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The Freemason
THE Freemason
SATURDAY , MARCH 8 , 1884 . « . . © rtrinal Corresnoitfience . s .
[ We do nothold ourselves responsible For , or even approving of , the opinionsexpressedby ourcorrespondents . but we wish in aspirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion "] ¦
ELECTION OF GRAND TREASURER . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Now that the question of who shall be Grand Treasurer for the current year is settled , let us hope that thc worthy brother who lias been elected will receive a hearty welcome on the dais , even from those who
framed and signed thc once famous circular . Let them receive their defeat with grace , and remember that the popular voice will always be heard at last , however strongly those in actual power may strive to stifle it . If the threat whicli a Past Grand Chaplain made a few days since , that Bro . Marshall should be black-balled for Grand Ofiicers' Mess if elected Grand Treasurer , is carried out , it will be time for thc people once more to raise its
voice and ask why the middle classes of society , the very strength and backbone of Craft Freemasonry , arc not adequately represented on thc dais and rewarded more frequently with the purple . The absence from the voting last night of the majority of those who signed the circular shows very plainly how thc signatures were obtained and how feeble was the attempt to upset a sound principle . —Yours fraternally , SEMICIRCULAR PROTRACTOR .
To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have no desire to prolong a controversy which has already become sufficiently embittered ; but I do wish again to enter my protest against the " extreme virulence and violence " exhibited by " Obsta Principiis , " who appears to exist in what both you and he would ' probably speak of as a
" normal atmosphere of abuse . I have before described him as a " pestilent correspondent , " and I should not have becn far wrong had I further described him as ignorant , insolent , and much given to a " melancholy display of unfratcrnal bitterness and rowdy vulgarity . " lie is mainl y responsible for thc present ferocity of the discussion , for it was lie who began to ding mud at his opponents , whom hc
designated a clique , caucus , cabal , and roundly charged with an attempt at " impudent dictation " to Grand Lodge , and all because they think one thing and he another . It is not I and others , who have becn ready and anxious from thc very first to argue thc question on its merits , who have reason to fear an " appeal to thc wisdom , fairness , and common sense of Grand Lodge . "' Any objectionable
words which have tigureu in my letters have been quoted from " Obsta Principiis . " I am happy to say I can read a few lines of Latin without troubling " Facciofati , " and it is because I have some slight knowledge ot the language—you must forgive thc unavoidable egotism—that I was able to suggest another way of rendering "Obsta Principiis" than that intended in the lines of Ovid . Hut I do not parade my knowledge on
every possible and impossible occasion in all thc glory of inverted commas . I flatter myself also that I can write two consecutive sentences in my mother tongue without contradicting myself . In his last letter " Obsta Principiis" says in his concluding paragraph , " Thc circular .... explains thc views of those who signed it better than I can pretend to do . It is alike thc defence of our position and the justification ol our proceedings . " The words I have italicised arc the key
to the contradiction . "Obsta Principiis" cannot pretend to explain the views of thc " circularises , " as they have bccn . callcd . and then , in the same breath , hc tolls us what thc circular is which IC and his brother signatories have put their names to . If , as has been frequentl y said , imitation is thc sincerest Sorm of flattery , \ may claim that your correspondent has oaid mc a verv irrcat compliment . In mv first letter I re .
marked that under thc circumstances Bro . Allcroft would have good reason for exclaiming "Save mc from my friends . " 1 lc now puts these words into the mouth of Bro . Marshall . As to the matter of age , it will be time enough for " Obsta Principiis " to boast of his seniority , when he has shown that he possesses even an elementary acquaintance with the amenities which should be part and parcel of such a correspondence as this . —Fraternally yours , TENAX PROPOSITI .
BRO . WHILE AND OBSTA PRINCIPIIS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I note an amusingly irrelevant allusion to your very humble servant in a letter signed "J . While , " professing to be an answer (?) to a very able letter of Bro . John Havers . 1 think , however , that for many reasons it is alike more
dignified and more Masonic for me not unnecessarily to prolong a sufficiently unseemly wrangle . Suffice it to say then , whether my style be cumbrous or not matters really very little , as long as I make your readers understand both what I mean and what I say . I should not myself have selected Bro . While ' s peculiar collocation of words as a representation of a very classical or cultivated standard of
English writing . There may , however , be something very valuable , and even Masonic and important , in those dreadfully long-winded epistles , those depressing combinations of "bunkum and boredom , " but that is , of course , a matter of taste , and I leave the question and the discussion where they are .
