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Article UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC RITUAL AND OBSERVANCE. Page 1 of 1 Article " IL TEGAME," OR A MASON'S HOLIDAY. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Uniformity Of Masonic Ritual And Observance.
UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC RITUAL AND OBSERVANCE .
THE success attending Bro . Stevens ' s motion for a Committee of Past Masters to inquire into and report upon the respective systems of working in our Lodges , and which was carried by a large Hajority in
Grand Lodge on the 3 rd inst ., gives promise that at length some measures will be taken to prevent the continuance and increase of those malpractices which have of late years been introduced into Masonic Ceremonial . In our issue
for the 1 st of November we thought proper to advise the originator of this movement for " Uniformity " that he would be expected to produce sufficient cause for the inquiry he suggested , or be prepared to fail in his endeavours ; aud we certainly did not then anticipate that he
could so fully " prove a case " as he has succeeded in doing . The flagrant violations of decorum of which he gave instances , in earnest and forcible appeal to the feelings , intelligence , and understanding of his audience , occasioned no little surprise and indignation , and fully justified the
condemnation he expressed . It is now no longer a question of differences in verbiage between this and that W . M ., or one or the other Preceptor , but of attacking , root and branch , proceedings which seriously affect our " system of morality , " cause indescribable annoyance , and tend to
bring discredit on our Order . We cannot , after heariug his exposition of such improprieties , do other than wish him further success in his undertaking ; but we fear that at yet our worthy brother has but opened the campaign , and that his difficulties have , in spite of all his former
labours , only just commenced . The nomination of the Committee rests with him , subject to the approval of Grand Lodge at its ensuing meeting , and the " blunder " of 1870 should not be repeated . Every sympathy and assistance which can be rendered to him in this matter he certainly
deserves to receive , and the position he has already attained in championing the purification of Masonic working should not be jeopardised by over zealous interference of wellmeaning but injudicious supporters . In the history of former proceedings we learn that the formation of a
Committee agreeable to Grand Lodge was the stumbling-block which retarded the movement some ten" years ago . We sincerely hope that this may not be the case now . The proposed inquiry and repot t will necessarily be a work of magnitude reflecting honour and distinction on all who
take part in its preparation , and everything will depend on its being broad and comprehensive in its scope . If we might suggest to Bro . Stevens , we would earnestly recommend him to secure the co-operation of distinguished Provincial brethren , and not to seek to form his Committee
solely from amongst those connected with Metropolitan Lodges . There should be no difficulty in obtaining tbe nomination of at least one brother from each Province , and if such should be appointed by their respective Provincial Grand Masters or Grand Lodges , as representatives , we
cannot see any possibility of their acceptance by Grand Lodge being withheld . To these mi ght be added a proportionate number of Metropolitan brethren , so that the systems of working which mostly obtain in London might have their representatives also . Together these would
form a large Committee , but we cannot see how the work can be effectually and efficiently carried out without a fair representation of the Lodges throughout town and country . We throw out these hints in our earnest desire to
promote the interests of the Craft in general , and this movement in particular , and whether or not the worthy brother who is so greatly interested in the success of the movement adopts them , we Bhall equally wish him God speed in his continued labours .
A very interesting Emergency Meeting of the Trinity College Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 244 , was held at the Lodge-rooms , Weymouth-street , Portland-place , W ., on Monday , the 8 th inst . A full report will appear in our next .
"The Fern Paradise "—Mr . Francis George Heath ' s illustrated " plea for tho culture of ferns "—after passing through five editions , is about to be re-issued , by Messrs . Sampson , Low , Marston and Co ., in shilling numbers , as a monthly serial . The first number will be published in a few days ,
" Il Tegame," Or A Mason's Holiday.
" IL TEGAME , " OR A MASON'S HOLIDAY .
( Continued from page 202 . )
I WAS about forwarding a paper under the above title , but observing the excellent article of Bro . Norton , of 6 fch December , I do myself tlie pleasure of offering a few remarks upon that . Ifc is alleged of English Freemasonry that ifc is derived from King Solomon of Israel , who we are taught , by the authorised teaching of our authorities , gave to his associated Masons " pass words ; " and we are further told , in whafc is considered its most solemn part , that he
" ordered them to wear white aprons and gloves . This being the teaching of onr Grand Lodge , the burthen of truth rests entirely with that fount of orthodoxy and truth , and ifc is exceedingly amiable in an opponent ; to use any other argument than the " rednctio ad absurdnm . " There are those who wait impatiently for something of this history .
whioh would cover a period of some thousaud and odd hundred years . Probably the desire that ifc must be taken as matter of faith is the secret on which , by ghastly oaths , it demands silence . But for myself I would as soon turn tny microscope on the gill of a " monstrum " as on tho spiraonlaj of a fly , when the sole object is the research of truth .
