Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry—An Advancive Science.
and thus to advance and more surely secure the great object of Free , masonry , to present to all a " centre of union , and the means of conciliating true friendship among persons that must have remained at a perpetual distanco ;"—thus assisting iu the advent of that day , when all the earth shall know and acknowledge the one , true and living God , and bow no more unto " stocks and stones . "
There is a sense , in which there can be no advancement in Masonry . And this is in relation to the ritual and landmarkg of the Society . Advancement here would be no innovation . These are fixed and unalterable , and cannot be changed without changing tho distinctive feature of Freemasonry itself . In this sense wo are as bitterly opposed to " Advancement" as any , and admit as freely , and are
prepared to depend as stoutly as any , " that it is not in the power of any men , or body of men , to make innovations in the body of Masonry . " But this is a confined sense . Without touching the ritual or tho landmarks , we seo no good reason why the brother , who is capable , should be debarred from amplifying and enriching the lectures with the stores of his own learning and experience . The only difficulty
in the way of latitude here , is to be found from the vain-glorious and vaulting ambition of some who might fancy themselves capable , when the brethren would not be so ready to admit it . But does not herein consist the remedy for this ? Aside from this , whenever the demands of the work will allow , we think it would not be without profit to encourage such lectures . "It is clear , " says Dr . Olivei ' , "that the
lectures of Masonry are arbitrary ; and , with tho exception of a few determinate landmarks , vary essentially in different countries ; being constituted in such a manner as to agree with the peculiar habits and belief of the fraternity who use them ; that the introduction of no startling facts or unacceptable doctrines may cause disputes or divisions to arise amongst a brotherhood who pi-ofess to be connected by the indissoluble chain of brotherly love .
For Masonry meddles with no system of religion , and leaves every member at full liberty to follow that way of faith to which he had been educated . So that the Mahommedan , the Israelite , and the believer in tho new Dispensation may each in his own country tinge , in his imagination , the ceremonies of the Lodge with the hues of his own faith , without doing violence to the essentials of Freemasonry , and without cause of complaint from each other as brethren .
We would by no means be understood to wisn to abrogate , nor do we infer that such was the wish of Bro . Oliver—any part of what are known among Masons , as tho "Lodge Lectures . " These must necessarily remain tho same , at least so far as they are in elucidation of the work . But , we do think , that hero is tho very design of our fathers , to allow tho experienced and talented brother , according to
his gifts and qualifications , to amplify , to beautify , to complete , and render more impressive on the candidate , their solemn arid useful lesson . They are tho mere skeleton , to bo clothed upon , aud filled out into perfect and attractive shape , by the stores of learning and experience , and of disciplined imagination , in the hands of tho skilful and well tried brother .
The readers of the " C ANADIAN MASOXIC NEWS , WO feel assured , will bear as out , in their own experience , as they call to mind tho great difference they have themselves felt between tho lectures thus vivified and vivifying , and the same lectures rehearsed in monotonous tone and pinched limits . It is the difference between the lifeless frame , the naked , lifeless skeleton , and tho same skeleton clothed
upon with flesh , and muscles , and arteries , and with the breath of life in its nostrils , moving before us in all the poetry of life , motion , and intelligence . Encourager of the Arts and Sciences as Freemasonry is , it is reasonable to expect her to show that she is not blind to their advance , and that in the tropes and figures in her lectures she is ablo , with a
Mistress' hand , to cull from every field whatever she may desire for ornament or for conviction , thus giving indubitable evidence that her advancement is ever paced with theirs . For , though it may bo , that all our boasted advance in Arts and Sciences , is more imaginary than real , and that we are only moving back in the great cycle of those to a point already witnessed and passed in Earth ' s ages , still it is
advancement from the condition in which they stood in the " dark ages ;" and Freemasonry were false to her own teaching did she not fail to adopt herself to the enlightment of her day This is what we understand by advancement in Masonry . We would not disturb one stone iu the Temple , where essentials are concerned . We mourn after uuiformity of work , equally with any of our
brethren . We want that work to remain ancient , intact . The principles of Freemasonry we would havo the same , and count it sacrilege in any one to offer to change them . Founded on eternal wisdom , they aro from everlasting to everlasting immutable , sacred . Indeed , all true principles aro in their very nature indestructible aud immutable ; for what are they but the pulsations of the Great Heart of the
Universe—even the unmoved God Himself . Wo believe if all understood advancement in Freemasonry to mean this , all would be content to havo such advancement , and we cannot but suspect that it is only from a want of enquiring as to what it is they mean by " advancement" in Masonry that the difference is so wide among somo of tho brethren thereon . If this article shall contributo to a
better agreement as to tho definition of advancement — -and any shall find , that misled by tho pupnlar use of the word , thoy have mistaken advancement for innovation , and that in truth thero exists no real difference in the minds of the brethren on tho subject , we shall bo abundantly compensated . Not that the harmony of tho workmen
has ever been disturbed iu consequence of these differences of opinion—for that is not so—but when there is perfect agreement , even on minor points , tho work will be moro effective . Brethren , Freemasonry has a great work before her . " Let ns work while it is day , remembering thenight cometh when no man can work . "
CUTB HOUSE PiiTrso CAMS—Mogul Quality , picked Is 3 d por piicfc . Us per dozen packs . Do . seconds Is per pack , lis per dozen pucks . If by post lid per pack extra . Cards for Piquet , Bezique , Ecart < 5 , & c , Mogul Quality lOd por pack , Ba per dozen packs . —London : W . W . Morgan , 67 Barbican , E . G .
