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Article CHARITY REFORM. ← Page 2 of 2 Article FREEMASONRY DORMANT. Page 1 of 1 Article FREEMASONRY DORMANT. Page 1 of 1 Article THE SECULAR REVIEW. Page 1 of 1 Article THE SECULAR REVIEW. Page 1 of 1 Article OUR GRAND SCRIBE E. Page 1 of 1 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Charity Reform.
according to our laws , into the " close , court" of : i special '' Sub-Committee . " But here , no doubt , is a weakness which , as we have often said , requires attention . The facility with which "cases " o-et on the list , and , above all , the recklessness with which brethren place their names on cards ,
for cases often the very weakest of their kind , is to be much regretted . Perhaps Bro . Simpson can recall such a case . All the other grievances of Bro . Simpson , except the " scenes , " whatever they may turn out to be , resolve themselves into the " old , old story " of " exchange of votes . "
Bro . Simpson and ourselves do not agree on this point , and it seems useless to prolong the discussion , and , therefore , we pass it by , only once more expressing our distinct opinion that " exchange of votes " is perfectly right and , proper , " per se . " As regards " cards , indeed , and the
like , wherever Charity Committees exist they pass away , and if they are wrong , which we do not and cannot see , at any rate they are the excepr tion now , and not the rule , and the expense for them is reduced to a " minimum . " As regards the "sale of votes" we do not know what Bro .
Simpson means , and fear that he has : been grossly imposed on by some one , if he uses the word " sale" as it would be generally underjstood . And then how does Bro . Simpson propose to remedy all those real or imaginary , open or mysterious , grievances ? By having the voting
papers sent direct to the Secretary and then scrtir tinned by a Committee . Well , we can only say , after giving Bro . Simpson a full and patient hearing , that we much prefer the present system—open , honest voting , and " scrutinies " which can be . scrutinized—to " uncontrollable
returns and " irreversible decrees " of " irresponsible Committees and Scrutineers . " We are quite sure of this , that if Bro . Simpson ' s " crude reforms " and " retrograde changes" could be adopted , our excellent Charities would become " standing jobs" and " hateful favouritism . "
Our Charities are now well managed , our voting is open , honest , and above board , if errors exist they can be easily corrected , if wrong is done it can be soon remedied j and , therefore , let us leave would-be-reformers to themselves , and insist upon our Charities being "let alone . "
Freemasonry Dormant.
FREEMASONRY DORMANT .
In France when a lodge is in "non-activite" it is said to be " en sommeil , ( in slumber ) , and such is the normal state just now of Metropolitan Freemasonry , and of a large portion of our English Craft . The lodges meet not during the recess , the brethren are scattered , and even the
' Tyler is off to Heme Bay , with his " wife and olive branches . " For a few months the good old lodge is , as it were , " non est , " its functions ceased , its membership a name . Over are , the gay doings of hospitable symposia , ended ¦ the
pleasant assembly of cheerful associates . The brethren have put on one side their " paraphernalia , " and unless they carry upon their persons some of Bro . Kenning ' s chaste and mystic Masonic " Breloques , " have ceased " pro tern " to own themselves Masons , members of our
great and wide-spread Fraternity . If a curious eye could follow them into their retreats , into their holiday homes , what amusing revelations , what strange discoveries might be made . The W . M . was last seen in a nautical dress talking in correct marine lingo with a coastguardsman at
Weymouth . Our Senior Warden is at " Bel Alp , " using strong language about the snow ; our Junior Warden is in Brittany } admiring Breton lasses and Breton scenery all at the same time . That P . M . of ours , our own dear , musical P . M ., is at Scarborough , delighting several
young ladies at the "Crown , " and our excellent Treasurer is President of the Queen at Harrogate , pleasing all , old and young , with jus unconquerable urbanity . Our Secretary is at Margate , very serious and very didactic with Mrs . Secretary , and both our Deacons are in
PariQ , on the very best of behaviour . As for the rest of the " Father Neptune " Lodge , they are here , there , and everywhere . That rising young Mason , Jorrox , is at Homburg , and Potter is at achwalbach , and Jones is at Ettreta , and Maguire is at Ostend , where his antics in the water have created both alarm and amusement
Freemasonry Dormant.
among the ladies . One or two are in Scotland , and another is ascending Plinlimmon . And so these " disjecta membra " of a very kindly old body have yet , let us hope , once again to be united in the " caldron" of true Masonic fervour . And when we meet again what tales we shall
have to tell , what wonders to recount to one another . How well the " old enemy" slip away as we listen in rapture to stories of adventure , war , and love ; to wonderful encounters , curious episodes ,, and mysterious scenes , and dangerous neighbours ! But , alas , shall we all meet again ?
