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Correspondence.
Correspondence .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondent but wc wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .
TIME IMMEMORIAL LODGES . To tht Editor of the " Freemason " Dear Sir and Brother , All who take an interest in the historical evidences of our Craft must appreciate the articles on " Time Immemorial Lodges , " by Bro . R . F , Gould , that have recently appeared in your pages . I hope the matter is not to end here , and that steps will be taken to carry out Bro . Gould ' s suggestion for the formation of a League or Society of these time honoured lodges .
I feel'sure such an organisation would stimulate research , and bring to light records and documents , adding to the sum of our knowledge and prove of value to the student . Scotland is rich in old lodges , and I have no doubt aid in the formation of the proposed League will-be readily given . —I am , yours fraternally and faithfully ,
JAMES SMITH , Author " Old Lodge of Dumfries , " & c The Bank , Shotts , N . B ., July 3 rd .
THE R . A . AND OTHER MATTERS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The interesting letter of our Leeds brother wherein he states that on the average only some 23 per cent , of the Craft belong to the R . A ., is capable of being answered in many ways , and various reasons assigned as a cause of that
small percentage . It appears to me that two principal causes may be suggested . One is that many brethren like myself are under the impression that in the R . A . Degree the offices and chair may only be held by P . Ms . ; if this is so , it is not very encouraging to know that you may pay fees , & c , and yet receive no honours , and see a constant stream of favoured brethren passing over one ' s head . The remedy is to create more P . Ms ., but how ? Before I suggest a reform it
would be interesting and instructive to know what percentage of the 101 , 000 M . Ms , have really passed the chair ; for instance , the question arises have 10 per cent , of the brethren who have been raised to the Third Degree passed the chair , because it is obvious if the R . A . languishes through lack of members it is because there are so few P . Ms , relatively speaking to fill the offices in the R . A . Degree . I believo there is a shrewd suspicion about that no brother has the ghost of a chance of olKce unless a P . M .
1 venture to suggest that a useful reform would be to allow an interval of 12 months to elapse after a brother had been raised as a M . M ., and then on payment of three guineas to allow every M . M . to be installed in the chair . This would give a good supply of P . Ms , to draw upon , and it would place all the brethren , as regards Masonic dignity , on an equal footing . At present there are
numbers of good and intelligent Masons who , through lack of time or pressing circumstances , cannot wait six or seven years to enable them to qualify for the chair . They lose heart and interest , and drop away , and really intellectual members are lost , whereas if all , as suggested , were made Past Masters by pay . ment of a nominal fee , it would give more scope to secure members for the R . A , Degree .
Of course , the objection made is that it would not answer , because it would lessen competition for the chair , which dignity mainly turns upon the brethren making frantic efforts to become proficient in the ritual , so as to attain that honour . Remove the competition , and no one would aspire to the chair ; but against this the . fact remains that most Past Masters once through the chair rarely trouble further ; the strain , perhaps , is too great , and so lodges of instruction and mother lodges rarely see them after they have passed the chair . Now ,
would my suggestion make matters worse or better ? I am inclined to think better ; the funds would increase , and the Master for thc chair annually could be still chosen as at present . It would place the brethren on a better footing as far as equal Masonic knowledge was concerned . At present it seems to me ridiculous in these days of cheap books and openly sold ritual books to'leave the honour of passing the chair to the hazard and fortuitous chance of having to wait six or seven years in one ' s lodge .
Our Leeds brother speaks of other than the three Degrees . There is no doubt that originally there were three , complete and perfect , and no others , but for some reason the second was sub-divided , and became the M . M . M . Degree , which , after joining , we are told is not " officially recognised , " though I have
never discovered anyone who could give a valid reason why it is not recognised , If it is so , then it follows the R . A . Degree is not official , for it clearly is thc completed sub-division of the third Degree ; but if only P . Ms , may take office or the chair in that Degree , then it must be officially recognised , and the question still remains , Why is not the M . M . M . Degree ?