But I must say this , Wc owe to Bro . While , and to Bro . While alone , the importing into the pages of the Freemason a tone of bitter , reckless , vulgar personality . The words which originally roused his ire—" cabal , " " caucus , " Sic , —are words of common currency , and were used to express the point which grated and pressed on the minds of many zealous Freemasons . The humble joke about thc
The Freemason
famous dinner , —for nothing was said about another point connected with it , —hardly deserved theanimus and violence displayed in reply . It was called a " good dinner . " I have heard itwas a good dinner , whoever paid for it , and there was surely no harm in saying it was a good dinner , unless indeed Bro . While , who does not seem to have becn invited , which was , I have no hesitation in saying , a very improper
omission , is prepared to contend that it was not a good dinner . If there is any other expression I made use of which was and appeared to be too hard , it certainly was used inadvertently by me . We have each and all said more than others will have cared to read and remember , and I feel for one , that as the " Gods bring to an end everything here , " so we may now rejoice to think that our controversy is closed " pro tem . "—Fraternally yours , OBSTA PRINCIPIIS .
A NEW WORD . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , When you wrote thc editorial note to the letter of your correspondent " The Queen's English , " that the printers had " followed copy "Tn printing " sarccdotalism " with a " d " for the "t , " it was within your power to have
stated thc fact that the error was one due to the fingers , and not to a lack of knowledge , as it was written , as you knew , with the Type-writer , and "literals" are as liable to occur with that instrument as in the setting up of type at " case . " I can leave thc small mind of "Obsta Principiis " to make whatever capital which can be found in this "literal , " and I shall throw no "d" at him ;
but I will take the opportunity of saying that I quite agree with you in reprobating the violence of his productions , lt is bad enough , surely , by the sin of my finger to have coined a " new word " ( which no one could pronounce as spelt by mischance ); without having a Hood
of abuse , in dog Latin , cast at others under the shadow of an anonymous name . This person has evidently bcen reading his own letters , for in his calling of names—the abuse of which hc only was guilty , and thc making of false statements , of which he was convicted—consist thc " degradation " of your columns . —Yours faithfully and fraternally ,
JOHN WHILE , [ The correspondence on the subject of thc Grand Treasurer must now be considered closed . —ED . F . M . ]
THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION ANNUITIES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In a leader of your issue of the 23 rd inst ., respecting the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , I am credited with thc proposal to lower the annuities . Permit me to say the notice of motion referred to docs not in any way apply to
thc present annuitants ; neither is it intended to make any alteration in the amount of annuity for those to be elected at the General Meeting in May next . Therefore my notice of motion cannot be a reduction of amounts thc annuitants arc in receipt of . There arc at thc present time one hundred and twentysix needy and deserving candidates patiently waiting the result of the next election , which , when it is over , will leave
nearly a hundred of ( hem to linger and hope on for another twelve months , thc majority then to meet with a similar disappointment . Extending the number to be elected is apparently a more equitable system , and calculated to meet thc needs of thc continual increasing number of aged brethren or their widows seeking aid from thc funds of the above mentioned Institution . —I am , faithfully and fraternally yours , CHARLES LACEY , P . M . 174 . February 2 GU 1 . ' ¦
ONLY FIVE SHILLINGS ! To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother ^ The annual Festival of thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution has again bcen a decided success , as the report in yourcolumnsof Saturday last fully sctsfortli , There is , however , one phase that I should like to point out , and whicli
1 think should be atall tunes most carclully guarded against , lest it should to an extent damp the energies of some who express their willingness . 1 refer to thc criticisms with regard to the quality ( financial ) of thc Stewards' list . Most of your readers will have read thc decision of one ( whose name thc majority of us reverence ) with regard to " the widow's mite . " Our Stewards' list should be
