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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
In conclusion , let us remember that among the conditions of admission into Masonry are those of " mature age and sound judgment . " Each man , when initiated , is supposed to have a certain settled idea as to what dogmas ( not essential to Masonry ) are true or false . In addressing , therefore , a Society
consisting of divers religious sects , the speaker has no more business to give prominence to his own religious views thantothoseof his political ones ; and if our Christian brethren would only learn to think a little less of sect , and practise a little more the " gold en rule , " sectarian discourses in Masonic gatherings
would be as rare as political ones ; and if errors are sometimes committed through inadvertency , it is much more proper to correct those errors than to endeavour to justify them under such pretences as those of the Rev . Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of England , Fraternally and respectfully yours ,
JACOB NORTON Boston , U . S ., August Sth , 1870 . MASONRY IN JERSEY .
( To the Editor of lhe Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In this dull season of the year the following scrap of Masonic intelligence may may not be without interest to some of your readers . On Friday evening , the 26 th ult ., the benefit of
the lessee of the theatre here was announced to be under the patronage of the P . G . Master , the P . G . Officers , and the W . M . ' s and brethren ofthe various lodges in the island , the bills further stating that the brethren would appear in full Masonic regalia , as a compliment to the beneficiare who was himself
a brother . To this , of course , it being sanctioned by the presence of the P . G . Master , no one could make an objection ; but , sir , you may judge of my surprise when the lessee appeared upon the stage in the dress of a R . A . Mason , accompanied by a P . G . Officer in full Masonic costume , to sing a
duet ; after which , another brother , attired as a M . M ., came forward and sang two comic songs . While giving every credit to the members of the Craft for supporting a brother , it appears to me that in making such a public show of themselves as I have described , thc brethren were certainly doing nothing for " the good of the Craft in general" or
, of their own lodges in particular ; whether they were violating the Laws of Freemasonry I am unaware . I cannot remember any special law relating to such conduct , and therefore suppose that those who framed the Constitutions never imagined that they would be called upon to legislate for such a breach of good taste as has been exhibited in the above
case . I am , yours fraternally , A LONDON W . M
SCOTCH v . ENGLISH FREEMASONRY . ( To the Editor of Thc Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Much has been said ancl much has been written respecting thc very loose and careless manner in which many of thc Scotch lodges admit candidates to the mysteries and privileges of the Craft—a system that , amongst
its many evils , produces a luxuriant crop of thc " genus-beggmg Masons , " and permits many other improper characters to join in our sacred rites . Many suggestions have also from time to time appeared in your columns , pointing out various remedies to check the evils complained of ; notably , thc
raising of the initiation fees , and making it imperative that a certain time must elapse between the proposition being made ancl thc ballot taking place , in order that due inquiries can be made touching thc moral character and other requisite qualifications which every candidate for Freemasonry should
possess . This , no doubt , would be a step in the right direction , and one I should hail with satisfaction and delight . Whilst acknowledging with feelings of deep regret that thc evils above complained of have an existence , I would ask thc question : Is Scottish
Freemasonry solely responsible for them ? Thc answer , I am afraid , cannot be in thc affirmative , for there are innumerable instances in which some English lodges arc equally culpable , and who , for the sake of receiving thc fees , have admitted improper persons , and thus done great injury to the Craft and
assisted in perpetuating those very evils of which they so loudly complain . What , for instance , can be thought of thc conduct of the W . M ., officers , and brethren of a lodge held in one of the most populous towns in thc province of West Yorkshire , in permitting five persons to be proposed as candidates at one timc , thcwho ! c five being non-resident but
all boon companions from a neighbouring town in the same province within one hour ' s journey by rail , and where three lodges are regularly held ? What can be said of theirdesire to sustain the high character to which English Freemasons lay claim when they quietly allow a month to pass over without making a single inquiryof the lodges in the town
Original Correspondence.
