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Article OUR RITUAL. ← Page 2 of 2 Article PEACE. Page 1 of 1 Article THE SUSPENSION OF PERCIVAL, WILLIS AND Co. Page 1 of 1 Article THE SUSPENSION OF PERCIVAL, WILLIS AND Co. Page 1 of 1 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Our Ritual.
ancient text . And this we do say advisedly , with some knowledge of the subject , and having studied the matter'for years , that in every departure from the old Anglican Ritual , both the German and French Masonic systems have gone further and fared worse ! For the moment we
get into the region of a so-called philosophv , there is no end to the absurdity or the rubbish of competing systems and conflicting grades . Masonic writers have tried to give every sort of exp lanation to our Masonic Ritual , but have utterly failed , because they sought to make it
what it is not , to give to it a character it does not profess to bear . Therefore we always say when we hear of this suggestion for change or that proposal for improvement , that our time-honoured ritual is exactly suitable to our wants and Masonic requirements , and that is alike our
wisdom and our duty , ' quieta non movere . " If Bro . Burger ' s argument be good for anything , that because during 150 years the Ritual has been improved and expanded we are always to be changing it , when some professed reformer
arises , we beg to join issue with him . Granted that in the last century or early in this , a change was needed and desirable , it is not at all a case of "sequiter " that we require furthsr alterations now . What is termed the philosophical view of Freemasonry , apart from the sensible Masonic
philosophy which our very ritual teaches all its proficients , we have always regarded as the height of absurdity , not to say the fullest development of the " precip itate bathos . " Our ritual , as we have itnoiv , is suitable for the most educated of us all , while in its interpretation is to be found
in th-t true Masonic and moral philosophy which deals practically with the great battle and the lasting dangers of life . Those of us who hear it often delivered with all that wonderfully effective power , (? s wc did lately ) , which lucidity can offer or impressiveness can convey , must be
proud both of its many beauties , and its entire adaptation to its use and purpose . In its case ar . y change will probably be for the worse , and we therefore , at or . ee , expressing as we do , we believe , the feelings of all Masonic experts , all
"bn ^ ht Masons , " all Masters ofthe Art , deny the opportuneness , and refuse thc consideration of any suggestion for needless and meaningless change . With regard to the very important point of uniformity of Ritual , we will reserve our remarks on until ( D . V . ) next week .
Peace.
PEACE .
Peace is signed between Russia and Turkey , and , for the moment , the Funds are rising , and the perils of a great European war are averted . As Freemasons we must rejoice in the conclusion of a cruel and pitiless war , which only served to
demonstrate , how great and how unchanged is the inheient barbarity of humanity . How long such a position of affairs will continue may , however , be doubtful to the foreseeing and farseeing statesman , and how long the" Sick Man " will continue with siich a weakened frame and
exhausted constitution is a problem we must leave to the future to ] solve . As patriots , though Freemasons , we shall have every confidence that Her Majesty ' s Ministers will manfully uphold the real interests and abiding honour of
Old England , come what can , happen what may ; and in that feeling we resign ourselves in a submi ' - . sive sense to the always seasonable belief , that " whatever is , is best , " and above all , that " sufficient to the day is the evil thereof . "
The Suspension Of Percival, Willis And Co.
THE SUSPENSION OF PERCIVAL , WILLIS AND Co .
On Friday the Daily News published the following letter . : — " 14 , Old Jewry-chambers , London , 28 th Feb . " Gentlemen , —We have to inform you that Messrs . Willis , Pereival and Co ., of 76 , Lombard-street , are compelled to suspend payment . " The books have been placed in the hands of
Messrs . Turquand , Youngs and Co . A statement of affairs will be prepared and submitted to the creditors at the earliest possible date . " We are , Gentlemen , your obedient servants , " LAWRANCE PLEWS AND BAKER . " This was the first public intimation of the disaster , though the fact did not become gene-
The Suspension Of Percival, Willis And Co.