I leave these knotty questions for older brains than mine to unravel , and hope to read some criticism on above remarks . —Yours Iraterr . ally , T . MAY , No . 754 . Tottenham , N .
ROYAL ARCH IN RELATION TO CRAFT MASONRY . To the Editor ot the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brolher , In the interesting letter on the above subject contributed to your columns last week by Bro . Joseph Mathewman he states in exact figures , without qualification , the numbers of Craft anil Royal Arch Masons in England , both in London and the provinces . I have long wished to obtain even an approximate
estimate of such figures , and have always been met with the difficulty , amounting almost to the impossibility , of discovering to what extent membershi p is doubled , and often more than doubled , especially in the London lodges , to say nothing of the labour involved in ascertaining the number of members in each lodge . 1 am quite willing to accept Bro . Mattliewm . in ' s statement if he will be good enough to refer mc to the pages in the Gr . ind Lodge Calendar where the figures he quotes are to be found . —Yours fraternally , P . M . AND P . Z . July 2 nd .
THK POSTMEN ' S PARK . —The second half of the extension of the Postmen ' s Park will be formally opened in the course of this month . The unsightly ruins at the west end of the church , wiites the Rev . II . R . Gimble ( the Vicar of L St . Botolph ' s , Aidersgate ) , ate beginning to disappear , and the pit will soon be filled . The Bishop of London has promised lo give an address at the opening , and it is hoped that the donor of the covered way , Mr . G . F . Watts , R . A ., will also be present . The garden is now open on Sunday afternoons .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
1127 ] ROYAL ARCH MASONRY . Allow me to draw attention to the important fact that the figures used by Bro . Matthewman , in his letter on the " Royal Arch in relation to Craft Masonry , " arc mine , not those of the Grand Lodge Calendar . The number of Craft Masons in London , and also in the provinces and abroad , given by me in the Freemason , June 30 th , 1 9 , are based , as I expressly stated , on an average of 55 to each lodge on the English Register . Only the numbers of lodges ,
for each division , were obtained from the " valuable little book " noted by Bro . Matthewman . Of course , the error , which I am anxious to correct , does not affect Bro . Matthewman's averages , but it would not be fair to make an official publication—the best of its kind—responsible for my own estimate . As to Grand Secretary Spencer ' s statement , I do not see how it affects the question
now , because at that time , the regular Grand Lodge had not adopted the Royal Arch , and so it was in 1759 " neither Arch , Royal Arch , or Ancient '' Bro . Spencer , however , was a . joining member in 1766 of the Royal Arch Chapter that formed the Grand Chapter , with the Grand Treasurer Berkeley . Lord Blaney , the Grand Master , was exalted in the same year , and in the one following occupied a similar position in the Grand Chapter . W . J . HUGHAN .
1128 ] DURHAM CATHEDRAL . The Rev . Canon Greenwell , the celebrated antiquarian , in addressing the members of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club and the Durham and Northumberland Arcruclogical and Architectural Society , at a joint meeting of the two societies , held in Durham Cathedral , thus eloquently eulogised the fine workmanship of our ancient Operative brethren as still shown in that noble building : " I
assert , with confidence , that no grander Norman building exists . Peterborough , Ely , Norwich , and Gloucester , in our own country , and the great church of St . Stephen at Caen , magnificent as they are in their earlier portions , shine with a diminished lustre when compared with the greater glories of Durham . I will even make a still bolder assertion , and say that no more impressive and inspiring church is to be found in England , nay , I would almost say in Europe . " And he
thus feelingly regrets the destructionjof the fine Chapter House which they had erected 17 centuries-and-a-half ago . The Chapter House , alas 1 I can hardly say Chapter House , for it is now only a miserable remnant of a building once probably the finest Norman Chapter House in England . It was , by an act of barbarism scarcely credible , almost entirely demolished in 1796 , in order , as it is stated to make the room warm and comfortable for the members of the Chapter . GEORGE MARKHAM TWEDDELL . Rose Cottage , Stokesley , R . S . O .
