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Article ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 3 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 3 →
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Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
for those among our brethren who have been overtaken by misfortune , should be placed upon a foundation which can fear no contingency , and should be raised to a standard worthy of the education of the country . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , brethren , we live in times when the estimate of education in the mind of every reasonable
man in the country is very different from that which it was when this Institution was founded . I venture to say that it was a much greater proof of the wisdom of Freemasons , and of their desire to promote the
interests of their brethren when they founded the little school in 1798 , than when now they maintain the great school of r 874 , because you must measure the value and fruits then as compared with the fruits now by the estimate of education in the public mind at the two periods .
Now , we know very well that in these days to be deprived of the means of acquiring a sound education is to he kept back , in every career , is to be placed in a position in which it is hopeless to rise , and in which there can only remain a dreary struggle for those who find themselves
by the neglect of others , unhappily placed m that position . ( Hear , hear . ) Look at the public service . You know that now it is not personal favour or political importance which gets men into situations in the public service . ( Hear , hear . ) There were times when the great
event of the last month would have spread dismay through the hearts of thousands of candidates , and have raised the most extravagant hopes in the minds of thousands of others on the other side . ( Laughter . ) Those things do not exist That is not the case now . ( Hear ,
hear . ) Now-a-days , those who desire to enter the public service of this country have to rely upon their intellectual attainments , and upon the instruction which they have received . But it is not only in those walks of life that education is now , I may say , a necessary of life : it is
so , as you all know well , and it is so increasing in every career , public or private ; and , therefore , it becomes a duty imperative , I say , upon every Freemason who has the means , to contribute towards Institutions of this kind which are founded for the purpose , and which we have
every reason to believe are fulfilling the purpose for which they were founded ; the great , the noble , the truly Masonic purpose of bringing within the reach of the children of our distressed brethren the means of obtaining a sound education which is calculated to provide for them ,
whatever faculties they may possess . Now , I know well that it is supposed to be the duty of the chairman of a public dinner always to congratulate everybody upon the satisfactory state in which all the matters that are then under discussion are , and to endeavour to make everything
as pleasant as we desire that things should always be after dinner ; and in many respects , doubtless , I can truly follow that time-honoured course . No doubt this Institution is receiving a very large amount of support from the Masonic body . It is increasing its numbers ,
it has recently erected most commodious buildings ; and it is , as we trust , advancing in its educational career , and taking thc position which we should desire it to occupy among the educational institutions of the country . But you must remember that we Freemason's have a
habit , especially when we assemble together upon public occasions , of boasting exceedingly of our charitable Institutions , and of telling those who are not Masons , that in those Institutions may be found the proof of what are the principles of the result of the Craft . Well , in one sense that
is true ; but there is another s . nse in which it is far less true than I should desire ( I am always fond of plain speaking on these matters , and I think it my duty , holding the high position which I do , to say to you that which I really think ) , and I have this to say , with regard to all
these Institutions , that it appears to me—and I have become increasingly impressed with the conviction , that the burden of their support falls much too much year after year upon the same shoulders . ( Hear , hear . ) ( To he continued in our next . )
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , ov even as approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish jn a spirit of fair play to all to permit within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . ]
EARLY GRAND ENCAMPMENT , SCOTLAND . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Through the medium of your valuable paper I beg to draw the attention of the Craft at large to a species of tyranny lately exercised on this side the Tweed by the " Provincial Grand
Lodge of Glasgow . Some few months ago the Lodge Star , No . arg on the Grand Lodge Roll , removed to a new Lodge of their own , situated at 12 , Irongate , Glasgow , the opening of which duly appeared in your columns . As is the custom in
large towns where several Masonic bodies are situated , a number of them are generally found located under the same canopy exercising their various august rites and ceremonies . Such being the case , a body of Knight Templars , designated the " Glasgow Early Grand Knight
Templar Encampment , and Preceptory of Red Cross Knights , " applied to the said Lodge Star for permission to meet in their Lodge room . In due time notice was received by the E . G . Encampment that their application was sustained , and by paying a certain sum per year ,
which was also fixed , they were accordingly allowed to enter upon part possession of the premises , and continued to do so for some two months . In the meantime , the Lodge Star had applied to the Provincial Grand Lodge to have their new Lodge consecrated , and this little
matter took the P . G . Lodge some time to determine when it would conveniently be able to do so . But in the interim , it had come to their ears that the Star Lodge harboured a spurious body of Masons—the E . G . Encampment being so termed .
