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Article LODGE ARREARS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article " IT'S A QUEER WORLD, MY MASTERS.'" - Page 1 of 1 Article " IT'S A QUEER WORLD, MY MASTERS.'" - Page 1 of 1 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Lodge Arrears.
amendment . There is a " locus paenitentiae " always here for all , even for tardy lodge subscribers , and as it is " never too late to mend . " Here below , let us hope and believe , while time and opportunity are ours , so it is always possible for the most backward of members to regain the good opinion and satisfied consideration of the
lodge Treasurer . But we have thought it well , just delicately to hint what our Treasurers expect , and we feel sure that we may safely leave the " conclusion of the whole matter '" in the hands of those who are principally concerned in these " premises , " and who will understand alike , better than any one else , the force of our appeal , and the meaning of our remarks .
" It's A Queer World, My Masters.'" -
" IT'S A QUEER WORLD , MY MASTERS . '" -
Jt is indeed , and as Mr . Samuel Weller would have condescendingly observed— "werry queer indeed . " Between material scepticism and material impropriety just now , things seem going along at a pretty rate . In fact , if affairs proceed at their present " ratio " of impulsive absurdity , as a young friend of ours observes . " there will be no
knowing what a fellah is to believe or do ! Let us take these two positions " seriatim , " into consideration , with the carefulness which their importance demands , and their " prevailing presence" suggests . First as to material scepticism , if we are to believe some writers , we are on the
eve of a great period of material unbelief . Lecturers and essayists on science , many of them mere " wind bags , " by the way , full of '' bottled moonshine , " not to say " bottled Bass , " amuse themselves from time to time by staitling common-place people ,
and humble believers , by the assertion or some audacious paradox , some bold enunciation of sceptical aggressiveness . To them , the teachers of "Science , " which rests properly on the inductive process of right reason , or the careful authority of proved facts , nothing is apparently
so agreeable as to start iretaphysical doubts , psychological difficulties , and even , though we should not have expected it , theological controversies . All such theories and reveries , however and by whomsoever put forward , are beyond , we make bold to say , their " proper pale "
altogether ; and though , on matters of science , in the abstract or in the concrete , we are quite prepared to accept their "dicta , " we decline to pay any attention whatever to their " dogmata " on things concerning which they are imperfectly acquainted , and are in no way authorised
or able to constitute themselves " dtictoresdubitantium . " We had gotten over , we had hoped , the ill-omened egotism of Popes and Popedom , but from all evils , which may afflict us in this nether world may a kind Providence preserve us , namely , scientific , metaphysical ,
professional Popes of every kind and category . Now we are among those who don ' t believe in the success of any " coup de main " on the part of material scepticism . We have no fear of Positivism or Voltairianism , of the " Independent Morality " or material immorality . We have not the slighest objection to meet them and
confront them one and all , not merely as firm believers in revealed religion , but on the commonsense ground of right reason . We feel assured that any argument which rests on a supposed perfectibility of human nature per se , and on the necessary untruth and unreality of Divine revelation will be short-lived and shattered for ever , on
that great Rock of Truth which Divine inspiration has hallowed and which Divine wisdom has sanctioned for the guidance and salvation of mankind ! And then what shall we say as
regards material impropriety . Evidence abounds on every side of us , as to the laxity of morals which pervades society , literature , the public and private life of many of us all , and without taking the too gloomy line in anything , though we are not
" Given to howling And deprecating croaking , " we yet must fairly admit that there is much in the present position of affairs , to alarm the serious , and render anxious the relig ious . We take up a popular magazine and we note amid a profusion of luxuriant Verbiage and defensive sentiment that one man ' s wife coolly leaves home and
