Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS f' 4 'Die Grand Lodge of Ireland 6 < j Supreme Grand Chapter 6 j Royal Masonic Institution for Bovs 65 The Province of Essex . —Installation of Lord Brooke as Prov . Grand Master ... 65
Provincial Grand Lodge of 1 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 69 Provincial Grand Chapter of Durham 70 Provincial Grand Chapter of Hampshire and Isle of Wight > o West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution 71 Australia 71 Masonic Balls 7 '
CORRESPONDENCERoyal Masonic Institution for Girls 72 Qualifications for the Charities 72 Masonic Good Form 72 Reviews 72 Masonic Notes and Queries 73 REPORTS OF MASONIC
MEETINGSCraft Masonry 73 Instruction 75 Royal Arch 76 Ancient and Accepted Rite 76 Rosicrucian Society 76 Cryptic Masonry 7 6 Obituary 76 Masonic and General Tidings 77 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 78
Ar00101
THE meeting of Grand Chapter on Wednesday was devoted to mere acts of formal prescription , and nothing of importance occured .
* ' * THE proceedings at Colchester seem to have been most effective and impressive , and the large number of brethren assembled to see the installation of a popular young nobleman like Lord BROOKE as PROVINCIAL GRAND
MASTER or ESSEX by H . R . H . the Duke of ALBANY must have gratified our Royal brother and must have been a pleasure to all concerned . Despite the depressing tendency of the weather Masonic zeal and heartiness never grew cold . See a report of the proceedings elsewhere .
* * THERE are now 24 6 Stewards for the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Of these 134 are metropolitan and 112 provincial . Of the latter , 16 come from the CHAIRMAN ' S province , Surrey . We feel sure that before the day arrives the number of Stewards will
be much increased , alike from metropolis and country ; but we press on many good friends and worthy brethren who intend to be Stewards the advisability of sending their names in at once , as an enormous amount of work , labour , and anxiety is cast unnecessarily on the Secretaries by worthy brethren delaying to the last moment the announcement of the fact of their
Stewardship . This delay often necessitates much of the serious work of the Secretariat being done twice over . \* ^ BY a mere accident we learn of the death of Bro . ST . J , late President of the " Conseil" of the Grand Orient , and though unfortunately in the present position of " tension " there is practically little or no intercourse as
between the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Orient of France , ( as how could there be ? ) we do not think it right to overlook the fact , as a fact in the history of our common Order . Bro . ST . J was a very zealous and well-instructed Freemason , a kindly-hearted and courteous man , a skilful physician and a very cultivated and worthy citizen , and greatly
respected in his public duties and the domestic circle . At the time of the " Commune , " when so many French Freemasons forgot their sacred duty , and made laughing stocks of themselves before Paris and the world , it is no secret that Bro . St . J entirely disapproved of those insensate proceedings . His voice was always on the side of order , peace , legality , and had
he been able to have his own way and carry out his own views , many of the later foolish acts and changes of the French Grand Orient would not have taken place . But unfortunately for himself and others French Freemasonry has gradually been drifting into the dangerous " shoal water " of political theories , and freethought discussions , and the " lib res penseurs" and the
" esprits forts " were too many for poor Bro . ST . J , as for many others in France . We only regret for him that his lot was cast in such troublous times . A worthy man and good Mason his influence was always cast into the scale of Masonic prudence . With his lamented death French Freemasonry loses its one great " opposing force " against violent changes and alarming innovations . ^ * *
ONE of the most amusing idiosyncrasies of some members of our excellent Brotherhood is the idea , somewhat prevalent it would seem , of using the Masonic press as a medium for expressing personal views or diffusing personal attacks under the safe obscurity of " anonymity , " to coin a useful and appropriate word . Hardly a week passes , but we have to remind some
sagacious critic or some keen and very personal writer , that we cannot publish any letters in our columns without knowing the real name of the writer , not necessarily for publication , not in fact for publication at all , but as a test of reality , as a guarantee for good faith . We are not among those foolish persons who complain even of anonymous letters . If a Masonic press is to
exist there must be complaints , there must be complainers , there must be those who will write , who like to write , and for whom the columns of a newspaper form the safest outlet for justifiable party grievances , animadversions ,
and even a jaundiced view of men and things . The great difficulty of the Masonic press especially , is to keep the "even mean , " as between lawful and expedient correspondence , the admission and the rejection of communications , which those who transmit them deem of the highest value and
Ar00102
the most Masonic importance . We have often to reject letters because they are according to us too full of ritual details , too personal in tone , marked by a want of due subordination to authority , or displaying a tendency to do more harm than good . And therefore we can only again appeal to-day to the Masonic forbearance and good sense of all our correspondents , asking them to believe that if we refuse their communications admission into our columns it is because for some reason we
doubt their opportuneness or fitness . And we must beg , once more , to impress upon all , that if they kindly write to us they will always provide us in Masonic confidence with their names and addresses , inasmuch as in a Masonic paper above all we have a right to expect , and our readers have a claim to demand , an undeniable guarantee for the correctness of statements made , and the justice of the complaints we may seem to endorse by our publication of them in our far reaching and widely scattered columns .