When we again gather , cheery and kindly , in answer to our good Secretary ' s summons shall we all be together r Who knows ? who can say ? Kind readers , good brethren , who of us all can venture or dare to foresee or foretell when stern " Atropos" shall " snip ' for us the "thread of
life , when ' our " work is ended , when our"last summons has come ? " Hardly a day passes but we see -how the hurrying eddies of the great river of time bear away on its resistless tides the : hopes and fears , the loves , the lives of men ; how young and old alike are swept away , and how that all ends here often suddenly , and sadlv , and
darkly , " ( to lis in our ignorance ) , " like a tale that is told . " Let us hope , when life and activity are restored to our now dormant lodges , that we are destined , in the good-providence of T . G . Ai p ' . T . U ., again to meet in happy friendship and kindly converse , and "genial sociality . once more , the friends of years ,. the tried and the trusty , the honest and the true . —So mote it be I
The Secular Review.
THE SECULAR REVIEW .
This is a weekly paper read by Secularists ; and has recently delivered itself of a "testimony " anent Freemasonry . Not probably that it matters much , one way or the other , but as people like sometimes to hear what their kind friends say of them , our readers and brethren may not be
displeased with us if we let them know what the Secular Review thinks and says" of them . It is always pleasant to realize what value people put upon us , or what opinion they form of u . « , and we can only trust that our readers and brethren will be impressed , gratified , and edified by this
public enunciation of the estimate and ideas of the Secular Reviezv respecting Masons and Masonry . It seems that a " querist" having asked the Editor of the Secular Review for " information as to the advantages likely to accrue to society , and to be hoped for by individuals from
the society of Freemasons , " ( we hope our reader will note the classical language of the querist ) , the Editor , always wishful to impart information , immediately replies to him . Having from " years of observation , " ( pray mark this ) , realized its effects on personal character and in its collective
capacity , " ( there is a haziness about this style of writing which is , as far as we know , specially Secularist ) , the Editor thus incontinently , ore rotundo , delivers his opinion , spins out his explanatory * ' yarn . " In the first place , we are glad to hear that" Freemasonry is quite as
opposed to genuine free thought as any other of the religious sects , " on the evidence of the " Secu larist" himself , for on this point , to us , blame is desirable and praise would be condemnation Long may Freemasonry so continue . " Age has not improved , " the writer tells us , " the morality
of Masonry . " Why should it ? Morality is , " semper eadem , " alone really , and truly , and safely built on the " Word of Truth , " on the " Rock of Ages , " but not on secularism . The writer then proceeds to exemplify his intimate acquaintance with Freemasonry when he tells us
" the principal business of the Craft now-a-days is to eat , drink , and carouse ; they wash down all minor animosities and unavoidable differences of opinion in bumpers of wine , and the complaints of society are lost in the clatter of plates and loyal toasts . " This indeed maybe very fine writing , and probably is , but how far it is from
the truth , taking even a Secularist standard of that virtue and commodity , we pause not here to enquire . Suffice it to say that notwithstanding special and intimate knowledge of Masons and Masonry , ifthe writer gets no nearer "Truth" than he is now he has a long march to make for it , and a very protracted journey to take to reach it . His "Temple of Truth" is indeed " over
The Secular Review.
the hills and far away . " But let us listen a little longer . " Judged from a purely secular standpoint , Masonry becomes a system to regard almost with abhorrence , especially in its initiatory stages . " As the Irishman says , " we are
mighty glad to hear this expression of opinion , as nothing , on the contrary , can be more distasteful or repellant to honest Freemasons than the " secularism of Secularists . " Like all great writers , or rather egotistical propounders of hopeless platitudes or insufferable bathos , and just
now " nomen illis legio est , " the writer winds up with this magnificent but illogical peroration" It is evident that Masonry is a useless and expensive bauble , the grand qualification for advancement in which is money . " This dogma from this " profoundly illuminated ' Grand Copht' of
secularism " is both amusing and astounding . We hardly know which quality preponderates the most in such a statement , ignorance or absurdity . Let us hope that , despite the " Secularis ' t " view , "men" are " better , " and " wiser , " for being Masons , and , though this great authority dubs
Masonry as an idle and mischievous association , " that it will yet outlive the slanders of the mendacious , the complaints of the ignorant , and the criticism of the unjust . It is , however , a very curious fact in the history of'Freemasonry ,
explain it as you will , that these vehement attacks are made upon it just now from the very " antipodes" of all real true "free thought " and "liberty of conscience " and "toleration '' in the world , namely , the Ultramontane and the Infidel schools .
