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Article FREEMASONRY in IRELAND. Page 1 of 1 Article FREEMASONRY in IRELAND. Page 1 of 1 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 3 →
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Freemasonry In Ireland.
FREEMASONRY in IRELAND .
BY . BRO . WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . { Continuedfrom page 260 . ) A return of lodges was issued for the year 1813 ( the first of its kind ) , and the number then in working order , according to the official papers would appear to be nearly one thousand ! In all probability , however ,
half that number would have been nearer the mark . The officers endeavoured by dint of coaxing and private correspondence to secure a large number of responses to their applications for dues and over dues . The notice sent out early in 1815 was as follows : —
GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND , Dublin , the 5 th of January , 1 S 15 . Whereas , by order dated 7 th of October , 1813 , a letter was sent to the several lodges in arrear of dues , or who had not corresponded agreeable to rule calling on them to settle their accounts and
make the necessary returns on or before the 27 th day of December in the same year , under penalty of being cancelled . Under this order the warrants of one hundred and six lodges were cancelled , and the penalty would have been inflicted to a greater extent , but
that it was represented that several lodges were so circumstanced as to become unable to comply with the orders , and to those the Grand Lodge was pleased to enlarge the time for discharging arrears and making returns , of which indulgence several availed themselves to become regular .
It being probable , on further consideration , from different communications on the subject , that several lodges are still in such peculiar and difficult cases as to prevent their compliance with the order of 7 th October , 1813 . The Grand Lodge is hereby
pleased to give a further extension of the time for paying arrears of dues , and making returns of officers and members , to the next St . John ' s Day , 24 th June , on the next meeting , after which day the warrant of lodges then found irregular in those respects will be cancelled .
The decision of the Grand Lodge in this case extends equally to lodges which , having been suffered to compound their dues , are again in arrear , and all lodges arc called upon to send in returns of their officers and members for registry before the specified time , under the penally of suspension until
they do . The Grand Lodge having pursued a course of lenity and indulgence almost prejudicial to the interests of Freemasonry , with no good effect in the instance of several lodges , whicli have not only disregarded the rules and regulations , but thc
principles of the Constitution , as those arc set forth in the "Ahiman Rczfln , " feels the necessity of acting with decision in order to preserve Freemasonry in its pure and constitutional precepts and doctrines , and will on no future occasion suffer lodges to exist under the sanction of the Grand Lodge that will not be amenable to the authority from which they
have had their formation—an authority which collectively and individually they have solemnly pledged themselves to maintain and uphold . Every lodge called upon to account for any irregularity with which it may have been charged shall answer for itself , distinctly and separately , and not in conjunction with any other lodges to whom similar transgression may be imputed .
Acommittee was subsequently appointed , and a report from that body was received at thc Grand Lodge held in thc following year . We happen to have a copy of the report , and beg to present it to our readers :
GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND , 5 U 1 of December , 1816 . Ordered— That the following ; report of Committee on tiic state of lodges on the Establishment of this Grand Lodge be confirmed : The state of lodges on 24 th June , 1 S 16 , were as follows : —
607 Warrants , the dues of which are paid [ up within a period of three years . no in arrear three years , and not exceeding live years . 68 in arrear live years and upwards . 25 Military , that have not corresponded form . my years . 21 c Dormant and cancelled .
1020 Gross number . In order to dispose of the 210 numbers now vacant as above , together witli such others as may be in arrear of dues and cancelled by thc rule of
Freemasonry In Ireland.
the Grand Lodge , it is ordered that , on and after tlie 24 th of June , 1817 , the numbers of cancelled and dormant warrants , and all numbers then unoccupied on the Grand Lodge books , shall be granted to applicants properly qualified and recommended for same in manner following , viz .: Every regular
warranted lodge on the Irish Establishment not in arrear to the Grand Lodge for dues or fines , or under censure or suspension , the members of which shall apply to the . Grand Secretary ( post paid ) for a senior vacant number , shall be arranged according to the seniority of their present numbers , and the oldest vacant number given to thc senior applicants ,
and so on till all such applications shall have been acceded to , respect beingalways had to applications for particular numbers if vacant , provided that the particular number so claimed be not senior to that which the applicants would have been entitled to if they had not put in their claims to any specific number .
