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Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . XYe co-imc-i itndertafce to retuvn . rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name awl address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
THE UNITED STATES AND MASONIC CHARITY .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Time has not served to furnish mo with any facts , subsequent to January 1875 , to alter my opinion as to the hearty response of our American brethren to tho claims of charity . It is a part of my nature to respond when challenged , but equally so , I trust , to acknowledge an erroneous statement . When my answer
to the article of 2 nd January 1875 has been disproved , depend upon my retraction . Its aim was to exhibit the fact that American Freemasons were generous and charitable , as well as fond of good Masonic halls , & c . Organised Masonio Institutions , such as wo have , are not liked in some American Grand Lodges , because of the heavy expenses of
maintenance , whilst in others they aro quite popular . In Kentucky a fine building was opened in 1878 , which occupied some seven years in construction , and I believe contains some hundreds of orphans and widows , its capacity being for 500 . This Grand Lodge at one sitting donated 78 , 000 dollars to that object . ' In North Carolina ( we find in " Bro . Coleman ' s Masonic Calendar " ) there is an excellent Masonic
Orphan Asylnm at Oxford , with 137 inmates . Boys and girls , admitted from eight to twelve , receive a good English education , and then make an honest living by honourable work . In the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE of tho 20 th February 1875 will be found particulars from me of the Louisiana Relief Lodge , No . 1 , of New Orleans . In twenty years over £ 12 , 000 have been distributed amongst the needy of any
Grand Lodgo that have sought assistance , and that Body alone has distributed to English brethren during that period moro pecuniary aid than tbe Grand Lodgo of England has bestowed upon the unfortunate brethren from all tbe American Grand Lodges put together who havo applied at Freemasons' Hall . Doubtless it is true , as you observe , that the large Masonic Halls have proved a heavy drain
npon the funds of the American Grand Lodges , and so did ours in years gone by ! The majority of Grand Lodges aro comparatively now bodies , and several aro very small and much scattered . The country is a large one , ours is small and compact , and whilst the Craft in tho United States have not dono all they might , at all events they have done sufficient to remove our right to blame , and much to
deserve our praise . In " Masonic Relief Associations , " rendering its members independent of charity as far as possible , about one million pounds have been raised dnring the last few years , and several Grand Lodges , like Pennsylvania , have done a noble work , without any paid staff , in the relief of the destitute and needy , when proved to be worthy , and have largo accumulated Funds for that purpose , all carefully husbanded and donated as required . Some of the Grand Lodges
are doubtless behind in such matters , and are open to your fraternal strictures , bnt certainly there are several who have neglected neither the claims of charity , nor those of Freemasonry generally . The moro careful tho Grand Lodges are in tbe selection of their initiates , the less need there will be for charity , and the better will be tho state of the Craft generally , as you already know well , and have so stated in your leaders . Yonrs fraternally ,
Truro , 7 th August 1880 . W . J . HUGHAN
DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have never questioned tho accuracy of the sketch in yonr first number of Masonry in the United States , and have often wondered how and why it was that no answer to your question as to the whereabouts of their Benevolent Institutions has ever before appeared . That there are some snch Institutions there
To the " Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .
is no doubt whatever , as any one knows who is at the pains of reading some of the better class Masonic magazines which aro published in the United States . Some of these , however , partake rather of the character of what we call benefit societies , and would meet with but little or no encouragement among English Masons . But though in a country so vast ifc is probable that there may bo Institutions
resembling thoso of which wc have such reason to be proud , the tendency of American Freemasonry , as yon remarked in the article yon alluded to last week , is certainly iu tho direction of show and tinsel . Take , for instance , an event which is fixed to take place this very month at Chicago , where will be held the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar . American Masonic journals havo for some time
past been disenssing the probable muster on this occasion , and they mostly agree in setting it down at 20 , 000 Sir Knights , arrayed in all the pomp and circumstance of Masonic Templary . When these have paraded the streets of Chicago , gone through their Kni ghtly exercises , and completed the business of tho Encampment , two or three days will have elapsed , and it is easy to imagine
that such a gathering will cost a pretty round snm of money , not far short , perhaps , of the aggregate amount of the subscriptions to onr throe Central Charities—no small outlay for a mere display , it must be admitted . Where in England will yon find a gathering of even two or three hundreds ? Well , only when tho members of a
Provincial Grand Lodge attend divine service in connection with then-Annual Communication—and then , more often than not , they pnt off thoir Masonic regalia—or , as in the very rare case , as when the Grand Master laid the foundation stones of Truro Cathedral , when about a thousand brethren were present all wearing thoir Craft clothing .
Correspondence.
