Is Freemasonry Sectarian?

IS FREEMASONRY SECTARIAN ?

The following letter appeared in the Suffolk Chronicle of the 9 th inst .

( To the Editor of the Suffolk Chronicle . } Sir , —I am induced to ask the above question through having listened to the sermon preached before the Provincial Grand Lodge , at Aidborough , on Monday last , and I shall be glad if

you will publish this letter in your next number . . If , as I have hitherto believed , Freemasonry is unsectarian , if it welcomes Churchman and Dissenter , Protestant and Roman Catholic , High or Low , and Broad Church , Orthodox and

Unorthodox , and , in fact , asks no questions as to the religious belief or theological opinions of those who seek to enrol themselves in its ranks , is it not reasonable to expect that any one of tin . Craft who may be selected to deliver a serinor to the brethren should be as broad and catholit

in his discourse as in the Order to which both h and his hearers belong ? , I cannot but believe that the preacher of last Monday would himself say this is a reasonable expectation , and that it was not of set purpose ,

but inconsiderately , that he disappointed it . I cannot supposed that he deliberately intended to set forth doctrines which must in all probability be unacceptable , if not offensive , to some of his audience ; or that in preaching from the text ,

" A man that hath friends must show himself friendly , " he wilfully acted the unfriendly part towards his brother Masons of assuming that of all the numerous varities of religious belief th ° se present might hold , only such as coincided with his own views could be correct .

Yet , in these days of advanced and liberal opinions , when even the Established Church itself very various opinions are held as to the " inspiration " of the Bible , and many , if not a

majority , repudiate the theory of " verbal inspiration , " our preacher laid it down that the words of Solomon in the Book of Proverbs were to be considered as the inspired words of God .

And whereas his text ran "and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother , " he was not coetent to speak of this friend as God , but said that it was " God the Father , and his Son Jesus Christ , and their Holy Spirit , " and

repeatedly used the plurals " they and " them " as the pronouns agreeing with the singular " a friend , " whilst in another part of the discourse there was a disparaging mention of the theory of Papal infallibility , which must have been anything

but agreeable to any Mason present who might have been a believer in that theory . Now , surely the sermon would have been none the worse if the lessons to be drawn from the

text had been enforced without exciting a feeling of dissatisfaction or opposition in those of the preacher ' s brother Masons present , who might either believe the words of Solomon not to be inspired , or at least not feel certain that they are so .

And surely the discourse would not merel y have been none the worse , but very much the better , if the preacher had remembered that Masons are not hound ( unless I am mistaken ) to believe either in the doctrine of the Trinity ,

or in the infallibility cf the Pope , and that it could not be otherwise than distasteful to any brother whose views differed from the preacher ' s on either of t ' lose points to hear them treated in the way I have mentioned .

There was one other part of the sermon which illustrates , though in a more pardonable manner , this tendency to forget that the preacher was a brother addressing brothers of different creeds and denominations , on an occasion when the

beliefs of all and their preferences for their own associations ought to be respected ; anil this was where the fact that the text was taken from the Church Lesson for the day was made the occasion for a digression in praise of the Church Lectionary . Singular that this should be done

Is Freemasonry Sectarian?

just now when Ritual Commissioners have reported in favour of a revision of that Lectionary , and a bill to give effect to their report is before Parliament ! And now , sir , for the practical object of these remarks .

I believe itis not unusual for a sermon preached before a Provincial Grand Lodge to be printed , and my hope is that if that course is to be taken with regard to the discourse in question , the preacher ( having the subject thus brought to his notice ) will justify my belief that he would not

intentionally offend any of his brother Masons , by striking out or altering the objectionable parts , and putting on the title page " Revised for the press by the Author . " Yours obediently , A FREEMASON . July 6 th , 1870 .

Consecration Of The Fermor Lodge, No 1313.

CONSECRATION OF THE FERMOR LODGE , No 1313 .

During thelast eighteen months there hap been a consider ablcaccessionof brethren , in very respectable circumstances , to the Lotlge of Unity , No . 613 , formed in the flourishing watering-place of Southport seventeen years since , and it has been thought advisable , with the full concurrence of

the officers of Provincial Grand Lodge of West Lancashire , to form a second Lodge , and the preliminaries havingbeen completed , the solemn and beautiful ceremony of consecration was performed , in the presence of a large number of brethren , under the presidency of Bro . Thos . Wylie , Prov . G . Reg ., & c , at the Masonic Hall , Southport .

