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Article REPRINTS No. 2076. ← Page 2 of 2 Article NOTICES OF MEETINGS. Page 1 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reprints No. 2076.
reference whatever to the " General Assembly " and the " Kegulations " passed thereat—which constitute one of the greatest puzzles in Masonic history . Tho Cooke MS . ( Addl . MS . 23 , 198 ) ia tho remaining Reprint with which I have to deal , and my friend Brother
Speth will , I am sure , not misunderstand me when I say that the excellent commentary he has written on this ancient document imposes much additional labour on the reviewer . To quote from it approvingly , or tho reverse , without in tho one case expressing the grounds of my assent , or in
tho other my reasons for withholding it , would be viewed with equal disfavour by the writer , who , possessing to tho highest extent the courage of his own opinions , always
looks , and not unnaturally , for a similar display of intrepidity on tho part of any fraternal critic whoso mission it may be—either willingly or unwillingly—to confront him in the arena of letters .
But , as Swift well remarks , in tho Apology prefixed to his "Tale of a Tub " :- — " To answer a book effectually , requires moro pains aud skill , more wit , learning and judgment , than were employed in writing it . "
Now , the commentary in the . Cooke MS . plainly shows us that the writer has at least his fair share of those endowments , which must be possessed in a still higher degree by any one who is anxious to confute him . Hence , while I shall go so far as to express a
doubt or two , whether in every instance the inference of the commentator is borne out by the premises , I hasten to state that I am only carrying out—albeit somewhat perfunctorily—the task ho has himself allotted
me , of criticising a very luminous exposition on an ancient text , the thoroughness of which will stand out , I fear , in agreeable contrast to the characteristics of the present article .
Bro . Speth says , " Ifc [ fche Cooke MS . ] is undoubtedly the purest , least altered copy of these Constitutions that has at present come down to us , and , therefore the most valuable ; far exceeding in intrinsic value the metrical version of it preserved to us in the Regius MS . ; because less altered by poetical license " ( italics mine ) .
Here I join issue with the commentator . Tho laws in ancient times were embodied in verse , with the object of ensuring a fidelity of transmission , which was deemed incompatible with the fluctuations of prose language , either
oral or written . Tho commentary concludes with a series of conclusions . These are sixteen in number , and the 14 th reads : — " That a Grand Master existed in fact , though not known by that name , and for the duration of each Assembly only .
This , if sustainable , will comfort those brethren who are believers in the " inherent prerogatives of Grand Masters , " a doctrine which is much favoured in the United States . But I am quite unable to agree with Bro . Speth in tho conclusion which he seeks to enforce , or to bring my mind
at all round to his way of thinking . Tho " Assembly , " in my opinion , was by no means limited to the members of a single handicraft . I believe it comprised the members of all handicrafts , and the statement in the MS . that the meeting was presided over by a Master—if by this we are
to understand a Master of the Building Art— -I regard as a Masonic fiction , inspired —; it may well have been—by a desire to exaggerate the importance of the Mason ' s trade ? The arguments that could be submitted in support of theso conjectures , are more numerous than can be found
room for afc the end of an article . But Bro . Speth is well aware that my mind has long been exorcised by the problem of the "Assembly , " and thafc an attempt fco solve ifc was made by me a year or two ago—which attempt , however , I am fain to record , remains as yet an unfinished study .
The chief merit of a commentary lies , as it seems to me , in the degree of interest with which it inspires the reader of the text . Judged by this standard , the latest deliverance of our Bro . Speth must be pronounced to be a most satisfactory and meritorious performance . With the
opinions of the writer one may agree , or the reverse , but no reader will lay down the commentary without having had his attention , forcibly directed to numerous points of great interest , lying scattered in the text , which without the fraternal guidance of Bro . Speth ho would probably have overlooked .
It only remains to be stated thafc the fac similes have been executed with much care and dexterit y , and that neither the printing or binding of the volume leave anything to be desired .
Notices Of Meetings.
NOTICES OF MEETINGS .