estimated somewhat in thc same way , for to some of our lodges , if financial position be regarded , thc modest five guineas is as great a donation as thc 300 from a lodge more wealthy . Possibly this annual acute criticism may have a tendency , not to stir up , but , on thc other hand , to deter many from accepting the position of Steward , they having a reluctance to enter thc lists merely as competitors , also a
wish to avoid castigation should their amounts be deemed but small . ^ To propagate a desire in the heart of every English Freemason to contribute something annually to our Masonic Charities should be our constant care , anil in order that such may be accomplished it behoves us not to undervalue small donations coming from those who are not possessed of great abundance . " If thou hast much , give
plenteously ; if thou hast little , do thy diligence gladly to give of that . little . " You mention one lodge as having sent in a very small donation . It certainly is small , but there may be good reasons to account for it . Possibly a larger amount was anticipated when the worth y brother sent up bis name as accepting the position of Steward . Bo the cause
whatever it may , I think that lodge has broken the ice , and possibly at our next festival many lodges who have not yet figured in the Charity lists will take courage and come to the front , . if even with only a small donation . From your leaderette it appears that in 1 SS 3 the number of lodges in London was 329 , in the Provinces 1023 , making a total of 1352 . Of this number 504 contributed , the balance
therefore which did not was 848 . Had each of that number , nsteadof withholding , remitted only five shillings , an idditional sum £ 212 would have been the result . RIany possibly could have sent the sum of one guinea ; if so the amount would have bcen increased still more . With an apology for trespassing on your space , and with a belief
that you do not , in your zeal for digesting " charity of the purse , " intentionally wish to overlook charity " of thought and pen , " 1 must close , expressing a firm conviction that small donations and plenty of them shew that" unity is strength , " so forcibly exhibited in March 4 U 1 . A BUNDLE OF STICKS .
The Freemason
PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARIES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The letter of " Companion " in your last issue is so utterly absurd that one would feel disposed to let is pass by unnoticed were it not for the fear that it might fall into the hands of , and mislead , somo of the younsr ' er members of the Cralt . J "
In the hrst place the suggestion that Secretaries of large provinces should not be paid , displays so much ignorance of the question that 1 feel sure " Companion " lias never been inside a Provincial Grand Secretary ' s office , or he would have a better idea of the duties and responsibilities of that officer . I should like to know where "Companion " would find a man who would , without payment , devote seven or eight hours a day in personal interviews with
brethren , replying to correspondence ( many letters such foolish ones as I should fancy " Companion " would write ) , writing up records and returns , attending election and other meetings in London , travelling frequently 20 or 30 miles to lodges on important business , & c . As to the clerical work being done by , and information obtained from , an accountant , let me remind " Companion " that the Provincial Grand Secretary is thc local expounder
of Masoniclaw , to whom many disputed points are referred for decision . He is therefore expected to be well versed in the Constitutions and landmarks of thc Order . Would "Companion " like to leave this to an accountant ' s clerk ( probably a non-Mason ) or an annually appointed brother ? In addition to this I venture to assert that if the work of a Proy . Grand Secretary was performed by a paid professional accountant ( even at the lowest scale of charecs ) .
instead of being a small remuneration it would amount to such a sum that no province in England could pay it . In some of thc small provinces I know that Secretaries arc not paid . I have the honour of the acquaintance of several , both paid and unpaid , but I fail to see that " higher social standing" suggested by " Companion . "
I he manner in which "Companion " speaks of " monopoly of patronage" and such like seems to me to be strong evidence that lie is one of those who have lately bcen writing about provincial promotion , and who thinks by this "change of front " to gain that notice wliich his previous letters have failed to elicit . —I am , yours fraternally ,
P . P . G . D . C .
