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Reviews.
Reviews .
. My Ztfj-z" Zo-z / . ? , a sequel to " My First Love ; " by the author of " George Geith of Fen Court , " " Austin Friars , " & c . London : F . Enos Arnold , 49 , Essex-. street . '
We rise from the perusal of this book with the strong conviction that the writer has acquired a deep insight into the mysteries of social life in our present artificial age , and , moreover , that he possesses the
rare faculty of investing common incidents and ordinary events with the fascinating hues of romance . It is this faculty which lends such a charm to the simple
descriptions of Wordsworth , or the graphic narratives of Thackeray ; and it is a power which , we may venture to say , the author of " George Geith " is likely to develop to a remarkable degree .
In " My Last Love " we have the everyday experiences of English middle-class society . brought home to us , with that mingling of pathos and humour which
imparts an air of reality to the creations of fancy , because it is a true reflex of life itself with its firmament of grief studded with occasional stars of joy .
We anticipate great success for the present volume , which is not only interesting as a tale , but is sure to commend itself to thinking minds as an accurate delineation of thoughts and feelings which seem familiar
to all of us , although the language in which they are clothed is deliriously novel and piquant . We may add that the work , which is . profusely illustrated , is published at the price of one shilling .
Freemasonry : An Account of the early History of Freemasonry in England , with illustrations of the principles and precepts advocated by that Institution ; by Tl-ios LEWIS Fox , C . S ., P . M . 19 , & c . Trubncr , 60 , Paternoster-row ;
Upon opening this work we expected to find something original ; but in this hope we have been very disagreeabl y disappointed . There is hardly a page which , by the utmost stretch of complaisance , can be
fairly attributed to the author , or , we should rather say , the compiler ; and brethren who have been accustomed to attend lodges of instruction' will smile at , the pretensions here inferentially . advanced to , the
authorship of many . well-known expositions of Masonic ethics , which were in use long before Bro . Fox was born . At the same time it is but fair to add that the explanations published in the work are among the
most beautiful in the whole Masonic system of allegory and symbolism . We may mention especially the "Six Grand Periods , " the "Five Orders of Architecture , " the "Theological" and the " Cardinal Virtues , "
the " Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences , " all of which arc given at full length , although the propriety of having printed them is somewhat questionable . Upon the historical part we need only remark that
assertions at this , time of day , that Freemasonry began in England in 287 , under Carausius , will scarcel y be accepted as gospel , nor yet the myth that St . Swithin was " Grand
Master" in 857 , For the reasons stated , however , the book will well repay perusal b y those who appreciate those beautiful descriptive pieces which abound in the Masonic lectures .
LORD ELIOT , Past G . Warden , tjie eldest son of the Earl of St . Germans , is to be raised to the House of Lords , where he will sit for the hereditary barony of Eliot .
The "Henry Price" Controversy.
THE "HENRY PRICE" CONTROVERSY .
. There has never been an inquiry conducted with respect to any disputed point on Freemasonry with more energy , care , and talent than in reference to the claims of Bro . Henry Price to be first Grand Master of all America , by Bro . Jacob Norton , of Boston , U . S . The
amount of research and diligence displayed by our worthy brother is truly wonderful , and the information obtained is in keeping with the great pains taken to really decide , at once and for ever , the question at issue by a strict comparison of authoritative documents .
Of course , we do not intend to enter into the discussion . The whole evidence has been carefully printed so far in the columns of the Ameri can Freemason . ( Cincinatti , Ohio , U . S . ) , the editor of which is the well-known Bro . J . Fletcher Brennan , the undaunted advocate of Free
Masonry and . Frcc-Ma . sons , without distinction of creed , colour , or nationality , throughout the world . The old saying , " It is an ill wind that blows nobody good , " has been amply verified by this controversy , as the result is to be seen in the discovery of several old letters relating to the
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , which have for many years been quite forgotten or unknown by the brethren of this large and flourishing Grand Lodge . Bro . Norton has clearly shown that even supposing " there had been no doubt about Henry
Prices legal appointments in 1733 , 1734 , or 1735 , yet in 176 9 our Bro . Price had not a shadow of a shade of claim to the Grand Mastership of any part of America . " Notwithstanding this , our authorities in England seem to have
been quite in ignorance of the facts of the case , and style Bro . Price " Prov . Grand Master for America" even as late as A . D . 1770 , at which time Bro . John Rowe was the Prov . Grand Master , by virtue of a " Deputation " signed by the Deputy Grand Master and Grand Secretary .
