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Article THE OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article "ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM."—I. Page 1 of 1 Article "ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM."—I. Page 1 of 1 Article THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Old Charges Of British Freemasons.
As the bulk of the Old Charges are divided between the two groups which head the list , a word or two may come in here , even although the Grand Lodge ( I . ) , and Sloane ( II . ) Families as yet await the fraternal dissection of the doctor . The division into groups or families must stand or fall according to the merits or demerits of the scheme as hereafter to be expounded , but no
difficulty arises with regard to the titles that have been bestowed upon them . With the individual versions , however , it may be different , and great confusion will arise if the existing nomenclature , by which I mean the nominal and numerical roll given in my History of Fremasonry , be departed from . Each reference to the Old Charges will be found in the index to my work ,
so that if the names and numbers with which they are already labelled be retained , the further study of these documents , upon which we are invited to embark , will be unattended with the grave difficulties of laboriously picking our way through the old paths , without other aid than the assistance of new finger-posts , which would only mislead in the few instances where they failed to altogether repel any further exploration .
Passing to the third group under Dr . Begemann's system of classification , the learned dissector questions my judgment in having decided—in harmony with the opinions of Bro . Woodford and Hughan—that the Roberts'printed Constitutions ( 44 ) was taken from Harl . MS ., 1042 ( 11 ) , and expresses a belief that MSS . No . 44 and 11 , [ the former is not in strictness a manuscript , though that title is used both by Bro . Begemann
and myself , for convenience ] had a common original , now lost to us . This may be so—and I do not undervalue either the force or the clearness of the argument by which the contention is upheld ; but I think the doctor , in his laudable anxiety to get at the truth , by applying to every source of information , hardly realises to the full what a precarious footing of authority so much of it rests upon . The Roberts' version stands , as I have elsewhere said , " on the
faith of the compiler . " There is nothing at all closely approaching it , but Harleian MS . 1942 . Nor is the latter a document of any real weight . It comes from doubtful custody , and there are no circumstances from which we should be justified in inferring that it was ever the property of a lodge , or made use of at admissions into the Society . Neither the Roberts or the Harleian documents helps the other . If , indeed , the missing original of
both versions should be discovered and prove to be a well-attested " Lodge Record" ( see my " History of Freemasonry , " Vol . II ., p . 192 ) . the case would be altered , but upon the facts as at present before us , 1 do not see my way—much as I appreciate the powerful manner in which Dr . Begemann handles the evidence—to modifying the judgment I have already ventured to pass upon the Roberts and Harleian MSS .
By way of analogy let us take the Lansdowne ( 3 ) MS ., which is only a curious writing , and—standing alone—ranks as an historical document of the filth class ( Hist . vol . ii-, p . 192 ) . But its reading is endowed with a higher authority by the evidence of the AntiquUy ( 23 ) MS . Still the Lansdowne document is undoubtedly a manuscript , and one of ancient date ,
while the Roberts version , so far at least as any proof is forthcoming , wis never a manuscript at all , except , no doubt , in the restricted sense , that the efforts of the compiler may have served the homely purpose of printer ' s copy , and the reading it gives , even by being bracketed with that of Harleian 1492 , is only lifted from the sixth to the fifth class of documents .
Besides the " lost original of the Roberts and Harleian documents Dr . Begemann believes there must be two forms at least of which the readings have only partially come down to us , one being * the " parchment volum " seen by Plot ( 40 ) , and the other the missing York , No . 3 ( io * ) . The latter , Bro . Begemann considers must have had many points in common with Harleian MS . 1942 , and the Roberts print .
The dissection of the Spencer Family ( group iv . ) has been very complete , but the research and ingenuity of Bro . Begemann—as applied to this division of the subject—demand more careful attention than I am at present able to devote to them . One thing , however , strikes me forcibly , and it is this . If a falsification of documents was so unscrupulously
resorted to in order to bolster up the Hiramic legend , are we not justified in assuming that the exercise of this amusement must have been of a more general character ? Was Harleian MS . 1942 , therefore , in some sort a forerunner of the Locke MS . ?—and do we find in the attestation clause of the Antiquity roll ( 23 ) a further example of the prevailing mania ?