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The last Saturday in June is always " Ex-Pupils' Day , " and Saturday last was probably the most successful of the scores of more or less similar re-unions that have taken place . Ex-pupils turned up in numbers little short of a hundred , and marvellously well , and well to do they all appeared to be—not a few wearing wedding rings of more or less recent date , in one or two cases very recent . A programme of swimming , calisthenics , lawn tennis , croquet , singing , and music was prepared for their delectation , and their creature comtorts were not forgotten .
Among those present were Bro . Frank Richardson , Chairman of the month ; and other members of the House Commit . tee ; Miss S . L . Davis , who for so many years was the capable and respected Head Governess ; Aliss Broadbent , an ex-pupil , and now the head of the Beddington Orphan Asylum ; and Bro . Hedges , the Secretary . Miss Buck and Miss Hutchinson , the Matron and Head Mistress , respectively , vied with each other in the successful endeavour to make every one happy , and Mrs . Rowarth , the Singing Mistress , contributed much to the pleasure of the afternoon .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .
There was a numerous attendance of brethren of the Province of Middlesex at the annual meeting of the Prov . G . Lodge , held at the Parish Rooms , Teddington , on Saturday , the 30 th ult ., under the presidency of Bro . Lord George Hamilton , M . P . The Prov . G . Master was supported by : Bros . Admiral St . Clair , Dep . Prov . G . M . designate ; E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ;
John Mason , P . G . S . B . ; Wm . Vincent , P . G . S . B . ; John Road , P . G . S . B . ; R . Biddulph Martin , M . P ., Prov . | S . G . W . ; Col . C . E . Leyden , Prov . J . G . W . ; Guy Repton , P . G . D . ; Dr . A . E . Sansom , P . P . G . W . ; Dr . Beresford Ryley , P . P . G . W . ; Dr . J . G . Garson , P . P . G . W . ; Bartley Denniss , P . P . G . W . ; ] . Tickle , P . P . G . Reg . ; A . Blenkarn , P . P . G . Treas . ; H . F . Bing , Prov . G . Sec . ; G . J . Thomas , P . P . G . S .
Works ( Special Secretary for Elections ); Sir W . Quayle Jones ; A . H . Scurrah , P . P . G . S . Works ; W . Dodd , P . P . G . D . ; Rev . H . Mills , M . A ., Prov . G . Chap . ; Rev . C . J . Greenwood ; R . Dunstan , Mus . Doc , Prov . G . Org . ; J . H . Gaskin , P . P . D . G . D . C ; J . Gordon L-ington , Bagot Read , P . G . Stwd . ; B . Foster , and a very large number of Prov . G . Ofiicers , Masters , and Past Masters , and brethren of lodges in the province .
The Prov . G . Lodge was opened , the Prov . G . M . saluted in due form , and the minutes read and confirmed . A letter was read from Miss Thrupp , acknowledging the vote of sympathy passed on the death of her brother , the late Dep . Prov . G . Master . The audit report was adopted , showing an increased balance . Over / , ioo had been distributed in charity during the past year .
The report of the Charity Committee , which was also adopted , showed that all cases adopted for election to thc Masonic Institutions during thc year had been elected , the number of votes polled being over 1 . 7 , 000 . On the motion of Bro . BLENKAKN , P . P . G . Teas ., a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bros . Geo . W . Castle , Prov . G . Treas ., and G . . !• Thomas , P . P . G . S . Works , the Special Secretary for Elections . Bro . THOMAS returned thanks .
Bros . Biddulph Martin , M . P ., Col . C . K . Leyden , and J . Gordon Langton were elected Auditors . The PROV . G . MASTER then said the brethren would recollect that when
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
Correspondence .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondent but wc wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion .
TIME IMMEMORIAL LODGES . To tht Editor of the " Freemason " Dear Sir and Brother , All who take an interest in the historical evidences of our Craft must appreciate the articles on " Time Immemorial Lodges , " by Bro . R . F , Gould , that have recently appeared in your pages . I hope the matter is not to end here , and that steps will be taken to carry out Bro . Gould ' s suggestion for the formation of a League or Society of these time honoured lodges .
I feel'sure such an organisation would stimulate research , and bring to light records and documents , adding to the sum of our knowledge and prove of value to the student . Scotland is rich in old lodges , and I have no doubt aid in the formation of the proposed League will-be readily given . —I am , yours fraternally and faithfully ,
JAMES SMITH , Author " Old Lodge of Dumfries , " & c The Bank , Shotts , N . B ., July 3 rd .
THE R . A . AND OTHER MATTERS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The interesting letter of our Leeds brother wherein he states that on the average only some 23 per cent , of the Craft belong to the R . A ., is capable of being answered in many ways , and various reasons assigned as a cause of that
small percentage . It appears to me that two principal causes may be suggested . One is that many brethren like myself are under the impression that in the R . A . Degree the offices and chair may only be held by P . Ms . ; if this is so , it is not very encouraging to know that you may pay fees , & c , and yet receive no honours , and see a constant stream of favoured brethren passing over one ' s head . The remedy is to create more P . Ms ., but how ? Before I suggest a reform it
would be interesting and instructive to know what percentage of the 101 , 000 M . Ms , have really passed the chair ; for instance , the question arises have 10 per cent , of the brethren who have been raised to the Third Degree passed the chair , because it is obvious if the R . A . languishes through lack of members it is because there are so few P . Ms , relatively speaking to fill the offices in the R . A . Degree . I believo there is a shrewd suspicion about that no brother has the ghost of a chance of olKce unless a P . M .
1 venture to suggest that a useful reform would be to allow an interval of 12 months to elapse after a brother had been raised as a M . M ., and then on payment of three guineas to allow every M . M . to be installed in the chair . This would give a good supply of P . Ms , to draw upon , and it would place all the brethren , as regards Masonic dignity , on an equal footing . At present there are
numbers of good and intelligent Masons who , through lack of time or pressing circumstances , cannot wait six or seven years to enable them to qualify for the chair . They lose heart and interest , and drop away , and really intellectual members are lost , whereas if all , as suggested , were made Past Masters by pay . ment of a nominal fee , it would give more scope to secure members for the R . A , Degree .
Of course , the objection made is that it would not answer , because it would lessen competition for the chair , which dignity mainly turns upon the brethren making frantic efforts to become proficient in the ritual , so as to attain that honour . Remove the competition , and no one would aspire to the chair ; but against this the . fact remains that most Past Masters once through the chair rarely trouble further ; the strain , perhaps , is too great , and so lodges of instruction and mother lodges rarely see them after they have passed the chair . Now ,
would my suggestion make matters worse or better ? I am inclined to think better ; the funds would increase , and the Master for thc chair annually could be still chosen as at present . It would place the brethren on a better footing as far as equal Masonic knowledge was concerned . At present it seems to me ridiculous in these days of cheap books and openly sold ritual books to'leave the honour of passing the chair to the hazard and fortuitous chance of having to wait six or seven years in one ' s lodge .
Our Leeds brother speaks of other than the three Degrees . There is no doubt that originally there were three , complete and perfect , and no others , but for some reason the second was sub-divided , and became the M . M . M . Degree , which , after joining , we are told is not " officially recognised , " though I have
never discovered anyone who could give a valid reason why it is not recognised , If it is so , then it follows the R . A . Degree is not official , for it clearly is thc completed sub-division of the third Degree ; but if only P . Ms , may take office or the chair in that Degree , then it must be officially recognised , and the question still remains , Why is not the M . M . M . Degree ?
