , that all onr fair sisters were p leased find happy . No doubt numbers of them anticipated some disclosures , or trusted in their superior sagacity to make some discoveries . But although in these respects they undoubtedly went away as wise as