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    Article MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE. ← Page 2 of 2
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    Article ENGLISH KNIGHT TEMPLARY. Page 1 of 2 →
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Masonic Jurisprudence.

would be necessary . This question , the withdrawal of a brother whose conduct is under discussion , whether with reference to exclusion or anything else , has been raised more than once and

his rig ht to be present in lus own lodge so long as he is a member of it , whatever be going on at the time , seems to the writer to be unassailable . As to good taste , of course , that is another matter , but taste and law arc two different things .

An interesting discussion took place in Grand Lodge m December , 1 S 88 , regarding Article 210 , which a certain brother wished to amend b y bringing in some proviso about registered lei lers .

His arguments were not very convincing , and a second proposition , which would have altered a material section of the article , and made it read "present and voting , " seemed to lend colour to the idea that he wished to facilitate the process of exclusion .

Bros . Philbrick and Fenn took'a very opposite view . Thc latter said :

"The object of this proposition is to make exclusion more easy , but consider thc terrible consequences to a brother . Virtually it is a vote of extinction so far as Masonry is concerned ; and it is clearly in its

results so injurious to a man ' s character and social position that it is necessary to hedge the process of a brother ' s exclusion with every precaution against injustice or malice , or , it even may be a conspiracy , asaint him . "

This is strong language from a brother who occupies such a high position in the counsels of Grand Lodge as Bro . Fenn does , and it may be looked upon as expressing the sense of Grand Lod'i'e on the subject . Bro . Philbrick , in the course of his

remarks , said there was no difference between a registered letter and any other , but we very diffidentl y venture to suggest that in the one case the Secretary procures evidence of having nosted it , and in the other no such evidence is forthcoming .

What are the consequences so very forcibly referred to by Bro . Fenn ? They do not . altogether involve extinction , as there is ahvavs the opportunity of the brother making such amendment and reparation as the brethren think lit , and eventually being reinstated . The stigma remains for a time , but even that may come lo lie forgotten .

Article 212 says that any excluded brother shall not be eligible lo join any other lodge , without informing such lodge of what has happened . Practically , he is also debarred from visiting any oilier lodge if the "Tyler's obligation" be in existence , which calls upon any candidate or visitor to take oath that he has nol been expelled , excluded , or suspended .

A question arose in a lodge at which the writer was present whethera brother who had been excluded , and subsequently readmitted could resume the rank and dignity he had previously held as a Past . Master and Provincial Officer . No such question has , within the writer ' s knowledge , been decided . If the period

of absence exceeded 12 months , then Article 9 would deprive him of bis membership of Grand Lodge . lie might be a member of several lodges , and exclusion from one would not effect his status in the rest , unless corresponding action was taken . In other words , he would have to be excluded from each lodge of which he was a member , by separate process .

Exclusion is only the outcome of relations * het \ veen a brother and the members of his own lodge . If those relations , or if the brother ' s conduct be of a kind which affects the Craft at large , then a recommendation for expulsion ought to follow , not an exclusion .

Let us now consider for what reasons a brother may bi ¦ xcUided . One in particular is so very frequent , that Article 212 specially refers to it when speaking of arrears . Probabh ihe great majority of exclusions are for non-payment of dues

Dues , of course , include all payments referred to m the lodge iv-laws , and if the by-laws specified what payments were to be made lo the Steward ' s account , then an unpaid dinner bill would rank as such , but not otherwise .

In June , iXXt , a case was before Grand Lodge- of a somewhat ¦ singular kind . A certain brother was in the habit of paying his lues at irregular intervals . His method was to send a lump SH : M to the Treasurer whenever it occurred to him to do so , and lave hi .- , account crediled with it as far as it went .