An exception to this rule is to be allowed in favour of military applicants when the number similar to number ofthe regiment is vacant . Lodges not makingtheirapplications for exchange of warrants , and clearing off their arrears due to the Grand Lodge on or before said 24 th of June , 1817 ,
shall be considered as having relinquished their claim to the opportunity of obtaining senior numbers in the future numerical arrangement of the lodges of Ireland . That , to meet the expense of revival and exchange of warrants , the sum of one guinea shall be
forwarded with each application , and after same are defrayed the surplus shall be appropriated in aid of the funds of the Masonic Female Orphan School . In order to prevent any confusion or disappointment in the revival or exchange of warrants , it is ordered that with each application the warrant now
held be sent up ( together with thc names of the officers and a list of all the members ) , an acknowledgment for same to be returned . In all cases of warrants exchanged for those of different numbers the sum of one British shilling must be paid for the transfer of each member to
the new ; same to be sent up with the application for such exchange . In order to a perfect uniformity of warrants , the Grand Lodge recommend that such regular lodges as do not wish to change their present numbers will take a duplicate of same off thc improved
plate—in such case the original date shall be preserved and inserted . After the lodges now in existence shall have their applications acceded to , all new warrants granted by the Grand Lodge shall be ordered for the highest senior number then vacant on the list , so that
the numerical order shall not be increased till all the vacant numbers are disposed of . It appears that ofthe sixty-eight lodges in arrear five years and upwards several have been in correspondence with the Grand Lodge , and made payments on account within said period . It is
therefore ordered that time be given to those lodges to clear up their arrear to 27 th December , 1 S 17 , after which period the rule shall be strictly enforced . It is ordered that when the proposed arrangement is completed , a correct list of all thc lodges on the Establishment of Ireland shall be printed , as they will then stand on the books of the Grand
Lodge , with thc names of the Masters and places where held , a copy of which shall be sent to each lodge . It is to be observed that no part ofthe foregoing is to apply to brethren who may require a warrant to form a new lodge , the regulations foi which are provided for in rule No . 6 , section the 4 th , of revised Laws .
GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND , Dublin , 3 rd of April , 1817 . Ordered—That the foregoing be printed and sent to all lodges of Ireland . Hy order of thcGrand Lodge , Rnni-i'T II .. \ N * cocK , Grand Secretary . WII . IAM FRANCIS GRAHAM . D . G . Sec .
35 , Cupel-street . ( To be continued )
genous mailer , chielly gluten , and are far more nutritious than any other food , such as Arrowroot , Tapioca , Sago , Com Flour , farinaceous Food , ordinary Wheat Flour , or any of the Cereals in use as food in this country . — ( Signed ) ARTHUR IIII . I . IIASSAI . I ., M . D ., London . " --Highly recommended hy the Faculty for Infants , Invalids , lie . Makes delicious 1 ' udding , Custards , Wane Mange , -ire . After a trial no family will be without Mayar ' s Semolina .
REPORT of Dr . Arthur Hill Hassall , Analyst of the " Lancet" Sanitary Commission , Author of " Food ancl its Adulterations , " iVc , S : c ., on Mayar ' s Semolina : " I have carefully tested , chemically and microscopically , the samples of Semolina sent liy Messrs . 1 ,. Mayar & Co ., 3 d , Mark Lane , London , ICC . 1 find them to be perfectly genuine , ol" excellent quality , and eminently nutritious . They contain a very large percentage of nitro-
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents
QUALIFICATION FOR THE MARK CHAIR . { To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have read with a ' good deal of interest the arguments of those brethren who are in favour of removing the qualification at present necessary for a W . M . in a Mark
lodge , i . e ., having already passed the chair in the Craft . I cannot in any respect agree with the proposed alteration which I am very sorry to see mooted , as I believe were the principal chair in a Mark lodge thrown open to any one , whether installed Master ( Craft ) or not , it would be the
deathblow to thc degree . " A Craft P . M ., " in your last number , says " the Mark is an independent degree . " I say it is not . It is as thoroughly dependent on the second degree as the Royal Arch is on the third , and so long as the wise regulation of the Supreme Chapter ordains that no one shall be installed
principal of a chapter until he has been W . M . of a lodge , so long , I trust , will the Grand Mark Lodge insist on 'the same qualification for an Installed Mark Master . Why , even the very titles—Installed Mas ter , or Installed Mark Master—would lead to countless abuses , and there is no body of Masons who
should more jealously guard their privileges and their justly-earned honours than the Installed Masters of the Craft , and this they must do by refusing to permit any one to take their titles in ' another degree who does not possess their qualifications .
Any non-qualified brother who may have been elected to the chair of a Mark lodge can , by a dispensation , be placed in that chair to rule the lodge and confer the degree , but without receiving the
degree or instructions of Installed Mark Master , which must not be communicated to him until he has received the similar degree in a Craft Lodge , when , of course , he will be entitled to receive them , although perhaps already out of the Mark chair . Should any attempt be made to alter this most necessary rule and to interfere with the status ono
ante , I am quite certain that a large and important section of the Grand Mark Lodge will secede , and therefore sincerely hope the G . M . M . will not listen to the councils of the " Youngers , " who are perhaps
more enthusiastic , but certainly less discreet , than the " Elders . " The expression of the astute French statesman is , in thc Masonic world , a golden rule—Point de zele . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally ,
A D . PROV . G . M . M . RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF FREEMASONRY .