Of conrse the orthodox historian Oliver finds means to fill this slight gap , and like others , I have opened his mad book , although , after the perusal of a few pages , have closed it with nausea and disgust . Onr excellent Brother Norton some time since wrote a refutation of his statements , and deserves all praise for patienco in trampling such literary garbage .
For the truth or falsehood of what is now inculcated on thousands of onr yonng men the " Board " is responsible j bnt for my own part I believe that a lie in Freemasonry is as degrading to an individual as is one out of it . Had our Board thought so it wonld not have made of Freemasonry a slongh of despond . Let ifc now rppenfc and do its first work . Clear away its rotten slough of lies , and lay a foundation
of truth . Our Society hasalopted tlie arms ( stses Burke says ) , for ifc does nob appear they were ever granted , of the City Company of Freemasons , thus then by their own teaching , and by heraldic or hereditary claim , they derive from the City Company of Masons or Freemasons . The word Brother , as used , is merely an adoption of the word in
common use ; in the French frere , English friar or brother , has long been adapted by societies or brotherhoods of all kinds , and is most certainly not peculiar to Freemasonry as some seem to think . The following remarks may throw some light on this misused subjecfc , nnd may be depended on : —If any of my younger brethren will kindly turn to a good Greek Lexicon ( I have Alexandre ' s before me ) he will find the word MUEO " to initiate into mysteries , " and the
word adapted to Christian ecclesiastical uses means to consecrate , to ordain—ifc has a further meaning , to initiate into any science , to teach , to instrncfc . Aristophanes uses the word in the sense of being initiated to the mysteries of Ceres , & o . There is evidence that after the conquest of Greece , when the two languagesof Rome and Greece became mingled , the word MEISONIUS became formed . Thence , by contraction , may be derived the word MASON , which would mean an " initiate , " if taken in a general sense .
Some idea of playing npon the two words—so similar , yet so different—would seem to have haunted the mind of the originators of modern English Freemasonry , and probably led to the invention of the third degree , which , be it known , was never heard of for very many years after the time of Sir Christopher "Wren and the establishment of the original Lodgo of Antiquity . The original Lodge of Antiquity swore , honestly , a Christian oath , as their fellows had done afore
them ; they did not dabble in a new religion ; in ghastly oaths and a false God . That iniquity was reserved for Ikey Solomons of a later day . " Why didst thou choose that cursed sin—Hypocrisy—to set up in ? Because ifc is the thriving'st calling ; The only C / uwc 7 i . bell that rings all iu !"
I am indebted to my friend and brother , Lewis H . Oatos , of Naples , for calling my attention to this word MEISONIUS , scratched with a style on the wall of a tanner's factory in Pompei . He himself has made a plan of it , and , I believe , intends publishing it . Tho word MEISONIUS is readily deciphered by the careful observer , although I should add that Professor Fiorelli reads ifc somewhat differently .
Much interested , I visitod the house repeatedly , and , on one occasion , spent nearly half a day there , and hope next week to send a detailed description of it . In front of the TRICLINIUM ( or dining table ) of this hoase was found a beautifully-executed Mosaic , or painting in tesselated stones , now transplanted to the Naples Mnseum . Ifc represents a human
skull , snrmounted by a square—or probnby tbe Platonic level , on each side of which is a lance reversed as a flagstaff , to which are fixed rolled up flags or banners of different colours . The skull is supported by a beautifnlly-coloured butterfly , with wings spread for flight , and supported on a wheel with six spokes . Ifc is a symbolical representation of Life and Death , with tho soul
under the semblance of a butterfly—about to take its flight . It is evidently of Grecian origin , since Greece , in all she did well , idealised the soft , the refined , the beantiful . Just as I discovered the above in the Mnsenm , a friend—a Roman Catholic clergyman with whom I had become very intimate , and still
am—came up to me , and we spent some time in careful examination and discussion . He quite agreed with me in the remarks I have above made , and thought ifc not impossible that the ancient initiation into some part of the Eleusinian or other mysteries may have beer ) performed in this house ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Uniformity Of Masonic Ritual And Observance.