The inquiry is so connected with Freemasonry under the Grand Lodge of England during the last century , that the interest in Bro . Norton ' s researches is not confined simply to American Masons—for I make bold to say that no British Freemason could rise from the perusal of the
voluminous details published in the American Freemason without feeling an anxiety to know how the matter will really end , and return to a perusal of the fresh evidence accumulated by Bro . Norton with an ever-increasing interest . Many letters are published written by the
Grand Secretaries of Grand Lodge of England , and also by Bro . Price or his brethren . They pale , however , before the last , issued in facsimile by Bro . Brennan in the American Freemason for July , 1870 . It certainly evinces that Bro . Price had " never been to college ; " but we do not
think that any objection , provided he had been otherwise qualified . The correspondence , however , on the whole , appears to he unfavourable to the claims so often made by Bro . Price as Grand Master of all America , and reveals many strange facts which do not say much for the accuracy of Freemasonry in the last century , even
if we do not speak of a more severe term that would more appropriately characterise the proceedings of some of the leaders of the Craft in those days . The following is a rough copy of the facsimile of the letter by Bro . Price , the proofs of the genuineness of which are given in detail by Bro . Norton : —
Boston , New England , Jan 29 . 1770 . Worshipful Brother . Sir : I Wrote to you in Dcccmbr . Last acknowledging the Receiving your Packet Dated Septr . the Sixth , in which came the proseedings of the Grand Lodge with your favor to me to be Recommended to the Grand Lodge hear in favour of a Royall charter .
I have communicated it to our Brothers in as many Distant Lodges as I can According to the Season of the year When wc are Burried up with Snow . On Friday the twenty-Sixth Instant was our
G Lodge in boston tharc I Laid your Instructions be fore a full Grand Lodge of Brothers after a Debate of Sum time it was unanimously voted in favr . of a . charter which apprehended ncsessary for the Society and with out onit charity could not be
The "Henry Price" Controversy.
carried on with that spirit that was first designed in Masonry . Our brothers of the G Lodge Earnestly beg that you would forward a copie of the Intended or compliatcd Charter to me as Soon as may bee . After that if God bless me I intend for London ,
thare I will Give Grand Lodge a true State of Masonry in America In the meane while I Remain to the most Worshipful his Grace of BeoufortG . M : the Grand Lodge and all the well wishers to a charter thair moste obedient Humbl . Sart . and faithful Brother HENRY PRICE .
We hope ere long to see an analysis of all the letters and other documents discovered by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , as that excellent hrother is well able to do justice to so intricate , yet interesting , an inquiry . W . J AMES HUGHAN .
Freemasonry And The Laws Of The Land.
FREEMASONRY AND THE LAWS OF THE LAND .
