-
Articles/Ads
Article Original Correspondence. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 2 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 2 of 2
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
by his acts . " The Volume of the Sacred Law says , " Judge not and ye shall not be judged ; condemn not and ye shall not be condemned . " I remain , yours fraternally , THE EXCELLENT KEY .
ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE AND MALTA . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother . —
In looking over the Freemason of Saturday last , I found a letter from P . E . C , deploring the state of the Order of the Temple , brought about by the recent alterations in the statutes .
As a rule of life , I refrain from and disapprove of others using the ' columns of a newspaper for stating their grievances on Masonic matters , but on this occasion , I am pleased to find that some one has had courage to ventilate the subjectand hope the state and prospects of the Order
will be freely discussed in the columns of the Freemason , the accepted organ of the whole Craft . The letter from P . E . C . will , I hope , be the means of rousing the Sir Knights to a proper sense of duty , and a better knowledge of the Order and the landmarks thereof .
When these alterations were being enacted , I was much opposed to them , and raised my voice expressive of the fears I had for the result , but was overruled and persuaded by those in whom I put my trust , that some good purpose would be served to the Order by the alteration . What
this good purpose was , or whether it has been accomplished , 1 know not . One thing I know , I have had to pay ios . < 5 d . to the funds of the Great Priory for the honour of being installed Preceptor for the year , at the end of which I shall—ifliving—retire with the honours of a full
private—as this office does not carry past rankwhilst P . E . C . —all honour to him , I don ' t blame him—was installed Eminent Commander of his Encampment for nothing ; at all events , he was not compelled by the statutes to pay . The fact is , under the good old constitutions P . E . C . got
past rank and paid nothing , whilst I , under the new , got nothing , and have to pay JOS . < 5 d . for it . Is this the good purpose to be served . I have been a Knight Templar for ten years , during which time I can safely say I have done my duty , never neglected a single meeting of my
Encampment , but have always been ready , willing , and able to do anything for the good of the Order , which I entered in the full belief that it was a part indissoluble from Masonry , and that honours would be conferred on worthy Companions in this , as in other degrees of
Freemasonry . I object to the severance from its Masonic connection , and ; I object to pay fees of honour if I am not to be allowed past rank . If we are to be stripped at the end of term of office , of the stripes and honours gained since the alterations referred to , whilst others who have
gone before are allowed to retain theirs , what inducement is there for our younger members to perserve and follow in the footsteps of those who have been rewarded > The distinctions of Grand Cross and Grand Commander are too scarce ever
to reach me , no matter how I work , in fact , I don ' t aspire to anything so high , but will be satisfied if I can be allowed to retain past rank , and wear the stripes I have honourably earned in the office to which I have been , or may be appointed .
I enclose you copy of memorial , sent to me and every preceptor in the Province of Lancashire , and adopted by the Committee appointed by the Provincial Priory at Preston , to consider the suggestions referred to by P . E . C . I trust you will insert the same for the information , and
if necessary , the guidance of the whole body of Templars , and that they will set to work and not cease their efforts until the prayer thereof be granted , and the obnoxious statutes are repealed . W . DAVIES , Preceptor . September 29 th , 1874 .
The following is the memorial alluded to : — "To the very high and eminent Great Prior of the United Religious and Military Orders of the Temple and of St . John of Jerusalem , Palestine , Rhodes , and Malta in England and Wales and the dependencies thereof . " The humble petition of the Preceptory in the Province of Lancashire , sheweth—
Original Correspondence.
"That your memorialists view with regret and disapprobation several of the innovations introduced into the Constitution and Government of the Order of the recently enacted statutes of the Convent General . They believe that the
changes to which they refer do not tend to the elevation or advantage of the Order , but are rather derogatory to its dignity , destructive of its traditions , and productive of disaffection amongst its members .
