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Article THE ATTACK OF THE " SATURDAY REVIEW." ← Page 2 of 2 Article SPURIOUS CERTIFICATES. Page 1 of 1 Article BROTHER CONSTABLE DRAWING. Page 1 of 1 Article ENGLISH & FOREIGN FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 1 Article ENGLISH & FOREIGN FREEMASONRY. Page 1 of 1 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Attack Of The " Saturday Review."
It teaches nothing , " but the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man . " Well , these are trreat truths in themselves , and in these days are most important , because , strange to say , a good deal put on one side , in our childish disputes and
heated controversies . But Freemasonry does a good deal more than this . It proclaims unceasingly the sacred cause of "toleration , " it denounces the "debasing practice of persecution , " by whomsoever practised , it upholds the inalienaable rights of the human conscience and free
thought . Freemasonry favours ever full discussion , and an unrestricted " liberty of prophesying " for the divergent creeds and denominations of the human race . And surely this is a good deal . We get often into such narrow grooves of thinking and acting that we are inclined to denounce
everybody and disagree with everybody else . Now Freemasonry possesses this great characteristic , that it is entirely tolerant . It may be in error in such a position , but it is its position , and it is one on which alike its safety and its greatness equally depend . It may be blamed by some
because it seems to antagonize Christian dogma , thought it does not ; it may be anathematized by others because it appears to exalt itself against ecclesiastical jurisdiction , though equally it does not , for in fact , it has to do with neither . It is simply a friendly and fraternal institution , offering
a broad platform for men of opposing views outside the lodge , for members of various denominations , for those who differ , and differ widely in things political and religious in the world j a platform , we say , whereon they meet for works of active benevolence forthe practice of the moral
virtues and the recognition of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man . To some earnest minds such a position will appear to fall short of Chrisfian teaching j to others it will seem to be opposed to denominational interests . But such is the teaching * : of
Freemasonry , and if the " proof of the pudding , " be , as they say " in the eating , " the universality of Freemasonry is the keystone of the great Masonic Arch of brotherly union and concord and has attracted to its organization countless good
men and true , and not the less sincere believers and devout Christians . Despite the ridicule of our contemporary , Freemasonry is very flourishing , and Freemasons are very much in earnest . They " believe " alike in the old Craft and its tolerant
principles , and they mean to adhere to it , " through evil report and through good report . " Over a hundred years ago , an ingenious Frenchman thought he had devoile and ecrase * Freemasonry , and here it is , more powerful than ever . We have every reason to believe and to hope , that it will manage to survive the last " deliverance of the Saturday Review .
Spurious Certificates.
SPURIOUS CERTIFICATES .
We beg to call attention to a very serious matter . A very worthy and respected correspondent has sent us a spurious certificate , in blank , which , it appears , is given by some surreptitious French lodge in England , and seeks to deceive our English biethren , by leading them to believe it is a certificate from the Grand Orient of France .
Probably it was some such certificate as this , which misled the brethren of the High Cross Lodge . We give a copy , verbatim et literatim , of all that is printed . A . L . G . D . G A . D . L 'U , Au nom de la Magonnerie universelle , A tous les Macons reguliers rcpandus
sur la surface de la Terre , S . F . U . Nous Venerable , Off , et M . M . de la Loge , St . Jean , sous le title distinctif . [ In MS . ] Jules Francois . Reynaud . Who are Bros . Jules Francois and Reynaud ?
Are they brothers ? We invite the attention of our excellent Bro . Caubet to this certificate , which we apprehend is entirely spurious . The issue of certificates in blank is greatly to be deprecated , and we sincerely thank our worthy correspondent for calling attention to such an
impropriety , and such an attempt to impose on our English brethren and others , as we cannot suppose that any regular body of Freemasons Would sanction or commit such an irregular proceeding . The certificate is printed apparently at Marseilles , Jhe name of the printer being ' legible .
Brother Constable Drawing.
BROTHER CONSTABLE DRAWING .
We are requested by our worthy Bro . Constable to state , and we do so with much pleasure , that it has been decided to postpone the drawing until the jjth May , to take place , as previously arranged , at Bro . Chard ' s , White Hart Tavern , Abchurch Lane , Cannon St ., E . C . Bro . "
Con-Stable has already in hand sufficient money for 13 Life Governorships , and many of the supporters of the movement have intimated that their sales amount to a considerable sum . So far he sees his way clear to 18 Life Governorships , represented by upwards of 3 , 700 tickets .