Every Freemason is bound by his obligation to obey the laws of the land in which he resides , and every man is bound to submit to the laws of his country , and a Freemason calling himself a Christian is trebly bound . He is bound by the same obligation which rests upon others , and he
is bound by the additional obligation of Christ's command . Nor is he to render obedience only for wrath ' s sake , but also for conscience sake ; not simply that he may avoid penalties , but mainly that he may discharge a duty enforced by Divine authority . It is not simply a crime
to violate the civil law , but it is a sin against God ; and it is a sin , not merely in so far as the particular act may be condemned in Scriptureas in the case of murder , incest , or robberybut it is a sin also on the simple ground of being a violation of public law , and that for the plain
reason that God has commanded submission to the powers that be . The thing required by civil rulers may be in itself a matter of indifference , neither commanded in Scripture nor forbidden , as in the case with many regulations upon the statute-book , but it is not a matter of
indifference whether we observe them or not , when commanded by lawful authority . Some Freemasons seem to think that they may violate a civil law if they think that it does them a wrong , if they suppose that it unduly restricts their freedom ; but this is an egregious
mistake . There may be good reasons for endeavouring to procure the repeal of an obnoxious law , but they are no reasons at all for transgressing it . Never was there a law enacted in any age or country—no , not in the freest nation upon the earth—which was not considered by
numbers of individuals to be wrong ; and if every Freemason were justified in disobeying a civil statute , when he conceived it to be unjust or uncalled for , this would be equivalent to saying that every Freemason was bound to obey only those laws of which he approved . In
short , the bonds of society would be dissevered , and each individual would do just what seemed right in his own eyes In all cases , when charged with transgression , it would be a sufficient defence to say that we considered the law wrong . The law may be wrong—nay , it may do
us a real injustice—but submission is our duty , and that , not merely for wrath , but also for conscience sake . When we are suffering under the operation of an unjust law , we are suffering—if our submission be grounded upon Christian principles—for righteousness' sake , and we shall
not lose our reward . By all honest means procure the abrogation of an unjust law , if you can ; but obey it while it is law , unless the crisis be one of those great eras which occur at rare periods , when the community , as with one soul , feels itself summoned to revolutionise society .
A whole nation , m cases of irremediable tyranny —where , under colour of law , the most grinding oppression is exercised upon all ranks—may , by force , resist and overthrow its government , when it is felt that there is no remedy short of this extreme and perilous expedient . But a
Freemason is never warranted to transgress any law of his country , unless he is prepared to say that obedience to that law would place him in a position of rebellion against God . Remember the obligation , to "obey the laws of the land in which you reside . " CHALMERS I . PATON .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews.
Reviews .
. My Ztfj-z" Zo-z / . ? , a sequel to " My First Love ; " by the author of " George Geith of Fen Court , " " Austin Friars , " & c . London : F . Enos Arnold , 49 , Essex-. street . '
We rise from the perusal of this book with the strong conviction that the writer has acquired a deep insight into the mysteries of social life in our present artificial age , and , moreover , that he possesses the
rare faculty of investing common incidents and ordinary events with the fascinating hues of romance . It is this faculty which lends such a charm to the simple
descriptions of Wordsworth , or the graphic narratives of Thackeray ; and it is a power which , we may venture to say , the author of " George Geith " is likely to develop to a remarkable degree .
In " My Last Love " we have the everyday experiences of English middle-class society . brought home to us , with that mingling of pathos and humour which
imparts an air of reality to the creations of fancy , because it is a true reflex of life itself with its firmament of grief studded with occasional stars of joy .
We anticipate great success for the present volume , which is not only interesting as a tale , but is sure to commend itself to thinking minds as an accurate delineation of thoughts and feelings which seem familiar
to all of us , although the language in which they are clothed is deliriously novel and piquant . We may add that the work , which is . profusely illustrated , is published at the price of one shilling .
Freemasonry : An Account of the early History of Freemasonry in England , with illustrations of the principles and precepts advocated by that Institution ; by Tl-ios LEWIS Fox , C . S ., P . M . 19 , & c . Trubncr , 60 , Paternoster-row ;
Upon opening this work we expected to find something original ; but in this hope we have been very disagreeabl y disappointed . There is hardly a page which , by the utmost stretch of complaisance , can be
fairly attributed to the author , or , we should rather say , the compiler ; and brethren who have been accustomed to attend lodges of instruction' will smile at , the pretensions here inferentially . advanced to , the
authorship of many . well-known expositions of Masonic ethics , which were in use long before Bro . Fox was born . At the same time it is but fair to add that the explanations published in the work are among the
most beautiful in the whole Masonic system of allegory and symbolism . We may mention especially the "Six Grand Periods , " the "Five Orders of Architecture , " the "Theological" and the " Cardinal Virtues , "
the " Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences , " all of which arc given at full length , although the propriety of having printed them is somewhat questionable . Upon the historical part we need only remark that
assertions at this , time of day , that Freemasonry began in England in 287 , under Carausius , will scarcel y be accepted as gospel , nor yet the myth that St . Swithin was " Grand
Master" in 857 , For the reasons stated , however , the book will well repay perusal b y those who appreciate those beautiful descriptive pieces which abound in the Masonic lectures .
