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Article A MODEL GRUMBLER. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes Queries. Page 1 of 1 Article Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes Queries. Page 1 of 1 Article Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes Queries. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Model Grumbler.
out under Masonic auspices , we are tempted to ask—What next ? Fortunately , the harm such eccentric escapades can effect is greatly limited by the fact that most
people laugh at them as good , though some-what far-fetched , jokes , and now that our reviewer has evidently found his vocation , we have no doubt he will , for our
future edification , continue to blend amusement with instruction in the same exquisitely refined style of which he so undoubted a master .
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes Queries.
Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes Queries .
—?—As one of the many favoured brethren who have perused with interest the quotations from the " Encyclopedia Metropolitana , " by Bro .
Forsyth , I beg to thank him for the trouble he has taken , and I hope his example will act as an incentive to others in making known whatever may be of value to the Craft W . J AMES HUGHAN .
I remember a brother named Demetrius Rodocanachi being initiated in the Sefton Lodge , No . 6 So , Liverpool , in the year 1 S 59 ;
can any of your readers inform me if " His Imperial Highness Prince Demetrius Rhodocanakis , " whose name I have frequently seen in THE FREEMASON , is the same brother ? W . M .
THE WARDENS' CHAIRS . At page 73 W . P . B . says " the question is one of courtesy and good feeling " as to who should be put in the chair of an absent Warden ; and he thinks that " the office-bearers under that
rank might be allowed to officiate pro tern . " Very few , if any , will agree with him in that . In most lodges there are meetings for instruction just before the lodge meeting , at which the officers rehearse the duties to be performed
and it would most likely spoil the whole working of the evening , and bring discredit on the lodge , by a sudden change in the duties each officer came prepared to carry out ; ' and no
doubt , under such circumstances , a W . M . exercises a wise discretion by appointing Wardens from skilled members of the lodge ; keeping the assistant officers to their respective duties . W . M ., M . O .
ST . JOHN THE EVANGELIST AND THE 1717
THEORY . The author of the remarks upon this subject at page 68 not only shows his ignorance of what the 1717 theory really is , but also shows his want of observation as to what takes place in
the columns of THE FREEMASON ' . He implies that the supporters of the 1717 theory denied the connection between St . John and the masons . Now , that is untrue , for I did the very opposite , asserting that many of the old fifteenth
century operative masons , like good Catholics , held St . John as their patron saint , just as the shoemakers held St . Crispin . However , while saying so , I deny that any sixteenth or
presixteenth century Speculative Masons held St . John as their patron saint , for that was impossible , simply because no Speculative Freemasons were then in existence . W . P . B .
AMERICAN BRETHREN AND THEIR VISIT TO EUROPE . Allow me to support your leader of Saturday , the 4 th of February , in reference to the contemplated visit of Knight Templars in America to Europe .
I most heartily endorse your kind and wellmeant recommendation to our American brethren not to attempt any procession in our streets . For certain , as you say , it would expose them to " ridicule , " and would not render their visit productive of unalloyed happy results , as
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes Queries.
we would wish . Let them come to England , Ireland , and Scotland as Freemasons to Freemasons , and let the secrecy of our ceremonies be preserved , even as respects our clothing , & c , as much as possible . For certainly any
procession in public would be universally condemned by the Order in this country , especially as the Craft refrains so generally from displays of any kind . In our lodges , chapters , encampments , & c , we shall be delighted to greet them "
properly clothed , " and I am certain that a thorough , hearty , and most sincere welcome will await our American brethren from the north to the south and from the east to the west of the British Isles .
It would be well for the Craft in England to be kept informed on the subject , so that arrangements might be made to give our visitors a banquet in London . W . J AMES HUGHAN .
I find the following m the Jewish Record . What does it all mean , and who is the Grand Commander of the Supreme Degree ? HAM . " It is with much pleasure we record that
Bro . S . M . Lazarus , of Great Prescot-street , Goodman ' s-fields , has received from the Grand Commander and Inspector-General of the Supreme Degree of Royal Ark Mariners a
diploma appointing him a Past Commander of the said Order and an Honorary Member of the Prince of Wales' Lodge , No . 2 , in consideration of his services as a member of that degree for forty-eight years . "
The following curious letter appeared in the New Era , Trinidad : — " Sir , —Amongst the r . ules of the Roman Catholics here there is one prohibiting Freemasons from serving as godfathers to children . Can
you inform me whether this rule has been altered of late ? My reason for asking is , that one of the dignitaries of the ' Royal Trinity Lodge ' was selected to hold the important office of
' Parain' to one of the bells destined for the chapel of the cemetery . It may be interesting for Masons to know whether the same rule holds good against ' des cloches . ' HIRAM . " San Fernando , Dec . 29 . "
DERIVATION OF " COWAN " ( pp . 43 , 57 , 73 ) . I give no opinion upon this subject at present , only permit me to state that some interesting remarks upon it are found at pages 267 , 347 , and 372 of the Freemasons' Magazine for
Oct . 8 th , Nov . 5 th and 12 th , 1859 . At the same time I must put the Masonic student on his guard as to Scotland being either the " head-quarters of Speculative Masonry " or of " Masonic excellence , " for England is the mother
of our Speculative Freemasonry ; and as to Operative Masonry , Scotland , after the thirteenth century , from its internal convulsions , & c , could not be put on a level with England at all . W . P . BUCIIAN .
