Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of w Cor . respondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
NUMBERS VERSUS PROGRESS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIK AND BSOTHEB , —I in common with most brethren have long felt that Masonry in England was growing by leaps and bounds , in a somewhat unhealthy fashion , bnt I was hardly prepared for the figures which your correspondent so kindly supplied in your last issue . What lessons they teach , and how sugges » ive they are ! Just take certain
periods in London , and mark the singular changes that have taken plnce . Beginninff at 1721 , the Metropolis was moderately active until 1798 , bnt from that time until 1844 , nearly fifty years , only one new Lodge was consecrated in London . From 1844 to 1855 nine new Lodges were added , then commenced that big flow which , in twentyseven years , has risen to the extent of 200 new creations . Ever since
the latter date the increase has been enormous , not only in London , but also in the provinces and abroad . With few exceptions , since 1721 , the provinces have added one or more Lodges to the roll each year , but since 1856 the growth has been astounding . The same may be said of District Lodges . A new spirit has arisen , and although during the last three years few new Lodges have been sanctioned in
London , elsewhere there is little sign of abatement . I hardly know how to regard these figures . If numbers be the test of strength , then assuredly Masonry has grown in power immensely . I am not , however , inclined to view fche modern development of the Craft aa an unmixed good . I know that in some cases sufficient care has not been taken in the admission of members , and I fear the present
system generally is lax in the extreme . I do not think that the intelligence of the Craft has grown with fche number of its members , and I very mneh question whether the moral power of the body at large has nofc deteriorated . I know I shall be referred to the charities , and to the vast sums expended in relief . Taking into account the growth of the Order , I do not think the income is at all to be
wondered at , and great as is the amount , it might and ought to be greater . Passing by the question of the luxury of certain Lodges—for that is what I mean when I speak of expenditure—I wish to call attention to the moral aspect of the question . Of course , figures cannot decide this point , for moral delinquencies are not recorded ; but let any one consider the matter calmly , and I fear he will come to the conclusion
thafc there is great room for improvement among brethren of the Craft . How that end is to be attained I must leave to those better acquainted with Masonio life than myself . I merely eive my own impressions , which perhaps have a country flavour , and which may be open to the misfortune of crudeness , bufc not I trust to the charge of unfairness .
I am , Sir and Brother , Fraternally yours , A COUNTBY BHOTHEit .
QUAKER MASONS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —It will be an interesting topic for the columns of your paper if the members of the Craft will chronicle what they know about Qn « ker Freemasons . Let me give an example . In Lodge Sincerity 189 , meeting at East Stonehonse , we had , about eight years since , as our Worshipful Master , Bro . Frederick P . Balkwill , a member of fche
Society of Friends . He was a mosfc active , worthy member of the Craft ; gave good heed to all bis work ; studied so well tbe charges , and the other dnties of all the offices that he passed through as he ascended the Masonio ladder , that I one day asked him if he did nofc think that he could have learnt a language while he was " getting up " all that it became him to do . He replied that he thought he
could . Still W . Bro . Balkwill did his work admirably ; and he took his place at the table when the brethren adjourned from labour to refreshment . His removal to another part of the kingdom deprived the brethren of the Three Towns of the services of an admirable exponent ; of the hi gh and valued mysteries of the Craft .
Yours faithfully , J . L ., a P . M . Plymouth , 20 th August 1883 .
