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Article Original Correspondence. ← Page 3 of 3 Article Original Correspondence. Page 3 of 3 Article Original Correspondence. Page 3 of 3 Article LEEDS MASONIC EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
P ,-. nus offence cannot be punished until the necessary ?" 1 ies have been used to afford him a full anel fair "Ltunity of defending himself before his peers , anel in ° PI rZL of his accuser ; that would be a stretch of '' , vhich no Ma-onic law can justify . Every step K'TL iil ' en to criminate a brother must be done openly , ^ . without disguise . The charge must be preferreel in torwaracci eeie
» . V „ signed by the accuser , and ee . occ-Wf of the lod <* c , whose duty it is , in concurrence with . Master to furnish the accused brother with a copy of , i rhirws against him , accompanied by a notice of the I , which has been appointed for investigating the case , , v . n-nv either be at a regular lodge or one of emcrwhich nia > < ¦ " ¦» - ¦ , .. „„„ , i ;„_ ..,,,.. , i „„ ht to be fixed for distant day
• hut it oug some , "TT ' the iccused brother may have sufficient time to col-1 t his evidence , and prepare for his defence . The special i ess 'hould be distinctly stated in the summons , and "' -lminalion of witnesses can possibly be allowed , ex" ° t hi the presence of him who brought the charge and
h ' 7 l have not received from the Secretary of Mark Grand I |< re ' or cf any ether Mark Lodge , any copy of any harge brought against me , nor any notice of a day appointed for its investigation . ) _ A ain " Accoriling to the terms of that sound maxim of oifr own jurists , ' nemo bis puniatur pro eadem delicto ;' can he be responsible to any one tribunal for a crime
mr committed in another . " I It has yet to be proved that I have committed any ' crime , " yet the Mark authorities have expelled mc for neglecting to obey ( he summons of another body , claiming to be not a Masonic body , anel which then had no authority over mc . ) A « ain . " We enter on the subject of expulsion with
undisguised reluctance , entertaining , as we do , considerable doubts whether it is cither prudent or politic lo resort to it unrler any circumstances ; for in the very few instances where it has been inflicteel , there appear to have been sound reasons for supposing that it was the result of a cry raised to the prejudice of some individual brother , who
had actually rendered good service to the Order , as in the case of the celebrated Preston , who ought to have been advanced to ihe highest honours , instead of being made the victim of party feeling which placed him under the ban of Grand Lodge , and ended in his expulsion . Our scruples are established by this instance , for after the lapse
of a few years , a new dynasty having succeeded to power , all the former proceedings against Preston were rescinded , and he was voluntarily and triumphantly restored to all his Masonic honours and privileges . " ... " The credit and stability of the Craft are vindicated in the fact that the power of expulsion and restoration is vested in the
Grand Loilge alone . . . . Happily , the Granrl Lodge itself is incapable of inflicting this severe penally until after the offending brother shall have not only been furnished with an ample opportunity to show cause why such sentence should not be recorded and enforced , but shall have utierly failed to substantiate his innocence to the satisfaction of Ihe brethren . "
The Mark Master Masons claim to be a Masonic body ; their Constitutions are modelleel on those of the Craft , yet the Mark Master Masons ignore the law which Dr . Oliver says " is consistent with reason and justice , and in strict accordance with the principles of British jurisprudence . " Faithfully yours , CHAS . J . BURGESS .
PRINCE HUMBERT AND PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON . Dear Bro . Woodford , — I enclose a letter in Italian , together with the translation , which will answer your question of a few days ago , and which I shall be glad if you will give full
prominence to in the Freemason . I am , dear Bro . Woodford , yours truly and fraternally , J . C . PARKINSON . 23 , Great George-street , Westminster , London , S . W ., ist Feb ., 1877 .
Roma , 29 Gen ., 1877 . Gentile Signore J . Parkinson , — 1 ' utto in che qui e ditto relativeamcnte all ' iniziazioni del Principe Imperiale nclla Massoneria Italiana e assolutamente falso . Viprego di mettcrein avvertenza la frattelanza Inglese . Fraternamente , V . F ., GIUSEPPE MAZZONI .
TRANSLATION . Home , Jan . 29 th , 1877 . Dear Brother Parkinson , — All that is said in the Ifeslminster Gazette as to the initiation of the Prince Imperial by Prince Humbert in Italian Masonry is absolutely false . I beg you kindly to convey this to the English brethren .
