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Original Correspondence.
did I begin to examine into these thoroughly , than I was obliged to throw them up ; and as ii was with Masonic ideas in 1868 , so has it been in religious matters in 1871 . Investigation into , and thought upon both has led me up to departure from the popular ideas . And there is , surely , nothing unmanly or unmasonic in admitting we
are wiser to-day than we were yesterday . If otherwise , how could progress be possible ? I begin to fear that we have been far too conceited—looking down upon every other nation and belief as far beneath our own , while , all the time , we were utterly unaware of the " beam of credulity and superstition which lay within
our own eye . Bro . Carpenter has been pointing to the socalled "prophecies" * in the Bible as proving that God had , some-how , a much closer and different connection with the . descendants of Abraham
than He had with any other nation , but that is all imagination . All peoples were equally the children of God , and had a common interest and share in His bounty . And what we perceive in the national struggles which we read about in the Bible and elsewhere , is simply the working out
of that great law of the struggle for existence . When a nation was young , strong , and moral , then we see it rising and spreading forth its branches ; but when it became degenerate , immoral , and effete , then its days were numbered . And all this in agreement with those natural laws
which T . G . A . O . T . U . has established , the descendants of Abraham being subject to their operation , just as other nations . The idea of there being anything special or miraculous in their case above that of others is simply a dream ,
and as to their being the especial custodians of God's only revelation , that also is a mistake , for many ot the doctrines , & c ., contained in the Bible existed , and were taught elsewhere , before the Jewish writers had even got the length of engrossing them .
The Bible , as we now have it , is simply , in great measure , a mere collection of Hebrew pamphlets , full of interpolations and alterations upon the works of the original authors . It is also simply a Jewish literary production , and , as such , liable to exactly the same criticism as the literary
productions of any other people , while the " inspiration " contained in it is just the same as that found in Shakespeare , Luther , Milton , Newton , Scott , Watt , or Gladstone . God is just about as much present , and in a similar manner , in the minds of some of our nineteenth-century
philosophers , inventors , and statesmen , as ever he was to Abraham , Moses , or even Jesus . It may require long , calm , and perhaps even special consideration to see , feel , and understand this properly ; but when it is so felt and understood , then the hand of God in history , instead of
seeming remote and partial , as narrow and sectarian views so often make it , is known to be very near , as also very omnipresent . As to Bro . Carpenter ' s idea about the Anglo-Saxons , or the inhabitants of the British Isles being the descendants of the ten tribes of Israel , I would simply
ask : Are we , or are we not , of the Semitic race ? If we are not—as I believe we are not—then all Bro . Carpenter ' s assumptions and deductions fall at once to the ground . It requires more than resemblance in some points here and there to constitute relationship . All nations and
peoples have , and must have , many things in common . They have many common feelings , failings , wants , and aspirations—so it is nothing wonderful to find resemblances among them . A like cause being favourable also to the production of a similar effect , 1 would be more inclined
to consider England as possessing traces of Phoenician connection than of Israelitic , as the former probably traded to England for tin . I fear it would be taking up too much of your space to say much more ; but at page 436 , where Bro . Carpenter tells us that the Israelites reckoned from " evening to morning , " that is a
Original Correspondence.
mistake , as Lev . xxni . 32 says , from " even unto even . " At page 484 , he writes " Holy Spirit , " as a Trinitarian would do , and on same page he speaks of Israel ' s " Christianization . " Now , I am not aware that Israel has ever been
Christianized as yet , or is ever likely to be . In fact , from the statements of some of the leading thinkers of the day , Christianity , or Protestantism , has made little or no progress for many years , while others feel that some great change
is coming over it . The world is progressing , and what does not agree with that progression will just be left behind . Many of the doctrines of Jesus * will find their realization in the hearts and walk of men for ages yet to come ; but that
is different from the existence of a certain system of Christianity . As to Abraham and his seed ( p . 499 ) being specially " chosen of God , " that is simply the old narrow-minded fallacy over again while the remarks about colonies at page 531
only show how Darwin ' s idea of " the struggle for existence" is carried out in practice—the weaker race going to the wall . Then ( page 544 ) before saying too much about " ancient superstitions , " it might be better to look within and see
if there be no modern or extant superstitions amongst ourselves ? And as to stating , page 548 , that " England has inoculated all nations with her civilisations , intelligence , and tastes , " that , taking it for granted , is only the old thing