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Eeview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , B . C . : o : The Land of the North Wind : or Travels among the Laplanders and the Samoyedes . By EDWARD EAE , Fellow of the Boyal Geographical Society . London : John Murray , Albemarle-street . 1875 .
THIS ia one of tho most genially written books of travels it has been our lot to read , and one which , from tho slight knowledge the public possesses of tho countries visited , is well calculated to excite the interest of the general reader . Both conntries are far enough removed to bo seldom explored by tho almost ubiquitous British traveller . In fact we know of but one or two books of recent
date which contain any record of travelling experiences in Lapland , and none which refers to the land of the Samoyedes . Hence Mr . Eae has conferred a service on the reading public , by setting before it the narrative of his and " the Doctor ' s" experiences , the success of which will , wo think , bo fully recognised by all . Ifc ia not necessary to enter into a long account of the narrative . By so doing we should
anticipate the reader in his study of the work . Our object is to commend it to his notice , not to furnish him with such abundant extracts as to save him the trouble of perusing it . Moreovor , there is an excellent map of the two journeys , and this will enable any one to follow the course of the travellers with tho greatest ease . Let it suffice to state that the visits were paid in two consecutive summers ,
namely , those of 1873 and 1874 ; that the travellers simply equipped for the journey , that the weather was suitable , and that the explorations wero accomplished without misadventure . Everywhere thoy experienced hospitality . Everywhere facilities for their progress were offered . Possibly , other Englishmen may follow in their wake . If so , we think they will do well to read this narrative before setting out . By so doing they will benefit by the experience of Mr . Eae and his
fellow voyager , both as to equipment and the course they should pursue . Wo have said that Mr . Eae is a genial writer , in fact , we feel ourselves at home with him after tho very commencement of his journey , almost as though we were of the party . The start is from Hull , and we are immediately introduced to the compagnons de voyage with whom ¦ fate ordains that tho author shall bo associated on
board tho steamer . The early part of tho journey , however , is uneventful , and accordingly we hasten forward to the early experiences in Lapland . On reaching terra firma , a guide is , of course , engaged , and Jones , tho individual in question , is decidedly a character , tho sourco of intense amusement to tho travellers , if not remarkablv efficient in the r < 3 ? e he undertakes . Iu fact , but ono half
of tho first stage to Kanto-Keino is accomplished , when it turns out , not serionsly to the disturbance of Mr . Eac ' s equanimity , that Jones is as much iu need of guidance as those whom ho has undertaken to guide . Fortunately the right man turns up , and all goes well , the party reaching their destination indueconrse . This episode is mostamusingly told . Strand , or , as he is afterwards named , Somerset , says Mr . Eae ,
" came in shortly , and said that Jones waited without ; I said , desiro Jones to step in . When Jones had stopped iu he stood with his hair erect all over his head , his embroidered collar upright above his ears , and twirling uneasily in his hands his blue and red square cloth cap . His woeful , penitent , comical , uncomfortable expression , was too much to look at seriously : but I shook my head at him , and
said , 0 ! Jones , and has it come to this ; and Jones , who was uncertain whether to fall upon his knees , burst into tears , or burst into laughter , then confessed everything , saying , finally , he would be content with any arrangement we might make as to his remuneration . We decided to give him his due proportion of money , and a present of two silver dollars and a pocket knife , upon which he advanced and shook ' our
hands with effusion . Under Somerset ' s guidance Kanto-Keino is reached in good time , and safely . They approach a clean wooden building , and knocking for entrance , are met by a hard featured , wooden figured woman , but we had better quoto tho narrator ' s own description : "A hard featured , wooden figured woman came to the door : and
