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Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Re UNIFORMITY OF WORKING. Page 1 of 1 Article A CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF AN ANCIENT LODGE. Page 1 of 1 Article A CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF AN ANCIENT LODGE. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
Masons occupying different stations in life , and tho whole fabric of Masonry falls to the ground . As Masons wo aro all equally required to respect , aud , if possible , assist ono another . Tho equality docs not , however , extend beyond tho circle of our Masonic duties . Inside Freemasonry , princo and peasant aro equal ; outside , thoy are unequal—tho former being in the higher , the latter iu tho lower ranks
of society . We fully and very properly recognize tho distinction oatsido , biit ifc will never do if we cast a doubt upon tho complete equality in things Masonic . As to tho second question , Preceptor No . 1 is clearly right . To say that geometry is " tho basis and superstructure on which Freemasonry rests , " is sheer nonscuso . Geometry is the base or basis ,
and Freemasonry tho superstructure , that is tho structure erected on that basis . Only by picturing a house built on the top of another house can we fashion tor ourselves the idea of Freemasonry resting on the basis aud superstructure of geometry . In respect of the third question , I do not think it very material whether we say " sepulture" or " sepulchre . " I consider tho sentence
is faultily , or I should say , perhaps , clumsily worded , The body was found to have been hastily aud indecently cast into tho ground , and instructions wero given that it should bo raised , aud buried , not only reverently and in a decent manner , that is , with proper funeral rites , but also in a manner becoming the exalted rank and great talents of tho deceased . Both words aro derived cl sevelio , to bury ,
sepu It are being the act of depositing a dead body in tho grave , ancl sepulchre the grave or place in which the body is deposited . Ifc will bo seen from this , that we may say either to " raise the body , & c , to such a sepulture" [ or burial ] " as became , " & o ., or" to raise the body , & c , to such a sepulchre" [ or tomb ] as became , & c , without detriment to tho sense intended to bo conveyed . I confess ifc sounds funnily to me to hear any one speak of raising a body to a sepulchre ,
seeing that tho sepulchre or tomb is raised or erected for tho reception of the body . Tho real truth I take to be this . There were two offices to be fulfilled . First of all , the body had to bo raised from its rude burial-place . Secondly , it had to be committed to a tomb becoming the rank , & G . & o . Tho authors of the Eitual were anxious to express these two ideas in ono short sentence , and they have done so not inaccurately , whether we use sepulture or sepulchre ; but I cannot regard their mode of expression as particularly felicitous . Fraternally yours , , ! Q . "
Re Uniformity Of Working.
Re UNIFORMITY OF WORKING .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have been interested , in reading various letters from " P . M ., P . Z ., " and have connected the writer , iu my own mind , with a series of important communications which appeared iu tho Freemason , the keystone of the whole being tho one in tho issue for 2 / th March 18 G'J . The Grand Lodge , in response to that
indefatigable brother , gave a unanimous vote that uniformity of working was desirable , but , so far , nothing has been officially dono to carry out tho vote . I do not want to force our brother to reveal his name , but consider that , if my fancy be correct , ifc would bo better for him to come to the front at once , and thus form a link with the eventful past . His success some seven years ago might now bo followed by
au attempt to secure uniformity , by tho Grand Lodgo sanctioning the work of ono or more Lodges of Instruction , so that country members may know where to attend for authoritative information . I am also persuaded that the advice given some years ago by Bro . Hughan , who is so well posted in the American system of work , is worth following —viz ., for the Grand Lodge and each Prov . Graud Lodgo to appoint
a Grand Lecturer for their respective districts , whoso duty it would bo to visit the Lodges under their supervision , and make known the ceremonies according to authority . Each Prov . Grand Lecturer should be placed iu communication with the Grand Lecturer , and only be entitled to act as such when he has proved himself to be
competent so to do . In fact , to all intents and purposes it would be a revival of the old Lodge of Reconciliation . I may say that I quite agree with all that Bro . Gottheil has advanced on tho matter , and so also with our Bro . G . W . W ., and I am persuaded , that the Graud Officers have little idea how much au alteration is required in many country Lodges . P . G . W .
A Curious Account Of An Ancient Lodge.
A CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF AN ANCIENT LODGE .