where the candidates reside , and thus showing some desire to become acquainted with their antecedents , present habits , and moral qualifications ? What , I would ask , can be urged in extenuation of the conduct of any lodge who can proceed to ballot for , and accept , five persons who are total strangers
to them , and about whom they have never troubled themselves to inquire ? Do our Scottish brethren do anything more reckless ? Yet such is a recent occurrence in a lodge where the initiation fees are moderately large ( six guineas , I believe , and two guineas annual subscription ) , at any rate sufficiently
large to deter any one not possessed of moderate means | from becoming a candidate , and also in a province that has a bye-law making it incumbent on the W . Master ( in case of non-residence ) to make due inquiry of the lodges in the town where candidates may reside , and make known to the
brethren the result of such inquiry , previous to the ballot taking place . This is not a solitary instance , but still sufficient to show that something more is required than high initiation fees and a lapse of time between the proposition and ballot , in order to keep out men who , although possessed of the requisite
number of " guineas , " nevertheless lack the tongue of good report . " It is sufficient to show the necessity of thc brethren exercising greater care in the selection of a W . Master , and placing in the chair of their lodge one , who is not only well posted in the Book of Constitutions and the bye-laws of his
province and lodge , but one also who will exercise a rigid observance of the same , and carefully watch over and guard its interest with a most jealous eye . Whilst such reckless proceedings as the above are taking place in our very midst , are we justified in
continually finding fault with our Scottish brethren ? Should we not display more of the true spirit of Freemasonry by looking at home first , and reforming our own conduct , rather than by persistently attributing to others those faults of which we ourselves are guilty . Yours fraternally , ' A COUNTRY W . M .
GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As you favoured your readers with a copy of a circular at page 3 68 , no doubt a good many will be anxious to knowwhat became of that famous document . When it was brought before the Grand Lodge of
Scotland , on 1 st ult , it met with a decided refusal , as out of all the members of G . L . about a dozen voted for No . 1 motion , while No . 2 was withdrawn . One of the members considered it a direct insult to Grand Lodge , and that thc brother who introduced it ought to apologise—which was done .
Bro . H . states in the copy of letter sent you that he expects the support of all true Masons ; I hope he will not consider that thc majority of the brethren were not true men , seeing they voted against him . He also states that Scottish Freemasons in the sister countries are viewed "with suspicion and
distrust . " This I deny . He further states that he "belicvesthat it arises chiefly from the loose system of admitting candidates to our Order , ancl thc conferring of degrees on the same . " Not chiefly from the system of admitting candidates , but principally from the conferring thc
degrees , and of giving the candidates sufficient instruction ; let us examine this matter , and prepare a remedy for thc same . 11 is well known that about two-thirds ofthe R . W . M . ' s in Scotland are incapable of working their lodges , and of imparting that instruction to a candidate which it is necessary for
him to receive , sothal he may becapableof acquitting himself as a Mason in any country or sphere in which he may be placed . In England no one can attain to thc chair unless he has served as a Warden for at least one year , and is found able to conduct the working of a lodge . This is a very good law ; but
I would have it that every candidate for the chair should undergo an examination before three ormorc qualified Past Masters , and if found capable of going through the whole formula of working and instruction in thc three degrees , let him be installed —if not , reject him until he has qualified himself .
And , also , for thc purpose of having a lodge properly instructed , they ought to meet at least once monthly as a Lodge of Instruction . Further , no R . W . M . or Warden should hold the office for more than two years . I have known Masters in thc chair for four , six , and eight years , ancl during the whole
period never attempting to work thc E . A . degree . 1 low could these Masters be capable of instructing a candidate—one going abroad from such a lodge ? Could you expect anything but distrust and suspicion ? There lies thc looseness . As has already been stated in THE FREEMASON ,
there ought to be a uniformity of fees . Such is not the case . If thc fees were fixed by Grand Lodge at three guineas each , it would be better for the Craft ; the present system varies from twenty-six shillings and sixpence up to three guineas—there is one lodge , I believe , charges four pounds . Some will
Original Correspondence.
say it will not be an easy matter to get all to agree to the above figure . If Grand Lodge , in granting all new charters and reproving old ones , was to fix the fees at three guineas , a very short time would bring them all in unison . With the assistance of Provincial Grand Lodges , a few years would suffice
to work it , and in course of time we should be able to boast of as many fine Masonic halls and Masonic charities as our sister kingdoms , and show to the world that Masonry in Scotland was not a shadow left only with the name .