= s # ANOTHER form of trouble which affects the Masonic editor just now , is the complaint of unjust animadversions . One worthy brother complains loudly that we did not keep out a special letter which attacked him personally , though as we did not know that he was pointed at at all how are we possibly to blame ? Another objects that we allow a special subject to be discussed which he
considers unsuited for our pages . But as we venture not to believe either in infallibility or dogmatism of any kind , we must venture to claim for ourselves a liberty of judgment , and as J EREMY TAYLOR argued , " a liberty of prophesying . " The truth is , that in all these points and many more the whole question is a purely personal one . We who do not affect to deal with such matters at all , we who abominate them , and
are not always , as Dr . J OHNSON liked to say , "looking down for dirt , " we cannot be supposed to understand skilful inuendoes , and words apparently straightforward with an undercurrent of meaning and attack . The great aim of the Freemason has been , while it allows all just and reasonable complaints , fair criticism , and reasonable remarks on current affairs , not to encourage a love of insubordination , or show any favour to any effort to make a party , or lead up to a " caucus . " The true principles of Freemasonry teach
us respect and obedience to the highest powers , and we need not go back many years to realise the fact , that the Masonic Order like all other bodies of men , despite its excellent excellencies , is liable at times to be affected by that wave of morbid discontent or unfitting personality , which every now and then in the history of nations and associations crops up to the surface , and works out , unless happily checked , the greatest annoyance and harm to all concerned .
* * WE are never inclined to lay much stress on an after-dinner speech . It may mean much or it may mean very little , or it may mean and possibly does , next to nothing , and therefore all such must be taken with allowance and received " cum grano . " We shall not be tempted to dilate upon a matter
to which our attention is called in the correspondence column last week and this . We will only remark that it seems to us , that it is absolutely requisite that the greatest courtesy and consideration should be mutually exercized amongst all the officials connected with our great Charities , if that commendable feeling of friendly intercourse and reciprocal goodwill is to be maintained and cherished among them all .
* * WE have been given to understand , that a most foolish statement is assiduously circulating in London , that the House Committee of the Girls' School have ordered silk stockings and patent leather dancing shoes for the girls , We are requested to state distinctly that there is not the , slightest word of truth in the assertion . The calisthenic shoes which have been ordered are
double-soled plain leather Oxford shoes , which the girls can put off after their day ' s work is over , and which will eventually be more economical than the present arrangement . Now the girls receive ' two pair of strong shoes annually , henceforth they will receive one pair of strong shoes and one pair of Oxford shoes . We are very sorry that such a report should be somewhat maliciously foisted on the Craft , though it is almost too absurd to repeat or credit . This assertion can only be made with a wish to injure the School .
* * As regards the power of accommodation at the Girls' School of 25 more candidates , we are authorised to state that it is a complete delusion . The only reason why the Managing Committee did not recommend more candidates to be elected is absolute want of accommodation . A correspondence took place on the same subject in the Freemason about a twelvemonth ago ,
when the real state of the case was clearly pointed out . It is somewhat hastily assumed that because Lyndcombe House was originally estimated to hold 50 girls , therefore that number can be safely accommodated there . We have reason to believe that , according to the latest hygienic principles as applied to dormitories , without additional building and great expense , on more than the present number as proposed by the House Committee can be safely housed in the buildings of the School .
