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Original Correspondence.
journal , to do what they can in this way . Every pound contributed will bind up a bleeding heartperhaps that of a mother watching over her famishing child—and elicit many a fervent prayer on behalf of those thus aiding the widows and fatherless in their affliction ; and if a cup of cold water shall not lose its reward , so neither shall a penny .
I ask you , my brother , to give a place to this feeble but earnest appeal in your columns , and to express your willingness to receive contributions for the object stated . Meanwhile , we shall discover the best channel through which to convey the fruits of love and charity to those who are famishing for lack of aid . Yours fraternally , WILLIAM CARPENTER .
.. . , — regret consequence a misprint that I should seem to J . Fletcher Brennan ( vide page 129 ) to have lost my temper or my manners . What was printed as " et rei omnegenus " was written " et id omne genus . " I saw the error , but it was so palpable that I supposed every one would understand it , and therefore did not write to
JURISDICTION OF GRAND LODGES . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . )
correct it . Had I supposed the error would not have been seen by every one , I should have corrected it , as I should not be willing to father such barbarous Latin . I did not design to call him a thing , and that of the feminine gender ! But he is in error when he says : " There is not a Grand Lodge in the United States , & c , that in
any manner recognises that the black American can be a Freemason . " But he then begs the whole question which was originally at issue between us . That was a question of colour only . Now he adds that we hold that no black man who is notfrechorn can be madeaMason . Sowedo , butwe hold the same of a white man . If he inserts in the above
quotation after the word American the words " not freeborn , " I quite agree with him . Thus amended , it conflicts with nothing I have stated . In what I have written heretofore the question has been one of race and colour , and the statements I made are
strictly true . And I repeat , there is nothing in the Constitutions or Regulations of more than two or three American Grand Lodges which prevents their subordinates from initiating freeborn men of any race or colour ; but no woman or man not freeborn of any race or colour can be admitted .
DELTA . UNIFORMITY OF WORKING .
( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I should be glad to elicit answers as to whether the three entrances to the Temple were situated S . W . and East or S . N . and East . Some lodges , especially Yorkshire ones , give the former in working the third degree , while others ( and I think the majority ) give the latter . Yours fraternally ,
W . M . MASONRY IN BUENOS AYRES .
( To the Editor of lhe Freemason . ) SIR , —An article under the above heading in a recent number of your paper is calculated to convey so very inaccurate an idea of Freemasonry in this country that 1 would wish , in a few words , to inform your readers under what jurisdiction the
institution has attained its present flourishing condition in the Argentine Republic . I suppose that this country alone in the world presents the anomaly of two co-existent legal Masonic authorities . Since the celebration of a treaty in 1861 , there has existed the Grand Orient of the
Republic , working in the Scottish Rite , and the District Grand Lodge , with its dependent lodges , ¦ working under the Grand Lodge of England . The history of the treaty I allude to , and the causes that led to its celebration , would form an interesting chapter in Masonic annals , describing as it would political and clerical persecutions not
dreamt of by our English brethren . I do not venture , however , to trespass on your space any further than to give ss an excuse for my present letter that the Free and Accepted in this city do not wish their light to be hidden under the bushel of the Grand Orient and its thirty-three degrees . I am , yours fraternally ,
TRUE BLUE . Buenos Ayres , September 5 , 1870 .
" CHAPTER WORK . " ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , —Your issue of the 1 st inst . contains an article on " Chapter Work , " by Bro .
John P . Little , Grand High Priest , Grand Chapter , Virginia . There is a special section under the word Jchtheos which is described " as a common symbol in use among the early Christians , " and is translated into English—meaning a fish . Bro . Little ,
Original Correspondence.
in analysing the letters of the word , says " that the first two letters ( I and Ch ) stand for Jesus Christ , and that the last part is the word Theos—God . " To an ordinary English reader this analysis might appear simple enough ; but , unfortunately , Bro . Little ' s spelling and etymology are defective and
misleading . The Greek word alluded to occurs in the catacombs at Rome , accompanied by the figure of a fish . The spelling is really not Ichtheos , but I-ch-th-u-s . Now , this word , in its right spelling , comprises the initials of five separate words , and forms an anagram of our Lord , thus—Jesus Christ ,
Son ( of ) God ( the ) Saviour . I supply the particles in parentheses In order to render the English sense complete . The word will be found quoted and explained in the Rev . J . W . Burgon ' s " Letters to Home Friends" ( Murray ) .
most of which work is devoted to a description of the catacombs at Rome . Yours truly and fraternally , WILLETT L . ADYE , P . P . R . +, 18 ° . Ryde , October 3 rd , 1870 .
