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Article LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A NEW TOWN HALL AT DUNOON. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 1 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 1 Article LANGUAGE OF FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 1 Article LANGUAGE OF FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 1 Article BRO. HOLMES AND THE UNITED ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE AND HOSPITAL. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Laying The Foundation Stone Of A New Town Hall At Dunoon.
ment , " coupling the toast with the name of Bro . Grieve , M . P ., who replied . The toasts which followed included : — " Success to the New Town Hall , " " The Police Commissioners of Dunoon , " " The Provincial Grand Master , " "The Provincial Grand Secretary , "
" The Architects , " " The Contractors , " " The Masonic Deputations , " "The Strangers , " "The Joint Committees , " " The Press , " " ' The Croupiers , " "The Ladies , " "The Chairman . " The architect for the hall is Air . R . A . Bryden , of Clarke & Bell , Glasgow ; contractor for mason
work , Andrew Dixon ; joiner work , Thos . Young ; plumber work , James Kelly ; slater work , Moses Neilson ; plaster work , Robert Stirling—all of Dunoon ; and the whole is under the superintendence of Mr . James Tannock , Clerk of Works .
About 280 Masons were present at the demonstration , and the lodges represented , so far as reported , were . —3 * , St . John , Glasgow ; 12 , Greenock Kilwining ; 68 , Doric Kilwining , Port-Glasgow ; 103 , Union and Crown , Glasgow ; 116 , Royal Arch , Ruthlergen ; 129 , St . Mirren ,
Paisley ; 179 , St . John , Greenock ; 219 , Star , Glasgow ; 275 , Shamrock and Thistle , Glasgow ; 292 , St . John , Rothesay ; 335 , Dunoon , Argyle ; 413 , Athole , Glasgow ; 419 , Neptune , Glasgow ; 437 , Govandale , Glasgow ; 49 6 , St . Mark , Ardnadam ; 412 , Thorntree , Tborliebnnk : and Provincial
Grand Lodge West Renfrewshire , which consisted of J . J . Grieve , M . P ., P . Prov . G . Alaster , who had been deputed to act b y Sir Alichael Shaw Stewart ; D . Anderson , Prov . G . Depute-Master ; H . J . Anderson , Prov . G . Substitute-Alaster ; J . G . Shanks , Prov . G . Senior Warden ; J . Wilson , Prov . G . Junior Warden : A . Boag ,
Prov . G . Secretary ; J . R . Allison ; Prov . G . Treasurer ; J . D . Macdonald , Prov . G . Clerk ; Rev . A . Fullarton , Prov . G . Chaplain ; and Bros . D . Leslie , R . Parker , J . APGregor Capt . Young , IT . Blair , T . Grcir , J . P . F yfe , J . Russell , R . D . Oliphant , R . Allan , G . Hamilton , J . F . Muir , and N . Tasker .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
SPIRITUALISTS . 7 i , Ihe Editor if the p ' eeiiiastni . Dear Sir and Brother , — ln the few remarks 1 ollered on this snbject , in 'ihe Fn-eniase . it of August , iCth , I did not base my belief in spiritualism , or correctly speaking , my linn eontietion of its truth—
-meaning by "Spiritualism , '' the occasional and frequent manifestation cf ihe presence amongst us of disembodied spirits , who make their presence known in various ways ; sciiietimes bv moving or othewise acting upon material objects , sometimes by audible voices , sometimes by making one part of themselves visible , and almost always bv < rivin < r inti llitjent answcis ,
sometimes cornet antl i-nmetimi s ct ' ierv . ire , tn questions asked , or commimicaTm g farts , sometimes already known , and sometimes unknown 10 the person communicated with— -I did not , I say , place my belief in these phenomena upon the " performances , " as ihey are sometimes called ,
of the Davenport Brothers , or other public " mediums , " but upon what has spontaneously occurred in - my own residence , no one being present but my wife and myself . I feel bound , nevertheless , to s . iy a word on the statement made by Air . Alaskelyne , in The Freemason , ofthe ? oth
int ., as to my having been " in error , " when I stated that the " . £ 1000 challenge dodge" of a spiritualist " hnd not betnaccepted , " he having , as he alleges , accepted both this and another , of ^' 2 50 , offered by the same person . I certainly vvas under the impression that neither of these ' oilers
—not wagers—had been accepted , but were still open , and the enquiries 1 have subsequentl y made confirm that i npression . I have carefull y read the correspondi lice that took place between the gentleman who oilers the money and Mr . JMasla-lvni'liini'i ll ; antl 1 think ii - ! ::,-. . •> - , b-..-v und
all doubt , mat . Mr . . Mnskclvr . e ha . ; n .-v- - -r accepted the chalk nee . II , * uHertiscd that he coultl and would do ail I ' * \\ -. V- been dune by the Davenport lli'i liters , lhat he could and would do any tiling that Mr . Home , or other mediums can do , and thus show that S piritualism
Original Correspondence.