The Deputy Provincial Master , Bro . M . W . F . A . Barrow being the principal actor in this little drama , and his Office-bearers , are also members of the R . A . Chapter and Knight Templar Encampment , acting under the Chapter General of Scotland . And , by the way , " Tempora
Mutantur , et nos mutamur in llhs , " they have but recently become connected with the Chapter General themselves . Previously the Encampment with which they are connected in Glasgow was an independent one , acting under their own authority , their head being long since dead . As
already noticed , Bro . F . A . Barrow is Dep . P . G . Master of the 3 rd Deg . by St . John ' s Masonry ; he is also Supt . of the R . A . Chapter in the Province , and also holds a position in the Encampment . This dignitary with his exalted brethren , intimated to the Star Lodge that they would not consecrate their Lodge till once they had
expelled from their bosom the spurious Encampment ; and in the event of the Star Lodge refusing to do so , it was gently intimated that their charter would he withdrawn . This verdict of the P . G . Lodge we will leave to the Brethren of the Craft , who we are certain will denounce it as infamous .
Be it , however , understood that the E . G . Encampment and the Encampments acting under the Chapter General , have no connection but in name . The Encampments of the Chapter General have existed under their present head only for a few years , whereas the E . G . Encampment
has existed without interruption in Scotland under the same Government for nearly 100 years ; thus a scion of that body , the D . P . G . M . of Glasgow considers a set of dishonourable Masons , or at least he terms them spurious , which is equally the same .
It was deemed advisable that the E . G . Encampment should communicate themselves with the P . G . Lodge ; this accordingly was done , and in reply that modus operandi was performed which is so befitting for great men to address their humbler brethren , they denounced the E . G . Encampment as spurious , governed by no head
Original Correspondence.
( not by any means the head they are connected with ) , and _ wishes to have nothing to say to them , and if any further communication should emanate from that quarter they distinctly state that no notice whatever will be taken of it And to ensure their success in the Star Lodge ,
they make them pass a resolution that they let their Lodge room to no Masonic body unless they hold under the Chapter General of Scotland ; and , strange to say , at the present moment the said Lodge is advertised to be let for Good Templars' meetings and other societies . " Sua
cuiqne voluptas . " The question here arises , What right has the P . G . Lodge to interfere with a Lodge for letting their rooms to another body distinctly apart from them , who are veritable Freemasons made under the authority of the Grand Lodge of
Scotland , and whose only crime ( a crime called by them ) is that of being connected with an oldestablished body of Knight Templars who do not act under their authority , and consequently the fees and other benefits accruing from new initiates andotherwise they do not participate in ?
The sooner matters are put on a more equitable footing , and every district Body governed by those connected with it without influencing and intimidating those who may be lower down on the Masonic ladder the better . The time has long since arrived that the
different degrees which to the neutral world are called " Freemasons , " should live in that spirit which they profess , and put an end to those squabbles which sometimes exist , but which do much to lessen outer respect for the Order , and thereby infringe on its great and glorious
precepts—Brotherly love to all mankind . We trust that the P . G . Lodge of Glasgow will revoke their decision , so that no ill-feeling may linger in the breasts of some of their brethren . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , Glasgow , Feb . 17 , 18 74 . FRIAT J USTITITA .
" HORRORS ACCUMULATE ON HORRORS HEAD . "
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — It is not an easy matter to do justice , in a letter , to the many subjects which I have to handle this week . But I cannot allow such gross misrepresentations to go unchallenged . I
am compelled to defend myself and the cause I have espoused against all unwarrantable , unjust , and malignant charges . Having acted from the purest Masonic motives , and in strict accordance with my convictions , my conscience is quite clear on the point , and I fear not the
result . The question at issue is an important one to the " Craft , " and equally as important to myself , and I regret only that the lot did not fall to one more competent to deal with it . My heart is in the work ; however , the cause is good , and , being confident of the approval of all
intelligent and well-informed Masons , I go fearlessly to work , trusting to the protection of the Grand Master of the Universe against all threats and attempts that have been , and may be made , against my life . Fair play is all I ask . I will proceed at once , and deal first
with"MASONIC RELICS . " In reply to G . H . W ., and G . W . W ., which appear to be the same—to save time and space I will refer your readers to his letters published in The Freemason on the 7 th and 21 st February
respectively . I think the circulars referred to by G . H . W . were not issued from the P . G . L . of Glasgow , but from the Grand Lodge of Scotland , a copy of one of which I give further on in my trial (?) It will speak for itself , and needs no comment now .