* * MANY of our readers will hear with regret of the death of Bro . GRISSELL . As his name stands recorded at Freemasons' Hall as one of the Building Committee of that goodly edifice , we think it right to mention his departure from amongst us , though his Masonic work has been mainl y confined to his own lodge . He leaves behind many mourning friends .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS f' 4 'Die Grand Lodge of Ireland 6 < j Supreme Grand Chapter 6 j Royal Masonic Institution for Bovs 65 The Province of Essex . —Installation of Lord Brooke as Prov . Grand Master ... 65
Provincial Grand Lodge of 1 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 69 Provincial Grand Chapter of Durham 70 Provincial Grand Chapter of Hampshire and Isle of Wight > o West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution 71 Australia 71 Masonic Balls 7 '
CORRESPONDENCERoyal Masonic Institution for Girls 72 Qualifications for the Charities 72 Masonic Good Form 72 Reviews 72 Masonic Notes and Queries 73 REPORTS OF MASONIC
MEETINGSCraft Masonry 73 Instruction 75 Royal Arch 76 Ancient and Accepted Rite 76 Rosicrucian Society 76 Cryptic Masonry 7 6 Obituary 76 Masonic and General Tidings 77 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 78
Ar00101
THE meeting of Grand Chapter on Wednesday was devoted to mere acts of formal prescription , and nothing of importance occured .
* ' * THE proceedings at Colchester seem to have been most effective and impressive , and the large number of brethren assembled to see the installation of a popular young nobleman like Lord BROOKE as PROVINCIAL GRAND
MASTER or ESSEX by H . R . H . the Duke of ALBANY must have gratified our Royal brother and must have been a pleasure to all concerned . Despite the depressing tendency of the weather Masonic zeal and heartiness never grew cold . See a report of the proceedings elsewhere .
* * THERE are now 24 6 Stewards for the Anniversary Festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . Of these 134 are metropolitan and 112 provincial . Of the latter , 16 come from the CHAIRMAN ' S province , Surrey . We feel sure that before the day arrives the number of Stewards will
be much increased , alike from metropolis and country ; but we press on many good friends and worthy brethren who intend to be Stewards the advisability of sending their names in at once , as an enormous amount of work , labour , and anxiety is cast unnecessarily on the Secretaries by worthy brethren delaying to the last moment the announcement of the fact of their
Stewardship . This delay often necessitates much of the serious work of the Secretariat being done twice over . \* ^ BY a mere accident we learn of the death of Bro . ST . J , late President of the " Conseil" of the Grand Orient , and though unfortunately in the present position of " tension " there is practically little or no intercourse as
between the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Orient of France , ( as how could there be ? ) we do not think it right to overlook the fact , as a fact in the history of our common Order . Bro . ST . J was a very zealous and well-instructed Freemason , a kindly-hearted and courteous man , a skilful physician and a very cultivated and worthy citizen , and greatly
respected in his public duties and the domestic circle . At the time of the " Commune , " when so many French Freemasons forgot their sacred duty , and made laughing stocks of themselves before Paris and the world , it is no secret that Bro . St . J entirely disapproved of those insensate proceedings . His voice was always on the side of order , peace , legality , and had
he been able to have his own way and carry out his own views , many of the later foolish acts and changes of the French Grand Orient would not have taken place . But unfortunately for himself and others French Freemasonry has gradually been drifting into the dangerous " shoal water " of political theories , and freethought discussions , and the " lib res penseurs" and the
" esprits forts " were too many for poor Bro . ST . J , as for many others in France . We only regret for him that his lot was cast in such troublous times . A worthy man and good Mason his influence was always cast into the scale of Masonic prudence . With his lamented death French Freemasonry loses its one great " opposing force " against violent changes and alarming innovations . ^ * *
ONE of the most amusing idiosyncrasies of some members of our excellent Brotherhood is the idea , somewhat prevalent it would seem , of using the Masonic press as a medium for expressing personal views or diffusing personal attacks under the safe obscurity of " anonymity , " to coin a useful and appropriate word . Hardly a week passes , but we have to remind some
sagacious critic or some keen and very personal writer , that we cannot publish any letters in our columns without knowing the real name of the writer , not necessarily for publication , not in fact for publication at all , but as a test of reality , as a guarantee for good faith . We are not among those foolish persons who complain even of anonymous letters . If a Masonic press is to
exist there must be complaints , there must be complainers , there must be those who will write , who like to write , and for whom the columns of a newspaper form the safest outlet for justifiable party grievances , animadversions ,
and even a jaundiced view of men and things . The great difficulty of the Masonic press especially , is to keep the "even mean , " as between lawful and expedient correspondence , the admission and the rejection of communications , which those who transmit them deem of the highest value and
Ar00102
the most Masonic importance . We have often to reject letters because they are according to us too full of ritual details , too personal in tone , marked by a want of due subordination to authority , or displaying a tendency to do more harm than good . And therefore we can only again appeal to-day to the Masonic forbearance and good sense of all our correspondents , asking them to believe that if we refuse their communications admission into our columns it is because for some reason we
doubt their opportuneness or fitness . And we must beg , once more , to impress upon all , that if they kindly write to us they will always provide us in Masonic confidence with their names and addresses , inasmuch as in a Masonic paper above all we have a right to expect , and our readers have a claim to demand , an undeniable guarantee for the correctness of statements made , and the justice of the complaints we may seem to endorse by our publication of them in our far reaching and widely scattered columns .