( To the Editor of the Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have read the pseudo-facetious letter of Dr . Epstein upon this subject ( page 454 ) ; but it takes a clever man to be witty or to play with his subject . And judging by his former remarks at page 181 , I greatly fear that
HIRAM ABIF .
he has a good deal yet to learn before he can be considered an authority upon " Masonry "—e . g . how charmingly disingenuous is his opening remark , viz ., " Whether Masonry was or was not instituted by Solomon , Hiram King of Tyre , and Hiram the Man of Tyre , I cannot for the present
affirm " ! Poor man ! what beautiful simplicity he displays . If by " Masonry " he refers to Operative Masonry , he ought to know that the Augustan age of Egyptian architecture was past long ere Solomon was even born . If , however , by " Masonry" he means our Speculative Masonry , alias "
Freemasonry , " he ought to know that it was not m existence until within the last two centuries , or at all events not until many centuries after Solomon had gone the way of all flesh . Besides , for either Dr . Epstein or any one else to imagine that Solomon took such an interest in Masonry as he alludes to ,
is purely supposititious . Such a thing was neither in accordance with Solomon ' s position nor ideas ; and if Bro . Epstein was a real Hebrew scholar , as he pretends , he ought to know all about this far better than I . However , to come to the point more immediately before us , viz ., " Hiram Abif , " I beg to
say that Dr . Epstein has failed to prove his position . Firstly , he has not proved that the " Huram " alluded to in verse 16 , chap . iv . of 2 Chron ., is really Hiram the artificer . I must humbly beg to dispute this , and hold by my former suggestion at page 225 , that the " Huram " here alluded to is
Hiram theKing . Secondly , hehasmostsignallyfailed to prove that Hiram the artificer had ever any surname , far less that that supposed surname was cither Abif or Aviv . The Book of Kings may have been written by Jeremiah , and Chronicles perhaps by Ezra , but the original MSS . of both are lost
and now we have only copies , or copies of copies , unless , indeed , the " MSS . in the original Hebrew , " which Bro . Epstein tellsus " were written especially for his father , " be some of them ! Dr . Epstein , with all his smartness , lost the point there . However , taking the present Hebrew MSS . we have , I
am quite unable to understand that Hiram Abif " is the name and surname of Hiram the artificer . " Huram , his father , " given in 2 , Chron . iv . 16 , is more likely than Dr . Epstein ' s idea , and I must therefore go in with Bro . Carpenter there—only I cannot sec my way to agree to the idea that the
" Huram" here alluded to is Hiram the artificer ; for , taking into consideration the reading of the whole passage , also the connection with Solomon , King of the Jews , & c , I must say that it appears to me that if" Huram , his father" be correct , then the Huram alluded to is Hiram the King . If this last
idea of mine should happen to be correct , it would leave very little margin for a surname to Hiram the worker in brass . In the 2 nd chap , we read about Solomon and " Huram the King , " while the " cunning man " is merely alluded to . Then , in the 3 rd chap , we arc told that Solomon made this , that ,
and the other thing . Such being the case , it would come quite natural to the historian to have Huram the King in his eye when he said " did Huram his father make ? " However , I frankly confess my inability to handle this subject in the way I would wish ; it is more in Bro . Carpenter ' s way than mine . I am only a humble Masonic student , trying to
pick my way in the best manner I can . There is one remark of Dr . Epstein ' s whieh I especially object to , viz ., " Mr . W . P . B . is condescending enough to laugh at me and my desire for light . " Now , I deny that , and more especially not at his " desire for light , " particularly if that desire be sincere . However , if I happen to come across a writer playing fast and loose with his sub-
Original Correspondence.