'' ¦ They are of opinion that the omission of the defining term " Masonic " from the title of the order is objectionable . In the present day at least , the Order of the Temple is essentially a Masonic Order ; and your memorialists believe strongly that any indication , however remote , of
an intention to dissociate the Ordsr from Masonry would be viewed with equal alarm by Templars and Masons . "They consider the abolition of Past Rank most injurious . It deprives Sir Knights of a laudable incentive to zeal in promoting the welfare of the Order . The possession of Grand
and Provincial Grand Rank , being confined to the year of office , will cease to be regarded as objects of ambition . The abolition of the distinction of P . E . C , and of the privilege of wearing the distinctive insignia of past rank , will also operate as a discouragement to activity in the interests of the Order .
The newly-created honours of " Grand Cross and " Grand Commander " being attainable only at the pleasure of the Great Priory , a door will be opened to insinuations of exclusiveness and favouritism , leading to consequent dissatisfaction . Your memorialists further consider that the
alteration of the titles " Encampment and " Eminent Commander , " to Preceptory and Preceptor , and also the changes in the titles of other officers , as well as of the Great Priory and the Provincial Priory , as of Private Preceptories , although they are stated to be taken from historical authority , appear to be useless and frivolous
innovations , calculated rather to excite ridicule than to elevate the dignity of the Order . "Your memorialists therefore humbly pray that the statutes may be revised and amended with the view of removing the objections entertained by them thereto . "Signed on behalf of the Preceptory , at a meeting held this day of
A . L . 5876 ., A . O . 7 . 5 : 4 , and A . D . 1874 . ( Signed , ) Preceptor . Constable . Marshal . Registrar .
ORDER OF THE TEMPLE AND MALTA IN IRELAND .
To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , While your correspondent " P . E . C . " is waiting for " some one ; in authority " to reply to some of his very pertinent queries , it may interest him to learn that the Irish members of
the Order are quite as dissatisfied with the recent changes as their English brethren , and in fact , are , I fancy , ' more disgusted with results , having special " grounds for giumbling . " Whatever may be the issue in England , it is pretty confidently anticipated here that if matters
continue in their present direction it will soon be a question of revolution or extinction . A very large number of old members have practically withdrawn from active fellowship , having been forced into that course of conduct by the introduction of laws which they will not
submit to . One change which specially affects us here is connected with the " clothing . " The Irish Templars for a series of years past have used the Black Masonic Apron , Gauntlets and Sash , When the union of the two branches was passed ,
a circular was issued bearing the signature of the Grand Recorder , and purporting to explain the meaning of the " Statutes of the Convent General . " In dealing with the " clothing , " that official document stated , " The Insignia and
Habit are altered , for particulars of which see the statutes of the Convent General . All present Knights may , however , continue to wear in their preceptories the dress to which they were legally entitled . " Subsequently the Great Priory
Original Correspondence.
Laws , Ireland , were adopted , and amongst those laws are two , No . 13 , commencing " No Knight under the jurisdiction of the Grand Master , shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the Great Priory , unless he appear in black dress or uniform , and with the sword , tunic ,
and mantle of the Order , according to the Statutes of the Convent General ; " and the other , No . 73 , reading thus , " No Knight shall be admitted to any meeting of Preceptory , unless he appears in the proper costume of his rank in the Order , nor unless he be personally known or
vouched as a Knight Templar belonging to a Preceptory under the jurisdiction of the Grand Master , or under a jurisdiction recognised by the Convent General . Every Knight during his continuance in the Preceptory shall be subject to the bye-laws of the Preceptory . " The first clause of this latter rule is in direct
opposition to the official statement of the 19 th January , and the effect has been most mischievous . The old members who have been , as they consider " sold , " are naturally indignant , being shut out not only from their place in the Great Priory , but also from their own
preceptories , in consequence of [ their not adopting the habit and mantle , which many of them declare they will never put on , and the unfairness of the whole proceedings has already drawn forth a protest from a " Grand Cross" of the Order against the legality of the proceedings of Great
Priory since the exclusion of its legitimate members . Having thus excluded a number of Past Commanders , and thus avoided what might and would , in all probability , have proved hostile votes , a few members of Great Priory passed ,
of course in legal manner , a resulutionto call in all existing warrants , and to replace them " free of charge" by new ones from the new authorities . Our present warrants confer on us the right to work other degrees than those of the Temple and Malta , and the calling in of those
warrants is clearly part of a persistent plan to establish in Ireland a rite which claims control over a number of degrees , and has for years been trying here to put its theories into practice . An attempt to get possession of the "Rose Croix " degree has since been made and defeated . It
will sufficientl y illustrate the effect of the law excluding members of Great Priory not " properl y clothed" from its meetings , when I state that the voters on the warrant question , important as it was felt to be , numbered in all , as well as my memory serves me , fourteen .