The Presiding Officer nominated as his Wardens , Bros . Robert Wylie , Prov . G . D . C , and Robert Jeffries , P . M ., Lodge of Unity , 613 . Bro . Thos . Marsh , Pro v . G . A . D . C ., officiated as D . C ., and most ably discharged his duties . The other Worshipful Brethren taking part in the ceremonial were Bros , the Rev . II . G . Vernon , M . A . Prov . G . Chaplain : assisted by the Rev . C . R . Hyde ,

LL . D ., 105 ; H . S Alpass , Prov . G . S . ; Thos . Armstrong , P . Prov . G . J . D ., Director of Musical Services ; and Joseph Skeaf , P' -ov . G . O ., who presided at the organ and was assisted by an efficient choir . After the lodge had been duly opened in three degrees , prayer was offered , and the Presiding Officer delivered a brief address , stating- the nature of the meeting . The

petition to the M . W . G . M . of England and Wales , and the warrant constituting the lodge were then read by Bro . Alpass , Prov . G . S ., and the petitioning brethren having signified their approval of the officers named in the warrant , the Prov . G . C . delivered an oration on the principles of the Craft , showing its excellencies antl its thorough harmony with science and religion . The grand

anthem , ' Behold how good antl joyful a thing it is , brethren , to dwell together in unity ! " was then finely rendered by the choir , and the consecration prayer was offered . Then followed the interesting anil imposing ceremonial of carrying corn , wine , oil and salt three limes round the lotlge , during which Bro . the Rev . Dr . Hyde most impressively read selected portions ot Scripture .

The anthem , "Glory be to God on high , was then sung , and the Prov . G . Chap , carried incense three times round the lodge . Another anthem was sung , and the Presiding Officer solemnly dedicated and constituted the lodge , pointing out to the brethren the duty which thus devolved upon them , to cultivate brotherly love and benevolence , and to walk in the paths of virtue and

science . The closing prayer was then offered , the Halle ' ujah Chorus was sung , and the sublime ceremony was concluded . The installation of Bro . James Plait , P . M ., of Lodge of Unity , 613 , as the first Master of the Fcrmor Lodge , was then conducted with due solemnity by liro . Thomas Wylie ; antl the W . M . invested his officers as follows : —

Bros . Daniel F . lias , d / . A . S . W . : James Wilkinson , J . W . ; XV . Dodd , Treas . ; benjamin I ., tlr en , Sec ; j . A . Thomp > o 1 , S . D . ; Richard Shanock , J . D . ; and J . Hartley . Tyler . The lotlge having been closed , an excellent baui | uet , pr . vide 1 by Bro . I * . Ilerrman , of the Albert Hotel , followed , the W . M . presiding , supported by most of the

brethren wli . i had taken part in the consecration ceremony , and several others . When the cloth was drawn , the usual loyal and Masonic t lasts were most felicitously given anil heartily responded lo . In proposing the health of " Sir Thomas G . Fcrmor Heskelh , M . J ' ., Prov . G . M ., West Lancashire , antl the rcit of the P . G . Officers , " the W . M . specially referred to

the services rendered lo Freemasonry , and especially to the brethren interested in the formation of the Fcrmor Lodge , by liro , Alpass , the Prov , G . Sec . liro . AI . PASS , in responding , expressed the pleasure which he was sure woultl be fell by Sir Thomas Fcrmor Heskelh at ihe establishment of this new lotlge .

Freemasonry was now belter understood ami more highly approved , by thinking men ; that was the case , antl throughout the province a higher tone prevailed . If the brethren generally are circful to admit only worthy and true men , the Craft will flourish , antl the officers will be gentlemen who will do credit to the fraternity . When

Consecration Of The Fermor Lodge, No 1313.

consulted with reference to the proposal to form a second lodge in Southport , he cordially approved of it , and hoped that the two lodges would work together in harmony , and that the principles of love and goodwill would ever characterize their proceedings . In proposing the health of Bro . Wylie , Pro . G . Reg ., the W . M . stated that in the Tyler ' s book of Lodge of

Unity , 613 , he found that Bro . Wylie was the only Prov . Grand Officer , then present , who had taken part in the consecration , and that to him they were indebted for having suggested the name their new lodge bore . Bro . WYLIE , in responding , spnke of the remembrances which naturally came before him in thinking of the conservation o | Lodge 613 , fifteen or sixteen years ago , and he specially referred to the fact that many of their brethren

had , during that time , been transferred to the Grand Lodge above . lie had often thought that if every Mason would only act up to the grand principles they professed , how happy would the world be , for all would then act together in hearty fellowship for the promotion of brotherly love , relief and truth . The foundation of all our actions is to do all to the praise and glory of the Great Architect of the Universe , and to diffuse the holy and brotherly principles of that book on which Freemasonrv is founded . An