ject , and vender a . pretended desire for light attempting to throw dust in the eyes of his readers , then I take the liberty of not merely laughing at him , but also , if possible , " showing him up . " If Dr . Epstein wrote the opening remark of his first letter ( at page 181 ) in good faith , then it only shows
ignorance , which " more light " might dispel ; but , if otherwise , I greatly fear that his conduct is neither Masonic nor gentlemanly . I would fain hope , however , that it is merely a mistake . I merely make a passing allusion to the familiar way in which Bro . Epstein catches the editor of the
American Freemason by the button-hole , and after relating his story , affixes his signature as " Dr . Epstein . " Doubtless , it was intended to be very impressive ; however , I was only amused by it . In conclusion , allow me to express the hope that this small " passage at arms" between Bro . Epstein and certain of your contributors may
eventually lead to a closer fraternal intercourse and good feeling amongst us all . American Freemasonry , like the American language , came from Britain , consequently we are "brethren" in more senses than one . I am , yours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN . Glasgow , Sept . 27 th , 1870 .
A QUERY . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —Would you , through THE FREEMASON , say whether the words in the Excellent Degree ( i . e . the veils ) are the same in America as we have in Scotland , and . I presume , in Eneland ?
Yours truly , WM . ROSS , R . W . M . No . iS of G . L . Scotland , and Z . Chapter 53 . [ No . The degree worked in Scotland differs essentially from the Most Excellent Master ' s Degree given in America , the latter grade being unknown out of the United States or British America . ]—ED . F .
( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , —A few Masonic friends meeting at a certain tavern in the London district , and being anxious to become acquainted with the rights and mysteries of Masonry , the following questions have been discussed , and your opinion
thereon is respectfully solicited : — 1 st . Is it contrary to Masonic law for any number of brethren to hold a meeting under the cognomen of a " Club" of Instruction , not having any of the furniture or working tools of Masonry at the time , without authority in the first instance from the Grand Lodge of England ?
2 nd . In case of a brother , a stranger to the friends so meeting ( also a Mason ) , have they the right to exclude him admission ? Your answer to these queries will greatly oblige , and the more so if in your next number , as much anxiety is felt to have the questions set at rest . Yours fraternally ,
A M . M . [ 1 st . Any number of Masons may meet for private instruction , but we deprecate the establishment of " clubs " in connection with the Craft , there being no guarantee that the work will be decorously performed . 2 nd . Most assuredly a stranger , whether Mason or not , has no right to intrude upon a private party . ] —ED . F .
GRAMMAR . — Grammar teaches the proper arrangment of words , according to the idiom or dialect of any peculiar people , and that excellency of pronunciation , which enables us to speak or write a language with accuracy , agreeably lo reason and correct usage .- Preston .
GRAND EAST . —Wherever the superior body of the Masonic institutions is situated that place is called the Grand East ( Grande Orient ) ; London , York , Dublin , Edinburgh , Paris , Vienna , and Amsterdam arc all Grand Easts in Masonic language . Every State in America has a Grand East , and every other place where there is a governing Grand Lodge is called by Masons the Grand East . The East with Masons has a peculiar meaning .
It is well known that the sciences first rose in the East , and that the resplendent orb of light from that quarter proclaims the glory of the day . " And behold the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the East , and his voice was like the noise of many waters ; the earth shined with his glory . The East Gate shall be shut ; it shall not be opened : and no man shall enter it , because the Glory of lhe God of Israel has entered by it . It is for the Prince . "—Dalcho .
DECORATION OF LONDON DINNER TABLES . — The table was gloomily decorated with artificial flowers , in China vases . Imagine this in June . A shilling would have purchased a wealth of sweet , fresh , though common flowers , which would have given a grace to a ruder tabic and plainer fare . This single fact is highly characteristic of the inherent defect already animadverted on , viz ., the stolid , Philistine indifference towhat is nice in the outward adjuncts of London dinners . Food Journal .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
journal , to do what they can in this way . Every pound contributed will bind up a bleeding heartperhaps that of a mother watching over her famishing child—and elicit many a fervent prayer on behalf of those thus aiding the widows and fatherless in their affliction ; and if a cup of cold water shall not lose its reward , so neither shall a penny .
