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Correspondence.
UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC RITUAL AND OBSERVANCE . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As a loyal subject of tho Grand Lodgo of England ( none more so ) I bow with all respect and deference to the decision arrived at on tho 3 rd inst ., at its then Quarterly Communication , although I cannot agreo with tho policy adopted . I havo not far to look for the influence brought to bear in opposition to the
vote of 3 rd December , which was practically a reaffirmation of the necessity for inquiry acknowledged by tho Grand Lodgo in 1869-70 . Tho great power of that influence must be generally admitted , and will doubtless , in the minds of very many , bo accepted as the primary canso of my present defeat . If it had been used moro fairly , and without such evident bias and misrepresentation , I shonld have been
better satisfied as to the merits of the opposition . I do not consider my victors havo reason for congratulation in respect of the means used , although thoy havo carried their point at this moment . Tho fact remains that tho principle of tho movement has received the sanction of Grand Lodgo on three occasions , although its progress is stopped by tho adverse vote of the 3 rd inst .
I maintain that the proceedings of December 1869 and March 1870 created , according to tho Book of Constitutions ( page 28 ) , a law which has never beeu revoked , but which has beeu indirectly and informally evaded . It would be impertinent in me to attempt to renew the question in Grand Lodge upon tho present data , and until such other
circumstances may arise ns shall fully justify a further reference to tne snbject of Uniformity of Working nnd Unity of Essentials . But " other times , other manners , " and the opportunity may yet arrive when thoso who have prevented the carrying ont of tho proposed inquiry and report may regret that the Craft generally had not taken advantage of the proffered aid towards that end . Then , if I live so
long , shall I hnpc to bo prepared for further efforts , for I cannot bring myself to believe that now tho attention of Iho Craft has been directed to some of the many diversities and innovations , both in respect of working and essentials , members of the Order possessing common sense and reasonable intelligence will permit their long
continnance withont objection and protest . Meanwhile I purpose , with your permission , to resume , in your pages , tho correspondence which was interrupted in June last , and , from timo to time , to submit certain variations in Bitual and practice for the consideration of your readers , ancl their decision as to " Which is Correct ?"
Tours faithfully and fraternally , JAMES STEVENS P . M . P . Z . Clapham , 6 th March 1880 .
BRO . CLABON'S RESOLUTIONS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I should say there are numbers of brethren who must feel as much surprised as I was at the withdrawal of Bro . Clabon's Resolutions , and will think it little less than farcical that a notice of motion should be formally placed on the agenda paper —more than once be it remembered—and the motion withdrawn ,
because , forsooth , it was likely to encounter opposition in a certain quarter . If this practice wero generally adopted , ifc would follow , as you said last week , that no proposition shonld ever be submitted to Grand Lodge , to which it was on the cards that any opposition mi ght be offered . As to these particular resolutions , it was certain there would be considerable differences of opinion , not only as to tho
advisability of passing them , but likewise as to the possibility , from a constitutional point of view , of doing so . If ten or a dozen years since somewhat similar propositions were referred to a Committee of Inquiry for report , and then fell to tho ground in the teeth of a favourable report by that Committee , Bro . Clabon may , or rather perhaps ought to have , felt tolerably certain his recent proposals would
bo looked at dubiously by some brethren . For nothing to have resulted from a plan that had been well spoken of by those charged with tbe duty of considering its merits , there must have been a very strong undercurrent of feeling in the Craft , which it appears to me it wonld have been dignified as well as businesslike on the part of Bro . Clabon to havo made allowance for , when he contemplated bringinf
lus pet scheme once again on tho carpet . Had he done this , Freemasonry wonld havo been spared tbo pain of seeing its diet of grave and reverend seigniors put to ridicule . I hold it amounts to this , when a brother is so ill-advised as one day to suggest a plan , and the next day withdraw it , for no stronger reason than was assigned iu this case .
If there were any virtue in it , then most people must be of opinion that it would havo been well to give it duo consideration . On the other hand , if thero were nothing in it of moment , then it was clearly not worth the trouble of any ono to give notice of bis intention to bring it forward . It will be difficult for Bro . Clabon to escape from between the horns of this dilemma .