rally known until Saturday , when the Times in its city article of date Friday evening inserted the subsequent paragraph—alike startling in its announcement , and precise in its statements . " The announcement after business hours
yesterday of the suspension of the old-established private bank of Messrs . Willis , Pereival and Co ., of 76 , Lombard-street , although unexpected at the moment , did not cause much surprise among those who knew the real state of affairs . The
bank commenced business over 100 years ago , and the partners at the present time were Henry Willis , Samuel Tomkins , and Samuel Leith Tomkins . During the crisis of 185 7 the bank is believed to have suffered severely through it-Greek connections , and from that time the credit
of the firm has been gradually on the wane . Within the past twelve months the senior partner died , and the situation was not improved by the revelation of the fact that his property was much smaller than had been anticipated . Those most intimately acquainted with the
growing weakness of the concern expected , however , that a suspension would be avoided , and that it would be wound up . But this course , if it was really contemplated , was rendered impossible by the failure of Messrs . Gerussi , Brothers , and Co ., merchants , of
Finsbury-circus , debtors for £ 250 , 000 , whose position has been propped up by the bank for a long time past . The impression prevails also that the catastrophe was hastened by the withdrawal of money by a West-end bank , which has long been connected with Messrs . Willis . Pereival , and Co .
A statement of affairs is being prepared by Messrs . Turquand and Co ., the liabilities being roughly estimated at ^ £ 6 ^ 0 , 000 . As regards the securities held by the bank for its customers , everything is understood to be in perfect order . " The sad interest to Freemasons arises from
the circumstance , well-known to the entire Craft , that for many years Bro . Samuel Tomkins , one of thc leading partners , has been the trusted and honoured Treasurer of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter—and also of the Royal Masonic Bene volent Institution and , of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , being also the bankers for the
Boys' School . The various amounts now lying in the bank , and which for thc moment are lost to the Order , amount in the whole to £ 6600 , which are divided as follows : —Grand Lodge and Chapter £ 4000 , Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ^ 1000 , and the Boys' School £ 1600 . The Girls' School is in debt to its Treasurer , on a snecial advance , of about ^ , 3000 .
The following official proceedings took place in the Bankruptcy Court on Friday * — " In re Willis , Pereival , and Co . " The debtors , who are bankers , carrying on business at 76 , Lombard-street , have presented
a p *; tition for liquidation , estimating their joint liabilities at , ' £ ' 6 50 , 000 . Mr . W . F . Baker , for the debtors , and with the concurrence of several of the principal creditors , applied that Mr . W . Turquand , accountant , should be appointed receiver and manager .
From the evidence it appeared that ^ 24 , 300 of the liabilities arose upon acceptances against securities held by the debtors , and the bulk of the residue consisted of amounts due to customers of the bank , about 600 in number . The assets comprised cash and drafts in hand , cB \ -J . ooo
balance at the Bank of England ) £ 38 , ooo ; bills of exchange discounted , £ 40 , 000 ; and of a sum of about £ ' 435 , , due from customers in respect of loans and overdrawn accounts , with and without securities . The debtors stated that they had also about £ 40 , 000 India Four per cent , bonds
under advance , with a margin of 4 ^ 1 , 300 in their favour ; there are other securities subject to loans . Apart from the £ 435 , 003 , the debtors returned other debts amounting to £ 115 , 000 , of which the value was very doubtful , but from the separate estates a surplus would probably arise .
