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Correspondence
CORRESPONDENCE
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
PAST MASTERS' PRIVILEGES .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR Sin AND BROTHER , —Tho inquiry of your correspondent " W . S . L . " in last week's CHRONICLE opens up a subject for thoughtful consideration as to tho full intent and meaning of tho Regulations of Grand Lodgo in respect of tho qualifications of Past Masters , particularly as regards their position in Grand Lodgo and Provincial
brand Lodges . " W . S . L . " correctly states the conditions expressed in the Book of Constitutions at section 1 , page 18 , and section 2 , page 52 , and the reasoning by analogy that tho same requirements as to continued membership apply to both Grand and Provincial Lodges appears to be logical and sound . So far , therefore , I apprehend but one answer could havo been f'ivnn to his incmirv . But lie has
uroceeded to adduce as an instance a circumstance which does not apparently affect the question of membership of a private Lodge , without which membership tho privileges of Grand Lodge cannot be enjoyed . In fact the " instance " docs not apply in the least to the previous question . It merely raises the point as to whether tho Past Master's rank is duo to a brother who has not served the Office of
Worshipful Master for the full period of one year from date of installation . Now what says tho Book of Constitutions as to this ? Afc page 59 , section 2 , we find " Every Lodge shall annually elect ils Master , and afc the next meeting after his election , when the minutes aro confirmed , ho shall bo duly installed , itc . " That certainly determines tho time of election and tho period for which tho Office is to
be held . From tho date of tho confirmation of the minutes the brother appointed is tho Master of the Lodge and is entitled to in . stallatiou . It cannot bo withhold from him , any more than a Lodge can withhold from a F . C . the degree of M . M ., which ho can claim as u right . At page 74 , section 1 of the Book of Constitutions , we read , "No Master elect shall assume tho Master ' s chair nutil ho shall havo
been regularly installed , thmigh he mag in the interim , ride theLodge . " Therefore there can be no doubt that although his installation may bo deferred , for various reasons , as ill health , absence , or other unforeseen causes , and he cannot occupy tho chair of K . S ., he is never , theless virtnnlly the ruler aud can appoint his Wardens and Ollicers for the year in the ordinary manner . His installation at some period of his year of Ollico is doubtless absolutely necessary to secure him
continuing privileges , but is not positively requisite to prevent hi ? ruling during his appointed year . Consequently , he will havo cvecnlod his Oilico for the proscribed period , and his Wardens will also have been executive Ollieois for the term necessary to qualify ( hem for tho Master ' s chair at tho next annual period of election within the Lodge . Yours fraternally , QUIDNUNC .
A CAUTION .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIU AND BKOTHEI ; , —Through the medium of your paper I am desirous of putting tho Almoners of Lodges aud other members of the Craft on their guard with respect to one who called on me on tho 20 th inst ., and gave his name as William John Hutchinson , Hiram
Lodge , No . 97 , Belfast , but whoso real or assumed name , I am led to believe , is Thomas Blain , and whose address was , iu June last , No . 34 Dock Street , Belfast . On his first application I referred him to tho Almoner , but ho shortly after returned and informed mo that that brother was not at home ; he was about half an hour too lato for him .
( This I havo since discovered is untrue , as the Almoner was at home , and was told by this individual that I had sent him , aud he was relieved and receipt taken for tho samo ) . Ho thereupon gave mo his namo and produced a certificate , and very smartly answered the three or four questions I put to him . I relieved him , and as ho
begged hard for some old clothes—his being shabby and wet throughgavo him a coat and vest . He again shorrly returned , with some letters he found in the pockets , and inadvertently left his own letters and certificate , which has led me to take further interest in this indidividual . I immediately wrote off to Chichester and Aruudel , and
have since learned that he applied for relief tho next morning at Chichester , but as he could not answer the questions out to him he soon cleared out . He says " That he is a mechanical draftsman ; has lately returned from America , which ho much regrets , and hopes soon to return again . Has a son in the R . E ., who is on tho Ordnance Survey Branch , and has lately been to Aldershot to trv and find his
whereabouts . " One of tho let-tern has been re-addressed to Aidershot . Description : —About 5 ft . lOin . iu height , slightly built , of dark complexion and dark moustache , no beard or whiskers , nnd has a sort of military bearing about him . The certificate and letters I have forwarded to the G . S . of the G . L . of Ireland .
Yours faithfully and fraternally , T . F ., £ 01 , P . S . From the number of begging Masons , and somo of them worthless fellows , being about , it is time a butter system of relief was set on foot . I would suggest that the Almoners of neighbouring Lodges
Correspondence
should communicate when necessary , and if they wero required to make out a quarterly return of the particulars of those seeking relief , and tho same forwarded to the G . S . office , where tho lists should bo analysed , then published with tho G . L . Quarterly Report , it would tend greatly to discover thoso parasites who make a trade of begging , and would make it much better for tho genuine brother iu distress . T . F .
