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Article RANDOM NOTES AND REFLECTIONS. ← Page 2 of 3 Article RANDOM NOTES AND REFLECTIONS. Page 2 of 3 →
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Random Notes And Reflections.
jealousy or disfavour . Craft Masonry comes first , the Royal Arch is akin to it ; tho Mark rites , if not official ! v recosnised , are looked upon with great favour by manv of tbe "worthiest Freemasons in the world : the Knights
Templar are distinct from the three in that the body is essentially Christian in its origin and genius . A Craftsman should never lose sight of the proud position he holds as tbe parent of all , the fountain of Masonic life , nnd shonld
remember also that wherever much is given much will be required . Attached to the honour of being a Mason is the responsibility that follows as a necessary consequence , and tie object of every brother should be to render himself
worthy of the high privileges wherewith he has been entrusted . As a question of rank there can be no dispute as to where Craft Masonry stands , but doubts are sometimes raised as to rules of practice . Nowhere are these doubts
more frequently started than in America . For instance , the editor of tbe Masonio Chr uicle , Columbus , Ohio , criticises a brother journalist been use , while deprecatit > g "tbe public Masonic installation of Lodge Officers , " he
says nothing against the public installation of Coramandery Officers . " In reply to this the editor of the Keystone , the Brother referred to , says : True . Bnt Knights Templar may , and do , porform many nets that
propriety forbids . to Ancient Craft Masons . They are , in the nature of things , onr display Masons . They are a military , as well as a Masonic Order . They often appear on onr streets in uniform . They are not purely and simply Masons . We draw the distinction which
facts justify us in drawing . Ancient Craft Masonry is the only trne and Ancient Freemasonry , Capitular Masonry is akin to it ; bnt Templar Masons are Christian Masons , Masonio soldiers of the Cross . Blue Lodge Masonry is both ancient and universal , and the only Masonry that is so .
A hint for the Grand Lodge of England . The Annals of the Grand Lodge of Iowa for 1883 contains a Masonic map , also an Almanac of Full Moons for the years 1883 to 1899 inclusive .
There can be no doubt of the value of Provincial Lodge Calendars , but they ought to be brought out under the sanction and risk of the Provincial Grand Ledges . The point arose at the recent meeting of the Provincial Grand
Lodge of Hampshire and the Islo of Wight . Two brethren had brought out a Calendar , which was admitted to be useful , but which had left a balance on the wrong side of some £ 6 or £ 7 . It was not a mere speculation , and any
money gamed would have gone to the cause of charity . Under these ch-cumstances it was resolved to recoup the brethren for the outlay they had already incurred , to request them to continue their labours , aud that in future the
Provincial Grand Lodge would bear the expense and take fche profits if any . This was the proper thing to do , although it was prudent on tbe part of another brother to
snggesfc that he hoped the resolution would not be cited sis a precedent should any brother start a speculation of a character that might be open to doubt .
At the meeting referred to above , the Provincial Grand Master remarked that some of the Lodge minute books were not kept as properly as they might be . He did uot say that what was recorded was not correct , bufc that
there were omissions which amounted to slovenliness . The most serious complaint was that there was no record showiug that sufficient investigation of a brother ' s qualification had been made before being elected as a joining member .
We think that if the new rule with regard to the status of Past Masters stands good , the Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master of Hampshire , Bro . V . W . B . Beach , will not have a similar cause of complaint in the future . Lodges
are likel y to become particularly careful as to whom they admit , especially if the " material "—to use an American term—be a Past Master . Possibly the investigation will
be more severe than pleasant in many cases , but then * if brethren will insist upon assuming honours they have never worked for they must not be surprised if Lodges determine to reject all such claims in the only way open to them .
When in Lodge—Private , Provincial , or Grand—is ifc necessary to address a brother by any title he may bear independent of the Craft . At the recent Grand Lodge
• meeting the Grand Master for the time beinsr , Lord Holmesdale , was addressed as "Your Lordship . " The same practice is continually being followed , and it would
Random Notes And Reflections.
he as well to define what position it holds in the laws of i ; ourff \ sy . Wo « re under tho impression that no other earthly titles rank higher than those of Freemasonry ; indeed , they do not rank so high , and therefore the Masonic title , and that only , should be used in Lodges . So thought
the late Duke of Kent , father of Her Majesty , who was R . W . Grand Master of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Lower Canada . While presiding in Lodgo on one occasion , a brother , ia speaking upon a question , addressed him as "Your Royal Highness , " whereupon the Right W . Provincial G . Master
said : " Woishipfnl Brother , there are no Royal Highnesses here , we aro all brethren . " This was iu perfect keeping with tho Duke of Kent's character , for on another occasion , and under peculiar circumstances , during a brief address ,
he said : Let there never more be heard among you the words , ' the King ' s old and new subjects , ' ' the French and English inhabitants , ' you are ' all tho King ' s Canadian subjects . '"
Yankeeisms are often very puzzling , and he who would earn the gratitude of all readers of American journals in this country , and gain for himself no Utile credit afc home ancl abroad , should compile a dictionary of words and phrases that may fairly be said to come within the term
Yankeeisms . Without the context who would know what a " deadhead " is P Ifc appears thafc at a time when Freemasonry was contending for bare life in America against one of the most insensate crusades thafc ever disgraced the annals of the country , or just emerging from the dark
period of persecution , it was the practice to admit clergymen into Lodges free , or on the payment of partial fees , the object being , no doubt , to add to the claims of respect for the Craffc . Now thafc the flood-tide of prosperity has set "in the Grand Master of Nebraska , says the San Francisco Fraternal Becord . holds
that—A minister of the Gospel cannot bo initiated for a less sum than is charged others , and thafc the fees so received cannot be refunded . That is right . Ministers may deadhead it on railways , and receive special rates from hotels , bat if they want to be Masons let them pay full rates .