experience of thirty years in the Craft had taught him much , antl he was rejoiced to bear his les : imonyto ihe hearty feelings of fra'crnal regard which in tinvjs of need were s 1 promptly an I gone o s ' y ex' ib ed on every Iian . l . He •a 1 kn nvn many instances in which line Masonic con lttct : tl been displayed for the nssjsiancc of ihose on whom 1 had please .. ! the G cat Architect to liv flis afflictive

nan I . Su ; h were the pr i nciples on which Freemasonry was established antl carried out , and let Ececumenical Councils say what they pleased and send out whatever Bull they choose , the pure and exalted principles of Freemasonry would continue to flourish throughout the whole world . Most heartily did he wish great success to Fermor

Lodge , and that the W . M . and his officers would have much happiness in the performance of their duties . The health of Bro . James Hamer , Prov . G . Treasurer , who was unavoidably absent , in consequence of having to instal a XV . M . at a lodge in Liverpool was then heartily given , and was followed by the healths of the G . Chaplain , and Rev . Dr . Hyde , both of whom responded in suitable terms .

Bro . J EFFRIES , P . M . 613 , then proposed "The health of Bro . Piatt , the newly-installed W . M . of 1313 , " and referred to his long acquaintance with him , and his high esteem for him both in and out of lodge . Bro . PL . , W . M ., responded , and expressed his intention of doing his utmost for the prosperity of Fermor Lotlge , 1313 , and for the general interests ol Freemasonry .

Theremainingtoastswere "Thenewly-invcstcdOfficers , " to which Bro . Green replied ; "The W . M . of Lodge 613 , " who was unavoidably absent . "The Warders and Officers of Lodge , 613 , to which Bro . Dodd , S . W . 613 , replied ; " Our Visiting Brethren , " which was responded to by Bros . XV . Howells , P . P . S . G . W ., P . M . 347 and 449 ; Stocker , P . M . 613 ; S . Baylis , 1 , St . Mary's Chapel , Edinburgh ; and Jeffries , P . M . 613 .

The evening was most pleasantly spent , and its enjoyment was considerably increased by the able manner in which Bros . Armstrong , P . P . G . J . D ., West Lancashire ; C . Haswell , 203 ; XV . Jones , P . M . 216 ; and Thomas J . Hughes , 216 , sang several glees and songs , most of which were accompanied on the pianoforte by Bro . Skeaf , P . G . O . West Lancashire , who , we ought not to omit to mention , is the composer of the music to which the anthems , & c ., at the consecration were sung .

A MONUMENT in memory of Ugo Foscolo , the poet , is shortly to be inaugurated in the Church of Santa-Croce , at Florence . The city of Milan also is about to place , in ihe square of the Scala , a statue of Leonardo da Vinci , the work of the well-known Italian sculptor , Mogni . A COPY of Macklin ' s splendid edition of the Bible ,

profusely illustrated with about 11 , 000 engravings and drawings , comprising specimens of every school and styles were sold last week by Messrs . Puttick and Simpson , of Leicester-square , for . £ 165 . This valuable collection of pictorial art was formed by the late Mr . John Grey Bell , of Manchester , and was handsomely bound in sixty-three folio volumes .

THE Belgian Academy offers prizes , to be awarded in 1871 , for investigations on any of the following subjects ;—The integration of certain cqnrlions , inductive currants , the position in the vegetable kingdom of Lycopodium and four other genera , the rcproditilion of eels , antl the composition anil relation to one another of albuminous substances .

REPORT of Dr . Arthur Hill Hassall , Analyst of the "Lancet" Sanitary Commission , Author of " Food and ils Aduherations , " & c ., & c , on Mayar ' s Semolina . " I have carefully tested , chemically anil microscopically , ihe samples of Semolina sent by Messrs . L . Mayar & Co ., 3 6 , Mark Lane , London , E . C . I find than to be perfectly genuine , of excellent quality , and eminently nutritious . They contain a very large percentage of

nitrogenous matter , chiefly gluten , and are far more nutritious than any other food , such as Arrowroot , Tapioca , Sago , Com Flour , Farinaceous Food , ordinary Wheat Flour , or any of ihe Cereals in use as food in this country . — ( Signed ) ARTHUR HILL HASSALL , M . D ., London , "Highly recommended by the Faculty for Infants , Invalids , & c . Makes delicious Puddings . Custards , Blanc Mange , & c . After a trial no family will be without Mayan's Semolina .

THE University of Vienna has decided to t >' women to all the advantages of its medica .. dmit and two female students have already a' * . school , selves of the privilege , . ailed them-