Fraternally yours , GIUSEPPE MAZZONI
THE ROMAN CATHOLICS AND FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As a Roman Catholic and a Mason , permit me to give the following account of a conversation which 1 had lately with a deacon of my Church : —
Leaving Venice for Verona , I happened to find myself " 1 a smoking carriage , and this rev . gentleman , amongst others , being one . He kept at intervals perusing his breviary , or some kind of prayer-book whilst I glanced ° ver my newspaper . The remainder of our party were
what I am sorry to call a lot of young men , imbibed with what novv-a-days is called " materialism , " and kept constantl y abusing reli gion of all shades and its ministers . 1 felt sorry for their want of education , as well as for their princi ples , and the poor deacon felt b y no means very
Original Correspondence.
comfortable , considering the language which vvas being used . I thought well . _; t am- rale of proving to him that he need fear nothing from me . The rev . gentleman seemed very much relieved , and pieaseel at . itu ! i : ig a frund . After conversing wilh him on casual subjects , lie asked me if I were a Catholic ? I gave him this answer : "I have , sir , been brought up as such ; my ancestors and my family
are such , but I regret to inform you that the Church denies me all privileges or sacraments , if I were to ask them . " To this he at on , ~ e replied , " Oh ! you are a Freemason ?" I answered him simply thus : " And let us imagine I were one , is that the reason why the Church ought to brand me as a renegade : " The rev . gentleman vvas taken aback for an instant , but resumed , " Sir , I see the
difference . I have duly watched your conduct , ane ] the manner in which you have relieved my anxiety inspired by out fellow travellers , surpriseel me indeed ; and if you are what we call a Mason , then I do not know who is ri g ht . " Having received this reply , I cautiously led him to reveal to mc what the officials of the Church told him on Masonry , and I am glad on one hand to si ite that I found him
perfectly in the daik , and secondly I regretted to finel he had been instructed falsely , and most erroneously made to believe that we are no less than . e society of murderers , infidels , and such like , in which case I do not feel at all surprised ( I said ) that you have strict orelers to put us down . " Uut , " added I , "May I ask you if you ever , sir , came in contact with a true Mason ? " " No , sir , never . " "Then
you speak from mere hearsay ? " ' ¦ Yes , sir , that's all . " " Now , permit me to give you some details of what Masonry only auns at , and then please answer me . " I told him our objects in life , and lhat charity was our foundation . After having answered him a few more questions , I am glail In say that the- re-v . gentleman thanked me for the
valuable information 1 had imparted to him , anel he added : ' I am deeply sorry , sir , I had never known the true meaning of a Mason , I regret to have been misinformed , and must say it is very unfair for our superiors to instruct us as they do . " He further in answer to my questions , adtled that there is no obstacle why the Church ought to refuse its sacraments to a Mason if asked . But , added I , now
sir , pray , you have agreed with me , do you do so right from your heart . Certainly , sir ! Well then , I said , priy the next time you receive such Orders to insult from the altar , and accuse Masonry of crimes of which it knows nothing and does not countenance , please act fair and square . He promised me that he shoulel never commit such a mistake again , and begged me to remember that
he acted always according to superior orders . He parted from me at Padua , and hoped to have the pleasure cf a visit from mc some day . No iv , sir , what is to he drawn from this interview . Simply this , that the antagonism of our Church ( I mean mine ) is for selfish purposes . I know for one that from the day I joineel Masonry I never felt my conscience
troubled in the least , so far as all excommunications anel Papal bulls are concerned . And I believe firml y , that many of our timid brethn n , if they only would gather energy and courage , they would not shrink ; and , let me add , that just as well as we have Church of England and other ministers good working Masons , wc could certainly , by a little patience and forbearance , have Catholics . Once
we shall attain this purpose , I am sure that much of bitterness will be relieved , and much good will follow . I regret very much to state that during the many years that I have travelled Europe , anil other remote patts of the globe , I have visited some fine working lodges , and on the hand I have seen much to the contrary , and whichi no doubt , must be detrimental to Masonry at large . In requesting you respectfully to publish this letter , pray
excuse my style of writing ; being an Italian I am cer tainly at a disadvantage in the use of the English Ian guage . Yours fraternally , RICARDO DE VERVEGA , G . O . of France . R . L . Parfaite Sincerite Or . of Marseille . London , 29 th January , 1877 .
MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE , No . 2 . LODGE MEETINGS IN DIFFERENT ROOMS AT THE SAME TIME . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Doubtless the heading of the present division will sur prise many , but it is a fact , nevertheless , that many Wor
shipful Masters are not careful to understand the Constitutions and customs of Freemasonry , and , consequently , often do very queer things . It certainly seems strange how any brother can imagine a sufficient justification for more than one assembly of his lodge being held at the same time , in different parts of the building in which the meetings are holden , and yet I
have kno . vn the matter so little understood , that such a course has been defended , and what is still more to be deplored , actually followed on several occasions . There cannot bc a doubt ( in the language of one of our wellknown and most intelligent Grand Officers ) that " the practice of holeling a meeting with the W . M . in the chair in the regular lodge , and then deputing a Past Master to
open a lodge and confer degrees in another room is utterly illegal . It is , in fact , holding two lodges under one warrant , which cannot be done . " It is to be hoped that the publication of this friendly warning will deter Worshipful Masters from committing such a flagrant violation of the Constitutions , and induce
them to diligently study the laws which they have promised to enforce and obey . The reason for the illegal meetings is of course apparent . The object is to save time , so that when there are several degrees to give , and , perhaps , a banquet is looming in the distance , the brethren are anxious to despatch the work as quickly as possible ,
Original Correspondence.
hence the W . M .,-in the exuberance of his zeal to gra'ify the members , deputes a Past Master to hold a lodge in another room , and there and then , whilst the regular mi'e--ing is bi'ing held , to confer a degree or degrees upon ttie biethren deemeel eligible . There would thus be virtuall y wo lodges working at ihe same time with the one warrant , as already noted , and the illegality is therefore manifest .
The grave error , however , has been perpetrated , so I understand , in several quarters , several times of late , and Ihc end will bc that if such a course is persisted in , the offenders will have to pay the penalties attached to theii transgressions . During the course of my Masonic life I have heard of such extraordinary faiv . ies and doings of Masters of lodges ,
lhat my experience warrants a belief in the saying that "Truth is stranger than fiction , " and confirms me in the opinion that the Masters elect , prior to their installation , shoulel be required to state that they had perused the latest edition of the Book of Constitutions , and were prepared to be tested as to their knowled ge of its ordinary details .
When I know that the Master and several Past Masters and members of a . lodgo were party to a gentlemnn being proposed , seconded , elected , and initiated all in the same evening , it is evident that a Masonic journal is indeed a necessity , to enlighten the minds of many of the brethren , anel impress upon them the desirability of becoming thoroughly acquainted with the laws they are called upon to obey , and may be to enforce . Constitutions and
journals alike are useless , however , unless they are read , and to secure a study of our regulations is the difficulty , when honours are so frequently valued beyond actual Masonic service and usefulness . It is no honour to a brother if he is a Past Master unless he has regularly fulfilled the duties of the chair , and the sooner negligent and inefficient Masters arc estimated at their real worth the better for Freemasonry . Yours faithfully and fraternally , W . J . HUGHAN .
'ART IN HOSPITALS . To the Editor of Ihe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — All who have any acquaintance with the interiors of our London hospitals must have been struck by the excessive dreariness of most of the wards . It is time that this should be remedied . A little energy on the part of a
fewphilanthropists and ai lists , aided by subscriptions from the general public , would suffice to accomplish this improvement . I advocate the brightening of the wards and the cheering of their inmates , by the addition of suitable pictures , plate , bronzes , carvings , bric-a-brac , old armour , china , sculpture , ornamental clocks , fancy glass , tasteful glazed tiles , and other art decorations of all sorts .
To promote this object I will give a hundred guineas . A responsible committee being formed , 1 believe that Messrs . Robarts , Lubbock , and Co . will act as bankers to this fund . Soon I hope that some public place will be granted as a provisional storehouse of anil exhibition for art contributions , previous to their distribution to the hospitals of London . Intending donors , contributors , and subscribers are invited to communicate with
J . LAWRENCE-HAMILTON . 34 , Gloucester-terrace , Hyde Park , W . [ Bro . Lawrence-Hamilton had made at first a condition for his gift , but has since generously withdrawn it , —ED . ]
Leeds Masonic Educational And Benevolent Institution.