The following is the Record concerning Lodge 20 , the oldest in the Provinces : — " Whereas it appears by tho records of tho Grand Lodgo that a Wan-ant bearing date tho 28 th March 1723 , was issued under tho Seal of Masonry , enabling certain brethren therein named to open and hold a Lodge of Freemasons , at the Crown , Cripplegatc , London ,
under , called , or known by the number 10 , and whereas by th <> general closing up of tho List of Lodges in tho year 1710 , tho said Lod ge became number 12 . In the year 1718 the said Lodge was removed to Chatham , in tho County of Kent , and by the closbig up of tho List of Lodges in the year 175 ( 3 it became number 10 ; aud
which Lodge , in consequence of the union of tho two fraternities of Freemasons on tho 27 th day of December 1313 , became , and is now registered , in the books of the United Grand Lodge , No . 20 . In the year 18 / 3 , on petition by the Grand Lodge , a centenary charter was granted , with permission to wear the centenary jewel , "—From Bye-laws ot Prov , G , L , Kent . ' '
A Curious Account Of An Ancient Lodge.
We have been favoured with copy of Sir Henry Edwards ' s address at the recent meeting ot the Prov . Grand Lodgo of West Yorkshire . We insert it with a great deal of pleasure , and we trust ouv brethren throughout the country will kindly take to heart the very sound advice respecting the care of archives which our Eight Worshipful Brother offers .
Worshipful Masters , Officers , and Brethren of this Provincial Grand Lodgo , —Tho time has again arrived when it becomes my pleasing duty to address you as your Provincial Grand Master , and in so doing , I am sure I cannot gratify both yourselves and myself more than by inviting yon all to participate in tho pleasing duties of this Provincial Graud Lodgo , assuring you that tho matters iu which
wo aro about to bo engaged could not well fail to give you unalloyed satisfaction . Eeceive , I beg of you , my warmest acknowledgments for the salutation with which yon have greeted mo in Harrogate , a place familiar to mo for a long period , iu connection with my yeomanry command , and for the cordiality of the Masonic compliment yon have rendered to tho office I occupy amongst the brethren of
West Yorkshire . Wo assemble to-day under the banner of a Lodgo established in one of the most popular inland watering-places in Yorkshire , a place annually visited by about forty or fifty thousand persons from all countries , in search of health or of recreation , and celebrated for tho hospitality of the brethren of the Claro Lodge , as well as for its baths , mineral springs aud hospitals . There was
a period far back in the chronicle of time , when tho whole of this neighbourhood was a thick forest ; , and when Harrogate was an almost inaccessible nook in the Wolds of Yorkshire . To-day , howover , the town is approached by railway ancl other means of communication , and is replete with every convenience . We meet for our autumnal gathering in a Lodge—the only one in this
fashionable resort—which , although small in numbers , has twice entertained Provincial Grand Lodge since tho date of its constitution . To the hospitality of the Worshipful Master wo are indebted for tho privilege of meeting here on the present occasion . Like some other Lodges in this Province , the Harrogate and Claro had had its difficulties to overcome , but it has conquered its vicissitudes , and is
now , I am happy to believe , in a prosperous condition . It has been enabled to establish itself in rooms adapted to its requirements , and its treasury is carefully administered and protected . The late Deputy P . G . M . at Doncaster , on this subject , said , on tho 8 th July 5874 , that he " desires to impress upon the brethren the fact that , excepting tho Worshipful Masters of Lodges , there was no officer of
more importance than tho Treasurer , and ho impressed upon those officers the desirability of calling npon members for their subscrip tions before they got into arrear . " I endorse his advice . The brethren , I hope , will have observed a paragraph which has appeared in several of tho Provincial Grand Lodgo quarterly summonses relating to the safe custody of old Lodge books , records aud papers .