MASONIC LITERATURE . I To the Editor of tlie FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The great body of the Craffc in England have no idea of the wonderful activity of our brethren in America . I know the Masons across the water move too rapidly for us in this venerable land , and that degrees have multiplied to such au excess
as to excite the disapprobation of somo of the chiefs of the Order . What , however ,, has struck me as being remarkable is the large number of journals devoted to the Craffc in America . They are legion , and as a rale they are conducted with great ability . Masonic literature is cultivated there with such spirit and enthusiasm as to put us altogether in the shade . One cause of this is owing to
Correspondence.
the number of Grand Lodges which form centres of activity , stimulate zeal and emulation . Each Grand Lodge , while following the general laws laid down for the government of the Craft , retains perfect liberty on all questions where freedom of action is permissible . The same liberty is exercised in this country , but opportunity of using it is limited to one great head , the Grand Lodge . Imagine
the chances for activity multiplied by twenty , and any English brother can form some idea of the Masonic spirit that prevails in America . We have no reason to complain of onr own work as far as it goes ; what is needed is a larger development of the desire for Masonio knowledge . We have great lights amongst ns , and our journals will bear comparison wifch any others produced , bufc the
number of brethren who read and patronise them is limited . The zeal for knowledge is chiefly confined to Lodges , especially Lodges of Instruction , and while I think these are valuable means of education , tbe proceedings in the Lodge being absolutely indispensable , yet there are matters of history , practice and government hidden away in books that would yield immense stores of power and
interest were they searched and studied . The first step towards a change should be sought in the enlargement of the circle of readers of tbe journals already published iu this country , and the next would be fche establishment of a library and museum afc the headquarters of Freemasonry in London . I know the present staff have enough to do to control the work that
must be done . I am aware thafc the facilities available are not such as to warrant immediate steps being taken to accomplish the end I have in view . Bufc the Temple is about , to be rebuilt , and now is the time to consider whether something should nofc be done to found a real library , a real museum afc Queen-sfcreet , where brethren could
go and study . Afc least the opportunity should be afforded , and ifc I shonld no longer be a reproach to ns that , except in few cases , the j Freemasons of England are almost entirely ignorant of the literature J of the Craft , rioh as ifc is in ancient lore , romance , chivalry , beanty , j and charity . I hope , Sir , something will be done afc the next j Quarterly Communication , or at least thafc the question will be raised .
I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , BOOKWORM .
Ad00702
EDUCATION . — HAMBURG . Bro . JOHN A . NEECK , 9 Bundesstrasse , HAMBUKG , Is prepared to receive into his Family TWO OR THREE ENGLISH YOUTHS AS BOARDERS , During the time they attend School in this City . CAREFUL SUPERVISION , KIND TREATMENT , BEST BODILY & MENTAL CARE , High . "References in England and Hamburg . PEOSPBCTUS - "Fie . IEilEi
Ad00703
AMERICAN ORGANS , CHEAPEST AND BEST , BY the STERLING ORGAN CO ., DERBY , CONN * ., U . S . A ., afc Low Pn ' ces , with Twenty-Five per cent . Co-operativo Discount for Cash ; or on the THREE YEARS' SYSTEM , from 10 s Cd per Month . SEND FOR ILLUSTRATED LIST TO CHAS . STILES and CO ., 42 SOUTHAMPTON ROW , HOLBORN , LONDON , W . C . These Organs are eminently suited for use in MASONIO LODGES .
Ad00704
BORD'SPI AMOS . CHAS . STILES & CO ., the well-known Importers of these cele . brated Pianos , have Removed to 42 Southampton-row , Holborn , London , "W . C . "Where may be seen a largo and varied assortment of Instruments , of New and Artistic Design , at Low Prices , with Twenty-Five per Cent . Co-operative Disct . for Cash , OR ON THE T H R IE "ft YEARS' SYSTEM , Prom 15 s per Month . SEND FOR ILLUSTRATED LIST . Second-Hand Pianos on the Three Years' System , from 10 s 6 d per Month . Pull Value allowed for Old Instruments of any kind in Exchange .