Ihe Melrose St . John ' s ( No . 1 ) referred to is the Lodge over which I have the honour to preside . It was started some fifteen or sixteen months since , and now numbers some 300
members . Other Lodges are also working m Glasgow under the ' •Melrose " body , and some four new Lodges are about to be opened in a month or so . All good Masons who can work their way into the Lodge are welcome . So few
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.
for those among our brethren who have been overtaken by misfortune , should be placed upon a foundation which can fear no contingency , and should be raised to a standard worthy of the education of the country . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , brethren , we live in times when the estimate of education in the mind of every reasonable
man in the country is very different from that which it was when this Institution was founded . I venture to say that it was a much greater proof of the wisdom of Freemasons , and of their desire to promote the
interests of their brethren when they founded the little school in 1798 , than when now they maintain the great school of r 874 , because you must measure the value and fruits then as compared with the fruits now by the estimate of education in the public mind at the two periods .
Now , we know very well that in these days to be deprived of the means of acquiring a sound education is to he kept back , in every career , is to be placed in a position in which it is hopeless to rise , and in which there can only remain a dreary struggle for those who find themselves
by the neglect of others , unhappily placed m that position . ( Hear , hear . ) Look at the public service . You know that now it is not personal favour or political importance which gets men into situations in the public service . ( Hear , hear . ) There were times when the great
event of the last month would have spread dismay through the hearts of thousands of candidates , and have raised the most extravagant hopes in the minds of thousands of others on the other side . ( Laughter . ) Those things do not exist That is not the case now . ( Hear ,
hear . ) Now-a-days , those who desire to enter the public service of this country have to rely upon their intellectual attainments , and upon the instruction which they have received . But it is not only in those walks of life that education is now , I may say , a necessary of life : it is
so , as you all know well , and it is so increasing in every career , public or private ; and , therefore , it becomes a duty imperative , I say , upon every Freemason who has the means , to contribute towards Institutions of this kind which are founded for the purpose , and which we have
every reason to believe are fulfilling the purpose for which they were founded ; the great , the noble , the truly Masonic purpose of bringing within the reach of the children of our distressed brethren the means of obtaining a sound education which is calculated to provide for them ,
whatever faculties they may possess . Now , I know well that it is supposed to be the duty of the chairman of a public dinner always to congratulate everybody upon the satisfactory state in which all the matters that are then under discussion are , and to endeavour to make everything
as pleasant as we desire that things should always be after dinner ; and in many respects , doubtless , I can truly follow that time-honoured course . No doubt this Institution is receiving a very large amount of support from the Masonic body . It is increasing its numbers ,
it has recently erected most commodious buildings ; and it is , as we trust , advancing in its educational career , and taking thc position which we should desire it to occupy among the educational institutions of the country . But you must remember that we Freemason's have a
habit , especially when we assemble together upon public occasions , of boasting exceedingly of our charitable Institutions , and of telling those who are not Masons , that in those Institutions may be found the proof of what are the principles of the result of the Craft . Well , in one sense that
is true ; but there is another s . nse in which it is far less true than I should desire ( I am always fond of plain speaking on these matters , and I think it my duty , holding the high position which I do , to say to you that which I really think ) , and I have this to say , with regard to all
these Institutions , that it appears to me—and I have become increasingly impressed with the conviction , that the burden of their support falls much too much year after year upon the same shoulders . ( Hear , hear . ) ( To he continued in our next . )
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , ov even as approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish jn a spirit of fair play to all to permit within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . ]
EARLY GRAND ENCAMPMENT , SCOTLAND . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Through the medium of your valuable paper I beg to draw the attention of the Craft at large to a species of tyranny lately exercised on this side the Tweed by the " Provincial Grand
Lodge of Glasgow . Some few months ago the Lodge Star , No . arg on the Grand Lodge Roll , removed to a new Lodge of their own , situated at 12 , Irongate , Glasgow , the opening of which duly appeared in your columns . As is the custom in
large towns where several Masonic bodies are situated , a number of them are generally found located under the same canopy exercising their various august rites and ceremonies . Such being the case , a body of Knight Templars , designated the " Glasgow Early Grand Knight
Templar Encampment , and Preceptory of Red Cross Knights , " applied to the said Lodge Star for permission to meet in their Lodge room . In due time notice was received by the E . G . Encampment that their application was sustained , and by paying a certain sum per year ,
which was also fixed , they were accordingly allowed to enter upon part possession of the premises , and continued to do so for some two months . In the meantime , the Lodge Star had applied to the Provincial Grand Lodge to have their new Lodge consecrated , and this little
matter took the P . G . Lodge some time to determine when it would conveniently be able to do so . But in the interim , it had come to their ears that the Star Lodge harboured a spurious body of Masons—the E . G . Encampment being so termed .