The notice runs thus : "Tho Provincial Grand Secretary is anxious to form a complete set of Provincial Grand Lodge summonses ; and will take it as a favour if any old copies can bo furnished . " My deputy informs me that many of the Lodges he has visited regret the loss of old minute aud cash books , which destroys the links of history iu the Constitutions of tho Lodges between the present and
tho past , and thus the continuity of tho history and progress ot tho Lodges from their dates of constitution cannot now be traced . Let mo firmly impress upon tho Masters of Lodges that steps be taken in every Lodgo to provide proper boxes or sates for the better and certain custody of these invaluable documents . And I earnestly recommend that each Lodge at once form a small committee , to not
only search for these scattered records , but also to make an inventory of them . Whilst on this topic , I desire to add that our Provincial Grand Lodgo archives , under tho care of the Provincial Grand Secretary , are still short of a large number of previous Grand Lodge summonses from tho year A . L . 5823 , when the province of West Yorkshire was constituted . At our July meeting I mentioned , that I
and my deputy had determined to have the Huddersfield edition of onr Provincial Grand Lodge bye-laws reprinted , aud it would be desirable to add another Bye-law to tho list , as it is my earnest desire that Worshipful Masters should bo better acquainted with these bye-laws as well as with the Book of Constitutions . Our able Provincial Grand Eegistrar , who has done a great deal of work for
us this year , has given notice of such a bye-law , with which I and my Deputy perfectly coincide . In conclusion , I have only to remark that the Lodges in the Province , I believe without exception , in a prosperous condition , aud the brethren , I trust , in perfect unity aud harmony . And now that I have entered upon the more active season of tho year , when tho 61 Lodges meet regularly , I trust their may be an earnest desire to study the principles upon which our ancient and
time-honoured fraternity is founded , and to guard at the same time our portals from unworthy candidates , whoso object is not merely to gratify a vain curiosity , but to join for the privilege of participating in convivial meetings ; and to admit those novitiates only who outer of their own free will and accord , to participate iu the privileges of our Order , aud who are likely to become esteemed and illustrious upholders of piety and virtue .
The Prosperit y Lodge of Instruction has beeu removed to Bro . Maidwell ' s , Hercules Tavern , Leadenhall Street , E . G . Tbe brethren will meet on Tuesday Evenings , at 7 . 30 . The attendance aud the support of the Craft is fraternall y invited .
CLOD HOPSR I ' IAYI ™ CARDS . —Mogul Quality , picked Is 3 d per pack , lis oev dozen packs . Do . seconds Is per pack . Us per dozen packs . If by post , Ud per pack extra . Curds tor 1 'iqnet , Beziquo , Ecarte , & e ., Mo"iil Quality lOd per pack , 9 s per uc ? . en packs . —London W . W , Morgan , 07 Barbican , E . G .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
Masons occupying different stations in life , and tho whole fabric of Masonry falls to the ground . As Masons wo aro all equally required to respect , aud , if possible , assist ono another . Tho equality docs not , however , extend beyond tho circle of our Masonic duties . Inside Freemasonry , princo and peasant aro equal ; outside , thoy are unequal—tho former being in the higher , the latter iu tho lower ranks
of society . We fully and very properly recognize tho distinction oatsido , biit ifc will never do if we cast a doubt upon tho complete equality in things Masonic . As to tho second question , Preceptor No . 1 is clearly right . To say that geometry is " tho basis and superstructure on which Freemasonry rests , " is sheer nonscuso . Geometry is the base or basis ,
and Freemasonry tho superstructure , that is tho structure erected on that basis . Only by picturing a house built on the top of another house can we fashion tor ourselves the idea of Freemasonry resting on the basis aud superstructure of geometry . In respect of the third question , I do not think it very material whether we say " sepulture" or " sepulchre . " I consider tho sentence
is faultily , or I should say , perhaps , clumsily worded , The body was found to have been hastily aud indecently cast into tho ground , and instructions wero given that it should bo raised , aud buried , not only reverently and in a decent manner , that is , with proper funeral rites , but also in a manner becoming the exalted rank and great talents of tho deceased . Both words aro derived cl sevelio , to bury ,
sepu It are being the act of depositing a dead body in tho grave , ancl sepulchre the grave or place in which the body is deposited . Ifc will bo seen from this , that we may say either to " raise the body , & c , to such a sepulture" [ or burial ] " as became , " & o ., or" to raise the body , & c , to such a sepulchre" [ or tomb ] as became , & c , without detriment to tho sense intended to bo conveyed . I confess ifc sounds funnily to me to hear any one speak of raising a body to a sepulchre ,
seeing that tho sepulchre or tomb is raised or erected for tho reception of the body . Tho real truth I take to be this . There were two offices to be fulfilled . First of all , the body had to bo raised from its rude burial-place . Secondly , it had to be committed to a tomb becoming the rank , & G . & o . Tho authors of the Eitual were anxious to express these two ideas in ono short sentence , and they have done so not inaccurately , whether we use sepulture or sepulchre ; but I cannot regard their mode of expression as particularly felicitous . Fraternally yours , , ! Q . "
Re Uniformity Of Working.