I have no doubt that Bro . H . 's motions were pure and intended for the benefit of the Craft , and as he expresses himself open for suggestion , I beg to draw his attention to the defects pointed out in my letter . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , MONTRA .
P . S . —Since writing the above , I observe that your leader , No . 74 , page 378 , has been overlooked by me , where I find you endorse Bro . Hamilton ' s statement . Are you aware that the laws of Grand Lodge bind us to make due inquiries into the character of our candidates ? Vide , Grand Lodge Laws , chap xxi ., sec . iv . :
And in order to uphold the purity of the Fraternity , it is specially recommended that no candidate for initiation into Masonry be admitted a member of any lodge until his character and qualificationshave been fully inquired into , and the brethren have expressed themselves satisfied ( by ballot in open lodge ) of the eligibility of the candidate , " & c .
Sec . vi . also says : " No candidate for initiation shall be advanced from the degree of Apprentice to that of Fellow-Craft , or raised from the degree of Fellow-Craft to that of Master Mason , at a shorter interval than that of two weeks between each decree , unless it shall be certified by two of
the brethren of the lodge in which the candidate is to be passed or raised , that he is about to remove from Scotland within the interval hereby proscribed , " & c , & c . A great many of your readers may imagine that Bro . H . ' s propositions were something new , the above quotation of the laws will dispel that idea .
If any lodge wilfully breaks the law , let them be punished . It is very strange , yet true , that this same law was broken or departed from a short time ago , and I understand that both the proposer and seconder of thc motions referred to were cognisant of it . Oh ! consistency , thou art a jewel .
M . TEMPLAR COMMANDERIES . —ERRORS IN PRECEDENCE .
( To thc Editor of Thc Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am very unwilling to intrude upon your columns , but , as I think I have good cause to take exception to some parts of Sir Knight Yarker ' s letter , under this heading , in your impression of Saturday last , I must beg
permission to make a few observations thereon . Sir Knight Yarker says , " The history of this , thc Jerusalem Encampment , Manchester , has been gratuitously placed within the reach of every member of the Order , and it is therefore somewhat ungracious of thc Executive in London to plead
ignorance of its history and status . Yet such is the case in a recent correspondence with the Grand Chancery on the subject . " This history of the Jerusalem Encampment has never been sent to mc officially or otherwise . I am not aware that the Executive in London has pleaded
ignorance ofthe history and status of the Encampment . I certainly am not conscious of having done so ; and I think Sir Knight Yarker must be under some misapprehension in stating that " such is the case in a recent correspondence with thc Grand Chancery . "
I might further take exception to the statement that I " have promised that the case of the Jerusalem Encampment shall be looked into and put right . " What I stated inmy letter toSirKnightYarkcr is , " The dates of thc warrants of 1786 and 1 795 shall be inserted in the next calendar . An
alteration in the number is , however , as you evidently sec , a more difficult matter to deal with . The subject , however , shall not be overlooked . " If the question is to be raised under which warrant the Jerusalem Encampment is most entitled to take precedence , I never intended to assume to myself
the power of deciding it , and I submit that lr . y words cannot fairly bear thc construction put upon them by Sir Knight Yarker . If there be an error in inserting in the calendar the date of the warrant granted in London to the Jcrua . iie-. il Encampment in 1795 , instead o ' . ' * . * ie date of the York Warrant in 17 S 6 , which was c ' . jnc for
many years before I was appointed G . V . C ., thc fault has not altogether rested with the Executive in London , as I think the following facts will show . In thc bye laws of the Jerusalem Encampment , dated respectively in 1851 and 1859 , and deposited in thcCrand Conclave archives , the title pages bear these words : " Established by warrant or patent ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
In conclusion , let us remember that among the conditions of admission into Masonry are those of " mature age and sound judgment . " Each man , when initiated , is supposed to have a certain settled idea as to what dogmas ( not essential to Masonry ) are true or false . In addressing , therefore , a Society
consisting of divers religious sects , the speaker has no more business to give prominence to his own religious views thantothoseof his political ones ; and if our Christian brethren would only learn to think a little less of sect , and practise a little more the " gold en rule , " sectarian discourses in Masonic gatherings
would be as rare as political ones ; and if errors are sometimes committed through inadvertency , it is much more proper to correct those errors than to endeavour to justify them under such pretences as those of the Rev . Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of England , Fraternally and respectfully yours ,
JACOB NORTON Boston , U . S ., August Sth , 1870 . MASONRY IN JERSEY .
