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Article ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST'S DAY. Page 1 of 1 Article RETURNED PRODIGALS. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
St. John The Baptist's Day.
ST . JOHN THE BAPTIST'S DAY .
IT'REEMASONS punctuate the Masonic year by tho observar . ee . of two Festivals—St . John the Baptist ' s and St . John the Evangelist ' s Days . We are upon the evo of the former , and many bodies of the Craft are preparing to celebrate it with becoming spirit . In Pennsylvania we shall witness nothing akin to tho groat gathering of one year ago , when all of the Lodges of Pennsylvania
united in commemorating , in Philadelphia , tho Sesqni-Ccntennial Anniversary of the first meeting of the Grand Lodgo , and first election of a Grand Master and other Grand Officers in this jurisdiction . Tho rejoicings of that day may not be dnplicated in their enthusiastic character for a number of years to como , but tho brethren will always keep in memory tho first St . John , and in spiria ,
if not by formal act , evince tho power of the virtues ho exemplified over their lives . The Grand Lodge of England was " revived" on St . John tho Baptist ' s Day , 1717 , just one hundred aud sixty . six years ago . Prior to that , for an unknown period , the subordinate Lodges of England and Scotland—such as the Lodge of Antiquity ( St . Paul ' s Lodge ) ,
in London , and the Lodge of Edinburgh , and Mother Lodgo Kilwinning , Scotland , each was sovereign and independent ; but in 1717 , in England , and a little later in Scotland , the individual Lodges respectively united in forming a Grand Lodge , yielding their sovereignty , and reviving the annual assemblies or communications of the Craft . That the brethren in tho early part of the seventeenth
century highly esteemed St . John the Baptist ' s Day , is proved by the fact of the famous gathering on that Festival of the Fraternity at tbe Apple Tree Tavern , London ; and we cannot do hotter than imitate their example by frequently , if not statedly , holding a proper Masonic celebration on this natal day of tho revived Grand Lodge .
Among our country Lodges , and especially in the South aud West , this St . John ' s Day is tho most popular festival of the year . It occurs at such a charming season , when the air is redolent with the aroma of flowers , the days are longest , tho son shines brightest , all nature is freshest and fairest , and human natnro is readiest to join in a festal celebration . The Grand Architect of the Universe Himself
has indicated this season , and especially St . John ' s Day , when the season is at ita height , as tho time of times for holding a festal celebration . Masonry could possibly select no better one . We are not among those who deduce tho genealogy of the Craft directly , by lineal descent , from the Baptist . He may have been a Mason . We cannot say . Certainly the " voice of one " crying in tho
wilderness " was a " voice of Masonry , " and for aught we know , the Baptist may have frequented " a Lodgo in some vast wilderness . " Right well we know he was a Standard Bearer of Truth , and that his brotherly love know no bounds . If ho was not a Mason , he ought to have been one . He was a Mason at heart and in life , and by observing his "day" we may pay a tribute to tho general Masonic
character of his life . At all events he was a pleasing type of Masonry , which exists in the wilderness of the world as tho depository of truths which the world must accept and practise , before it can be what the Grand Architect of the Universe designed it to bo . Ancient Craft Masonry has often been called "St . John ' s Masonry . " It is a name we may be prond of , for St . John ' s is as
good , if not as ancient a name as King Solomon ' s . Both of theso ancients were good men and true in fact , if not in Masonry . John signifies God-sent . Is it too much to say that Masonry is God-sent , and basks under the smile of the Almighty ? Does He not approve our heaven-born Charity , our open Bible , onr holy Altar , our stately Masonic Temples dedicated to His Name , and enr public
Masonic Homes for the aged , the indigent and tho orphan ? Are not Faith , Hope , and Charity , Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth , God-sent ? Let ns never yield to the zealotry of brethren of ono idea . In France they havo emasculated the Faith of Masonry by cutting off from it an acknowledgment of the existence and beneficence of the
Grand Architect of the Universe , the "I am that I am , " the Great First Cause ; and they have in like manner emasculated the constitntion of the Craft by cutting off from its faculty of power the head —the Grand Master , and substituting a fractional President . Some also would have us drop both the St . Johns . Never , while Masonry is Masonry . Rather let us drop the brother or brethren who insanely
strike at the landmarks of the Craft , the usages and customs of Freemasonry . Freemasonry above all is cosmopolitan . It cannot be sectarian . It wonld be sectarian if it shonld drop the St . Johns , just as it would be atheistic to ignore tho great lam . " Oh ! the littleness of little men , who wonld level a great . Fraternit y to the deep , low , dark valley of their own puny
understandings . Let us laud rather that comprehensive catholicity which embraces the higher and better thoughts of all tho higher and bettor thinkers ; that knows no religious creed in Masonry ; that loves it for jts elastic character ; that exemplifies iu practice as well as teaches Jts virtues ; and that upholds it in its parity , its simplicity , and its integrit y . —Keystone .
