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Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
LODGES OP INSTRUCTION
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIB , —I am very glad to observe , from your report of ono of the Masonic gatherings last week , that attention has at length boon called to tho " rough and tumble" manner iu which instruction is not unfrequoutly imparted in somo of our Lodges . It is a great privilege , as well as pleasure , to attend these meetings for rudimentary
enlightenment , which iu reality must be regarded as the nursery from which our experts of tho future aro to be transplanted ; but are thero not occasions when ono has retired from such an assembly and been forced to acknowledge that the whole evening has been wasted , and that from sheer laxity the time has been expended in a miinner that has been simply " flat , stale and unprofitable ? " And
why is this the case ? Simply because those who havo undertaken to carry out tho duties of the evening are not brought back to complete—as they would bo in any ordinary school—and to perfect themselves in what thoy had already nearly accomplished , thus to make themselves masters , as they go along , of tho various portions of the ritual . I havo attended on recurrent evenings aud found tho samo
weakness apparent , the samo laxity winked at , and the time has slipped away so unprofitably that we have turned to each other at the close of the meeting and asked in vain , " What progress have we mado to-night ? " Another error should bo gnardod against , if Preceptors will allow mo to refer momentarily to this fact . Often when a student blunders at a word or sentence he is immediately tripped ,
aud tho sndden arrest invariably causes him to lose tho thread of his observation and to cover himself with confusion . Preceptors will I am sure excuse my reference to this fault on their part . Rather allow the young aspirant to complete his laudable effort , so far as his talent has developed , and then in kindly terms correct any flaws that may havo been detected during the recital ; aud then , if necessary , allow the passages to bo repeated . The Preceptor should carry a
mental note-book always with him , and he would ever find that a " word in season" is enough to the wise . Free but courteous criticism should be tolerated ou all occasions , as by this means defects nre corrected without offending tho most fastidious tastes or susceptibilities . I was once a constant attendant at Lodges of Instruction , but must say that the loose and slovenly way in which many of them are conducted is sufficient to disgust even a less thin-skinned individual ( if such were possible ) than Yours fraternally , VIGIL
EDUCATIONAL CHARITIES .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BRO ., —In your last issue I was very pleased to see yon gavea notice of the progress of that most deserving institution the Royal Albert Orphan Asylum , tho results of which must bo a source of unqualified satisfaction to its many subscribers aud friends . Full y bearing in mind tho old Adage that " comparisons aro odious , " I note
that the . cost of management , including payment on mortgage ( in lieu of rent ) , food , clothing , education , « Sro ., amounts to £ 19 17 s Id per head . Of course I do not wish to placo our Masonic Schools on the samo level aa this Charity , though tho object of each is kindred in its natnre ; but I havo frequently heard it remarked—and I suppose it will continue to bo a subject of discussion—that it would be as well
to see whether or not some greater economy conld not be practised in the caso of our Boys and Girls . I am quite prepared to admit that every Mason desires to see the children of our deceased brethren educated and brought up in a manner befitting their station in lifelike little ladies and gentlemen . But with due deference to this praiseworthy sentiment , thero seems to be a very wide difference
between the cost of maintenance in our Schools—some £ 36 for the Girls—and those who are cared for by the Charity I havo named . I have not had the opportunity of inquiring into the matter very closely , but I have often heard persons connected with other institutions , such as the Commercial Travellers' School at Pinner , where I believe the boys are well cared for , though perhaps they do not get so thorough
an education as in the Masonic Schools , but where the cost of management is far below our own . I do not for a moment listen to tho arguments so often heard as to our desire to turn out our boys and girls with an artificial pride , and with high-flown ideas . because every man would like his children brought up certainl y in as good a sphere , if not better , than that in which he has himself moved . Therefore I
am not disposed to grumble at the superiority of the education which is imparted to our children . Still , with the distressing cases that we have before ns continually , aud which wc aro utterly unable to meet , it may be worth while to see if something cannot bo done b y the exercise of a more strict economy to spread the advantages of our Masonic Institutions over a somewhat larger aud wider area . Perhaps you , or some of your intelligent correspondents who are
conversant with the interior working of our own and other Charities might bo able to throw a little light upon a subject which is deeply exercising the minds of not a few of the brethren in various parts of the country . | It is congratulatory in the extreme to see the efficiency of tho boys , as evidenced in the recent Cambridge Local Examination , of which you gave a detailed list last week . I know that Bro . Morris of Wood Green , is most anxious to bring his happy
Correspondence.
family well to the fore in the educational department ; and he must be complimented on the very successful results he has this year achieved . Still , as the father of a family , aud seeing the numbers who are to be provided for , and the still increasing list of those who are claiming a just participation in tho benefits of our Institutions , there can be no
harm in ventilating the question as to whether , by a little economy in somo of tho departments , room cannot bo mado for a few more of the deserving applicants , so that on the succeeding election days thero
may be more hearts made glad aud grateful , and a few less sent empty away . Trusting to hear from somo or other of your more intelligent correspondents on this subject , which I have raised mainly for tho sake of eliciting information ,
I remain , Dear Sir and Bro , Yours fraternally , A SUBSCRIBER .