— : o : — CONSECRATION OF THE BLOOMSBURY RIFLE S
LODGE , No . 2362 . rpEIE consecration of the abnve Lodgo took placo on Wednesday , the I . 9 th July , nt tho magnificent Headquarters of the Bloomsbury KiR . es ( 19 th Middlesex ) , Chenies Street . The officers' mess room was devoted to the use of the Lodge . It is a lofty and interesting room , containing , in addition to the portraits of byegone military
celebrities , panelling with the arms thereon of officers past and present of the regiment , old arras and armoor . One interesting relic is the colours of the Bloomsbury Trained Band , pioneers of the present Volunteer movement , whioh were paraded before King George 111 . in Hyde Park ia 1790 . The consecrating Officer was V . VV . Bro . Col . Shadwell Gierke G . S ., assisted by E . W . Bro . the Right
Hon . the Earl of Euston Prov . Grand Master Norths and Hunts aa S . W ., R . W . Bro . Sir Lionel Darel , Bart ,, P . G . D . as J . W ., V . W . Bro . the Rev . the Dean of Battle Grand Chaplain ns Chaplain , Bro . Frank Richardson P . G . D . as D . C ., and Bro . Lt .. Col . Arthur B . Cook P . A . G . D . of C . as I . G . The founders were Bros . Claude Scott P . M ., Matthew H . Hale , G . E . Grimes , J . Miller , W . H . Fairclotb , James
Jackson and Harry Sillis . Visitors present : —Bro » . J . W . Vroomau M . W . Grand Master New York , Thomas Fenn Pres . B . Gen . P ., F . A . Bnrnam Chief Commissioner and P . D . D . G . M . New York , Theodore Tilton P . Dop . G . M . New York , E . B . Harper Pres . Board of Trusteei New York , W . A . Scurrah P . P . G . S . of W . Middlesex , Henry Sadler P . M . Grand Tyler , F . G . Fur P . M . 1306 , W . B . Scott P . M . 822 , William Vincent P . M . 1194 , J . H . Price W . M . 1321 , J . Greenway
1310 , E . Daker 1306 , W . Wills 1901 , Frank C . Joseph 2048 , A . W . Gerrard 1415 , J . Jackson 1287 , T . Powell 2182 , H . Reynolds 2182 , E . Smith 2182 , Arthur Scurrah 2206 , G . Goddard 933 , H . J . MoFarlane 1929 , W . H . Sillis 127 , W . O . Welsford 1321 , Henry White 167 , C . A .
Murtoti , and others . The Consecrating Officer , in his opening address , remarked upon tho difficulty of procuring warrants for London Lodges , and the rule to grant none save where exceptional reasons for same could be proved , whioh had satisfactorily been done in tha present case , and they were about to add another Lodge to the present roll of London Military Lodges , whioh already number
twelve . At the outset he congratulated the founders upon the honour conferred upon them by the presence of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of New York and three of his principal Officers ; he believed it was the first time in fche history of the Grand Lodge of New York that the Grand Master had over waited cm English Lodges . The Grand Chaplain then
delivered an appropriate oration on the principles of the Order , ia the course of which he compared the steady gradual rise and progress of Freemasonry to t' . o orderly and stately rearing of King Solomon ' s Tomple . He also spoke in a very feeling manner of the loss the Craft had sustained in the death of the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Muster the late Earl of Carnarnon , and pointed to his Masonio
life aa a noble pattern to us all . The Lodge was then consecrated in duo form and ceremony . A . B . Claude Scott P . M . was installed W . M ., and the Consecrating Officer invested the following brethren : — Bros . M . H . Hale S . W ., G . E . Grimes J . W ., J . L . Miller Secretary , W . H . Faircloth S . D ., J . Jackson J . D ., Harry Sillis I . G . The Worshipfnl Master stated his first and most pleasing duty
was to propose to the members that , in order to show their deep sense and appreciation conferred upon the Lodge by the M . W . G . M . of New York and his Grand Officers being present at fchig consecration , they should vote them first honorary members of their Lodge ; this was carried unanimously . The M . W . Grand Master of New York , replying on behalf of himself and his colleague ? , expressed
tho great pleasure and gratification it gave them to be present at the consecration of an English Lodge , especially one of a Military character , —which was of particular interest to him . In his own jnrisdiction , whioh in size was second only to the Grand Lodge of England , there were at present no Military Lodges , but at the time it was founded six of the nine were Military , and it was founded on