[ Reply to Bro . Hughan s article of March lath , p . 163 . ] ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) MY DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I assure you that I entertain thc highest opinion of Brother Hughan ' s integrity as an historian , and never questioned " what are his evidence . " The word "
cheating" I made use of in my letter Feb . 25 th was not designed as an offence to Bro . H ., and his lecture about writing as a gentleman was therefore entirely uncalled for . And in order to avoid an interminable discussion , permit mc to define wherein Bro . Hughan and myself agree , and wherein wc disagree .
1 st . We agree that previous to 1717 , the Masons were Christians , and their ceremonies were christian , 2 nd . From 1717 until 1813 , Masonry avowed itself cosmopolitan , but its ritual was not so . 3 rd . That after thc union in 1 S 13 , thc English ritual was brought into greater harmony with its
professions of universality than ever it was before . 4 th . That the Baptist ' s day was observed by Masons previous to the year 1717 ( which I never disputed ) , but as the day was celebrated in Yorkshire in the 14 th century , with processions , & c , by carpenters , saddlers , wheelwrights and a hundred other
fraternities , and as those fraternities did not claim St . John to have been a Grand Master Carpenter , a Grand Master Saddler , & c , the cause of Masonsobservance of St . John ' s-day may with propriety be attributed to a fashion at that time among the guilds , and thc Masonic legends of the Saints John may
be pronounced a pious fraud . 5 th . That thc Bible was absent from an English lodge for several lodge-nights , with the consent of that most excellent exemplar of Masonic virtues , the late Duke of Sussex . ( I was informed about thirty years ago that the Duke performed the ceremony , but it was doubtless a mistake . ) Thus
proving that a lodge can be just , perfect , and regular without the presence of a Bible . 6 th . We agree that " some are firm believers in Freemasonry being Christian even at thc present day . " I am satisfied , however , that my worthy opponent is too liberal-minded to be of that way of thinking , but whence have the " some" derived thc opinion that Freemasonry is Christian at the present day ?
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Ireland.
FREEMASONRY in IRELAND .
BY . BRO . WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . { Continuedfrom page 260 . ) A return of lodges was issued for the year 1813 ( the first of its kind ) , and the number then in working order , according to the official papers would appear to be nearly one thousand ! In all probability , however ,
half that number would have been nearer the mark . The officers endeavoured by dint of coaxing and private correspondence to secure a large number of responses to their applications for dues and over dues . The notice sent out early in 1815 was as follows : —
GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND , Dublin , the 5 th of January , 1 S 15 . Whereas , by order dated 7 th of October , 1813 , a letter was sent to the several lodges in arrear of dues , or who had not corresponded agreeable to rule calling on them to settle their accounts and
make the necessary returns on or before the 27 th day of December in the same year , under penalty of being cancelled . Under this order the warrants of one hundred and six lodges were cancelled , and the penalty would have been inflicted to a greater extent , but
that it was represented that several lodges were so circumstanced as to become unable to comply with the orders , and to those the Grand Lodge was pleased to enlarge the time for discharging arrears and making returns , of which indulgence several availed themselves to become regular .
It being probable , on further consideration , from different communications on the subject , that several lodges are still in such peculiar and difficult cases as to prevent their compliance with the order of 7 th October , 1813 . The Grand Lodge is hereby
pleased to give a further extension of the time for paying arrears of dues , and making returns of officers and members , to the next St . John ' s Day , 24 th June , on the next meeting , after which day the warrant of lodges then found irregular in those respects will be cancelled .
The decision of the Grand Lodge in this case extends equally to lodges which , having been suffered to compound their dues , are again in arrear , and all lodges arc called upon to send in returns of their officers and members for registry before the specified time , under the penally of suspension until
they do . The Grand Lodge having pursued a course of lenity and indulgence almost prejudicial to the interests of Freemasonry , with no good effect in the instance of several lodges , whicli have not only disregarded the rules and regulations , but thc
principles of the Constitution , as those arc set forth in the "Ahiman Rczfln , " feels the necessity of acting with decision in order to preserve Freemasonry in its pure and constitutional precepts and doctrines , and will on no future occasion suffer lodges to exist under the sanction of the Grand Lodge that will not be amenable to the authority from which they
have had their formation—an authority which collectively and individually they have solemnly pledged themselves to maintain and uphold . Every lodge called upon to account for any irregularity with which it may have been charged shall answer for itself , distinctly and separately , and not in conjunction with any other lodges to whom similar transgression may be imputed .