LORD ELIOT , Past G . Warden , tjie eldest son of the Earl of St . Germans , is to be raised to the House of Lords , where he will sit for the hereditary barony of Eliot .
The "Henry Price" Controversy.
THE "HENRY PRICE" CONTROVERSY .
. There has never been an inquiry conducted with respect to any disputed point on Freemasonry with more energy , care , and talent than in reference to the claims of Bro . Henry Price to be first Grand Master of all America , by Bro . Jacob Norton , of Boston , U . S . The
amount of research and diligence displayed by our worthy brother is truly wonderful , and the information obtained is in keeping with the great pains taken to really decide , at once and for ever , the question at issue by a strict comparison of authoritative documents .
Of course , we do not intend to enter into the discussion . The whole evidence has been carefully printed so far in the columns of the Ameri can Freemason . ( Cincinatti , Ohio , U . S . ) , the editor of which is the well-known Bro . J . Fletcher Brennan , the undaunted advocate of Free
Masonry and . Frcc-Ma . sons , without distinction of creed , colour , or nationality , throughout the world . The old saying , " It is an ill wind that blows nobody good , " has been amply verified by this controversy , as the result is to be seen in the discovery of several old letters relating to the
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , which have for many years been quite forgotten or unknown by the brethren of this large and flourishing Grand Lodge . Bro . Norton has clearly shown that even supposing " there had been no doubt about Henry
Prices legal appointments in 1733 , 1734 , or 1735 , yet in 176 9 our Bro . Price had not a shadow of a shade of claim to the Grand Mastership of any part of America . " Notwithstanding this , our authorities in England seem to have
been quite in ignorance of the facts of the case , and style Bro . Price " Prov . Grand Master for America" even as late as A . D . 1770 , at which time Bro . John Rowe was the Prov . Grand Master , by virtue of a " Deputation " signed by the Deputy Grand Master and Grand Secretary .
The inquiry is so connected with Freemasonry under the Grand Lodge of England during the last century , that the interest in Bro . Norton ' s researches is not confined simply to American Masons—for I make bold to say that no British Freemason could rise from the perusal of the
voluminous details published in the American Freemason without feeling an anxiety to know how the matter will really end , and return to a perusal of the fresh evidence accumulated by Bro . Norton with an ever-increasing interest . Many letters are published written by the
Grand Secretaries of Grand Lodge of England , and also by Bro . Price or his brethren . They pale , however , before the last , issued in facsimile by Bro . Brennan in the American Freemason for July , 1870 . It certainly evinces that Bro . Price had " never been to college ; " but we do not
think that any objection , provided he had been otherwise qualified . The correspondence , however , on the whole , appears to he unfavourable to the claims so often made by Bro . Price as Grand Master of all America , and reveals many strange facts which do not say much for the accuracy of Freemasonry in the last century , even
if we do not speak of a more severe term that would more appropriately characterise the proceedings of some of the leaders of the Craft in those days . The following is a rough copy of the facsimile of the letter by Bro . Price , the proofs of the genuineness of which are given in detail by Bro . Norton : —
Boston , New England , Jan 29 . 1770 . Worshipful Brother . Sir : I Wrote to you in Dcccmbr . Last acknowledging the Receiving your Packet Dated Septr . the Sixth , in which came the proseedings of the Grand Lodge with your favor to me to be Recommended to the Grand Lodge hear in favour of a Royall charter .