the warrant of a Lodge whioh was granted over a hundred years ago by tho Duke of Athol , and when the War of Independence was over , and the English evacuated New York , to fche lasting credit of English Masons—for Englishmen were and are honourable men—fchey left the warrant in the sacred precincts of fche Lodge room for their American brethren , who have worked under it ever since . This fact alone
would cement the bond of brotherhood between Masons on both sides of the water . He and his colleagues would ever remember and appreciate tho truly fraternal manner in which they had been reoeived , and ever value tho honorary membership that had been conferred upon them . Honorary membership was also conferred upon tbo Consecrating Officera . The Lodge was closed in ancient form ,
and the brethren adjourned to an excellently served banquet , prepared for them in the Serjeants' Mess , which reflected great credit upon the catering of the regimental club steward . The usual loyal toasts were given and duly honoured . In giving the toast of the Grand Officers the W . M . touched briefly but feelingly upon the death of fche late M . W . Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon . Lord Euston
said , on behalf of myself and the other Grand Officers , I thank you for the hearty manner in which yon have received this toast . It is a labonr of love to assist you on the road of prosperity , and a great pleasure to as all . I have never before visited a Military Lodge , and it is a singular coincidence that the first I do visit , and assist in at its consecration , should be the 6 th Volunteer Battalion , attached to my old regiment the Rifle Brigade . You wear the same uniform ,
with a slight difference only iu the badge . I sincerely trust and believe that , as there seems to be the same go and energy in the Lodge as in tho regiment you are named after , you will continue to prosper in numbers and proficiency , and show as good a record aud be as smart in yonr working aa tho regiment is in drill . The W . M . in giving the toasfc of the Consecrating Officers said it was the toast o ( the evening . The way in whioh they had worked fche ceremony w » 0
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reprints No. 2076.
reference whatever to the " General Assembly " and the " Kegulations " passed thereat—which constitute one of the greatest puzzles in Masonic history . Tho Cooke MS . ( Addl . MS . 23 , 198 ) ia tho remaining Reprint with which I have to deal , and my friend Brother
Speth will , I am sure , not misunderstand me when I say that the excellent commentary he has written on this ancient document imposes much additional labour on the reviewer . To quote from it approvingly , or tho reverse , without in tho one case expressing the grounds of my assent , or in
tho other my reasons for withholding it , would be viewed with equal disfavour by the writer , who , possessing to tho highest extent the courage of his own opinions , always
looks , and not unnaturally , for a similar display of intrepidity on tho part of any fraternal critic whoso mission it may be—either willingly or unwillingly—to confront him in the arena of letters .
But , as Swift well remarks , in tho Apology prefixed to his "Tale of a Tub " :- — " To answer a book effectually , requires moro pains aud skill , more wit , learning and judgment , than were employed in writing it . "
Now , the commentary in the . Cooke MS . plainly shows us that the writer has at least his fair share of those endowments , which must be possessed in a still higher degree by any one who is anxious to confute him . Hence , while I shall go so far as to express a
doubt or two , whether in every instance the inference of the commentator is borne out by the premises , I hasten to state that I am only carrying out—albeit somewhat perfunctorily—the task ho has himself allotted
me , of criticising a very luminous exposition on an ancient text , the thoroughness of which will stand out , I fear , in agreeable contrast to the characteristics of the present article .
Bro . Speth says , " Ifc [ fche Cooke MS . ] is undoubtedly the purest , least altered copy of these Constitutions that has at present come down to us , and , therefore the most valuable ; far exceeding in intrinsic value the metrical version of it preserved to us in the Regius MS . ; because less altered by poetical license " ( italics mine ) .