I have faith in the liberality of Americans , and I am sure that from all I have read and heard , American Freemasons are at least as liberal as the rest of their countrymen . But I also believe in the love of show by which they are animated , for all their boasted republican simplicity , and I have invariably found that when there was a chance of having a public procession in connection with Freemasonry ,
onr worthy consins on the other side of the Atlantic made the most of ifc . Well , let them have their shows as often as they please , if they think they will conduce to tho welfare of the Craft . The popu . lation of the city or town in which one takes place , gets a gorgeous sight " free , gratis , for nothing . " The brethren are the admired of their fellow-countrymen and countrywomen for the time being , but
this is of the very smallest importance to Freemasonry . Moreover , it must be remembered thafc in North America there are said to be some 600 , 000 Craftsmen , most of whom belong to the United States , whilo in England there are probably nofc a sixth of th - nnmber ; so that even if they were on a level with ns as to tho strength of their Benevolent Institutions , we shonld still figure to advantage with one English brother against six American brethren . Yours fraternally , BRITON .
PROVINCE OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OP I WIGHT .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —At tho Provincial Grand Lodge of Hants and the Isle of Wight , the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . W . W . B Beach , M . P ., proposed that a vote of thanks should be entered on the minutes of Prov . Grand Lodge to Bro . Le Feuvre , on his retiring from the office of Prov . Grand Secretary . Bro . Sharp suggested
it should bo illuminated on vellum , while Bro . Emanuel suggested that a jewel should also accompany the vellnm . Now , Sir , I think it would be much more satisfactory if the Lodges in tho Province—and there are thirty-two—which havo been in constant communication with Bro . Le Feuvre for eleven years , would put their shoulders to tho wheel ; they-could then easily present that
esteemed Brother with a piece of plate thafc ho could hand down as an heirloom to his family . It appears to mo thafc the vellum and jewel are good , but a piece of plate would be a more substantial and appropriate recognition of snch valuable services , so kindly and readily rendered . I therefore hope the brethren of his Province will
take the matter up , and form a Committee of Present and Past Wardens and Officers , and I feel sure tho Lodges will assist in so good a cause . About two years since a handsome testimonial was presented to the worthy Prov . Grand Treasurer . Surely Bro . Lo Feuvre , who has been eleven years' Secretary of this largo Province , deserves some tangible recognition of his services . I am , Sir , yours fraternally , A . B .
THE GRAND LODGE CALENDAR
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR S IR AND BROTHER , —Writing under date of 20 th July , your correspondent " ZADKIEL " asks , " What has become of fcho Calendar Committee of the Grand Lodge of England ? " At the time of reading his letter I was under the impression that you , in a previous number of tho "FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , " had asked the same or a
similar question . As , however , I am unable to find out whether this was so , I will confine myself to ¦•' ZADKIEL ' - " letter , which , in my estimation , demands attention from the authorities . I am equally of opinion , with your correspondent , that it would not be a very serious labour to improve on tho Grand Lodgo Calendar . As afc present issued , to my mind , it is useless , or approaches thereto ; no account
being taken of the recesses of the various Lodges , while , in I think about nine cases out of ten , a recess during the summer months really does occur . I conld give numerous instances from my personal experience , but will content myself bv pointing to ono or two which occur to me at the moment of writing as illustrative of my remarks . Lodge 529 , Semper Fidelis , meets , according to Grand Lodge
Calendar , on the first Monday . Naturally , from the information thus afforded , ono ' might imagine that it met on the 1 st Monday in every month , while in reality there are no meetings either in June , July or August . Rowley Lodge , No . 1051 , also meeting on first Monday , is similarly referred to in the Calendar ; no mention being made of the recess which occurs dnring July and August , and the same conld be
said of many others . The Watling Street Lodge , No . 1639 , given as meeting- on the first Thursday , is another instance , but , there tho recess extends over Jnne and the three following months , yet not a word is said thereupon . Now , I in turn -would ask tho Calendar Committee to givo me their idea of the purpose for which the G . L . Calendar is issued . I imagine it is , among other things , to enable a
brother , should he be travelling , to ascertain what meetings aro fixed for the district wherein he may , from time to time , find himself ; but if any one , especially dnring tho snmmer season , imagines he can rely on its pages for a solution , I pity him . On the other hand , if a few more were to find themselves , as I havo done , after a long journey , led astray " by the Freemason ' s Calendar and Pocket-book as published
nnder tlia sanction of tho United Grand Lodge of England , and by tlio command of the M . W . Grand Master , " the subject would perhaps assnmo the form of a question in Grand Lodge which might perhaps lead to an alteration . I should much like to know who is actually responsible for the accuracy of this Masonic delusion , for really it is nothing better , and is in fact unworthy of being characterised as tho Official production of the English Brotherhood . Yonrs fraternally , ONE WHO HAS UEEN MISLED .