is " all humbug , " and that the success of mediums depends upon " the gullibility of their audience . " If you will do that " under the same conditions , " replies the challenger , " I will forfeit Aiiooo . He says , " You profess to expose the Davenports . To do so you must do what they have done ,
hundreds , if not thousands , of times , as a matter of common notoriety , established by the united testimony of innumerable non-spiritual press reporters , in various parts of the world , and which there will be no difficulty in finding any number of witnesses ' of integrity ' to testify to .
Nothing short of this was implied in my challenge from the very first . If you havo ever followed up the career of the Devonports at all , as I am sure j'ou have , you must know that your account falls ludicrously short of what they are asserted , by ' overwhelming testimony , to have done in
public ( and often in plicate ) seances , under much more severe tests ' than they were ever subjected to in public . " The " conditions" are the matter of contention , and certainl y Air . Alaskelyne has never agreed to these , and hence the thing remains as it was . I do not desire to interfere between these two
gentlemen , but merely to state my own judgment upon the question . I may , however , be permitted to remark , that it is to be regretted that Air . Alaskelyne should have made any attack upon those who , like myself , have good evidence for their belief in the spiritual phenomena , by
representing them as knaves or fools , alleging that the knaves humbug the fools ; and alleging , also , that he is a perfect master of " the trickery " by which what they deem spiritual manifestations are produced . I am not aware of any Spiritualist
having attempted to deprecate the wonderful cleverness of Air . Maskelyne ' s performances , which will , I hope , continue to draw large and gratilied audiences , notwithstanding the hard words and vituperation which he hurls at the " gullible " spiritualists . WILLIAM CARI-ENTRR .
Language Of Freemasonry.
LANGUAGE OF FREEMASONRY .
Fo the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Having read the article under the above heading , permit me to make a lew observations upon the principles sought lo be
inculcated . 1 full y appreciate the genuine tenets of Freemasonry and am satisfied that ihe Craft has no desire to aher our litual in any way ( ending to a deviation From the- established landmarks of the Order .
'There are many v . ry enthusiast ! -. - and hi ghly intelligent , brethren , whom others have been gootl enough io designate " innovators , " from having rendered our ceremonies and lectures in gramitv . itieal phraseologv , adding sin-h beaut ' k s oi
ilielorie ( maintaining tlieir ori ginal essence ) as to captivate the lu aivr- ; anil induce mane to pursue their lesearches with greater self-denial and love , and thus secure an indissoluble adherence to our noble Institntio'i and ii . - ; valuable precepts . Freemasoiirv shout , ! le ( ' ¦ not is ") one of the
agen-ie : -, lo preserve the purity oi the English tongue , but such a consummation , although , " devoutly lo be w ished , " cmni-t he under out prisent regime . . Many honourable : members aspire to , and eb ' . ai .-i the position of Alaster , and I can testify in many instances , that their
want of education has brought strong censure upon us . Allow me to state one fact in proof of my assertion . A short time since a gentleman was introduced to Iodge and regularlv initiated—subsequentl y he was heard to remark , "that a copy ofthe English grammar should be
presented to the W . AL , for the ceremony which be had just witnessed deserved a better exponent . " it must he stated that the Master referred to was well skilled in tlie noble scit nee , bet had obtained his knowledge from those indefatigable preceptors v . ho exult in promulgating iiuucviatiugl y the tin ; .-honoured , but rather Fault-,
exposition o ! t ! i .. 'ri ' . t ! .: i . a- trail-milled by our 1 coveted iorefai . b . rs , and wh 1 Fad to acknowledge that we are progressive beings , indued with reason by an Almi ghty Archill ci , v . hieh noble gift they ' also fail to apply aud appreciate . " I beg to assert lhat men of " correct tastes , " while profoundly conscious of ths sublime sim-
Language Of Freemasonry.