LEEDS MASONIC EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
The first annual meeting of the Patrons , Life Governors , and Subscribers to the above Institution , the object of which is the formation of a Charity Fund amongst the Leeds lodges , for the education , partial maintenance , and advancement in life of the orphans of deceased brethren , and
of the children of brethren who have become incapacitated by sickness or accident from properly providing for their families , was held at the Masonic Hall , Great Georgestreet , Leeds , on Monday , the 22 nd ult ., at 7 o'clock p . m ., when the following brethren were elected officers for the ensuing year : President , Bro . Thos . Schofield , P . M . 306 ; Vice Presidents , Bros . Henry Inchbold , P . M . 280 ;
Townsend , 1211 ; Treasurer , Bro . C . L . Mason , P . M . 304 ; Secretary , C . Lowrey , P . M . 304 . Committee of Management : —Bros . Robert Craig , P . M . 304 ; J . D . Kay , P . M . 289 ; R . W . Moore , P . M . 1221 ; J . Chadwick , P . M . 1311 ; Wm . Fleming , P . M . 1211 ; Thos . Crossley , P . M . j ' jn ; G . F . Crowe , P . M . 1211 ; Samuel Stead , P . M . 1042 ; C . G . Cooper , P . M . 1042 ; Alfred Britton , P . M . 1042 ;
J . L . , Oates , P . M . 304 ; James Dixon , P . M . 289 ; J J . Broughton , 1211 ; T . Stockdale , 1311 ; Jno . Bell , 306 Auditors : —Bros . Wm . Warren , 1211 ; F . Dunsford , 306 The following brethren were appointed Trustees : —Bros Jno . C . Malcolm , P . M . 306 ; H . Inchbold , P . M . 289 ; T Schofield , P . M . 30 C ; James Bedford , P . M . v > 4 > Jno
Franks , 1211 . This Institution is intended to supplement the work at present carrieel on by the noble institutions already established in or near London , by extending relief to those children who , by reason of their age or other circumstances , cannot b y any possibility gain admittance into the larger institutions .
It also purposes assisting in a similar manner the children of brethren who cannot , from the reduced circumstances of their parents , obtain a proper education to fit them to take respectable positions in society . Although the Institution is only just established , subscriptions exceeding £ 300 have been paid and promised . and
the promoters are of opinion that they shall be able , for some years at least , to carry on the work of the Institution by means of the annua ! subscriptions alone , thereby enabling them to capitalise the moneys paid by Patrons and Life Governors , or , at all events , without seriously drawing on that fund .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
P ,-. nus offence cannot be punished until the necessary ?" 1 ies have been used to afford him a full anel fair "Ltunity of defending himself before his peers , anel in ° PI rZL of his accuser ; that would be a stretch of '' , vhich no Ma-onic law can justify . Every step K'TL iil ' en to criminate a brother must be done openly , ^ . without disguise . The charge must be preferreel in torwaracci eeie
» . V „ signed by the accuser , and ee . occ-Wf of the lod <* c , whose duty it is , in concurrence with . Master to furnish the accused brother with a copy of , i rhirws against him , accompanied by a notice of the I , which has been appointed for investigating the case , , v . n-nv either be at a regular lodge or one of emcrwhich nia > < ¦ " ¦» - ¦ , .. „„„ , i ;„_ ..,,,.. , i „„ ht to be fixed for distant day
• hut it oug some , "TT ' the iccused brother may have sufficient time to col-1 t his evidence , and prepare for his defence . The special i ess 'hould be distinctly stated in the summons , and "' -lminalion of witnesses can possibly be allowed , ex" ° t hi the presence of him who brought the charge and
h ' 7 l have not received from the Secretary of Mark Grand I |< re ' or cf any ether Mark Lodge , any copy of any harge brought against me , nor any notice of a day appointed for its investigation . ) _ A ain " Accoriling to the terms of that sound maxim of oifr own jurists , ' nemo bis puniatur pro eadem delicto ;' can he be responsible to any one tribunal for a crime
mr committed in another . " I It has yet to be proved that I have committed any ' crime , " yet the Mark authorities have expelled mc for neglecting to obey ( he summons of another body , claiming to be not a Masonic body , anel which then had no authority over mc . ) A « ain . " We enter on the subject of expulsion with
undisguised reluctance , entertaining , as we do , considerable doubts whether it is cither prudent or politic lo resort to it unrler any circumstances ; for in the very few instances where it has been inflicteel , there appear to have been sound reasons for supposing that it was the result of a cry raised to the prejudice of some individual brother , who
had actually rendered good service to the Order , as in the case of the celebrated Preston , who ought to have been advanced to ihe highest honours , instead of being made the victim of party feeling which placed him under the ban of Grand Lodge , and ended in his expulsion . Our scruples are established by this instance , for after the lapse
of a few years , a new dynasty having succeeded to power , all the former proceedings against Preston were rescinded , and he was voluntarily and triumphantly restored to all his Masonic honours and privileges . " ... " The credit and stability of the Craft are vindicated in the fact that the power of expulsion and restoration is vested in the
Grand Loilge alone . . . . Happily , the Granrl Lodge itself is incapable of inflicting this severe penally until after the offending brother shall have not only been furnished with an ample opportunity to show cause why such sentence should not be recorded and enforced , but shall have utierly failed to substantiate his innocence to the satisfaction of Ihe brethren . "
The Mark Master Masons claim to be a Masonic body ; their Constitutions are modelleel on those of the Craft , yet the Mark Master Masons ignore the law which Dr . Oliver says " is consistent with reason and justice , and in strict accordance with the principles of British jurisprudence . " Faithfully yours , CHAS . J . BURGESS .
