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Freemasonry And Roman Catholicism.
call attention to it , for fear that , unintentionally , on the authority of so eminent a Freemason , an error might be promulgated as regards Masonic law , and accepted by Freemasons , which might have very serious consequences , and mig ht lead to many deplorable results .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ Wc do net hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —Eu . ]
THE ROYAL VISIT TO PLYMOUTH . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In my letter published in your paper dated 26 th ulto ., I am made to say " the W . M . and P . M . ( a retired Naval Officer ) were , " & c , it
should have been . " The W . M . and P . M ., of Lodge Metham , 1205 ( both retired Naval Officers ) were , " & c . I cannot allow the production of " CM ., 120 5 , " to pass unnoticed , although , I suppose ,
by so doing , I may again bring down upon myself the vials of his wrath . First , however , allow me to suggest to that brother , who , if my suspicion as to his identity is correct , has not long been initiated as one of
us , the desirability of quoting correctly , and of endeavouring , if possible , to avoid the use of acrimonious , unmasonic , insulting , and ungentlemanly language . My former letter was written solely with a
desire to clear up the unpleasantness which has arisen . I certainly have no desire to act as Bro . Col . Elliott ' s champion ; indeed , I fail to see he needs one , but if he does , I am sure he is well qualified to defend himself from such attacks as
those made upon him by "CM ., 120- 5 , " ' evidently wholly fails to realise the duties which as a Mason he is now bound to discharge . I still have the " hardihood " to express an opinion that Bro . Hughan is in error as to Bro .
Elliot s real duties , perhaps , however , there are other members of the Committee who can give some futther information upon the point , as I regret to find the minute book silent upon it . I do not think it necessary to deal with "C . M ' s "
personal attack upon me , other than to express my entire concurrence in his recommendation to persons generally to make themselves acquainted with the circumstances of the case , and to advise him personally to bear the advice strongly in
mind , but as to the special knowledge of the General ' s opinion which is attributed to me , I can but state that the Committee passed a resolution expressive of their desire for officers of the Army and Navy to appear in uniform , and it was only
when they were informed an application which such of the N . C . Officers of the Royal Marines as are Masons had forwarded through their Commandant to the General Commanding the District , requesting permission to attend in uniform , had been returned with a distinct refusal , upon
the ground that to grant it would be infringe the Queen ' s Regulations , that such resolution was rescinded , and his views were consequently known to the other members of the Committee in common with myself . If " CM . " felt inclined to look at the matter in a fair and fraternal spirit I think he would be able to see that so far as the
Committee were concerned there was no " sin of commission , " but that the fault lies with the General , or as I have a very strong opinion ( and one not formed without good grounds , although I am not at liberty to mention them ) one of the
members of his staff , neither could there have been any omission , as whether Bro . Elliot made the enquiry or not , permission was refused when applied for . Yours truly and fraternally ,
RICHARD CURTEIS . W . M ., Lodge Sincerity , 18 9 . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —¦ Through the courtesy of the S . cietary of the "General Committee , " to whom the chief
Original Correspondence.
portion of the arrangements , and the management of the procession were entrusted , I am able now to completely exonerate the members from any blame respecting the exclusion of the military brethren . Bro . Leigh , R . N ., Prov . Grand Secretary of Devon and Secretary of Committee ,
went through the minutes of all the meetings with me , and showed me the record of the resolution of the members to invite the military and naval brethren to attend in uniform , and that an advertisement should be put in the local papers to that effect . At the same meeting a message
was sent that the application from the Marine Barracks for the non-commissioned officers to appear in uniform was refused by the Major-General Commanding . I have the name of the officer who applied , and also was refused , and the name also of another officer who personally
applied to the General , and who was'likewise refused ; so it appears to me that it is quite evident the exclusion of our military brethren had its source in a military order . The committee in consequence , rescinded the resolution before mentioned , and then simply issued instructions
as to the clothing of the civilians . I desire to thank Bro . Leigh for his attention to my wants , and for the time he devoted to the enquiry , and I have only to regret that there has been so long a delay in the exact explanation being given . Yours truly and fraternally , W . J . HUGHAN . Truro , 1 oth October , 1874 .
MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE .
To the Editor of The Freemason , Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly answer the following questions through the medium of your columns , and by its publicity elicit perhaps some remarks from experienced Masons , staunch in the defence and adherence to the antient landmarks of our
Order . The facts are simply these : A . Past-Master is invested on St . John ' s Day as J . W . ; two or three months afterwards another member of the Lodge , who had been out of the Colony , returned and they invest him the J . W ., the
Past-Master aforesaid resigning in his favour . The Grand Lodge returns are then made with the second named J . W . as eligible for the East , and still expresses his opinion that he is always eligible for the Chair if nominated and elected .
The other instance is as yet only partially carried out , A Senior Warden is invested on St . John ' s Day last by proxy , for a member who is on a visit to England for the benefit of his health , but who returns and takes his seat in August . On
St . John ' s Day a protest is recorded on the minutes by one of the members against this appointment on the ground that his absence fr om the Colony and uncertain return was in itself
irregular , but at all events the Warden so invested by proxy was inelig ible for the Chair next St . John ' s Day by reason of not serving a full twelve months as Warden in terms of Art 2 , " Private Lodges , " Bk . of Con . p . 62 .
1 . Your opinion is therefore asked , Whether or not it is absolutely essential to be present at the investiture and personally serve a full twelve months as Warden before he can be eligible for the chair ?
2 . Whether or not proxies are to be allowed for absentees , or only allowable for those B . B . living in town or neighbourhood , but unable to attend at High Twelve on St . John ' s Day , or Day of Installation . Believe me , yours fraternally ,
Cape Colony , South Africa . [ 1 . A brother must serve as Warden of the lodge bona fide for twelve months before he is eligible for the Chair . 2 . Proxy votes are unknown to the English Constitutions . —ED . ]
SCOTTISH BENEVOLENT FUND .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have read with great pleasure the leading article of your Editor in the Freemason , on the proposed Scottish Benevolent Institution , also of your very liberal offer of assistance . It
Original Correspondence.
was mentioned that certain points as to modus operandi and detail did not meet your approval . I should be glad to know what they are , as well as any suggestions from brethren throughout Scotland , as every idea will help when brought
up at first General Court . All that is requisite at present is that brethren wishing to support the undertaking should assent , First , That there be established a Scottish Masonic Benevolent Institution . Secondly , That its object be :
Branch 1 . —The maintaining , clothing , and educating sons and daughters , of aged , deceased and distressed Masons . Branch 2 . —The maintaining , clothing , and supporting aged and distressed Masons , and Mason ' s widows .
Every other point but this will have to be arranged and decided upon in General Court . I drew up the rules & c , & c , on the groundwork of the existing charities , so that we should have a basis to work upon , never for one moment imagining that the scheme would not
receive nor in fact need some revision . I hope by next month to hear of a few brethren having given their support , but fear that very little will be done till the beginning of next year . I should be much obliged if you would
keep the matter open in your paper occasionally , so that the idea may not die out in Scotland . Yours fraternally , GEORGE R . HARRIOTT , OF KILLIEMORE . Prov . G . M . Wigtown and Kirkcudbright .
OUR LATE GRAND MASTER .
To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , As no person may be made a Freemason unless he is of mature age , and capable of judging for himself , and it being one of the admitted tenets of the Order , that Freemasonry
has no right to interfere with the reli gious convictions of its members , I think it would be more in accordance with our princi ples to accept the recent secession from our Order in silence , only mourning over the weakness which could break faith with him , who was so solemnl y
called upon to witness the acceptance of brotherhood with us . And as no advantage can be attained by the continued reference to so painful a subject before the popular world , 1 would recommend brethren to abstain from making any
more remarks upon it , leaving to the conscience of the brother the task of reconciling it with himself , whether he , as a responsible being , has acted with honour and propriety . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , A SORROWING VV . M .
THE COMING INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND MASTER .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , As it has not yet been publicl y announced when the above ceremony is to take place , I trust I am not too late in expressing a wish , which I am sure is shared by many W . M . ' s ,
P . M . ' s , and Wardens of country lodges , within a radius of , say , eighty or one hundred miles of the Metropolis . I can but admit that the Quarterly Communications of G . L . are well attended , but I know that if the hour of assembling was fixed two or three hours earlier , so that the business of G . L . would be over , say about 6 p . m .,
there would be a much better attendance of country members , who could leave home in the morning and ensure returning the same ni ght * I therefore hope that the Installation of our Royal Brother will be fixed at such an hour that will enable many of the country members to return home the same day .
I remain , yours fraternally , A COUNTRY P . M . Oct . 10 th , 1874 .
