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Original Correspondence.
ject , and that must plead my apology—if apology be needed — for penning these lines . I am well acquainted with all the laws of the Board of Benevolence , and I write without any bias or prejudice , having the highest respect for each of the three brethren whom I have named . I remain , yours fraternally ,
JOHN SAVAGE , P . G . D . 54 , Thornhill-sq ., iotli Nov ., 1870 . THE SIDE DEGREES .
( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —In common , no doubt , with many of your readers , I await with interest the promised continuation of the articles on the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Rite . At the same time , I would suggest that any information relative to the
side degrees of Ark , Link , Chain , and Wrestle would just now be especially valuable , inasmuch as there it a prospect of their being worked under the authority of the Mark Grand Lodge . 1 . Can you inform me whether the ceremony of passing the veils is worked in any English chapter ,
and whether an ordinary R . A . M . would be eligible for admission ? 2 . Is the 3 rd Principal of a chapter permitted to give either of the lectures except his own , or to work any portion of the exaltation at the request of the M . E . Z . ? Yours truly , R . A . P .
Leicester , Nov . 1 , 1870 . [ We may refer our correspondent to our leading article this week for an explanation as to the Ark degrees , and as to the other questions : — 1 . The ceremony of passing the veils no longer forms a part ofthe ritual of Royal Arch Masonry as practised in England , and any chapter persisting in
conferring such a preliminary ceremony upon candidates would forfeit its charter . We are told that it is worked in some parts of the country , but as the penalty is clear , those wdio offend are not likely to publish their own transgressions . 2 . We should say yes as to the ddivery of the lectures , but no one but an Installed First Principal can administer the O . B . —ED . F . ]
THE MARK DEGREE . ( To the Editor of the Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , —There is no doubt as to the policy to be pursued in order to place the Mark Degree on its proper footing :- - 1 . There must be a union of all Mark Masters
under one banner . Owing to the conciliatory attitude of the Grand Chapter of Scotland , alluded to by the Grand Mark Master at Manchester , there seems now to be every probability that the disagreements between that body and the Mark Grand
Lodge will soon be brought to a satisfactory conclusion . As to the other Mark bodies—such as the Grand Lodge of Ashton-undcr-Lync—from what fell from the G . M . M , on the same occasion , it is certain that no effort will be wanting to bring them in as well .
2 . As a Scotch Mark Master suggests , a supreme body must be formed in alliance with the Mark G . L ., which should work all the degrees which in other countries form part of the Royal Arch system , but are here rejected by the S . G . R . A . Chapter ; and also take up from time to time any universal or
non-Christian degrees that would otherwise grow into independent jurisdictions . The Ark Mariners ' Degree would come into this scries—care being taken that while the " Grand Vessel" is absorbed , those ancient Mark lodges , the Kentand St . Mark's , No . 1 , which have always given tlie Ark , should
have their due honour accorded to them . Whether this organisation ( which would be allied with the MarkG . L . by having the G . M ., oraPast G . M ., as its ex-officio head ) should work these degrees with a separate council for each , or whether , by giving them in regular gradation , one supreme council or
chapter might govern the whole , would be a matter of detail , which could easily be arranged in concert with the G . C . 's of Scotland and Ireland , and those American chapters from which the power to work the Most Excellent Master ' s Degree would have to be obtained .
These matters being settled , and a treaty of mutual support being signed between the existing organisations outside the pale of G . L . and G . C . of England , we should not only see an end to all jealousy and unmasonic feeling between the
different Grand Bodies , but an end would be put to thcpossibility of any " mushroom" G . L . ' s springing up in future ; and to this most desirable consummation the G . L . of Mark Master Masons would have very mainly contributed . Yours fraternally , AN ENGLISH MARK MASTER .
"THE RELATION OF ST . JOHN THE EVANGELIST TO FHEEMASONRY . " ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , —Dr . Oliver , in his " Book of the Lodge , " says : ••I agree with Bro V ) ai > : ho
Original Correspondence.