Nine for calling them in , and five against . Two points are pretty clearly understood : the brethren at large will not wear the dress , and the warrants will not be surrendered . It remains to be seen what action " those in authority" may consider it prudent to take .
If it be the intention of those " behind the scenes" to distinguish the Order of the Temple in Ireland , their recent actions may have been dictated by " sound policy . " As far as Freemasonry is concerned , it is of very little consequence what the result is , those who were friendly to the
Templar Order as an offshot from the Masonic system , are disposed to look on it now , with its absurd pretentions to a chivalric origin , as a farce and an imposition , and if their views are correct , the more completely it is disassociated from Freemasonry , the better for the latter . J OSEPH H . WOODWORTII . Preceptory 245 . Dublin , 28 th September , 1874 .
VISITING BRETHREN . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —
Is a brother at liberty to attend a lodge as a visitor at any or every lodge meeting , providing he is regularly vouched for , and a subscribing member to his own lodge . The clause No . 3 , page 89 , in Book of Constitutions ,
provides for a brother not being a subscribing member , and from there being nothing to the contrary stated , I conclude , as a subscribing member to a lodge , he would be at liberty to visit any other . Trusting you will allow me to ask this question , 11 am , yours obediently and fraternally , ,:. ' :, ^ . ., ,, ^ , H . L . J
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
by his acts . " The Volume of the Sacred Law says , " Judge not and ye shall not be judged ; condemn not and ye shall not be condemned . " I remain , yours fraternally , THE EXCELLENT KEY .
ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE AND MALTA . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother . —
In looking over the Freemason of Saturday last , I found a letter from P . E . C , deploring the state of the Order of the Temple , brought about by the recent alterations in the statutes .
As a rule of life , I refrain from and disapprove of others using the ' columns of a newspaper for stating their grievances on Masonic matters , but on this occasion , I am pleased to find that some one has had courage to ventilate the subjectand hope the state and prospects of the Order
will be freely discussed in the columns of the Freemason , the accepted organ of the whole Craft . The letter from P . E . C . will , I hope , be the means of rousing the Sir Knights to a proper sense of duty , and a better knowledge of the Order and the landmarks thereof .
When these alterations were being enacted , I was much opposed to them , and raised my voice expressive of the fears I had for the result , but was overruled and persuaded by those in whom I put my trust , that some good purpose would be served to the Order by the alteration . What
this good purpose was , or whether it has been accomplished , 1 know not . One thing I know , I have had to pay ios . < 5 d . to the funds of the Great Priory for the honour of being installed Preceptor for the year , at the end of which I shall—ifliving—retire with the honours of a full
private—as this office does not carry past rankwhilst P . E . C . —all honour to him , I don ' t blame him—was installed Eminent Commander of his Encampment for nothing ; at all events , he was not compelled by the statutes to pay . The fact is , under the good old constitutions P . E . C . got
past rank and paid nothing , whilst I , under the new , got nothing , and have to pay JOS . < 5 d . for it . Is this the good purpose to be served . I have been a Knight Templar for ten years , during which time I can safely say I have done my duty , never neglected a single meeting of my
Encampment , but have always been ready , willing , and able to do anything for the good of the Order , which I entered in the full belief that it was a part indissoluble from Masonry , and that honours would be conferred on worthy Companions in this , as in other degrees of
Freemasonry . I object to the severance from its Masonic connection , and ; I object to pay fees of honour if I am not to be allowed past rank . If we are to be stripped at the end of term of office , of the stripes and honours gained since the alterations referred to , whilst others who have
gone before are allowed to retain theirs , what inducement is there for our younger members to perserve and follow in the footsteps of those who have been rewarded > The distinctions of Grand Cross and Grand Commander are too scarce ever
to reach me , no matter how I work , in fact , I don ' t aspire to anything so high , but will be satisfied if I can be allowed to retain past rank , and wear the stripes I have honourably earned in the office to which I have been , or may be appointed .
