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Article TO THE EDITOR. ← Page 3 of 4 →
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To The Editor.
—an example of all the social virtues among men , and a zealous and appreciated leader among Masons . The commercial objects of my visit to the North of England , requiring my attendance for some days at Sunderland , I proceeded for this place from Newcastle , on Tuesday the 5 th instant , ancl on the following evening attended the Phoenix Lodge , No 111 , held in the Phoenix Hallwhich 1 regretted to find exceedinglthin in point of numbers
, y , and by no means efficient in practical Masonry . Here , as at Newcastle , the chair was filled by an acting W . M . ; but not a single officer , whether sitting in his own right , or as the locum tenens of another , appeared capable of going through the most simple duties of the Lodge , in the time of labour . Of the ability of all to do justice to the more social rites—the subsidiary , and in all well constituted Lodges the secondary consideration—I cannot say a word in the way of detraction . Ancl
yet there seemed nothing wanting but a directing mind . The materials for an excellent Lodge co-exist with a disposition for social indulgence . The latter placed under reasonable restraint , by some active ancl influential means , and the former properly applied , discipline ancl
Masonic advantage would arise , where comparative confusion and unprofitable results are now too visible . Some may condemn me for these reflections ; some may say that the very cordial reception I met with in the Phceuix Lodge , a reception in ivhich , apart from Masonic considerations , I am personall y sincerely thankful for , ought to have closed my lips , or stayed my pen in the way of reproof . If such there be , my anticipatory reply is simply this—the advancement of Freemasonry in the
purity of its practice , ancl the perfection of its aim , is with me of more consequence than the consideration of any individual pain I must occasion to those whose negligence or misapplication of means provokes that very infliction . And besides all this , " where much is given , much is expected , " and the Phoenix Lodge is unpossessed of the plea of poverty , in abatement of reproof for its want of practical information ; since , if 1 am rightly informed , the members possess a clear income of 40 / . per annum , for the use of their Hall , chiefly as a place of divine worship . One would think that the main source of this income would be of itself sufficient to determine its application to the most legitimate Masonic
purposes . For my own part I shall rejoice exceedingly , if what I am now writing should expedite the period in which the Phoenix Lodge , No . IU , may spring up into new life from the ashes of its indolence , may raise anew the pure flame of Freemasonry from its latent embers , and be ranked , in every point of view , with the many excellent Lodges which shed a lustre on the Craft in the County of Durham , and cause that province to stand the first among all for the numberrespectabilityand
profi-, , ciency of its Members . Where all else is so praiseworthy , such an exception is the more glaring , and the less excusable . Brethren of the Phcenix Lodge , I should be insincere as a Mason , if I did not thus attempt to excite you to do justice to yourselves ; you will be equally so if you do not acquit me of all improper motive , in a case wherein to have avoided would have been easy , and to censure , is most painful . Let me now turn to the most pleasant of my Masonic reminiscences
in this quarter . On Monday , the loth , I had the gratification of attending the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland , and of sitting under the presidency of the Earl of Durham . It is not for me to describe the particulars of this assemblage of the Fraternity , except
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
To The Editor.
—an example of all the social virtues among men , and a zealous and appreciated leader among Masons . The commercial objects of my visit to the North of England , requiring my attendance for some days at Sunderland , I proceeded for this place from Newcastle , on Tuesday the 5 th instant , ancl on the following evening attended the Phoenix Lodge , No 111 , held in the Phoenix Hallwhich 1 regretted to find exceedinglthin in point of numbers
, y , and by no means efficient in practical Masonry . Here , as at Newcastle , the chair was filled by an acting W . M . ; but not a single officer , whether sitting in his own right , or as the locum tenens of another , appeared capable of going through the most simple duties of the Lodge , in the time of labour . Of the ability of all to do justice to the more social rites—the subsidiary , and in all well constituted Lodges the secondary consideration—I cannot say a word in the way of detraction . Ancl
yet there seemed nothing wanting but a directing mind . The materials for an excellent Lodge co-exist with a disposition for social indulgence . The latter placed under reasonable restraint , by some active ancl influential means , and the former properly applied , discipline ancl
Masonic advantage would arise , where comparative confusion and unprofitable results are now too visible . Some may condemn me for these reflections ; some may say that the very cordial reception I met with in the Phceuix Lodge , a reception in ivhich , apart from Masonic considerations , I am personall y sincerely thankful for , ought to have closed my lips , or stayed my pen in the way of reproof . If such there be , my anticipatory reply is simply this—the advancement of Freemasonry in the
purity of its practice , ancl the perfection of its aim , is with me of more consequence than the consideration of any individual pain I must occasion to those whose negligence or misapplication of means provokes that very infliction . And besides all this , " where much is given , much is expected , " and the Phoenix Lodge is unpossessed of the plea of poverty , in abatement of reproof for its want of practical information ; since , if 1 am rightly informed , the members possess a clear income of 40 / . per annum , for the use of their Hall , chiefly as a place of divine worship . One would think that the main source of this income would be of itself sufficient to determine its application to the most legitimate Masonic
purposes . For my own part I shall rejoice exceedingly , if what I am now writing should expedite the period in which the Phoenix Lodge , No . IU , may spring up into new life from the ashes of its indolence , may raise anew the pure flame of Freemasonry from its latent embers , and be ranked , in every point of view , with the many excellent Lodges which shed a lustre on the Craft in the County of Durham , and cause that province to stand the first among all for the numberrespectabilityand
profi-, , ciency of its Members . Where all else is so praiseworthy , such an exception is the more glaring , and the less excusable . Brethren of the Phcenix Lodge , I should be insincere as a Mason , if I did not thus attempt to excite you to do justice to yourselves ; you will be equally so if you do not acquit me of all improper motive , in a case wherein to have avoided would have been easy , and to censure , is most painful . Let me now turn to the most pleasant of my Masonic reminiscences
in this quarter . On Monday , the loth , I had the gratification of attending the Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland , and of sitting under the presidency of the Earl of Durham . It is not for me to describe the particulars of this assemblage of the Fraternity , except