Here I join issue with the commentator . Tho laws in ancient times were embodied in verse , with the object of ensuring a fidelity of transmission , which was deemed incompatible with the fluctuations of prose language , either
oral or written . Tho commentary concludes with a series of conclusions . These are sixteen in number , and the 14 th reads : — " That a Grand Master existed in fact , though not known by that name , and for the duration of each Assembly only .
This , if sustainable , will comfort those brethren who are believers in the " inherent prerogatives of Grand Masters , " a doctrine which is much favoured in the United States . But I am quite unable to agree with Bro . Speth in tho conclusion which he seeks to enforce , or to bring my mind
at all round to his way of thinking . Tho " Assembly , " in my opinion , was by no means limited to the members of a single handicraft . I believe it comprised the members of all handicrafts , and the statement in the MS . that the meeting was presided over by a Master—if by this we are
to understand a Master of the Building Art— -I regard as a Masonic fiction , inspired —; it may well have been—by a desire to exaggerate the importance of the Mason ' s trade ? The arguments that could be submitted in support of theso conjectures , are more numerous than can be found
room for afc the end of an article . But Bro . Speth is well aware that my mind has long been exorcised by the problem of the "Assembly , " and thafc an attempt fco solve ifc was made by me a year or two ago—which attempt , however , I am fain to record , remains as yet an unfinished study .
The chief merit of a commentary lies , as it seems to me , in the degree of interest with which it inspires the reader of the text . Judged by this standard , the latest deliverance of our Bro . Speth must be pronounced to be a most satisfactory and meritorious performance . With the
opinions of the writer one may agree , or the reverse , but no reader will lay down the commentary without having had his attention , forcibly directed to numerous points of great interest , lying scattered in the text , which without the fraternal guidance of Bro . Speth ho would probably have overlooked .
It only remains to be stated thafc the fac similes have been executed with much care and dexterit y , and that neither the printing or binding of the volume leave anything to be desired .
Notices Of Meetings.
NOTICES OF MEETINGS .
— : o : — CONSECRATION OF THE BLOOMSBURY RIFLE S
LODGE , No . 2362 . rpEIE consecration of the abnve Lodgo took placo on Wednesday , the I . 9 th July , nt tho magnificent Headquarters of the Bloomsbury KiR . es ( 19 th Middlesex ) , Chenies Street . The officers' mess room was devoted to the use of the Lodge . It is a lofty and interesting room , containing , in addition to the portraits of byegone military
celebrities , panelling with the arms thereon of officers past and present of the regiment , old arras and armoor . One interesting relic is the colours of the Bloomsbury Trained Band , pioneers of the present Volunteer movement , whioh were paraded before King George 111 . in Hyde Park ia 1790 . The consecrating Officer was V . VV . Bro . Col . Shadwell Gierke G . S ., assisted by E . W . Bro . the Right
Hon . the Earl of Euston Prov . Grand Master Norths and Hunts aa S . W ., R . W . Bro . Sir Lionel Darel , Bart ,, P . G . D . as J . W ., V . W . Bro . the Rev . the Dean of Battle Grand Chaplain ns Chaplain , Bro . Frank Richardson P . G . D . as D . C ., and Bro . Lt .. Col . Arthur B . Cook P . A . G . D . of C . as I . G . The founders were Bros . Claude Scott P . M ., Matthew H . Hale , G . E . Grimes , J . Miller , W . H . Fairclotb , James
Jackson and Harry Sillis . Visitors present : —Bro » . J . W . Vroomau M . W . Grand Master New York , Thomas Fenn Pres . B . Gen . P ., F . A . Bnrnam Chief Commissioner and P . D . D . G . M . New York , Theodore Tilton P . Dop . G . M . New York , E . B . Harper Pres . Board of Trusteei New York , W . A . Scurrah P . P . G . S . of W . Middlesex , Henry Sadler P . M . Grand Tyler , F . G . Fur P . M . 1306 , W . B . Scott P . M . 822 , William Vincent P . M . 1194 , J . H . Price W . M . 1321 , J . Greenway
1310 , E . Daker 1306 , W . Wills 1901 , Frank C . Joseph 2048 , A . W . Gerrard 1415 , J . Jackson 1287 , T . Powell 2182 , H . Reynolds 2182 , E . Smith 2182 , Arthur Scurrah 2206 , G . Goddard 933 , H . J . MoFarlane 1929 , W . H . Sillis 127 , W . O . Welsford 1321 , Henry White 167 , C . A .