on catching sight of us , jerked her hands like a semaphore , and exclaimed ' Mangarieh mafeosh , ' meaning , in the Lapp tongue , Nothing to eat—no got to eat . This she said twelve or thirteen times , and went on jerking her hands ; but wo desired ber to be calm , and walked into the clean birch-lined room , where she had been spinning , and sat down upon a comfortable couch . We said we were
able to eat a little fish , a few dozen eggs , and one or two loaves of bread ; otherwise , we said , we should swallow her wool and drain herlamp , oil , wick and all . She exclaimed , ' Sadaxi piohoxia Venaia !' equivalent , we shonld think , to Ob , good gracious , and jerked herself out of the room . Iu another half-hour a snowy table-cloth , and clean knives , forks , cups , plates , and glasses were placed in front of us . We
had ferreted out of the hampers some biscuits , marmalade , and chocolate . Shortly notrc dame on bois came in with a steaming dish of fried fish— -egg 3 we could not havo till to-morrow ; but there wa 3 coffee , aud there was delicious cream , and there was a vessel full of milk . We ate like panthers who have not seen a kid for three days , and then lounged upon the sofa in peaceful repletion . "
This , we think , will give a very fair idea of tho author ' s style , and will fully confirm our opinion as to the geniality of his narrative . But this is not his only excellence . His descriptive power is very considerable ; witness his account of tho descent of the Lappiafors on the Mu 6 nio Eiver , a matter of some ninety feet , and dangerous withal , for thero are jagged rocks and a swift torrent , yet tho descent
is accomplished , almost without misadventure , under the skilful guidance of Abraham . Not so the descent of the Kengis Fall , with another less able crew . It is touch aud go with the boat , which is half filled with water , when shelter rounda nasty rock is found . At Komi , tho travellers see the mummy—one of five hundred , we are told—of a departed bishop . Ater various excursions in the neighbourhood of Hapar-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry—An Advancive Science.
and thus to advance and more surely secure the great object of Free , masonry , to present to all a " centre of union , and the means of conciliating true friendship among persons that must have remained at a perpetual distanco ;"—thus assisting iu the advent of that day , when all the earth shall know and acknowledge the one , true and living God , and bow no more unto " stocks and stones . "
There is a sense , in which there can be no advancement in Masonry . And this is in relation to the ritual and landmarkg of the Society . Advancement here would be no innovation . These are fixed and unalterable , and cannot be changed without changing tho distinctive feature of Freemasonry itself . In this sense wo are as bitterly opposed to " Advancement" as any , and admit as freely , and are
prepared to depend as stoutly as any , " that it is not in the power of any men , or body of men , to make innovations in the body of Masonry . " But this is a confined sense . Without touching the ritual or tho landmarks , we seo no good reason why the brother , who is capable , should be debarred from amplifying and enriching the lectures with the stores of his own learning and experience . The only difficulty
in the way of latitude here , is to be found from the vain-glorious and vaulting ambition of some who might fancy themselves capable , when the brethren would not be so ready to admit it . But does not herein consist the remedy for this ? Aside from this , whenever the demands of the work will allow , we think it would not be without profit to encourage such lectures . "It is clear , " says Dr . Olivei ' , "that the
lectures of Masonry are arbitrary ; and , with tho exception of a few determinate landmarks , vary essentially in different countries ; being constituted in such a manner as to agree with the peculiar habits and belief of the fraternity who use them ; that the introduction of no startling facts or unacceptable doctrines may cause disputes or divisions to arise amongst a brotherhood who pi-ofess to be connected by the indissoluble chain of brotherly love .
For Masonry meddles with no system of religion , and leaves every member at full liberty to follow that way of faith to which he had been educated . So that the Mahommedan , the Israelite , and the believer in tho new Dispensation may each in his own country tinge , in his imagination , the ceremonies of the Lodge with the hues of his own faith , without doing violence to the essentials of Freemasonry , and without cause of complaint from each other as brethren .