Re UNIFORMITY OF WORKING .
To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have been interested , in reading various letters from " P . M ., P . Z ., " and have connected the writer , iu my own mind , with a series of important communications which appeared iu tho Freemason , the keystone of the whole being tho one in tho issue for 2 / th March 18 G'J . The Grand Lodge , in response to that
indefatigable brother , gave a unanimous vote that uniformity of working was desirable , but , so far , nothing has been officially dono to carry out tho vote . I do not want to force our brother to reveal his name , but consider that , if my fancy be correct , ifc would bo better for him to come to the front at once , and thus form a link with the eventful past . His success some seven years ago might now bo followed by
au attempt to secure uniformity , by tho Grand Lodgo sanctioning the work of ono or more Lodges of Instruction , so that country members may know where to attend for authoritative information . I am also persuaded that the advice given some years ago by Bro . Hughan , who is so well posted in the American system of work , is worth following —viz ., for the Grand Lodge and each Prov . Graud Lodgo to appoint
a Grand Lecturer for their respective districts , whoso duty it would bo to visit the Lodges under their supervision , and make known the ceremonies according to authority . Each Prov . Grand Lecturer should be placed iu communication with the Grand Lecturer , and only be entitled to act as such when he has proved himself to be
competent so to do . In fact , to all intents and purposes it would be a revival of the old Lodge of Reconciliation . I may say that I quite agree with all that Bro . Gottheil has advanced on tho matter , and so also with our Bro . G . W . W ., and I am persuaded , that the Graud Officers have little idea how much au alteration is required in many country Lodges . P . G . W .
A Curious Account Of An Ancient Lodge.
A CURIOUS ACCOUNT OF AN ANCIENT LODGE .
The following is the Record concerning Lodge 20 , the oldest in the Provinces : — " Whereas it appears by tho records of tho Grand Lodgo that a Wan-ant bearing date tho 28 th March 1723 , was issued under tho Seal of Masonry , enabling certain brethren therein named to open and hold a Lodge of Freemasons , at the Crown , Cripplegatc , London ,
under , called , or known by the number 10 , and whereas by th <> general closing up of tho List of Lodges in tho year 1710 , tho said Lod ge became number 12 . In the year 1718 the said Lodge was removed to Chatham , in tho County of Kent , and by the closbig up of tho List of Lodges in the year 175 ( 3 it became number 10 ; aud
which Lodge , in consequence of the union of tho two fraternities of Freemasons on tho 27 th day of December 1313 , became , and is now registered , in the books of the United Grand Lodge , No . 20 . In the year 18 / 3 , on petition by the Grand Lodge , a centenary charter was granted , with permission to wear the centenary jewel , "—From Bye-laws ot Prov , G , L , Kent . ' '
A Curious Account Of An Ancient Lodge.
We have been favoured with copy of Sir Henry Edwards ' s address at the recent meeting ot the Prov . Grand Lodgo of West Yorkshire . We insert it with a great deal of pleasure , and we trust ouv brethren throughout the country will kindly take to heart the very sound advice respecting the care of archives which our Eight Worshipful Brother offers .
