Ar00703

^ S^^^^ s SATURDAY , DECEMBER r , 188 3

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible tor , or even approvint : of , the opinions sxpresscd by ourcorrespondents , but wc wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion , 1

THE STATUS OF PAST MASTERS . To the Editor e . f thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In the notice cf motion by Bro . Arnold I presume thc indefinite expression " a position " to mean any position of precedence amongst the Past Masters which the lodge may choose to assign to him . A position of precedence being synonymous with rank , the proposed resolution ,

if passed into law , would give to private lodges the power of conferring past rank . This would be a dangerous precedent , for if private lodges may give past rank why should not Provincial Grand Lod ges do the same ? Wh y should not a Provincial Grand Lodge give to a Past Warden r >_ a neighbouring province who has joined their Provincial Grand Lodge by becominga subscribing member of one of their lodges , the position or rank of a Past

Warden of their province ? I hardly think Grand Lodge will be willing to sanction such an innovation . Lodges can make any joining Past Master a member of their Committees or place him at the table where they like without any general law on the subject , and while lodges are left to themselves any such distinction is confined—as it

should be—to the four walls of the lod ge , but when a position of precedence is given under the powers of a general law the rank thus conferred is no longer confined to the lodge but becomes rank in the Craft . I trust Grand Lodge will not encumber the Book of Constitutions with so vague and unnecessary a law as that about to be proposed . —Yours fraternally , T . FENN .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , " Experientia docet " is a sound old adage . The following case which occurred in the mother lodge of the writer is somewhat analagous to one given in your last issue ; and whilst illustrating the " old saw , " may also instruct "A Perplexed Past Master . " Bro . X . was initiated in 1 S 57 ; in due time he passed

through the Worshipful Master ' s chair into the venerable phalanx of the Past Masters of the lodge , and so continued for about ten years . Bro . X ., for some reason or no reason at all then withdrew from the lodge , and after a "secession from the Craft" * of about iS months , was proposed asa joining brother , and re-admitted to membership . But Bro . X . had " for 12 months ceased to subscribe to any lodge , ! and had therefore , forfeited his membership

ot Oranu Lodge . J and as a corollary , was no longer a member of Provincial Grand Lodge . Bro . X . was not satisfied with his reduced position , and occasionally vented his discontent by grumbling at everything , and blaming evcrbody but himself . Last winter he brought his " case " formally before the lodge ; the lodge brought it formally before the Prov . Grand Master ; and the Prov . Grand Master brought it formally before the

Grand Registrar , who ruled "that Bro . X . must rank immediately below the junior Past Master of the lodge , and could only regain membership of Grand Lodge by again filling the chair of W . M . for one year . Butsir , why should Bro . X ., or "A Perplexed Past Master " complain ? As Masters they knew , or ought to have known , that , as without membership they never could have gained office , rank , and privileges ; so , without membership they

never could retain them . By voluntary withdrawal , whether from caprice or indifference , they justly and deservedly forfeited their status and privileges as Past Masters , and they suffer the consequences of their own conduct . Continuity of membership would have saved them from all the " disagreeables " which now vex and chafe the r spirits . The other case cited by "A . B . " may be perhaps illustrated

by what happened to myself many years ago when the first lodge in December was the lodge appointed for election of Worshipful Master . I was duly elected , though not present , being laid up by a sudden and severe sickness , from which I did not recover soon enough to be installed at the " next regular lodge , " viz ., the first Monday in January . 1 just managed to get to the first lod ge in February and was then installed . The question soon arose as to the years' ollice . But " all the king ' s

horses and all the king ' s men " could not make one year out of eleven months ; and there were only two ways by which to secure past rank , either to re-elect at the usual time or to alter the day of election by a change in the byelaws . As there were behind me a number of earnest and excellent workers we decided on the latter course ; altered the bye-law by making the first lodge in January the lodge for electing future W . Ms ., thus giving me a year of

office , and my rank as P . M . without appreciable delay in the advancement of my successors . In a case of non-confirmation of minutes , lodges would avoid the difficulty by electing a Past Master to the chair , as no loss of past rank would follow . But if a brother is elected who has not previously filled the chair he cannot acquire past rank by eleven months' service , and should therefore be re-elected , or the same course be taken as in