Our Grand Scribe E.
OUR GRAND SCRIBE E .
• ' Our readers will notice with regret the announcement of the absence of our esteemed and excellent Grand Scribe Ezra , Comp . John Hervey , from Grand Chapter on Wednesday evening on account of illness . We shall but echo the
unanimous feeling of our Order when we express our hope soon to hear of his complete convalescence and his return to the duties of that important office he performs so well , to the entire satisfaction of an admiring and appreciative Craft .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in n spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within cerrain necessary limits—free , discussion , ] MR . LABOUCHERE ( "TRUTH ? " ) AND
FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " Fretmason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — E . vuna disce omnes . Tommy Tell-truth'sexposition of Freemasonry in Truth of the 17 th inst . may be verv accurately appraised by the following extract from his pen , appearing in the same journal of this day ' s date .
" The oath of the Grand Arch Degree , by which each member engages to support another , whether right or wrong , ought , however , to be altered , for this might involve obligations inconsistent with the duties of a lawabiding citizen . " It is humiliating to have to trot out a very old Joe for the purpose of illustrating a proposition , but your lay
readers will perceive the point of my protest against belief in this self-assertive , truth-telling writer ' s statements ( those within the light will require no such demonstration ) from the well known anecdote of the correction of the definition of a crab by the Committee of the French Academy by the eminent naturalist Cuvier . The Savants defined a crab triune , as thus :
1 . A fish , 2 . Of a red colour , 3 . It walks backwards . The naturalist accepted the definition as correct with three not unimportant exceptions : 1 . The animal was not a fish 2 . Its colour was not red ,
3 . It did not walk backwards . Now , as the oracular Jack Burnsby would - say , "the bearir . ' s o' this observation is in the application on it . " Take Mr . Labouchere ' s statement . 1 . There is no Degree or Order known as the Grand Arch in Freemasonry . ( Probably the Royal Arch was in the writer ' s mind , but surely this fact is a sufficient commentary
on his assertion that the doors of the Craft are always open to him , because he sometimes " amuses himself by passing as a Freemason . " ) 2 . In the Royal Arch Degree no such oath , or any obligation by any possibility bearing any such
construction , is taken . 3 . Neither in the Craft nor in the Arch are any pledges imposed in any way , however remotely , involving obligations inconsistent with the duties of a law-abiding citizen , and this is the assertion , not of one who has played the impostor for amusement , but of one who has acquired his
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Charity Reform.
according to our laws , into the " close , court" of : i special '' Sub-Committee . " But here , no doubt , is a weakness which , as we have often said , requires attention . The facility with which "cases " o-et on the list , and , above all , the recklessness with which brethren place their names on cards ,
for cases often the very weakest of their kind , is to be much regretted . Perhaps Bro . Simpson can recall such a case . All the other grievances of Bro . Simpson , except the " scenes , " whatever they may turn out to be , resolve themselves into the " old , old story " of " exchange of votes . "
Bro . Simpson and ourselves do not agree on this point , and it seems useless to prolong the discussion , and , therefore , we pass it by , only once more expressing our distinct opinion that " exchange of votes " is perfectly right and , proper , " per se . " As regards " cards , indeed , and the
like , wherever Charity Committees exist they pass away , and if they are wrong , which we do not and cannot see , at any rate they are the excepr tion now , and not the rule , and the expense for them is reduced to a " minimum . " As regards the "sale of votes" we do not know what Bro .
Simpson means , and fear that he has : been grossly imposed on by some one , if he uses the word " sale" as it would be generally underjstood . And then how does Bro . Simpson propose to remedy all those real or imaginary , open or mysterious , grievances ? By having the voting
papers sent direct to the Secretary and then scrtir tinned by a Committee . Well , we can only say , after giving Bro . Simpson a full and patient hearing , that we much prefer the present system—open , honest voting , and " scrutinies " which can be . scrutinized—to " uncontrollable
returns and " irreversible decrees " of " irresponsible Committees and Scrutineers . " We are quite sure of this , that if Bro . Simpson ' s " crude reforms " and " retrograde changes" could be adopted , our excellent Charities would become " standing jobs" and " hateful favouritism . "
Our Charities are now well managed , our voting is open , honest , and above board , if errors exist they can be easily corrected , if wrong is done it can be soon remedied j and , therefore , let us leave would-be-reformers to themselves , and insist upon our Charities being "let alone . "
Freemasonry Dormant.
FREEMASONRY DORMANT .