I ask you , my brother , to give a place to this feeble but earnest appeal in your columns , and to express your willingness to receive contributions for the object stated . Meanwhile , we shall discover the best channel through which to convey the fruits of love and charity to those who are famishing for lack of aid . Yours fraternally , WILLIAM CARPENTER .
.. . , — regret consequence a misprint that I should seem to J . Fletcher Brennan ( vide page 129 ) to have lost my temper or my manners . What was printed as " et rei omnegenus " was written " et id omne genus . " I saw the error , but it was so palpable that I supposed every one would understand it , and therefore did not write to
JURISDICTION OF GRAND LODGES . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . )
correct it . Had I supposed the error would not have been seen by every one , I should have corrected it , as I should not be willing to father such barbarous Latin . I did not design to call him a thing , and that of the feminine gender ! But he is in error when he says : " There is not a Grand Lodge in the United States , & c , that in
any manner recognises that the black American can be a Freemason . " But he then begs the whole question which was originally at issue between us . That was a question of colour only . Now he adds that we hold that no black man who is notfrechorn can be madeaMason . Sowedo , butwe hold the same of a white man . If he inserts in the above
quotation after the word American the words " not freeborn , " I quite agree with him . Thus amended , it conflicts with nothing I have stated . In what I have written heretofore the question has been one of race and colour , and the statements I made are
strictly true . And I repeat , there is nothing in the Constitutions or Regulations of more than two or three American Grand Lodges which prevents their subordinates from initiating freeborn men of any race or colour ; but no woman or man not freeborn of any race or colour can be admitted .
DELTA . UNIFORMITY OF WORKING .
( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I should be glad to elicit answers as to whether the three entrances to the Temple were situated S . W . and East or S . N . and East . Some lodges , especially Yorkshire ones , give the former in working the third degree , while others ( and I think the majority ) give the latter . Yours fraternally ,
W . M . MASONRY IN BUENOS AYRES .
( To the Editor of lhe Freemason . ) SIR , —An article under the above heading in a recent number of your paper is calculated to convey so very inaccurate an idea of Freemasonry in this country that 1 would wish , in a few words , to inform your readers under what jurisdiction the
institution has attained its present flourishing condition in the Argentine Republic . I suppose that this country alone in the world presents the anomaly of two co-existent legal Masonic authorities . Since the celebration of a treaty in 1861 , there has existed the Grand Orient of the
Republic , working in the Scottish Rite , and the District Grand Lodge , with its dependent lodges , ¦ working under the Grand Lodge of England . The history of the treaty I allude to , and the causes that led to its celebration , would form an interesting chapter in Masonic annals , describing as it would political and clerical persecutions not
dreamt of by our English brethren . I do not venture , however , to trespass on your space any further than to give ss an excuse for my present letter that the Free and Accepted in this city do not wish their light to be hidden under the bushel of the Grand Orient and its thirty-three degrees . I am , yours fraternally ,
TRUE BLUE . Buenos Ayres , September 5 , 1870 .
" CHAPTER WORK . " ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , —Your issue of the 1 st inst . contains an article on " Chapter Work , " by Bro .
John P . Little , Grand High Priest , Grand Chapter , Virginia . There is a special section under the word Jchtheos which is described " as a common symbol in use among the early Christians , " and is translated into English—meaning a fish . Bro . Little ,
Original Correspondence.
in analysing the letters of the word , says " that the first two letters ( I and Ch ) stand for Jesus Christ , and that the last part is the word Theos—God . " To an ordinary English reader this analysis might appear simple enough ; but , unfortunately , Bro . Little ' s spelling and etymology are defective and
misleading . The Greek word alluded to occurs in the catacombs at Rome , accompanied by the figure of a fish . The spelling is really not Ichtheos , but I-ch-th-u-s . Now , this word , in its right spelling , comprises the initials of five separate words , and forms an anagram of our Lord , thus—Jesus Christ ,
Son ( of ) God ( the ) Saviour . I supply the particles in parentheses In order to render the English sense complete . The word will be found quoted and explained in the Rev . J . W . Burgon ' s " Letters to Home Friends" ( Murray ) .
most of which work is devoted to a description of the catacombs at Rome . Yours truly and fraternally , WILLETT L . ADYE , P . P . R . +, 18 ° . Ryde , October 3 rd , 1870 .