that neither Adam , Nimrod , Moses , Joshua , David , Solomon , Hiram , nor either of the St . John ' s belonged to the Masonic Order . It is unwise to assert more than we can prove , and to argue against probability ; there is no record , sacred or profane , to induce us to believe that these
distinguished men were Freemasons , and our traditions do not go back to their days . To assert that they were Freemasons may make the vulgar stare , but will rather excite the contempt than the admiration of the wise . Let Freemasons , then , give up their vain boastings , which ignorance has foisted into the
Order , and relinquish a fabulous antiquity rather than sacrifice common sense . " The above extract was brought to my mind on reading an article by Bro . C . J . Paton , in last week ' s number of THE FREEMASON , at page 5 40 . _ I do not wish to find fault with Bro . Paton ' s admiration
of St . John and bis divine teaching ; but I cannot help finding fault with the heading of his paper , because I cannot see that he has shown in the slightest degree that St . John had any connection or knowledge of Freemasonry whatever , unless we take it forgranted that the " ancient and eminent
Masonic author , " whom he cites , is incontrovertible and beyond dispute . May I ask if he or anyone can teli us how many lodges were represented at the general meeting of the Craft at Jerusalem , and the names ( or any of them ) of the seven eminent members ( W . M . ' s , I suppose ) who were deputed to wait
on St . John , requesting him to take the office of Grand Master ? I would also like to know , if it were possible , when , where , and what lodge was first dedicated to the holy St . John ? Bro . Paton , however , merits our applause for his untiring efforts to enforce the practice of those qualities which
adorn the human heart ; and as perfection is not the attribute of humanity , we should pardon the defects and at the same time extol the beauties . We read"When fortune frowns , if friendship still remains , She soothes our woes , and mitigates our pains . " W . G . DORIC .
ROYAL ARK MARINERS' DEGREE . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The statements of "A Scottish Mark Master" in reference to this degree are very incorrect and likely to mislead any of your readers who were not actually present at
the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners held on the 21 st June . Nothing " irregular" took place , and the fact that some eleven or twelve distinguished Masons , among a number of others , were present and assisted , shows that the " proceedings" were thoroughly Masonic .
I have neither found , borrowed , or " purchased " a charter or warrant , as your correspondent positively states "is what has been actually done" by myself ; and I was regularly elected , installed , and invested by the consent and with the assistance of the before-mentioned distinguished Masons . If
your correspondent had made himself a little more acquainted with his subject before writing upon it , he would have saved space in THE FREEMASON of last week and myself the necessity of troubling you with an answer . The facts of the case are these : —The Royal Ark
Mariners' Degree ( how much older it may be I know not , for I have been shown diagrams made in 1410 ) was certainly , according to positive information laid before the Grand Mark Lodge , in an active state in England in 1793 , as II . R . II . the Duke of Clarence ( King William the Fourth ) accepted the
office of Grand Commander , and the charter or warrant of constitution under which this ancient degree has been revived states this to be the case , and has that date on it . The Dukes of Kent and Sussex were also members of it . I am informed that Royal Ark Mariners' clothing has for years
been exported to India and other British dependencies . In the Constitutions of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland , the regulations for the degree arc laid down carefully . In the Irish Constitutions it states that the first Masons " were called Sons of Noah , '' and I have in my possession a ritual
compiled under the authority ( as his name is to it ) of E . Sibley , Deputy Grand Noah , 1790 ) . So much for " mushroom growth . " Bros . Purdey , Goldsworthy , Dorrington , and many others met from time to time in London and kept it alive , as many Masons now living can testify . But Bro . Dorrington , the sole
survivor of those who took an active part in the proceedings of this degree , in consequence of ill health , being unable to attend any meeting except at his own house , and a number of Masons wishing to revive it , Bro . Dorrington thought it best to delegate his powers to me , and that I used and did not
abuse those powers is now pretty well known to all who are members of the degree . At the last Grand Lodge in London , articles of union were produced by the G . Secretary , Bro . Binckes , which had been signed and sealed by the Grand Mark Master Mason and myself , as representatives of the two degrees , containing certain provisions for attaching the
Original Correspondence.
Royal Ark Mariners' Degree to the Degree of Mark Master Mason ; among them , that the Royal Ark Mariner Degree be worked under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , and be under the exclusive control of the M . W . Grand Master Mason , assisted by a Council to be called
the Grand Master ' s Royal Ark Lodge ; the officers appointed to remain in their several positions , and those vacant to be filled up by the M . W . Grand Mark Master Mason , he becoming Grand Commander . Thus the Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners is merged into the Grand Master ' s Royal
Ark Lodge . The members of all Royal Ark lodges will be invited to attend , and the principal officers of Royal Ark lodges on the roll of the Antient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners will be members by virtue of the offices they fill , and eligible for office in the Grand Master ' s Royal Ark
Lodge . As a great deal has been said of other warrants or charters of Royal Ark Mariners , I may as well state that this is the only one the powers of which have been kept alive . All the others were merely handed over to the Grand Lodge of England , under
the impression , doubtless , that as the degree was worked under the Grand Lodge before the Union in 1813 , the present Grand Lodge of England was the body they should be given up to ; and as they have been placed in that Grand Lodge ' s custody , they are as worthless as any returned old Craft
warrant , or old bank-note returned into the Bank of England . Several letters have appeared in your columns respecting the Degree and the position I had the honour to hold in it for a short period , the statements made in which were anything but true , and
the language anything but Masonic , for I may state that from the date of last Grand Mark Lodge the position I have filled has been only that of Inspector General , as I consider that from the time the articles of union were adopted the M . W . Grand Mark
Master Mason had taken the position of Grand Commander , only waiting formal installation . Apologising for intruding to so great an extent on your space , 1 am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally ,
MORTON EDWARDS , P . G . C , Insp . Genl ., Royal Ark Mariners London , Nov . 7 th , 1870 .