To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , " Companion " is confident that he has solved a difficulty which has embarrassed probably all Provincial Grand Masters , viz ., the annual selection of provincial ofiicers . His proposal is to do away with salaried Provincial Secretaries , make the ollice an annual and honorary one , and have thc clerical work done by an accountant at
a small remuneration . I am well acquainted with the province of West Yorkshire , and know thc duties of thc Provincial Grand Secretary . I frequently visit his ollice and can vouch that he and his assistant are fully employed in discharge of their duties , or more than nine months in thc year . More than 5000 summonses for provincial meetings go out during the year ; the work in connection with the Charity Committee is the
very great ; correspondence also occupies the Secretary , at least , half a working day throughout the year ; of necessity , all returns are examined and registered , all cash passes through his hands tothe Treasurer ; this requires great experience and intimate knowledge of every lodge in the province . How then could the work be got through with a fresh Secretary every year ? What accountant could discharge these duties satisfactorily ? As to thc " monopoly vi i lor excellent cniet
patronage , can answer our own ana his indefatigable deputy . Thc duty of selecting officers is one which they discharge personally and approach with anxiety , although in their case they have but 6 ( 1 lodges and Soo qualified Past Masters from whom the appointments arc made . Would " Companion " carry his suggestion further and have Grand Secretary changed annually , and the
appointment an annual one , with an accountant to do thc work ? Would brethren of a very much higher social " standard " then till thc office in Grand Lodge ? My conviction is that Provincial Grand Masters and their Deputies know their brethren sufficientl y well to enable them to select their officers , and Masonic worth is not overlooked as well as social standing . —I am , yours faithfully and fraternally ,
P . G . W . WEST YORKS , AND TWENTY YEARS A P . M . A MIS-QUOTATION . To the Editor of the "Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , On reading the last number of your valuable paper , 1 was very much surprised to see the following lines :
"Money's but the guinea stamp ; The man's the man for a' that , " given as a quotation in thc letter of Bro . Simpson , P . G . Chap ., and it astonished me beyond measure to find that so erudite a Mason could make such a mistake . Our poet brother Burns , notwithstanding his indifferent education , never wrote such doggerel as those lines ; what lie did write was as follows :
" The rank is but the guinea stamp ; The man's the gowd for a' that . " Yours faithfully and fraternally , G . SHANKS , K . M . March 4 th . ¦
THE OLDEST FREEMASON IN ENGLAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , A Manchester contemporary , in last Saturday's issue , announced the death of one who was presumably thc oldest Freemason in England , one Uro . Joseph Newton , who died at Richmond , Yorkshire , last Friday week . The deceased brother was Tyler for one or more lodges for 57 years , having been appointed when the Duke of Sussex
visited Richmond in 1 S 27 . This lengthened period of association with the Craft is , however , eclipsed by a brother now living , Bro . Collier by name , who was initiated in the Lodge of Loyalty , No . 320 , Mottram , Cheshire , on thesth December , 1821 , passed 2 nd January , 1822 , and raised Gth February the same year . This veteran in Masonry was installed VV . M . of the lodge in 1837 , and has been Tyler to it since 1 S 37 . My statement can easily be verified by any P . M . in the Lodge of Loyalty . —Yours fraternally , R . R . LISENDEN , J . VV . 317 . 47 , Bridge-street , Manchester , March 3 rd .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemason
THE Freemason
SATURDAY , MARCH 8 , 1884 . « . . © rtrinal Corresnoitfience . s .
[ We do nothold ourselves responsible For , or even approving of , the opinionsexpressedby ourcorrespondents . but we wish in aspirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion "] ¦
ELECTION OF GRAND TREASURER . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Now that the question of who shall be Grand Treasurer for the current year is settled , let us hope that thc worthy brother who lias been elected will receive a hearty welcome on the dais , even from those who
framed and signed thc once famous circular . Let them receive their defeat with grace , and remember that the popular voice will always be heard at last , however strongly those in actual power may strive to stifle it . If the threat whicli a Past Grand Chaplain made a few days since , that Bro . Marshall should be black-balled for Grand Ofiicers' Mess if elected Grand Treasurer , is carried out , it will be time for thc people once more to raise its
voice and ask why the middle classes of society , the very strength and backbone of Craft Freemasonry , arc not adequately represented on thc dais and rewarded more frequently with the purple . The absence from the voting last night of the majority of those who signed the circular shows very plainly how thc signatures were obtained and how feeble was the attempt to upset a sound principle . —Yours fraternally , SEMICIRCULAR PROTRACTOR .