As to tho scheme itself , I think it was very good . It may not havo been in strict accordance with the constitutional arrangements for administering the Fund of Benevolence . It did not necessaril y involve the diversion of any portion of that Fund from its present purpose . It merely proposed that , in the event of there beino- a surplus , there should bo an appropriation of a certain proportion of the same to a special and praiseworthy purpose , which to my mind is
well within tho spirit of tbe law , if not within the letter . No one will deny that this same purpose was a charitable one , though it may not have belonged to that particular order of Charity for which tho Fund of Benevolence was originally established , and for this reason , I repeat , it certainly came within the spirit , if not tho letter of tho law . On the other hand , in the event of there being no surplus there conld not possibly bo any appropriation for the object con-
Correspondence.
templated . Thus in tho one case , that is , where a surplus remained , the Fund of Benevolence would fulfil its original part plus a parfc since added , while in tho other case , that is , where no surplus remained , it would be excusable only as heretofore . Ifc was not even intended thafc the plan should be retrospective in its operation , so that tho accumulated £ 50 , 000 would have remained in band to assist ,
if necessary , in bolpinsj tho present class of applicants , in tho event of tho income of tho Fund falling below its ordinary requirements iu any year . A largo amount is annually spent in relieving this particular form of distress , bnt in spito of this largo expenditure thero has , in tho course of years , accumulated a sum of £ 50 , 000 over and abovo what bos been needed , and as Freemasonry appears to be
acquiring numerical strength , there is very little likelihood of the income diminishing . There is a reasonable degree of probability that , in the course of years , the present accumulation will have grown bigger instead of smaller , and tho question very naturally arises , Are we to go on heaping np a Reserve Fund out of all proportion to tho yearly expenditure , merely bocauso the law says the money must be
expended for a special purpose—that and no other ? The same power that mado the law can amend it , if it is shown thero is any call for amendment , nnd especially when it has been shown thafc the particular form of amendment which Bro . Clabon thought of proposing could in no wise interfere with the purpose for which tho law was made . Again , if Freemasonry docs nothing else than remain stationary as
regards the number of its adherents , the income of tho Fund of Benevolence will remain stationary ; that is , will be equal to the annual demands upon it , and will have its £ 50 , 000 to fall back upon in the ' case of accident . If Freemasonry increases numerically , then the income of the Fund increases , and the reserve stands a fair chance of growing likewise ; while , if tho numerical strength of Freemasonry
diminishes , the income of the Fund will diminish , and the number of applicants for assistance stands a fair chance of diminishing likewise . I nm afraid thoro will bo fonnd those who think I have not fully considered all tho contingencies which may arise , and thafc I have ad . vanced but indifferent arguments in support of my views as to the character of the scheme which has been proposed . Be it so . I am open
to bo convinced . But the question I havo already propounded in another form remains—Shall wo go on adding to tho reserve of our Fund of Benevolence any surpluses which may arise , that reserve amounting already to tho handsome sum of £ 50 , 000 ; or , at the present rate of expenditure , what would suffice for the demands of aboufc six years , if no dues whatever were paid during thafc period , * or shall we devote
part of those surpluses to such admittedly charitable purposes as help , ing those pupils who on leaving our Boys' and Girls' Schools have no means to help them ? Are there , in the opinion of some , insuperable objections to enlarging the scope of the Fund of Benevolence , at the same time that its original object is preserved intact ? If there are ,
let those who think otherwise havo at least tho opportunity of knowing something about them . Speaking Masonically of course , I am as conservative and as opposed to change for the mere sake of change as any of my brethren , hut I do not think I am forbidden to enlarge the sphere of what I have been taught is my duty , if I can do so with perfect security from all harm to the duty itself . Believe me , Faithfully ancl fraternally yours , ACONISM .
EOYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . 27 Walbrook , E . C , Gth March 1880 . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —If you will kindly give space in your
valuable paper for the accompanying letter , which I addressed to the General Committee of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , which met to-day , I shall esteem it a great favour . I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , S . B . WlKOiY .
27 Walbrook , E . G ., 5 th March 1880 . To the General Committee of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys . Brethren and Gentlemen , —I havo received the copy of a resolution passed by the House Committee at their meeting on the 20 th ult ., which will , no doubt , be read to yon in extenso from their minntes , referring me back to Mr . Stanley , the Solicitor , who , when tho matter was previously placed in his hands , refused to make any
appointment to meet my representative . Now , my account is fully detailed in every item , and any person with tho slightest grain of sense can understand ifc without tho slightest further explanation ; yet I havo written the following letter to Bro . Binckes on tho snbject , but my representative has not heard from Mr . Stanley : —
" 27 Walbrook , E . C , 1 st March 1880 . " Dear Sir and Brother , —I am in receipt of your letter , enclosing the copy of a resolution adopted b y the House Committee , at a meeting held on the 20 th ult ., requesting me to furnish various particulars to Mr . Stanley , that he may advise them as to my claim against the Institution . If Mr . Stanley will mako an appointment with Mr
Paraire , he , as my representative , will give Mr . Stanley any explanations of my account that may bo neceseary , and which he would have done any time during the last six months had Mr . Stanley given him the opportunity ; but as Mr . Stanley has hitherto either declined or abstained from making an appointment with Mr . Paraire , although repeatedly asked to do so , perhaps you will give him instructions to do so . "Yours faithfully ,
" S . B . WiMOJf . " Frederick Binckes , Esq ., " Secretary Koyal Masonic Institution for Boys . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC RITUAL AND OBSERVANCE . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As a loyal subject of tho Grand Lodgo of England ( none more so ) I bow with all respect and deference to the decision arrived at on tho 3 rd inst ., at its then Quarterly Communication , although I cannot agreo with tho policy adopted . I havo not far to look for the influence brought to bear in opposition to the
vote of 3 rd December , which was practically a reaffirmation of the necessity for inquiry acknowledged by tho Grand Lodgo in 1869-70 . Tho great power of that influence must be generally admitted , and will doubtless , in the minds of very many , bo accepted as the primary canso of my present defeat . If it had been used moro fairly , and without such evident bias and misrepresentation , I shonld have been
better satisfied as to the merits of the opposition . I do not consider my victors havo reason for congratulation in respect of the means used , although thoy havo carried their point at this moment . Tho fact remains that tho principle of tho movement has received the sanction of Grand Lodgo on three occasions , although its progress is stopped by tho adverse vote of the 3 rd inst .
