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Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
All Letters must bear the name anl address of the Winter , not necessarily for publication , bnt as a jjitorantee of good faith . We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Corresp indents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT YORK
To the Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have read with a great deal of interest your account of the reception given by the two York Lodges to the Masonio members of the British Association , and I feel convinced tho latter must have highly appreciated the compliment , especially as leading members of the two Grand Lodges of the County
and the Very Rev . the Dean of York , Grand Chaplain of England , together with snch influential local brethren as Bro . Todd P . M . of York Lodue , No . 236 , and Bros . Whytehead and Cnmberland , of Eboracum , No . 1611 , took a prominent part in the proceedings . What , however , I am anxious to draw attention to in connection with this Masonic gatheiing is , not so much the zeal of certain brethren ,
and the excellence of the arrangements they made for the entertainment of their guests , as the fact that outside the city of York none of the Craft seem to trouble themselves at all as to the collection of Masonio relics . There must be a great number of these scattered abont the country , and one would have thought that the authorities of Grand Lodge would have done something in the way of
countenancing the formation of some kind of Museum in connection with the Grand Lodge Library . Ifc is quite true that only during the past two or three years has Grand Lodge given any attention to this Library , and the sum it has had the courage to voto annually would hardly suffice to purchase two books of any rarity , such as some of those that were sold at the dispersion of the Spencer Library about five
or six years back . It cannot be denied that Graud Lodge has ample funds at its disposal , and the Supreme Council of the Ancient aud Accepted Rite in Golden-square have shown what energy and a judicious outlay of money will do in building up a valuable library , and gathering together interesting , and in some cases valuable , mementoes of the past history of the Craffc . Surely if a couple of
private Lodges can , by the zeal of some of their more active members , bring together a collection of rarities , and if an enterprising and wealthy body like the Supreme Council , which , after all , owes its existence primarily to the connection of its members with Craft Masonry , can do something similar , though on a larger scale , our Craft Grand Lodge , which does nofc lack funds or the accommodation , might imitate the good example set by inferior bodies .
So little , however , is done or said by Grand Lodge that I should say there is hardly one brother in twenty who knows there is a Grand Lodge Library , and that Master Masons are privileged to visit and inspect its contents . Is not this being a little too much behindhand in this age of curious investigation into the mysteries ancl singularities of past generations ? If our Freemasonry is as progressive as it claims , I should think it might occasionally muster up courage enough to make a step or two in advance . Fraternally and faithfully yours , A . DRYASDUST .
THE LATE PUPILS' ASSISTANCE EUND .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The total amount of the funds subscribed has , iu compliance with a resolution passed at the final meeting , been returned or handed to the Charities , in accordance with tbe
wishes expressed by the subscribers . The balance ( unclaimed ) left in the hands of the Treasurer , amounting to £ 143 5 s Id , has been paid to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . ( Signed ) CHARLES J . MARTYN , Hon . Treasurer . DICK RADCLYFFE , Hon . Secretary . 12 th September 1881 .
EREEMASONRY IN RANGOON .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The Book of Constitutions provides for the election of tho W . M ., Treasurer and Tyler of a Lodge . Tho Wardens are selec ' ed and appointed by the W . ZL , and after having served as such for a year are eligible for election to tho Eastern Ohair .
That tbe Wardens are important Officers in tho government of a Loil ge , and that great discrimination is exercised in thoir selection is to be presumed , but as a fact what do we find ? That Wardens are too often selected by the W . M . on personal grounds , or from their social position , or to help them on to tbe chair , or it may be that they i re of the oldest members of the Lodge . None of these " motives are to be despised .
low seldom are brethren selected for Wardonslu ' ps for their regularity of attendance , their Masonic qualifications , or their •Masonic virtues . How often do we find , after the installation of the Worshipful th h T d the a PP ° intmenfc ancl investiture of the Wardens , certain of e brethren , who may rightly or wrongly have entertained hopes of
Correspondence.
being selected for a Waulonship , secedo from tho Lodge , become obstructives , or indifferent . I have now in my view a brother who , at the first meet ing of tha Lodgo after his installation , exclaimed , Brethren , I would that thero wero six Senior and six Junior Wardonships , for then I might bo ablo to please manv of tho older members .
