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Article MASONIC REFORM. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 2 Article Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 2 Article Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 2 →
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Masonic Reform.
weeks ; and a similar period must elapse before he can be raised to the degree of a Master Mason . In the interim he is required to make himself acquainted with
the . princip les of the degree to which he has been admitted , and is required to undergo an examination before he can be passed or raised . Bro . HAMILTON proposes two
weeks , instead oi four , as the interval of probation , and he also is willing to confer upon the Grand Master a dispensing power even within this limit . We will not be
captious or ungracious because we ourselves prefer the English system , but honestly hail the movement of Bro . HAMILTON and his
friends as one which will tend to the p ' er manent honour and advantage of Free masonry in Scotland .
Nor is the moment inopportune to say a word of caution to brethren of every nationality . Look well to the character and reputation of all who seek admission
into our Brotherhood . A Society like ours must inevitably contain a few black sheep , who , at the time of their initiation , appeared robed in garments of lig ht ; but there are
others whose true colours mig ht have been ascertained by due inquiry at the time . We do not want men who cheat their
creditors , and whose names will be found more readily in the list of bankrupts than in the roll of subscribers to Masonic charities . We do not want thc frivolous man of
fashion , whose heart is in nis varnished boots . Nor , on the other hand , do we want men of the uneducated classes , whose objects can be best attained by joining one
of the many excellent benefit societies of the day . But the advocates of progress , the upholders of morality , the lamp-bearers
of thought , will ever be welcomed into the bosom of a Fraternity whose watchword is " Light !"
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .
—»—THE " ANCIENTS . " Permit me to say , in reply to Bro . Hughan ' s courteous suggestion , that I intend giving a
" sketch" of the so-called " Ancients" as soon as possible , under the caption " Freemasonry in England . " At present I am away from home , and my notes on the subject are not accessible . THE SON OK SALATHIEL .
THE RED CROSS ORDER . I have great pleasure in stating that a declaration of the principles of the Red Cross Order , written by the Lite Judge Waller R . Wright in 1806 , has been recently discovered and placed
in my hands . This important document I hope to publish shortly , ancl I may add that it affords positive proof that the ideas which governed the Revivalists in 1 S 65 were perfectly in unison with those of their illustrious predecessors . R . W . L .
According to a report of proceedings in your issue of the 23 rd tilt , it appears that tlie initiation fee in Scotland is onl y 32 s . 6 d . Is not this tlie
reason we see so many Scotch Masons in London soliciting assistance from their English brethren ? MINIATURE JEWELS . I am accustomed to use a set of miniature
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
jewels , and should like to add to them a miniature of the Zetland medal , which was presented at the inauguration of the new buildings in Great Queen-street . Are there any holders of the medal who would like to join me in the cost of this ? LUPUS .
" HOW AND WHERE DID SOLOMON DIE ? With reference to the death of King Solomon I send you a copy of memorandum from my Masonic notebook , as follows : — " The footstone
of the Temple was levelled on Monday , 21 st April , A . M . 2992 , after the flood 1336 , B . C . 1012 , in the 1 ith year of the reign of King Solomon . King Solomon died B . C . 975 , aged 58
years . J AMES FREDERICK SPURR , P . M . 200 .
W . P . B . AND " HENRY VI . MS . Bro . W . P . B . is quite rig ht in stating that the alleged MS . of Henry VI . is not to bc found in the famous Bodleian Library in Oxford . It is now pretty generally believed to be a spurious
MS ., as respects to its origin , & c , and in that opinion I entirely concur . Information on the point may be obtained by reference to the Halliwell MS . in print , " Findel's History of Freemasonry , " Rev . J . Dallaney ' s " History of Architecture , " & c . \ V . J AMES HUGHAN .
WAR AND MASONRY . I think the leading article on " War " in THE FREEMASONfor July 30 th , 1 S 70 , most opportune . Surely , as members of so honourable and benevolent a Society as that of the Free and
Accepted Masons , we should each in our sphere endeavour to promulgate the glorious principles of " Peace and good will towards men " and , then , even if war does occur , the awful effects following victory will be lessened , and gradually ,
as the people of the various nations become less warlike , the governments will follow the national and popular will , the " crowned heads" will cease to quarrel , and their subjects will be left
to enjoy the blessings of peace and prosperity . As a member of the Peace Society I thank you for the excellent and eminently-Masonic article on " War . " W . J AMES HUGHAN .