I maintain that the proceedings of December 1869 and March 1870 created , according to tho Book of Constitutions ( page 28 ) , a law which has never beeu revoked , but which has beeu indirectly and informally evaded . It would be impertinent in me to attempt to renew the question in Grand Lodge upon tho present data , and until such other
circumstances may arise ns shall fully justify a further reference to tne snbject of Uniformity of Working nnd Unity of Essentials . But " other times , other manners , " and the opportunity may yet arrive when thoso who have prevented the carrying ont of tho proposed inquiry and report may regret that the Craft generally had not taken advantage of the proffered aid towards that end . Then , if I live so
long , shall I hnpc to bo prepared for further efforts , for I cannot bring myself to believe that now tho attention of Iho Craft has been directed to some of the many diversities and innovations , both in respect of working and essentials , members of the Order possessing common sense and reasonable intelligence will permit their long
continnance withont objection and protest . Meanwhile I purpose , with your permission , to resume , in your pages , tho correspondence which was interrupted in June last , and , from timo to time , to submit certain variations in Bitual and practice for the consideration of your readers , ancl their decision as to " Which is Correct ?"
Tours faithfully and fraternally , JAMES STEVENS P . M . P . Z . Clapham , 6 th March 1880 .
BRO . CLABON'S RESOLUTIONS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I should say there are numbers of brethren who must feel as much surprised as I was at the withdrawal of Bro . Clabon's Resolutions , and will think it little less than farcical that a notice of motion should be formally placed on the agenda paper —more than once be it remembered—and the motion withdrawn ,
because , forsooth , it was likely to encounter opposition in a certain quarter . If this practice wero generally adopted , ifc would follow , as you said last week , that no proposition shonld ever be submitted to Grand Lodge , to which it was on the cards that any opposition mi ght be offered . As to these particular resolutions , it was certain there would be considerable differences of opinion , not only as to tho
advisability of passing them , but likewise as to the possibility , from a constitutional point of view , of doing so . If ten or a dozen years since somewhat similar propositions were referred to a Committee of Inquiry for report , and then fell to tho ground in the teeth of a favourable report by that Committee , Bro . Clabon may , or rather perhaps ought to have , felt tolerably certain his recent proposals would
bo looked at dubiously by some brethren . For nothing to have resulted from a plan that had been well spoken of by those charged with tbe duty of considering its merits , there must have been a very strong undercurrent of feeling in the Craft , which it appears to me it wonld have been dignified as well as businesslike on the part of Bro . Clabon to havo made allowance for , when he contemplated bringinf
lus pet scheme once again on tho carpet . Had he done this , Freemasonry wonld havo been spared tbo pain of seeing its diet of grave and reverend seigniors put to ridicule . I hold it amounts to this , when a brother is so ill-advised as one day to suggest a plan , and the next day withdraw it , for no stronger reason than was assigned iu this case .
If there were any virtue in it , then most people must be of opinion that it would havo been well to give it duo consideration . On the other hand , if thero were nothing in it of moment , then it was clearly not worth the trouble of any ono to give notice of bis intention to bring it forward . It will be difficult for Bro . Clabon to escape from between the horns of this dilemma .