( To the Editor of the Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have read the pseudo-facetious letter of Dr . Epstein upon this subject ( page 454 ) ; but it takes a clever man to be witty or to play with his subject . And judging by his former remarks at page 181 , I greatly fear that
HIRAM ABIF .
he has a good deal yet to learn before he can be considered an authority upon " Masonry "—e . g . how charmingly disingenuous is his opening remark , viz ., " Whether Masonry was or was not instituted by Solomon , Hiram King of Tyre , and Hiram the Man of Tyre , I cannot for the present
affirm " ! Poor man ! what beautiful simplicity he displays . If by " Masonry " he refers to Operative Masonry , he ought to know that the Augustan age of Egyptian architecture was past long ere Solomon was even born . If , however , by " Masonry" he means our Speculative Masonry , alias "
Freemasonry , " he ought to know that it was not m existence until within the last two centuries , or at all events not until many centuries after Solomon had gone the way of all flesh . Besides , for either Dr . Epstein or any one else to imagine that Solomon took such an interest in Masonry as he alludes to ,
is purely supposititious . Such a thing was neither in accordance with Solomon ' s position nor ideas ; and if Bro . Epstein was a real Hebrew scholar , as he pretends , he ought to know all about this far better than I . However , to come to the point more immediately before us , viz ., " Hiram Abif , " I beg to
say that Dr . Epstein has failed to prove his position . Firstly , he has not proved that the " Huram " alluded to in verse 16 , chap . iv . of 2 Chron ., is really Hiram the artificer . I must humbly beg to dispute this , and hold by my former suggestion at page 225 , that the " Huram " here alluded to is
Hiram theKing . Secondly , hehasmostsignallyfailed to prove that Hiram the artificer had ever any surname , far less that that supposed surname was cither Abif or Aviv . The Book of Kings may have been written by Jeremiah , and Chronicles perhaps by Ezra , but the original MSS . of both are lost
and now we have only copies , or copies of copies , unless , indeed , the " MSS . in the original Hebrew , " which Bro . Epstein tellsus " were written especially for his father , " be some of them ! Dr . Epstein , with all his smartness , lost the point there . However , taking the present Hebrew MSS . we have , I
am quite unable to understand that Hiram Abif " is the name and surname of Hiram the artificer . " Huram , his father , " given in 2 , Chron . iv . 16 , is more likely than Dr . Epstein ' s idea , and I must therefore go in with Bro . Carpenter there—only I cannot sec my way to agree to the idea that the
" Huram" here alluded to is Hiram the artificer ; for , taking into consideration the reading of the whole passage , also the connection with Solomon , King of the Jews , & c , I must say that it appears to me that if" Huram , his father" be correct , then the Huram alluded to is Hiram the King . If this last
idea of mine should happen to be correct , it would leave very little margin for a surname to Hiram the worker in brass . In the 2 nd chap , we read about Solomon and " Huram the King , " while the " cunning man " is merely alluded to . Then , in the 3 rd chap , we arc told that Solomon made this , that ,
and the other thing . Such being the case , it would come quite natural to the historian to have Huram the King in his eye when he said " did Huram his father make ? " However , I frankly confess my inability to handle this subject in the way I would wish ; it is more in Bro . Carpenter ' s way than mine . I am only a humble Masonic student , trying to
pick my way in the best manner I can . There is one remark of Dr . Epstein ' s whieh I especially object to , viz ., " Mr . W . P . B . is condescending enough to laugh at me and my desire for light . " Now , I deny that , and more especially not at his " desire for light , " particularly if that desire be sincere . However , if I happen to come across a writer playing fast and loose with his sub-
Original Correspondence.