We would by no means be understood to wisn to abrogate , nor do we infer that such was the wish of Bro . Oliver—any part of what are known among Masons , as tho "Lodge Lectures . " These must necessarily remain tho same , at least so far as they are in elucidation of the work . But , we do think , that hero is tho very design of our fathers , to allow tho experienced and talented brother , according to
his gifts and qualifications , to amplify , to beautify , to complete , and render more impressive on the candidate , their solemn arid useful lesson . They are tho mere skeleton , to bo clothed upon , aud filled out into perfect and attractive shape , by the stores of learning and experience , and of disciplined imagination , in the hands of tho skilful and well tried brother .
The readers of the " C ANADIAN MASOXIC NEWS , WO feel assured , will bear as out , in their own experience , as they call to mind tho great difference they have themselves felt between tho lectures thus vivified and vivifying , and the same lectures rehearsed in monotonous tone and pinched limits . It is the difference between the lifeless frame , the naked , lifeless skeleton , and tho same skeleton clothed
upon with flesh , and muscles , and arteries , and with the breath of life in its nostrils , moving before us in all the poetry of life , motion , and intelligence . Encourager of the Arts and Sciences as Freemasonry is , it is reasonable to expect her to show that she is not blind to their advance , and that in the tropes and figures in her lectures she is ablo , with a
Mistress' hand , to cull from every field whatever she may desire for ornament or for conviction , thus giving indubitable evidence that her advancement is ever paced with theirs . For , though it may bo , that all our boasted advance in Arts and Sciences , is more imaginary than real , and that we are only moving back in the great cycle of those to a point already witnessed and passed in Earth ' s ages , still it is
advancement from the condition in which they stood in the " dark ages ;" and Freemasonry were false to her own teaching did she not fail to adopt herself to the enlightment of her day This is what we understand by advancement in Masonry . We would not disturb one stone iu the Temple , where essentials are concerned . We mourn after uuiformity of work , equally with any of our
brethren . We want that work to remain ancient , intact . The principles of Freemasonry we would havo the same , and count it sacrilege in any one to offer to change them . Founded on eternal wisdom , they aro from everlasting to everlasting immutable , sacred . Indeed , all true principles aro in their very nature indestructible aud immutable ; for what are they but the pulsations of the Great Heart of the
Universe—even the unmoved God Himself . Wo believe if all understood advancement in Freemasonry to mean this , all would be content to havo such advancement , and we cannot but suspect that it is only from a want of enquiring as to what it is they mean by " advancement" in Masonry that the difference is so wide among somo of tho brethren thereon . If this article shall contributo to a
better agreement as to tho definition of advancement — -and any shall find , that misled by tho pupnlar use of the word , thoy have mistaken advancement for innovation , and that in truth thero exists no real difference in the minds of the brethren on tho subject , we shall bo abundantly compensated . Not that the harmony of tho workmen
has ever been disturbed iu consequence of these differences of opinion—for that is not so—but when there is perfect agreement , even on minor points , tho work will be moro effective . Brethren , Freemasonry has a great work before her . " Let ns work while it is day , remembering thenight cometh when no man can work . "
CUTB HOUSE PiiTrso CAMS—Mogul Quality , picked Is 3 d por piicfc . Us per dozen packs . Do . seconds Is per pack , lis per dozen pucks . If by post lid per pack extra . Cards for Piquet , Bezique , Ecart < 5 , & c , Mogul Quality lOd por pack , Ba per dozen packs . —London : W . W . Morgan , 67 Barbican , E . G .
Reviews.
REVIEWS .
All Books intended for Eeview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , B . C . : o : The Land of the North Wind : or Travels among the Laplanders and the Samoyedes . By EDWARD EAE , Fellow of the Boyal Geographical Society . London : John Murray , Albemarle-street . 1875 .