( To the Editor of lhe Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In this dull season of the year the following scrap of Masonic intelligence may may not be without interest to some of your readers . On Friday evening , the 26 th ult ., the benefit of
the lessee of the theatre here was announced to be under the patronage of the P . G . Master , the P . G . Officers , and the W . M . ' s and brethren ofthe various lodges in the island , the bills further stating that the brethren would appear in full Masonic regalia , as a compliment to the beneficiare who was himself
a brother . To this , of course , it being sanctioned by the presence of the P . G . Master , no one could make an objection ; but , sir , you may judge of my surprise when the lessee appeared upon the stage in the dress of a R . A . Mason , accompanied by a P . G . Officer in full Masonic costume , to sing a
duet ; after which , another brother , attired as a M . M ., came forward and sang two comic songs . While giving every credit to the members of the Craft for supporting a brother , it appears to me that in making such a public show of themselves as I have described , thc brethren were certainly doing nothing for " the good of the Craft in general" or
, of their own lodges in particular ; whether they were violating the Laws of Freemasonry I am unaware . I cannot remember any special law relating to such conduct , and therefore suppose that those who framed the Constitutions never imagined that they would be called upon to legislate for such a breach of good taste as has been exhibited in the above
case . I am , yours fraternally , A LONDON W . M
SCOTCH v . ENGLISH FREEMASONRY . ( To the Editor of Thc Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Much has been said ancl much has been written respecting thc very loose and careless manner in which many of thc Scotch lodges admit candidates to the mysteries and privileges of the Craft—a system that , amongst
its many evils , produces a luxuriant crop of thc " genus-beggmg Masons , " and permits many other improper characters to join in our sacred rites . Many suggestions have also from time to time appeared in your columns , pointing out various remedies to check the evils complained of ; notably , thc
raising of the initiation fees , and making it imperative that a certain time must elapse between the proposition being made ancl thc ballot taking place , in order that due inquiries can be made touching thc moral character and other requisite qualifications which every candidate for Freemasonry should
possess . This , no doubt , would be a step in the right direction , and one I should hail with satisfaction and delight . Whilst acknowledging with feelings of deep regret that thc evils above complained of have an existence , I would ask thc question : Is Scottish
Freemasonry solely responsible for them ? Thc answer , I am afraid , cannot be in thc affirmative , for there are innumerable instances in which some English lodges arc equally culpable , and who , for the sake of receiving thc fees , have admitted improper persons , and thus done great injury to the Craft and
assisted in perpetuating those very evils of which they so loudly complain . What , for instance , can be thought of thc conduct of the W . M ., officers , and brethren of a lodge held in one of the most populous towns in thc province of West Yorkshire , in permitting five persons to be proposed as candidates at one timc , thcwho ! c five being non-resident but
all boon companions from a neighbouring town in the same province within one hour ' s journey by rail , and where three lodges are regularly held ? What can be said of theirdesire to sustain the high character to which English Freemasons lay claim when they quietly allow a month to pass over without making a single inquiryof the lodges in the town
Original Correspondence.