In last week's FREEMASON there is a copy of a proposition to be brought before the Grand Lodge of Scotland , to the effect that there shall be an interval of a fortnight between each of the
three degrees . Would it not be a favourable opportunity of making the interval the same as in England—namely , twenty-eight days ; and thus producing uniformity in this respect in both countries ?
ANCIENT CATHEDRALS . A brother says * . " One of the many objects for which Masonry exists , I submit , should bc that ils professors be first and foremost in the restoration of those grand memorials of the
past—those masterpieces of the old Craftsmen whichadornour land and link us with antiquity . " One noble example of this may be found in the person of the Earl of Roslin , the present Deputy
Grand Master Mason of Scotland , who has been the means of getting Roslin Chapel ( among one of the finest specimensof architecture in Europe ) restored to somewhat of its original beauty . CHALMERS I . PATON .
• GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND . Various improvements represent themselves from time to time for tlie better guidance of the Craft , but none more r ; o than the present one : "The members shall not lie subject to canvass
or previous solicitation , but shall have their minds free from prejudice to decide on the merits of each case with the impartiality and purity of Masonic feeling . " If this motion was made law , a much healthier system would
prevail than at present , where too often we find leading members of the Craft giving their support to matters which they have never investigated , but trusting merely to what an interested
canvasser has represented to them . Many examples might be given . Every member of the Craft is supposed to be Free , and therefore ought to act as such . CHALMERS I . PATON .
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
CURIOSITIES OF JUDAISM . We extract the following notes from our contemporary the Jewish Chronicle , taken from a note-book of " P . A . : ""GATE OF PENITENCE . : ¦ ¦ ¦•
.--" When an Israelite committed a sin , on the morrow it was found written either on his forehead or the door of his house . He then went to a place which is now included in the Great Mosque , and called the Gate of Penitence ; there he performed penance , and when that penance was accepted the miraculous writing disappeared . —Fundgruben , des Orients .
" CROMWELL AND THE J . " Cromwell laid Manasseh Ben Israel ' s proposal before a meeting composed ' of two judges , seven citizens of London , and the divines . The judges considered their toleration merely as a point of law , and declared they knew of no law against it ; and
that , if it were thought useful to the state , they would advise it . The citizens viewed it in a commercial light , and as probably they had different trade interests , they were divided in opinion as to its utility . Both of these , however , despatched the matter briefly . But most of the divines violently
opposed it , by text after text , for four whole days . Cromwell was at length wearied , and told them he had hoped they would throw some light on the subject to direct his conscience ; but , instead of this , they had rendered it more obscure than before . He desiredjtherefore , no more of their counsels ; but , lest
he should do anything rashly , he begged a share in their prayers . Sir Paul Ricaut , who was then a young man , pressed in among the crowd , and said he never heard a man speak so well in his life as Cromwell did on this occasion . —Orme . Life of Owen .
" PROVERBS OF THE RABBIS . " The Jews of the Holy Land , when they visit in pilgrimage the graves ofthe ancient rabbis , repeat over the grave those proverbs which the rabbi who is there interred used most frequently to inculcate to his disciples . —Barlotocci , vol . 1 .
" PHARAOH ' S BATH . "Thc Arabs tell a thousand stories of certain hot waters in a grotto , which they call Pharaoh ' s Bath . Among others , that , if you put four eggs in it , you can take out but three , the devil always keeping one for himself . — ' llievenot ,
" THE EYE . " fl }* ' in Hebrew signifies equally an eye or a spring ; so does Mathi in modern Greek , ancl so in Spanish ojos . " J EPTHA ' S DAUGHTER .