** iy illustration . A lodge cannot , any more than an individual brother , escape the consequences of its own actions . To ' * .. !_ .. ' s" questions , a and b there can only be a negative answer . Question c is answered by Constitutions ( p . iS , art- 1 ) and the installation service . "A . B . 's" question anent the ballot raises an interesting point . There appears to be nothing relating to such a uoint in the Constitutions ,

which assume throughout that in so important a matter as 'no admission of candidates into the Order , every brother j Vl" express his approval or disapproval by his vote . I ' " now many lodges where the balls are counted by thc W . M .. t 0 see that they correspond in number with the "• 'etliren present . I should say that no brother ought to shirk his duty , for to do so is certainly un-Masonic . —Yours ' £ aternally , E . T . BUDDEN .

Original Correspondence.

RECOGNITION OF NEW GRAND LODGES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I see an application is to be made at the ensuing Grand Lodge by a " body styling itself " the Grand Lodge of Victoria" for recognition as a regular Grand Lodge . Without enteringinto the merits of the application , 1 simply

write to point out that what is known as the " American doctrine" as respects the formation of new Grand Lodges is never likely to he tolerated in England , Scotland , or Ireland . To establish any Grand Lodge on fair Masonic grounds , the movement should be supported by the great majority of the lodges and members to be affected by the change ; the talk about any three lodges having such a right ( or indeed

the minority , no matter of how many lodges ) is simply contraryto Masonic usage and equity . Even if legally formed , the rights of thc majority must not infringe upon those of the minority , for so long as the minority of lodges refuse to countenance the new Grand Lodge , they must be perfectly free to continue under their own Grand Bodies wliich warranted them . This has bcen the practice of the Grand Lodges of Great Britain and Ireland from their formation early last century . —Yours , & c . VV . J . HUGHAN .

BRO . JOHN HAVERS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , There is a paragraph in your issue of to-day which I would beg your permission to allow me to correct , or rather to modify . It is there stated that " I hope to take a more active part in Grand Lodge business than 1 have

been able to do of late years , and by my presence and advice thereaidin the discussion of our agenda papers , " & c . It would seem from the above that this were my wish and my hope . Let me say that this is rather a misunderstanding . It is true that , at the request of many and valued friends , I haveattended several lodges and meetings of late , have heard manyopinions . andhavc discussed manysubjects

of great interest in Masonry . I am still in bad health , and have no wish to return to work ; it would not be a hopeful subject to me , and I certainly have no wish to take an active part , especially in the discussions in Grand Lodge . All that 1 have said is this—and it was said under some pressure—that if it be thought that I can by my advice , or by my attendance if that be necessary , assist in carrying

out the general wishes of my brethren and the general welfare of the Craft , I am bound by my love for that Craft , by my duty and allegiance to our chiefs , and especially by the kindness shown to me by my brethren , and the confidence which so many of them still seem to place in me ,

to do my best so long as my health will permit me—and this 1 will try to do . Thanking you for the more than kind way in which you have been pleased to speak of me , I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , JOHN HAVERS . November 24 th . ¦

BOYS' PREPARATORY SCHOOL . To thc Editor of the "Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , I am of opinion that a special meeting of Governors should be called to arrange something definite , and a Building Committee be elected , to obtain plans for a school which will give thc required accommodation for the stipulated sum , the House Committee not being particularly qualified for such work . —Yours , & c , LIFE GOVERNOR .

REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , 1 have had the opportunity of conversing with a number of brethren in London and one of our largest provinces , and am convinced that the general opinion is : the

Temple should be restored and the larger scheme postponed . Allow me to suggest the formation of a gallery over the entrance of the Temple , and if found practicable ( I have not examined the premises ) let this gallery be carried over the corridor as far as the wall of the room which is used as a tea room on festival evenings . —Fraternally yours , 26 , Budge-row , E . C . HENRY LOVEGROVE .

IMPOUNDING MASONIC CERTIFICATES . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Although I do not sign my name to this letter , still , as a Mason of 37 years , and with a varied experience of the " uses and abuses" of our Craft , I would much wish to see amongst the rules and regulations for our

guidance something plain and unmistakeable as to impounding Masonic certificates found in possession of itinerant beggars , on persons convicted of felony or other serious crimes . I have during a long official career had such _ cases before me , and on one occasion particularly in my

memory I applied to the lodge named in such a certificate , noting for the information thereof the " un-Masonic position " of the holder , but nothing came of it . I had no power to impound the document , which may still be used for a very different purpose than the original issue from Grand Secretary ' s office intended it to fulfil , and to the great discredit of our noble Craft . Yours fraternally , C .

THE TRANQUILLITY LODGE . —A CORRECTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you kindly correct a mistake in the amount named in your issue of to-day as collected in the

Tranquillity Lodge on the 19 th inst . It should be " voted b y W . M . £ 3 3 s . ; sum collected , £ 7 ; total , £ \ o 3 s ., " which sum has becn acknowledged by the distressed brother . I am , dear sir and brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , A . STALEY , W . M . 2 G and 27 , Milk-st ., Cheapside , Nov . 24 th .

LIFE MEMBERSHIP OF LODGES-A QUERY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I shall feel obliged if you will allow me to ask your readers whether tbey are acquainted with any lodge where the members are allowed on payment of a lump sum to become life members ?—Fraternally yours , T . GARRET HORDER , W . M . 3 .. Cardiff . November 10 th ,

Reviews

REVIEWS

LUTHER VINDICATED . By CHARLES HASTINGS COLLETTE . Bernard Ouaritch , 15 , Piccadilly , VV . Amid the Luther celebration and commemoration in Uermany and m the world many works and tractates come to the fore . Unfortunately the absolutely neutral position of the Freemason in all such discussions renders all but useless the kind remembrance of publisher and the best efforts of writers . We cannot in the Freemason

touch upon topics which infringe , either on the right hand or the left , on religious controversies or controversional positions . Luther , like Freemasonry , was undoubtedly an advocate for freedom of thought and liberty of conscience , for the cessation , whether of the horrors of thc Inquisition or the claims of an Infallible Body , which condemned and excommunicated all outside its fold , Freemasons not excepted . But further than this we cannot safely advance or

conveniently dilate . Into thc peculiar merits of the case we cannot dive , nor can we express our opinion oneway or the other . In so doing we should ignore that fundamental rule of Freemasonry , entire absence at all times , and in all places , and under all circumstances , " ubique , semper , et omnibus , " from political discussion , or so-called religious squabbles . Luther , if Mr . Collette ' s commentary is correct , as it would appear to be , had " hard lines "

meted out to him . His words were perverted , his opinions misrepresented , his table talk and his very utterances , theological or normal , garbled and falsified , and , no doubt , from an historical , or artistic , or matter of fact point of view , little can be said for earlier opponents , or later assailants . They all , both of the ancient and modern schools alike , seem to have forgotten the " abstract importance of truth , " and in their unseemly haste to bespatter

Luther , rough , untutored , and free-spoken as he was , and using the free idioms of his generation and age , have certainly manifested tlieir perfect acquaintance -with those most detestable Jesuit maxims , " the end justifies the means , " " we may do evil that good may come , " "the right sanctifies the wrong , " and have endorsed that lying wordly ^ apo'hegm that " all is fair in war , love , and controversy . ' In so far and in as much as Luther vindicated

liberty of thought and liberty ( of conscience ; in so far as he upheld how debasing is persecution , and how absurd is concrete vice amidst abstract professions of virtue ; in so far , we repeat , he deserves the thanks and gratitude of every Freemason . The Church of Rome has thought well to excommunicate Freemasons over and over again , by Hulls , Allocutions , Mandemans , ' ^ en bloc" and singly and individually . And yet Freemasonry seems none the worse Sor it , but , if truth be told , better , a good deal better .