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 . XYe co-imc-i itndertafce to retuvn . rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name awl address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
THE UNITED STATES AND MASONIC CHARITY .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Time has not served to furnish mo with any facts , subsequent to January 1875 , to alter my opinion as to the hearty response of our American brethren to tho claims of charity . It is a part of my nature to respond when challenged , but equally so , I trust , to acknowledge an erroneous statement . When my answer
to the article of 2 nd January 1875 has been disproved , depend upon my retraction . Its aim was to exhibit the fact that American Freemasons were generous and charitable , as well as fond of good Masonic halls , & c . Organised Masonio Institutions , such as wo have , are not liked in some American Grand Lodges , because of the heavy expenses of
maintenance , whilst in others they aro quite popular . In Kentucky a fine building was opened in 1878 , which occupied some seven years in construction , and I believe contains some hundreds of orphans and widows , its capacity being for 500 . This Grand Lodge at one sitting donated 78 , 000 dollars to that object . ' In North Carolina ( we find in " Bro . Coleman ' s Masonic Calendar " ) there is an excellent Masonic
Orphan Asylnm at Oxford , with 137 inmates . Boys and girls , admitted from eight to twelve , receive a good English education , and then make an honest living by honourable work . In the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE of tho 20 th February 1875 will be found particulars from me of the Louisiana Relief Lodge , No . 1 , of New Orleans . In twenty years over £ 12 , 000 have been distributed amongst the needy of any
Grand Lodgo that have sought assistance , and that Body alone has distributed to English brethren during that period moro pecuniary aid than tbe Grand Lodgo of England has bestowed upon the unfortunate brethren from all tbe American Grand Lodges put together who havo applied at Freemasons' Hall . Doubtless it is true , as you observe , that the large Masonic Halls have proved a heavy drain
npon the funds of the American Grand Lodges , and so did ours in years gone by ! The majority of Grand Lodges aro comparatively now bodies , and several aro very small and much scattered . The country is a large one , ours is small and compact , and whilst the Craft in tho United States have not dono all they might , at all events they have done sufficient to remove our right to blame , and much to
deserve our praise . In " Masonic Relief Associations , " rendering its members independent of charity as far as possible , about one million pounds have been raised dnring the last few years , and several Grand Lodges , like Pennsylvania , have done a noble work , without any paid staff , in the relief of the destitute and needy , when proved to be worthy , and have largo accumulated Funds for that purpose , all carefully husbanded and donated as required . Some of the Grand Lodges
are doubtless behind in such matters , and are open to your fraternal strictures , bnt certainly there are several who have neglected neither the claims of charity , nor those of Freemasonry generally . The moro careful tho Grand Lodges are in tbe selection of their initiates , the less need there will be for charity , and the better will be tho state of the Craft generally , as you already know well , and have so stated in your leaders . Yonrs fraternally ,
Truro , 7 th August 1880 . W . J . HUGHAN
DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have never questioned tho accuracy of the sketch in yonr first number of Masonry in the United States , and have often wondered how and why it was that no answer to your question as to the whereabouts of their Benevolent Institutions has ever before appeared . That there are some snch Institutions there
To the " Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .
is no doubt whatever , as any one knows who is at the pains of reading some of the better class Masonic magazines which aro published in the United States . Some of these , however , partake rather of the character of what we call benefit societies , and would meet with but little or no encouragement among English Masons . But though in a country so vast ifc is probable that there may bo Institutions
resembling thoso of which wc have such reason to be proud , the tendency of American Freemasonry , as yon remarked in the article yon alluded to last week , is certainly iu tho direction of show and tinsel . Take , for instance , an event which is fixed to take place this very month at Chicago , where will be held the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar . American Masonic journals havo for some time
past been disenssing the probable muster on this occasion , and they mostly agree in setting it down at 20 , 000 Sir Knights , arrayed in all the pomp and circumstance of Masonic Templary . When these have paraded the streets of Chicago , gone through their Kni ghtly exercises , and completed the business of tho Encampment , two or three days will have elapsed , and it is easy to imagine
that such a gathering will cost a pretty round snm of money , not far short , perhaps , of the aggregate amount of the subscriptions to onr throe Central Charities—no small outlay for a mere display , it must be admitted . Where in England will yon find a gathering of even two or three hundreds ? Well , only when tho members of a
Provincial Grand Lodge attend divine service in connection with then-Annual Communication—and then , more often than not , they pnt off thoir Masonic regalia—or , as in the very rare case , as when the Grand Master laid the foundation stones of Truro Cathedral , when about a thousand brethren were present all wearing thoir Craft clothing .
Correspondence.
