Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS 121 United Grand Lodge 122 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 123 CORRESPONDENCEThe Benevolent Institution Festival—A Correction 124 Our Charities 124
The Grand Lodge of Ireland 124 The House of Lennox and Freemasonry 125 Reviews 12 $ Masonic Notes and Queries 12 $ Masonic Presentation to Bro . H . Jell ' s , P . Prov . G . W ., Sheriff of Gloucester 126 REPORTS OF AIASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 127
REPORTS UF MASONIC MEETJXCIS—( Continued 'Instruction 128 Royal Arch 12 S Mark Masonry 129 Red Cross of Constantine 129 Rosicrucian Society 129 Annual Banquet of the Friars Lodge of
Instruction , No . 1349 130 West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution 130 Australia 130 Obituary 130 The Theatres 130 Masonic and General Tidings 131 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 132
Ar00101
THE Quarterl y Communication of Grand Lodge took place on Wednesday last under the presidency of the Earl of LATHOM , D . G . M . There was a very full attendance of the brethren . We specially refer our readers to the
full and accurate account of the proceedings elsewhere , in order that they may realize the various important matters discussed and decided . We congratulate all our readers on the unanimous re-election of H . R . H . the GRAND MASTER .
at * A CHANGE has taken place in the Grand Treasurership , Bro . J DERBY A LLCROFT having been elected by Grand Lodge in the stead of Bro ,
Lieut .-Colonel J CREATON , P . G . D . Without entering into either the policy or propriety of the change , about which we have , in allowed Masonic liberty , Editorially an opinion of our own , we think it right to call attention to the fact itself . # * # THE services of Bro . Lieut .-Colonel J CREATON , P . G . D ., to the Craft are too well-known to require notice or need eulogium . They have been very great , and few brethren have ever done so much in various ways and
under different contingencies to earn the good opinion of their brethren , to extend the beneficent principles , or uphold the living interests of English Craft Freemasonry .
WE are glad to see that the wise proposal of thc Board of General Purposes to reconsider the 800 amendments has been unanimously acceded to by Grand Lodge .
* * IT would have been impossible in one or even several sittings to go through them all , seriatim , and as they deserve a calm and careful consideration we rejoice to think that they are to receive once again the supervision and the sifting of the Board of General Purposes .
IT is impossible , we think , to overestimate the importance of the discovery ofthe entry of a " gentleman " " Freemason" in 1603 . This little fact upsets all previous theories , and demolishes with one stern realism , all
existing lucubrations on the subject . Hence that fact which for some time has been dawning on the minds of Masonic Students in this country , namely the existence of a seventeenth-century Freemasonry akin to our own , will henceforth demand greater attention than has hitherto been devoted to it , and a
less " dilettanti" treatment . At present all that relates to seventeenth-century Freemasonry is in doubt and uncertainty . Very little is known about it . Mystery seems to surround it on every side . Probably the civil wars dealt harshly with all similar bodies , and the fervour , and we must add , the riot of
the Restoration were not calculated to bring back the interest of the student or the statesman to such old associations . We think too the influence of hermeticism may have helped rather to discountenance the mere Craft bodies , as Sir J HEYDON complains in 1667 of " mechanics " having been
taught hermeticism . That however such bodies existed , ASHMOLE S initiation in 1646 , and RANDLE HOLMES ' S declarations about 1670 prove , and PLOT ' evidence is very clear and convincing on the subject , that in
Staffordshire at any rate , if not all over the kingdom , Masonic lodges had existed within and previously to " legal " memory . We await therefore subsequent researches on this subject with interest and hope , and we will add , even
Ar00102
with impatience . We recommend all our friends to imitate the admirable example of our true Masonic Students , not to keep interesting Masonic facts to themselves , but to offer them " pro bono publico" for the edification of the Masonic public , and the assistance of our Masonic historians .
* * BRO . W . J . HUGHAN ' S announcement of the Colne MS . Constitutions will be read with interest in Great Britain , America , and the Canadas . Time was when our knowledge of the old Constitutions or Guild legends was very limited indeed ; now it is largely extended and receiving important additions
year by year . All that has been done only proves , however , how much may be achieved . There must , exist in many old lodge boxes up and down the country many materials for lodge history , many remnants of forgotten MSS , and dusty minute books . We shall never master the real history of
Freemasonry in this country until we can obtain a clear realization of what Masonic documents still exist . Many have been destroyed through the stupidity , or blindness , or ignorance of old Masons ; many still are extant , shrouded in obscurity and weltering in ignominous obscurity , mildew , and decay .