plicity of our ritual , are nevertheless anxious to promote a correct rendering of Masonic language , which , should bear the impress of enli ghtenment and education . The simile of the artist who endeavoured to improve a lily of nature with daubs of paint , is a
poor attempt at compansiort , for it bears no analogy to the Craft ; the principles of Freemasonry , which every right-minded brother will revere , are eternal and unalterable , but being transmitted orall y , the ori g inal wording cannot be supposed to exist in its purity , hence many
errors have naturally crept in , therefore , it is absurd to complain of those who have endeavoured to rectify such anomalies as appear to them contrary to an enli ghtened mode of thought and the requirements ofthe present universal spread of education .
Do not let us continue the "forms of our fathers , " whilst human genius buds , and whose leaves are producing from day to day the fairest and choicest fruits and exalting mankind . There is to my mind one course open , which would settle a difficulty we experience in
uniformity of working . It is this : —That a dul y and legally constituted committee be appointed b y Grand Lodge , to consist of the most noteworth y and educated of the Order , who shall be empowered to frame a ritual for the government of our entire body ; that no brother be permitted to take
the chair of Alaster , Principal of a Chapter , or the appointment of Preceptor , until he has undergone an examination , and full y proved to the satisfaction of the committee that his education and knowledge warrant him a creditable and worthy exponent ; and any deviation from the established ritual should be followed with
suspension , until the committee have investigated the matter , and their decision obtained . Such a course would materially add to the dignity and stability of our Order , and save the necessity of the remarks 1 have felt it my duty to address you under this headinjr .
In conclusion I may add , that I have yet to learn that moral truths would be less forcible if enunciated in grammatical sentences . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Faithfull y and Fraternally yours , J CONSTABLE , S . W . 18 1 ; .
Bro. Holmes And The United Orders Of The Temple And Hospital.
BRO . HOLMES AND THE UNITED ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE AND HOSPITAL .
' Fo the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have perused in your issue of the 30 th ult , , an article b y Bio . Holmes , on the article published in the Spectator , some six months since , criticising the installation proceedings of Convent-General on the 7 U 1 of last April .
If liro . Holmes has occupied tlie somewhat long interval in composing the article in question your readers may have fairl y expected him to season il with a little more pepper , ami , indeed , some may even think he should have done battle in the Spectator s own columns .
1 should , however , not have troubled you with litis communication , save lhat Bro . Holmes takes the opportunity again to make voluntary ami disparaging observations respecting the institution of the true Orderof St . John in this country . Your readers will probably consider
that alter the manner in whicii the arguments aud mendacious statements of Bro . I lolmes , and his distinguished and trenchant friends , werc sometime since knocked on the head and respectabl y buried , that worthy brother would have been content to exercise himself in the business
ofthe new united , and let his nei g hbours alone ; but no , the brother is gifted with such wise discretion , and eagerl y seizes upon the observation contained in the Spectator to make another gratuitous and unworth y attempt to disparage the genuine Order in England , at the same time omitting ( 'oiivenien !! -, ' as before ) to tell your
reader .-, lliai the Secretary of tlie ! ' , uglis ! i Langue at once aiklicsscd letters to the Speclalur conecling the obscnaaon ma . e in its columns . Why did not Bro . Holme . ' Civotir tlie Spectator wilh one of his thunderbolts when it . criticised the doings of the new united , instead of cudgelling his brains for six months and then infusing the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Laying The Foundation Stone Of A New Town Hall At Dunoon.