Acommittee was subsequently appointed , and a report from that body was received at thc Grand Lodge held in thc following year . We happen to have a copy of the report , and beg to present it to our readers :
GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND , 5 U 1 of December , 1816 . Ordered— That the following ; report of Committee on tiic state of lodges on the Establishment of this Grand Lodge be confirmed : The state of lodges on 24 th June , 1 S 16 , were as follows : —
607 Warrants , the dues of which are paid [ up within a period of three years . no in arrear three years , and not exceeding live years . 68 in arrear live years and upwards . 25 Military , that have not corresponded form . my years . 21 c Dormant and cancelled .
1020 Gross number . In order to dispose of the 210 numbers now vacant as above , together witli such others as may be in arrear of dues and cancelled by thc rule of
Freemasonry In Ireland.
the Grand Lodge , it is ordered that , on and after tlie 24 th of June , 1817 , the numbers of cancelled and dormant warrants , and all numbers then unoccupied on the Grand Lodge books , shall be granted to applicants properly qualified and recommended for same in manner following , viz .: Every regular
warranted lodge on the Irish Establishment not in arrear to the Grand Lodge for dues or fines , or under censure or suspension , the members of which shall apply to the . Grand Secretary ( post paid ) for a senior vacant number , shall be arranged according to the seniority of their present numbers , and the oldest vacant number given to thc senior applicants ,
and so on till all such applications shall have been acceded to , respect beingalways had to applications for particular numbers if vacant , provided that the particular number so claimed be not senior to that which the applicants would have been entitled to if they had not put in their claims to any specific number .
An exception to this rule is to be allowed in favour of military applicants when the number similar to number ofthe regiment is vacant . Lodges not makingtheirapplications for exchange of warrants , and clearing off their arrears due to the Grand Lodge on or before said 24 th of June , 1817 ,
shall be considered as having relinquished their claim to the opportunity of obtaining senior numbers in the future numerical arrangement of the lodges of Ireland . That , to meet the expense of revival and exchange of warrants , the sum of one guinea shall be
forwarded with each application , and after same are defrayed the surplus shall be appropriated in aid of the funds of the Masonic Female Orphan School . In order to prevent any confusion or disappointment in the revival or exchange of warrants , it is ordered that with each application the warrant now
held be sent up ( together with thc names of the officers and a list of all the members ) , an acknowledgment for same to be returned . In all cases of warrants exchanged for those of different numbers the sum of one British shilling must be paid for the transfer of each member to
the new ; same to be sent up with the application for such exchange . In order to a perfect uniformity of warrants , the Grand Lodge recommend that such regular lodges as do not wish to change their present numbers will take a duplicate of same off thc improved
plate—in such case the original date shall be preserved and inserted . After the lodges now in existence shall have their applications acceded to , all new warrants granted by the Grand Lodge shall be ordered for the highest senior number then vacant on the list , so that
the numerical order shall not be increased till all the vacant numbers are disposed of . It appears that ofthe sixty-eight lodges in arrear five years and upwards several have been in correspondence with the Grand Lodge , and made payments on account within said period . It is
therefore ordered that time be given to those lodges to clear up their arrear to 27 th December , 1 S 17 , after which period the rule shall be strictly enforced . It is ordered that when the proposed arrangement is completed , a correct list of all thc lodges on the Establishment of Ireland shall be printed , as they will then stand on the books of the Grand
Lodge , with thc names of the Masters and places where held , a copy of which shall be sent to each lodge . It is to be observed that no part ofthe foregoing is to apply to brethren who may require a warrant to form a new lodge , the regulations foi which are provided for in rule No . 6 , section the 4 th , of revised Laws .
GRAND LODGE OF IRELAND , Dublin , 3 rd of April , 1817 . Ordered—That the foregoing be printed and sent to all lodges of Ireland . Hy order of thcGrand Lodge , Rnni-i'T II .. \ N * cocK , Grand Secretary . WII . IAM FRANCIS GRAHAM . D . G . Sec .
35 , Cupel-street . ( To be continued )
genous mailer , chielly gluten , and are far more nutritious than any other food , such as Arrowroot , Tapioca , Sago , Com Flour , farinaceous Food , ordinary Wheat Flour , or any of the Cereals in use as food in this country . — ( Signed ) ARTHUR IIII . I . IIASSAI . I ., M . D ., London . " --Highly recommended hy the Faculty for Infants , Invalids , lie . Makes delicious 1 ' udding , Custards , Wane Mange , -ire . After a trial no family will be without Mayar ' s Semolina .