Bro . Constable states that his Stewardship at present amounts to £ 350 , and this sum is lying on deposit at the Consolidated Bank . We congratulate eur worthy brother on his praiseworthy efforts and the satisfactory response so
far made to them by the Craft , and we trust that the result will be satisfactory alike to his own warm heart , will greatly benefit the charities , and will lead to the advancement of Masonic benevolence .
English & Foreign Freemasonry.
ENGLISH & FOREIGN FREEMASONRY .
Our article on this subject lately , seems to have discomposed somewhat one or two friendly and fraternal critics . Our good Bro . J . G . Findel , for instance , in the Bauhiitte of April 3 , though only in a four line paragraph , expresses his disagreement with our article , and imputes to
it" many errors , " while praising Bro . Bergmann s letter in the " Freemason" with reference tc German Freemasonry . We did not understanu Bro . Bergmann as at all complaining of our statements , or imputing error to them—on tha contrary—we understood his letter to be
confirmatory of our views in the main . We do not profess to understand of what Bro . Findel complains . All we stated as regards German Freemasonry was , that Freemasonry in Germany was at present under different systems and G . lodges , but that the tendency of German Freemasonry
latterly was to be content with Craft Masonry . We apprehend tha' in both our st ^ ements . wo are entirely borne out by the facts or-tfie case . Oa looking back to Bro . C . Von Daden ' s ' * Kalendar fur Freimaurer" for 187 , '*; , published by Bro . J . G . Findel , we rind there are eight Grand
Lodges in Germany , of which one has sixteen Scottish Rite lodges , one has 2 _ Andrew ' s lodges , one 7 inner Orients , belonging to them , besides Johannite lodges . This is the different system from ours to which we alluded , and which confessedly exists . Beyond this our remarks did
not apply to German Freemasons or German Freemasonry . It was only a short time previously that we strongly protested against Cardinal Manning ' s attack on our Teutonic brethren , we therefore do not , as V _ Q said before , profess to
understand what are the " many errors , " which Bro . J . G . Findel finds in the article alluded to . Bro . C . Von Gagern , in the . Vienna " Freimaurer Zeitung " of April 2 , makes a vehement attack on the same article of ours , which he heads
" * Masonic Pharisaism . As we did not allude to the Austrian Freemasons , Bro . Von Gagern ' s fiery assault is altogether a "logomachy , " rather a waste of words . We rejoice to hear from our worthy if angry brother , that in Austria the Freemasons arc loyal subjects and good citizens ,
never meddle with politics or the problems of an advanced " socialism . " Such a distinct fact , must reassure , one should think , any lingering scruples of the eminent minister Von Lasser . Our brother Von Gagern gives us a new history of the formation of the English Grand Lodge
in that he says it was , as everybody knows , , " Deistical protest against confession . " We don * know it . Indeed we are convinced that our goo i old Masonic forefathers , in 1717 * cared very littl * about confession and the Pope , and that our historical revival had as little to do with such veiws or feelings as possibly could be in this
world of ours . The revival of 1717 was but a natural conclusion to the previous struggles of the operative guilds , a simple continuation of a previous purely operative Grand Assembly , though during the latter part of the 17 th Century , speculative Masons like Ashmole were more freely admitted perhaps into the local lodges 1 We do not conceive that English Freemasonry
English & Foreign Freemasonry.