In France when a lodge is in "non-activite" it is said to be " en sommeil , ( in slumber ) , and such is the normal state just now of Metropolitan Freemasonry , and of a large portion of our English Craft . The lodges meet not during the recess , the brethren are scattered , and even the
' Tyler is off to Heme Bay , with his " wife and olive branches . " For a few months the good old lodge is , as it were , " non est , " its functions ceased , its membership a name . Over are , the gay doings of hospitable symposia , ended ¦ the
pleasant assembly of cheerful associates . The brethren have put on one side their " paraphernalia , " and unless they carry upon their persons some of Bro . Kenning ' s chaste and mystic Masonic " Breloques , " have ceased " pro tern " to own themselves Masons , members of our
great and wide-spread Fraternity . If a curious eye could follow them into their retreats , into their holiday homes , what amusing revelations , what strange discoveries might be made . The W . M . was last seen in a nautical dress talking in correct marine lingo with a coastguardsman at
Weymouth . Our Senior Warden is at " Bel Alp , " using strong language about the snow ; our Junior Warden is in Brittany } admiring Breton lasses and Breton scenery all at the same time . That P . M . of ours , our own dear , musical P . M ., is at Scarborough , delighting several
young ladies at the "Crown , " and our excellent Treasurer is President of the Queen at Harrogate , pleasing all , old and young , with jus unconquerable urbanity . Our Secretary is at Margate , very serious and very didactic with Mrs . Secretary , and both our Deacons are in
PariQ , on the very best of behaviour . As for the rest of the " Father Neptune " Lodge , they are here , there , and everywhere . That rising young Mason , Jorrox , is at Homburg , and Potter is at achwalbach , and Jones is at Ettreta , and Maguire is at Ostend , where his antics in the water have created both alarm and amusement
Freemasonry Dormant.
among the ladies . One or two are in Scotland , and another is ascending Plinlimmon . And so these " disjecta membra " of a very kindly old body have yet , let us hope , once again to be united in the " caldron" of true Masonic fervour . And when we meet again what tales we shall
have to tell , what wonders to recount to one another . How well the " old enemy" slip away as we listen in rapture to stories of adventure , war , and love ; to wonderful encounters , curious episodes ,, and mysterious scenes , and dangerous neighbours ! But , alas , shall we all meet again ?
When we again gather , cheery and kindly , in answer to our good Secretary ' s summons shall we all be together r Who knows ? who can say ? Kind readers , good brethren , who of us all can venture or dare to foresee or foretell when stern " Atropos" shall " snip ' for us the "thread of
life , when ' our " work is ended , when our"last summons has come ? " Hardly a day passes but we see -how the hurrying eddies of the great river of time bear away on its resistless tides the : hopes and fears , the loves , the lives of men ; how young and old alike are swept away , and how that all ends here often suddenly , and sadlv , and
darkly , " ( to lis in our ignorance ) , " like a tale that is told . " Let us hope , when life and activity are restored to our now dormant lodges , that we are destined , in the good-providence of T . G . Ai p ' . T . U ., again to meet in happy friendship and kindly converse , and "genial sociality . once more , the friends of years ,. the tried and the trusty , the honest and the true . —So mote it be I
The Secular Review.
THE SECULAR REVIEW .
This is a weekly paper read by Secularists ; and has recently delivered itself of a "testimony " anent Freemasonry . Not probably that it matters much , one way or the other , but as people like sometimes to hear what their kind friends say of them , our readers and brethren may not be
displeased with us if we let them know what the Secular Review thinks and says" of them . It is always pleasant to realize what value people put upon us , or what opinion they form of u . « , and we can only trust that our readers and brethren will be impressed , gratified , and edified by this
public enunciation of the estimate and ideas of the Secular Reviezv respecting Masons and Masonry . It seems that a " querist" having asked the Editor of the Secular Review for " information as to the advantages likely to accrue to society , and to be hoped for by individuals from
the society of Freemasons , " ( we hope our reader will note the classical language of the querist ) , the Editor , always wishful to impart information , immediately replies to him . Having from " years of observation , " ( pray mark this ) , realized its effects on personal character and in its collective
capacity , " ( there is a haziness about this style of writing which is , as far as we know , specially Secularist ) , the Editor thus incontinently , ore rotundo , delivers his opinion , spins out his explanatory * ' yarn . " In the first place , we are glad to hear that" Freemasonry is quite as
opposed to genuine free thought as any other of the religious sects , " on the evidence of the " Secu larist" himself , for on this point , to us , blame is desirable and praise would be condemnation Long may Freemasonry so continue . " Age has not improved , " the writer tells us , " the morality
of Masonry . " Why should it ? Morality is , " semper eadem , " alone really , and truly , and safely built on the " Word of Truth , " on the " Rock of Ages , " but not on secularism . The writer then proceeds to exemplify his intimate acquaintance with Freemasonry when he tells us
" the principal business of the Craft now-a-days is to eat , drink , and carouse ; they wash down all minor animosities and unavoidable differences of opinion in bumpers of wine , and the complaints of society are lost in the clatter of plates and loyal toasts . " This indeed maybe very fine writing , and probably is , but how far it is from
the truth , taking even a Secularist standard of that virtue and commodity , we pause not here to enquire . Suffice it to say that notwithstanding special and intimate knowledge of Masons and Masonry , ifthe writer gets no nearer "Truth" than he is now he has a long march to make for it , and a very protracted journey to take to reach it . His "Temple of Truth" is indeed " over
The Secular Review.