I enclose you copy of memorial , sent to me and every preceptor in the Province of Lancashire , and adopted by the Committee appointed by the Provincial Priory at Preston , to consider the suggestions referred to by P . E . C . I trust you will insert the same for the information , and
if necessary , the guidance of the whole body of Templars , and that they will set to work and not cease their efforts until the prayer thereof be granted , and the obnoxious statutes are repealed . W . DAVIES , Preceptor . September 29 th , 1874 .
The following is the memorial alluded to : — "To the very high and eminent Great Prior of the United Religious and Military Orders of the Temple and of St . John of Jerusalem , Palestine , Rhodes , and Malta in England and Wales and the dependencies thereof . " The humble petition of the Preceptory in the Province of Lancashire , sheweth—
Original Correspondence.
"That your memorialists view with regret and disapprobation several of the innovations introduced into the Constitution and Government of the Order of the recently enacted statutes of the Convent General . They believe that the
changes to which they refer do not tend to the elevation or advantage of the Order , but are rather derogatory to its dignity , destructive of its traditions , and productive of disaffection amongst its members .
'' ¦ They are of opinion that the omission of the defining term " Masonic " from the title of the order is objectionable . In the present day at least , the Order of the Temple is essentially a Masonic Order ; and your memorialists believe strongly that any indication , however remote , of
an intention to dissociate the Ordsr from Masonry would be viewed with equal alarm by Templars and Masons . "They consider the abolition of Past Rank most injurious . It deprives Sir Knights of a laudable incentive to zeal in promoting the welfare of the Order . The possession of Grand
and Provincial Grand Rank , being confined to the year of office , will cease to be regarded as objects of ambition . The abolition of the distinction of P . E . C , and of the privilege of wearing the distinctive insignia of past rank , will also operate as a discouragement to activity in the interests of the Order .
The newly-created honours of " Grand Cross and " Grand Commander " being attainable only at the pleasure of the Great Priory , a door will be opened to insinuations of exclusiveness and favouritism , leading to consequent dissatisfaction . Your memorialists further consider that the
alteration of the titles " Encampment and " Eminent Commander , " to Preceptory and Preceptor , and also the changes in the titles of other officers , as well as of the Great Priory and the Provincial Priory , as of Private Preceptories , although they are stated to be taken from historical authority , appear to be useless and frivolous
innovations , calculated rather to excite ridicule than to elevate the dignity of the Order . "Your memorialists therefore humbly pray that the statutes may be revised and amended with the view of removing the objections entertained by them thereto . "Signed on behalf of the Preceptory , at a meeting held this day of
A . L . 5876 ., A . O . 7 . 5 : 4 , and A . D . 1874 . ( Signed , ) Preceptor . Constable . Marshal . Registrar .
ORDER OF THE TEMPLE AND MALTA IN IRELAND .