In cuurse of time he left the country , and after a two vears ' il ^ emr he relumed , and sent a s-. im ol money to the treasurer o cover , as lie though ! , current dues and provide something lo lis credit . He appears lo have thought that absence from the

• ouiil IT absolved him Irom payment during ihe period of absence . irother Treasurer applied ihe amount lo extinguish the dues ! ial had aeeiiimilaleil , and wrole lor a luiiher remitlanee . This ¦ i | lo argiinieni , and tin . brother was eventuall y excluded . Grand . oeT'o confirmed the exclusion .

Masonic Jurisprudence.

Il is not legal to compound for lodge dues by any one pay . ment . This has been decided twice by Grand Lodge—in June 18 73 , and in the case of a Devonshire brother early in 18 96 . With regard to the Colonies , however , some modification of this ruling appears to be desirable , and the writer laid the question

before the Board of General Purposes , in thc form of a minute in 18 97 , but did not succeed in altering their opinion . There is no doubt but that the absence of power to compound , in certain cases , has accounted for considerable losses in our membershi p . We have , some time ago , referred to the mistaken kindness

which allows brethren to go on accumulating dues until they reach an impossible amount before excluding him . The exclusion , when it does come , is much more serious than it would have been at an earlier date , because the payment of arrears has become practicall y impossible .

The writer knows of a lodge which made a grant to a brother from its Benevolent funds to permit of his paying his dues . No cash ever reached the brother in question . The transaction was merely a bit of book-keeping , and meant , in effect , that the lodge recouped itself any possible loss by transfers from its Charity fund .

English Knight Templary.

ENGLISH KNIGHT TEMPLARY .

I he completion of the first volume of the Liber Ordinis Tempii by the publication of Part 5 , offers a suitable pause in which to look around , and take stock , so' to speak of thc Organisation . 'The present Great Priory dates , in one form or other , from

February , ' 79 ' , when Thomas Dunckerley was elected Grand Master , and installed on the 24 th June in that year . Thc succession is as follows , allowing for brief periods In which acting Grand Masters did duty : 2 , Lord Ranclilfe ( T . B . Parkyns ) , 179 6 ; 3 , H . R . H . Duke of Kent , K . G ., 1805 ; 4 , Waller

Rodwell Wright , 1807 ; 5 , H . R . H . Duke of Sussex , K . G ., 1 S 12 ; 6 , Colonel C . Kemeys-Tynte , 18 4 6 ; 7 , William Stuart , G . C . T ., 1861 ; 8 , Earl of Limerick , G . C . T ., 1873 ; 9 , Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , G . C . T ., 1 X 76 ; 10 , Earl of Lathom , G . C . T ., 18 77 ; and 11 , Earl of Euston , G . C . T ., from 1 S 9 6 .

On December 13 th , 18 72 , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , & c , was elected Grand Master of the Convent General and installed 7 th April , 1 X 73 . Also proclaimed Sovereign of tho United Orders in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colonies

and Dependencies thereof , 19 th July , 1895 . At the banquet held 7 II 1 April aforesaid , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master announced that her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria , the daughter of the third Grand Master , had accepted the position of Grand Patron .

'The " Convent General , " established in 1872-3 , was abolished by consent of Il . R . II . the Prince of Wales 19 th July , 1 S 95 , and the Great Priory accordingly resumed its [ lowers as an independent Sovereign Body , having H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , his Majestv the King of Sweden and Norway , H . R . H . the Crown

Prince of Denmark , U . K . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , and II . II . Prince John of Gliicksburgon its roll as Knights Grand Cross . Besides these of the Blood Royal , there are 13 other Knights similarly decorated , and over 30 enjoy the distinction of

being Knights Commander in the Great Priory of England , the only honorary K . C . 'T . being General John Corson Smith , ol Chicago , Representative at the Grand Encampment of U . S . A . This latter Body , with those of Canada , Scotland , and Ireland , mutually exchange Representatives with England and Wales .