ment , " coupling the toast with the name of Bro . Grieve , M . P ., who replied . The toasts which followed included : — " Success to the New Town Hall , " " The Police Commissioners of Dunoon , " " The Provincial Grand Master , " "The Provincial Grand Secretary , "
" The Architects , " " The Contractors , " " The Masonic Deputations , " "The Strangers , " "The Joint Committees , " " The Press , " " ' The Croupiers , " "The Ladies , " "The Chairman . " The architect for the hall is Air . R . A . Bryden , of Clarke & Bell , Glasgow ; contractor for mason
work , Andrew Dixon ; joiner work , Thos . Young ; plumber work , James Kelly ; slater work , Moses Neilson ; plaster work , Robert Stirling—all of Dunoon ; and the whole is under the superintendence of Mr . James Tannock , Clerk of Works .
About 280 Masons were present at the demonstration , and the lodges represented , so far as reported , were . —3 * , St . John , Glasgow ; 12 , Greenock Kilwining ; 68 , Doric Kilwining , Port-Glasgow ; 103 , Union and Crown , Glasgow ; 116 , Royal Arch , Ruthlergen ; 129 , St . Mirren ,
Paisley ; 179 , St . John , Greenock ; 219 , Star , Glasgow ; 275 , Shamrock and Thistle , Glasgow ; 292 , St . John , Rothesay ; 335 , Dunoon , Argyle ; 413 , Athole , Glasgow ; 419 , Neptune , Glasgow ; 437 , Govandale , Glasgow ; 49 6 , St . Mark , Ardnadam ; 412 , Thorntree , Tborliebnnk : and Provincial
Grand Lodge West Renfrewshire , which consisted of J . J . Grieve , M . P ., P . Prov . G . Alaster , who had been deputed to act b y Sir Alichael Shaw Stewart ; D . Anderson , Prov . G . Depute-Master ; H . J . Anderson , Prov . G . Substitute-Alaster ; J . G . Shanks , Prov . G . Senior Warden ; J . Wilson , Prov . G . Junior Warden : A . Boag ,
Prov . G . Secretary ; J . R . Allison ; Prov . G . Treasurer ; J . D . Macdonald , Prov . G . Clerk ; Rev . A . Fullarton , Prov . G . Chaplain ; and Bros . D . Leslie , R . Parker , J . APGregor Capt . Young , IT . Blair , T . Grcir , J . P . F yfe , J . Russell , R . D . Oliphant , R . Allan , G . Hamilton , J . F . Muir , and N . Tasker .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
SPIRITUALISTS . 7 i , Ihe Editor if the p ' eeiiiastni . Dear Sir and Brother , — ln the few remarks 1 ollered on this snbject , in 'ihe Fn-eniase . it of August , iCth , I did not base my belief in spiritualism , or correctly speaking , my linn eontietion of its truth—
-meaning by "Spiritualism , '' the occasional and frequent manifestation cf ihe presence amongst us of disembodied spirits , who make their presence known in various ways ; sciiietimes bv moving or othewise acting upon material objects , sometimes by audible voices , sometimes by making one part of themselves visible , and almost always bv < rivin < r inti llitjent answcis ,
sometimes cornet antl i-nmetimi s ct ' ierv . ire , tn questions asked , or commimicaTm g farts , sometimes already known , and sometimes unknown 10 the person communicated with— -I did not , I say , place my belief in these phenomena upon the " performances , " as ihey are sometimes called ,
of the Davenport Brothers , or other public " mediums , " but upon what has spontaneously occurred in - my own residence , no one being present but my wife and myself . I feel bound , nevertheless , to s . iy a word on the statement made by Air . Alaskelyne , in The Freemason , ofthe ? oth
int ., as to my having been " in error , " when I stated that the " . £ 1000 challenge dodge" of a spiritualist " hnd not betnaccepted , " he having , as he alleges , accepted both this and another , of ^' 2 50 , offered by the same person . I certainly vvas under the impression that neither of these ' oilers
—not wagers—had been accepted , but were still open , and the enquiries 1 have subsequentl y made confirm that i npression . I have carefull y read the correspondi lice that took place between the gentleman who oilers the money and Mr . JMasla-lvni'liini'i ll ; antl 1 think ii - ! ::,-. . •> - , b-..-v und
all doubt , mat . Mr . . Mnskclvr . e ha . ; n .-v- - -r accepted the chalk nee . II , * uHertiscd that he coultl and would do ail I ' * \\ -. V- been dune by the Davenport lli'i liters , lhat he could and would do any tiling that Mr . Home , or other mediums can do , and thus show that S piritualism
Original Correspondence.