" It's A Queer World, My Masters.'" -
friends , and runs away with a notorious profligate and seducer . This is the " pabulum mentis " for our young generation . We open a much-read novel and we find descriptions so forced , language so sensational , and situations so peculiar , that we can only suppose that the writer ,
reversing good old Dr . Johnson ' s dictum , seeks to make virtue blush , and to render vice triumphant , to overcome innocence , and to laud immorality ! It is not without deep concern and humiliation that we have to icalize daily that " garbiage " of the worst description still rinds
among us a ready sale , in which morality is laughed at , dishonour disregarded , and all those habits which tend to the danger and degradation of society are considered as of no moment , because of habitual occurence , fashionable , frequent , ever the " order of the day . " It is
impossible , but that as , honest journalists and believing Freemasons , we must deprecate truly and denounce honestly such a state of things , foreboding as it does , alike national decadence and personal degradation ! We shall be met , of course
by tne-old saw , ' things are pretty much as they always were , " and no doubt there is great truth in such an axiom , as an answer to unnecessary exaggeration or hyper-alarmist prophecies , and probably we have in the present " cloud , " which seems to darken the foreground of society ,
and humanity , only the return of that gloomier cycle of events and teaching , which in successive ages has always stood in the way of the advance of all true religion in the world ! Believing as we do , that J ohn Wesley ' s apothegm still holds good that " we are to try and leave the world better than we found it , " and which axiom , by the
way , entirely agrees with all our Masonic teaching , we can only openly express our deep regret , that this nineteenth century of ours has to contend with two such serious and startling obstacles as material scepticism and materia ! impropriety . But though we say this , we do not for one moment credit the success of the one or the other . On the
contrary , we hold firmly that they are only some of those mental trials to which " fksh is heir to , " as well as bodily complaints , and we have , as we stated above , no apprehension but that revealed religion and Divine Morality will eventually come out " more than conquerors" over all hurtful delusions , and over all opposing foes .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ Wc uo not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondent , * , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —Eu . l
PAST GRAND RANK . To the Editor of thc "Fni-.-nnson . ' ' Dear Sir and Brother , — I have heard many brethren of late discussing the question as to whether or not the office of " Provincial Grand Pursuivant" carries with it Past Rank . I see that the Grand f . odge circular has generally half a dozen names with P . G . P . affixed , and I have always
understood that Provincial Grand Lodges follow the Grand Lodge in their rules and regulations as nearly as possible , hut still there is no mention of Past Grand Pursuivant in the Book of Constitutions . If you can g ive or obtain an authoritative decision on this point , you will oblige many Irethren in the provinces . fours fraternally , P . M . [ The Prov . Grand Pursuivant , like- all other Prov . Grand Offices , carries Past Rank . ]
LODGES AT TAVERNS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can any brother inform me how it happens that so many lodges are held at hotels and taverns ? In London and other parts of the country we find many lodges so held . At present many who know nothing of
Freemasonry think that the " banquet " is the chief attraction for Masons . Is it not possible , as Freemasonry is acknowledged to be on the increase , to found Masonic Halls , or to rent rooms to be used for Masonic purposes only , so that thc Masonic ritual may be used in places solely used and consecrated for Masonic ceremonies ? I am . yours fraternally , SIGMA .
A QUERY . To the Editor if the " Freemason . ' ' Dear Sir and Brother , — Is it quite the Q . T . for the Grand Registrar of England to accept ( a subordinate )] office in a Province ?
I see by your report of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire that Bro . Mclntyre has been invested as S . W . of that province . By your permission one other question , what would be our worthy brother ' s position should unfortunately a vacancy occur during his year of office in the Provincial
Original Correspondence.