where the candidates reside , and thus showing some desire to become acquainted with their antecedents , present habits , and moral qualifications ? What , I would ask , can be urged in extenuation of the conduct of any lodge who can proceed to ballot for , and accept , five persons who are total strangers
to them , and about whom they have never troubled themselves to inquire ? Do our Scottish brethren do anything more reckless ? Yet such is a recent occurrence in a lodge where the initiation fees are moderately large ( six guineas , I believe , and two guineas annual subscription ) , at any rate sufficiently
large to deter any one not possessed of moderate means | from becoming a candidate , and also in a province that has a bye-law making it incumbent on the W . Master ( in case of non-residence ) to make due inquiry of the lodges in the town where candidates may reside , and make known to the
brethren the result of such inquiry , previous to the ballot taking place . This is not a solitary instance , but still sufficient to show that something more is required than high initiation fees and a lapse of time between the proposition and ballot , in order to keep out men who , although possessed of the requisite
number of " guineas , " nevertheless lack the tongue of good report . " It is sufficient to show the necessity of thc brethren exercising greater care in the selection of a W . Master , and placing in the chair of their lodge one , who is not only well posted in the Book of Constitutions and the bye-laws of his
province and lodge , but one also who will exercise a rigid observance of the same , and carefully watch over and guard its interest with a most jealous eye . Whilst such reckless proceedings as the above are taking place in our very midst , are we justified in
continually finding fault with our Scottish brethren ? Should we not display more of the true spirit of Freemasonry by looking at home first , and reforming our own conduct , rather than by persistently attributing to others those faults of which we ourselves are guilty . Yours fraternally , ' A COUNTRY W . M .
GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As you favoured your readers with a copy of a circular at page 3 68 , no doubt a good many will be anxious to knowwhat became of that famous document . When it was brought before the Grand Lodge of
Scotland , on 1 st ult , it met with a decided refusal , as out of all the members of G . L . about a dozen voted for No . 1 motion , while No . 2 was withdrawn . One of the members considered it a direct insult to Grand Lodge , and that thc brother who introduced it ought to apologise—which was done .
Bro . H . states in the copy of letter sent you that he expects the support of all true Masons ; I hope he will not consider that thc majority of the brethren were not true men , seeing they voted against him . He also states that Scottish Freemasons in the sister countries are viewed "with suspicion and
distrust . " This I deny . He further states that he "belicvesthat it arises chiefly from the loose system of admitting candidates to our Order , ancl thc conferring of degrees on the same . " Not chiefly from the system of admitting candidates , but principally from the conferring thc
degrees , and of giving the candidates sufficient instruction ; let us examine this matter , and prepare a remedy for thc same . 11 is well known that about two-thirds ofthe R . W . M . ' s in Scotland are incapable of working their lodges , and of imparting that instruction to a candidate which it is necessary for
him to receive , sothal he may becapableof acquitting himself as a Mason in any country or sphere in which he may be placed . In England no one can attain to thc chair unless he has served as a Warden for at least one year , and is found able to conduct the working of a lodge . This is a very good law ; but
I would have it that every candidate for the chair should undergo an examination before three ormorc qualified Past Masters , and if found capable of going through the whole formula of working and instruction in thc three degrees , let him be installed —if not , reject him until he has qualified himself .
And , also , for thc purpose of having a lodge properly instructed , they ought to meet at least once monthly as a Lodge of Instruction . Further , no R . W . M . or Warden should hold the office for more than two years . I have known Masters in thc chair for four , six , and eight years , ancl during the whole
period never attempting to work thc E . A . degree . 1 low could these Masters be capable of instructing a candidate—one going abroad from such a lodge ? Could you expect anything but distrust and suspicion ? There lies thc looseness . As has already been stated in THE FREEMASON ,
there ought to be a uniformity of fees . Such is not the case . If thc fees were fixed by Grand Lodge at three guineas each , it would be better for the Craft ; the present system varies from twenty-six shillings and sixpence up to three guineas—there is one lodge , I believe , charges four pounds . Some will
Original Correspondence.
say it will not be an easy matter to get all to agree to the above figure . If Grand Lodge , in granting all new charters and reproving old ones , was to fix the fees at three guineas , a very short time would bring them all in unison . With the assistance of Provincial Grand Lodges , a few years would suffice
to work it , and in course of time we should be able to boast of as many fine Masonic halls and Masonic charities as our sister kingdoms , and show to the world that Masonry in Scotland was not a shadow left only with the name .