To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have no desire to prolong a controversy which has already become sufficiently embittered ; but I do wish again to enter my protest against the " extreme virulence and violence " exhibited by " Obsta Principiis , " who appears to exist in what both you and he would ' probably speak of as a
" normal atmosphere of abuse . I have before described him as a " pestilent correspondent , " and I should not have becn far wrong had I further described him as ignorant , insolent , and much given to a " melancholy display of unfratcrnal bitterness and rowdy vulgarity . " lie is mainl y responsible for thc present ferocity of the discussion , for it was lie who began to ding mud at his opponents , whom hc
designated a clique , caucus , cabal , and roundly charged with an attempt at " impudent dictation " to Grand Lodge , and all because they think one thing and he another . It is not I and others , who have becn ready and anxious from thc very first to argue thc question on its merits , who have reason to fear an " appeal to thc wisdom , fairness , and common sense of Grand Lodge . "' Any objectionable
words which have tigureu in my letters have been quoted from " Obsta Principiis . " I am happy to say I can read a few lines of Latin without troubling " Facciofati , " and it is because I have some slight knowledge ot the language—you must forgive thc unavoidable egotism—that I was able to suggest another way of rendering "Obsta Principiis" than that intended in the lines of Ovid . Hut I do not parade my knowledge on
every possible and impossible occasion in all thc glory of inverted commas . I flatter myself also that I can write two consecutive sentences in my mother tongue without contradicting myself . In his last letter " Obsta Principiis" says in his concluding paragraph , " Thc circular .... explains thc views of those who signed it better than I can pretend to do . It is alike thc defence of our position and the justification ol our proceedings . " The words I have italicised arc the key
to the contradiction . "Obsta Principiis" cannot pretend to explain the views of thc " circularises , " as they have bccn . callcd . and then , in the same breath , hc tolls us what thc circular is which IC and his brother signatories have put their names to . If , as has been frequentl y said , imitation is thc sincerest Sorm of flattery , \ may claim that your correspondent has oaid mc a verv irrcat compliment . In mv first letter I re .
marked that under thc circumstances Bro . Allcroft would have good reason for exclaiming "Save mc from my friends . " 1 lc now puts these words into the mouth of Bro . Marshall . As to the matter of age , it will be time enough for " Obsta Principiis " to boast of his seniority , when he has shown that he possesses even an elementary acquaintance with the amenities which should be part and parcel of such a correspondence as this . —Fraternally yours , TENAX PROPOSITI .
BRO . WHILE AND OBSTA PRINCIPIIS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I note an amusingly irrelevant allusion to your very humble servant in a letter signed "J . While , " professing to be an answer (?) to a very able letter of Bro . John Havers . 1 think , however , that for many reasons it is alike more
dignified and more Masonic for me not unnecessarily to prolong a sufficiently unseemly wrangle . Suffice it to say then , whether my style be cumbrous or not matters really very little , as long as I make your readers understand both what I mean and what I say . I should not myself have selected Bro . While ' s peculiar collocation of words as a representation of a very classical or cultivated standard of
English writing . There may , however , be something very valuable , and even Masonic and important , in those dreadfully long-winded epistles , those depressing combinations of "bunkum and boredom , " but that is , of course , a matter of taste , and I leave the question and the discussion where they are .
But I must say this , Wc owe to Bro . While , and to Bro . While alone , the importing into the pages of the Freemason a tone of bitter , reckless , vulgar personality . The words which originally roused his ire—" cabal , " " caucus , " Sic , —are words of common currency , and were used to express the point which grated and pressed on the minds of many zealous Freemasons . The humble joke about thc
The Freemason
famous dinner , —for nothing was said about another point connected with it , —hardly deserved theanimus and violence displayed in reply . It was called a " good dinner . " I have heard itwas a good dinner , whoever paid for it , and there was surely no harm in saying it was a good dinner , unless indeed Bro . While , who does not seem to have becn invited , which was , I have no hesitation in saying , a very improper
omission , is prepared to contend that it was not a good dinner . If there is any other expression I made use of which was and appeared to be too hard , it certainly was used inadvertently by me . We have each and all said more than others will have cared to read and remember , and I feel for one , that as the " Gods bring to an end everything here , " so we may now rejoice to think that our controversy is closed " pro tem . "—Fraternally yours , OBSTA PRINCIPIIS .