We cannot tell when the Degree of Knight Templar was first worked in this country , the oldest known reference to it being in the minutes of the old R . A . Chapter No . 3 ( now 257 ) , Portsmouth , of October 21 st , 177 8 , as noted in Bro . " Howell ' s History of the Phoenix Lodge , No . 257 , " &< :., of A . D . 1 S 94 .

1 here was , however , a " Supreme Grand and Royal Encampment of tht ; Order of Knights 'Templars" existing at Bristol in 17 X 0 , which by " Charter of Compact " ( still preserved and g iven in my " Origin of the English Rite , " 18 X 4 ) was constituted as such for England ; also in Bro . John Yarker's most interesting

" Notes on the Temple and St . John " ( 1 X 69 ) are particulars ol a " Royal Encampment " at work in Manchester in 1 7 S 6 , also warranted by the '' Grand Royal Encampment of All Eng land held at York" on the 10 th October of that year , and duly opened and constituted as No 15 , seven days later by properly delegated authority .

Brethren who are familiar with my " Masonic Sketches ami Reprints " ( 1 X 71 ) will be aware that the York Knig hts Tempi'' "' assembled in the Grand Lodge Room , 1 Mb February , 17 X 0 , am

that the Grand Lodge of all England , held at York , conlirim' ' its authority over " Five Degrees or Orders of Masonry" 20 th June , I ' XO . 'The Presiding Officers of the Grand Lodge " > Ihe other Degrees presided also in the Grand Encampment . I '"'

“The Freemason: 1900-08-04, Page 2” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 8 Aug. 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fvl/issues/fvl_04081900/page/2/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
THE PROVINCE OF BERKSHIRE. Article 1
MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE. Article 1
ENGLISH KNIGHT TEMPLARY. Article 2
SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND. Article 3
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SURREY. Article 3
CONSECRATION OF THE HORISTIC LODGE, No. 2822. Article 5
CONSECRATION OF THE GROVE PARK KENT LODGE, No. 2824. Article 5
IRISH ANTIQUITIES. Article 5
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 7
Untitled Ad 7
Untitled Ad 7
Untitled Ad 7
Untitled Article 7
Masonic Notes. Article 7
Correspondence. Article 8
Masonic Notes and Queries. Article 8
Reviews. Article 8
PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND. Article 8
PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF SURREY. Article 9
VISIT TO THE BAVARIAN HIGHLANDS, EN ROUTE FOR OBER-AMMERGAU AND THE "PASSION PLAY" OF 1900. Article 9
Craft Masonry. Article 10
Royal Arch. Article 10
Science, Art, and the Drama. Article 11
STATE OF PAINTING UNDER MARY I. Article 11
Untitled Ad 11
The Craft Abroad. Article 12
AN ORATION. Article 12
Untitled Ad 12
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Masonic Jurisprudence.

would be necessary . This question , the withdrawal of a brother whose conduct is under discussion , whether with reference to exclusion or anything else , has been raised more than once and

his rig ht to be present in lus own lodge so long as he is a member of it , whatever be going on at the time , seems to the writer to be unassailable . As to good taste , of course , that is another matter , but taste and law arc two different things .

An interesting discussion took place in Grand Lodge m December , 1 S 88 , regarding Article 210 , which a certain brother wished to amend b y bringing in some proviso about registered lei lers .

His arguments were not very convincing , and a second proposition , which would have altered a material section of the article , and made it read "present and voting , " seemed to lend colour to the idea that he wished to facilitate the process of exclusion .

Bros . Philbrick and Fenn took'a very opposite view . Thc latter said :

"The object of this proposition is to make exclusion more easy , but consider thc terrible consequences to a brother . Virtually it is a vote of extinction so far as Masonry is concerned ; and it is clearly in its

results so injurious to a man ' s character and social position that it is necessary to hedge the process of a brother ' s exclusion with every precaution against injustice or malice , or , it even may be a conspiracy , asaint him . "

This is strong language from a brother who occupies such a high position in the counsels of Grand Lodge as Bro . Fenn does , and it may be looked upon as expressing the sense of Grand Lod'i'e on the subject . Bro . Philbrick , in the course of his

remarks , said there was no difference between a registered letter and any other , but we very diffidentl y venture to suggest that in the one case the Secretary procures evidence of having nosted it , and in the other no such evidence is forthcoming .

