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Article THE MASONIC YEAR 1878. ← Page 9 of 12 Article THE MASONIC YEAR 1878. Page 9 of 12 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Year 1878.
that had been formed , that it was resolved upon erecting a gothic monument , having tAVO storeys and a tower , the ; entire height being seventy-five feet . The basement is intended for habitation and offices . Above this are to bo a platform and balcony , in Avhich is to by an alcove fifteen
feet high , for the reception of a full length statue of tho poet . Behind this is a room to be used as a museum of relics connected Avith him , and above this , and reached by a flight of steps , a balustrade meant to form a promenade . On the 14 th September , the first stono of the monument
Avas laid , with Masonic ceremonial , by R . W . Cochran-Patrick , Deputy Prov . Grand Master for Ayrshire , there being about 2 , 000 brethren present , Avhile the trades and other companies doubled the number in the procession , and there were quite 10 , 000 in the park Avhere the monument
is to be erected . Both the poet ' s Lodges , his Mother Lodge , St . David ' s of Tarbolton , and St . James Kilwinning of tho same place , were represented . The ceremony having been ably carried out , the procession reformed and dispersed , and in due time the monument -will bo completed and formally
inaugurated . On the 12 th of tho same month , the annual meeting of the Grand Imperial Council of Scotland of the Red Cross of Constantino , of which Col . Francis Burdett is the Most 111 . Grand Sovereign , Avas held in Freemasons ' Hall , Edinburgh . Col . Burdett presided in person , and
several Avere admitted members of the Order , the Avhole proceedings concluding Avith a banquet . It is Avorthy of record that this Grand Imperial Council only came into existence in the autumn of 1876 , Avhen a deputation , including the late III . Bro . R . Wentworth Little and other
distinguished Knights of the Order , visited Edinburgh , by command of the Supreme Grand Council of England , for the purpose of constituting this Grand Imperial Council . There were then six conclaves , and the number has since increased to nine , so there is every prospect of the Order
establishing itself still more firmly north of the Tweed . We note , likewise , that a High Council of Soc . Rosic . in Scotia has been formed , C . F . Matier 9 ° being the Supreme Magus , and Lord Inverurie 9 ° Sen . Sub . Magus , and Harry G . D . Copland 9 ° Jun . Sub . Magus . At the time the High
Council met—Avhich was in January—the Metropolitan College , Avhich had been in abeyance for some time , Avas reconstituted , the Hon . F . J . Moncrieff 8 ° being elected and installed Primus Adeptus . We have already noted the severance of fraternal relations between this Grand Lodge and the French
Grand Orient , and Ave must add that a breach also exists between this Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Quebec , AA'hich , to all appearances , is becoming more serious . This is not the place in which to discuss the merits of the difference . Let it suffice if Ave point out that the latter not
being situated like the Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom , cannot compel Lodges which have never acknoAvledged her sovereignty to quit the jurisdictions to Avhich they have always belonged , and with Avhich they are desirous of remaining connected , while we think the Grand Lodge of
Scotland would have done wisely had it made the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Quebec as a separate and independent body conditional on the Lodges which preferred remaining under the banner of Scotland being left unmolested . There seems also to be another little quarrel between
the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Scottish Freemasonry for all India , but to this we shall briefly refer Avhen we come to India itself , for it is time that Ave quitted the old country and began our sketch of Freemasonry as it is in tbe Colonies , at least to the extent
of those Lodges AA'hich hold under one or other of the three home Grand Lodges . Those Avhich are independent , like those of Canada , Nova Scotia , & c , & c , will be dealt wifch separately . Before doing so Ave must draw attention to the visit paid , by the Grand Master Mason of Scotland aud his
Grand Officers to the " Journeymen Lodge , No . 8 , of Edinburgh . Bro . H . Munro , R . W . Master , presided , and quite two hundred members of the Lodge Avere present . The Masters of several daughter Lodges Avere likewise present , and in the course of the evening Bro . Kerr read a highly
interesting account of the History of the Lodge , which was established as far back as 1707 , and owed its existence to the secession of a number of operative FCIIOAV Crafts from St . Mary ' s Chapel , Avho formed a Lodge of their own . Bro . Kerr noted carefully the vicissitudes of the Lodge , which is still
operative , and was Avarmly thanked for his address . In treating of the Craft in tho Colonies and Dependencies of the Crown , AVO must , as last year , note the three jurisdictions together so far as possible . We may say there are in all about 435 English , over 160 Scotch , and over 70
The Masonic Year 1878.