I leave these knotty questions for older brains than mine to unravel , and hope to read some criticism on above remarks . —Yours Iraterr . ally , T . MAY , No . 754 . Tottenham , N .
ROYAL ARCH IN RELATION TO CRAFT MASONRY . To the Editor ot the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brolher , In the interesting letter on the above subject contributed to your columns last week by Bro . Joseph Mathewman he states in exact figures , without qualification , the numbers of Craft anil Royal Arch Masons in England , both in London and the provinces . I have long wished to obtain even an approximate
estimate of such figures , and have always been met with the difficulty , amounting almost to the impossibility , of discovering to what extent membershi p is doubled , and often more than doubled , especially in the London lodges , to say nothing of the labour involved in ascertaining the number of members in each lodge . 1 am quite willing to accept Bro . Mattliewm . in ' s statement if he will be good enough to refer mc to the pages in the Gr . ind Lodge Calendar where the figures he quotes are to be found . —Yours fraternally , P . M . AND P . Z . July 2 nd .
THK POSTMEN ' S PARK . —The second half of the extension of the Postmen ' s Park will be formally opened in the course of this month . The unsightly ruins at the west end of the church , wiites the Rev . II . R . Gimble ( the Vicar of L St . Botolph ' s , Aidersgate ) , ate beginning to disappear , and the pit will soon be filled . The Bishop of London has promised lo give an address at the opening , and it is hoped that the donor of the covered way , Mr . G . F . Watts , R . A ., will also be present . The garden is now open on Sunday afternoons .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
1127 ] ROYAL ARCH MASONRY . Allow me to draw attention to the important fact that the figures used by Bro . Matthewman , in his letter on the " Royal Arch in relation to Craft Masonry , " arc mine , not those of the Grand Lodge Calendar . The number of Craft Masons in London , and also in the provinces and abroad , given by me in the Freemason , June 30 th , 1 9 , are based , as I expressly stated , on an average of 55 to each lodge on the English Register . Only the numbers of lodges ,
for each division , were obtained from the " valuable little book " noted by Bro . Matthewman . Of course , the error , which I am anxious to correct , does not affect Bro . Matthewman's averages , but it would not be fair to make an official publication—the best of its kind—responsible for my own estimate . As to Grand Secretary Spencer ' s statement , I do not see how it affects the question
now , because at that time , the regular Grand Lodge had not adopted the Royal Arch , and so it was in 1759 " neither Arch , Royal Arch , or Ancient '' Bro . Spencer , however , was a . joining member in 1766 of the Royal Arch Chapter that formed the Grand Chapter , with the Grand Treasurer Berkeley . Lord Blaney , the Grand Master , was exalted in the same year , and in the one following occupied a similar position in the Grand Chapter . W . J . HUGHAN .
1128 ] DURHAM CATHEDRAL . The Rev . Canon Greenwell , the celebrated antiquarian , in addressing the members of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club and the Durham and Northumberland Arcruclogical and Architectural Society , at a joint meeting of the two societies , held in Durham Cathedral , thus eloquently eulogised the fine workmanship of our ancient Operative brethren as still shown in that noble building : " I
assert , with confidence , that no grander Norman building exists . Peterborough , Ely , Norwich , and Gloucester , in our own country , and the great church of St . Stephen at Caen , magnificent as they are in their earlier portions , shine with a diminished lustre when compared with the greater glories of Durham . I will even make a still bolder assertion , and say that no more impressive and inspiring church is to be found in England , nay , I would almost say in Europe . " And he
thus feelingly regrets the destructionjof the fine Chapter House which they had erected 17 centuries-and-a-half ago . The Chapter House , alas 1 I can hardly say Chapter House , for it is now only a miserable remnant of a building once probably the finest Norman Chapter House in England . It was , by an act of barbarism scarcely credible , almost entirely demolished in 1796 , in order , as it is stated to make the room warm and comfortable for the members of the Chapter . GEORGE MARKHAM TWEDDELL . Rose Cottage , Stokesley , R . S . O .