UNIFORMITY OF MASONIC RITUAL AND OBSERVANCE .
THE success attending Bro . Stevens ' s motion for a Committee of Past Masters to inquire into and report upon the respective systems of working in our Lodges , and which was carried by a large Hajority in
Grand Lodge on the 3 rd inst ., gives promise that at length some measures will be taken to prevent the continuance and increase of those malpractices which have of late years been introduced into Masonic Ceremonial . In our issue
for the 1 st of November we thought proper to advise the originator of this movement for " Uniformity " that he would be expected to produce sufficient cause for the inquiry he suggested , or be prepared to fail in his endeavours ; aud we certainly did not then anticipate that he
could so fully " prove a case " as he has succeeded in doing . The flagrant violations of decorum of which he gave instances , in earnest and forcible appeal to the feelings , intelligence , and understanding of his audience , occasioned no little surprise and indignation , and fully justified the
condemnation he expressed . It is now no longer a question of differences in verbiage between this and that W . M ., or one or the other Preceptor , but of attacking , root and branch , proceedings which seriously affect our " system of morality , " cause indescribable annoyance , and tend to
bring discredit on our Order . We cannot , after heariug his exposition of such improprieties , do other than wish him further success in his undertaking ; but we fear that at yet our worthy brother has but opened the campaign , and that his difficulties have , in spite of all his former
labours , only just commenced . The nomination of the Committee rests with him , subject to the approval of Grand Lodge at its ensuing meeting , and the " blunder " of 1870 should not be repeated . Every sympathy and assistance which can be rendered to him in this matter he certainly
deserves to receive , and the position he has already attained in championing the purification of Masonic working should not be jeopardised by over zealous interference of wellmeaning but injudicious supporters . In the history of former proceedings we learn that the formation of a
Committee agreeable to Grand Lodge was the stumbling-block which retarded the movement some ten" years ago . We sincerely hope that this may not be the case now . The proposed inquiry and repot t will necessarily be a work of magnitude reflecting honour and distinction on all who
take part in its preparation , and everything will depend on its being broad and comprehensive in its scope . If we might suggest to Bro . Stevens , we would earnestly recommend him to secure the co-operation of distinguished Provincial brethren , and not to seek to form his Committee
solely from amongst those connected with Metropolitan Lodges . There should be no difficulty in obtaining tbe nomination of at least one brother from each Province , and if such should be appointed by their respective Provincial Grand Masters or Grand Lodges , as representatives , we
cannot see any possibility of their acceptance by Grand Lodge being withheld . To these mi ght be added a proportionate number of Metropolitan brethren , so that the systems of working which mostly obtain in London might have their representatives also . Together these would
form a large Committee , but we cannot see how the work can be effectually and efficiently carried out without a fair representation of the Lodges throughout town and country . We throw out these hints in our earnest desire to
promote the interests of the Craft in general , and this movement in particular , and whether or not the worthy brother who is so greatly interested in the success of the movement adopts them , we Bhall equally wish him God speed in his continued labours .
A very interesting Emergency Meeting of the Trinity College Lodge of Mark Master Masons , No . 244 , was held at the Lodge-rooms , Weymouth-street , Portland-place , W ., on Monday , the 8 th inst . A full report will appear in our next .
"The Fern Paradise "—Mr . Francis George Heath ' s illustrated " plea for tho culture of ferns "—after passing through five editions , is about to be re-issued , by Messrs . Sampson , Low , Marston and Co ., in shilling numbers , as a monthly serial . The first number will be published in a few days ,
" Il Tegame," Or A Mason's Holiday.
" IL TEGAME , " OR A MASON'S HOLIDAY .
( Continued from page 202 . )
I WAS about forwarding a paper under the above title , but observing the excellent article of Bro . Norton , of 6 fch December , I do myself tlie pleasure of offering a few remarks upon that . Ifc is alleged of English Freemasonry that ifc is derived from King Solomon of Israel , who we are taught , by the authorised teaching of our authorities , gave to his associated Masons " pass words ; " and we are further told , in whafc is considered its most solemn part , that he
" ordered them to wear white aprons and gloves . This being the teaching of onr Grand Lodge , the burthen of truth rests entirely with that fount of orthodoxy and truth , and ifc is exceedingly amiable in an opponent ; to use any other argument than the " rednctio ad absurdnm . " There are those who wait impatiently for something of this history .
whioh would cover a period of some thousaud and odd hundred years . Probably the desire that ifc must be taken as matter of faith is the secret on which , by ghastly oaths , it demands silence . But for myself I would as soon turn tny microscope on the gill of a " monstrum " as on tho spiraonlaj of a fly , when the sole object is the research of truth .