I allow that the fitness of Worshipful Master may be determined from tho appointments made by him , yot it has occurred to mo that Lodges would be better worked if tho Worshipful Master was elected from the body of the Master Masons comprising tho Lodge , without any qualifying service , but this is too much to hope for at present . Masonry is conservative , and moves slowly ; tho timo must
come , notwithstanding , when the above suggestion will bo adopted ; till then , and this is the intention of this portion of my letter , I would enquire of you : — Ia there anything in fche Book of Constitutions inconsistent with , or which wonld prohibit a Lodge , by its Bye-Laws , enacting ( tho Book of Constitutions notwithstanding ) that fche Wardens shall be
elected ? II . Since 1877 , Masonry in all its degrees , has retrograded in this Province of British Burmah ; ifc was never very healthy , except for a short interval immediately after the formation of the District Grand Lodge , Provincial Lodge of Mark Master Masons , and the District Grand Chapter . The question has been put , —What is the use of a District Grand Lodge and District Grand Chapter ?
One answer would readily bo , —To rule , govern , direct , and advise tho Private Lodges ; bat all theso functions have boon abrogated by the present District Grand Master , who seems nofc to understand his duties and powers as such . The District Grand Lodge and District Grand Chapter soem to exist only for tho gratification of vain Masons , who seek Masonic
honours , but are both unable and unwilling to givo their time aud money in furtherance of Masonry , and to put ifc on a proper and a healthy basis . The private Lodges remain nnvisited . The District Grand Master ' s and District Grand Superintendent ' s opinion on Masonic matters are seldom sought , ancl when on occasion ifc is invoked , ifc is worthless ,
ancl treated with contempt . I would refer to somo recent proceedings of tbe District Grand Bodies in illustration of my position . There are private and unattached Masons who know more of our Masonic economy than the District Grand Bodies : iu shorfc , the present District Grand Master is an incubus . The only reason which justifies the existence of the District Grand
Bodies in British Burmah is , that it enables us to levy fees for our Provincial Charities—fees which formerly were paid to tho District Grand Lodge of Bengal , and not a red cent was ever paid during that period to any deserving case from this Province . To this extent only can the existence of tho District Grand Bodies of British Burmah be justified . It is true thafc the Quarterly and Half-yearly Commixnications of tbe District Grand Lodge ancl District Grand Chapter
are held with tolerable punctuality , but the hours fixed for these Communications are ungodly , while the proceedings of the District Grand Lodge and the District Grand Chapter are hurried through to enable the District Grand Master and personal friends to get away to their dinners ancl amusements . There has not been a single District Grand Lodge or District Grand Chapter Festival since the formation of the District ; Graud Bodies , nor has the District Grand Master or his following tho ability to
organise one . On the installation of a brother iu the Eastern chair -who was incapable , contentions , ancl spiteful , a sturdy old Mason and a Pasfc District Grand Officer exclaimed , "Thank God for thafc glorious Book of Constitutions ! this brother will reign over us bufc for a year . "
In the same sense do we say thafc the District Grand Master ' s term of office will expire in 1882 , when we hope to have a new District Grand Master . The intention of this portion of my letter is to inquire of you whether a District Grand Master , Provincial Grand Mark Master , and District Grand Superintendent may nofc bs appointed without ;
District Grand Bodies , virtually a Masonic Dictatorship , say for five years ? 3 . In the Craft , Mark , Arch , Templar , and Rose Croix Degrees , brethren are elected and installed Master , Principal , Preceptor , and Prior , or Most ; Wise Sovereign within a week or month before their leaving the Province for a lengthened period , when ifc is known that
they do nofc propose to , ancl aro unable , to serve their year of office . This is notably so in the Rose Croix degree , several of the Blost Wor . Sovereigns having thus been installed . I challenge a denial . The intention of this portion of my letter is to inquire whether theso brethren can claim to be Past Rulers in their respective degrees ? There is but one Rose Croix Chapter in this Province—the Leeson —which very properly has no Provincial Ruler .
4 . There is but ono Knights Templar Preceptory aud Priory in this Province—the Loyal Burmah Preceptory and thoEmmaus Priory —with a Provincial Priory , in which the same Companions aro Provincial Grand Officers . It has a sickly existence . Tho intention of this portion of my letter is to inquire what necessity there is for this Provincial Priory ? Is it not sufficient thafc we should bo under tho Groat Priory , instead of a contemptible Provincial Priory ?