OFFICES IN PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGES .
To tlie Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I was very pleased to see tho letter of an " Old P . M . " in your issue of Saturday last , with a " List of Officers appointed since 18 (! S , with the date of appointment , not including , & c , & c , " for the Province of Hampshire and the Islo of Wight . I should be very glad to seo a similar return for tho
Province of West Yorkshire , or even to be ablo to procure such a list . I perfectly agree that it is very difficult to divide tho honours equally in a large Province , at the samo timo it is a difficulty which may bo overcome by proper management , aud a careful aud equal distribution of the coveted honours , and a strict impartiality by conferring them according to merit and ability . Does that impartiality exist ?
Wo very often seo brethren appointed to Provincial honours who havo not earned them , but obtain them simply by the length of thoir purse , or by making themselves conspicuous afc provincial meetings . How many are appointed to ollico iu Provincial Lodge who , during their term of office as WM . wero unable to perform any of the ceremonies , yea , in some cases , not even open or close tho Lodge
creditably ? I know a few . How many others are there who havo toiled long and continuously for our noble Order , and particularly for our noble Charities , by obtaining subscriptions for the endowment of tho chairs of their respective Lodges—havo taken long journeys at considerable inconvenience to instal , deliver lectures , aud further the interests of Freemasonry—who aro left out in the cold , and aro
likely to remain there . I know it for a fact that the honours are distributed in some Provinces according to tho amount individually given to tho Masonic Charities ; quite right that support of the charitable institutions should be recognised ; at tho samo time there are many worthy brethren , who work hard and continually , who cannot afford to subscribe to . or make themselves Life Governors .
Stewards , or Yice-l ' rcsidents of tho Boys , Girls , ami Benevolent Institution , who are as worthy of Provincial honours as their more fortunate brethren who arc continually giving of their plenty . I now come to the last paragraph iu your correspondent ' s letter in which he says , "If the Province is so large that justice cannot bo done to tho Lodges composing it , let it bo divided . " That large
Provinces shonld be divi led , and provincial honours become thereby moro easy of attainment by worthy brethren , and tho Lodges havo thoir fair share of the honours , is tho wish of , and would givo satisfaction to , tho great majority , and not only bo tlio means of " clearing the way for Provincial honours , " but would procure for many who havo grown gray iu tho service of the good cause that
recognition they have so nobly striven for and so justly deserve . What are wo to do to procure tho coveted prize who aro members of a Province composed of sixty-six Lodges aud throe thousand ono hundred and forty-one members ? Wo cannot got honours in this particular Province except by opening wide our pursestrings aud buying them , by becoming Stewards or Life Governors of tho Charities , or by
being continually elected on the Charity Committee of our Province . It is on behalf of the deserving , hard-working P . M . that I claim the justice he so richly deserves , and for which many havo spent a considerable number of years , bufc who , for want of a lengthy pnrso , have not been able to receive from our rulers tho just acknowledgment
of their labours . Wo occasionally ( I am glad to say it rarely occurs ) see the rewards earned by others bestowed on those who gain them by assurance . By all means let us havo onr largo Provinces divided , and a better chance will then bo given to the industrious Mason of meeting with a recognition of his services .
Yours respectfully aud fraternally , JUNIOR P . M . 25 th August 1879 .
FREEMASONRY AND ITS APPLICABILITY TO THE WANTS OF THE OUTER WORLD .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIK AND BROTHER , —This , doutless , will boa startling heading to a letter sout for insertion in a publication especially devoted to the promulgation of Freemasonry , a society which prides itself on its support , H'ithont extraneous aid , oi three large charitable institutions , affording maintenance and education to upwards of 400 children of
both sexes , and pensions ot considerable amounts to moro than 300 male and female annuitants ; it nevertheless is , iu some degree , to my mind , a reproach upon tho Craft thafc something is not attempted by Freemasons to extend their charitable and phiiauthropical funds to tho relief of tho numberless distressed persons who from want of means have never joined the Masouic circle , or have been otherwise
ineligible . AVould not Freemasonry be more generally recognised as a "bund of brethren whoso aim is the diffusion of Charity" wero a portion of its yearly collections applied to tho relief of the sick and suffering of the lower classes of humanity and a
Masonic Dispensary added to the existing Charities of the Order . Perhaps the most lasting memorial hitherto raised to tho honour of a Freemason was the addition of a wing to the Metropolitan Free Hospital in recognition of the services rendered to the Craft by his late ltoyal Highness the Duke of Sussex a former Grand Master . I am full well uwaro that tho fonudatiou of such au Institution may , by
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 our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .
PAST MASTERS' PRIVILEGES .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR Sin AND BROTHER , —Tho inquiry of your correspondent " W . S . L . " in last week's CHRONICLE opens up a subject for thoughtful consideration as to tho full intent and meaning of tho Regulations of Grand Lodgo in respect of tho qualifications of Past Masters , particularly as regards their position in Grand Lodgo and Provincial
brand Lodges . " W . S . L . " correctly states the conditions expressed in the Book of Constitutions at section 1 , page 18 , and section 2 , page 52 , and the reasoning by analogy that tho same requirements as to continued membership apply to both Grand and Provincial Lodges appears to be logical and sound . So far , therefore , I apprehend but one answer could havo been f'ivnn to his incmirv . But lie has
uroceeded to adduce as an instance a circumstance which does not apparently affect the question of membership of a private Lodge , without which membership tho privileges of Grand Lodge cannot be enjoyed . In fact the " instance " docs not apply in the least to the previous question . It merely raises the point as to whether tho Past Master's rank is duo to a brother who has not served the Office of
Worshipful Master for the full period of one year from date of installation . Now what says tho Book of Constitutions as to this ? Afc page 59 , section 2 , we find " Every Lodge shall annually elect ils Master , and afc the next meeting after his election , when the minutes aro confirmed , ho shall bo duly installed , itc . " That certainly determines tho time of election and tho period for which tho Office is to
be held . From tho date of tho confirmation of the minutes the brother appointed is tho Master of the Lodge and is entitled to in . stallatiou . It cannot bo withhold from him , any more than a Lodge can withhold from a F . C . the degree of M . M ., which ho can claim as u right . At page 74 , section 1 of the Book of Constitutions , we read , "No Master elect shall assume tho Master ' s chair nutil ho shall havo
been regularly installed , thmigh he mag in the interim , ride theLodge . " Therefore there can be no doubt that although his installation may bo deferred , for various reasons , as ill health , absence , or other unforeseen causes , and he cannot occupy tho chair of K . S ., he is never , theless virtnnlly the ruler aud can appoint his Wardens and Ollicers for the year in the ordinary manner . His installation at some period of his year of Ollico is doubtless absolutely necessary to secure him
continuing privileges , but is not positively requisite to prevent hi ? ruling during his appointed year . Consequently , he will havo cvecnlod his Oilico for the proscribed period , and his Wardens will also have been executive Ollieois for the term necessary to qualify ( hem for tho Master ' s chair at tho next annual period of election within the Lodge . Yours fraternally , QUIDNUNC .
A CAUTION .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIU AND BKOTHEI ; , —Through the medium of your paper I am desirous of putting tho Almoners of Lodges aud other members of the Craft on their guard with respect to one who called on me on tho 20 th inst ., and gave his name as William John Hutchinson , Hiram
Lodge , No . 97 , Belfast , but whoso real or assumed name , I am led to believe , is Thomas Blain , and whose address was , iu June last , No . 34 Dock Street , Belfast . On his first application I referred him to tho Almoner , but ho shortly after returned and informed mo that that brother was not at home ; he was about half an hour too lato for him .
( This I havo since discovered is untrue , as the Almoner was at home , and was told by this individual that I had sent him , aud he was relieved and receipt taken for tho samo ) . Ho thereupon gave mo his namo and produced a certificate , and very smartly answered the three or four questions I put to him . I relieved him , and as ho
begged hard for some old clothes—his being shabby and wet throughgavo him a coat and vest . He again shorrly returned , with some letters he found in the pockets , and inadvertently left his own letters and certificate , which has led me to take further interest in this indidividual . I immediately wrote off to Chichester and Aruudel , and
have since learned that he applied for relief tho next morning at Chichester , but as he could not answer the questions out to him he soon cleared out . He says " That he is a mechanical draftsman ; has lately returned from America , which ho much regrets , and hopes soon to return again . Has a son in the R . E ., who is on tho Ordnance Survey Branch , and has lately been to Aldershot to trv and find his
whereabouts . " One of tho let-tern has been re-addressed to Aidershot . Description : —About 5 ft . lOin . iu height , slightly built , of dark complexion and dark moustache , no beard or whiskers , nnd has a sort of military bearing about him . The certificate and letters I have forwarded to the G . S . of the G . L . of Ireland .
Yours faithfully and fraternally , T . F ., £ 01 , P . S . From the number of begging Masons , and somo of them worthless fellows , being about , it is time a butter system of relief was set on foot . I would suggest that the Almoners of neighbouring Lodges
Correspondence
should communicate when necessary , and if they wero required to make out a quarterly return of the particulars of those seeking relief , and tho same forwarded to the G . S . office , where tho lists should bo analysed , then published with tho G . L . Quarterly Report , it would tend greatly to discover thoso parasites who make a trade of begging , and would make it much better for tho genuine brother iu distress . T . F .