QUALIFICATION'S OF VISITORS TO LODGES . Will " J . B . " give an address where a com munication on the subject may reach him from one in a chrysalis state ? NEOPHYTK .
THE A . AND A . RITE . I am pleased to see that you have decided that all communications on this subject shall be signed by the writers , shall be free from personalities , and confined to the merits of the
rite ; and upon these these terms I am willing to take the field against all comers . Who is the " Sovereign Prince" the Palatine Rose Croix
Chapter boasts among its members ? I should like to behold him in all the glory of his " potential wisdom . " Will he please give his name and trade ?
Though the letter of Bro . Newnham is not altogether free from the objections of personality , yet 1 am willing to pass that over , and
consider his points , briefly , but in a courteous manner ; the speciousness of his letter is proveable from the communication ot mine , to which he refers : —
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes Queries.
1 . I stated that I had never sought the honour of being a member of the A . and A . Rite , and that I was prevailed upon to join the Palatine Chapter by the misrepresentations of a friend ; his intentions were , I believe , to have brought the chapter again under the ancient
Templar government . The chapter at that time was very loosely worked , but done in a Masonic spirit—none of the elements of cliqueism being then present ; this trouble having been brought about by the domineering spirit of a few who work in bands throughout the Craft . At the
time of my admission I was unaware that I should be governed by nine men , who elect themselves for life , and wish I never had known it . It will be seen that a very difficult point in Masonry is here raised , for without any preparation beforehand the most solemn O . B . are dictated , and either misunderstood or else
accepted , because retreat is no longer possible . 2 . Another of Bro . Newnham's objections is easily answered . I said I might have become a zealous member of the rite " reserving my disapprovals , " & c , which anyone may see merely means that I might have remained a member for the purpose of aiding its reform on a better basis .
3 . The remark of Bro . Newnham about the obedience due to a P . G . L . in the Craft , is altogether out of place ; because no legal Masonic body in this country is governed in the same way and in the same spirit as the socalled Supreme Council , and I sincerely hope never will be .
Thus I take it that all Bro . Newnham ' s objections to my communication fall to the ground , as he admits his inability to defend the rite on its own merits , and he therefore attacks me upon a casuistical question .
As Bro . Newnham has criticised , in freelyspoken terms , my conduct in regard to the socalled S . C ., will he pardon me for asking him kindly to explain to me one thing in return , it is : How he , a Christian clergyman under sacred
vows , can conscientiously add to his signature a degree like the 30 , which stinks in the nostrils of the rigidly orthodox ? I cannot discuss this in your pages , but I am willing to do so privately with any member of the 30 .
Fortunately , all do not think with a few members of the rite , and my breakfast table is every day flooded with a corresposdence ( sacred even from my friends ) devoted to execrations of the rite ; and one brother , of good social position , strongly advocates my proposition to cite
the so-called Supreme Council before Grand Lodge for obtaining large fees without warrant or authority .
J YARKER . P . S . —Your editorial note , I fear , is rather hard upon my last communication ( not yet printed ); as I am utterly unconscious of indulging in any personalities against the so-called S . C . therein . I certainly mentioned a notorious fact , namely , that one of its founders was an expelled Mason , hence probably their hereditary forte in that respect . If , however ,
there are any uncourteous expressions in that letter . I beg that you will print the same with necessary alterations ; sending me proofs as requested . And I must beg to point out that after printing the letter of Bro . Newnham against me , I have a claim upon your kind consideration for the publication of this . J . Y .
I have heard , many years ago , that a Sir Knt . Dixon , of the time-immemorial Camp of Antiquity , Bath , purloined their warrant , and made nine high grades under it before it could be recovered . People seem to know so little of the origin of the Supreme Council that I venture to
ask whether this step of Bro . Dixon has anything to do with the establishment of the Council ? Evidently if Dr . Goss ( an expelled Mason ) and Dr . Leeson had ever legitimately received their degrees in a Templar
Encampment their oaths would have prevented them establishing this Council . Who will condescend to enlighten us upon these points ; or tell us in what encampment these two brothers were received tie plus ultra ' s I HlSTORlCUS .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Model Grumbler.
out under Masonic auspices , we are tempted to ask—What next ? Fortunately , the harm such eccentric escapades can effect is greatly limited by the fact that most
people laugh at them as good , though some-what far-fetched , jokes , and now that our reviewer has evidently found his vocation , we have no doubt he will , for our
future edification , continue to blend amusement with instruction in the same exquisitely refined style of which he so undoubted a master .