is " all humbug , " and that the success of mediums depends upon " the gullibility of their audience . " If you will do that " under the same conditions , " replies the challenger , " I will forfeit Aiiooo . He says , " You profess to expose the Davenports . To do so you must do what they have done ,
hundreds , if not thousands , of times , as a matter of common notoriety , established by the united testimony of innumerable non-spiritual press reporters , in various parts of the world , and which there will be no difficulty in finding any number of witnesses ' of integrity ' to testify to .
Nothing short of this was implied in my challenge from the very first . If you havo ever followed up the career of the Devonports at all , as I am sure j'ou have , you must know that your account falls ludicrously short of what they are asserted , by ' overwhelming testimony , to have done in
public ( and often in plicate ) seances , under much more severe tests ' than they were ever subjected to in public . " The " conditions" are the matter of contention , and certainl y Air . Alaskelyne has never agreed to these , and hence the thing remains as it was . I do not desire to interfere between these two
gentlemen , but merely to state my own judgment upon the question . I may , however , be permitted to remark , that it is to be regretted that Air . Alaskelyne should have made any attack upon those who , like myself , have good evidence for their belief in the spiritual phenomena , by
representing them as knaves or fools , alleging that the knaves humbug the fools ; and alleging , also , that he is a perfect master of " the trickery " by which what they deem spiritual manifestations are produced . I am not aware of any Spiritualist
having attempted to deprecate the wonderful cleverness of Air . Maskelyne ' s performances , which will , I hope , continue to draw large and gratilied audiences , notwithstanding the hard words and vituperation which he hurls at the " gullible " spiritualists . WILLIAM CARI-ENTRR .
Language Of Freemasonry.
LANGUAGE OF FREEMASONRY .
Fo the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Having read the article under the above heading , permit me to make a lew observations upon the principles sought lo be
inculcated . 1 full y appreciate the genuine tenets of Freemasonry and am satisfied that ihe Craft has no desire to aher our litual in any way ( ending to a deviation From the- established landmarks of the Order .
'There are many v . ry enthusiast ! -. - and hi ghly intelligent , brethren , whom others have been gootl enough io designate " innovators , " from having rendered our ceremonies and lectures in gramitv . itieal phraseologv , adding sin-h beaut ' k s oi
ilielorie ( maintaining tlieir ori ginal essence ) as to captivate the lu aivr- ; anil induce mane to pursue their lesearches with greater self-denial and love , and thus secure an indissoluble adherence to our noble Institntio'i and ii . - ; valuable precepts . Freemasoiirv shout , ! le ( ' ¦ not is ") one of the
agen-ie : -, lo preserve the purity oi the English tongue , but such a consummation , although , " devoutly lo be w ished , " cmni-t he under out prisent regime . . Many honourable : members aspire to , and eb ' . ai .-i the position of Alaster , and I can testify in many instances , that their
want of education has brought strong censure upon us . Allow me to state one fact in proof of my assertion . A short time since a gentleman was introduced to Iodge and regularlv initiated—subsequentl y he was heard to remark , "that a copy ofthe English grammar should be
presented to the W . AL , for the ceremony which be had just witnessed deserved a better exponent . " it must he stated that the Master referred to was well skilled in tlie noble scit nee , bet had obtained his knowledge from those indefatigable preceptors v . ho exult in promulgating iiuucviatiugl y the tin ; .-honoured , but rather Fault-,
exposition o ! t ! i .. 'ri ' . t ! .: i . a- trail-milled by our 1 coveted iorefai . b . rs , and wh 1 Fad to acknowledge that we are progressive beings , indued with reason by an Almi ghty Archill ci , v . hieh noble gift they ' also fail to apply aud appreciate . " I beg to assert lhat men of " correct tastes , " while profoundly conscious of ths sublime sim-
Language Of Freemasonry.