It appeared that the business , which had been carried on for upwards of 150 years , was of a very extensive and miscellaneous character . His Honour granted the application . All our brethren will feel alike the serious
position in which the Craft is placed , but all will extend their fraternal sympathy to our late respected and kindl y Grand Treasurer , who has for years merited and obtained the good opinion of all his brethren .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of ehe opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . 1
FREEMASONRY IN JAMAICA—THE NEW THEORY . To the Editor cf the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother— , My attention has been called to a report , which appeared in your columns on the 29 th December last , page 5 84 , from "A Young Master Mason , " of alecturewhich
I recently delivered before the Glenlyon Lodge in this city . The report , as he truly expressed it , is indeed but a " rough outline , " whilst he appeared to have entirely overlooked the fact that thc purport of the lecture was as much to exe-nplify the purity and beauty of our English ritual as to offer a key to the plan of Freemasonry . Throughout the lecture comparisons were made between our system
and that which prevails in the United States , —bringing out the various discrepancies and irregularities of the American ritual . Now , although we may contend that our ritual is the very best in the world , I think it would bc very difficult to prove this to any foreign brother , unless we are prepared to shew to him that our ritual is based on a well-defined
system . In the United States , thc working tools of the First and thc Third Degrees arc not entirely like our own , nor do the secrets correspond exactly with ours . In your editorial note , you stited that "' able and eloquent as no doubt Bro . Burger ' s lecture is , it is not , it is right to remark , altogether a new or original theory , and we feel pretty sure that the Emulation Lodge will say that they
prefer quieta non movcrc . We think that there is great clanger in philosophising too much in respect of the simple system of Freemasonry , and we prefer the older system of exposition , tec . " Let me first inform you that I care not for Masonic fame at all , as the brethren in this community know too well j jet as I elrsirc that English Freemasonry should
stand on something better than its simplicity , permit me to reply to your remarks ; When you assert that my theory is not altogether new , I suppose you mean that others before this have , in a general way , called Freemasonry a philosophical institution , and some brethren have even written on the Philosophy of Masonry . But my lecture did not aim at establishing
our order as a philosophy of itself—hut as an order founded on the well recognised principles of ancient philosophy —not on thc aimless theories which spring from the pcrfcrvid brains of our foreign brethren across the Channel . 1 think then that my theory is new and oiiginal ; but i £ you deny this , do me the favour lo indicate the book in which any theory similar to mine has been submitted to
the Masonic world . Perhaps 1 may not possess the work , will you then add to your kindness by quoting the text , giving likewise thc page on which thc theory is advanced , for I am not too old tj learn . Of course you will not refer me to thc " Cours Philosophiquc" of Ragon , nor to the " Croix Philosophiquc " of Chercau , anel least of all to those puerilities called " Knights of the Sun " and
" Knights of the East and West . " As to thc " great danger in philosophising too much , " I grant you that by accepting thc term philosophy in its present Gallic sense there is very J great danger of rendering Freemasonry , what it is fast becoming in France—a godless system ! but I contend that thc theory I advance , if it hacl been hitherto known , would have save ! us from thc scandal which the Grind Orients of France and
Belgium have committed . J rue philosophy , divided into its three original branches—Natural , Moral , and Spiritual—harmonises with all the deductions of science , the teachings of morality , and thc esscnrial doctrines of religion . Freemasonry founded on philosophy such as this , can hold its own—on any other bisis , in this progressive age , it is liable to many vicissitudes .
Our worthy and talented Bro . Findel writes thus in his " History " on this subject : — " Whether the fraternity of Freemasons enjoys in this nineteenth century that consideration warranted by thc important era in which wc live , whether , indeed , it is capable of continuing to exist , is a question not only started by non-Masons and opponents of the Society , but by members themselves . And though the latlcr may not positively reply in the negative , as do
the former , yet are Freemasons generally most determined and unanimous in their conviction that a thorough reform is imp'rativcly necessary . " ( 1 st Ed ., p . 541 . ) Our tcxt-bcoks declare that " Masonry is a progressive science . " As this is so , why should any brother rest content with the " older system of Exposition , " Krc , and be left behind with the age ? Were our ancestors satisfied with " quieta non movere ? " Were Desaguliers and Anderson?—were Clare and Manningham?—were Calcott and
Hutchinson?—were Dunckerly and Preston?—were Shadbolt and Hemming ? Certainly not 1 Dr . Oliver has recorded in his " Discrepancies" ( page 131 ) , that eight revisions of our ritual were made in eighty years . Our ritual is beautiful—it is more than this—I believe it to be the purest and the best , but to regard it as having reached perfection is taking thc first step towards making it a fossil .