PRINCE HUMBERT AND PRINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON . Dear Bro . Woodford , — I enclose a letter in Italian , together with the translation , which will answer your question of a few days ago , and which I shall be glad if you will give full
prominence to in the Freemason . I am , dear Bro . Woodford , yours truly and fraternally , J . C . PARKINSON . 23 , Great George-street , Westminster , London , S . W ., ist Feb ., 1877 .
Roma , 29 Gen ., 1877 . Gentile Signore J . Parkinson , — 1 ' utto in che qui e ditto relativeamcnte all ' iniziazioni del Principe Imperiale nclla Massoneria Italiana e assolutamente falso . Viprego di mettcrein avvertenza la frattelanza Inglese . Fraternamente , V . F ., GIUSEPPE MAZZONI .
TRANSLATION . Home , Jan . 29 th , 1877 . Dear Brother Parkinson , — All that is said in the Ifeslminster Gazette as to the initiation of the Prince Imperial by Prince Humbert in Italian Masonry is absolutely false . I beg you kindly to convey this to the English brethren .
Fraternally yours , GIUSEPPE MAZZONI
THE ROMAN CATHOLICS AND FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As a Roman Catholic and a Mason , permit me to give the following account of a conversation which 1 had lately with a deacon of my Church : —
Leaving Venice for Verona , I happened to find myself " 1 a smoking carriage , and this rev . gentleman , amongst others , being one . He kept at intervals perusing his breviary , or some kind of prayer-book whilst I glanced ° ver my newspaper . The remainder of our party were
what I am sorry to call a lot of young men , imbibed with what novv-a-days is called " materialism , " and kept constantl y abusing reli gion of all shades and its ministers . 1 felt sorry for their want of education , as well as for their princi ples , and the poor deacon felt b y no means very
Original Correspondence.
comfortable , considering the language which vvas being used . I thought well . _; t am- rale of proving to him that he need fear nothing from me . The rev . gentleman seemed very much relieved , and pieaseel at . itu ! i : ig a frund . After conversing wilh him on casual subjects , lie asked me if I were a Catholic ? I gave him this answer : "I have , sir , been brought up as such ; my ancestors and my family
are such , but I regret to inform you that the Church denies me all privileges or sacraments , if I were to ask them . " To this he at on , ~ e replied , " Oh ! you are a Freemason ?" I answered him simply thus : " And let us imagine I were one , is that the reason why the Church ought to brand me as a renegade : " The rev . gentleman vvas taken aback for an instant , but resumed , " Sir , I see the
difference . I have duly watched your conduct , ane ] the manner in which you have relieved my anxiety inspired by out fellow travellers , surpriseel me indeed ; and if you are what we call a Mason , then I do not know who is ri g ht . " Having received this reply , I cautiously led him to reveal to mc what the officials of the Church told him on Masonry , and I am glad on one hand to si ite that I found him
perfectly in the daik , and secondly I regretted to finel he had been instructed falsely , and most erroneously made to believe that we are no less than . e society of murderers , infidels , and such like , in which case I do not feel at all surprised ( I said ) that you have strict orelers to put us down . " Uut , " added I , "May I ask you if you ever , sir , came in contact with a true Mason ? " " No , sir , never . " "Then
you speak from mere hearsay ? " ' ¦ Yes , sir , that's all . " " Now , permit me to give you some details of what Masonry only auns at , and then please answer me . " I told him our objects in life , and lhat charity was our foundation . After having answered him a few more questions , I am glail In say that the- re-v . gentleman thanked me for the
valuable information 1 had imparted to him , anel he added : ' I am deeply sorry , sir , I had never known the true meaning of a Mason , I regret to have been misinformed , and must say it is very unfair for our superiors to instruct us as they do . " He further in answer to my questions , adtled that there is no obstacle why the Church ought to refuse its sacraments to a Mason if asked . But , added I , now
sir , pray , you have agreed with me , do you do so right from your heart . Certainly , sir ! Well then , I said , priy the next time you receive such Orders to insult from the altar , and accuse Masonry of crimes of which it knows nothing and does not countenance , please act fair and square . He promised me that he shoulel never commit such a mistake again , and begged me to remember that