Two Provincial Grand Lodge Meetings of tbe Mark degree are appointed for next week , that of Hampshire | ^ nd the Isle of Wight taking place at Sanrlown ( Isle of Wight ) on Monday , and that of Middlesex and Surrey at Richmond on Saturday . The former will take place at 4 clock
o , previous to which the William Hickman Lodge will be consecrated , and we hope several additions mnde to the role of Mark Masters . The latter , that of Middlesex and Surrey , will commence at 5 o ' clock . The work to he . " sacted in both is that usual at these annual gatherings . A- banquet will follow in each case .
Returned Prodigals.
RETURNED PRODIGALS .
ONE of tho healthiest of Masonic signs in tho State of Now York , we hold , is tho return of the wanderer . From an examination of tho record , wo are informed b y tho Grand Secretary that tho number of afliliatos through tho Stato has been largo and increasing . The story T > f tho Prodigal Son and his return como to mind .
Nonaffiliation is tho bane of Freemasonry , and wo believe this to bo admitted by all the Masonic press , and its cause and effect have been discussed and dwelt npon withont stint . Its caiiRes havo been numerous , and its effect quite disastrous . By some excellent judges it has been calculated that New York Stato has within its territorial
limits 120 , 000 Masons ; on its rolls less than 80 , 000 , and the balance ono-third of the entire number , floating , drifting hero and there , without any interest in the Fraternity on tho part of many of them , yet only needing direction and tho kindl y influences of onr Institution to again bring them within thefol 1 .
We believe tho past Masonic year will be found to havo been ono of great prosperity ; tbat Masonic thonght has been diffused more widel y and intelligently among available material for the Temple ; that this awakening has naturally reached thoso who onro wero with the
Brotherhood , hastily and from causes just or imagined , allowed themselves to drop away from our registry , and that as well it has reached those who having had but an indifferent Masonic education ( in reality , those who never saw tho trno light ) listlessly , as tho Hibernian would say , "dropped that which they never had . " Theso men , our Grand Secretary says , aro beginning to awake and to realise thoir position and surroundings , and to knock at cur doors for rc-enrollmenf .
So important do we look upon this matter that we would be gratified to seo the prico of affiliation in all onr Lodges fixed at some nominal sum ; then let tho members exercise their best judgment in proposing applicants for affiliation and in tho use of tho ballot in staying undesirable or inharmonious elements from becoming members oftho Lodge family .