ject , and vender a . pretended desire for light attempting to throw dust in the eyes of his readers , then I take the liberty of not merely laughing at him , but also , if possible , " showing him up . " If Dr . Epstein wrote the opening remark of his first letter ( at page 181 ) in good faith , then it only shows
ignorance , which " more light " might dispel ; but , if otherwise , I greatly fear that his conduct is neither Masonic nor gentlemanly . I would fain hope , however , that it is merely a mistake . I merely make a passing allusion to the familiar way in which Bro . Epstein catches the editor of the
American Freemason by the button-hole , and after relating his story , affixes his signature as " Dr . Epstein . " Doubtless , it was intended to be very impressive ; however , I was only amused by it . In conclusion , allow me to express the hope that this small " passage at arms" between Bro . Epstein and certain of your contributors may
eventually lead to a closer fraternal intercourse and good feeling amongst us all . American Freemasonry , like the American language , came from Britain , consequently we are "brethren" in more senses than one . I am , yours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN . Glasgow , Sept . 27 th , 1870 .
A QUERY . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —Would you , through THE FREEMASON , say whether the words in the Excellent Degree ( i . e . the veils ) are the same in America as we have in Scotland , and . I presume , in Eneland ?
Yours truly , WM . ROSS , R . W . M . No . iS of G . L . Scotland , and Z . Chapter 53 . [ No . The degree worked in Scotland differs essentially from the Most Excellent Master ' s Degree given in America , the latter grade being unknown out of the United States or British America . ]—ED . F .
( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , —A few Masonic friends meeting at a certain tavern in the London district , and being anxious to become acquainted with the rights and mysteries of Masonry , the following questions have been discussed , and your opinion
thereon is respectfully solicited : — 1 st . Is it contrary to Masonic law for any number of brethren to hold a meeting under the cognomen of a " Club" of Instruction , not having any of the furniture or working tools of Masonry at the time , without authority in the first instance from the Grand Lodge of England ?
2 nd . In case of a brother , a stranger to the friends so meeting ( also a Mason ) , have they the right to exclude him admission ? Your answer to these queries will greatly oblige , and the more so if in your next number , as much anxiety is felt to have the questions set at rest . Yours fraternally ,
A M . M . [ 1 st . Any number of Masons may meet for private instruction , but we deprecate the establishment of " clubs " in connection with the Craft , there being no guarantee that the work will be decorously performed . 2 nd . Most assuredly a stranger , whether Mason or not , has no right to intrude upon a private party . ] —ED . F .
GRAMMAR . — Grammar teaches the proper arrangment of words , according to the idiom or dialect of any peculiar people , and that excellency of pronunciation , which enables us to speak or write a language with accuracy , agreeably lo reason and correct usage .- Preston .
GRAND EAST . —Wherever the superior body of the Masonic institutions is situated that place is called the Grand East ( Grande Orient ) ; London , York , Dublin , Edinburgh , Paris , Vienna , and Amsterdam arc all Grand Easts in Masonic language . Every State in America has a Grand East , and every other place where there is a governing Grand Lodge is called by Masons the Grand East . The East with Masons has a peculiar meaning .
It is well known that the sciences first rose in the East , and that the resplendent orb of light from that quarter proclaims the glory of the day . " And behold the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the East , and his voice was like the noise of many waters ; the earth shined with his glory . The East Gate shall be shut ; it shall not be opened : and no man shall enter it , because the Glory of lhe God of Israel has entered by it . It is for the Prince . "—Dalcho .
DECORATION OF LONDON DINNER TABLES . — The table was gloomily decorated with artificial flowers , in China vases . Imagine this in June . A shilling would have purchased a wealth of sweet , fresh , though common flowers , which would have given a grace to a ruder tabic and plainer fare . This single fact is highly characteristic of the inherent defect already animadverted on , viz ., the stolid , Philistine indifference towhat is nice in the outward adjuncts of London dinners . Food Journal .