OFFICES IN PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGES .
To tlie Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I was very pleased to see tho letter of an " Old P . M . " in your issue of Saturday last , with a " List of Officers appointed since 18 (! S , with the date of appointment , not including , & c , & c , " for the Province of Hampshire and the Islo of Wight . I should be very glad to seo a similar return for tho
Province of West Yorkshire , or even to be ablo to procure such a list . I perfectly agree that it is very difficult to divide tho honours equally in a large Province , at the samo timo it is a difficulty which may bo overcome by proper management , aud a careful aud equal distribution of the coveted honours , and a strict impartiality by conferring them according to merit and ability . Does that impartiality exist ?
Wo very often seo brethren appointed to Provincial honours who havo not earned them , but obtain them simply by the length of thoir purse , or by making themselves conspicuous afc provincial meetings . How many are appointed to ollico iu Provincial Lodge who , during their term of office as WM . wero unable to perform any of the ceremonies , yea , in some cases , not even open or close tho Lodge
creditably ? I know a few . How many others are there who havo toiled long and continuously for our noble Order , and particularly for our noble Charities , by obtaining subscriptions for the endowment of tho chairs of their respective Lodges—havo taken long journeys at considerable inconvenience to instal , deliver lectures , aud further the interests of Freemasonry—who aro left out in the cold , and aro
likely to remain there . I know it for a fact that the honours are distributed in some Provinces according to tho amount individually given to tho Masonic Charities ; quite right that support of the charitable institutions should be recognised ; at tho samo time there are many worthy brethren , who work hard and continually , who cannot afford to subscribe to . or make themselves Life Governors .
Stewards , or Yice-l ' rcsidents of tho Boys , Girls , ami Benevolent Institution , who are as worthy of Provincial honours as their more fortunate brethren who arc continually giving of their plenty . I now come to the last paragraph iu your correspondent ' s letter in which he says , "If the Province is so large that justice cannot bo done to tho Lodges composing it , let it bo divided . " That large
Provinces shonld be divi led , and provincial honours become thereby moro easy of attainment by worthy brethren , and tho Lodges havo thoir fair share of the honours , is tho wish of , and would givo satisfaction to , tho great majority , and not only bo tlio means of " clearing the way for Provincial honours , " but would procure for many who havo grown gray iu tho service of the good cause that
recognition they have so nobly striven for and so justly deserve . What are wo to do to procure tho coveted prize who aro members of a Province composed of sixty-six Lodges aud throe thousand ono hundred and forty-one members ? Wo cannot got honours in this particular Province except by opening wide our pursestrings aud buying them , by becoming Stewards or Life Governors of tho Charities , or by
being continually elected on the Charity Committee of our Province . It is on behalf of the deserving , hard-working P . M . that I claim the justice he so richly deserves , and for which many havo spent a considerable number of years , bufc who , for want of a lengthy pnrso , have not been able to receive from our rulers tho just acknowledgment
of their labours . Wo occasionally ( I am glad to say it rarely occurs ) see the rewards earned by others bestowed on those who gain them by assurance . By all means let us havo onr largo Provinces divided , and a better chance will then bo given to the industrious Mason of meeting with a recognition of his services .
Yours respectfully aud fraternally , JUNIOR P . M . 25 th August 1879 .
FREEMASONRY AND ITS APPLICABILITY TO THE WANTS OF THE OUTER WORLD .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIK AND BROTHER , —This , doutless , will boa startling heading to a letter sout for insertion in a publication especially devoted to the promulgation of Freemasonry , a society which prides itself on its support , H'ithont extraneous aid , oi three large charitable institutions , affording maintenance and education to upwards of 400 children of
both sexes , and pensions ot considerable amounts to moro than 300 male and female annuitants ; it nevertheless is , iu some degree , to my mind , a reproach upon tho Craft thafc something is not attempted by Freemasons to extend their charitable and phiiauthropical funds to tho relief of tho numberless distressed persons who from want of means have never joined the Masouic circle , or have been otherwise
ineligible . AVould not Freemasonry be more generally recognised as a "bund of brethren whoso aim is the diffusion of Charity" wero a portion of its yearly collections applied to tho relief of the sick and suffering of the lower classes of humanity and a
Masonic Dispensary added to the existing Charities of the Order . Perhaps the most lasting memorial hitherto raised to tho honour of a Freemason was the addition of a wing to the Metropolitan Free Hospital in recognition of the services rendered to the Craft by his late ltoyal Highness the Duke of Sussex a former Grand Master . I am full well uwaro that tho fonudatiou of such au Institution may , by