" ' Who shall decide when doctors disagree ?' The reader may be amused with thc following list of combatants , who , at different times , have taken place in this arena . I shall begin with those who believe that Jeptha's daughter was doomed only to thc service of thc Tabernacle , or , at most , to a life
of seclusion . There arc on this side thc rabbis Kimchi ancl Maimonides ; Arias Montanus , Pagninus , Vatablus , Estias , Junius , Ludovicus de Dieu , Pool , Broughton , Perkins , Drtisius , Grotius , Le Clerc , Patrick , Heinsius , Seldon , Saurin , Hales , ancl Glegg . But the adherents of the opposite
opinion muster equally strong , at least in point of number . Josepluis , Justin Martyr , Tertullian , Jerome , Chrysostom , Ambrose , Augustine , Luther , Peter Martyr , Salianus , Serarius , Menochius , Ludovicus Capellus , Lightfoot , Edwards , Jurieu , Michaelis , Jennings , and Burdcr .---Russell , Connect . Sacred and Profane Literature .
" CLASSICAL RESEMBLANCES . " I have taken no notice in the text of thc resemblance which the history of Jeptha ' s daughter bears to that of Iphigenia , thc daughter of Agamemnon . Lucius Capellus is of opinion that the latter was borrowed from thc former , ancl even that the
Grecian maul obtained her name from thc Hebrew judge , quasi Jcpthigcnia . Thc similarity is , no doubt , striking , but wc have no reason to believe that it is more than accidental . It is , at thc same time , amusing lo find thc Heathen poet no less anxious than the Christian divine to save the
reputation ofthe fa ther from thc stain of innocent blood . ( Sec Ovid xii . 31—36 . ) A story , which in some parts reminds us of Jeptha ' s vow , is mentioned by Scrviiis in his commentary on the third book ofthe Elicit ! . When Idomeus , thc King of Crete , and a descendant of Deucalion , was on his return home
from the war of Troy , he was overtaken by a violent storm , during which he vowed to offer to the gods the object that should first meet him when he landed . It happened that his only son was the first to meet him , whom , as he was bound by oath , he
proceeded to ofler as a sacrifice . There is a doubt whether he actually perpetrated thc crime , but as a pestilence arose soon after , which was ascribed to the wicked act or purpose ofthe king , thc Cretans expelled him from the government . —Russell . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonic Reform.
weeks ; and a similar period must elapse before he can be raised to the degree of a Master Mason . In the interim he is required to make himself acquainted with
the . princip les of the degree to which he has been admitted , and is required to undergo an examination before he can be passed or raised . Bro . HAMILTON proposes two
weeks , instead oi four , as the interval of probation , and he also is willing to confer upon the Grand Master a dispensing power even within this limit . We will not be
captious or ungracious because we ourselves prefer the English system , but honestly hail the movement of Bro . HAMILTON and his
friends as one which will tend to the p ' er manent honour and advantage of Free masonry in Scotland .
Nor is the moment inopportune to say a word of caution to brethren of every nationality . Look well to the character and reputation of all who seek admission
into our Brotherhood . A Society like ours must inevitably contain a few black sheep , who , at the time of their initiation , appeared robed in garments of lig ht ; but there are
others whose true colours mig ht have been ascertained by due inquiry at the time . We do not want men who cheat their
creditors , and whose names will be found more readily in the list of bankrupts than in the roll of subscribers to Masonic charities . We do not want thc frivolous man of
fashion , whose heart is in nis varnished boots . Nor , on the other hand , do we want men of the uneducated classes , whose objects can be best attained by joining one
of the many excellent benefit societies of the day . But the advocates of progress , the upholders of morality , the lamp-bearers
of thought , will ever be welcomed into the bosom of a Fraternity whose watchword is " Light !"
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .
—»—THE " ANCIENTS . " Permit me to say , in reply to Bro . Hughan ' s courteous suggestion , that I intend giving a
" sketch" of the so-called " Ancients" as soon as possible , under the caption " Freemasonry in England . " At present I am away from home , and my notes on the subject are not accessible . THE SON OK SALATHIEL .
THE RED CROSS ORDER . I have great pleasure in stating that a declaration of the principles of the Red Cross Order , written by the Lite Judge Waller R . Wright in 1806 , has been recently discovered and placed
in my hands . This important document I hope to publish shortly , ancl I may add that it affords positive proof that the ideas which governed the Revivalists in 1 S 65 were perfectly in unison with those of their illustrious predecessors . R . W . L .