Worshipful Masters , Officers , and Brethren of this Provincial Grand Lodgo , —Tho time has again arrived when it becomes my pleasing duty to address you as your Provincial Grand Master , and in so doing , I am sure I cannot gratify both yourselves and myself more than by inviting yon all to participate in tho pleasing duties of this Provincial Graud Lodgo , assuring you that tho matters iu which
wo aro about to bo engaged could not well fail to give you unalloyed satisfaction . Eeceive , I beg of you , my warmest acknowledgments for the salutation with which yon have greeted mo in Harrogate , a place familiar to mo for a long period , iu connection with my yeomanry command , and for the cordiality of the Masonic compliment yon have rendered to tho office I occupy amongst the brethren of
West Yorkshire . Wo assemble to-day under the banner of a Lodgo established in one of the most popular inland watering-places in Yorkshire , a place annually visited by about forty or fifty thousand persons from all countries , in search of health or of recreation , and celebrated for tho hospitality of the brethren of the Claro Lodge , as well as for its baths , mineral springs aud hospitals . There was
a period far back in the chronicle of time , when tho whole of this neighbourhood was a thick forest ; , and when Harrogate was an almost inaccessible nook in the Wolds of Yorkshire . To-day , howover , the town is approached by railway ancl other means of communication , and is replete with every convenience . We meet for our autumnal gathering in a Lodge—the only one in this
fashionable resort—which , although small in numbers , has twice entertained Provincial Grand Lodge since tho date of its constitution . To the hospitality of the Worshipful Master wo are indebted for tho privilege of meeting here on the present occasion . Like some other Lodges in this Province , the Harrogate and Claro had had its difficulties to overcome , but it has conquered its vicissitudes , and is
now , I am happy to believe , in a prosperous condition . It has been enabled to establish itself in rooms adapted to its requirements , and its treasury is carefully administered and protected . The late Deputy P . G . M . at Doncaster , on this subject , said , on tho 8 th July 5874 , that he " desires to impress upon the brethren the fact that , excepting tho Worshipful Masters of Lodges , there was no officer of
more importance than tho Treasurer , and ho impressed upon those officers the desirability of calling npon members for their subscrip tions before they got into arrear . " I endorse his advice . The brethren , I hope , will have observed a paragraph which has appeared in several of tho Provincial Grand Lodgo quarterly summonses relating to the safe custody of old Lodge books , records aud papers .
The notice runs thus : "Tho Provincial Grand Secretary is anxious to form a complete set of Provincial Grand Lodge summonses ; and will take it as a favour if any old copies can bo furnished . " My deputy informs me that many of the Lodges he has visited regret the loss of old minute aud cash books , which destroys the links of history iu the Constitutions of tho Lodges between the present and
tho past , and thus the continuity of tho history and progress ot tho Lodges from their dates of constitution cannot now be traced . Let mo firmly impress upon tho Masters of Lodges that steps be taken in every Lodgo to provide proper boxes or sates for the better and certain custody of these invaluable documents . And I earnestly recommend that each Lodge at once form a small committee , to not
only search for these scattered records , but also to make an inventory of them . Whilst on this topic , I desire to add that our Provincial Grand Lodgo archives , under tho care of the Provincial Grand Secretary , are still short of a large number of previous Grand Lodge summonses from tho year A . L . 5823 , when the province of West Yorkshire was constituted . At our July meeting I mentioned , that I
and my deputy had determined to have the Huddersfield edition of onr Provincial Grand Lodge bye-laws reprinted , aud it would be desirable to add another Bye-law to tho list , as it is my earnest desire that Worshipful Masters should bo better acquainted with these bye-laws as well as with the Book of Constitutions . Our able Provincial Grand Eegistrar , who has done a great deal of work for
us this year , has given notice of such a bye-law , with which I and my Deputy perfectly coincide . In conclusion , I have only to remark that the Lodges in the Province , I believe without exception , in a prosperous condition , aud the brethren , I trust , in perfect unity aud harmony . And now that I have entered upon the more active season of tho year , when tho 61 Lodges meet regularly , I trust their may be an earnest desire to study the principles upon which our ancient and
time-honoured fraternity is founded , and to guard at the same time our portals from unworthy candidates , whoso object is not merely to gratify a vain curiosity , but to join for the privilege of participating in convivial meetings ; and to admit those novitiates only who outer of their own free will and accord , to participate iu the privileges of our Order , aud who are likely to become esteemed and illustrious upholders of piety and virtue .
The Prosperit y Lodge of Instruction has beeu removed to Bro . Maidwell ' s , Hercules Tavern , Leadenhall Street , E . G . Tbe brethren will meet on Tuesday Evenings , at 7 . 30 . The attendance aud the support of the Craft is fraternall y invited .
CLOD HOPSR I ' IAYI ™ CARDS . —Mogul Quality , picked Is 3 d per pack , lis oev dozen packs . Do . seconds Is per pack . Us per dozen packs . If by post , Ud per pack extra . Curds tor 1 'iqnet , Beziquo , Ecarte , & e ., Mo"iil Quality lOd per pack , 9 s per uc ? . en packs . —London W . W , Morgan , 07 Barbican , E . G .