I am a conservative in all that I believe to be good and useful , but I am also a progressionist for thc perpetuation of our beautiful Order . The age is advancing , and if we do not advance with it , we shall certainly bc left behind . There are points that we dare not meddle with ,
nevertheless , newer expositions are called for , or the result will be , that the best minds will not cultivate our " peculiar system . " All intelligent brethren should carefully peruse trie second chapter of Dr . Oliver ' s " Discrepancies . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Our Ritual.
ancient text . And this we do say advisedly , with some knowledge of the subject , and having studied the matter'for years , that in every departure from the old Anglican Ritual , both the German and French Masonic systems have gone further and fared worse ! For the moment we
get into the region of a so-called philosophv , there is no end to the absurdity or the rubbish of competing systems and conflicting grades . Masonic writers have tried to give every sort of exp lanation to our Masonic Ritual , but have utterly failed , because they sought to make it
what it is not , to give to it a character it does not profess to bear . Therefore we always say when we hear of this suggestion for change or that proposal for improvement , that our time-honoured ritual is exactly suitable to our wants and Masonic requirements , and that is alike our
wisdom and our duty , ' quieta non movere . " If Bro . Burger ' s argument be good for anything , that because during 150 years the Ritual has been improved and expanded we are always to be changing it , when some professed reformer
arises , we beg to join issue with him . Granted that in the last century or early in this , a change was needed and desirable , it is not at all a case of "sequiter " that we require furthsr alterations now . What is termed the philosophical view of Freemasonry , apart from the sensible Masonic
philosophy which our very ritual teaches all its proficients , we have always regarded as the height of absurdity , not to say the fullest development of the " precip itate bathos . " Our ritual , as we have itnoiv , is suitable for the most educated of us all , while in its interpretation is to be found
in th-t true Masonic and moral philosophy which deals practically with the great battle and the lasting dangers of life . Those of us who hear it often delivered with all that wonderfully effective power , (? s wc did lately ) , which lucidity can offer or impressiveness can convey , must be
proud both of its many beauties , and its entire adaptation to its use and purpose . In its case ar . y change will probably be for the worse , and we therefore , at or . ee , expressing as we do , we believe , the feelings of all Masonic experts , all
"bn ^ ht Masons , " all Masters ofthe Art , deny the opportuneness , and refuse thc consideration of any suggestion for needless and meaningless change . With regard to the very important point of uniformity of Ritual , we will reserve our remarks on until ( D . V . ) next week .
Peace.
PEACE .
Peace is signed between Russia and Turkey , and , for the moment , the Funds are rising , and the perils of a great European war are averted . As Freemasons we must rejoice in the conclusion of a cruel and pitiless war , which only served to
demonstrate , how great and how unchanged is the inheient barbarity of humanity . How long such a position of affairs will continue may , however , be doubtful to the foreseeing and farseeing statesman , and how long the" Sick Man " will continue with siich a weakened frame and
exhausted constitution is a problem we must leave to the future to ] solve . As patriots , though Freemasons , we shall have every confidence that Her Majesty ' s Ministers will manfully uphold the real interests and abiding honour of
Old England , come what can , happen what may ; and in that feeling we resign ourselves in a submi ' - . sive sense to the always seasonable belief , that " whatever is , is best , " and above all , that " sufficient to the day is the evil thereof . "
The Suspension Of Percival, Willis And Co.
THE SUSPENSION OF PERCIVAL , WILLIS AND Co .
On Friday the Daily News published the following letter . : — " 14 , Old Jewry-chambers , London , 28 th Feb . " Gentlemen , —We have to inform you that Messrs . Willis , Pereival and Co ., of 76 , Lombard-street , are compelled to suspend payment . " The books have been placed in the hands of
Messrs . Turquand , Youngs and Co . A statement of affairs will be prepared and submitted to the creditors at the earliest possible date . " We are , Gentlemen , your obedient servants , " LAWRANCE PLEWS AND BAKER . " This was the first public intimation of the disaster , though the fact did not become gene-
The Suspension Of Percival, Willis And Co.