"THE PURPLE . " ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —While quite ageeing with P . M ., P . Z ., in his letter upon " The Purple " in West Lancashire , and not in any way desiring to undervalue Bro . Dr . Moore's claims for the
Provincial Grand rank , I should like to ask him how that brother has " paid for his Masonic rank , " and to whom and in what manner that payment was made ? I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours very fraternally , WALNEY .
A QUERY . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —If three persons have a secret known to them only , and one of them dies , can the secret be said to be lost whilst cither ofthe survivors live ? If you or any of your readers can give me a satisfactory answer to this query , which naturally arises out of one part of our ritual , I shall be very grateful . Yours truly , H . A . Stockton-on-Tees , 5 th November , 1870 .
NARROW ESCAPE OK FREEMASONS' HALL . —On Tuesday afternoon , between four and five o'clock , considerable excitement was caused in the vicinity of Great Queen-street , Lincoln's-inii-fields , owing to a fire breaking out in some premises belonging
to Messrs . Maltby and Sons , used as packing warehouses and stables , and several other persons , one being a cabinetmaker named Hawkcs . The length of the building was about 80 or 90 feet , but owing to its proximity to the back of the Freemasons '
Tavern , apprehensions were entertained for the safety of that structure . The excitement was greatly enhanced by seeing that the flames had taken the complete possession of the centre stained glass window of what was formerly the grand hall , as well as breaking through two of the windows below .
Not a moment was lost in waiting for water ; but in spite of the exertions of the firemen and the salvage corps , the flames were not entirely extinguished until nearly eight o ' clock . The principal part of the premises in which the fire commenced was destroyed . The damage done to the Freemasons' Hall mav be stated as inconsiderable .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
ject , and that must plead my apology—if apology be needed — for penning these lines . I am well acquainted with all the laws of the Board of Benevolence , and I write without any bias or prejudice , having the highest respect for each of the three brethren whom I have named . I remain , yours fraternally ,
JOHN SAVAGE , P . G . D . 54 , Thornhill-sq ., iotli Nov ., 1870 . THE SIDE DEGREES .
( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —In common , no doubt , with many of your readers , I await with interest the promised continuation of the articles on the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Rite . At the same time , I would suggest that any information relative to the
side degrees of Ark , Link , Chain , and Wrestle would just now be especially valuable , inasmuch as there it a prospect of their being worked under the authority of the Mark Grand Lodge . 1 . Can you inform me whether the ceremony of passing the veils is worked in any English chapter ,
and whether an ordinary R . A . M . would be eligible for admission ? 2 . Is the 3 rd Principal of a chapter permitted to give either of the lectures except his own , or to work any portion of the exaltation at the request of the M . E . Z . ? Yours truly , R . A . P .
Leicester , Nov . 1 , 1870 . [ We may refer our correspondent to our leading article this week for an explanation as to the Ark degrees , and as to the other questions : — 1 . The ceremony of passing the veils no longer forms a part ofthe ritual of Royal Arch Masonry as practised in England , and any chapter persisting in
conferring such a preliminary ceremony upon candidates would forfeit its charter . We are told that it is worked in some parts of the country , but as the penalty is clear , those wdio offend are not likely to publish their own transgressions . 2 . We should say yes as to the ddivery of the lectures , but no one but an Installed First Principal can administer the O . B . —ED . F . ]
THE MARK DEGREE . ( To the Editor of the Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , —There is no doubt as to the policy to be pursued in order to place the Mark Degree on its proper footing :- - 1 . There must be a union of all Mark Masters
under one banner . Owing to the conciliatory attitude of the Grand Chapter of Scotland , alluded to by the Grand Mark Master at Manchester , there seems now to be every probability that the disagreements between that body and the Mark Grand
Lodge will soon be brought to a satisfactory conclusion . As to the other Mark bodies—such as the Grand Lodge of Ashton-undcr-Lync—from what fell from the G . M . M , on the same occasion , it is certain that no effort will be wanting to bring them in as well .