over again , for Rome did so before her , Greece before Rome , and Egypt before either . And in how many things , even in the Christian beliefs , are there based upon Egyptian or Indian ideas ? More , in how many points also are these beliefs
different from the Mosaic , Davidic , or Jobite ideas ? And we must not forget who " inoculated" England in the sixteenth century , nor who , in some things , is also inoculating her now in the 19 th . Even in Freemasonry we find that ,
although England gave Germany its Freemasonry , the best " History of Freemasonry" yet published is the work of a German . Thus showing a system of " give and take " at work . To return to the Israelites , we are told that the old Jew ,
while believing m God as I . G . A . O . I . U ., had no belief in resurrection , or the immortality of the soul , yet this , although opposed to both Pagan and Christian ideas , is probably what a union between science and Monotheism is now again
pointing to ; for , what we have considered to be the " soul" is possibly simply human consciousness , or the conscious acting of the human brain , it being with man , just as with other animals , a mere matter of cause and effect—as , so long as
the bram is in working order , just so long is the " soul" able to think , or does the thinking power exist in the man or animal . Such a view of matters may be novel to many , but the great point with us all ought to be , not mere dreams or
longings , but the truth . The love of virtue for its own sake ought to be more our loadstone , not merely the hope of a supposed heaven , or that great lever of imposition , the fear of a highlycoloured and imaginary hell . The path of duty
therefore lies in working while it is called to-day , or as Ecclesiastes ix . 10 has it , "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do , do with thy might ; for there is no work , nor device , nor knowledge , nor wisdom , in the grave , whither thou goest . " If
the foregoing remarks are true , and it is possible that , on the whole , they may be , then their effect ought to be to lead us all the more strongly and faithfully to support those grand principles of our noble Order—Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth .
I am sincerely and fraternally yours , W . P . BUCHAN . Glasgow , Sept . 23 , 1 S 71 . * There is no nobler gem in the crown of any philosopher or thinker than Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son , while even Hope itself can point to no better human beacon .
( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) _ DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —For the information of the Craft in general , may I request you
to state , m your next impression , whoze duty it is to prove a stranger visiting a lodge under the E . C . ? . Your Subscriber from the first , TAURUS .
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
Reports of Masonic Meetings .
THE CRAFT .
Lion and Lamb Lodge , No . 192 . —The first regular meeting for the season of this old and excellent lodge was held at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannonstreet , on Thursday , the 5 th instant . Bro . George Kenning , W . M ., P . G . D . Middlesex , occupied the chair , fully supported by all his officers , as follow :
Brothers J . J . Hams , S . W . ; F . Trott , J . W . ; W . Goodyer , P . M ., Treas . ; J . G . Marsh , P . M ., P . G . P . Middlesex , Sec ; Geo . Abbott , S . D . ; A . J . Dickinson , J . D . ; Geo . Newman , I . G . ; and Thos . Cohu , D . C . The following P . M . ' s and brethren were also present : Bros . E . Roberts , I . P . M . ; E . King , P . M . ;
W . Elliott , T . Fisher , S . Edwards , H . Davis , Geo . Parker , R . E . Bright , B . Marsland , R . G . Dixon , S . Haynes , J . Mayo , T . Gardner , Chas . Cann , A . C . Payne , E . Taylor , J . Kent , Chas . Arkill , W . Donne , A . J . Garnett , A . F . Iselton , Chas . Hopkins , G . T . Smith , W . R . Baker , and E . Jones ., The lodge was
opened in the first degree , and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The lodge was then opened in the second degree , and Bros .. Cotter and Ramsey , being present and having proved their proficiency , were passed to the degree of F . C . The lodge having been resumed in the first degree , the ballot was taken for the following gentlemen for
initiation , viz ., Mr . Richard George Putnam , Mr . Joseph Cook , and Mr . W . R . King , and declared to be unanimous in their favour . The two first-named gentlemen being present , were accordingly initiated into the Order . The work of the chair throughout was performed by the W . M . ( Bro . Kenning ) in a most efficient manner . Several matters of business
having been disposed of , the lodge was closed in due form and adjourned . The brethren then repaired to a most sumptuous banquet , provided in Bro . Spencer ' s usual good style , which was ably presided over by the W . M ., Bro . Kenning , who did ample justice in proposing the usual loyal and
Masonic toasts , which were agreeably interspersed by some very excellent songs from many of the brethren , the Tyler ' s Toast at last bringing a very enjoyable meeting to a close . The visitors present were Bros . Col . M . T . Fielden , Chas . Lacey ( P . M . 174 ) , W . J . Miller ( P . M . 766 ) . W . Figis ( Vitruvian ) , G . H . Reuter ( 879 ) , and Thos . A . Taylor ( 206 ) .
THE Right Honorable the Earl of Talbot and Shrewsbury , R . W . Prov . G . M . of Staffordshire , has consented to preside at the anniversary festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys in March , 1872 .