anywhere avows that it is "Deistical . " All that it does say , is , that no Atheist can be admitted , but it is not a case of sequiter , that it therefore avows Deistical teaching , though it may for its own wise purposes of universal toleration , make its admission as wide as possiblcould be
y , with safety to itself and its members . Bro . Von Gagern goes a great deal further in his objections to our article and we see why he terms it Masonic Pharisaism , a somewhat unfraternal and unbecoming expression . He tells us , that the "highly praised proceedings
of the English Lodges , as far as the religious portion is concerned , are unmasonic . " That is to say , as he goes on to tell us , " the Bible is an unmasonic symbol . " We should have been pleased had Bro . Von Gagern stopped here , for even thus far there is sufficient difference
between us in all conscience . But when he continues , " since the beginning of the last century , since the foundation of our Masonic Confederation , the sciences have made immense strides , especially the " natural-sciences , " and the last have arrived at such a standpoint , that they
by no means admit of an enquiry into the existence of a " personal God ; " we feel how hurtful would be the continuation of any controversy between us . For Bro . Von Gagern goes on to say " the fabric of the world exists , but of an Almighty Master * Builder of all the Worlds , though faith knows well " natural enauirv knows nothing of
him . " Here then we stop , as we are pained ourselves , and our brethren in England will be pained we are sure , with such avowals . The progress of , science in England has , we are warranted in saying , with some exceptions , no doubt , led to
the conclusion that all we see aronnd us here , so wonderful , so beautiful , so glorious , and so great , is the result of supreme contrivance , of infinite design , of eternal goodness , of Divine Creation j and that there is alike for natural enquiry , and for faithful trust , the one omnipotent and
beneficent Architect of the Universe . We can quite understand Bro . Von Gagern ' s dislike of " Pharisaism , " and we might use angry expressions " per contra , " but we refrain , remembering thejjood old adage , " hard words butter no parships' " . '*' , We " confess that if Bro . Von Gagern ' s
views be the views of any large numbers of the Austrian Freemasons we hold the prospects of Austrian Freemasonry to be gloomy in the extreme , as such an absolute negation of all positive truth may well alarm the rulers of a country , and make Minister Von Lasser hesitate . We consider Bro . Von Gagern ' s exposition of
such opinions to be very unwise and very ill-timed and we are glad to think that we , in this oldfashioned England of ours , especially in our own true teaching of Freemasonry , are all as yet far removed , and long may we continue , from such destructive teaching , aud such hurtful theories of philosophical unbelief .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of thc opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion , —Eo . j
THE INSTALLATION OF THE PRINCE OF WALES . To the Editor ofthe Freemason Dear Sir and Brother , — As all of us Masons cannot attend the
ceremony on the 28 th inst . of the Installation of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master , I suggest that every lodge should have a special meeting and banquet on the day of Installation . Yours cordially , A PAST MASTEH A . VD P . P . G . OFFICER ,
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Bro . Much as I appreciate the suggestion of Bro . N . R . and others , inyour paper of the 3 rd inst ., " that photographers should be engaged to lake views of the installation , " allow me to state to him that there are
several reasons why his idea cannot be carried out ; ist , because thc ceremony is to take place by gaslight ; 2 nd , photographers on that occasion must be Masons ; 3 rd , There is no lens yet constructed that would embrace the angle of the hall ; ' 4 th , that the experienced authorities having been
consulted , very properly ( I think ) declined to -give permission to take photographs . There is then only one method of rescuing so grand a sight from forgetfulness , and that is , the idea to which I have been giving my attentioi . for the last three weeks , namely , to publish by means of photography a picture , which can be produced in different
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Attack Of The " Saturday Review."
It teaches nothing , " but the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man . " Well , these are trreat truths in themselves , and in these days are most important , because , strange to say , a good deal put on one side , in our childish disputes and
heated controversies . But Freemasonry does a good deal more than this . It proclaims unceasingly the sacred cause of "toleration , " it denounces the "debasing practice of persecution , " by whomsoever practised , it upholds the inalienaable rights of the human conscience and free
thought . Freemasonry favours ever full discussion , and an unrestricted " liberty of prophesying " for the divergent creeds and denominations of the human race . And surely this is a good deal . We get often into such narrow grooves of thinking and acting that we are inclined to denounce
everybody and disagree with everybody else . Now Freemasonry possesses this great characteristic , that it is entirely tolerant . It may be in error in such a position , but it is its position , and it is one on which alike its safety and its greatness equally depend . It may be blamed by some
because it seems to antagonize Christian dogma , thought it does not ; it may be anathematized by others because it appears to exalt itself against ecclesiastical jurisdiction , though equally it does not , for in fact , it has to do with neither . It is simply a friendly and fraternal institution , offering
a broad platform for men of opposing views outside the lodge , for members of various denominations , for those who differ , and differ widely in things political and religious in the world j a platform , we say , whereon they meet for works of active benevolence forthe practice of the moral
virtues and the recognition of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man . To some earnest minds such a position will appear to fall short of Chrisfian teaching j to others it will seem to be opposed to denominational interests . But such is the teaching * : of
Freemasonry , and if the " proof of the pudding , " be , as they say " in the eating , " the universality of Freemasonry is the keystone of the great Masonic Arch of brotherly union and concord and has attracted to its organization countless good
men and true , and not the less sincere believers and devout Christians . Despite the ridicule of our contemporary , Freemasonry is very flourishing , and Freemasons are very much in earnest . They " believe " alike in the old Craft and its tolerant
principles , and they mean to adhere to it , " through evil report and through good report . " Over a hundred years ago , an ingenious Frenchman thought he had devoile and ecrase * Freemasonry , and here it is , more powerful than ever . We have every reason to believe and to hope , that it will manage to survive the last " deliverance of the Saturday Review .