According to a report of proceedings in your issue of the 23 rd tilt , it appears that tlie initiation fee in Scotland is onl y 32 s . 6 d . Is not this tlie
reason we see so many Scotch Masons in London soliciting assistance from their English brethren ? MINIATURE JEWELS . I am accustomed to use a set of miniature
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
jewels , and should like to add to them a miniature of the Zetland medal , which was presented at the inauguration of the new buildings in Great Queen-street . Are there any holders of the medal who would like to join me in the cost of this ? LUPUS .
" HOW AND WHERE DID SOLOMON DIE ? With reference to the death of King Solomon I send you a copy of memorandum from my Masonic notebook , as follows : — " The footstone
of the Temple was levelled on Monday , 21 st April , A . M . 2992 , after the flood 1336 , B . C . 1012 , in the 1 ith year of the reign of King Solomon . King Solomon died B . C . 975 , aged 58
years . J AMES FREDERICK SPURR , P . M . 200 .
W . P . B . AND " HENRY VI . MS . Bro . W . P . B . is quite rig ht in stating that the alleged MS . of Henry VI . is not to bc found in the famous Bodleian Library in Oxford . It is now pretty generally believed to be a spurious
MS ., as respects to its origin , & c , and in that opinion I entirely concur . Information on the point may be obtained by reference to the Halliwell MS . in print , " Findel's History of Freemasonry , " Rev . J . Dallaney ' s " History of Architecture , " & c . \ V . J AMES HUGHAN .
WAR AND MASONRY . I think the leading article on " War " in THE FREEMASONfor July 30 th , 1 S 70 , most opportune . Surely , as members of so honourable and benevolent a Society as that of the Free and
Accepted Masons , we should each in our sphere endeavour to promulgate the glorious principles of " Peace and good will towards men " and , then , even if war does occur , the awful effects following victory will be lessened , and gradually ,
as the people of the various nations become less warlike , the governments will follow the national and popular will , the " crowned heads" will cease to quarrel , and their subjects will be left
to enjoy the blessings of peace and prosperity . As a member of the Peace Society I thank you for the excellent and eminently-Masonic article on " War . " W . J AMES HUGHAN .
In last week's FREEMASON there is a copy of a proposition to be brought before the Grand Lodge of Scotland , to the effect that there shall be an interval of a fortnight between each of the
three degrees . Would it not be a favourable opportunity of making the interval the same as in England—namely , twenty-eight days ; and thus producing uniformity in this respect in both countries ?
ANCIENT CATHEDRALS . A brother says * . " One of the many objects for which Masonry exists , I submit , should bc that ils professors be first and foremost in the restoration of those grand memorials of the
past—those masterpieces of the old Craftsmen whichadornour land and link us with antiquity . " One noble example of this may be found in the person of the Earl of Roslin , the present Deputy
Grand Master Mason of Scotland , who has been the means of getting Roslin Chapel ( among one of the finest specimensof architecture in Europe ) restored to somewhat of its original beauty . CHALMERS I . PATON .
• GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND . Various improvements represent themselves from time to time for tlie better guidance of the Craft , but none more r ; o than the present one : "The members shall not lie subject to canvass
or previous solicitation , but shall have their minds free from prejudice to decide on the merits of each case with the impartiality and purity of Masonic feeling . " If this motion was made law , a much healthier system would
prevail than at present , where too often we find leading members of the Craft giving their support to matters which they have never investigated , but trusting merely to what an interested
canvasser has represented to them . Many examples might be given . Every member of the Craft is supposed to be Free , and therefore ought to act as such . CHALMERS I . PATON .
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
CURIOSITIES OF JUDAISM . We extract the following notes from our contemporary the Jewish Chronicle , taken from a note-book of " P . A . : ""GATE OF PENITENCE . : ¦ ¦ ¦•
.--" When an Israelite committed a sin , on the morrow it was found written either on his forehead or the door of his house . He then went to a place which is now included in the Great Mosque , and called the Gate of Penitence ; there he performed penance , and when that penance was accepted the miraculous writing disappeared . —Fundgruben , des Orients .