A PARAGRAPH which has obtained currency , stating that the Prince of Wales will visit the Freemasons' meeting at Norwich , is now said to be incorrect . His Royal Hi ghness , who is a member of the lodge held at King ' s Lynn , is
expected to be present at the meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Norfolk , which will be held this year at King ' s Lynn , at the end of the present month or the beginning of November , but the date will be fixed to suit the convenience of the Prince .
THE Burdett-Coutts Lodge of Freemasons , which was lately presented with a Bible by Lady Burdett-Coutts , has paid a compliment to Colonel Francis Burdett , on the expiration of his year of office as the first Worshipful Master of the lodge . The badge has been to him b
which presented y the officers and brethren of the lodge is an elaborately-designed and highly-finished jewel of gold of 18 carats , manufactured by Mr . George Kenning , of Little Britain . Its design is shown in our illustration . —Illustrated London News , Oct . 7 .
THE following matter stands over : — "The Philosophy of Freemasonry ; " " The State of Masonry in England from the Earliest Traditions to the Norman Conquest ;" " The Fair Sex and Adoptive Masonry ; " " The Morals of Masonry ; " The Royal Order of Scotland ; a letter from Heidelberg ; Knights Templar Review at Baltimore ;
" Israehtish Origin of the Saxon Race ; " Reports of Prov . Grand Lodges for Derbyshire and Cumberland and Westmorland ; The Discoveries at Jerusalem j Interesting Discovery at the old Jewish Synagogue in Birmingham ; Notes and Queries ; Correspondence ; Reports of Lodges 531 , 1302 , and 1330 , Chapters 169 and 1086 : & c .
BREAKFAST . —EPPS ' S COCOA . —GRATEFUL AND COMFORTING . — " By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition , and by a careful applicatian of the line properties of well-selected cocoa , Mr . Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicatel y-flavoured beverage
which may save us many heavy doctors' bills . " —Civil Sei-rice Gazette . Made simply with Iioiling Water or Milk . Each packet is labelled— "J AMKS EPPS & Co ., Homoeopathic Chemists , London . " Also , makers of Epps ' s M . ilky Coco * ( Cocoa * nd Cotxicaa « L MiUO . — - [ AdvtJ '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
did I begin to examine into these thoroughly , than I was obliged to throw them up ; and as ii was with Masonic ideas in 1868 , so has it been in religious matters in 1871 . Investigation into , and thought upon both has led me up to departure from the popular ideas . And there is , surely , nothing unmanly or unmasonic in admitting we
are wiser to-day than we were yesterday . If otherwise , how could progress be possible ? I begin to fear that we have been far too conceited—looking down upon every other nation and belief as far beneath our own , while , all the time , we were utterly unaware of the " beam of credulity and superstition which lay within
our own eye . Bro . Carpenter has been pointing to the socalled "prophecies" * in the Bible as proving that God had , some-how , a much closer and different connection with the . descendants of Abraham
than He had with any other nation , but that is all imagination . All peoples were equally the children of God , and had a common interest and share in His bounty . And what we perceive in the national struggles which we read about in the Bible and elsewhere , is simply the working out
of that great law of the struggle for existence . When a nation was young , strong , and moral , then we see it rising and spreading forth its branches ; but when it became degenerate , immoral , and effete , then its days were numbered . And all this in agreement with those natural laws
which T . G . A . O . T . U . has established , the descendants of Abraham being subject to their operation , just as other nations . The idea of there being anything special or miraculous in their case above that of others is simply a dream ,
and as to their being the especial custodians of God's only revelation , that also is a mistake , for many ot the doctrines , & c ., contained in the Bible existed , and were taught elsewhere , before the Jewish writers had even got the length of engrossing them .
The Bible , as we now have it , is simply , in great measure , a mere collection of Hebrew pamphlets , full of interpolations and alterations upon the works of the original authors . It is also simply a Jewish literary production , and , as such , liable to exactly the same criticism as the literary
productions of any other people , while the " inspiration " contained in it is just the same as that found in Shakespeare , Luther , Milton , Newton , Scott , Watt , or Gladstone . God is just about as much present , and in a similar manner , in the minds of some of our nineteenth-century
philosophers , inventors , and statesmen , as ever he was to Abraham , Moses , or even Jesus . It may require long , calm , and perhaps even special consideration to see , feel , and understand this properly ; but when it is so felt and understood , then the hand of God in history , instead of
seeming remote and partial , as narrow and sectarian views so often make it , is known to be very near , as also very omnipresent . As to Bro . Carpenter ' s idea about the Anglo-Saxons , or the inhabitants of the British Isles being the descendants of the ten tribes of Israel , I would simply
ask : Are we , or are we not , of the Semitic race ? If we are not—as I believe we are not—then all Bro . Carpenter ' s assumptions and deductions fall at once to the ground . It requires more than resemblance in some points here and there to constitute relationship . All nations and
peoples have , and must have , many things in common . They have many common feelings , failings , wants , and aspirations—so it is nothing wonderful to find resemblances among them . A like cause being favourable also to the production of a similar effect , 1 would be more inclined
to consider England as possessing traces of Phoenician connection than of Israelitic , as the former probably traded to England for tin . I fear it would be taking up too much of your space to say much more ; but at page 436 , where Bro . Carpenter tells us that the Israelites reckoned from " evening to morning , " that is a
Original Correspondence.