Lastly , by way of warning , I mention that several Pasfc Masters and brethren have had it under consideration whether it would not bo better for the interests of Masonry in general to place themselves under the Grand Loclgo of Scottish Masonry for all India—an active body—instead of the effete system ancl individual we are now under ?
r ours fraternally , A PROVINCIAL MASON . Rangoon , . British Burmah , 5 th August 1881 . [ We think it would have been far better hail the tone of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
All Letters must bear the name anl address of the Winter , not necessarily for publication , bnt as a jjitorantee of good faith . We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Corresp indents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT YORK
To the Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have read with a great deal of interest your account of the reception given by the two York Lodges to the Masonio members of the British Association , and I feel convinced tho latter must have highly appreciated the compliment , especially as leading members of the two Grand Lodges of the County
and the Very Rev . the Dean of York , Grand Chaplain of England , together with snch influential local brethren as Bro . Todd P . M . of York Lodue , No . 236 , and Bros . Whytehead and Cnmberland , of Eboracum , No . 1611 , took a prominent part in the proceedings . What , however , I am anxious to draw attention to in connection with this Masonic gatheiing is , not so much the zeal of certain brethren ,
and the excellence of the arrangements they made for the entertainment of their guests , as the fact that outside the city of York none of the Craft seem to trouble themselves at all as to the collection of Masonio relics . There must be a great number of these scattered abont the country , and one would have thought that the authorities of Grand Lodge would have done something in the way of
countenancing the formation of some kind of Museum in connection with the Grand Lodge Library . Ifc is quite true that only during the past two or three years has Grand Lodge given any attention to this Library , and the sum it has had the courage to voto annually would hardly suffice to purchase two books of any rarity , such as some of those that were sold at the dispersion of the Spencer Library about five
or six years back . It cannot be denied that Graud Lodge has ample funds at its disposal , and the Supreme Council of the Ancient aud Accepted Rite in Golden-square have shown what energy and a judicious outlay of money will do in building up a valuable library , and gathering together interesting , and in some cases valuable , mementoes of the past history of the Craffc . Surely if a couple of
private Lodges can , by the zeal of some of their more active members , bring together a collection of rarities , and if an enterprising and wealthy body like the Supreme Council , which , after all , owes its existence primarily to the connection of its members with Craft Masonry , can do something similar , though on a larger scale , our Craft Grand Lodge , which does nofc lack funds or the accommodation , might imitate the good example set by inferior bodies .
So little , however , is done or said by Grand Lodge that I should say there is hardly one brother in twenty who knows there is a Grand Lodge Library , and that Master Masons are privileged to visit and inspect its contents . Is not this being a little too much behindhand in this age of curious investigation into the mysteries ancl singularities of past generations ? If our Freemasonry is as progressive as it claims , I should think it might occasionally muster up courage enough to make a step or two in advance . Fraternally and faithfully yours , A . DRYASDUST .
THE LATE PUPILS' ASSISTANCE EUND .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The total amount of the funds subscribed has , iu compliance with a resolution passed at the final meeting , been returned or handed to the Charities , in accordance with tbe
wishes expressed by the subscribers . The balance ( unclaimed ) left in the hands of the Treasurer , amounting to £ 143 5 s Id , has been paid to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . ( Signed ) CHARLES J . MARTYN , Hon . Treasurer . DICK RADCLYFFE , Hon . Secretary . 12 th September 1881 .
EREEMASONRY IN RANGOON .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The Book of Constitutions provides for the election of tho W . M ., Treasurer and Tyler of a Lodge . Tho Wardens are selec ' ed and appointed by the W . ZL , and after having served as such for a year are eligible for election to tho Eastern Ohair .
That tbe Wardens are important Officers in tho government of a Loil ge , and that great discrimination is exercised in thoir selection is to be presumed , but as a fact what do we find ? That Wardens are too often selected by the W . M . on personal grounds , or from their social position , or to help them on to tbe chair , or it may be that they i re of the oldest members of the Lodge . None of these " motives are to be despised .
low seldom are brethren selected for Wardonslu ' ps for their regularity of attendance , their Masonic qualifications , or their •Masonic virtues . How often do we find , after the installation of the Worshipful th h T d the a PP ° intmenfc ancl investiture of the Wardens , certain of e brethren , who may rightly or wrongly have entertained hopes of
Correspondence.
being selected for a Waulonship , secedo from tho Lodge , become obstructives , or indifferent . I have now in my view a brother who , at the first meet ing of tha Lodgo after his installation , exclaimed , Brethren , I would that thero wero six Senior and six Junior Wardonships , for then I might bo ablo to please manv of tho older members .