Spurious Certificates.
SPURIOUS CERTIFICATES .
We beg to call attention to a very serious matter . A very worthy and respected correspondent has sent us a spurious certificate , in blank , which , it appears , is given by some surreptitious French lodge in England , and seeks to deceive our English biethren , by leading them to believe it is a certificate from the Grand Orient of France .
Probably it was some such certificate as this , which misled the brethren of the High Cross Lodge . We give a copy , verbatim et literatim , of all that is printed . A . L . G . D . G A . D . L 'U , Au nom de la Magonnerie universelle , A tous les Macons reguliers rcpandus
sur la surface de la Terre , S . F . U . Nous Venerable , Off , et M . M . de la Loge , St . Jean , sous le title distinctif . [ In MS . ] Jules Francois . Reynaud . Who are Bros . Jules Francois and Reynaud ?
Are they brothers ? We invite the attention of our excellent Bro . Caubet to this certificate , which we apprehend is entirely spurious . The issue of certificates in blank is greatly to be deprecated , and we sincerely thank our worthy correspondent for calling attention to such an
impropriety , and such an attempt to impose on our English brethren and others , as we cannot suppose that any regular body of Freemasons Would sanction or commit such an irregular proceeding . The certificate is printed apparently at Marseilles , Jhe name of the printer being ' legible .
Brother Constable Drawing.
BROTHER CONSTABLE DRAWING .
We are requested by our worthy Bro . Constable to state , and we do so with much pleasure , that it has been decided to postpone the drawing until the jjth May , to take place , as previously arranged , at Bro . Chard ' s , White Hart Tavern , Abchurch Lane , Cannon St ., E . C . Bro . "
Con-Stable has already in hand sufficient money for 13 Life Governorships , and many of the supporters of the movement have intimated that their sales amount to a considerable sum . So far he sees his way clear to 18 Life Governorships , represented by upwards of 3 , 700 tickets .
Bro . Constable states that his Stewardship at present amounts to £ 350 , and this sum is lying on deposit at the Consolidated Bank . We congratulate eur worthy brother on his praiseworthy efforts and the satisfactory response so
far made to them by the Craft , and we trust that the result will be satisfactory alike to his own warm heart , will greatly benefit the charities , and will lead to the advancement of Masonic benevolence .
English & Foreign Freemasonry.
ENGLISH & FOREIGN FREEMASONRY .
Our article on this subject lately , seems to have discomposed somewhat one or two friendly and fraternal critics . Our good Bro . J . G . Findel , for instance , in the Bauhiitte of April 3 , though only in a four line paragraph , expresses his disagreement with our article , and imputes to
it" many errors , " while praising Bro . Bergmann s letter in the " Freemason" with reference tc German Freemasonry . We did not understanu Bro . Bergmann as at all complaining of our statements , or imputing error to them—on tha contrary—we understood his letter to be
confirmatory of our views in the main . We do not profess to understand of what Bro . Findel complains . All we stated as regards German Freemasonry was , that Freemasonry in Germany was at present under different systems and G . lodges , but that the tendency of German Freemasonry
latterly was to be content with Craft Masonry . We apprehend tha' in both our st ^ ements . wo are entirely borne out by the facts or-tfie case . Oa looking back to Bro . C . Von Daden ' s ' * Kalendar fur Freimaurer" for 187 , '*; , published by Bro . J . G . Findel , we rind there are eight Grand
Lodges in Germany , of which one has sixteen Scottish Rite lodges , one has 2 _ Andrew ' s lodges , one 7 inner Orients , belonging to them , besides Johannite lodges . This is the different system from ours to which we alluded , and which confessedly exists . Beyond this our remarks did
not apply to German Freemasons or German Freemasonry . It was only a short time previously that we strongly protested against Cardinal Manning ' s attack on our Teutonic brethren , we therefore do not , as V _ Q said before , profess to
understand what are the " many errors , " which Bro . J . G . Findel finds in the article alluded to . Bro . C . Von Gagern , in the . Vienna " Freimaurer Zeitung " of April 2 , makes a vehement attack on the same article of ours , which he heads
" * Masonic Pharisaism . As we did not allude to the Austrian Freemasons , Bro . Von Gagern ' s fiery assault is altogether a "logomachy , " rather a waste of words . We rejoice to hear from our worthy if angry brother , that in Austria the Freemasons arc loyal subjects and good citizens ,
never meddle with politics or the problems of an advanced " socialism . " Such a distinct fact , must reassure , one should think , any lingering scruples of the eminent minister Von Lasser . Our brother Von Gagern gives us a new history of the formation of the English Grand Lodge
in that he says it was , as everybody knows , , " Deistical protest against confession . " We don * know it . Indeed we are convinced that our goo i old Masonic forefathers , in 1717 * cared very littl * about confession and the Pope , and that our historical revival had as little to do with such veiws or feelings as possibly could be in this
world of ours . The revival of 1717 was but a natural conclusion to the previous struggles of the operative guilds , a simple continuation of a previous purely operative Grand Assembly , though during the latter part of the 17 th Century , speculative Masons like Ashmole were more freely admitted perhaps into the local lodges 1 We do not conceive that English Freemasonry
English & Foreign Freemasonry.