mistake , as Lev . xxni . 32 says , from " even unto even . " At page 484 , he writes " Holy Spirit , " as a Trinitarian would do , and on same page he speaks of Israel ' s " Christianization . " Now , I am not aware that Israel has ever been
Christianized as yet , or is ever likely to be . In fact , from the statements of some of the leading thinkers of the day , Christianity , or Protestantism , has made little or no progress for many years , while others feel that some great change
is coming over it . The world is progressing , and what does not agree with that progression will just be left behind . Many of the doctrines of Jesus * will find their realization in the hearts and walk of men for ages yet to come ; but that
is different from the existence of a certain system of Christianity . As to Abraham and his seed ( p . 499 ) being specially " chosen of God , " that is simply the old narrow-minded fallacy over again while the remarks about colonies at page 531
only show how Darwin ' s idea of " the struggle for existence" is carried out in practice—the weaker race going to the wall . Then ( page 544 ) before saying too much about " ancient superstitions , " it might be better to look within and see
if there be no modern or extant superstitions amongst ourselves ? And as to stating , page 548 , that " England has inoculated all nations with her civilisations , intelligence , and tastes , " that , taking it for granted , is only the old thing
over again , for Rome did so before her , Greece before Rome , and Egypt before either . And in how many things , even in the Christian beliefs , are there based upon Egyptian or Indian ideas ? More , in how many points also are these beliefs
different from the Mosaic , Davidic , or Jobite ideas ? And we must not forget who " inoculated" England in the sixteenth century , nor who , in some things , is also inoculating her now in the 19 th . Even in Freemasonry we find that ,
although England gave Germany its Freemasonry , the best " History of Freemasonry" yet published is the work of a German . Thus showing a system of " give and take " at work . To return to the Israelites , we are told that the old Jew ,
while believing m God as I . G . A . O . I . U ., had no belief in resurrection , or the immortality of the soul , yet this , although opposed to both Pagan and Christian ideas , is probably what a union between science and Monotheism is now again
pointing to ; for , what we have considered to be the " soul" is possibly simply human consciousness , or the conscious acting of the human brain , it being with man , just as with other animals , a mere matter of cause and effect—as , so long as
the bram is in working order , just so long is the " soul" able to think , or does the thinking power exist in the man or animal . Such a view of matters may be novel to many , but the great point with us all ought to be , not mere dreams or
longings , but the truth . The love of virtue for its own sake ought to be more our loadstone , not merely the hope of a supposed heaven , or that great lever of imposition , the fear of a highlycoloured and imaginary hell . The path of duty
therefore lies in working while it is called to-day , or as Ecclesiastes ix . 10 has it , "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do , do with thy might ; for there is no work , nor device , nor knowledge , nor wisdom , in the grave , whither thou goest . " If
the foregoing remarks are true , and it is possible that , on the whole , they may be , then their effect ought to be to lead us all the more strongly and faithfully to support those grand principles of our noble Order—Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth .
I am sincerely and fraternally yours , W . P . BUCHAN . Glasgow , Sept . 23 , 1 S 71 . * There is no nobler gem in the crown of any philosopher or thinker than Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son , while even Hope itself can point to no better human beacon .
( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) _ DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —For the information of the Craft in general , may I request you
to state , m your next impression , whoze duty it is to prove a stranger visiting a lodge under the E . C . ? . Your Subscriber from the first , TAURUS .
Reports Of Masonic Meetings.
Reports of Masonic Meetings .
THE CRAFT .