= s # ANOTHER form of trouble which affects the Masonic editor just now , is the complaint of unjust animadversions . One worthy brother complains loudly that we did not keep out a special letter which attacked him personally , though as we did not know that he was pointed at at all how are we possibly to blame ? Another objects that we allow a special subject to be discussed which he
considers unsuited for our pages . But as we venture not to believe either in infallibility or dogmatism of any kind , we must venture to claim for ourselves a liberty of judgment , and as J EREMY TAYLOR argued , " a liberty of prophesying . " The truth is , that in all these points and many more the whole question is a purely personal one . We who do not affect to deal with such matters at all , we who abominate them , and
are not always , as Dr . J OHNSON liked to say , "looking down for dirt , " we cannot be supposed to understand skilful inuendoes , and words apparently straightforward with an undercurrent of meaning and attack . The great aim of the Freemason has been , while it allows all just and reasonable complaints , fair criticism , and reasonable remarks on current affairs , not to encourage a love of insubordination , or show any favour to any effort to make a party , or lead up to a " caucus . " The true principles of Freemasonry teach
us respect and obedience to the highest powers , and we need not go back many years to realise the fact , that the Masonic Order like all other bodies of men , despite its excellent excellencies , is liable at times to be affected by that wave of morbid discontent or unfitting personality , which every now and then in the history of nations and associations crops up to the surface , and works out , unless happily checked , the greatest annoyance and harm to all concerned .
* * WE are never inclined to lay much stress on an after-dinner speech . It may mean much or it may mean very little , or it may mean and possibly does , next to nothing , and therefore all such must be taken with allowance and received " cum grano . " We shall not be tempted to dilate upon a matter
to which our attention is called in the correspondence column last week and this . We will only remark that it seems to us , that it is absolutely requisite that the greatest courtesy and consideration should be mutually exercized amongst all the officials connected with our great Charities , if that commendable feeling of friendly intercourse and reciprocal goodwill is to be maintained and cherished among them all .
* * WE have been given to understand , that a most foolish statement is assiduously circulating in London , that the House Committee of the Girls' School have ordered silk stockings and patent leather dancing shoes for the girls , We are requested to state distinctly that there is not the , slightest word of truth in the assertion . The calisthenic shoes which have been ordered are
double-soled plain leather Oxford shoes , which the girls can put off after their day ' s work is over , and which will eventually be more economical than the present arrangement . Now the girls receive ' two pair of strong shoes annually , henceforth they will receive one pair of strong shoes and one pair of Oxford shoes . We are very sorry that such a report should be somewhat maliciously foisted on the Craft , though it is almost too absurd to repeat or credit . This assertion can only be made with a wish to injure the School .
* * As regards the power of accommodation at the Girls' School of 25 more candidates , we are authorised to state that it is a complete delusion . The only reason why the Managing Committee did not recommend more candidates to be elected is absolute want of accommodation . A correspondence took place on the same subject in the Freemason about a twelvemonth ago ,
when the real state of the case was clearly pointed out . It is somewhat hastily assumed that because Lyndcombe House was originally estimated to hold 50 girls , therefore that number can be safely accommodated there . We have reason to believe that , according to the latest hygienic principles as applied to dormitories , without additional building and great expense , on more than the present number as proposed by the House Committee can be safely housed in the buildings of the School .
* * MANY of our readers will hear with regret of the death of Bro . GRISSELL . As his name stands recorded at Freemasons' Hall as one of the Building Committee of that goodly edifice , we think it right to mention his departure from amongst us , though his Masonic work has been mainl y confined to his own lodge . He leaves behind many mourning friends .