Irish , and the bulk of them will be found in the East Indies , Australia , NOAV Zealand , and South Africa . Thus in India , AVC have some 33 in Bengal , 19 in Bombay , 9 in British Pnrmah , 15 in Madras , and in the Punjab 18 . In China ( now in two Provinces ) and Japan there are
thirteen Lodges . In South Africa there are no less than fortyone in different Districts or nofc ranged under any . Bnt it is in the Australasian Colonies that Ave find tho largest number of Lodges of the three Constitutions , England naturally taking tho lead , and then Scotland and Ireland
following in their order as given . One thing is eminently satisfactory , and that is , thafc the Lodges of the three systems Avork most harmoniously together , and save hero and there , are on the most friendly terms Avith their mother Grand Lodges . Tho Victoria in Burmah Lodge ,
No . 832 , does nofc seem to havo been a model either of excellence or obedience , having , in fact , distinguished itself by a marvellous exhibition of discord on the one hand , and an utter disregard for the behests of Grand Lodge , which , as we have more than once pointed out , merits , and will ,
sooner or later , bring down upon it condign punishment . India has also been the scene of a difference under tho Scottish Constitution , but , so far as we are able to judge , the fault does not rest Avifch tho Scoto-Indian authorities , so much as it does with the Grand Lodge of
Scotland . Thafc Bro . Balfour succeeded to tho position of Grand Master of all Scottish Freemasonry in India , vacated by Bro . Captain Morland , and not that of a m ? re Provincial Grand Master—appears to be indisputable . Yet the Secretary of tho Scottish Grand Lodge has , to all
intents and purposes , declined to recognise Bro . Balfour ' s true position—by whose authorisation we are unable to state . The question seems to us to lie in a nutshell . Is it to the interest of Scottish Freemasonry in India that there should be a man of higher status than that of an ordinary
Provincial Grand Master ? This appears to be the belief of the authorities at home , seeing that Dr . Burnes , Captain Morland , and Bro . Balfour have in turn been appointed to such a post . That being so , it is only in duo course that tho chief of Scottish Freemasonry in India should bo
recognised as one of more than ordinarily exalted rank , or , to put matter more plainly , ho should be treated as he deserves to be , and nofc as others may think him Avorthy We think ifc unfortunate any difference of such a kind should have arisen , and AVC hope that Bro . Balfour will be treated
broadly and liberally , seeing that his responsibilities are of no ordinary character . There is little AVC need add to our revieAV of Freemasonry iu the Colonics . With the few solitary exceptions Ave have alluded to , there has been little , if anything , to disturb tho even tenor of its Avay . There is
some talk , it is true , of a new and Independent Grand Lodge of New South Wales , but our opinion is , thai nothing of moment will como of ifc . The time may arrive Avhen Australia is so thickly populated , that a separate and independent Grand Lodge may be desirable . But the bond
of union between the Colonies and the Mother Country is too strong for any severance to meet Avith much favour just now and for some time to come . It is very possible the idea has originated with a few ambitious spirits , Avho are desirous of making a greater display or , at all events , of not hiding
their light under a bushel . However , Avhatever may be in store for ns in the future , Ave can never do otherwise than express our hearty good Avishes to all our Colonial brethren of the three jurisdictions . Whether they remain as they are now , or consolidate themselves into an independent body , we
shall find them always the same kind and considerate brethren , and shall extend to them that hospitality which fellow Masons havo a right to expect . We have now closed our review of the Craft in the United Kingdom and
its Dependencies . We can say with just pride , thafc everything has prospered fairly well during the year , which , as far as we are concerned , closes this day . We have not concealed from our readers thafc the results of tho year have not been altogether as favourable as misrhfc have been
Avished , bufc , afc tho same time AVO have shown that there is for this defect a fair and reasonable apology , and thafc , on the contrary , instead of too seriously deploring what we have nofc gained , there is some slight reason to be gratified thafc matters have gone so well . However , AVC will not stop to
repeat propositions we have already uttered , or to express hopes or fears Avhich may never bo realised . We are , on the whole , and not without reason , satisfied with what has befallen at home ; let us now look abroad , and see what has happened in other countries . France , as our nearest neighbour , claims priority of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Masonic Year 1878.