I have faith in the liberality of Americans , and I am sure that from all I have read and heard , American Freemasons are at least as liberal as the rest of their countrymen . But I also believe in the love of show by which they are animated , for all their boasted republican simplicity , and I have invariably found that when there was a chance of having a public procession in connection with Freemasonry ,
onr worthy consins on the other side of the Atlantic made the most of ifc . Well , let them have their shows as often as they please , if they think they will conduce to tho welfare of the Craft . The popu . lation of the city or town in which one takes place , gets a gorgeous sight " free , gratis , for nothing . " The brethren are the admired of their fellow-countrymen and countrywomen for the time being , but
this is of the very smallest importance to Freemasonry . Moreover , it must be remembered thafc in North America there are said to be some 600 , 000 Craftsmen , most of whom belong to the United States , whilo in England there are probably nofc a sixth of th - nnmber ; so that even if they were on a level with ns as to tho strength of their Benevolent Institutions , we shonld still figure to advantage with one English brother against six American brethren . Yours fraternally , BRITON .
PROVINCE OF HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OP I WIGHT .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —At tho Provincial Grand Lodge of Hants and the Isle of Wight , the Provincial Grand Master , Bro . W . W . B Beach , M . P ., proposed that a vote of thanks should be entered on the minutes of Prov . Grand Lodge to Bro . Le Feuvre , on his retiring from the office of Prov . Grand Secretary . Bro . Sharp suggested
it should bo illuminated on vellum , while Bro . Emanuel suggested that a jewel should also accompany the vellnm . Now , Sir , I think it would be much more satisfactory if the Lodges in tho Province—and there are thirty-two—which havo been in constant communication with Bro . Le Feuvre for eleven years , would put their shoulders to tho wheel ; they-could then easily present that
esteemed Brother with a piece of plate thafc ho could hand down as an heirloom to his family . It appears to mo thafc the vellum and jewel are good , but a piece of plate would be a more substantial and appropriate recognition of snch valuable services , so kindly and readily rendered . I therefore hope the brethren of his Province will
take the matter up , and form a Committee of Present and Past Wardens and Officers , and I feel sure tho Lodges will assist in so good a cause . About two years since a handsome testimonial was presented to the worthy Prov . Grand Treasurer . Surely Bro . Lo Feuvre , who has been eleven years' Secretary of this largo Province , deserves some tangible recognition of his services . I am , Sir , yours fraternally , A . B .
THE GRAND LODGE CALENDAR
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR S IR AND BROTHER , —Writing under date of 20 th July , your correspondent " ZADKIEL " asks , " What has become of fcho Calendar Committee of the Grand Lodge of England ? " At the time of reading his letter I was under the impression that you , in a previous number of tho "FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , " had asked the same or a
similar question . As , however , I am unable to find out whether this was so , I will confine myself to ¦•' ZADKIEL ' - " letter , which , in my estimation , demands attention from the authorities . I am equally of opinion , with your correspondent , that it would not be a very serious labour to improve on tho Grand Lodgo Calendar . As afc present issued , to my mind , it is useless , or approaches thereto ; no account
being taken of the recesses of the various Lodges , while , in I think about nine cases out of ten , a recess during the summer months really does occur . I conld give numerous instances from my personal experience , but will content myself bv pointing to ono or two which occur to me at the moment of writing as illustrative of my remarks . Lodge 529 , Semper Fidelis , meets , according to Grand Lodge
Calendar , on the first Monday . Naturally , from the information thus afforded , ono ' might imagine that it met on the 1 st Monday in every month , while in reality there are no meetings either in June , July or August . Rowley Lodge , No . 1051 , also meeting on first Monday , is similarly referred to in the Calendar ; no mention being made of the recess which occurs dnring July and August , and the same conld be
said of many others . The Watling Street Lodge , No . 1639 , given as meeting- on the first Thursday , is another instance , but , there tho recess extends over Jnne and the three following months , yet not a word is said thereupon . Now , I in turn -would ask tho Calendar Committee to givo me their idea of the purpose for which the G . L . Calendar is issued . I imagine it is , among other things , to enable a
brother , should he be travelling , to ascertain what meetings aro fixed for the district wherein he may , from time to time , find himself ; but if any one , especially dnring tho snmmer season , imagines he can rely on its pages for a solution , I pity him . On the other hand , if a few more were to find themselves , as I havo done , after a long journey , led astray " by the Freemason ' s Calendar and Pocket-book as published
nnder tlia sanction of tho United Grand Lodge of England , and by tlio command of the M . W . Grand Master , " the subject would perhaps assnmo the form of a question in Grand Lodge which might perhaps lead to an alteration . I should much like to know who is actually responsible for the accuracy of this Masonic delusion , for really it is nothing better , and is in fact unworthy of being characterised as tho Official production of the English Brotherhood . Yonrs fraternally , ONE WHO HAS UEEN MISLED .