" FIRST IMPRESSIONS . "
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BRO ., —No doubt many brethren have shared with mo tho pleasure I experienced from a perusal of your sound and practical article last week on " First Impressions . " For a very long time I have observed a laxity of manner—a levity almost—in the administration of the first principles of Masonry to the novitiate on his
admission . Of course at that moment when ho is " all eyes and ears , " so to speak , when ho strains every faculty to grasp as much of the hidden mystery that is permitted to bo revealed to him , he takes note of even tho most trivial circumstance , and marks tho demeanour of the brethren in such a way as leaves its " impression" long after tho ceremony has concluded . It mnst be tho experience of every Mason
that the initiate is invariably in that malleable frame of mind during his first passage through a Lodge to receive good impressions or tho reverse , in accordance precisely as tho rite is performed . Thus tho interchange of amused glances , whisperings , and any other movements calculated to disturb the candidate's composure , or to divert his attention , should ho carefully avoided . Such interludes only tend
to strip the ceremony of its solemnity , and produce in the observant mind of tho initiate a greater or less feeling of disappointment , if not of surprise , that sentences of such grave import which , though familiar to older members , now fall npon his ear for the first time , can be marked with such frivolity . Yet such is by no means an uncommon occurrence . Again , I was pleased to observe that you
pointed a mild rebuke to those Masters who , probably having a great deal of work crowded into one evening , aro disposed to hurry over the initiation ceremony . A greater mistake could not be committed , for this not nnfrequently mars tbo initiate's whole conception of tho system . How often do we find that there is " no time" to explain the tracing-board—tho W . M . deferring that , and much other valuable
instruction , to somo " more convenient season ? " Unless a man is determined to make himself competent in all respects to discharge the high responsibilities of tho chair , he should never accept the position ; and when thero ho should bo rigid in his determination to see that thoso duties which aro required of him and his supporters aro carried out , not only in tho spirit but to tho letter . I have
penned theso few thoughts as tho outcome of my perusal of your very apposite article last week . I only wish that it could bo reprinted in tho form of a pamphlet for distribution amongst Entered Apprentices . At that period , as I havo said , thoir minds are receptive and easily moulded , and tho inhalation of such wise counsel
as yon administer would be most beneficial , when they aro eagerly on the search after further light . Taking a great interest , as I do , in your excellent journal , I shall feel pleased if you will forward mo fifty copies for distribution amongst thoso whom I think may derive benefit from its perusal , bnt who may not as yet bo familiar with its contents .
I remain , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , LEO . 7 th April , 1879 .
HOLIDAY TIMES AND BUSINESS
To the Editor of the FHUKMASON ' S GRUONICM . DEAII SIR AND BROTHER , —A frieud of mine has just mentioned tho fact , and it is one that may bo well borne iu mind , for the convenience of brothren . 'in the future , that the Quarterly Court for tho election of Girls falls on Saturday next , and that for the Boys on Easter Monday . Now , as during the holiday season many persons may bo desirous of spending their few days' respite in the country , whilst most of us
will be glad of the retirement afforded between Good Frida / and Easter Monday , it would havo been a source of no inconsiderable convenience had these Courts been postponed until a more convenient season . Perhaps when such an eveut occurs again iuthe future somo arrangements may bo mado so as to meet tho convenience of the brethren who wish to attend these Courts , and not to break in upon their holiday keeping , to which no doubt many of thorn havo been looking forward with tho most agreeable anticipations . Yours fraternally , S . W .
Ad00402
ROYAL POLYTECHNIC . — THE FAIRY DELL . THK ELECTRIC LIGHT . GAS , what it docs nnd can do . THE STEAM ENGINE , Ac . THK ZULU WAR . VOYAGKS IN THK AIR , and THE WONDERS OF MODKRN SCIENCE . THK ZOOCKl'HALIO TROUPE of Living Marionettes . STOKES ON MEMORY . LEOTARD the Automaton , nnd tho AUTOMATIC HEAD . Diver , Diving Bells , & c—Admission , ls ; Opon at 12 and 7 . Carriages at 5 aud 10 .