Without endorsing all that Luther said or did in a long , bitter , controversal life , like Professor Dollinger we must admire his intellect and his great powre , fe lo . c of truth and toleration , and above all the noble and the needful stand he made for the possibility of an acceptable belief outside the conventional limits of an assumed infallibility , his denial ; of the pure Roman Catholic dogma " extra exclesiam

nulla salus , " wliich would except on the mere possibility of an "Invincible Ignorance , " dismiss from the pale of salvation all except its own professing members . However here we must stop to-day . For those who are attracted by such "burning questions , " though we confess the experience of years teaches us to look on nearly all controversy as most unprofitable reading , this well printed work will have contemporary attraction and peculiar interest .

THE COSMOPOLITAN CALENDAR . George Kenning , Freemason Office , 16 and iGa , Great Queen-street , W . C . It has been objected to us reviewing Bro . Kenning ' s " Calendar and Pocket-Book " in the Freemason , just as in younger days an objection was taken to a gentleman who ate his own cakes at his own Ball . But why ? What is the real objection , either in positive propriety or possible good form ? The "Cosmopolitan Calendar and Pocket-Book "

is an entirely separate publication from the Freemason , has a different editor , and we may fairly notice it in this column , for the information of the Craft , unless indeed Masonic charity has fallen so low as neither to realize the actuality of honestcriticism or the fact of unsordid interest . We review the " Cosmopolitan Calendar " from long acquaintance and " Auld lang syne . " In its fourteenth year of issue it has won for itself , under very difficult circumstances , the

goodwill and patronage of countless Masons at home and abroad . Being a collection of Masonic names , dates , statistics , and information procurable in no other shape , accessible in no other form , especially as regards the High Grades , it is a most useful compendium , year by year , of Masonic rites and Masonic brethren everywhere , as well as of those Chivalric Orders which now are so popular , and enroll in their ranks some of our very best Craft Masons . It has its

distinct field and its proper aim , and as it interferes with none , antagonizes none , and has been put together with great care and at much expense , it becomes a useful "Vade Mecum " for many , a useful reminder for more , and ought to find a regular and fitting place in all Masonic libraries and bureaux , in the collection of the student , and in the pocket

of the wandering Freemason . It is something to know wherever you are on the earth ' s surface where a lodge , a chapter , an encampment , a Mark body , a consistory , a council may be heard of . We may wish honestly therefore all success to our old friend the " Cosmo , " without being found fault with , without being accused- of egotism or adulation . .

BOOK CATALOGUES . Mr . Stihbs , of 32 , Musuem-strcet , W . C , has j ust put out a most interesting catalogue , No . 40 , which is full of valuable and scarce works , and very reasonable in price , on every page . We recommend all book buyers and book lovers amongst us , at once to send for , to peruse , and to patronise it .

"RUPTURES , —WHITES MOC-MAIN LEVER TRUSS is the most effective' invention for the treatment of Hernia . The use of a steel spring , so hurtful in its elVects , is avoided , a soft bandage bcin £ worn round the body , while the requisite resisting power is supplied by the Moc-Main l " a _ and Patent Lever , fitting with so much ease and closeness that it cannot hc detected . Send for descriptive circular , with testimonials an _ prices , to J . White and Co . ( Limited ) _;> S , Piccadilly , London . Do not buy of Chemists , who often sell an IMITATION of our Moc-Main , J , White and Co , have not any agents , — [ ADVT . ]