Grand Mastership of that particular province ? See Book of Constitutions , pairc 3 6 , paragraph 4 . " The Grand Master may by a written document direct the Grand Registrar to take charge of any province for which there is not a Grand Master , & c , & c . ' , & c . " True the Grand Master mi ght not so appoint , buttherq being no other provision for a temporary vacancy , a difr
ficulty would in such an event occur ; besides has not the acceptance by Bro . Alclnryre of the office referred to ( which is a retrograde post of honoui ) possibl y deprived some deserving and aspiring brother of advancement in fiis province from blue to purple ' V ' ours fraternally , A LONUON MASON , NOT INTEHESI-EO nur or AM INQUIRING MIND
WAR VICTIMS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you give me space to appeal briefly to thc Craft for their support in a cause which unhappily has not yet received due advocacy . The cause of more poor creatures , war victims on the side of the Russians , who lie
in thousands , wounded , sick and dying , without bare necessities , without attention , and in a condition so deplorable , that it is impossible in any degree to realise their misery and helplessness . 1 will quote from a letter which I received only a few days ago . " I have had a despairing appeal from the Roumanian ambulance , the poor Princess of Roumania is quite helpless , as all , absolutely
all surgeons are at the front , and not one left at Bucharest to receive the 3000 wounded from Gievizi ; and fresh cases come in every hour . The great cry is " Surgeons . " The gangrene has already appeared , as the wounded were four days without any dressing . " The Special Curres-p indent of the Daily Neifa writes from before Plevna , " Great numbers of the wounded are
literally rotting and festering-, unfed , their wounds undressed , their cleanliness disregarded , with these terrible p ictures before them , the public should remember that these poor " victims " for whom 1 plead had no hand in bringing about the war , ejn them no blame can rest , and our common humanity demands that we recognise no difference in those who lie wounded , whether on the side cf the Turks or Russians .
If your readers will reicr to your advertising columns they will see that an influential committee has been formed under the presidency of the Duke cf Westminster . Contributions will be gladly received by members of this committee , by the Honorary Secretaries , by Lady Selina Bidwell , 91 , Onslow-square , S . W ,, or by Yours faithfully and fraternally , Cnviii-iis P . SMITH , P . M . 1466 . 3 C 1 , Albany Villas , Brighton .
CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , If ever there was a time in our own day when Freemasons could appropriately assist in the public application of that excellent working tool , the plumb rule , to try and adjust all uprights while fixed on their proper basis , such
an opportunity is likely soon to be afforded to thc members of the Craft iu London , when the wonderful monument of ancient Egypt—which towered aloft far up the Nile ere Moses led the children of Israel cut of bondage , ere one book of the volume of the Sacred Law was wiitten , when the mysteries of Iris and Osiris were carefull y imparted to the chosen initiates sworn to secrecy—and when
the point within a circle , the square-, the level , the trowel , the triangle , the ladder , the mallet , the chisel , the fivepointed star , and the triple tau , are all said to have had their symbolical as well as their literal meanings fe > r the Masons of that remote era—aftc having lain as so much rubbish on the sea shore at Alexandria for cei . turies , is to be erected on the banks of the Thames , through thc
munificence of our truly wot thy Bro . Erasmus Wilscn , long known as a Freemason , who really carries his researches into the hidden mysteries of nature and scier . ee , our gifted brother will now for ever be equally honoured for his noble public spirit ; and I truvt that the occasion of the erection of this famous old-world obelisk—would that it could tell us the scenes it has witnessed—will not be
allowed to pass over without such an imposing Masonic gathering as has never hitherto taken place in ' . he streets of our great metropolis . It is one of those rare cceasi in :, which once missed will never occur again to the present generation , and which not to honour will stamp us - . villi eternal disgrace .
Allow me to suggest too , that every Grand Lo ! gc " that speaks the tongue which Sliakspcro spake " shi-uld show our g ifted and noble-spirited brother some sp . cial marks of their favour for his truly Masonic conduct . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours very fraternally , GEORGE MAHKIIAM TWEDDI-I . I .. Rose Cottage , Stakesley , October 3 rd , 1877 .
[ This interesting letter uf Bro . E . Wilson has ap-. vrired in the Times . ] Sir , —Lord I farm why ' s admirable letter will , Ihr-pe , selt ' c the question of site in reference to Cleopatra ' s Needle . Mr . Dixon I know to b ; in favour cf I ' arlianient-S'iuare , and he has convinced me that the obelisk will be thoroughly safe—as safe as London it =- - -lf—in that situation . After this assurance I should be sorry to see it placed anywhere
else . The manes of thj Pharaohs , Ptolumies , an I Ramescs will , if they are able , feel proud of the honourable position which has been allotted to their monument by an enlightened people ; aud Lyndon will haie done herself credit by her appreciation and veneration of so choice a relic of ancient Egyptian art . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , October 4 . EUASMLS WILSOHT .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Lodge Arrears.