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 Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
LODGES OP INSTRUCTION
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIB , —I am very glad to observe , from your report of ono of the Masonic gatherings last week , that attention has at length boon called to tho " rough and tumble" manner iu which instruction is not unfrequoutly imparted in somo of our Lodges . It is a great privilege , as well as pleasure , to attend these meetings for rudimentary
enlightenment , which iu reality must be regarded as the nursery from which our experts of tho future aro to be transplanted ; but are thero not occasions when ono has retired from such an assembly and been forced to acknowledge that the whole evening has been wasted , and that from sheer laxity the time has been expended in a miinner that has been simply " flat , stale and unprofitable ? " And
why is this the case ? Simply because those who havo undertaken to carry out tho duties of the evening are not brought back to complete—as they would bo in any ordinary school—and to perfect themselves in what thoy had already nearly accomplished , thus to make themselves masters , as they go along , of tho various portions of the ritual . I havo attended on recurrent evenings aud found tho samo
weakness apparent , the samo laxity winked at , and the time has slipped away so unprofitably that we have turned to each other at the close of the meeting and asked in vain , " What progress have we mado to-night ? " Another error should bo gnardod against , if Preceptors will allow mo to refer momentarily to this fact . Often when a student blunders at a word or sentence he is immediately tripped ,
aud tho sndden arrest invariably causes him to lose tho thread of his observation and to cover himself with confusion . Preceptors will I am sure excuse my reference to this fault on their part . Rather allow the young aspirant to complete his laudable effort , so far as his talent has developed , and then in kindly terms correct any flaws that may havo been detected during the recital ; aud then , if necessary , allow the passages to bo repeated . The Preceptor should carry a
mental note-book always with him , and he would ever find that a " word in season" is enough to the wise . Free but courteous criticism should be tolerated ou all occasions , as by this means defects nre corrected without offending tho most fastidious tastes or susceptibilities . I was once a constant attendant at Lodges of Instruction , but must say that the loose and slovenly way in which many of them are conducted is sufficient to disgust even a less thin-skinned individual ( if such were possible ) than Yours fraternally , VIGIL
EDUCATIONAL CHARITIES .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BRO ., —In your last issue I was very pleased to see yon gavea notice of the progress of that most deserving institution the Royal Albert Orphan Asylum , tho results of which must bo a source of unqualified satisfaction to its many subscribers aud friends . Full y bearing in mind tho old Adage that " comparisons aro odious , " I note
that the . cost of management , including payment on mortgage ( in lieu of rent ) , food , clothing , education , « Sro ., amounts to £ 19 17 s Id per head . Of course I do not wish to placo our Masonic Schools on the samo level aa this Charity , though tho object of each is kindred in its natnre ; but I havo frequently heard it remarked—and I suppose it will continue to bo a subject of discussion—that it would be as well
to see whether or not some greater economy conld not be practised in the caso of our Boys and Girls . I am quite prepared to admit that every Mason desires to see the children of our deceased brethren educated and brought up in a manner befitting their station in lifelike little ladies and gentlemen . But with due deference to this praiseworthy sentiment , thero seems to be a very wide difference
between the cost of maintenance in our Schools—some £ 36 for the Girls—and those who are cared for by the Charity I havo named . I have not had the opportunity of inquiring into the matter very closely , but I have often heard persons connected with other institutions , such as the Commercial Travellers' School at Pinner , where I believe the boys are well cared for , though perhaps they do not get so thorough
an education as in the Masonic Schools , but where the cost of management is far below our own . I do not for a moment listen to tho arguments so often heard as to our desire to turn out our boys and girls with an artificial pride , and with high-flown ideas . because every man would like his children brought up certainl y in as good a sphere , if not better , than that in which he has himself moved . Therefore I
am not disposed to grumble at the superiority of the education which is imparted to our children . Still , with the distressing cases that we have before ns continually , aud which wc aro utterly unable to meet , it may be worth while to see if something cannot bo done b y the exercise of a more strict economy to spread the advantages of our Masonic Institutions over a somewhat larger aud wider area . Perhaps you , or some of your intelligent correspondents who are
conversant with the interior working of our own and other Charities might bo able to throw a little light upon a subject which is deeply exercising the minds of not a few of the brethren in various parts of the country . | It is congratulatory in the extreme to see the efficiency of tho boys , as evidenced in the recent Cambridge Local Examination , of which you gave a detailed list last week . I know that Bro . Morris of Wood Green , is most anxious to bring his happy
Correspondence.
family well to the fore in the educational department ; and he must be complimented on the very successful results he has this year achieved . Still , as the father of a family , aud seeing the numbers who are to be provided for , and the still increasing list of those who are claiming a just participation in tho benefits of our Institutions , there can be no
harm in ventilating the question as to whether , by a little economy in somo of tho departments , room cannot bo mado for a few more of the deserving applicants , so that on the succeeding election days thero
may be more hearts made glad aud grateful , and a few less sent empty away . Trusting to hear from somo or other of your more intelligent correspondents on this subject , which I have raised mainly for tho sake of eliciting information ,
I remain , Dear Sir and Bro , Yours fraternally , A SUBSCRIBER .