What are the consequences so very forcibly referred to by Bro . Fenn ? They do not . altogether involve extinction , as there is ahvavs the opportunity of the brother making such amendment and reparation as the brethren think lit , and eventually being reinstated . The stigma remains for a time , but even that may come lo lie forgotten .

Article 212 says that any excluded brother shall not be eligible lo join any other lodge , without informing such lodge of what has happened . Practically , he is also debarred from visiting any oilier lodge if the "Tyler's obligation" be in existence , which calls upon any candidate or visitor to take oath that he has nol been expelled , excluded , or suspended .

A question arose in a lodge at which the writer was present whethera brother who had been excluded , and subsequently readmitted could resume the rank and dignity he had previously held as a Past . Master and Provincial Officer . No such question has , within the writer ' s knowledge , been decided . If the period

of absence exceeded 12 months , then Article 9 would deprive him of bis membership of Grand Lodge . lie might be a member of several lodges , and exclusion from one would not effect his status in the rest , unless corresponding action was taken . In other words , he would have to be excluded from each lodge of which he was a member , by separate process .

Exclusion is only the outcome of relations * het \ veen a brother and the members of his own lodge . If those relations , or if the brother ' s conduct be of a kind which affects the Craft at large , then a recommendation for expulsion ought to follow , not an exclusion .

Let us now consider for what reasons a brother may bi ¦ xcUided . One in particular is so very frequent , that Article 212 specially refers to it when speaking of arrears . Probabh ihe great majority of exclusions are for non-payment of dues

Dues , of course , include all payments referred to m the lodge iv-laws , and if the by-laws specified what payments were to be made lo the Steward ' s account , then an unpaid dinner bill would rank as such , but not otherwise .

In June , iXXt , a case was before Grand Lodge- of a somewhat ¦ singular kind . A certain brother was in the habit of paying his lues at irregular intervals . His method was to send a lump SH : M to the Treasurer whenever it occurred to him to do so , and lave hi .- , account crediled with it as far as it went .

In cuurse of time he left the country , and after a two vears ' il ^ emr he relumed , and sent a s-. im ol money to the treasurer o cover , as lie though ! , current dues and provide something lo lis credit . He appears lo have thought that absence from the

• ouiil IT absolved him Irom payment during ihe period of absence . irother Treasurer applied ihe amount lo extinguish the dues ! ial had aeeiiimilaleil , and wrole lor a luiiher remitlanee . This ¦ i | lo argiinieni , and tin . brother was eventuall y excluded . Grand . oeT'o confirmed the exclusion .

Masonic Jurisprudence.

Il is not legal to compound for lodge dues by any one pay . ment . This has been decided twice by Grand Lodge—in June 18 73 , and in the case of a Devonshire brother early in 18 96 . With regard to the Colonies , however , some modification of this ruling appears to be desirable , and the writer laid the question

before the Board of General Purposes , in thc form of a minute in 18 97 , but did not succeed in altering their opinion . There is no doubt but that the absence of power to compound , in certain cases , has accounted for considerable losses in our membershi p . We have , some time ago , referred to the mistaken kindness

which allows brethren to go on accumulating dues until they reach an impossible amount before excluding him . The exclusion , when it does come , is much more serious than it would have been at an earlier date , because the payment of arrears has become practicall y impossible .

The writer knows of a lodge which made a grant to a brother from its Benevolent funds to permit of his paying his dues . No cash ever reached the brother in question . The transaction was merely a bit of book-keeping , and meant , in effect , that the lodge recouped itself any possible loss by transfers from its Charity fund .

English Knight Templary.