To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , While your correspondent " P . E . C . " is waiting for " some one ; in authority " to reply to some of his very pertinent queries , it may interest him to learn that the Irish members of
the Order are quite as dissatisfied with the recent changes as their English brethren , and in fact , are , I fancy , ' more disgusted with results , having special " grounds for giumbling . " Whatever may be the issue in England , it is pretty confidently anticipated here that if matters
continue in their present direction it will soon be a question of revolution or extinction . A very large number of old members have practically withdrawn from active fellowship , having been forced into that course of conduct by the introduction of laws which they will not
submit to . One change which specially affects us here is connected with the " clothing . " The Irish Templars for a series of years past have used the Black Masonic Apron , Gauntlets and Sash , When the union of the two branches was passed ,
a circular was issued bearing the signature of the Grand Recorder , and purporting to explain the meaning of the " Statutes of the Convent General . " In dealing with the " clothing , " that official document stated , " The Insignia and
Habit are altered , for particulars of which see the statutes of the Convent General . All present Knights may , however , continue to wear in their preceptories the dress to which they were legally entitled . " Subsequently the Great Priory
Original Correspondence.
Laws , Ireland , were adopted , and amongst those laws are two , No . 13 , commencing " No Knight under the jurisdiction of the Grand Master , shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the Great Priory , unless he appear in black dress or uniform , and with the sword , tunic ,
and mantle of the Order , according to the Statutes of the Convent General ; " and the other , No . 73 , reading thus , " No Knight shall be admitted to any meeting of Preceptory , unless he appears in the proper costume of his rank in the Order , nor unless he be personally known or
vouched as a Knight Templar belonging to a Preceptory under the jurisdiction of the Grand Master , or under a jurisdiction recognised by the Convent General . Every Knight during his continuance in the Preceptory shall be subject to the bye-laws of the Preceptory . " The first clause of this latter rule is in direct
opposition to the official statement of the 19 th January , and the effect has been most mischievous . The old members who have been , as they consider " sold , " are naturally indignant , being shut out not only from their place in the Great Priory , but also from their own
preceptories , in consequence of [ their not adopting the habit and mantle , which many of them declare they will never put on , and the unfairness of the whole proceedings has already drawn forth a protest from a " Grand Cross" of the Order against the legality of the proceedings of Great
Priory since the exclusion of its legitimate members . Having thus excluded a number of Past Commanders , and thus avoided what might and would , in all probability , have proved hostile votes , a few members of Great Priory passed ,
of course in legal manner , a resulutionto call in all existing warrants , and to replace them " free of charge" by new ones from the new authorities . Our present warrants confer on us the right to work other degrees than those of the Temple and Malta , and the calling in of those
warrants is clearly part of a persistent plan to establish in Ireland a rite which claims control over a number of degrees , and has for years been trying here to put its theories into practice . An attempt to get possession of the "Rose Croix " degree has since been made and defeated . It
will sufficientl y illustrate the effect of the law excluding members of Great Priory not " properl y clothed" from its meetings , when I state that the voters on the warrant question , important as it was felt to be , numbered in all , as well as my memory serves me , fourteen .
Nine for calling them in , and five against . Two points are pretty clearly understood : the brethren at large will not wear the dress , and the warrants will not be surrendered . It remains to be seen what action " those in authority" may consider it prudent to take .
If it be the intention of those " behind the scenes" to distinguish the Order of the Temple in Ireland , their recent actions may have been dictated by " sound policy . " As far as Freemasonry is concerned , it is of very little consequence what the result is , those who were friendly to the
Templar Order as an offshot from the Masonic system , are disposed to look on it now , with its absurd pretentions to a chivalric origin , as a farce and an imposition , and if their views are correct , the more completely it is disassociated from Freemasonry , the better for the latter . J OSEPH H . WOODWORTII . Preceptory 245 . Dublin , 28 th September , 1874 .
VISITING BRETHREN . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —
Is a brother at liberty to attend a lodge as a visitor at any or every lodge meeting , providing he is regularly vouched for , and a subscribing member to his own lodge . The clause No . 3 , page 89 , in Book of Constitutions ,
provides for a brother not being a subscribing member , and from there being nothing to the contrary stated , I conclude , as a subscribing member to a lodge , he would be at liberty to visit any other . Trusting you will allow me to ask this question , 11 am , yours obediently and fraternally , ,:. ' :, ^ . ., ,, ^ , H . L . J