rally known until Saturday , when the Times in its city article of date Friday evening inserted the subsequent paragraph—alike startling in its announcement , and precise in its statements . " The announcement after business hours
yesterday of the suspension of the old-established private bank of Messrs . Willis , Pereival and Co ., of 76 , Lombard-street , although unexpected at the moment , did not cause much surprise among those who knew the real state of affairs . The
bank commenced business over 100 years ago , and the partners at the present time were Henry Willis , Samuel Tomkins , and Samuel Leith Tomkins . During the crisis of 185 7 the bank is believed to have suffered severely through it-Greek connections , and from that time the credit
of the firm has been gradually on the wane . Within the past twelve months the senior partner died , and the situation was not improved by the revelation of the fact that his property was much smaller than had been anticipated . Those most intimately acquainted with the
growing weakness of the concern expected , however , that a suspension would be avoided , and that it would be wound up . But this course , if it was really contemplated , was rendered impossible by the failure of Messrs . Gerussi , Brothers , and Co ., merchants , of
Finsbury-circus , debtors for £ 250 , 000 , whose position has been propped up by the bank for a long time past . The impression prevails also that the catastrophe was hastened by the withdrawal of money by a West-end bank , which has long been connected with Messrs . Willis . Pereival , and Co .
A statement of affairs is being prepared by Messrs . Turquand and Co ., the liabilities being roughly estimated at ^ £ 6 ^ 0 , 000 . As regards the securities held by the bank for its customers , everything is understood to be in perfect order . " The sad interest to Freemasons arises from
the circumstance , well-known to the entire Craft , that for many years Bro . Samuel Tomkins , one of thc leading partners , has been the trusted and honoured Treasurer of Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter—and also of the Royal Masonic Bene volent Institution and , of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , being also the bankers for the
Boys' School . The various amounts now lying in the bank , and which for thc moment are lost to the Order , amount in the whole to £ 6600 , which are divided as follows : —Grand Lodge and Chapter £ 4000 , Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution ^ 1000 , and the Boys' School £ 1600 . The Girls' School is in debt to its Treasurer , on a snecial advance , of about ^ , 3000 .
The following official proceedings took place in the Bankruptcy Court on Friday * — " In re Willis , Pereival , and Co . " The debtors , who are bankers , carrying on business at 76 , Lombard-street , have presented
a p *; tition for liquidation , estimating their joint liabilities at , ' £ ' 6 50 , 000 . Mr . W . F . Baker , for the debtors , and with the concurrence of several of the principal creditors , applied that Mr . W . Turquand , accountant , should be appointed receiver and manager .
From the evidence it appeared that ^ 24 , 300 of the liabilities arose upon acceptances against securities held by the debtors , and the bulk of the residue consisted of amounts due to customers of the bank , about 600 in number . The assets comprised cash and drafts in hand , cB \ -J . ooo
balance at the Bank of England ) £ 38 , ooo ; bills of exchange discounted , £ 40 , 000 ; and of a sum of about £ ' 435 , , due from customers in respect of loans and overdrawn accounts , with and without securities . The debtors stated that they had also about £ 40 , 000 India Four per cent , bonds
under advance , with a margin of 4 ^ 1 , 300 in their favour ; there are other securities subject to loans . Apart from the £ 435 , 003 , the debtors returned other debts amounting to £ 115 , 000 , of which the value was very doubtful , but from the separate estates a surplus would probably arise .