I have no doubt that Bro . H . 's motions were pure and intended for the benefit of the Craft , and as he expresses himself open for suggestion , I beg to draw his attention to the defects pointed out in my letter . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , MONTRA .
P . S . —Since writing the above , I observe that your leader , No . 74 , page 378 , has been overlooked by me , where I find you endorse Bro . Hamilton ' s statement . Are you aware that the laws of Grand Lodge bind us to make due inquiries into the character of our candidates ? Vide , Grand Lodge Laws , chap xxi ., sec . iv . :
And in order to uphold the purity of the Fraternity , it is specially recommended that no candidate for initiation into Masonry be admitted a member of any lodge until his character and qualificationshave been fully inquired into , and the brethren have expressed themselves satisfied ( by ballot in open lodge ) of the eligibility of the candidate , " & c .
Sec . vi . also says : " No candidate for initiation shall be advanced from the degree of Apprentice to that of Fellow-Craft , or raised from the degree of Fellow-Craft to that of Master Mason , at a shorter interval than that of two weeks between each decree , unless it shall be certified by two of
the brethren of the lodge in which the candidate is to be passed or raised , that he is about to remove from Scotland within the interval hereby proscribed , " & c , & c . A great many of your readers may imagine that Bro . H . ' s propositions were something new , the above quotation of the laws will dispel that idea .
If any lodge wilfully breaks the law , let them be punished . It is very strange , yet true , that this same law was broken or departed from a short time ago , and I understand that both the proposer and seconder of thc motions referred to were cognisant of it . Oh ! consistency , thou art a jewel .
M . TEMPLAR COMMANDERIES . —ERRORS IN PRECEDENCE .
( To thc Editor of Thc Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am very unwilling to intrude upon your columns , but , as I think I have good cause to take exception to some parts of Sir Knight Yarker ' s letter , under this heading , in your impression of Saturday last , I must beg
permission to make a few observations thereon . Sir Knight Yarker says , " The history of this , thc Jerusalem Encampment , Manchester , has been gratuitously placed within the reach of every member of the Order , and it is therefore somewhat ungracious of thc Executive in London to plead
ignorance of its history and status . Yet such is the case in a recent correspondence with the Grand Chancery on the subject . " This history of the Jerusalem Encampment has never been sent to mc officially or otherwise . I am not aware that the Executive in London has pleaded
ignorance ofthe history and status of the Encampment . I certainly am not conscious of having done so ; and I think Sir Knight Yarker must be under some misapprehension in stating that " such is the case in a recent correspondence with thc Grand Chancery . "
I might further take exception to the statement that I " have promised that the case of the Jerusalem Encampment shall be looked into and put right . " What I stated inmy letter toSirKnightYarkcr is , " The dates of thc warrants of 1786 and 1 795 shall be inserted in the next calendar . An
alteration in the number is , however , as you evidently sec , a more difficult matter to deal with . The subject , however , shall not be overlooked . " If the question is to be raised under which warrant the Jerusalem Encampment is most entitled to take precedence , I never intended to assume to myself
the power of deciding it , and I submit that lr . y words cannot fairly bear thc construction put upon them by Sir Knight Yarker . If there be an error in inserting in the calendar the date of the warrant granted in London to the Jcrua . iie-. il Encampment in 1795 , instead o ' . ' * . * ie date of the York Warrant in 17 S 6 , which was c ' . jnc for
many years before I was appointed G . V . C ., thc fault has not altogether rested with the Executive in London , as I think the following facts will show . In thc bye laws of the Jerusalem Encampment , dated respectively in 1851 and 1859 , and deposited in thcCrand Conclave archives , the title pages bear these words : " Established by warrant or patent ,