A NEW WORD . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , When you wrote thc editorial note to the letter of your correspondent " The Queen's English , " that the printers had " followed copy "Tn printing " sarccdotalism " with a " d " for the "t , " it was within your power to have
stated thc fact that the error was one due to the fingers , and not to a lack of knowledge , as it was written , as you knew , with the Type-writer , and "literals" are as liable to occur with that instrument as in the setting up of type at " case . " I can leave thc small mind of "Obsta Principiis " to make whatever capital which can be found in this "literal , " and I shall throw no "d" at him ;
but I will take the opportunity of saying that I quite agree with you in reprobating the violence of his productions , lt is bad enough , surely , by the sin of my finger to have coined a " new word " ( which no one could pronounce as spelt by mischance ); without having a Hood
of abuse , in dog Latin , cast at others under the shadow of an anonymous name . This person has evidently bcen reading his own letters , for in his calling of names—the abuse of which hc only was guilty , and thc making of false statements , of which he was convicted—consist thc " degradation " of your columns . —Yours faithfully and fraternally ,
JOHN WHILE , [ The correspondence on the subject of thc Grand Treasurer must now be considered closed . —ED . F . M . ]
THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION ANNUITIES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In a leader of your issue of the 23 rd inst ., respecting the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , I am credited with thc proposal to lower the annuities . Permit me to say the notice of motion referred to docs not in any way apply to
thc present annuitants ; neither is it intended to make any alteration in the amount of annuity for those to be elected at the General Meeting in May next . Therefore my notice of motion cannot be a reduction of amounts thc annuitants arc in receipt of . There arc at thc present time one hundred and twentysix needy and deserving candidates patiently waiting the result of the next election , which , when it is over , will leave
nearly a hundred of ( hem to linger and hope on for another twelve months , thc majority then to meet with a similar disappointment . Extending the number to be elected is apparently a more equitable system , and calculated to meet thc needs of thc continual increasing number of aged brethren or their widows seeking aid from thc funds of the above mentioned Institution . —I am , faithfully and fraternally yours , CHARLES LACEY , P . M . 174 . February 2 GU 1 . ' ¦
ONLY FIVE SHILLINGS ! To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother ^ The annual Festival of thc Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution has again bcen a decided success , as the report in yourcolumnsof Saturday last fully sctsfortli , There is , however , one phase that I should like to point out , and whicli
1 think should be atall tunes most carclully guarded against , lest it should to an extent damp the energies of some who express their willingness . 1 refer to thc criticisms with regard to the quality ( financial ) of thc Stewards' list . Most of your readers will have read thc decision of one ( whose name thc majority of us reverence ) with regard to " the widow's mite . " Our Stewards' list should be
estimated somewhat in thc same way , for to some of our lodges , if financial position be regarded , thc modest five guineas is as great a donation as thc 300 from a lodge more wealthy . Possibly this annual acute criticism may have a tendency , not to stir up , but , on thc other hand , to deter many from accepting the position of Steward , they having a reluctance to enter thc lists merely as competitors , also a
wish to avoid castigation should their amounts be deemed but small . ^ To propagate a desire in the heart of every English Freemason to contribute something annually to our Masonic Charities should be our constant care , anil in order that such may be accomplished it behoves us not to undervalue small donations coming from those who are not possessed of great abundance . " If thou hast much , give
plenteously ; if thou hast little , do thy diligence gladly to give of that . little . " You mention one lodge as having sent in a very small donation . It certainly is small , but there may be good reasons to account for it . Possibly a larger amount was anticipated when the worth y brother sent up bis name as accepting the position of Steward . Bo the cause
whatever it may , I think that lodge has broken the ice , and possibly at our next festival many lodges who have not yet figured in the Charity lists will take courage and come to the front , . if even with only a small donation . From your leaderette it appears that in 1 SS 3 the number of lodges in London was 329 , in the Provinces 1023 , making a total of 1352 . Of this number 504 contributed , the balance
therefore which did not was 848 . Had each of that number , nsteadof withholding , remitted only five shillings , an idditional sum £ 212 would have been the result . RIany possibly could have sent the sum of one guinea ; if so the amount would have bcen increased still more . With an apology for trespassing on your space , and with a belief
that you do not , in your zeal for digesting " charity of the purse , " intentionally wish to overlook charity " of thought and pen , " 1 must close , expressing a firm conviction that small donations and plenty of them shew that" unity is strength , " so forcibly exhibited in March 4 U 1 . A BUNDLE OF STICKS .
The Freemason
PROVINCIAL GRAND SECRETARIES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The letter of " Companion " in your last issue is so utterly absurd that one would feel disposed to let is pass by unnoticed were it not for the fear that it might fall into the hands of , and mislead , somo of the younsr ' er members of the Cralt . J "
In the hrst place the suggestion that Secretaries of large provinces should not be paid , displays so much ignorance of the question that 1 feel sure " Companion " lias never been inside a Provincial Grand Secretary ' s office , or he would have a better idea of the duties and responsibilities of that officer . I should like to know where "Companion " would find a man who would , without payment , devote seven or eight hours a day in personal interviews with
brethren , replying to correspondence ( many letters such foolish ones as I should fancy " Companion " would write ) , writing up records and returns , attending election and other meetings in London , travelling frequently 20 or 30 miles to lodges on important business , & c . As to the clerical work being done by , and information obtained from , an accountant , let me remind " Companion " that the Provincial Grand Secretary is thc local expounder
of Masoniclaw , to whom many disputed points are referred for decision . He is therefore expected to be well versed in the Constitutions and landmarks of thc Order . Would "Companion " like to leave this to an accountant ' s clerk ( probably a non-Mason ) or an annually appointed brother ? In addition to this I venture to assert that if the work of a Proy . Grand Secretary was performed by a paid professional accountant ( even at the lowest scale of charecs ) .