Of conrse the orthodox historian Oliver finds means to fill this slight gap , and like others , I have opened his mad book , although , after the perusal of a few pages , have closed it with nausea and disgust . Onr excellent Brother Norton some time since wrote a refutation of his statements , and deserves all praise for patienco in trampling such literary garbage .
For the truth or falsehood of what is now inculcated on thousands of onr yonng men the " Board " is responsible j bnt for my own part I believe that a lie in Freemasonry is as degrading to an individual as is one out of it . Had our Board thought so it wonld not have made of Freemasonry a slongh of despond . Let ifc now rppenfc and do its first work . Clear away its rotten slough of lies , and lay a foundation
of truth . Our Society hasalopted tlie arms ( stses Burke says ) , for ifc does nob appear they were ever granted , of the City Company of Freemasons , thus then by their own teaching , and by heraldic or hereditary claim , they derive from the City Company of Masons or Freemasons . The word Brother , as used , is merely an adoption of the word in
common use ; in the French frere , English friar or brother , has long been adapted by societies or brotherhoods of all kinds , and is most certainly not peculiar to Freemasonry as some seem to think . The following remarks may throw some light on this misused subjecfc , nnd may be depended on : —If any of my younger brethren will kindly turn to a good Greek Lexicon ( I have Alexandre ' s before me ) he will find the word MUEO " to initiate into mysteries , " and the
word adapted to Christian ecclesiastical uses means to consecrate , to ordain—ifc has a further meaning , to initiate into any science , to teach , to instrncfc . Aristophanes uses the word in the sense of being initiated to the mysteries of Ceres , & o . There is evidence that after the conquest of Greece , when the two languagesof Rome and Greece became mingled , the word MEISONIUS became formed . Thence , by contraction , may be derived the word MASON , which would mean an " initiate , " if taken in a general sense .
Some idea of playing npon the two words—so similar , yet so different—would seem to have haunted the mind of the originators of modern English Freemasonry , and probably led to the invention of the third degree , which , be it known , was never heard of for very many years after the time of Sir Christopher "Wren and the establishment of the original Lodgo of Antiquity . The original Lodge of Antiquity swore , honestly , a Christian oath , as their fellows had done afore
them ; they did not dabble in a new religion ; in ghastly oaths and a false God . That iniquity was reserved for Ikey Solomons of a later day . " Why didst thou choose that cursed sin—Hypocrisy—to set up in ? Because ifc is the thriving'st calling ; The only C / uwc 7 i . bell that rings all iu !"
I am indebted to my friend and brother , Lewis H . Oatos , of Naples , for calling my attention to this word MEISONIUS , scratched with a style on the wall of a tanner's factory in Pompei . He himself has made a plan of it , and , I believe , intends publishing it . Tho word MEISONIUS is readily deciphered by the careful observer , although I should add that Professor Fiorelli reads ifc somewhat differently .
Much interested , I visitod the house repeatedly , and , on one occasion , spent nearly half a day there , and hope next week to send a detailed description of it . In front of the TRICLINIUM ( or dining table ) of this hoase was found a beautifully-executed Mosaic , or painting in tesselated stones , now transplanted to the Naples Mnseum . Ifc represents a human
skull , snrmounted by a square—or probnby tbe Platonic level , on each side of which is a lance reversed as a flagstaff , to which are fixed rolled up flags or banners of different colours . The skull is supported by a beautifnlly-coloured butterfly , with wings spread for flight , and supported on a wheel with six spokes . Ifc is a symbolical representation of Life and Death , with tho soul
under the semblance of a butterfly—about to take its flight . It is evidently of Grecian origin , since Greece , in all she did well , idealised the soft , the refined , the beantiful . Just as I discovered the above in the Mnsenm , a friend—a Roman Catholic clergyman with whom I had become very intimate , and still
am—came up to me , and we spent some time in careful examination and discussion . He quite agreed with me in the remarks I have above made , and thought ifc not impossible that the ancient initiation into some part of the Eleusinian or other mysteries may have beer ) performed in this house ,