he acted always according to superior orders . He parted from me at Padua , and hoped to have the pleasure cf a visit from mc some day . No iv , sir , what is to he drawn from this interview . Simply this , that the antagonism of our Church ( I mean mine ) is for selfish purposes . I know for one that from the day I joineel Masonry I never felt my conscience
troubled in the least , so far as all excommunications anel Papal bulls are concerned . And I believe firml y , that many of our timid brethn n , if they only would gather energy and courage , they would not shrink ; and , let me add , that just as well as we have Church of England and other ministers good working Masons , wc could certainly , by a little patience and forbearance , have Catholics . Once
we shall attain this purpose , I am sure that much of bitterness will be relieved , and much good will follow . I regret very much to state that during the many years that I have travelled Europe , anil other remote patts of the globe , I have visited some fine working lodges , and on the hand I have seen much to the contrary , and whichi no doubt , must be detrimental to Masonry at large . In requesting you respectfully to publish this letter , pray
excuse my style of writing ; being an Italian I am cer tainly at a disadvantage in the use of the English Ian guage . Yours fraternally , RICARDO DE VERVEGA , G . O . of France . R . L . Parfaite Sincerite Or . of Marseille . London , 29 th January , 1877 .
MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE , No . 2 . LODGE MEETINGS IN DIFFERENT ROOMS AT THE SAME TIME . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Doubtless the heading of the present division will sur prise many , but it is a fact , nevertheless , that many Wor
shipful Masters are not careful to understand the Constitutions and customs of Freemasonry , and , consequently , often do very queer things . It certainly seems strange how any brother can imagine a sufficient justification for more than one assembly of his lodge being held at the same time , in different parts of the building in which the meetings are holden , and yet I
have kno . vn the matter so little understood , that such a course has been defended , and what is still more to be deplored , actually followed on several occasions . There cannot bc a doubt ( in the language of one of our wellknown and most intelligent Grand Officers ) that " the practice of holeling a meeting with the W . M . in the chair in the regular lodge , and then deputing a Past Master to
open a lodge and confer degrees in another room is utterly illegal . It is , in fact , holding two lodges under one warrant , which cannot be done . " It is to be hoped that the publication of this friendly warning will deter Worshipful Masters from committing such a flagrant violation of the Constitutions , and induce
them to diligently study the laws which they have promised to enforce and obey . The reason for the illegal meetings is of course apparent . The object is to save time , so that when there are several degrees to give , and , perhaps , a banquet is looming in the distance , the brethren are anxious to despatch the work as quickly as possible ,
Original Correspondence.
hence the W . M .,-in the exuberance of his zeal to gra'ify the members , deputes a Past Master to hold a lodge in another room , and there and then , whilst the regular mi'e--ing is bi'ing held , to confer a degree or degrees upon ttie biethren deemeel eligible . There would thus be virtuall y wo lodges working at ihe same time with the one warrant , as already noted , and the illegality is therefore manifest .
The grave error , however , has been perpetrated , so I understand , in several quarters , several times of late , and Ihc end will bc that if such a course is persisted in , the offenders will have to pay the penalties attached to theii transgressions . During the course of my Masonic life I have heard of such extraordinary faiv . ies and doings of Masters of lodges ,
lhat my experience warrants a belief in the saying that "Truth is stranger than fiction , " and confirms me in the opinion that the Masters elect , prior to their installation , shoulel be required to state that they had perused the latest edition of the Book of Constitutions , and were prepared to be tested as to their knowled ge of its ordinary details .