Now , anont this subject , and relative to tho practice of Lodges in diffrrent States , tlie Dispatch has an article , from which we extract as follows : —
" It will bo remembered that our statutes allow a Lodge , by adopting a Bye-law to that effect , to provide a penalty for non-payment of dues , ' which penalty shall bo unafliliation . ' Now , it happened that a member of a Lodgo in New York was disciplined in tho way and manner 'herein provided , ' and after a time removed permanently to another jurisdiction , where he affiliated . When the Lodge at this ond of the line heard of tho fact , it made a vigorous attempt to apply our local laws , and demanded reparation . The jurisdiction at the
other end calmly replied , ' You have declared this brother unaffiliated , and when he removed his residence to another place your jurisdiction over him ceased . If ho owes yon anything , you have a right to collect it ; but we , finding him worthy , havo exercised our " right by making him a member of our Lodge . '
"This transaction illustrates in an eminent degree the fallacy of the general supposition that our laws apply in other places beyond the State of New York . Of course , a brother disciplined in a Lodge in this State could not join any other in this jurisdiction until he had cleared the old score ; but when ho passes the border of our Stato lines his admission or refusal must depend on other conditions than
our local regulations , and it will bo well for us when wo como to understand that onr laws havo no general acceptation , the exceptionswhich only prove the rnlo—being in States where laws similar to our own prevail . * * * * In some States consent to receive tho petition of a rejected candidate can only bo given to another Lodge by a unanimous vote . New Yoik , fortunately , is on the right side of this question , becanso only requiring a majoritv , and this , we take it , that
in the experience of tho brethren , it is generally , or at least in the majority of cases , found that the rejection is due to somo persoi al reason apart from the governing principles of the Fraternity , and that such feeling shonld not bo allowed a wider range than is to bo found in ono Lodge , or , in other words , that allowing one min to follow another with his vindictiveness around the world is neither just nor Masonic . Please consider . "
We have no reason to believe that our States havo a less number of non-affiliates in proportion to those of New York . Counting onr strength at a close calculation of 000 , 000 men in the States thero would be proportionately an army of 200 , 000 wanderers or negative Masons . There is no just reason why that number should bo 100 , 000 . Tho admitted n . ain cause is tho non-payment of dues , while another is the lack of a proper discharge of tho duties of the Officers of Lodges .
There should bo moro rrj > ioing over ono affiliate returning to tho household than over three initiates , one of whom , in carrying out the prouosition , is bound to become a non-affiliate . —Hebrew Louder .
The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex will be held to-day , at the Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court , under tho presidency of R . W . Col . Sir Francis Burdclt , Prov . G . Master . Lodge will bo opened at 3 p . m ., and after the transaction of formal business , the
election of Provincial Grand Treasurer , and the appointment of other Officer ? , will take p lace . Notice of motion has been given by the Provincial Grand Master , that ho will propose the granting of ten guineas to each of tho
three Masonic Irsolutions , and we donbt not ( he proposal will be agreed to . A banquet follows , at 5 o ' clock , ( ickcts for which ( one guinea each ) may bo obtained of the Provincial Grand Stewards .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
St. John The Baptist's Day.
ST . JOHN THE BAPTIST'S DAY .
IT'REEMASONS punctuate the Masonic year by tho observar . ee . of two Festivals—St . John the Baptist ' s and St . John the Evangelist ' s Days . We are upon the evo of the former , and many bodies of the Craft are preparing to celebrate it with becoming spirit . In Pennsylvania we shall witness nothing akin to tho groat gathering of one year ago , when all of the Lodges of Pennsylvania
united in commemorating , in Philadelphia , tho Sesqni-Ccntennial Anniversary of the first meeting of the Grand Lodgo , and first election of a Grand Master and other Grand Officers in this jurisdiction . Tho rejoicings of that day may not be dnplicated in their enthusiastic character for a number of years to como , but tho brethren will always keep in memory tho first St . John , and in spiria ,
if not by formal act , evince tho power of the virtues ho exemplified over their lives . The Grand Lodge of England was " revived" on St . John tho Baptist ' s Day , 1717 , just one hundred aud sixty . six years ago . Prior to that , for an unknown period , the subordinate Lodges of England and Scotland—such as the Lodge of Antiquity ( St . Paul ' s Lodge ) ,
in London , and the Lodge of Edinburgh , and Mother Lodgo Kilwinning , Scotland , each was sovereign and independent ; but in 1717 , in England , and a little later in Scotland , the individual Lodges respectively united in forming a Grand Lodge , yielding their sovereignty , and reviving the annual assemblies or communications of the Craft . That the brethren in tho early part of the seventeenth
century highly esteemed St . John the Baptist ' s Day , is proved by the fact of the famous gathering on that Festival of the Fraternity at tbe Apple Tree Tavern , London ; and we cannot do hotter than imitate their example by frequently , if not statedly , holding a proper Masonic celebration on this natal day of tho revived Grand Lodge .