In conclusion , I gladly place on record my sense of the valuable labours now being proceeded with by Bro . Begemann , as well as my confident belief in the general accuracy of his research . But if I may give a word of caution , it will be this . Let our brother continue to freel y formulate in the Masonic press the views he may arrive at . His opinions , it may be hoped ,
will elicit those of others , and the process of winnowing and sifting will go on , but until Dr . Begemann has filled up his canvas , his critics cannot exercise their functions , and until the latter have had their say , I do not think our German brother will do well to embod y in a permanent form the results of his laborious and critical investigation .
"Ars Quatuor Coronatorum."—I.
"ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM . "—I .
The Transactions of the " Quatuor Coronati" Lodge , from its origin 'h January , 1886 , to March , 1887 , are now published in most handsome and attractive form , and make the most interesting collection of Sketches ,
Biographies , and Papers , ever issued in connection with our Fraternity . We cannot now do more than glance at the chief features of this special ar | d invaluable publication . To begin with , the Frontispiece represents ' The four Crowned Martyrs , " from a missal of the Fifteenth Century , the
quartette having been adopted for general use by the Secretary , being so indicative of the name of the lodge . Whether Sir Charles Warren , the present W . M ., will feel flattered with the figure that represents him nolo'ing the Square it is not for us to say . The two Wardens will , we presume , be indicated by the " Brethren" holding the "Gage" and Mallet
, 'he former being more like Bro . Gould , S . W ., than the latter , which must 0 for Bro . Simpson , J . W . In the face of the former we can detect ro - Gould ' s happy smile , on seeing the confirmation of his prognostications Relative to the success of the lodge . Some may consider , however , that as the , mm m . u w ........... , WVMJ . W . . , .. ur . ^ . w , Ilia . UJ Hie
gure holds a Book in his hand , Bro . Woodford is referred to , who , so faras Ur memory serves us , was the first to suggest the formation of such a lodge . n that case , the less attractive looking artisan must answer for the Historian , we cannot give up the fourth to any one but Bro . Speth , the Secretary , as he holds a Trowel in one hand , and a Book ( of " Constitutions , " oi
"Ars Quatuor Coronatorum."—I.
course ) in the other , with doubtless a lot of cement in the well filled pocket at the right . In the grand volume will be found full particulars of the origin of the lodge , copies of Petition , Warrant , & c , & c , and a capital digest of each of the meetings held , since the consecration of the lodge on January 12 th , 1886 . The short Biographs of the members form an excellent leature of the
work , for though not personally known to all the brethien connected in one form or the other with the lodge , the particulars supplied enable one to realise most vividly their qualifications for membership of the " Inner Circle . " Most of them are "Veterans" by service of over 21 years , but a few who are younger in years have lost no time in proving their capacity for work . A lodge that can include in their roll of members such able
writers and Masonic authors as Sir Charles Warren , K . C . M . G . ; Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , MA . ; Robert Freke Gould ; Walter Besant , M . A . j William James Hughan , Major F . G . Irwin , John Lane , George W . Speth , W . Harry Rylands , F . S . A . ; W . M . Bywater . J . Ramsden Riley , Professor T . Hayter-Lewis , W . Simpson , F . R . G . S . ; T . B . Whytehead , and Dr . W . W . Westcott , must surely have a magnificent future before it
and none need wonder at the marked success which has already crowned the efforts of its distinguished founders . Some of these brethren have added to the value of the present number by able Papers , which have been delivered at the several meetings which are duly chronicled . These we shall allude to later on . They comprise the consecration oration by the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , and the addresses by Bros . Gould , Speth , Hayter-Lewis ,
Woodford , and Sir Charles Warren respectively , on ( a ) " Some old Scottish Customs , " ( b ) " The Steinmetz Theory , " ( c ) " An Early Version of the Hiramic Legend , " ( d ) Freemasonry and Hermeticism , " ( e ) and " The Orientation of Temples . '' Either of these alone would render any publication famous and noteworthy , but when united under the one cover ot the
first part of the Transactions , together with the criticisms thereon , and the remaining contents they constitute a publication of sustained value and interest , the like of which has never before appeared under the wing of any lodge , nor indeed is there another lodge that could possibly issue such a volume by a number of such well-known and trusted Masonic authors .