I have communicated it to our Brothers in as many Distant Lodges as I can According to the Season of the year When wc are Burried up with Snow . On Friday the twenty-Sixth Instant was our
G Lodge in boston tharc I Laid your Instructions be fore a full Grand Lodge of Brothers after a Debate of Sum time it was unanimously voted in favr . of a . charter which apprehended ncsessary for the Society and with out onit charity could not be
The "Henry Price" Controversy.
carried on with that spirit that was first designed in Masonry . Our brothers of the G Lodge Earnestly beg that you would forward a copie of the Intended or compliatcd Charter to me as Soon as may bee . After that if God bless me I intend for London ,
thare I will Give Grand Lodge a true State of Masonry in America In the meane while I Remain to the most Worshipful his Grace of BeoufortG . M : the Grand Lodge and all the well wishers to a charter thair moste obedient Humbl . Sart . and faithful Brother HENRY PRICE .
We hope ere long to see an analysis of all the letters and other documents discovered by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , as that excellent hrother is well able to do justice to so intricate , yet interesting , an inquiry . W . J AMES HUGHAN .
Freemasonry And The Laws Of The Land.
FREEMASONRY AND THE LAWS OF THE LAND .
Every Freemason is bound by his obligation to obey the laws of the land in which he resides , and every man is bound to submit to the laws of his country , and a Freemason calling himself a Christian is trebly bound . He is bound by the same obligation which rests upon others , and he
is bound by the additional obligation of Christ's command . Nor is he to render obedience only for wrath ' s sake , but also for conscience sake ; not simply that he may avoid penalties , but mainly that he may discharge a duty enforced by Divine authority . It is not simply a crime
to violate the civil law , but it is a sin against God ; and it is a sin , not merely in so far as the particular act may be condemned in Scriptureas in the case of murder , incest , or robberybut it is a sin also on the simple ground of being a violation of public law , and that for the plain
reason that God has commanded submission to the powers that be . The thing required by civil rulers may be in itself a matter of indifference , neither commanded in Scripture nor forbidden , as in the case with many regulations upon the statute-book , but it is not a matter of
indifference whether we observe them or not , when commanded by lawful authority . Some Freemasons seem to think that they may violate a civil law if they think that it does them a wrong , if they suppose that it unduly restricts their freedom ; but this is an egregious
mistake . There may be good reasons for endeavouring to procure the repeal of an obnoxious law , but they are no reasons at all for transgressing it . Never was there a law enacted in any age or country—no , not in the freest nation upon the earth—which was not considered by
numbers of individuals to be wrong ; and if every Freemason were justified in disobeying a civil statute , when he conceived it to be unjust or uncalled for , this would be equivalent to saying that every Freemason was bound to obey only those laws of which he approved . In
short , the bonds of society would be dissevered , and each individual would do just what seemed right in his own eyes In all cases , when charged with transgression , it would be a sufficient defence to say that we considered the law wrong . The law may be wrong—nay , it may do
us a real injustice—but submission is our duty , and that , not merely for wrath , but also for conscience sake . When we are suffering under the operation of an unjust law , we are suffering—if our submission be grounded upon Christian principles—for righteousness' sake , and we shall
not lose our reward . By all honest means procure the abrogation of an unjust law , if you can ; but obey it while it is law , unless the crisis be one of those great eras which occur at rare periods , when the community , as with one soul , feels itself summoned to revolutionise society .
A whole nation , m cases of irremediable tyranny —where , under colour of law , the most grinding oppression is exercised upon all ranks—may , by force , resist and overthrow its government , when it is felt that there is no remedy short of this extreme and perilous expedient . But a
Freemason is never warranted to transgress any law of his country , unless he is prepared to say that obedience to that law would place him in a position of rebellion against God . Remember the obligation , to "obey the laws of the land in which you reside . " CHALMERS I . PATON .