amendment . There is a " locus paenitentiae " always here for all , even for tardy lodge subscribers , and as it is " never too late to mend . " Here below , let us hope and believe , while time and opportunity are ours , so it is always possible for the most backward of members to regain the good opinion and satisfied consideration of the
lodge Treasurer . But we have thought it well , just delicately to hint what our Treasurers expect , and we feel sure that we may safely leave the " conclusion of the whole matter '" in the hands of those who are principally concerned in these " premises , " and who will understand alike , better than any one else , the force of our appeal , and the meaning of our remarks .
" It's A Queer World, My Masters.'" -
" IT'S A QUEER WORLD , MY MASTERS . '" -
Jt is indeed , and as Mr . Samuel Weller would have condescendingly observed— "werry queer indeed . " Between material scepticism and material impropriety just now , things seem going along at a pretty rate . In fact , if affairs proceed at their present " ratio " of impulsive absurdity , as a young friend of ours observes . " there will be no
knowing what a fellah is to believe or do ! Let us take these two positions " seriatim , " into consideration , with the carefulness which their importance demands , and their " prevailing presence" suggests . First as to material scepticism , if we are to believe some writers , we are on the
eve of a great period of material unbelief . Lecturers and essayists on science , many of them mere " wind bags , " by the way , full of '' bottled moonshine , " not to say " bottled Bass , " amuse themselves from time to time by staitling common-place people ,
and humble believers , by the assertion or some audacious paradox , some bold enunciation of sceptical aggressiveness . To them , the teachers of "Science , " which rests properly on the inductive process of right reason , or the careful authority of proved facts , nothing is apparently
so agreeable as to start iretaphysical doubts , psychological difficulties , and even , though we should not have expected it , theological controversies . All such theories and reveries , however and by whomsoever put forward , are beyond , we make bold to say , their " proper pale "
altogether ; and though , on matters of science , in the abstract or in the concrete , we are quite prepared to accept their "dicta , " we decline to pay any attention whatever to their " dogmata " on things concerning which they are imperfectly acquainted , and are in no way authorised
or able to constitute themselves " dtictoresdubitantium . " We had gotten over , we had hoped , the ill-omened egotism of Popes and Popedom , but from all evils , which may afflict us in this nether world may a kind Providence preserve us , namely , scientific , metaphysical ,
professional Popes of every kind and category . Now we are among those who don ' t believe in the success of any " coup de main " on the part of material scepticism . We have no fear of Positivism or Voltairianism , of the " Independent Morality " or material immorality . We have not the slighest objection to meet them and
confront them one and all , not merely as firm believers in revealed religion , but on the commonsense ground of right reason . We feel assured that any argument which rests on a supposed perfectibility of human nature per se , and on the necessary untruth and unreality of Divine revelation will be short-lived and shattered for ever , on
that great Rock of Truth which Divine inspiration has hallowed and which Divine wisdom has sanctioned for the guidance and salvation of mankind ! And then what shall we say as
regards material impropriety . Evidence abounds on every side of us , as to the laxity of morals which pervades society , literature , the public and private life of many of us all , and without taking the too gloomy line in anything , though we are not
" Given to howling And deprecating croaking , " we yet must fairly admit that there is much in the present position of affairs , to alarm the serious , and render anxious the relig ious . We take up a popular magazine and we note amid a profusion of luxuriant Verbiage and defensive sentiment that one man ' s wife coolly leaves home and
" It's A Queer World, My Masters.'" -