the hills and far away . " But let us listen a little longer . " Judged from a purely secular standpoint , Masonry becomes a system to regard almost with abhorrence , especially in its initiatory stages . " As the Irishman says , " we are
mighty glad to hear this expression of opinion , as nothing , on the contrary , can be more distasteful or repellant to honest Freemasons than the " secularism of Secularists . " Like all great writers , or rather egotistical propounders of hopeless platitudes or insufferable bathos , and just
now " nomen illis legio est , " the writer winds up with this magnificent but illogical peroration" It is evident that Masonry is a useless and expensive bauble , the grand qualification for advancement in which is money . " This dogma from this " profoundly illuminated ' Grand Copht' of
secularism " is both amusing and astounding . We hardly know which quality preponderates the most in such a statement , ignorance or absurdity . Let us hope that , despite the " Secularis ' t " view , "men" are " better , " and " wiser , " for being Masons , and , though this great authority dubs
Masonry as an idle and mischievous association , " that it will yet outlive the slanders of the mendacious , the complaints of the ignorant , and the criticism of the unjust . It is , however , a very curious fact in the history of'Freemasonry ,
explain it as you will , that these vehement attacks are made upon it just now from the very " antipodes" of all real true "free thought " and "liberty of conscience " and "toleration '' in the world , namely , the Ultramontane and the Infidel schools .
Our Grand Scribe E.
OUR GRAND SCRIBE E .
• ' Our readers will notice with regret the announcement of the absence of our esteemed and excellent Grand Scribe Ezra , Comp . John Hervey , from Grand Chapter on Wednesday evening on account of illness . We shall but echo the
unanimous feeling of our Order when we express our hope soon to hear of his complete convalescence and his return to the duties of that important office he performs so well , to the entire satisfaction of an admiring and appreciative Craft .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in n spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within cerrain necessary limits—free , discussion , ] MR . LABOUCHERE ( "TRUTH ? " ) AND
FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " Fretmason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — E . vuna disce omnes . Tommy Tell-truth'sexposition of Freemasonry in Truth of the 17 th inst . may be verv accurately appraised by the following extract from his pen , appearing in the same journal of this day ' s date .
" The oath of the Grand Arch Degree , by which each member engages to support another , whether right or wrong , ought , however , to be altered , for this might involve obligations inconsistent with the duties of a lawabiding citizen . " It is humiliating to have to trot out a very old Joe for the purpose of illustrating a proposition , but your lay
readers will perceive the point of my protest against belief in this self-assertive , truth-telling writer ' s statements ( those within the light will require no such demonstration ) from the well known anecdote of the correction of the definition of a crab by the Committee of the French Academy by the eminent naturalist Cuvier . The Savants defined a crab triune , as thus :
1 . A fish , 2 . Of a red colour , 3 . It walks backwards . The naturalist accepted the definition as correct with three not unimportant exceptions : 1 . The animal was not a fish 2 . Its colour was not red ,
3 . It did not walk backwards . Now , as the oracular Jack Burnsby would - say , "the bearir . ' s o' this observation is in the application on it . " Take Mr . Labouchere ' s statement . 1 . There is no Degree or Order known as the Grand Arch in Freemasonry . ( Probably the Royal Arch was in the writer ' s mind , but surely this fact is a sufficient commentary
on his assertion that the doors of the Craft are always open to him , because he sometimes " amuses himself by passing as a Freemason . " ) 2 . In the Royal Arch Degree no such oath , or any obligation by any possibility bearing any such
construction , is taken . 3 . Neither in the Craft nor in the Arch are any pledges imposed in any way , however remotely , involving obligations inconsistent with the duties of a law-abiding citizen , and this is the assertion , not of one who has played the impostor for amusement , but of one who has acquired his