Lion and Lamb Lodge , No . 192 . —The first regular meeting for the season of this old and excellent lodge was held at the City Terminus Hotel , Cannonstreet , on Thursday , the 5 th instant . Bro . George Kenning , W . M ., P . G . D . Middlesex , occupied the chair , fully supported by all his officers , as follow :
Brothers J . J . Hams , S . W . ; F . Trott , J . W . ; W . Goodyer , P . M ., Treas . ; J . G . Marsh , P . M ., P . G . P . Middlesex , Sec ; Geo . Abbott , S . D . ; A . J . Dickinson , J . D . ; Geo . Newman , I . G . ; and Thos . Cohu , D . C . The following P . M . ' s and brethren were also present : Bros . E . Roberts , I . P . M . ; E . King , P . M . ;
W . Elliott , T . Fisher , S . Edwards , H . Davis , Geo . Parker , R . E . Bright , B . Marsland , R . G . Dixon , S . Haynes , J . Mayo , T . Gardner , Chas . Cann , A . C . Payne , E . Taylor , J . Kent , Chas . Arkill , W . Donne , A . J . Garnett , A . F . Iselton , Chas . Hopkins , G . T . Smith , W . R . Baker , and E . Jones ., The lodge was
opened in the first degree , and the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed . The lodge was then opened in the second degree , and Bros .. Cotter and Ramsey , being present and having proved their proficiency , were passed to the degree of F . C . The lodge having been resumed in the first degree , the ballot was taken for the following gentlemen for
initiation , viz ., Mr . Richard George Putnam , Mr . Joseph Cook , and Mr . W . R . King , and declared to be unanimous in their favour . The two first-named gentlemen being present , were accordingly initiated into the Order . The work of the chair throughout was performed by the W . M . ( Bro . Kenning ) in a most efficient manner . Several matters of business
having been disposed of , the lodge was closed in due form and adjourned . The brethren then repaired to a most sumptuous banquet , provided in Bro . Spencer ' s usual good style , which was ably presided over by the W . M ., Bro . Kenning , who did ample justice in proposing the usual loyal and
Masonic toasts , which were agreeably interspersed by some very excellent songs from many of the brethren , the Tyler ' s Toast at last bringing a very enjoyable meeting to a close . The visitors present were Bros . Col . M . T . Fielden , Chas . Lacey ( P . M . 174 ) , W . J . Miller ( P . M . 766 ) . W . Figis ( Vitruvian ) , G . H . Reuter ( 879 ) , and Thos . A . Taylor ( 206 ) .
THE Right Honorable the Earl of Talbot and Shrewsbury , R . W . Prov . G . M . of Staffordshire , has consented to preside at the anniversary festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys in March , 1872 .
A PARAGRAPH which has obtained currency , stating that the Prince of Wales will visit the Freemasons' meeting at Norwich , is now said to be incorrect . His Royal Hi ghness , who is a member of the lodge held at King ' s Lynn , is
expected to be present at the meeting of the Prov . Grand Lodge of Norfolk , which will be held this year at King ' s Lynn , at the end of the present month or the beginning of November , but the date will be fixed to suit the convenience of the Prince .
THE Burdett-Coutts Lodge of Freemasons , which was lately presented with a Bible by Lady Burdett-Coutts , has paid a compliment to Colonel Francis Burdett , on the expiration of his year of office as the first Worshipful Master of the lodge . The badge has been to him b
which presented y the officers and brethren of the lodge is an elaborately-designed and highly-finished jewel of gold of 18 carats , manufactured by Mr . George Kenning , of Little Britain . Its design is shown in our illustration . —Illustrated London News , Oct . 7 .
THE following matter stands over : — "The Philosophy of Freemasonry ; " " The State of Masonry in England from the Earliest Traditions to the Norman Conquest ;" " The Fair Sex and Adoptive Masonry ; " " The Morals of Masonry ; " The Royal Order of Scotland ; a letter from Heidelberg ; Knights Templar Review at Baltimore ;
" Israehtish Origin of the Saxon Race ; " Reports of Prov . Grand Lodges for Derbyshire and Cumberland and Westmorland ; The Discoveries at Jerusalem j Interesting Discovery at the old Jewish Synagogue in Birmingham ; Notes and Queries ; Correspondence ; Reports of Lodges 531 , 1302 , and 1330 , Chapters 169 and 1086 : & c .
BREAKFAST . —EPPS ' S COCOA . —GRATEFUL AND COMFORTING . — " By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition , and by a careful applicatian of the line properties of well-selected cocoa , Mr . Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicatel y-flavoured beverage
which may save us many heavy doctors' bills . " —Civil Sei-rice Gazette . Made simply with Iioiling Water or Milk . Each packet is labelled— "J AMKS EPPS & Co ., Homoeopathic Chemists , London . " Also , makers of Epps ' s M . ilky Coco * ( Cocoa * nd Cotxicaa « L MiUO . — - [ AdvtJ '