Murtoti , and others . The Consecrating Officer , in his opening address , remarked upon tho difficulty of procuring warrants for London Lodges , and the rule to grant none save where exceptional reasons for same could be proved , whioh had satisfactorily been done in tha present case , and they were about to add another Lodge to the present roll of London Military Lodges , whioh already number
twelve . At the outset he congratulated the founders upon the honour conferred upon them by the presence of the Most Worshipful Grand Master of New York and three of his principal Officers ; he believed it was the first time in fche history of the Grand Lodge of New York that the Grand Master had over waited cm English Lodges . The Grand Chaplain then
delivered an appropriate oration on the principles of the Order , ia the course of which he compared the steady gradual rise and progress of Freemasonry to t' . o orderly and stately rearing of King Solomon ' s Tomple . He also spoke in a very feeling manner of the loss the Craft had sustained in the death of the Most Worshipful Pro Grand Muster the late Earl of Carnarnon , and pointed to his Masonio
life aa a noble pattern to us all . The Lodge was then consecrated in duo form and ceremony . A . B . Claude Scott P . M . was installed W . M ., and the Consecrating Officer invested the following brethren : — Bros . M . H . Hale S . W ., G . E . Grimes J . W ., J . L . Miller Secretary , W . H . Faircloth S . D ., J . Jackson J . D ., Harry Sillis I . G . The Worshipfnl Master stated his first and most pleasing duty
was to propose to the members that , in order to show their deep sense and appreciation conferred upon the Lodge by the M . W . G . M . of New York and his Grand Officers being present at fchig consecration , they should vote them first honorary members of their Lodge ; this was carried unanimously . The M . W . Grand Master of New York , replying on behalf of himself and his colleague ? , expressed
tho great pleasure and gratification it gave them to be present at the consecration of an English Lodge , especially one of a Military character , —which was of particular interest to him . In his own jnrisdiction , whioh in size was second only to the Grand Lodge of England , there were at present no Military Lodges , but at the time it was founded six of the nine were Military , and it was founded on
the warrant of a Lodge whioh was granted over a hundred years ago by tho Duke of Athol , and when the War of Independence was over , and the English evacuated New York , to fche lasting credit of English Masons—for Englishmen were and are honourable men—fchey left the warrant in the sacred precincts of fche Lodge room for their American brethren , who have worked under it ever since . This fact alone
would cement the bond of brotherhood between Masons on both sides of the water . He and his colleagues would ever remember and appreciate tho truly fraternal manner in which they had been reoeived , and ever value tho honorary membership that had been conferred upon them . Honorary membership was also conferred upon tbo Consecrating Officera . The Lodge was closed in ancient form ,
and the brethren adjourned to an excellently served banquet , prepared for them in the Serjeants' Mess , which reflected great credit upon the catering of the regimental club steward . The usual loyal toasts were given and duly honoured . In giving the toast of the Grand Officers the W . M . touched briefly but feelingly upon the death of fche late M . W . Bro . the Earl of Carnarvon . Lord Euston
said , on behalf of myself and the other Grand Officers , I thank you for the hearty manner in which yon have received this toast . It is a labonr of love to assist you on the road of prosperity , and a great pleasure to as all . I have never before visited a Military Lodge , and it is a singular coincidence that the first I do visit , and assist in at its consecration , should be the 6 th Volunteer Battalion , attached to my old regiment the Rifle Brigade . You wear the same uniform ,
with a slight difference only iu the badge . I sincerely trust and believe that , as there seems to be the same go and energy in the Lodge as in tho regiment you are named after , you will continue to prosper in numbers and proficiency , and show as good a record aud be as smart in yonr working aa tho regiment is in drill . The W . M . in giving the toasfc of the Consecrating Officers said it was the toast o ( the evening . The way in whioh they had worked fche ceremony w » 0