anywhere avows that it is "Deistical . " All that it does say , is , that no Atheist can be admitted , but it is not a case of sequiter , that it therefore avows Deistical teaching , though it may for its own wise purposes of universal toleration , make its admission as wide as possiblcould be
y , with safety to itself and its members . Bro . Von Gagern goes a great deal further in his objections to our article and we see why he terms it Masonic Pharisaism , a somewhat unfraternal and unbecoming expression . He tells us , that the "highly praised proceedings
of the English Lodges , as far as the religious portion is concerned , are unmasonic . " That is to say , as he goes on to tell us , " the Bible is an unmasonic symbol . " We should have been pleased had Bro . Von Gagern stopped here , for even thus far there is sufficient difference
between us in all conscience . But when he continues , " since the beginning of the last century , since the foundation of our Masonic Confederation , the sciences have made immense strides , especially the " natural-sciences , " and the last have arrived at such a standpoint , that they
by no means admit of an enquiry into the existence of a " personal God ; " we feel how hurtful would be the continuation of any controversy between us . For Bro . Von Gagern goes on to say " the fabric of the world exists , but of an Almighty Master * Builder of all the Worlds , though faith knows well " natural enauirv knows nothing of
him . " Here then we stop , as we are pained ourselves , and our brethren in England will be pained we are sure , with such avowals . The progress of , science in England has , we are warranted in saying , with some exceptions , no doubt , led to
the conclusion that all we see aronnd us here , so wonderful , so beautiful , so glorious , and so great , is the result of supreme contrivance , of infinite design , of eternal goodness , of Divine Creation j and that there is alike for natural enquiry , and for faithful trust , the one omnipotent and
beneficent Architect of the Universe . We can quite understand Bro . Von Gagern ' s dislike of " Pharisaism , " and we might use angry expressions " per contra , " but we refrain , remembering thejjood old adage , " hard words butter no parships' " . '*' , We " confess that if Bro . Von Gagern ' s
views be the views of any large numbers of the Austrian Freemasons we hold the prospects of Austrian Freemasonry to be gloomy in the extreme , as such an absolute negation of all positive truth may well alarm the rulers of a country , and make Minister Von Lasser hesitate . We consider Bro . Von Gagern ' s exposition of
such opinions to be very unwise and very ill-timed and we are glad to think that we , in this oldfashioned England of ours , especially in our own true teaching of Freemasonry , are all as yet far removed , and long may we continue , from such destructive teaching , aud such hurtful theories of philosophical unbelief .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of thc opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion , —Eo . j
THE INSTALLATION OF THE PRINCE OF WALES . To the Editor ofthe Freemason Dear Sir and Brother , — As all of us Masons cannot attend the
ceremony on the 28 th inst . of the Installation of the Prince of Wales as Grand Master , I suggest that every lodge should have a special meeting and banquet on the day of Installation . Yours cordially , A PAST MASTEH A . VD P . P . G . OFFICER ,
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Bro . Much as I appreciate the suggestion of Bro . N . R . and others , inyour paper of the 3 rd inst ., " that photographers should be engaged to lake views of the installation , " allow me to state to him that there are
several reasons why his idea cannot be carried out ; ist , because thc ceremony is to take place by gaslight ; 2 nd , photographers on that occasion must be Masons ; 3 rd , There is no lens yet constructed that would embrace the angle of the hall ; ' 4 th , that the experienced authorities having been
consulted , very properly ( I think ) declined to -give permission to take photographs . There is then only one method of rescuing so grand a sight from forgetfulness , and that is , the idea to which I have been giving my attentioi . for the last three weeks , namely , to publish by means of photography a picture , which can be produced in different