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Article TO THE EDITOR. Page 1 of 1 Article TO THE EDITOR. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor.
TO THE EDITOR .
WILL you , Mr . Editor , be good enough to inform the subscribers to the Testimonial presented to His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , It . W . G . M ., a few years since , what has become of such tribute of respect , and in whose custody it is at present ? A St / BSC'tlBER . Soufiampton , June , 1044 . £ We understand the " offering" is in the possession of Her Grace the Duchess of Inverness . —E-nJ
To The Editor.
TO THE EDITOR .
SIR ANO BROTHER , —In the last number of your truly valuable publication , there is a letter signed Philo-Masonicus . The writer has touched upon some topics which seem well deserving of the attention of the HIGHER POWERS . I more particularly allude to what he says upon the subject of a uniformity in the working af oar Ceremonies and Lectures . This want of uniformity is in direct violation of the ARTICLES OF UNION-, which providethat " there shall be the most perfect unity of Obligation
, , of Discipline , of working the Lodges , of MAKING , PASSING , anel RAISING , instructing anel clothing the Brothers , so that but one pure and unsullied system , according to the genuine landmarks , laws , and tradition of the Craft , shall be maintained , upheld , and practised , throughout the Masonic world . " This want of uniformity , as Dr . Oliver justly observes , is much to be lamented , because the remedy might be very easily applied . Let a ivell selected Committee be appointed to revise the
Ceremonies , Lectures , Charges , and explanation of Tracing-boards ; and when done , let the M . W . G . M . call upon his Provincial Commanders to enforce uniformity in their respective districts . The sooner something of the kind is ably and energetically carried into execution the better ; particularly as regards the Lectures . I have given a good deal of time and attention , in endeavouring to make myself master of the
correct form ; but such discrepancies are constantly starting up , as to render the pursuit almost hopeless . The two great sources , from which the younger Brethren seek to make themselves proficients , are theG . S . L . and a good Lodgeof instruction . 1 haveheard the Lectures worked in both , and in some parts give a decided preference to the latter . Take , for instance , the explanation ofF . H . and C , as worked in the G . S . L . Look at the superfluity of words , and paucity of any definite meaning ,
which they convey to the mind . Whilst these various readings continue , and each Lodge assumes a right to use its own version , how can we expect the lectures to be well worked in any private Lodge . The AV . M . may have learned what has been pointed out to him as a good version ; the respondent may have been trained in some other school . Wellquestions are put , and answers made , so at variance with what the parties expected , that they become mutually confused , and make
shipwreck of tbe whole ; and all this for want of an authorised version , and the command of our head to observe UNIFORMITY . Another topic in your correspondent ' s letter is , the limiting the office ofthe M . W . G . M . to a certain number of years . A measure much deserving adoption ; but , I say , go further— put an incapacitating terminus to the situation of SALARIED OFFICERS , by length of service , or age . They can become old ladies as well as others ; and , forgetting they are only the SERVANTS of the Craft , aspire to lie its RULERS . We
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor.
TO THE EDITOR .
WILL you , Mr . Editor , be good enough to inform the subscribers to the Testimonial presented to His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , It . W . G . M ., a few years since , what has become of such tribute of respect , and in whose custody it is at present ? A St / BSC'tlBER . Soufiampton , June , 1044 . £ We understand the " offering" is in the possession of Her Grace the Duchess of Inverness . —E-nJ
To The Editor.
TO THE EDITOR .
SIR ANO BROTHER , —In the last number of your truly valuable publication , there is a letter signed Philo-Masonicus . The writer has touched upon some topics which seem well deserving of the attention of the HIGHER POWERS . I more particularly allude to what he says upon the subject of a uniformity in the working af oar Ceremonies and Lectures . This want of uniformity is in direct violation of the ARTICLES OF UNION-, which providethat " there shall be the most perfect unity of Obligation
, , of Discipline , of working the Lodges , of MAKING , PASSING , anel RAISING , instructing anel clothing the Brothers , so that but one pure and unsullied system , according to the genuine landmarks , laws , and tradition of the Craft , shall be maintained , upheld , and practised , throughout the Masonic world . " This want of uniformity , as Dr . Oliver justly observes , is much to be lamented , because the remedy might be very easily applied . Let a ivell selected Committee be appointed to revise the
Ceremonies , Lectures , Charges , and explanation of Tracing-boards ; and when done , let the M . W . G . M . call upon his Provincial Commanders to enforce uniformity in their respective districts . The sooner something of the kind is ably and energetically carried into execution the better ; particularly as regards the Lectures . I have given a good deal of time and attention , in endeavouring to make myself master of the
correct form ; but such discrepancies are constantly starting up , as to render the pursuit almost hopeless . The two great sources , from which the younger Brethren seek to make themselves proficients , are theG . S . L . and a good Lodgeof instruction . 1 haveheard the Lectures worked in both , and in some parts give a decided preference to the latter . Take , for instance , the explanation ofF . H . and C , as worked in the G . S . L . Look at the superfluity of words , and paucity of any definite meaning ,
which they convey to the mind . Whilst these various readings continue , and each Lodge assumes a right to use its own version , how can we expect the lectures to be well worked in any private Lodge . The AV . M . may have learned what has been pointed out to him as a good version ; the respondent may have been trained in some other school . Wellquestions are put , and answers made , so at variance with what the parties expected , that they become mutually confused , and make
shipwreck of tbe whole ; and all this for want of an authorised version , and the command of our head to observe UNIFORMITY . Another topic in your correspondent ' s letter is , the limiting the office ofthe M . W . G . M . to a certain number of years . A measure much deserving adoption ; but , I say , go further— put an incapacitating terminus to the situation of SALARIED OFFICERS , by length of service , or age . They can become old ladies as well as others ; and , forgetting they are only the SERVANTS of the Craft , aspire to lie its RULERS . We