2 . As a Scotch Mark Master suggests , a supreme body must be formed in alliance with the Mark G . L ., which should work all the degrees which in other countries form part of the Royal Arch system , but are here rejected by the S . G . R . A . Chapter ; and also take up from time to time any universal or
non-Christian degrees that would otherwise grow into independent jurisdictions . The Ark Mariners ' Degree would come into this scries—care being taken that while the " Grand Vessel" is absorbed , those ancient Mark lodges , the Kentand St . Mark's , No . 1 , which have always given tlie Ark , should
have their due honour accorded to them . Whether this organisation ( which would be allied with the MarkG . L . by having the G . M ., oraPast G . M ., as its ex-officio head ) should work these degrees with a separate council for each , or whether , by giving them in regular gradation , one supreme council or
chapter might govern the whole , would be a matter of detail , which could easily be arranged in concert with the G . C . 's of Scotland and Ireland , and those American chapters from which the power to work the Most Excellent Master ' s Degree would have to be obtained .
These matters being settled , and a treaty of mutual support being signed between the existing organisations outside the pale of G . L . and G . C . of England , we should not only see an end to all jealousy and unmasonic feeling between the
different Grand Bodies , but an end would be put to thcpossibility of any " mushroom" G . L . ' s springing up in future ; and to this most desirable consummation the G . L . of Mark Master Masons would have very mainly contributed . Yours fraternally , AN ENGLISH MARK MASTER .
"THE RELATION OF ST . JOHN THE EVANGELIST TO FHEEMASONRY . " ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , —Dr . Oliver , in his " Book of the Lodge , " says : ••I agree with Bro V ) ai > : ho
Original Correspondence.
that neither Adam , Nimrod , Moses , Joshua , David , Solomon , Hiram , nor either of the St . John ' s belonged to the Masonic Order . It is unwise to assert more than we can prove , and to argue against probability ; there is no record , sacred or profane , to induce us to believe that these
distinguished men were Freemasons , and our traditions do not go back to their days . To assert that they were Freemasons may make the vulgar stare , but will rather excite the contempt than the admiration of the wise . Let Freemasons , then , give up their vain boastings , which ignorance has foisted into the
Order , and relinquish a fabulous antiquity rather than sacrifice common sense . " The above extract was brought to my mind on reading an article by Bro . C . J . Paton , in last week ' s number of THE FREEMASON , at page 5 40 . _ I do not wish to find fault with Bro . Paton ' s admiration
of St . John and bis divine teaching ; but I cannot help finding fault with the heading of his paper , because I cannot see that he has shown in the slightest degree that St . John had any connection or knowledge of Freemasonry whatever , unless we take it forgranted that the " ancient and eminent
Masonic author , " whom he cites , is incontrovertible and beyond dispute . May I ask if he or anyone can teli us how many lodges were represented at the general meeting of the Craft at Jerusalem , and the names ( or any of them ) of the seven eminent members ( W . M . ' s , I suppose ) who were deputed to wait
on St . John , requesting him to take the office of Grand Master ? I would also like to know , if it were possible , when , where , and what lodge was first dedicated to the holy St . John ? Bro . Paton , however , merits our applause for his untiring efforts to enforce the practice of those qualities which
adorn the human heart ; and as perfection is not the attribute of humanity , we should pardon the defects and at the same time extol the beauties . We read"When fortune frowns , if friendship still remains , She soothes our woes , and mitigates our pains . " W . G . DORIC .
ROYAL ARK MARINERS' DEGREE . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The statements of "A Scottish Mark Master" in reference to this degree are very incorrect and likely to mislead any of your readers who were not actually present at
the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners held on the 21 st June . Nothing " irregular" took place , and the fact that some eleven or twelve distinguished Masons , among a number of others , were present and assisted , shows that the " proceedings" were thoroughly Masonic .