Royal Masonic Institution For Girls.
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
The last Saturday in June is always " Ex-Pupils' Day , " and Saturday last was probably the most successful of the scores of more or less similar re-unions that have taken place . Ex-pupils turned up in numbers little short of a hundred , and marvellously well , and well to do they all appeared to be—not a few wearing wedding rings of more or less recent date , in one or two cases very recent . A programme of swimming , calisthenics , lawn tennis , croquet , singing , and music was prepared for their delectation , and their creature comtorts were not forgotten .
Among those present were Bro . Frank Richardson , Chairman of the month ; and other members of the House Commit . tee ; Miss S . L . Davis , who for so many years was the capable and respected Head Governess ; Aliss Broadbent , an ex-pupil , and now the head of the Beddington Orphan Asylum ; and Bro . Hedges , the Secretary . Miss Buck and Miss Hutchinson , the Matron and Head Mistress , respectively , vied with each other in the successful endeavour to make every one happy , and Mrs . Rowarth , the Singing Mistress , contributed much to the pleasure of the afternoon .
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.
PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .
There was a numerous attendance of brethren of the Province of Middlesex at the annual meeting of the Prov . G . Lodge , held at the Parish Rooms , Teddington , on Saturday , the 30 th ult ., under the presidency of Bro . Lord George Hamilton , M . P . The Prov . G . Master was supported by : Bros . Admiral St . Clair , Dep . Prov . G . M . designate ; E . Letchworth , G . Sec . ;
John Mason , P . G . S . B . ; Wm . Vincent , P . G . S . B . ; John Road , P . G . S . B . ; R . Biddulph Martin , M . P ., Prov . | S . G . W . ; Col . C . E . Leyden , Prov . J . G . W . ; Guy Repton , P . G . D . ; Dr . A . E . Sansom , P . P . G . W . ; Dr . Beresford Ryley , P . P . G . W . ; Dr . J . G . Garson , P . P . G . W . ; Bartley Denniss , P . P . G . W . ; ] . Tickle , P . P . G . Reg . ; A . Blenkarn , P . P . G . Treas . ; H . F . Bing , Prov . G . Sec . ; G . J . Thomas , P . P . G . S .
Works ( Special Secretary for Elections ); Sir W . Quayle Jones ; A . H . Scurrah , P . P . G . S . Works ; W . Dodd , P . P . G . D . ; Rev . H . Mills , M . A ., Prov . G . Chap . ; Rev . C . J . Greenwood ; R . Dunstan , Mus . Doc , Prov . G . Org . ; J . H . Gaskin , P . P . D . G . D . C ; J . Gordon L-ington , Bagot Read , P . G . Stwd . ; B . Foster , and a very large number of Prov . G . Ofiicers , Masters , and Past Masters , and brethren of lodges in the province .
The Prov . G . Lodge was opened , the Prov . G . M . saluted in due form , and the minutes read and confirmed . A letter was read from Miss Thrupp , acknowledging the vote of sympathy passed on the death of her brother , the late Dep . Prov . G . Master . The audit report was adopted , showing an increased balance . Over / , ioo had been distributed in charity during the past year .
The report of the Charity Committee , which was also adopted , showed that all cases adopted for election to thc Masonic Institutions during thc year had been elected , the number of votes polled being over 1 . 7 , 000 . On the motion of Bro . BLENKAKN , P . P . G . Teas ., a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Bros . Geo . W . Castle , Prov . G . Treas ., and G . . !• Thomas , P . P . G . S . Works , the Special Secretary for Elections . Bro . THOMAS returned thanks .
Bros . Biddulph Martin , M . P ., Col . C . K . Leyden , and J . Gordon Langton were elected Auditors . The PROV . G . MASTER then said the brethren would recollect that when