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes Queries.
Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes Queries .
—?—As one of the many favoured brethren who have perused with interest the quotations from the " Encyclopedia Metropolitana , " by Bro .
Forsyth , I beg to thank him for the trouble he has taken , and I hope his example will act as an incentive to others in making known whatever may be of value to the Craft W . J AMES HUGHAN .
I remember a brother named Demetrius Rodocanachi being initiated in the Sefton Lodge , No . 6 So , Liverpool , in the year 1 S 59 ;
can any of your readers inform me if " His Imperial Highness Prince Demetrius Rhodocanakis , " whose name I have frequently seen in THE FREEMASON , is the same brother ? W . M .
THE WARDENS' CHAIRS . At page 73 W . P . B . says " the question is one of courtesy and good feeling " as to who should be put in the chair of an absent Warden ; and he thinks that " the office-bearers under that
rank might be allowed to officiate pro tern . " Very few , if any , will agree with him in that . In most lodges there are meetings for instruction just before the lodge meeting , at which the officers rehearse the duties to be performed
and it would most likely spoil the whole working of the evening , and bring discredit on the lodge , by a sudden change in the duties each officer came prepared to carry out ; ' and no
doubt , under such circumstances , a W . M . exercises a wise discretion by appointing Wardens from skilled members of the lodge ; keeping the assistant officers to their respective duties . W . M ., M . O .
ST . JOHN THE EVANGELIST AND THE 1717
THEORY . The author of the remarks upon this subject at page 68 not only shows his ignorance of what the 1717 theory really is , but also shows his want of observation as to what takes place in
the columns of THE FREEMASON ' . He implies that the supporters of the 1717 theory denied the connection between St . John and the masons . Now , that is untrue , for I did the very opposite , asserting that many of the old fifteenth
century operative masons , like good Catholics , held St . John as their patron saint , just as the shoemakers held St . Crispin . However , while saying so , I deny that any sixteenth or
presixteenth century Speculative Masons held St . John as their patron saint , for that was impossible , simply because no Speculative Freemasons were then in existence . W . P . B .
AMERICAN BRETHREN AND THEIR VISIT TO EUROPE . Allow me to support your leader of Saturday , the 4 th of February , in reference to the contemplated visit of Knight Templars in America to Europe .
I most heartily endorse your kind and wellmeant recommendation to our American brethren not to attempt any procession in our streets . For certain , as you say , it would expose them to " ridicule , " and would not render their visit productive of unalloyed happy results , as
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes Queries.
we would wish . Let them come to England , Ireland , and Scotland as Freemasons to Freemasons , and let the secrecy of our ceremonies be preserved , even as respects our clothing , & c , as much as possible . For certainly any
procession in public would be universally condemned by the Order in this country , especially as the Craft refrains so generally from displays of any kind . In our lodges , chapters , encampments , & c , we shall be delighted to greet them "
properly clothed , " and I am certain that a thorough , hearty , and most sincere welcome will await our American brethren from the north to the south and from the east to the west of the British Isles .
It would be well for the Craft in England to be kept informed on the subject , so that arrangements might be made to give our visitors a banquet in London . W . J AMES HUGHAN .
I find the following m the Jewish Record . What does it all mean , and who is the Grand Commander of the Supreme Degree ? HAM . " It is with much pleasure we record that
Bro . S . M . Lazarus , of Great Prescot-street , Goodman ' s-fields , has received from the Grand Commander and Inspector-General of the Supreme Degree of Royal Ark Mariners a
diploma appointing him a Past Commander of the said Order and an Honorary Member of the Prince of Wales' Lodge , No . 2 , in consideration of his services as a member of that degree for forty-eight years . "
The following curious letter appeared in the New Era , Trinidad : — " Sir , —Amongst the r . ules of the Roman Catholics here there is one prohibiting Freemasons from serving as godfathers to children . Can
you inform me whether this rule has been altered of late ? My reason for asking is , that one of the dignitaries of the ' Royal Trinity Lodge ' was selected to hold the important office of
' Parain' to one of the bells destined for the chapel of the cemetery . It may be interesting for Masons to know whether the same rule holds good against ' des cloches . ' HIRAM . " San Fernando , Dec . 29 . "
DERIVATION OF " COWAN " ( pp . 43 , 57 , 73 ) . I give no opinion upon this subject at present , only permit me to state that some interesting remarks upon it are found at pages 267 , 347 , and 372 of the Freemasons' Magazine for
Oct . 8 th , Nov . 5 th and 12 th , 1859 . At the same time I must put the Masonic student on his guard as to Scotland being either the " head-quarters of Speculative Masonry " or of " Masonic excellence , " for England is the mother
of our Speculative Freemasonry ; and as to Operative Masonry , Scotland , after the thirteenth century , from its internal convulsions , & c , could not be put on a level with England at all . W . P . BUCIIAN .