The editor of the Keystone takes exception to this ruling , and contends thafc Masons should not be ungenerous now that they are prosperous , seeing that they sought clergymen when their company was worth paying for . He jokes the
writer in fche contemporary alluded to , and says thafc no doubt when he has a chance he is "deadheaded . " Thafc may be so , but the editor of the Keystone , in the tail of his leaderette , perceives the danger of the course he defends . He says : —
We agree that it shonld by no means be the rule to " pass " any class of men free into the Fraternity ; to do so would be to openly invite initiates , which is un-Masouic . Precisely , and because ifc is uri-Masonic , because ifc is a bad precedent , the practice should be discarded . Necessity
often leads to rash acts , and tho admission of clergymen into Masonry free was one of them . The sooner it is discontinued the better . Those who were made free reaped
the advantage ; those who would now accept the same privilege have no title to ifc . Security for character is no longer needed . Sponsors of the past were rewarded , but the office is nofc hereditary .
Referring , at the recent meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire , to the disposing of provincial offices , the R . W . Grand Master , Brother Beach , said , in future no brother , except an old Mason , should have office unless he had served the office of Provincial Grand Steward . We
are nofc sure of the prudence of this resolve , although wc admit that some alteration in the mode of appointing provincial officers is necessary . Without trenching upon the privileges of the R . W . Grand Master , we think ifc wonld be better to adopt a system that should become the
unwritten law of the Craffc , just in tbe same sense thafc officers in a private Lodge are usually but not necessarily permitted to take their places in rotation . Were that plan followed as far as is practicable , considering the differences that naturally exist between the two bodies , we should nofc
hear of brethren being appointed who scarcely ever attend their Lodge , and who take no interest in the Craffc ; who are even ignorant of the proper method of giving the signs , ancl conld not open or close the Lodge in any one of the degrees . — : o : — Most heartily do we reciprocate the kindly expressions of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Random Notes And Reflections.
jealousy or disfavour . Craft Masonry comes first , the Royal Arch is akin to it ; tho Mark rites , if not official ! v recosnised , are looked upon with great favour by manv of tbe "worthiest Freemasons in the world : the Knights
Templar are distinct from the three in that the body is essentially Christian in its origin and genius . A Craftsman should never lose sight of the proud position he holds as tbe parent of all , the fountain of Masonic life , nnd shonld
remember also that wherever much is given much will be required . Attached to the honour of being a Mason is the responsibility that follows as a necessary consequence , and tie object of every brother should be to render himself
worthy of the high privileges wherewith he has been entrusted . As a question of rank there can be no dispute as to where Craft Masonry stands , but doubts are sometimes raised as to rules of practice . Nowhere are these doubts
more frequently started than in America . For instance , the editor of tbe Masonio Chr uicle , Columbus , Ohio , criticises a brother journalist been use , while deprecatit > g "tbe public Masonic installation of Lodge Officers , " he
says nothing against the public installation of Coramandery Officers . " In reply to this the editor of the Keystone , the Brother referred to , says : True . Bnt Knights Templar may , and do , porform many nets that
propriety forbids . to Ancient Craft Masons . They are , in the nature of things , onr display Masons . They are a military , as well as a Masonic Order . They often appear on onr streets in uniform . They are not purely and simply Masons . We draw the distinction which
facts justify us in drawing . Ancient Craft Masonry is the only trne and Ancient Freemasonry , Capitular Masonry is akin to it ; bnt Templar Masons are Christian Masons , Masonio soldiers of the Cross . Blue Lodge Masonry is both ancient and universal , and the only Masonry that is so .
A hint for the Grand Lodge of England . The Annals of the Grand Lodge of Iowa for 1883 contains a Masonic map , also an Almanac of Full Moons for the years 1883 to 1899 inclusive .
There can be no doubt of the value of Provincial Lodge Calendars , but they ought to be brought out under the sanction and risk of the Provincial Grand Ledges . The point arose at the recent meeting of the Provincial Grand
Lodge of Hampshire and the Islo of Wight . Two brethren had brought out a Calendar , which was admitted to be useful , but which had left a balance on the wrong side of some £ 6 or £ 7 . It was not a mere speculation , and any
money gamed would have gone to the cause of charity . Under these ch-cumstances it was resolved to recoup the brethren for the outlay they had already incurred , to request them to continue their labours , aud that in future the
Provincial Grand Lodge would bear the expense and take fche profits if any . This was the proper thing to do , although it was prudent on tbe part of another brother to
snggesfc that he hoped the resolution would not be cited sis a precedent should any brother start a speculation of a character that might be open to doubt .