The Deputy Provincial Master , Bro . M . W . F . A . Barrow being the principal actor in this little drama , and his Office-bearers , are also members of the R . A . Chapter and Knight Templar Encampment , acting under the Chapter General of Scotland . And , by the way , " Tempora
Mutantur , et nos mutamur in llhs , " they have but recently become connected with the Chapter General themselves . Previously the Encampment with which they are connected in Glasgow was an independent one , acting under their own authority , their head being long since dead . As
already noticed , Bro . F . A . Barrow is Dep . P . G . Master of the 3 rd Deg . by St . John ' s Masonry ; he is also Supt . of the R . A . Chapter in the Province , and also holds a position in the Encampment . This dignitary with his exalted brethren , intimated to the Star Lodge that they would not consecrate their Lodge till once they had
expelled from their bosom the spurious Encampment ; and in the event of the Star Lodge refusing to do so , it was gently intimated that their charter would he withdrawn . This verdict of the P . G . Lodge we will leave to the Brethren of the Craft , who we are certain will denounce it as infamous .
Be it , however , understood that the E . G . Encampment and the Encampments acting under the Chapter General , have no connection but in name . The Encampments of the Chapter General have existed under their present head only for a few years , whereas the E . G . Encampment
has existed without interruption in Scotland under the same Government for nearly 100 years ; thus a scion of that body , the D . P . G . M . of Glasgow considers a set of dishonourable Masons , or at least he terms them spurious , which is equally the same .
It was deemed advisable that the E . G . Encampment should communicate themselves with the P . G . Lodge ; this accordingly was done , and in reply that modus operandi was performed which is so befitting for great men to address their humbler brethren , they denounced the E . G . Encampment as spurious , governed by no head
Original Correspondence.
( not by any means the head they are connected with ) , and _ wishes to have nothing to say to them , and if any further communication should emanate from that quarter they distinctly state that no notice whatever will be taken of it And to ensure their success in the Star Lodge ,
they make them pass a resolution that they let their Lodge room to no Masonic body unless they hold under the Chapter General of Scotland ; and , strange to say , at the present moment the said Lodge is advertised to be let for Good Templars' meetings and other societies . " Sua
cuiqne voluptas . " The question here arises , What right has the P . G . Lodge to interfere with a Lodge for letting their rooms to another body distinctly apart from them , who are veritable Freemasons made under the authority of the Grand Lodge of
Scotland , and whose only crime ( a crime called by them ) is that of being connected with an oldestablished body of Knight Templars who do not act under their authority , and consequently the fees and other benefits accruing from new initiates andotherwise they do not participate in ?
The sooner matters are put on a more equitable footing , and every district Body governed by those connected with it without influencing and intimidating those who may be lower down on the Masonic ladder the better . The time has long since arrived that the
different degrees which to the neutral world are called " Freemasons , " should live in that spirit which they profess , and put an end to those squabbles which sometimes exist , but which do much to lessen outer respect for the Order , and thereby infringe on its great and glorious
precepts—Brotherly love to all mankind . We trust that the P . G . Lodge of Glasgow will revoke their decision , so that no ill-feeling may linger in the breasts of some of their brethren . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , Glasgow , Feb . 17 , 18 74 . FRIAT J USTITITA .
" HORRORS ACCUMULATE ON HORRORS HEAD . "
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — It is not an easy matter to do justice , in a letter , to the many subjects which I have to handle this week . But I cannot allow such gross misrepresentations to go unchallenged . I
am compelled to defend myself and the cause I have espoused against all unwarrantable , unjust , and malignant charges . Having acted from the purest Masonic motives , and in strict accordance with my convictions , my conscience is quite clear on the point , and I fear not the
result . The question at issue is an important one to the " Craft , " and equally as important to myself , and I regret only that the lot did not fall to one more competent to deal with it . My heart is in the work ; however , the cause is good , and , being confident of the approval of all
intelligent and well-informed Masons , I go fearlessly to work , trusting to the protection of the Grand Master of the Universe against all threats and attempts that have been , and may be made , against my life . Fair play is all I ask . I will proceed at once , and deal first
with"MASONIC RELICS . " In reply to G . H . W ., and G . W . W ., which appear to be the same—to save time and space I will refer your readers to his letters published in The Freemason on the 7 th and 21 st February
respectively . I think the circulars referred to by G . H . W . were not issued from the P . G . L . of Glasgow , but from the Grand Lodge of Scotland , a copy of one of which I give further on in my trial (?) It will speak for itself , and needs no comment now .
Ihe Melrose St . John ' s ( No . 1 ) referred to is the Lodge over which I have the honour to preside . It was started some fifteen or sixteen months since , and now numbers some 300
members . Other Lodges are also working m Glasgow under the ' •Melrose " body , and some four new Lodges are about to be opened in a month or so . All good Masons who can work their way into the Lodge are welcome . So few