I have neither found , borrowed , or " purchased " a charter or warrant , as your correspondent positively states "is what has been actually done" by myself ; and I was regularly elected , installed , and invested by the consent and with the assistance of the before-mentioned distinguished Masons . If
your correspondent had made himself a little more acquainted with his subject before writing upon it , he would have saved space in THE FREEMASON of last week and myself the necessity of troubling you with an answer . The facts of the case are these : —The Royal Ark
Mariners' Degree ( how much older it may be I know not , for I have been shown diagrams made in 1410 ) was certainly , according to positive information laid before the Grand Mark Lodge , in an active state in England in 1793 , as II . R . II . the Duke of Clarence ( King William the Fourth ) accepted the
office of Grand Commander , and the charter or warrant of constitution under which this ancient degree has been revived states this to be the case , and has that date on it . The Dukes of Kent and Sussex were also members of it . I am informed that Royal Ark Mariners' clothing has for years
been exported to India and other British dependencies . In the Constitutions of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland , the regulations for the degree arc laid down carefully . In the Irish Constitutions it states that the first Masons " were called Sons of Noah , '' and I have in my possession a ritual
compiled under the authority ( as his name is to it ) of E . Sibley , Deputy Grand Noah , 1790 ) . So much for " mushroom growth . " Bros . Purdey , Goldsworthy , Dorrington , and many others met from time to time in London and kept it alive , as many Masons now living can testify . But Bro . Dorrington , the sole
survivor of those who took an active part in the proceedings of this degree , in consequence of ill health , being unable to attend any meeting except at his own house , and a number of Masons wishing to revive it , Bro . Dorrington thought it best to delegate his powers to me , and that I used and did not
abuse those powers is now pretty well known to all who are members of the degree . At the last Grand Lodge in London , articles of union were produced by the G . Secretary , Bro . Binckes , which had been signed and sealed by the Grand Mark Master Mason and myself , as representatives of the two degrees , containing certain provisions for attaching the
Original Correspondence.
Royal Ark Mariners' Degree to the Degree of Mark Master Mason ; among them , that the Royal Ark Mariner Degree be worked under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons , and be under the exclusive control of the M . W . Grand Master Mason , assisted by a Council to be called
the Grand Master ' s Royal Ark Lodge ; the officers appointed to remain in their several positions , and those vacant to be filled up by the M . W . Grand Mark Master Mason , he becoming Grand Commander . Thus the Grand Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners is merged into the Grand Master ' s Royal
Ark Lodge . The members of all Royal Ark lodges will be invited to attend , and the principal officers of Royal Ark lodges on the roll of the Antient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners will be members by virtue of the offices they fill , and eligible for office in the Grand Master ' s Royal Ark
Lodge . As a great deal has been said of other warrants or charters of Royal Ark Mariners , I may as well state that this is the only one the powers of which have been kept alive . All the others were merely handed over to the Grand Lodge of England , under
the impression , doubtless , that as the degree was worked under the Grand Lodge before the Union in 1813 , the present Grand Lodge of England was the body they should be given up to ; and as they have been placed in that Grand Lodge ' s custody , they are as worthless as any returned old Craft
warrant , or old bank-note returned into the Bank of England . Several letters have appeared in your columns respecting the Degree and the position I had the honour to hold in it for a short period , the statements made in which were anything but true , and
the language anything but Masonic , for I may state that from the date of last Grand Mark Lodge the position I have filled has been only that of Inspector General , as I consider that from the time the articles of union were adopted the M . W . Grand Mark
Master Mason had taken the position of Grand Commander , only waiting formal installation . Apologising for intruding to so great an extent on your space , 1 am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally ,
MORTON EDWARDS , P . G . C , Insp . Genl ., Royal Ark Mariners London , Nov . 7 th , 1870 .
"THE PURPLE . " ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —While quite ageeing with P . M ., P . Z ., in his letter upon " The Purple " in West Lancashire , and not in any way desiring to undervalue Bro . Dr . Moore's claims for the
Provincial Grand rank , I should like to ask him how that brother has " paid for his Masonic rank , " and to whom and in what manner that payment was made ? I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours very fraternally , WALNEY .
A QUERY . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —If three persons have a secret known to them only , and one of them dies , can the secret be said to be lost whilst cither ofthe survivors live ? If you or any of your readers can give me a satisfactory answer to this query , which naturally arises out of one part of our ritual , I shall be very grateful . Yours truly , H . A . Stockton-on-Tees , 5 th November , 1870 .
NARROW ESCAPE OK FREEMASONS' HALL . —On Tuesday afternoon , between four and five o'clock , considerable excitement was caused in the vicinity of Great Queen-street , Lincoln's-inii-fields , owing to a fire breaking out in some premises belonging
to Messrs . Maltby and Sons , used as packing warehouses and stables , and several other persons , one being a cabinetmaker named Hawkcs . The length of the building was about 80 or 90 feet , but owing to its proximity to the back of the Freemasons '
Tavern , apprehensions were entertained for the safety of that structure . The excitement was greatly enhanced by seeing that the flames had taken the complete possession of the centre stained glass window of what was formerly the grand hall , as well as breaking through two of the windows below .
Not a moment was lost in waiting for water ; but in spite of the exertions of the firemen and the salvage corps , the flames were not entirely extinguished until nearly eight o ' clock . The principal part of the premises in which the fire commenced was destroyed . The damage done to the Freemasons' Hall mav be stated as inconsiderable .