I allow that the fitness of Worshipful Master may be determined from tho appointments made by him , yot it has occurred to mo that Lodges would be better worked if tho Worshipful Master was elected from the body of the Master Masons comprising tho Lodge , without any qualifying service , but this is too much to hope for at present . Masonry is conservative , and moves slowly ; tho timo must
come , notwithstanding , when the above suggestion will bo adopted ; till then , and this is the intention of this portion of my letter , I would enquire of you : — Ia there anything in fche Book of Constitutions inconsistent with , or which wonld prohibit a Lodge , by its Bye-Laws , enacting ( tho Book of Constitutions notwithstanding ) that fche Wardens shall be
elected ? II . Since 1877 , Masonry in all its degrees , has retrograded in this Province of British Burmah ; ifc was never very healthy , except for a short interval immediately after the formation of the District Grand Lodge , Provincial Lodge of Mark Master Masons , and the District Grand Chapter . The question has been put , —What is the use of a District Grand Lodge and District Grand Chapter ?
One answer would readily bo , —To rule , govern , direct , and advise tho Private Lodges ; bat all theso functions have boon abrogated by the present District Grand Master , who seems nofc to understand his duties and powers as such . The District Grand Lodge and District Grand Chapter soem to exist only for tho gratification of vain Masons , who seek Masonic
honours , but are both unable and unwilling to givo their time aud money in furtherance of Masonry , and to put ifc on a proper and a healthy basis . The private Lodges remain nnvisited . The District Grand Master ' s and District Grand Superintendent ' s opinion on Masonic matters are seldom sought , ancl when on occasion ifc is invoked , ifc is worthless ,
ancl treated with contempt . I would refer to somo recent proceedings of tbe District Grand Bodies in illustration of my position . There are private and unattached Masons who know more of our Masonic economy than the District Grand Bodies : iu shorfc , the present District Grand Master is an incubus . The only reason which justifies the existence of the District Grand
Bodies in British Burmah is , that it enables us to levy fees for our Provincial Charities—fees which formerly were paid to tho District Grand Lodge of Bengal , and not a red cent was ever paid during that period to any deserving case from this Province . To this extent only can the existence of tho District Grand Bodies of British Burmah be justified . It is true thafc the Quarterly and Half-yearly Commixnications of tbe District Grand Lodge ancl District Grand Chapter
are held with tolerable punctuality , but the hours fixed for these Communications are ungodly , while the proceedings of the District Grand Lodge and the District Grand Chapter are hurried through to enable the District Grand Master and personal friends to get away to their dinners ancl amusements . There has not been a single District Grand Lodge or District Grand Chapter Festival since the formation of the District ; Graud Bodies , nor has the District Grand Master or his following tho ability to
organise one . On the installation of a brother iu the Eastern chair -who was incapable , contentions , ancl spiteful , a sturdy old Mason and a Pasfc District Grand Officer exclaimed , "Thank God for thafc glorious Book of Constitutions ! this brother will reign over us bufc for a year . "
In the same sense do we say thafc the District Grand Master ' s term of office will expire in 1882 , when we hope to have a new District Grand Master . The intention of this portion of my letter is to inquire of you whether a District Grand Master , Provincial Grand Mark Master , and District Grand Superintendent may nofc bs appointed without ;
District Grand Bodies , virtually a Masonic Dictatorship , say for five years ? 3 . In the Craft , Mark , Arch , Templar , and Rose Croix Degrees , brethren are elected and installed Master , Principal , Preceptor , and Prior , or Most ; Wise Sovereign within a week or month before their leaving the Province for a lengthened period , when ifc is known that
they do nofc propose to , ancl aro unable , to serve their year of office . This is notably so in the Rose Croix degree , several of the Blost Wor . Sovereigns having thus been installed . I challenge a denial . The intention of this portion of my letter is to inquire whether theso brethren can claim to be Past Rulers in their respective degrees ? There is but one Rose Croix Chapter in this Province—the Leeson —which very properly has no Provincial Ruler .
4 . There is but ono Knights Templar Preceptory aud Priory in this Province—the Loyal Burmah Preceptory and thoEmmaus Priory —with a Provincial Priory , in which the same Companions aro Provincial Grand Officers . It has a sickly existence . Tho intention of this portion of my letter is to inquire what necessity there is for this Provincial Priory ? Is it not sufficient thafc we should bo under tho Groat Priory , instead of a contemptible Provincial Priory ?
Lastly , by way of warning , I mention that several Pasfc Masters and brethren have had it under consideration whether it would not bo better for the interests of Masonry in general to place themselves under the Grand Loclgo of Scottish Masonry for all India—an active body—instead of the effete system ancl individual we are now under ?
r ours fraternally , A PROVINCIAL MASON . Rangoon , . British Burmah , 5 th August 1881 . [ We think it would have been far better hail the tone of