At the meeting referred to above , the Provincial Grand Master remarked that some of the Lodge minute books were not kept as properly as they might be . He did uot say that what was recorded was not correct , bufc that
there were omissions which amounted to slovenliness . The most serious complaint was that there was no record showiug that sufficient investigation of a brother ' s qualification had been made before being elected as a joining member .
We think that if the new rule with regard to the status of Past Masters stands good , the Right Worshipful Prov . Grand Master of Hampshire , Bro . V . W . B . Beach , will not have a similar cause of complaint in the future . Lodges
are likel y to become particularly careful as to whom they admit , especially if the " material "—to use an American term—be a Past Master . Possibly the investigation will
be more severe than pleasant in many cases , but then * if brethren will insist upon assuming honours they have never worked for they must not be surprised if Lodges determine to reject all such claims in the only way open to them .
When in Lodge—Private , Provincial , or Grand—is ifc necessary to address a brother by any title he may bear independent of the Craft . At the recent Grand Lodge
• meeting the Grand Master for the time beinsr , Lord Holmesdale , was addressed as "Your Lordship . " The same practice is continually being followed , and it would
Random Notes And Reflections.
he as well to define what position it holds in the laws of i ; ourff \ sy . Wo « re under tho impression that no other earthly titles rank higher than those of Freemasonry ; indeed , they do not rank so high , and therefore the Masonic title , and that only , should be used in Lodges . So thought
the late Duke of Kent , father of Her Majesty , who was R . W . Grand Master of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Lower Canada . While presiding in Lodgo on one occasion , a brother , ia speaking upon a question , addressed him as "Your Royal Highness , " whereupon the Right W . Provincial G . Master
said : " Woishipfnl Brother , there are no Royal Highnesses here , we aro all brethren . " This was iu perfect keeping with tho Duke of Kent's character , for on another occasion , and under peculiar circumstances , during a brief address ,
he said : Let there never more be heard among you the words , ' the King ' s old and new subjects , ' ' the French and English inhabitants , ' you are ' all tho King ' s Canadian subjects . '"
Yankeeisms are often very puzzling , and he who would earn the gratitude of all readers of American journals in this country , and gain for himself no Utile credit afc home ancl abroad , should compile a dictionary of words and phrases that may fairly be said to come within the term
Yankeeisms . Without the context who would know what a " deadhead " is P Ifc appears thafc at a time when Freemasonry was contending for bare life in America against one of the most insensate crusades thafc ever disgraced the annals of the country , or just emerging from the dark
period of persecution , it was the practice to admit clergymen into Lodges free , or on the payment of partial fees , the object being , no doubt , to add to the claims of respect for the Craffc . Now thafc the flood-tide of prosperity has set "in the Grand Master of Nebraska , says the San Francisco Fraternal Becord . holds
that—A minister of the Gospel cannot bo initiated for a less sum than is charged others , and thafc the fees so received cannot be refunded . That is right . Ministers may deadhead it on railways , and receive special rates from hotels , bat if they want to be Masons let them pay full rates .
The editor of the Keystone takes exception to this ruling , and contends thafc Masons should not be ungenerous now that they are prosperous , seeing that they sought clergymen when their company was worth paying for . He jokes the
writer in fche contemporary alluded to , and says thafc no doubt when he has a chance he is "deadheaded . " Thafc may be so , but the editor of the Keystone , in the tail of his leaderette , perceives the danger of the course he defends . He says : —
We agree that it shonld by no means be the rule to " pass " any class of men free into the Fraternity ; to do so would be to openly invite initiates , which is un-Masouic . Precisely , and because ifc is uri-Masonic , because ifc is a bad precedent , the practice should be discarded . Necessity
often leads to rash acts , and tho admission of clergymen into Masonry free was one of them . The sooner it is discontinued the better . Those who were made free reaped
the advantage ; those who would now accept the same privilege have no title to ifc . Security for character is no longer needed . Sponsors of the past were rewarded , but the office is nofc hereditary .
Referring , at the recent meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire , to the disposing of provincial offices , the R . W . Grand Master , Brother Beach , said , in future no brother , except an old Mason , should have office unless he had served the office of Provincial Grand Steward . We
are nofc sure of the prudence of this resolve , although wc admit that some alteration in the mode of appointing provincial officers is necessary . Without trenching upon the privileges of the R . W . Grand Master , we think ifc wonld be better to adopt a system that should become the
unwritten law of the Craffc , just in tbe same sense thafc officers in a private Lodge are usually but not necessarily permitted to take their places in rotation . Were that plan followed as far as is practicable , considering the differences that naturally exist between the two bodies , we should nofc
hear of brethren being appointed who scarcely ever attend their Lodge , and who take no interest in the Craffc ; who are even ignorant of the proper method of giving the signs , ancl conld not open or close the Lodge in any one of the degrees . — : o : — Most heartily do we reciprocate the kindly expressions of