friends , and runs away with a notorious profligate and seducer . This is the " pabulum mentis " for our young generation . We open a much-read novel and we find descriptions so forced , language so sensational , and situations so peculiar , that we can only suppose that the writer ,
reversing good old Dr . Johnson ' s dictum , seeks to make virtue blush , and to render vice triumphant , to overcome innocence , and to laud immorality ! It is not without deep concern and humiliation that we have to icalize daily that " garbiage " of the worst description still rinds
among us a ready sale , in which morality is laughed at , dishonour disregarded , and all those habits which tend to the danger and degradation of society are considered as of no moment , because of habitual occurence , fashionable , frequent , ever the " order of the day . " It is
impossible , but that as , honest journalists and believing Freemasons , we must deprecate truly and denounce honestly such a state of things , foreboding as it does , alike national decadence and personal degradation ! We shall be met , of course
by tne-old saw , ' things are pretty much as they always were , " and no doubt there is great truth in such an axiom , as an answer to unnecessary exaggeration or hyper-alarmist prophecies , and probably we have in the present " cloud , " which seems to darken the foreground of society ,
and humanity , only the return of that gloomier cycle of events and teaching , which in successive ages has always stood in the way of the advance of all true religion in the world ! Believing as we do , that J ohn Wesley ' s apothegm still holds good that " we are to try and leave the world better than we found it , " and which axiom , by the
way , entirely agrees with all our Masonic teaching , we can only openly express our deep regret , that this nineteenth century of ours has to contend with two such serious and startling obstacles as material scepticism and materia ! impropriety . But though we say this , we do not for one moment credit the success of the one or the other . On the
contrary , we hold firmly that they are only some of those mental trials to which " fksh is heir to , " as well as bodily complaints , and we have , as we stated above , no apprehension but that revealed religion and Divine Morality will eventually come out " more than conquerors" over all hurtful delusions , and over all opposing foes .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ Wc uo not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondent , * , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —Eu . l
PAST GRAND RANK . To the Editor of thc "Fni-.-nnson . ' ' Dear Sir and Brother , — I have heard many brethren of late discussing the question as to whether or not the office of " Provincial Grand Pursuivant" carries with it Past Rank . I see that the Grand f . odge circular has generally half a dozen names with P . G . P . affixed , and I have always
understood that Provincial Grand Lodges follow the Grand Lodge in their rules and regulations as nearly as possible , hut still there is no mention of Past Grand Pursuivant in the Book of Constitutions . If you can g ive or obtain an authoritative decision on this point , you will oblige many Irethren in the provinces . fours fraternally , P . M . [ The Prov . Grand Pursuivant , like- all other Prov . Grand Offices , carries Past Rank . ]
LODGES AT TAVERNS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can any brother inform me how it happens that so many lodges are held at hotels and taverns ? In London and other parts of the country we find many lodges so held . At present many who know nothing of
Freemasonry think that the " banquet " is the chief attraction for Masons . Is it not possible , as Freemasonry is acknowledged to be on the increase , to found Masonic Halls , or to rent rooms to be used for Masonic purposes only , so that thc Masonic ritual may be used in places solely used and consecrated for Masonic ceremonies ? I am . yours fraternally , SIGMA .
A QUERY . To the Editor if the " Freemason . ' ' Dear Sir and Brother , — Is it quite the Q . T . for the Grand Registrar of England to accept ( a subordinate )] office in a Province ?
I see by your report of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire that Bro . Mclntyre has been invested as S . W . of that province . By your permission one other question , what would be our worthy brother ' s position should unfortunately a vacancy occur during his year of office in the Provincial
Original Correspondence.