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Permit me through your widely circulated columns to thank all those brethren who supported the case of Fanny Craig , at the late
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry And Roman Catholicism.
call attention to it , for fear that , unintentionally , on the authority of so eminent a Freemason , an error might be promulgated as regards Masonic law , and accepted by Freemasons , which might have very serious consequences , and mig ht lead to many deplorable results .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ Wc do net hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —Eu . ]
THE ROYAL VISIT TO PLYMOUTH . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In my letter published in your paper dated 26 th ulto ., I am made to say " the W . M . and P . M . ( a retired Naval Officer ) were , " & c , it
should have been . " The W . M . and P . M ., of Lodge Metham , 1205 ( both retired Naval Officers ) were , " & c . I cannot allow the production of " CM ., 120 5 , " to pass unnoticed , although , I suppose ,
by so doing , I may again bring down upon myself the vials of his wrath . First , however , allow me to suggest to that brother , who , if my suspicion as to his identity is correct , has not long been initiated as one of
us , the desirability of quoting correctly , and of endeavouring , if possible , to avoid the use of acrimonious , unmasonic , insulting , and ungentlemanly language . My former letter was written solely with a
desire to clear up the unpleasantness which has arisen . I certainly have no desire to act as Bro . Col . Elliott ' s champion ; indeed , I fail to see he needs one , but if he does , I am sure he is well qualified to defend himself from such attacks as
those made upon him by "CM ., 120- 5 , " ' evidently wholly fails to realise the duties which as a Mason he is now bound to discharge . I still have the " hardihood " to express an opinion that Bro . Hughan is in error as to Bro .
Elliot s real duties , perhaps , however , there are other members of the Committee who can give some futther information upon the point , as I regret to find the minute book silent upon it . I do not think it necessary to deal with "C . M ' s "
personal attack upon me , other than to express my entire concurrence in his recommendation to persons generally to make themselves acquainted with the circumstances of the case , and to advise him personally to bear the advice strongly in
mind , but as to the special knowledge of the General ' s opinion which is attributed to me , I can but state that the Committee passed a resolution expressive of their desire for officers of the Army and Navy to appear in uniform , and it was only
when they were informed an application which such of the N . C . Officers of the Royal Marines as are Masons had forwarded through their Commandant to the General Commanding the District , requesting permission to attend in uniform , had been returned with a distinct refusal , upon
the ground that to grant it would be infringe the Queen ' s Regulations , that such resolution was rescinded , and his views were consequently known to the other members of the Committee in common with myself . If " CM . " felt inclined to look at the matter in a fair and fraternal spirit I think he would be able to see that so far as the
Committee were concerned there was no " sin of commission , " but that the fault lies with the General , or as I have a very strong opinion ( and one not formed without good grounds , although I am not at liberty to mention them ) one of the
members of his staff , neither could there have been any omission , as whether Bro . Elliot made the enquiry or not , permission was refused when applied for . Yours truly and fraternally ,
RICHARD CURTEIS . W . M ., Lodge Sincerity , 18 9 . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —¦ Through the courtesy of the S . cietary of the "General Committee , " to whom the chief
Original Correspondence.
portion of the arrangements , and the management of the procession were entrusted , I am able now to completely exonerate the members from any blame respecting the exclusion of the military brethren . Bro . Leigh , R . N ., Prov . Grand Secretary of Devon and Secretary of Committee ,
went through the minutes of all the meetings with me , and showed me the record of the resolution of the members to invite the military and naval brethren to attend in uniform , and that an advertisement should be put in the local papers to that effect . At the same meeting a message
was sent that the application from the Marine Barracks for the non-commissioned officers to appear in uniform was refused by the Major-General Commanding . I have the name of the officer who applied , and also was refused , and the name also of another officer who personally
applied to the General , and who was'likewise refused ; so it appears to me that it is quite evident the exclusion of our military brethren had its source in a military order . The committee in consequence , rescinded the resolution before mentioned , and then simply issued instructions
as to the clothing of the civilians . I desire to thank Bro . Leigh for his attention to my wants , and for the time he devoted to the enquiry , and I have only to regret that there has been so long a delay in the exact explanation being given . Yours truly and fraternally , W . J . HUGHAN . Truro , 1 oth October , 1874 .
MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE .
To the Editor of The Freemason , Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly answer the following questions through the medium of your columns , and by its publicity elicit perhaps some remarks from experienced Masons , staunch in the defence and adherence to the antient landmarks of our
Order . The facts are simply these : A . Past-Master is invested on St . John ' s Day as J . W . ; two or three months afterwards another member of the Lodge , who had been out of the Colony , returned and they invest him the J . W ., the
Past-Master aforesaid resigning in his favour . The Grand Lodge returns are then made with the second named J . W . as eligible for the East , and still expresses his opinion that he is always eligible for the Chair if nominated and elected .
The other instance is as yet only partially carried out , A Senior Warden is invested on St . John ' s Day last by proxy , for a member who is on a visit to England for the benefit of his health , but who returns and takes his seat in August . On
St . John ' s Day a protest is recorded on the minutes by one of the members against this appointment on the ground that his absence fr om the Colony and uncertain return was in itself
irregular , but at all events the Warden so invested by proxy was inelig ible for the Chair next St . John ' s Day by reason of not serving a full twelve months as Warden in terms of Art 2 , " Private Lodges , " Bk . of Con . p . 62 .
1 . Your opinion is therefore asked , Whether or not it is absolutely essential to be present at the investiture and personally serve a full twelve months as Warden before he can be eligible for the chair ?
2 . Whether or not proxies are to be allowed for absentees , or only allowable for those B . B . living in town or neighbourhood , but unable to attend at High Twelve on St . John ' s Day , or Day of Installation . Believe me , yours fraternally ,
Cape Colony , South Africa . [ 1 . A brother must serve as Warden of the lodge bona fide for twelve months before he is eligible for the Chair . 2 . Proxy votes are unknown to the English Constitutions . —ED . ]
SCOTTISH BENEVOLENT FUND .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have read with great pleasure the leading article of your Editor in the Freemason , on the proposed Scottish Benevolent Institution , also of your very liberal offer of assistance . It
Original Correspondence.
was mentioned that certain points as to modus operandi and detail did not meet your approval . I should be glad to know what they are , as well as any suggestions from brethren throughout Scotland , as every idea will help when brought
up at first General Court . All that is requisite at present is that brethren wishing to support the undertaking should assent , First , That there be established a Scottish Masonic Benevolent Institution . Secondly , That its object be :
Branch 1 . —The maintaining , clothing , and educating sons and daughters , of aged , deceased and distressed Masons . Branch 2 . —The maintaining , clothing , and supporting aged and distressed Masons , and Mason ' s widows .
Every other point but this will have to be arranged and decided upon in General Court . I drew up the rules & c , & c , on the groundwork of the existing charities , so that we should have a basis to work upon , never for one moment imagining that the scheme would not
receive nor in fact need some revision . I hope by next month to hear of a few brethren having given their support , but fear that very little will be done till the beginning of next year . I should be much obliged if you would
keep the matter open in your paper occasionally , so that the idea may not die out in Scotland . Yours fraternally , GEORGE R . HARRIOTT , OF KILLIEMORE . Prov . G . M . Wigtown and Kirkcudbright .
OUR LATE GRAND MASTER .
To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , As no person may be made a Freemason unless he is of mature age , and capable of judging for himself , and it being one of the admitted tenets of the Order , that Freemasonry
has no right to interfere with the reli gious convictions of its members , I think it would be more in accordance with our princi ples to accept the recent secession from our Order in silence , only mourning over the weakness which could break faith with him , who was so solemnl y
called upon to witness the acceptance of brotherhood with us . And as no advantage can be attained by the continued reference to so painful a subject before the popular world , 1 would recommend brethren to abstain from making any
more remarks upon it , leaving to the conscience of the brother the task of reconciling it with himself , whether he , as a responsible being , has acted with honour and propriety . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , A SORROWING VV . M .
THE COMING INSTALLATION OF THE GRAND MASTER .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , As it has not yet been publicl y announced when the above ceremony is to take place , I trust I am not too late in expressing a wish , which I am sure is shared by many W . M . ' s ,
P . M . ' s , and Wardens of country lodges , within a radius of , say , eighty or one hundred miles of the Metropolis . I can but admit that the Quarterly Communications of G . L . are well attended , but I know that if the hour of assembling was fixed two or three hours earlier , so that the business of G . L . would be over , say about 6 p . m .,
there would be a much better attendance of country members , who could leave home in the morning and ensure returning the same ni ght * I therefore hope that the Installation of our Royal Brother will be fixed at such an hour that will enable many of the country members to return home the same day .
I remain , yours fraternally , A COUNTRY P . M . Oct . 10 th , 1874 .
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Permit me through your widely circulated columns to thank all those brethren who supported the case of Fanny Craig , at the late