ENGLISH KNIGHT TEMPLARY .

I he completion of the first volume of the Liber Ordinis Tempii by the publication of Part 5 , offers a suitable pause in which to look around , and take stock , so' to speak of thc Organisation . 'The present Great Priory dates , in one form or other , from

February , ' 79 ' , when Thomas Dunckerley was elected Grand Master , and installed on the 24 th June in that year . Thc succession is as follows , allowing for brief periods In which acting Grand Masters did duty : 2 , Lord Ranclilfe ( T . B . Parkyns ) , 179 6 ; 3 , H . R . H . Duke of Kent , K . G ., 1805 ; 4 , Waller

Rodwell Wright , 1807 ; 5 , H . R . H . Duke of Sussex , K . G ., 1 S 12 ; 6 , Colonel C . Kemeys-Tynte , 18 4 6 ; 7 , William Stuart , G . C . T ., 1861 ; 8 , Earl of Limerick , G . C . T ., 1873 ; 9 , Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , G . C . T ., 1 X 76 ; 10 , Earl of Lathom , G . C . T ., 18 77 ; and 11 , Earl of Euston , G . C . T ., from 1 S 9 6 .

On December 13 th , 18 72 , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , & c , was elected Grand Master of the Convent General and installed 7 th April , 1 X 73 . Also proclaimed Sovereign of tho United Orders in Great Britain and Ireland and the Colonies

and Dependencies thereof , 19 th July , 1895 . At the banquet held 7 II 1 April aforesaid , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , Grand Master announced that her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria , the daughter of the third Grand Master , had accepted the position of Grand Patron .

'The " Convent General , " established in 1872-3 , was abolished by consent of Il . R . II . the Prince of Wales 19 th July , 1 S 95 , and the Great Priory accordingly resumed its [ lowers as an independent Sovereign Body , having H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , his Majestv the King of Sweden and Norway , H . R . H . the Crown

Prince of Denmark , U . K . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn , and II . II . Prince John of Gliicksburgon its roll as Knights Grand Cross . Besides these of the Blood Royal , there are 13 other Knights similarly decorated , and over 30 enjoy the distinction of

being Knights Commander in the Great Priory of England , the only honorary K . C . 'T . being General John Corson Smith , ol Chicago , Representative at the Grand Encampment of U . S . A . This latter Body , with those of Canada , Scotland , and Ireland , mutually exchange Representatives with England and Wales .

We cannot tell when the Degree of Knight Templar was first worked in this country , the oldest known reference to it being in the minutes of the old R . A . Chapter No . 3 ( now 257 ) , Portsmouth , of October 21 st , 177 8 , as noted in Bro . " Howell ' s History of the Phoenix Lodge , No . 257 , " &< :., of A . D . 1 S 94 .

1 here was , however , a " Supreme Grand and Royal Encampment of tht ; Order of Knights 'Templars" existing at Bristol in 17 X 0 , which by " Charter of Compact " ( still preserved and g iven in my " Origin of the English Rite , " 18 X 4 ) was constituted as such for England ; also in Bro . John Yarker's most interesting

" Notes on the Temple and St . John " ( 1 X 69 ) are particulars ol a " Royal Encampment " at work in Manchester in 1 7 S 6 , also warranted by the '' Grand Royal Encampment of All Eng land held at York" on the 10 th October of that year , and duly opened and constituted as No 15 , seven days later by properly delegated authority .

Brethren who are familiar with my " Masonic Sketches ami Reprints " ( 1 X 71 ) will be aware that the York Knig hts Tempi'' "' assembled in the Grand Lodge Room , 1 Mb February , 17 X 0 , am

that the Grand Lodge of all England , held at York , conlirim' ' its authority over " Five Degrees or Orders of Masonry" 20 th June , I ' XO . 'The Presiding Officers of the Grand Lodge " > Ihe other Degrees presided also in the Grand Encampment . I '"'

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