QUALIFICATION'S OF VISITORS TO LODGES . Will " J . B . " give an address where a com munication on the subject may reach him from one in a chrysalis state ? NEOPHYTK .
THE A . AND A . RITE . I am pleased to see that you have decided that all communications on this subject shall be signed by the writers , shall be free from personalities , and confined to the merits of the
rite ; and upon these these terms I am willing to take the field against all comers . Who is the " Sovereign Prince" the Palatine Rose Croix
Chapter boasts among its members ? I should like to behold him in all the glory of his " potential wisdom . " Will he please give his name and trade ?
Though the letter of Bro . Newnham is not altogether free from the objections of personality , yet 1 am willing to pass that over , and
consider his points , briefly , but in a courteous manner ; the speciousness of his letter is proveable from the communication ot mine , to which he refers : —
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes Queries.
1 . I stated that I had never sought the honour of being a member of the A . and A . Rite , and that I was prevailed upon to join the Palatine Chapter by the misrepresentations of a friend ; his intentions were , I believe , to have brought the chapter again under the ancient
Templar government . The chapter at that time was very loosely worked , but done in a Masonic spirit—none of the elements of cliqueism being then present ; this trouble having been brought about by the domineering spirit of a few who work in bands throughout the Craft . At the
time of my admission I was unaware that I should be governed by nine men , who elect themselves for life , and wish I never had known it . It will be seen that a very difficult point in Masonry is here raised , for without any preparation beforehand the most solemn O . B . are dictated , and either misunderstood or else
accepted , because retreat is no longer possible . 2 . Another of Bro . Newnham's objections is easily answered . I said I might have become a zealous member of the rite " reserving my disapprovals , " & c , which anyone may see merely means that I might have remained a member for the purpose of aiding its reform on a better basis .
3 . The remark of Bro . Newnham about the obedience due to a P . G . L . in the Craft , is altogether out of place ; because no legal Masonic body in this country is governed in the same way and in the same spirit as the socalled Supreme Council , and I sincerely hope never will be .
Thus I take it that all Bro . Newnham ' s objections to my communication fall to the ground , as he admits his inability to defend the rite on its own merits , and he therefore attacks me upon a casuistical question .
As Bro . Newnham has criticised , in freelyspoken terms , my conduct in regard to the socalled S . C ., will he pardon me for asking him kindly to explain to me one thing in return , it is : How he , a Christian clergyman under sacred
vows , can conscientiously add to his signature a degree like the 30 , which stinks in the nostrils of the rigidly orthodox ? I cannot discuss this in your pages , but I am willing to do so privately with any member of the 30 .
Fortunately , all do not think with a few members of the rite , and my breakfast table is every day flooded with a corresposdence ( sacred even from my friends ) devoted to execrations of the rite ; and one brother , of good social position , strongly advocates my proposition to cite
the so-called Supreme Council before Grand Lodge for obtaining large fees without warrant or authority .
J YARKER . P . S . —Your editorial note , I fear , is rather hard upon my last communication ( not yet printed ); as I am utterly unconscious of indulging in any personalities against the so-called S . C . therein . I certainly mentioned a notorious fact , namely , that one of its founders was an expelled Mason , hence probably their hereditary forte in that respect . If , however ,
there are any uncourteous expressions in that letter . I beg that you will print the same with necessary alterations ; sending me proofs as requested . And I must beg to point out that after printing the letter of Bro . Newnham against me , I have a claim upon your kind consideration for the publication of this . J . Y .
I have heard , many years ago , that a Sir Knt . Dixon , of the time-immemorial Camp of Antiquity , Bath , purloined their warrant , and made nine high grades under it before it could be recovered . People seem to know so little of the origin of the Supreme Council that I venture to
ask whether this step of Bro . Dixon has anything to do with the establishment of the Council ? Evidently if Dr . Goss ( an expelled Mason ) and Dr . Leeson had ever legitimately received their degrees in a Templar
Encampment their oaths would have prevented them establishing this Council . Who will condescend to enlighten us upon these points ; or tell us in what encampment these two brothers were received tie plus ultra ' s I HlSTORlCUS .