" FIRST IMPRESSIONS . "
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BRO ., —No doubt many brethren have shared with mo tho pleasure I experienced from a perusal of your sound and practical article last week on " First Impressions . " For a very long time I have observed a laxity of manner—a levity almost—in the administration of the first principles of Masonry to the novitiate on his
admission . Of course at that moment when ho is " all eyes and ears , " so to speak , when ho strains every faculty to grasp as much of the hidden mystery that is permitted to bo revealed to him , he takes note of even tho most trivial circumstance , and marks tho demeanour of the brethren in such a way as leaves its " impression" long after tho ceremony has concluded . It mnst be tho experience of every Mason
that the initiate is invariably in that malleable frame of mind during his first passage through a Lodge to receive good impressions or tho reverse , in accordance precisely as tho rite is performed . Thus tho interchange of amused glances , whisperings , and any other movements calculated to disturb the candidate's composure , or to divert his attention , should ho carefully avoided . Such interludes only tend
to strip the ceremony of its solemnity , and produce in the observant mind of tho initiate a greater or less feeling of disappointment , if not of surprise , that sentences of such grave import which , though familiar to older members , now fall npon his ear for the first time , can be marked with such frivolity . Yet such is by no means an uncommon occurrence . Again , I was pleased to observe that you
pointed a mild rebuke to those Masters who , probably having a great deal of work crowded into one evening , aro disposed to hurry over the initiation ceremony . A greater mistake could not be committed , for this not nnfrequently mars tbo initiate's whole conception of tho system . How often do we find that there is " no time" to explain the tracing-board—tho W . M . deferring that , and much other valuable
instruction , to somo " more convenient season ? " Unless a man is determined to make himself competent in all respects to discharge the high responsibilities of tho chair , he should never accept the position ; and when thero ho should bo rigid in his determination to see that thoso duties which aro required of him and his supporters aro carried out , not only in tho spirit but to tho letter . I have
penned theso few thoughts as tho outcome of my perusal of your very apposite article last week . I only wish that it could bo reprinted in tho form of a pamphlet for distribution amongst Entered Apprentices . At that period , as I havo said , thoir minds are receptive and easily moulded , and tho inhalation of such wise counsel
as yon administer would be most beneficial , when they aro eagerly on the search after further light . Taking a great interest , as I do , in your excellent journal , I shall feel pleased if you will forward mo fifty copies for distribution amongst thoso whom I think may derive benefit from its perusal , bnt who may not as yet bo familiar with its contents .
I remain , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , LEO . 7 th April , 1879 .
HOLIDAY TIMES AND BUSINESS
To the Editor of the FHUKMASON ' S GRUONICM . DEAII SIR AND BROTHER , —A frieud of mine has just mentioned tho fact , and it is one that may bo well borne iu mind , for the convenience of brothren . 'in the future , that the Quarterly Court for tho election of Girls falls on Saturday next , and that for the Boys on Easter Monday . Now , as during the holiday season many persons may bo desirous of spending their few days' respite in the country , whilst most of us
will be glad of the retirement afforded between Good Frida / and Easter Monday , it would havo been a source of no inconsiderable convenience had these Courts been postponed until a more convenient season . Perhaps when such an eveut occurs again iuthe future somo arrangements may bo mado so as to meet tho convenience of the brethren who wish to attend these Courts , and not to break in upon their holiday keeping , to which no doubt many of thorn havo been looking forward with tho most agreeable anticipations . Yours fraternally , S . W .
Ad00402
ROYAL POLYTECHNIC . — THE FAIRY DELL . THK ELECTRIC LIGHT . GAS , what it docs nnd can do . THE STEAM ENGINE , Ac . THK ZULU WAR . VOYAGKS IN THK AIR , and THE WONDERS OF MODKRN SCIENCE . THK ZOOCKl'HALIO TROUPE of Living Marionettes . STOKES ON MEMORY . LEOTARD the Automaton , nnd tho AUTOMATIC HEAD . Diver , Diving Bells , & c—Admission , ls ; Opon at 12 and 7 . Carriages at 5 aud 10 .