* * IT has always seemed to us a most shortsi ghted policy , a most un-Masonic feeling , to discourage Masonic investigation and thwart Masonic enquiry . As Freemasons we are lovers of " light" as opposed to darkness , of knowledge as antagonized by ignorance . The history of our lod ges in particular
constitute after all the history , by a wonderful paiadox , so to say , of Freemasonry in general , and we cannot understand or develope aright Masonic history at all , unless we really gain and clearly master the authentic annals of lodge life and struggles under favourable and unfavourable circumstances , in all that ebb and flow of prosperity and adversity , success and failure ,
which constitute the unfailing characteristic of the law of existence alike for individuals , nations , and earthly associations . Therefore it is we venture to urge upon all who are in authority to help research and favour investigation . Many a doubtful point in our history , many a hiatus in our annals , many an explanation of what is dubious or debateable , uncertain or
unsatisfactory , will at once become clear , filled up , and intelligible , if only we can see with our own eyes what our forefathers thought and said , wrote and resolved . Lodge minutes , venerable MSS ., Alasonic Constitutions , lodge lists , are all invaluable to the Masonic expert and student , as ( hough in fact the Hebrew or Cuneiform to the " oi polloi" may be full of
meaning to those competent to master these exoteric or esoteric learning . A date , a name , a word , a statement , which most would pass over all but unheedingly , will reveal a great deal to them , inasmuch as it is by these very minutia *; , these apparently incongruous and unmeaning particularities , that the Masonic historian guides his pen , makes good his
thesis , substantiates his position , and renders his argument clinching and convincing . One word of warning we would fain add . Let all writers give the very words of the documents they quote , the MSS . they collate . We do not want the commentaries of the commentator , or the paraphrase or exegesis of the scribe , but we do ask for the " ipsissima verba * " of the
document or MS . itself . It is again only the expert who can rightly judge of the real value of the actual words made use of . A word , the smallest word possible , may convey a great deal , a very great deal , nay , everything , to the practical student ; hence it becomes an unpardonable offence against Masonic criticism to gloss over or record paraphrastically actual MS .
entries and passages . They may seem to have nothing in them of interest or importance , but they have in truth a very startling realism for those who know how to understand them , or possess the key to their interpretation . We therefore , venture to press this subject on all enquirers and all correspondents , and we beg them to give the very words of the MS . they collate , the documents they quote from , the references they bring forward .
OUR readers will have noticed with great regret the announcement of the lamented decease of Bro . HARRISON , Q . C , one of the Grand Deacons . His loss will be sensibly felt by a large circle of attached friends in the profession , and among his brethren in Masonry .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS 121 United Grand Lodge 122 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 123 CORRESPONDENCEThe Benevolent Institution Festival—A Correction 124 Our Charities 124
The Grand Lodge of Ireland 124 The House of Lennox and Freemasonry 125 Reviews 12 $ Masonic Notes and Queries 12 $ Masonic Presentation to Bro . H . Jell ' s , P . Prov . G . W ., Sheriff of Gloucester 126 REPORTS OF AIASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 127
REPORTS UF MASONIC MEETJXCIS—( Continued 'Instruction 128 Royal Arch 12 S Mark Masonry 129 Red Cross of Constantine 129 Rosicrucian Society 129 Annual Banquet of the Friars Lodge of
Instruction , No . 1349 130 West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution 130 Australia 130 Obituary 130 The Theatres 130 Masonic and General Tidings 131 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 132
Ar00101
THE Quarterl y Communication of Grand Lodge took place on Wednesday last under the presidency of the Earl of LATHOM , D . G . M . There was a very full attendance of the brethren . We specially refer our readers to the
full and accurate account of the proceedings elsewhere , in order that they may realize the various important matters discussed and decided . We congratulate all our readers on the unanimous re-election of H . R . H . the GRAND MASTER .
at * A CHANGE has taken place in the Grand Treasurership , Bro . J DERBY A LLCROFT having been elected by Grand Lodge in the stead of Bro ,
Lieut .-Colonel J CREATON , P . G . D . Without entering into either the policy or propriety of the change , about which we have , in allowed Masonic liberty , Editorially an opinion of our own , we think it right to call attention to the fact itself . # * # THE services of Bro . Lieut .-Colonel J CREATON , P . G . D ., to the Craft are too well-known to require notice or need eulogium . They have been very great , and few brethren have ever done so much in various ways and
under different contingencies to earn the good opinion of their brethren , to extend the beneficent principles , or uphold the living interests of English Craft Freemasonry .
WE are glad to see that the wise proposal of thc Board of General Purposes to reconsider the 800 amendments has been unanimously acceded to by Grand Lodge .
* * IT would have been impossible in one or even several sittings to go through them all , seriatim , and as they deserve a calm and careful consideration we rejoice to think that they are to receive once again the supervision and the sifting of the Board of General Purposes .