" CROMWELL AND THE J . " Cromwell laid Manasseh Ben Israel ' s proposal before a meeting composed ' of two judges , seven citizens of London , and the divines . The judges considered their toleration merely as a point of law , and declared they knew of no law against it ; and
that , if it were thought useful to the state , they would advise it . The citizens viewed it in a commercial light , and as probably they had different trade interests , they were divided in opinion as to its utility . Both of these , however , despatched the matter briefly . But most of the divines violently
opposed it , by text after text , for four whole days . Cromwell was at length wearied , and told them he had hoped they would throw some light on the subject to direct his conscience ; but , instead of this , they had rendered it more obscure than before . He desiredjtherefore , no more of their counsels ; but , lest
he should do anything rashly , he begged a share in their prayers . Sir Paul Ricaut , who was then a young man , pressed in among the crowd , and said he never heard a man speak so well in his life as Cromwell did on this occasion . —Orme . Life of Owen .
" PROVERBS OF THE RABBIS . " The Jews of the Holy Land , when they visit in pilgrimage the graves ofthe ancient rabbis , repeat over the grave those proverbs which the rabbi who is there interred used most frequently to inculcate to his disciples . —Barlotocci , vol . 1 .
" PHARAOH ' S BATH . "Thc Arabs tell a thousand stories of certain hot waters in a grotto , which they call Pharaoh ' s Bath . Among others , that , if you put four eggs in it , you can take out but three , the devil always keeping one for himself . — ' llievenot ,
" THE EYE . " fl }* ' in Hebrew signifies equally an eye or a spring ; so does Mathi in modern Greek , ancl so in Spanish ojos . " J EPTHA ' S DAUGHTER .
" ' Who shall decide when doctors disagree ?' The reader may be amused with thc following list of combatants , who , at different times , have taken place in this arena . I shall begin with those who believe that Jeptha's daughter was doomed only to thc service of thc Tabernacle , or , at most , to a life
of seclusion . There arc on this side thc rabbis Kimchi ancl Maimonides ; Arias Montanus , Pagninus , Vatablus , Estias , Junius , Ludovicus de Dieu , Pool , Broughton , Perkins , Drtisius , Grotius , Le Clerc , Patrick , Heinsius , Seldon , Saurin , Hales , ancl Glegg . But the adherents of the opposite
opinion muster equally strong , at least in point of number . Josepluis , Justin Martyr , Tertullian , Jerome , Chrysostom , Ambrose , Augustine , Luther , Peter Martyr , Salianus , Serarius , Menochius , Ludovicus Capellus , Lightfoot , Edwards , Jurieu , Michaelis , Jennings , and Burdcr .---Russell , Connect . Sacred and Profane Literature .
" CLASSICAL RESEMBLANCES . " I have taken no notice in the text of thc resemblance which the history of Jeptha ' s daughter bears to that of Iphigenia , thc daughter of Agamemnon . Lucius Capellus is of opinion that the latter was borrowed from thc former , ancl even that the
Grecian maul obtained her name from thc Hebrew judge , quasi Jcpthigcnia . Thc similarity is , no doubt , striking , but wc have no reason to believe that it is more than accidental . It is , at thc same time , amusing lo find thc Heathen poet no less anxious than the Christian divine to save the
reputation ofthe fa ther from thc stain of innocent blood . ( Sec Ovid xii . 31—36 . ) A story , which in some parts reminds us of Jeptha ' s vow , is mentioned by Scrviiis in his commentary on the third book ofthe Elicit ! . When Idomeus , thc King of Crete , and a descendant of Deucalion , was on his return home
from the war of Troy , he was overtaken by a violent storm , during which he vowed to offer to the gods the object that should first meet him when he landed . It happened that his only son was the first to meet him , whom , as he was bound by oath , he
proceeded to ofler as a sacrifice . There is a doubt whether he actually perpetrated thc crime , but as a pestilence arose soon after , which was ascribed to the wicked act or purpose ofthe king , thc Cretans expelled him from the government . —Russell . "