REPORT of Dr . Arthur Hill Hassall , Analyst of the " Lancet" Sanitary Commission , Author of " Food ancl its Adulterations , " iVc , S : c ., on Mayar ' s Semolina : " I have carefully tested , chemically and microscopically , the samples of Semolina sent liy Messrs . 1 ,. Mayar & Co ., 3 d , Mark Lane , London , ICC . 1 find them to be perfectly genuine , ol" excellent quality , and eminently nutritious . They contain a very large percentage of nitro-
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents
QUALIFICATION FOR THE MARK CHAIR . { To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have read with a ' good deal of interest the arguments of those brethren who are in favour of removing the qualification at present necessary for a W . M . in a Mark
lodge , i . e ., having already passed the chair in the Craft . I cannot in any respect agree with the proposed alteration which I am very sorry to see mooted , as I believe were the principal chair in a Mark lodge thrown open to any one , whether installed Master ( Craft ) or not , it would be the
deathblow to thc degree . " A Craft P . M ., " in your last number , says " the Mark is an independent degree . " I say it is not . It is as thoroughly dependent on the second degree as the Royal Arch is on the third , and so long as the wise regulation of the Supreme Chapter ordains that no one shall be installed
principal of a chapter until he has been W . M . of a lodge , so long , I trust , will the Grand Mark Lodge insist on 'the same qualification for an Installed Mark Master . Why , even the very titles—Installed Mas ter , or Installed Mark Master—would lead to countless abuses , and there is no body of Masons who
should more jealously guard their privileges and their justly-earned honours than the Installed Masters of the Craft , and this they must do by refusing to permit any one to take their titles in ' another degree who does not possess their qualifications .
Any non-qualified brother who may have been elected to the chair of a Mark lodge can , by a dispensation , be placed in that chair to rule the lodge and confer the degree , but without receiving the
degree or instructions of Installed Mark Master , which must not be communicated to him until he has received the similar degree in a Craft Lodge , when , of course , he will be entitled to receive them , although perhaps already out of the Mark chair . Should any attempt be made to alter this most necessary rule and to interfere with the status ono
ante , I am quite certain that a large and important section of the Grand Mark Lodge will secede , and therefore sincerely hope the G . M . M . will not listen to the councils of the " Youngers , " who are perhaps
more enthusiastic , but certainly less discreet , than the " Elders . " The expression of the astute French statesman is , in thc Masonic world , a golden rule—Point de zele . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally ,
A D . PROV . G . M . M . RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF FREEMASONRY .
[ Reply to Bro . Hughan s article of March lath , p . 163 . ] ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) MY DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I assure you that I entertain thc highest opinion of Brother Hughan ' s integrity as an historian , and never questioned " what are his evidence . " The word "
cheating" I made use of in my letter Feb . 25 th was not designed as an offence to Bro . H ., and his lecture about writing as a gentleman was therefore entirely uncalled for . And in order to avoid an interminable discussion , permit mc to define wherein Bro . Hughan and myself agree , and wherein wc disagree .
1 st . We agree that previous to 1717 , the Masons were Christians , and their ceremonies were christian , 2 nd . From 1717 until 1813 , Masonry avowed itself cosmopolitan , but its ritual was not so . 3 rd . That after thc union in 1 S 13 , thc English ritual was brought into greater harmony with its
professions of universality than ever it was before . 4 th . That the Baptist ' s day was observed by Masons previous to the year 1717 ( which I never disputed ) , but as the day was celebrated in Yorkshire in the 14 th century , with processions , & c , by carpenters , saddlers , wheelwrights and a hundred other
fraternities , and as those fraternities did not claim St . John to have been a Grand Master Carpenter , a Grand Master Saddler , & c , the cause of Masonsobservance of St . John ' s-day may with propriety be attributed to a fashion at that time among the guilds , and thc Masonic legends of the Saints John may
be pronounced a pious fraud . 5 th . That thc Bible was absent from an English lodge for several lodge-nights , with the consent of that most excellent exemplar of Masonic virtues , the late Duke of Sussex . ( I was informed about thirty years ago that the Duke performed the ceremony , but it was doubtless a mistake . ) Thus
proving that a lodge can be just , perfect , and regular without the presence of a Bible . 6 th . We agree that " some are firm believers in Freemasonry being Christian even at thc present day . " I am satisfied , however , that my worthy opponent is too liberal-minded to be of that way of thinking , but whence have the " some" derived thc opinion that Freemasonry is Christian at the present day ?