that had been formed , that it was resolved upon erecting a gothic monument , having tAVO storeys and a tower , the ; entire height being seventy-five feet . The basement is intended for habitation and offices . Above this are to bo a platform and balcony , in Avhich is to by an alcove fifteen
feet high , for the reception of a full length statue of tho poet . Behind this is a room to be used as a museum of relics connected Avith him , and above this , and reached by a flight of steps , a balustrade meant to form a promenade . On the 14 th September , the first stono of the monument
Avas laid , with Masonic ceremonial , by R . W . Cochran-Patrick , Deputy Prov . Grand Master for Ayrshire , there being about 2 , 000 brethren present , Avhile the trades and other companies doubled the number in the procession , and there were quite 10 , 000 in the park Avhere the monument
is to be erected . Both the poet ' s Lodges , his Mother Lodge , St . David ' s of Tarbolton , and St . James Kilwinning of tho same place , were represented . The ceremony having been ably carried out , the procession reformed and dispersed , and in due time the monument -will bo completed and formally
inaugurated . On the 12 th of tho same month , the annual meeting of the Grand Imperial Council of Scotland of the Red Cross of Constantino , of which Col . Francis Burdett is the Most 111 . Grand Sovereign , Avas held in Freemasons ' Hall , Edinburgh . Col . Burdett presided in person , and
several Avere admitted members of the Order , the Avhole proceedings concluding Avith a banquet . It is Avorthy of record that this Grand Imperial Council only came into existence in the autumn of 1876 , Avhen a deputation , including the late III . Bro . R . Wentworth Little and other
distinguished Knights of the Order , visited Edinburgh , by command of the Supreme Grand Council of England , for the purpose of constituting this Grand Imperial Council . There were then six conclaves , and the number has since increased to nine , so there is every prospect of the Order
establishing itself still more firmly north of the Tweed . We note , likewise , that a High Council of Soc . Rosic . in Scotia has been formed , C . F . Matier 9 ° being the Supreme Magus , and Lord Inverurie 9 ° Sen . Sub . Magus , and Harry G . D . Copland 9 ° Jun . Sub . Magus . At the time the High
Council met—Avhich was in January—the Metropolitan College , Avhich had been in abeyance for some time , Avas reconstituted , the Hon . F . J . Moncrieff 8 ° being elected and installed Primus Adeptus . We have already noted the severance of fraternal relations between this Grand Lodge and the French
Grand Orient , and Ave must add that a breach also exists between this Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Quebec , AA'hich , to all appearances , is becoming more serious . This is not the place in which to discuss the merits of the difference . Let it suffice if Ave point out that the latter not
being situated like the Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom , cannot compel Lodges which have never acknoAvledged her sovereignty to quit the jurisdictions to Avhich they have always belonged , and with Avhich they are desirous of remaining connected , while we think the Grand Lodge of
Scotland would have done wisely had it made the recognition of the Grand Lodge of Quebec as a separate and independent body conditional on the Lodges which preferred remaining under the banner of Scotland being left unmolested . There seems also to be another little quarrel between
the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the Grand Lodge of Scottish Freemasonry for all India , but to this we shall briefly refer Avhen we come to India itself , for it is time that Ave quitted the old country and began our sketch of Freemasonry as it is in tbe Colonies , at least to the extent
of those Lodges AA'hich hold under one or other of the three home Grand Lodges . Those Avhich are independent , like those of Canada , Nova Scotia , & c , & c , will be dealt wifch separately . Before doing so Ave must draw attention to the visit paid , by the Grand Master Mason of Scotland aud his
Grand Officers to the " Journeymen Lodge , No . 8 , of Edinburgh . Bro . H . Munro , R . W . Master , presided , and quite two hundred members of the Lodge Avere present . The Masters of several daughter Lodges Avere likewise present , and in the course of the evening Bro . Kerr read a highly
interesting account of the History of the Lodge , which was established as far back as 1707 , and owed its existence to the secession of a number of operative FCIIOAV Crafts from St . Mary ' s Chapel , Avho formed a Lodge of their own . Bro . Kerr noted carefully the vicissitudes of the Lodge , which is still
operative , and was Avarmly thanked for his address . In treating of the Craft in tho Colonies and Dependencies of the Crown , AVO must , as last year , note the three jurisdictions together so far as possible . We may say there are in all about 435 English , over 160 Scotch , and over 70
The Masonic Year 1878.