It appeared that the business , which had been carried on for upwards of 150 years , was of a very extensive and miscellaneous character . His Honour granted the application . All our brethren will feel alike the serious
position in which the Craft is placed , but all will extend their fraternal sympathy to our late respected and kindl y Grand Treasurer , who has for years merited and obtained the good opinion of all his brethren .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of ehe opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . 1
FREEMASONRY IN JAMAICA—THE NEW THEORY . To the Editor cf the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother— , My attention has been called to a report , which appeared in your columns on the 29 th December last , page 5 84 , from "A Young Master Mason , " of alecturewhich
I recently delivered before the Glenlyon Lodge in this city . The report , as he truly expressed it , is indeed but a " rough outline , " whilst he appeared to have entirely overlooked the fact that thc purport of the lecture was as much to exe-nplify the purity and beauty of our English ritual as to offer a key to the plan of Freemasonry . Throughout the lecture comparisons were made between our system
and that which prevails in the United States , —bringing out the various discrepancies and irregularities of the American ritual . Now , although we may contend that our ritual is the very best in the world , I think it would bc very difficult to prove this to any foreign brother , unless we are prepared to shew to him that our ritual is based on a well-defined
system . In the United States , thc working tools of the First and thc Third Degrees arc not entirely like our own , nor do the secrets correspond exactly with ours . In your editorial note , you stited that "' able and eloquent as no doubt Bro . Burger ' s lecture is , it is not , it is right to remark , altogether a new or original theory , and we feel pretty sure that the Emulation Lodge will say that they
prefer quieta non movcrc . We think that there is great clanger in philosophising too much in respect of the simple system of Freemasonry , and we prefer the older system of exposition , tec . " Let me first inform you that I care not for Masonic fame at all , as the brethren in this community know too well j jet as I elrsirc that English Freemasonry should
stand on something better than its simplicity , permit me to reply to your remarks ; When you assert that my theory is not altogether new , I suppose you mean that others before this have , in a general way , called Freemasonry a philosophical institution , and some brethren have even written on the Philosophy of Masonry . But my lecture did not aim at establishing
our order as a philosophy of itself—hut as an order founded on the well recognised principles of ancient philosophy —not on thc aimless theories which spring from the pcrfcrvid brains of our foreign brethren across the Channel . 1 think then that my theory is new and oiiginal ; but i £ you deny this , do me the favour lo indicate the book in which any theory similar to mine has been submitted to
the Masonic world . Perhaps 1 may not possess the work , will you then add to your kindness by quoting the text , giving likewise thc page on which thc theory is advanced , for I am not too old tj learn . Of course you will not refer me to thc " Cours Philosophiquc" of Ragon , nor to the " Croix Philosophiquc " of Chercau , anel least of all to those puerilities called " Knights of the Sun " and
" Knights of the East and West . " As to thc " great danger in philosophising too much , " I grant you that by accepting thc term philosophy in its present Gallic sense there is very J great danger of rendering Freemasonry , what it is fast becoming in France—a godless system ! but I contend that thc theory I advance , if it hacl been hitherto known , would have save ! us from thc scandal which the Grind Orients of France and
Belgium have committed . J rue philosophy , divided into its three original branches—Natural , Moral , and Spiritual—harmonises with all the deductions of science , the teachings of morality , and thc esscnrial doctrines of religion . Freemasonry founded on philosophy such as this , can hold its own—on any other bisis , in this progressive age , it is liable to many vicissitudes .
Our worthy and talented Bro . Findel writes thus in his " History " on this subject : — " Whether the fraternity of Freemasons enjoys in this nineteenth century that consideration warranted by thc important era in which wc live , whether , indeed , it is capable of continuing to exist , is a question not only started by non-Masons and opponents of the Society , but by members themselves . And though the latlcr may not positively reply in the negative , as do
the former , yet are Freemasons generally most determined and unanimous in their conviction that a thorough reform is imp'rativcly necessary . " ( 1 st Ed ., p . 541 . ) Our tcxt-bcoks declare that " Masonry is a progressive science . " As this is so , why should any brother rest content with the " older system of Exposition , " Krc , and be left behind with the age ? Were our ancestors satisfied with " quieta non movere ? " Were Desaguliers and Anderson?—were Clare and Manningham?—were Calcott and
Hutchinson?—were Dunckerly and Preston?—were Shadbolt and Hemming ? Certainly not 1 Dr . Oliver has recorded in his " Discrepancies" ( page 131 ) , that eight revisions of our ritual were made in eighty years . Our ritual is beautiful—it is more than this—I believe it to be the purest and the best , but to regard it as having reached perfection is taking thc first step towards making it a fossil .
I am a conservative in all that I believe to be good and useful , but I am also a progressionist for thc perpetuation of our beautiful Order . The age is advancing , and if we do not advance with it , we shall certainly bc left behind . There are points that we dare not meddle with ,
nevertheless , newer expositions are called for , or the result will be , that the best minds will not cultivate our " peculiar system . " All intelligent brethren should carefully peruse trie second chapter of Dr . Oliver ' s " Discrepancies . "