Ad00705
INSTALLATION OF H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES As the M . W . G . M . of England , AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL , 28 th APEIL 1875 . COPIES of this BEAUTIFUL ENGRAVING by Brother HARTY P . M ., consisting of Artist ' s Proofs , Proofs before Letters , and Lettered Proofs , India Prints , and Plain Prints may be had at Cost Price by applying to Bro . W . R . NORRIS , 29 Southampton Buildings , W . C , London .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of w Cor . respondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
NUMBERS VERSUS PROGRESS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIK AND BSOTHEB , —I in common with most brethren have long felt that Masonry in England was growing by leaps and bounds , in a somewhat unhealthy fashion , bnt I was hardly prepared for the figures which your correspondent so kindly supplied in your last issue . What lessons they teach , and how sugges » ive they are ! Just take certain
periods in London , and mark the singular changes that have taken plnce . Beginninff at 1721 , the Metropolis was moderately active until 1798 , bnt from that time until 1844 , nearly fifty years , only one new Lodge was consecrated in London . From 1844 to 1855 nine new Lodges were added , then commenced that big flow which , in twentyseven years , has risen to the extent of 200 new creations . Ever since
the latter date the increase has been enormous , not only in London , but also in the provinces and abroad . With few exceptions , since 1721 , the provinces have added one or more Lodges to the roll each year , but since 1856 the growth has been astounding . The same may be said of District Lodges . A new spirit has arisen , and although during the last three years few new Lodges have been sanctioned in
London , elsewhere there is little sign of abatement . I hardly know how to regard these figures . If numbers be the test of strength , then assuredly Masonry has grown in power immensely . I am not , however , inclined to view fche modern development of the Craft aa an unmixed good . I know that in some cases sufficient care has not been taken in the admission of members , and I fear the present
system generally is lax in the extreme . I do not think that the intelligence of the Craft has grown with fche number of its members , and I very mneh question whether the moral power of the body at large has nofc deteriorated . I know I shall be referred to the charities , and to the vast sums expended in relief . Taking into account the growth of the Order , I do not think the income is at all to be
wondered at , and great as is the amount , it might and ought to be greater . Passing by the question of the luxury of certain Lodges—for that is what I mean when I speak of expenditure—I wish to call attention to the moral aspect of the question . Of course , figures cannot decide this point , for moral delinquencies are not recorded ; but let any one consider the matter calmly , and I fear he will come to the conclusion
thafc there is great room for improvement among brethren of the Craft . How that end is to be attained I must leave to those better acquainted with Masonio life than myself . I merely eive my own impressions , which perhaps have a country flavour , and which may be open to the misfortune of crudeness , bufc not I trust to the charge of unfairness .
I am , Sir and Brother , Fraternally yours , A COUNTBY BHOTHEit .
QUAKER MASONS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —It will be an interesting topic for the columns of your paper if the members of the Craft will chronicle what they know about Qn « ker Freemasons . Let me give an example . In Lodge Sincerity 189 , meeting at East Stonehonse , we had , about eight years since , as our Worshipful Master , Bro . Frederick P . Balkwill , a member of fche
Society of Friends . He was a mosfc active , worthy member of the Craft ; gave good heed to all bis work ; studied so well tbe charges , and the other dnties of all the offices that he passed through as he ascended the Masonio ladder , that I one day asked him if he did nofc think that he could have learnt a language while he was " getting up " all that it became him to do . He replied that he thought he
could . Still W . Bro . Balkwill did his work admirably ; and he took his place at the table when the brethren adjourned from labour to refreshment . His removal to another part of the kingdom deprived the brethren of the Three Towns of the services of an admirable exponent ; of the hi gh and valued mysteries of the Craft .
Yours faithfully , J . L ., a P . M . Plymouth , 20 th August 1883 .