Grand Mastership of that particular province ? See Book of Constitutions , pairc 3 6 , paragraph 4 . " The Grand Master may by a written document direct the Grand Registrar to take charge of any province for which there is not a Grand Master , & c , & c . ' , & c . " True the Grand Master mi ght not so appoint , buttherq being no other provision for a temporary vacancy , a difr
ficulty would in such an event occur ; besides has not the acceptance by Bro . Alclnryre of the office referred to ( which is a retrograde post of honoui ) possibl y deprived some deserving and aspiring brother of advancement in fiis province from blue to purple ' V ' ours fraternally , A LONUON MASON , NOT INTEHESI-EO nur or AM INQUIRING MIND
WAR VICTIMS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you give me space to appeal briefly to thc Craft for their support in a cause which unhappily has not yet received due advocacy . The cause of more poor creatures , war victims on the side of the Russians , who lie
in thousands , wounded , sick and dying , without bare necessities , without attention , and in a condition so deplorable , that it is impossible in any degree to realise their misery and helplessness . 1 will quote from a letter which I received only a few days ago . " I have had a despairing appeal from the Roumanian ambulance , the poor Princess of Roumania is quite helpless , as all , absolutely
all surgeons are at the front , and not one left at Bucharest to receive the 3000 wounded from Gievizi ; and fresh cases come in every hour . The great cry is " Surgeons . " The gangrene has already appeared , as the wounded were four days without any dressing . " The Special Curres-p indent of the Daily Neifa writes from before Plevna , " Great numbers of the wounded are
literally rotting and festering-, unfed , their wounds undressed , their cleanliness disregarded , with these terrible p ictures before them , the public should remember that these poor " victims " for whom 1 plead had no hand in bringing about the war , ejn them no blame can rest , and our common humanity demands that we recognise no difference in those who lie wounded , whether on the side cf the Turks or Russians .
If your readers will reicr to your advertising columns they will see that an influential committee has been formed under the presidency of the Duke cf Westminster . Contributions will be gladly received by members of this committee , by the Honorary Secretaries , by Lady Selina Bidwell , 91 , Onslow-square , S . W ,, or by Yours faithfully and fraternally , Cnviii-iis P . SMITH , P . M . 1466 . 3 C 1 , Albany Villas , Brighton .
CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , If ever there was a time in our own day when Freemasons could appropriately assist in the public application of that excellent working tool , the plumb rule , to try and adjust all uprights while fixed on their proper basis , such
an opportunity is likely soon to be afforded to thc members of the Craft iu London , when the wonderful monument of ancient Egypt—which towered aloft far up the Nile ere Moses led the children of Israel cut of bondage , ere one book of the volume of the Sacred Law was wiitten , when the mysteries of Iris and Osiris were carefull y imparted to the chosen initiates sworn to secrecy—and when
the point within a circle , the square-, the level , the trowel , the triangle , the ladder , the mallet , the chisel , the fivepointed star , and the triple tau , are all said to have had their symbolical as well as their literal meanings fe > r the Masons of that remote era—aftc having lain as so much rubbish on the sea shore at Alexandria for cei . turies , is to be erected on the banks of the Thames , through thc
munificence of our truly wot thy Bro . Erasmus Wilscn , long known as a Freemason , who really carries his researches into the hidden mysteries of nature and scier . ee , our gifted brother will now for ever be equally honoured for his noble public spirit ; and I truvt that the occasion of the erection of this famous old-world obelisk—would that it could tell us the scenes it has witnessed—will not be
allowed to pass over without such an imposing Masonic gathering as has never hitherto taken place in ' . he streets of our great metropolis . It is one of those rare cceasi in :, which once missed will never occur again to the present generation , and which not to honour will stamp us - . villi eternal disgrace .
Allow me to suggest too , that every Grand Lo ! gc " that speaks the tongue which Sliakspcro spake " shi-uld show our g ifted and noble-spirited brother some sp . cial marks of their favour for his truly Masonic conduct . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours very fraternally , GEORGE MAHKIIAM TWEDDI-I . I .. Rose Cottage , Stakesley , October 3 rd , 1877 .
[ This interesting letter uf Bro . E . Wilson has ap-. vrired in the Times . ] Sir , —Lord I farm why ' s admirable letter will , Ihr-pe , selt ' c the question of site in reference to Cleopatra ' s Needle . Mr . Dixon I know to b ; in favour cf I ' arlianient-S'iuare , and he has convinced me that the obelisk will be thoroughly safe—as safe as London it =- - -lf—in that situation . After this assurance I should be sorry to see it placed anywhere
else . The manes of thj Pharaohs , Ptolumies , an I Ramescs will , if they are able , feel proud of the honourable position which has been allotted to their monument by an enlightened people ; aud Lyndon will haie done herself credit by her appreciation and veneration of so choice a relic of ancient Egyptian art . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , October 4 . EUASMLS WILSOHT .