THIS ia one of tho most genially written books of travels it has been our lot to read , and one which , from tho slight knowledge the public possesses of tho countries visited , is well calculated to excite the interest of the general reader . Both conntries are far enough removed to bo seldom explored by tho almost ubiquitous British traveller . In fact we know of but one or two books of recent
date which contain any record of travelling experiences in Lapland , and none which refers to the land of the Samoyedes . Hence Mr . Eae has conferred a service on the reading public , by setting before it the narrative of his and " the Doctor ' s" experiences , the success of which will , wo think , bo fully recognised by all . Ifc ia not necessary to enter into a long account of the narrative . By so doing we should
anticipate the reader in his study of the work . Our object is to commend it to his notice , not to furnish him with such abundant extracts as to save him the trouble of perusing it . Moreovor , there is an excellent map of the two journeys , and this will enable any one to follow the course of the travellers with tho greatest ease . Let it suffice to state that the visits were paid in two consecutive summers ,
namely , those of 1873 and 1874 ; that the travellers simply equipped for the journey , that the weather was suitable , and that the explorations wero accomplished without misadventure . Everywhere thoy experienced hospitality . Everywhere facilities for their progress were offered . Possibly , other Englishmen may follow in their wake . If so , we think they will do well to read this narrative before setting out . By so doing they will benefit by the experience of Mr . Eae and his
fellow voyager , both as to equipment and the course they should pursue . Wo have said that Mr . Eae is a genial writer , in fact , we feel ourselves at home with him after tho very commencement of his journey , almost as though we were of the party . The start is from Hull , and we are immediately introduced to the compagnons de voyage with whom ¦ fate ordains that tho author shall bo associated on
board tho steamer . The early part of tho journey , however , is uneventful , and accordingly we hasten forward to the early experiences in Lapland . On reaching terra firma , a guide is , of course , engaged , and Jones , tho individual in question , is decidedly a character , tho sourco of intense amusement to tho travellers , if not remarkablv efficient in the r < 3 ? e he undertakes . Iu fact , but ono half
of tho first stage to Kanto-Keino is accomplished , when it turns out , not serionsly to the disturbance of Mr . Eac ' s equanimity , that Jones is as much iu need of guidance as those whom ho has undertaken to guide . Fortunately the right man turns up , and all goes well , the party reaching their destination indueconrse . This episode is mostamusingly told . Strand , or , as he is afterwards named , Somerset , says Mr . Eae ,
" came in shortly , and said that Jones waited without ; I said , desiro Jones to step in . When Jones had stopped iu he stood with his hair erect all over his head , his embroidered collar upright above his ears , and twirling uneasily in his hands his blue and red square cloth cap . His woeful , penitent , comical , uncomfortable expression , was too much to look at seriously : but I shook my head at him , and
said , 0 ! Jones , and has it come to this ; and Jones , who was uncertain whether to fall upon his knees , burst into tears , or burst into laughter , then confessed everything , saying , finally , he would be content with any arrangement we might make as to his remuneration . We decided to give him his due proportion of money , and a present of two silver dollars and a pocket knife , upon which he advanced and shook ' our
hands with effusion . Under Somerset ' s guidance Kanto-Keino is reached in good time , and safely . They approach a clean wooden building , and knocking for entrance , are met by a hard featured , wooden figured woman , but we had better quoto tho narrator ' s own description : "A hard featured , wooden figured woman came to the door : and
on catching sight of us , jerked her hands like a semaphore , and exclaimed ' Mangarieh mafeosh , ' meaning , in the Lapp tongue , Nothing to eat—no got to eat . This she said twelve or thirteen times , and went on jerking her hands ; but wo desired ber to be calm , and walked into the clean birch-lined room , where she had been spinning , and sat down upon a comfortable couch . We said we were
able to eat a little fish , a few dozen eggs , and one or two loaves of bread ; otherwise , we said , we should swallow her wool and drain herlamp , oil , wick and all . She exclaimed , ' Sadaxi piohoxia Venaia !' equivalent , we shonld think , to Ob , good gracious , and jerked herself out of the room . Iu another half-hour a snowy table-cloth , and clean knives , forks , cups , plates , and glasses were placed in front of us . We
had ferreted out of the hampers some biscuits , marmalade , and chocolate . Shortly notrc dame on bois came in with a steaming dish of fried fish— -egg 3 we could not havo till to-morrow ; but there wa 3 coffee , aud there was delicious cream , and there was a vessel full of milk . We ate like panthers who have not seen a kid for three days , and then lounged upon the sofa in peaceful repletion . "
This , we think , will give a very fair idea of tho author ' s style , and will fully confirm our opinion as to the geniality of his narrative . But this is not his only excellence . His descriptive power is very considerable ; witness his account of tho descent of the Lappiafors on the Mu 6 nio Eiver , a matter of some ninety feet , and dangerous withal , for thero are jagged rocks and a swift torrent , yet tho descent
is accomplished , almost without misadventure , under the skilful guidance of Abraham . Not so the descent of the Kengis Fall , with another less able crew . It is touch aud go with the boat , which is half filled with water , when shelter rounda nasty rock is found . At Komi , tho travellers see the mummy—one of five hundred , we are told—of a departed bishop . Ater various excursions in the neighbourhood of Hapar-