Among our country Lodges , and especially in the South aud West , this St . John ' s Day is tho most popular festival of the year . It occurs at such a charming season , when the air is redolent with the aroma of flowers , the days are longest , tho son shines brightest , all nature is freshest and fairest , and human natnro is readiest to join in a festal celebration . The Grand Architect of the Universe Himself
has indicated this season , and especially St . John ' s Day , when the season is at ita height , as tho time of times for holding a festal celebration . Masonry could possibly select no better one . We are not among those who deduce tho genealogy of the Craft directly , by lineal descent , from the Baptist . He may have been a Mason . We cannot say . Certainly the " voice of one " crying in tho
wilderness " was a " voice of Masonry , " and for aught we know , the Baptist may have frequented " a Lodgo in some vast wilderness . " Right well we know he was a Standard Bearer of Truth , and that his brotherly love know no bounds . If ho was not a Mason , he ought to have been one . He was a Mason at heart and in life , and by observing his "day" we may pay a tribute to tho general Masonic
character of his life . At all events he was a pleasing type of Masonry , which exists in the wilderness of the world as tho depository of truths which the world must accept and practise , before it can be what the Grand Architect of the Universe designed it to bo . Ancient Craft Masonry has often been called "St . John ' s Masonry . " It is a name we may be prond of , for St . John ' s is as
good , if not as ancient a name as King Solomon ' s . Both of theso ancients were good men and true in fact , if not in Masonry . John signifies God-sent . Is it too much to say that Masonry is God-sent , and basks under the smile of the Almighty ? Does He not approve our heaven-born Charity , our open Bible , onr holy Altar , our stately Masonic Temples dedicated to His Name , and enr public
Masonic Homes for the aged , the indigent and tho orphan ? Are not Faith , Hope , and Charity , Brotherly Love , Relief and Truth , God-sent ? Let ns never yield to the zealotry of brethren of ono idea . In France they havo emasculated the Faith of Masonry by cutting off from it an acknowledgment of the existence and beneficence of the
Grand Architect of the Universe , the "I am that I am , " the Great First Cause ; and they have in like manner emasculated the constitntion of the Craft by cutting off from its faculty of power the head —the Grand Master , and substituting a fractional President . Some also would have us drop both the St . Johns . Never , while Masonry is Masonry . Rather let us drop the brother or brethren who insanely
strike at the landmarks of the Craft , the usages and customs of Freemasonry . Freemasonry above all is cosmopolitan . It cannot be sectarian . It wonld be sectarian if it shonld drop the St . Johns , just as it would be atheistic to ignore tho great lam . " Oh ! the littleness of little men , who wonld level a great . Fraternit y to the deep , low , dark valley of their own puny
understandings . Let us laud rather that comprehensive catholicity which embraces the higher and better thoughts of all tho higher and bettor thinkers ; that knows no religious creed in Masonry ; that loves it for jts elastic character ; that exemplifies iu practice as well as teaches Jts virtues ; and that upholds it in its parity , its simplicity , and its integrit y . —Keystone .
Two Provincial Grand Lodge Meetings of tbe Mark degree are appointed for next week , that of Hampshire | ^ nd the Isle of Wight taking place at Sanrlown ( Isle of Wight ) on Monday , and that of Middlesex and Surrey at Richmond on Saturday . The former will take place at 4 clock
o , previous to which the William Hickman Lodge will be consecrated , and we hope several additions mnde to the role of Mark Masters . The latter , that of Middlesex and Surrey , will commence at 5 o ' clock . The work to he . " sacted in both is that usual at these annual gatherings . A- banquet will follow in each case .
Returned Prodigals.
RETURNED PRODIGALS .
ONE of tho healthiest of Masonic signs in tho State of Now York , we hold , is tho return of the wanderer . From an examination of tho record , wo are informed b y tho Grand Secretary that tho number of afliliatos through tho Stato has been largo and increasing . The story T > f tho Prodigal Son and his return como to mind .
Nonaffiliation is tho bane of Freemasonry , and wo believe this to bo admitted by all the Masonic press , and its cause and effect have been discussed and dwelt npon withont stint . Its caiiRes havo been numerous , and its effect quite disastrous . By some excellent judges it has been calculated that New York Stato has within its territorial
limits 120 , 000 Masons ; on its rolls less than 80 , 000 , and the balance ono-third of the entire number , floating , drifting hero and there , without any interest in the Fraternity on tho part of many of them , yet only needing direction and tho kindl y influences of onr Institution to again bring them within thefol 1 .