IT is impossible , we think , to overestimate the importance of the discovery ofthe entry of a " gentleman " " Freemason" in 1603 . This little fact upsets all previous theories , and demolishes with one stern realism , all
existing lucubrations on the subject . Hence that fact which for some time has been dawning on the minds of Masonic Students in this country , namely the existence of a seventeenth-century Freemasonry akin to our own , will henceforth demand greater attention than has hitherto been devoted to it , and a
less " dilettanti" treatment . At present all that relates to seventeenth-century Freemasonry is in doubt and uncertainty . Very little is known about it . Mystery seems to surround it on every side . Probably the civil wars dealt harshly with all similar bodies , and the fervour , and we must add , the riot of
the Restoration were not calculated to bring back the interest of the student or the statesman to such old associations . We think too the influence of hermeticism may have helped rather to discountenance the mere Craft bodies , as Sir J HEYDON complains in 1667 of " mechanics " having been
taught hermeticism . That however such bodies existed , ASHMOLE S initiation in 1646 , and RANDLE HOLMES ' S declarations about 1670 prove , and PLOT ' evidence is very clear and convincing on the subject , that in
Staffordshire at any rate , if not all over the kingdom , Masonic lodges had existed within and previously to " legal " memory . We await therefore subsequent researches on this subject with interest and hope , and we will add , even
Ar00102
with impatience . We recommend all our friends to imitate the admirable example of our true Masonic Students , not to keep interesting Masonic facts to themselves , but to offer them " pro bono publico" for the edification of the Masonic public , and the assistance of our Masonic historians .
* * BRO . W . J . HUGHAN ' S announcement of the Colne MS . Constitutions will be read with interest in Great Britain , America , and the Canadas . Time was when our knowledge of the old Constitutions or Guild legends was very limited indeed ; now it is largely extended and receiving important additions
year by year . All that has been done only proves , however , how much may be achieved . There must , exist in many old lodge boxes up and down the country many materials for lodge history , many remnants of forgotten MSS , and dusty minute books . We shall never master the real history of
Freemasonry in this country until we can obtain a clear realization of what Masonic documents still exist . Many have been destroyed through the stupidity , or blindness , or ignorance of old Masons ; many still are extant , shrouded in obscurity and weltering in ignominous obscurity , mildew , and decay .
* * IT has always seemed to us a most shortsi ghted policy , a most un-Masonic feeling , to discourage Masonic investigation and thwart Masonic enquiry . As Freemasons we are lovers of " light" as opposed to darkness , of knowledge as antagonized by ignorance . The history of our lod ges in particular
constitute after all the history , by a wonderful paiadox , so to say , of Freemasonry in general , and we cannot understand or develope aright Masonic history at all , unless we really gain and clearly master the authentic annals of lodge life and struggles under favourable and unfavourable circumstances , in all that ebb and flow of prosperity and adversity , success and failure ,
which constitute the unfailing characteristic of the law of existence alike for individuals , nations , and earthly associations . Therefore it is we venture to urge upon all who are in authority to help research and favour investigation . Many a doubtful point in our history , many a hiatus in our annals , many an explanation of what is dubious or debateable , uncertain or
unsatisfactory , will at once become clear , filled up , and intelligible , if only we can see with our own eyes what our forefathers thought and said , wrote and resolved . Lodge minutes , venerable MSS ., Alasonic Constitutions , lodge lists , are all invaluable to the Masonic expert and student , as ( hough in fact the Hebrew or Cuneiform to the " oi polloi" may be full of
meaning to those competent to master these exoteric or esoteric learning . A date , a name , a word , a statement , which most would pass over all but unheedingly , will reveal a great deal to them , inasmuch as it is by these very minutia *; , these apparently incongruous and unmeaning particularities , that the Masonic historian guides his pen , makes good his
thesis , substantiates his position , and renders his argument clinching and convincing . One word of warning we would fain add . Let all writers give the very words of the documents they quote , the MSS . they collate . We do not want the commentaries of the commentator , or the paraphrase or exegesis of the scribe , but we do ask for the " ipsissima verba * " of the
document or MS . itself . It is again only the expert who can rightly judge of the real value of the actual words made use of . A word , the smallest word possible , may convey a great deal , a very great deal , nay , everything , to the practical student ; hence it becomes an unpardonable offence against Masonic criticism to gloss over or record paraphrastically actual MS .
entries and passages . They may seem to have nothing in them of interest or importance , but they have in truth a very startling realism for those who know how to understand them , or possess the key to their interpretation . We therefore , venture to press this subject on all enquirers and all correspondents , and we beg them to give the very words of the MS . they collate , the documents they quote from , the references they bring forward .
OUR readers will have noticed with great regret the announcement of the lamented decease of Bro . HARRISON , Q . C , one of the Grand Deacons . His loss will be sensibly felt by a large circle of attached friends in the profession , and among his brethren in Masonry .