MASONIC LITERATURE . I To the Editor of tlie FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The great body of the Craffc in England have no idea of the wonderful activity of our brethren in America . I know the Masons across the water move too rapidly for us in this venerable land , and that degrees have multiplied to such au excess
as to excite the disapprobation of somo of the chiefs of the Order . What , however ,, has struck me as being remarkable is the large number of journals devoted to the Craffc in America . They are legion , and as a rale they are conducted with great ability . Masonic literature is cultivated there with such spirit and enthusiasm as to put us altogether in the shade . One cause of this is owing to
Correspondence.
the number of Grand Lodges which form centres of activity , stimulate zeal and emulation . Each Grand Lodge , while following the general laws laid down for the government of the Craft , retains perfect liberty on all questions where freedom of action is permissible . The same liberty is exercised in this country , but opportunity of using it is limited to one great head , the Grand Lodge . Imagine
the chances for activity multiplied by twenty , and any English brother can form some idea of the Masonic spirit that prevails in America . We have no reason to complain of onr own work as far as it goes ; what is needed is a larger development of the desire for Masonio knowledge . We have great lights amongst ns , and our journals will bear comparison wifch any others produced , bufc the
number of brethren who read and patronise them is limited . The zeal for knowledge is chiefly confined to Lodges , especially Lodges of Instruction , and while I think these are valuable means of education , tbe proceedings in the Lodge being absolutely indispensable , yet there are matters of history , practice and government hidden away in books that would yield immense stores of power and
interest were they searched and studied . The first step towards a change should be sought in the enlargement of the circle of readers of tbe journals already published iu this country , and the next would be fche establishment of a library and museum afc the headquarters of Freemasonry in London . I know the present staff have enough to do to control the work that
must be done . I am aware thafc the facilities available are not such as to warrant immediate steps being taken to accomplish the end I have in view . Bufc the Temple is about , to be rebuilt , and now is the time to consider whether something should nofc be done to found a real library , a real museum afc Queen-sfcreet , where brethren could
go and study . Afc least the opportunity should be afforded , and ifc I shonld no longer be a reproach to ns that , except in few cases , the j Freemasons of England are almost entirely ignorant of the literature J of the Craft , rioh as ifc is in ancient lore , romance , chivalry , beanty , j and charity . I hope , Sir , something will be done afc the next j Quarterly Communication , or at least thafc the question will be raised .
I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , BOOKWORM .
Ad00702
EDUCATION . — HAMBURG . Bro . JOHN A . NEECK , 9 Bundesstrasse , HAMBUKG , Is prepared to receive into his Family TWO OR THREE ENGLISH YOUTHS AS BOARDERS , During the time they attend School in this City . CAREFUL SUPERVISION , KIND TREATMENT , BEST BODILY & MENTAL CARE , High . "References in England and Hamburg . PEOSPBCTUS - "Fie . IEilEi
Ad00703
AMERICAN ORGANS , CHEAPEST AND BEST , BY the STERLING ORGAN CO ., DERBY , CONN * ., U . S . A ., afc Low Pn ' ces , with Twenty-Five per cent . Co-operativo Discount for Cash ; or on the THREE YEARS' SYSTEM , from 10 s Cd per Month . SEND FOR ILLUSTRATED LIST TO CHAS . STILES and CO ., 42 SOUTHAMPTON ROW , HOLBORN , LONDON , W . C . These Organs are eminently suited for use in MASONIO LODGES .
Ad00704
BORD'SPI AMOS . CHAS . STILES & CO ., the well-known Importers of these cele . brated Pianos , have Removed to 42 Southampton-row , Holborn , London , "W . C . "Where may be seen a largo and varied assortment of Instruments , of New and Artistic Design , at Low Prices , with Twenty-Five per Cent . Co-operative Disct . for Cash , OR ON THE T H R IE "ft YEARS' SYSTEM , Prom 15 s per Month . SEND FOR ILLUSTRATED LIST . Second-Hand Pianos on the Three Years' System , from 10 s 6 d per Month . Pull Value allowed for Old Instruments of any kind in Exchange .
Ad00705
INSTALLATION OF H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES As the M . W . G . M . of England , AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL , 28 th APEIL 1875 . COPIES of this BEAUTIFUL ENGRAVING by Brother HARTY P . M ., consisting of Artist ' s Proofs , Proofs before Letters , and Lettered Proofs , India Prints , and Plain Prints may be had at Cost Price by applying to Bro . W . R . NORRIS , 29 Southampton Buildings , W . C , London .