When I know that the Master and several Past Masters and members of a . lodgo were party to a gentlemnn being proposed , seconded , elected , and initiated all in the same evening , it is evident that a Masonic journal is indeed a necessity , to enlighten the minds of many of the brethren , anel impress upon them the desirability of becoming thoroughly acquainted with the laws they are called upon to obey , and may be to enforce . Constitutions and
journals alike are useless , however , unless they are read , and to secure a study of our regulations is the difficulty , when honours are so frequently valued beyond actual Masonic service and usefulness . It is no honour to a brother if he is a Past Master unless he has regularly fulfilled the duties of the chair , and the sooner negligent and inefficient Masters arc estimated at their real worth the better for Freemasonry . Yours faithfully and fraternally , W . J . HUGHAN .
'ART IN HOSPITALS . To the Editor of Ihe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — All who have any acquaintance with the interiors of our London hospitals must have been struck by the excessive dreariness of most of the wards . It is time that this should be remedied . A little energy on the part of a
fewphilanthropists and ai lists , aided by subscriptions from the general public , would suffice to accomplish this improvement . I advocate the brightening of the wards and the cheering of their inmates , by the addition of suitable pictures , plate , bronzes , carvings , bric-a-brac , old armour , china , sculpture , ornamental clocks , fancy glass , tasteful glazed tiles , and other art decorations of all sorts .
To promote this object I will give a hundred guineas . A responsible committee being formed , 1 believe that Messrs . Robarts , Lubbock , and Co . will act as bankers to this fund . Soon I hope that some public place will be granted as a provisional storehouse of anil exhibition for art contributions , previous to their distribution to the hospitals of London . Intending donors , contributors , and subscribers are invited to communicate with
J . LAWRENCE-HAMILTON . 34 , Gloucester-terrace , Hyde Park , W . [ Bro . Lawrence-Hamilton had made at first a condition for his gift , but has since generously withdrawn it , —ED . ]
Leeds Masonic Educational And Benevolent Institution.
LEEDS MASONIC EDUCATIONAL AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .
The first annual meeting of the Patrons , Life Governors , and Subscribers to the above Institution , the object of which is the formation of a Charity Fund amongst the Leeds lodges , for the education , partial maintenance , and advancement in life of the orphans of deceased brethren , and
of the children of brethren who have become incapacitated by sickness or accident from properly providing for their families , was held at the Masonic Hall , Great Georgestreet , Leeds , on Monday , the 22 nd ult ., at 7 o'clock p . m ., when the following brethren were elected officers for the ensuing year : President , Bro . Thos . Schofield , P . M . 306 ; Vice Presidents , Bros . Henry Inchbold , P . M . 280 ;
Townsend , 1211 ; Treasurer , Bro . C . L . Mason , P . M . 304 ; Secretary , C . Lowrey , P . M . 304 . Committee of Management : —Bros . Robert Craig , P . M . 304 ; J . D . Kay , P . M . 289 ; R . W . Moore , P . M . 1221 ; J . Chadwick , P . M . 1311 ; Wm . Fleming , P . M . 1211 ; Thos . Crossley , P . M . j ' jn ; G . F . Crowe , P . M . 1211 ; Samuel Stead , P . M . 1042 ; C . G . Cooper , P . M . 1042 ; Alfred Britton , P . M . 1042 ;
J . L . , Oates , P . M . 304 ; James Dixon , P . M . 289 ; J J . Broughton , 1211 ; T . Stockdale , 1311 ; Jno . Bell , 306 Auditors : —Bros . Wm . Warren , 1211 ; F . Dunsford , 306 The following brethren were appointed Trustees : —Bros Jno . C . Malcolm , P . M . 306 ; H . Inchbold , P . M . 289 ; T Schofield , P . M . 30 C ; James Bedford , P . M . v > 4 > Jno
Franks , 1211 . This Institution is intended to supplement the work at present carrieel on by the noble institutions already established in or near London , by extending relief to those children who , by reason of their age or other circumstances , cannot b y any possibility gain admittance into the larger institutions .
It also purposes assisting in a similar manner the children of brethren who cannot , from the reduced circumstances of their parents , obtain a proper education to fit them to take respectable positions in society . Although the Institution is only just established , subscriptions exceeding £ 300 have been paid and promised . and
the promoters are of opinion that they shall be able , for some years at least , to carry on the work of the Institution by means of the annua ! subscriptions alone , thereby enabling them to capitalise the moneys paid by Patrons and Life Governors , or , at all events , without seriously drawing on that fund .