instead of being a small remuneration it would amount to such a sum that no province in England could pay it . In some of thc small provinces I know that Secretaries arc not paid . I have the honour of the acquaintance of several , both paid and unpaid , but I fail to see that " higher social standing" suggested by " Companion . "
I he manner in which "Companion " speaks of " monopoly of patronage" and such like seems to me to be strong evidence that lie is one of those who have lately bcen writing about provincial promotion , and who thinks by this "change of front " to gain that notice wliich his previous letters have failed to elicit . —I am , yours fraternally ,
P . P . G . D . C .
To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , " Companion " is confident that he has solved a difficulty which has embarrassed probably all Provincial Grand Masters , viz ., the annual selection of provincial ofiicers . His proposal is to do away with salaried Provincial Secretaries , make the ollice an annual and honorary one , and have thc clerical work done by an accountant at
a small remuneration . I am well acquainted with the province of West Yorkshire , and know thc duties of thc Provincial Grand Secretary . I frequently visit his ollice and can vouch that he and his assistant are fully employed in discharge of their duties , or more than nine months in thc year . More than 5000 summonses for provincial meetings go out during the year ; the work in connection with the Charity Committee is the
very great ; correspondence also occupies the Secretary , at least , half a working day throughout the year ; of necessity , all returns are examined and registered , all cash passes through his hands tothe Treasurer ; this requires great experience and intimate knowledge of every lodge in the province . How then could the work be got through with a fresh Secretary every year ? What accountant could discharge these duties satisfactorily ? As to thc " monopoly vi i lor excellent cniet
patronage , can answer our own ana his indefatigable deputy . Thc duty of selecting officers is one which they discharge personally and approach with anxiety , although in their case they have but 6 ( 1 lodges and Soo qualified Past Masters from whom the appointments arc made . Would " Companion " carry his suggestion further and have Grand Secretary changed annually , and the
appointment an annual one , with an accountant to do thc work ? Would brethren of a very much higher social " standard " then till thc office in Grand Lodge ? My conviction is that Provincial Grand Masters and their Deputies know their brethren sufficientl y well to enable them to select their officers , and Masonic worth is not overlooked as well as social standing . —I am , yours faithfully and fraternally ,
P . G . W . WEST YORKS , AND TWENTY YEARS A P . M . A MIS-QUOTATION . To the Editor of the "Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , On reading the last number of your valuable paper , 1 was very much surprised to see the following lines :
"Money's but the guinea stamp ; The man's the man for a' that , " given as a quotation in thc letter of Bro . Simpson , P . G . Chap ., and it astonished me beyond measure to find that so erudite a Mason could make such a mistake . Our poet brother Burns , notwithstanding his indifferent education , never wrote such doggerel as those lines ; what lie did write was as follows :
" The rank is but the guinea stamp ; The man's the gowd for a' that . " Yours faithfully and fraternally , G . SHANKS , K . M . March 4 th . ¦
THE OLDEST FREEMASON IN ENGLAND . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , A Manchester contemporary , in last Saturday's issue , announced the death of one who was presumably thc oldest Freemason in England , one Uro . Joseph Newton , who died at Richmond , Yorkshire , last Friday week . The deceased brother was Tyler for one or more lodges for 57 years , having been appointed when the Duke of Sussex
visited Richmond in 1 S 27 . This lengthened period of association with the Craft is , however , eclipsed by a brother now living , Bro . Collier by name , who was initiated in the Lodge of Loyalty , No . 320 , Mottram , Cheshire , on thesth December , 1821 , passed 2 nd January , 1822 , and raised Gth February the same year . This veteran in Masonry was installed VV . M . of the lodge in 1837 , and has been Tyler to it since 1 S 37 . My statement can easily be verified by any P . M . in the Lodge of Loyalty . —Yours fraternally , R . R . LISENDEN , J . VV . 317 . 47 , Bridge-street , Manchester , March 3 rd .