plicity of our ritual , are nevertheless anxious to promote a correct rendering of Masonic language , which , should bear the impress of enli ghtenment and education . The simile of the artist who endeavoured to improve a lily of nature with daubs of paint , is a
poor attempt at compansiort , for it bears no analogy to the Craft ; the principles of Freemasonry , which every right-minded brother will revere , are eternal and unalterable , but being transmitted orall y , the ori g inal wording cannot be supposed to exist in its purity , hence many
errors have naturally crept in , therefore , it is absurd to complain of those who have endeavoured to rectify such anomalies as appear to them contrary to an enli ghtened mode of thought and the requirements ofthe present universal spread of education .
Do not let us continue the "forms of our fathers , " whilst human genius buds , and whose leaves are producing from day to day the fairest and choicest fruits and exalting mankind . There is to my mind one course open , which would settle a difficulty we experience in
uniformity of working . It is this : —That a dul y and legally constituted committee be appointed b y Grand Lodge , to consist of the most noteworth y and educated of the Order , who shall be empowered to frame a ritual for the government of our entire body ; that no brother be permitted to take
the chair of Alaster , Principal of a Chapter , or the appointment of Preceptor , until he has undergone an examination , and full y proved to the satisfaction of the committee that his education and knowledge warrant him a creditable and worthy exponent ; and any deviation from the established ritual should be followed with
suspension , until the committee have investigated the matter , and their decision obtained . Such a course would materially add to the dignity and stability of our Order , and save the necessity of the remarks 1 have felt it my duty to address you under this headinjr .
In conclusion I may add , that I have yet to learn that moral truths would be less forcible if enunciated in grammatical sentences . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Faithfull y and Fraternally yours , J CONSTABLE , S . W . 18 1 ; .
Bro. Holmes And The United Orders Of The Temple And Hospital.
BRO . HOLMES AND THE UNITED ORDERS OF THE TEMPLE AND HOSPITAL .
' Fo the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have perused in your issue of the 30 th ult , , an article b y Bio . Holmes , on the article published in the Spectator , some six months since , criticising the installation proceedings of Convent-General on the 7 U 1 of last April .
If liro . Holmes has occupied tlie somewhat long interval in composing the article in question your readers may have fairl y expected him to season il with a little more pepper , ami , indeed , some may even think he should have done battle in the Spectator s own columns .
1 should , however , not have troubled you with litis communication , save lhat Bro . Holmes takes the opportunity again to make voluntary ami disparaging observations respecting the institution of the true Orderof St . John in this country . Your readers will probably consider
that alter the manner in whicii the arguments aud mendacious statements of Bro . I lolmes , and his distinguished and trenchant friends , werc sometime since knocked on the head and respectabl y buried , that worthy brother would have been content to exercise himself in the business
ofthe new united , and let his nei g hbours alone ; but no , the brother is gifted with such wise discretion , and eagerl y seizes upon the observation contained in the Spectator to make another gratuitous and unworth y attempt to disparage the genuine Order in England , at the same time omitting ( 'oiivenien !! -, ' as before ) to tell your
reader .-, lliai the Secretary of tlie ! ' , uglis ! i Langue at once aiklicsscd letters to the Speclalur conecling the obscnaaon ma . e in its columns . Why did not Bro . Holme . ' Civotir tlie Spectator wilh one of his thunderbolts when it . criticised the doings of the new united , instead of cudgelling his brains for six months and then infusing the