Irish , and the bulk of them will be found in the East Indies , Australia , NOAV Zealand , and South Africa . Thus in India , AVC have some 33 in Bengal , 19 in Bombay , 9 in British Pnrmah , 15 in Madras , and in the Punjab 18 . In China ( now in two Provinces ) and Japan there are
thirteen Lodges . In South Africa there are no less than fortyone in different Districts or nofc ranged under any . Bnt it is in the Australasian Colonies that Ave find tho largest number of Lodges of the three Constitutions , England naturally taking tho lead , and then Scotland and Ireland
following in their order as given . One thing is eminently satisfactory , and that is , thafc the Lodges of the three systems Avork most harmoniously together , and save hero and there , are on the most friendly terms Avith their mother Grand Lodges . Tho Victoria in Burmah Lodge ,
No . 832 , does nofc seem to havo been a model either of excellence or obedience , having , in fact , distinguished itself by a marvellous exhibition of discord on the one hand , and an utter disregard for the behests of Grand Lodge , which , as we have more than once pointed out , merits , and will ,
sooner or later , bring down upon it condign punishment . India has also been the scene of a difference under tho Scottish Constitution , but , so far as we are able to judge , the fault does not rest Avifch tho Scoto-Indian authorities , so much as it does with the Grand Lodge of
Scotland . Thafc Bro . Balfour succeeded to tho position of Grand Master of all Scottish Freemasonry in India , vacated by Bro . Captain Morland , and not that of a m ? re Provincial Grand Master—appears to be indisputable . Yet the Secretary of tho Scottish Grand Lodge has , to all
intents and purposes , declined to recognise Bro . Balfour ' s true position—by whose authorisation we are unable to state . The question seems to us to lie in a nutshell . Is it to the interest of Scottish Freemasonry in India that there should be a man of higher status than that of an ordinary
Provincial Grand Master ? This appears to be the belief of the authorities at home , seeing that Dr . Burnes , Captain Morland , and Bro . Balfour have in turn been appointed to such a post . That being so , it is only in duo course that tho chief of Scottish Freemasonry in India should bo
recognised as one of more than ordinarily exalted rank , or , to put matter more plainly , ho should be treated as he deserves to be , and nofc as others may think him Avorthy We think ifc unfortunate any difference of such a kind should have arisen , and AVC hope that Bro . Balfour will be treated
broadly and liberally , seeing that his responsibilities are of no ordinary character . There is little AVC need add to our revieAV of Freemasonry iu the Colonics . With the few solitary exceptions Ave have alluded to , there has been little , if anything , to disturb tho even tenor of its Avay . There is
some talk , it is true , of a new and Independent Grand Lodge of New South Wales , but our opinion is , thai nothing of moment will como of ifc . The time may arrive Avhen Australia is so thickly populated , that a separate and independent Grand Lodge may be desirable . But the bond
of union between the Colonies and the Mother Country is too strong for any severance to meet Avith much favour just now and for some time to come . It is very possible the idea has originated with a few ambitious spirits , Avho are desirous of making a greater display or , at all events , of not hiding
their light under a bushel . However , Avhatever may be in store for ns in the future , Ave can never do otherwise than express our hearty good Avishes to all our Colonial brethren of the three jurisdictions . Whether they remain as they are now , or consolidate themselves into an independent body , we
shall find them always the same kind and considerate brethren , and shall extend to them that hospitality which fellow Masons havo a right to expect . We have now closed our review of the Craft in the United Kingdom and
its Dependencies . We can say with just pride , thafc everything has prospered fairly well during the year , which , as far as we are concerned , closes this day . We have not concealed from our readers thafc the results of tho year have not been altogether as favourable as misrhfc have been
Avished , bufc , afc tho same time AVO have shown that there is for this defect a fair and reasonable apology , and thafc , on the contrary , instead of too seriously deploring what we have nofc gained , there is some slight reason to be gratified thafc matters have gone so well . However , AVC will not stop to
repeat propositions we have already uttered , or to express hopes or fears Avhich may never bo realised . We are , on the whole , and not without reason , satisfied with what has befallen at home ; let us now look abroad , and see what has happened in other countries . France , as our nearest neighbour , claims priority of