We believe tho past Masonic year will be found to havo been ono of great prosperity ; tbat Masonic thonght has been diffused more widel y and intelligently among available material for the Temple ; that this awakening has naturally reached thoso who onro wero with the
Brotherhood , hastily and from causes just or imagined , allowed themselves to drop away from our registry , and that as well it has reached those who having had but an indifferent Masonic education ( in reality , those who never saw tho trno light ) listlessly , as tho Hibernian would say , "dropped that which they never had . " Theso men , our Grand Secretary says , aro beginning to awake and to realise thoir position and surroundings , and to knock at cur doors for rc-enrollmenf .
So important do we look upon this matter that we would be gratified to seo the prico of affiliation in all onr Lodges fixed at some nominal sum ; then let tho members exercise their best judgment in proposing applicants for affiliation and in tho use of tho ballot in staying undesirable or inharmonious elements from becoming members oftho Lodge family .
Now , anont this subject , and relative to tho practice of Lodges in diffrrent States , tlie Dispatch has an article , from which we extract as follows : —
" It will bo remembered that our statutes allow a Lodge , by adopting a Bye-law to that effect , to provide a penalty for non-payment of dues , ' which penalty shall bo unafliliation . ' Now , it happened that a member of a Lodgo in New York was disciplined in tho way and manner 'herein provided , ' and after a time removed permanently to another jurisdiction , where he affiliated . When the Lodge at this ond of the line heard of tho fact , it made a vigorous attempt to apply our local laws , and demanded reparation . The jurisdiction at the
other end calmly replied , ' You have declared this brother unaffiliated , and when he removed his residence to another place your jurisdiction over him ceased . If ho owes yon anything , you have a right to collect it ; but we , finding him worthy , havo exercised our " right by making him a member of our Lodge . '
"This transaction illustrates in an eminent degree the fallacy of the general supposition that our laws apply in other places beyond the State of New York . Of course , a brother disciplined in a Lodge in this State could not join any other in this jurisdiction until he had cleared the old score ; but when ho passes the border of our Stato lines his admission or refusal must depend on other conditions than
our local regulations , and it will bo well for us when wo como to understand that onr laws havo no general acceptation , the exceptionswhich only prove the rnlo—being in States where laws similar to our own prevail . * * * * In some States consent to receive tho petition of a rejected candidate can only bo given to another Lodge by a unanimous vote . New Yoik , fortunately , is on the right side of this question , becanso only requiring a majoritv , and this , we take it , that
in the experience of tho brethren , it is generally , or at least in the majority of cases , found that the rejection is due to somo persoi al reason apart from the governing principles of the Fraternity , and that such feeling shonld not bo allowed a wider range than is to bo found in ono Lodge , or , in other words , that allowing one min to follow another with his vindictiveness around the world is neither just nor Masonic . Please consider . "
We have no reason to believe that our States havo a less number of non-affiliates in proportion to those of New York . Counting onr strength at a close calculation of 000 , 000 men in the States thero would be proportionately an army of 200 , 000 wanderers or negative Masons . There is no just reason why that number should bo 100 , 000 . Tho admitted n . ain cause is tho non-payment of dues , while another is the lack of a proper discharge of tho duties of the Officers of Lodges .
There should bo moro rrj > ioing over ono affiliate returning to tho household than over three initiates , one of whom , in carrying out the prouosition , is bound to become a non-affiliate . —Hebrew Louder .
The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Middlesex will be held to-day , at the Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court , under tho presidency of R . W . Col . Sir Francis Burdclt , Prov . G . Master . Lodge will bo opened at 3 p . m ., and after the transaction of formal business , the
election of Provincial Grand Treasurer , and the appointment of other Officer ? , will take p lace . Notice of motion has been given by the Provincial Grand Master , that ho will propose the granting of ten guineas to each of tho
three Masonic Irsolutions , and we donbt not ( he proposal will be agreed to . A banquet follows , at 5 o ' clock , ( ickcts for which ( one guinea each ) may bo obtained of the Provincial Grand Stewards .