As to tho scheme itself , I think it was very good . It may not havo been in strict accordance with the constitutional arrangements for administering the Fund of Benevolence . It did not necessaril y involve the diversion of any portion of that Fund from its present purpose . It merely proposed that , in the event of there beino- a surplus , there should bo an appropriation of a certain proportion of the same to a special and praiseworthy purpose , which to my mind is
well within tho spirit of tbe law , if not within the letter . No one will deny that this same purpose was a charitable one , though it may not have belonged to that particular order of Charity for which tho Fund of Benevolence was originally established , and for this reason , I repeat , it certainly came within the spirit , if not tho letter of tho law . On the other hand , in the event of there being no surplus there conld not possibly bo any appropriation for the object con-
Correspondence.
templated . Thus in tho one case , that is , where a surplus remained , the Fund of Benevolence would fulfil its original part plus a parfc since added , while in tho other case , that is , where no surplus remained , it would be excusable only as heretofore . Ifc was not even intended thafc the plan should be retrospective in its operation , so that tho accumulated £ 50 , 000 would have remained in band to assist ,
if necessary , in bolpinsj tho present class of applicants , in tho event of tho income of tho Fund falling below its ordinary requirements iu any year . A largo amount is annually spent in relieving this particular form of distress , bnt in spito of this largo expenditure thero has , in tho course of years , accumulated a sum of £ 50 , 000 over and abovo what bos been needed , and as Freemasonry appears to be
acquiring numerical strength , there is very little likelihood of the income diminishing . There is a reasonable degree of probability that , in the course of years , the present accumulation will have grown bigger instead of smaller , and tho question very naturally arises , Are we to go on heaping np a Reserve Fund out of all proportion to tho yearly expenditure , merely bocauso the law says the money must be
expended for a special purpose—that and no other ? The same power that mado the law can amend it , if it is shown thero is any call for amendment , nnd especially when it has been shown thafc the particular form of amendment which Bro . Clabon thought of proposing could in no wise interfere with the purpose for which tho law was made . Again , if Freemasonry docs nothing else than remain stationary as
regards the number of its adherents , the income of tho Fund of Benevolence will remain stationary ; that is , will be equal to the annual demands upon it , and will have its £ 50 , 000 to fall back upon in the ' case of accident . If Freemasonry increases numerically , then the income of the Fund increases , and the reserve stands a fair chance of growing likewise ; while , if tho numerical strength of Freemasonry
diminishes , the income of the Fund will diminish , and the number of applicants for assistance stands a fair chance of diminishing likewise . I nm afraid thoro will bo fonnd those who think I have not fully considered all tho contingencies which may arise , and thafc I have ad . vanced but indifferent arguments in support of my views as to the character of the scheme which has been proposed . Be it so . I am open
to bo convinced . But the question I havo already propounded in another form remains—Shall wo go on adding to tho reserve of our Fund of Benevolence any surpluses which may arise , that reserve amounting already to tho handsome sum of £ 50 , 000 ; or , at the present rate of expenditure , what would suffice for the demands of aboufc six years , if no dues whatever were paid during thafc period , * or shall we devote
part of those surpluses to such admittedly charitable purposes as help , ing those pupils who on leaving our Boys' and Girls' Schools have no means to help them ? Are there , in the opinion of some , insuperable objections to enlarging the scope of the Fund of Benevolence , at the same time that its original object is preserved intact ? If there are ,
let those who think otherwise havo at least tho opportunity of knowing something about them . Speaking Masonically of course , I am as conservative and as opposed to change for the mere sake of change as any of my brethren , hut I do not think I am forbidden to enlarge the sphere of what I have been taught is my duty , if I can do so with perfect security from all harm to the duty itself . Believe me , Faithfully ancl fraternally yours , ACONISM .
EOYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . 27 Walbrook , E . C , Gth March 1880 . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —If you will kindly give space in your
valuable paper for the accompanying letter , which I addressed to the General Committee of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys , which met to-day , I shall esteem it a great favour . I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , S . B . WlKOiY .
27 Walbrook , E . G ., 5 th March 1880 . To the General Committee of the Eoyal Masonic Institution for Boys . Brethren and Gentlemen , —I havo received the copy of a resolution passed by the House Committee at their meeting on the 20 th ult ., which will , no doubt , be read to yon in extenso from their minntes , referring me back to Mr . Stanley , the Solicitor , who , when tho matter was previously placed in his hands , refused to make any
appointment to meet my representative . Now , my account is fully detailed in every item , and any person with tho slightest grain of sense can understand ifc without tho slightest further explanation ; yet I havo written the following letter to Bro . Binckes on tho snbject , but my representative has not heard from Mr . Stanley : —
" 27 Walbrook , E . C , 1 st March 1880 . " Dear Sir and Brother , —I am in receipt of your letter , enclosing the copy of a resolution adopted b y the House Committee , at a meeting held on the 20 th ult ., requesting me to furnish various particulars to Mr . Stanley , that he may advise them as to my claim against the Institution . If Mr . Stanley will mako an appointment with Mr
Paraire , he , as my representative , will give Mr . Stanley any explanations of my account that may bo neceseary , and which he would have done any time during the last six months had Mr . Stanley given him the opportunity ; but as Mr . Stanley has hitherto either declined or abstained from making an appointment with Mr . Paraire , although repeatedly asked to do so , perhaps you will give him instructions to do so . "Yours faithfully ,
" S . B . WiMOJf . " Frederick Binckes , Esq ., " Secretary Koyal Masonic Institution for Boys . "