The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls
THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS
WHOM ITS ORIGIN , 1788 , TO ITS CENTJ 3 NAEY , 1888 . G-eneral and Interior Regulations , however , though in these earl y clays they necessarily occupied much of the Committee ' s time , did not absorb it entirely . The children had not been domiciled many days in Somers Place East , when the friends of the Institution were
reminded of the near approach of the first anniversary of its foundation , and measures were at once taken for suitabl y and beneficiall y commemorating so auspicious an event . The general "wish , appears
to have been that the celebration , whatever form it mi ght assume , should take place on or as near as possible to Lady Da , y , that being the day on which the Charity was instituted . On the loth January the Treasurer announced that " his Friend The Honble . Francis
Stanhope had been so obliging as to Avait on the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Winchester , and had obtained his lordshi p ' s consent to preach a sei'mon for the Benefit of the Charity , " and on the question being referred to him as to the day on Avhich it should be
preached , the reverend prelate expressed it as his opinion that " the latter end of April or beginning of May would be the most beneficial . " In this her Royal Highness the Patroness concurred , but ultimatel y it was arranged that the anniversary sermon should be preached on
Thursday , the 2 nd April , and the anniversary dinner take place the same day at Freemasons' Hall , which was kindly placed at the disposition of the Governors for the purpose b y the Hall Committee , provided the kitchen accommodation could be made available in time .
The Bishop fulfilled his part on the day proposed , the matron and the children—the latter in their new clothing—being present ; while the dinner took p lace on the 17 th April , and resulted in a contribution of £ 53 8 s . 3 d . to the funds of the Charity . The collection after the
sermon amounted to £ 29 2 s . 3 d ., and as the Stewards took upon themselves to defray the expenses , the whole of this was handed to the Charity , the total realised for the Anniversary being thus
£ 82 10 s . od . There was also a concert held . later in the year , but in this case the expenditure was slightl y in excess of the recei pts , the former amounting * to £ 74 9 s . 3 d ., and the latter to £ 72 19 s . 6 d .
In the meantime other matters of a less agreeable complexion were brought under the notice of the Committee . At the Quarterly Court in April , the recently Eippointed Audit Committee having carefull y examined the Treasurer ' s and Collector ' s accounts , submitted sundry
important recommendations with a view to a better and more economical management of the Institution . Passing over the recommendation as to the salary and commission of the Secretary and Collector , which the Court did not deem fit to adopt , we find the
Committee complaining in serious terms of " the incidental charges made by the Secretary , " which , they point out , " if not put a stop to , will very materially injure the Charit y by causing many Governors to withdraw their subscri ptions , it being contrary to the Maxim
proposed and strongly recommended by the Royal Patroness , viz ., CEconomy , " They therefore suggested that the business should be confined to the monthly meetings , and so " prevent the frequent charges of summoning and other heavy expenses incurred thereby . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Old Charges Of British Freemasons.
As the bulk of the Old Charges are divided between the two groups which head the list , a word or two may come in here , even although the Grand Lodge ( I . ) , and Sloane ( II . ) Families as yet await the fraternal dissection of the doctor . The division into groups or families must stand or fall according to the merits or demerits of the scheme as hereafter to be expounded , but no
difficulty arises with regard to the titles that have been bestowed upon them . With the individual versions , however , it may be different , and great confusion will arise if the existing nomenclature , by which I mean the nominal and numerical roll given in my History of Fremasonry , be departed from . Each reference to the Old Charges will be found in the index to my work ,
so that if the names and numbers with which they are already labelled be retained , the further study of these documents , upon which we are invited to embark , will be unattended with the grave difficulties of laboriously picking our way through the old paths , without other aid than the assistance of new finger-posts , which would only mislead in the few instances where they failed to altogether repel any further exploration .
Passing to the third group under Dr . Begemann's system of classification , the learned dissector questions my judgment in having decided—in harmony with the opinions of Bro . Woodford and Hughan—that the Roberts'printed Constitutions ( 44 ) was taken from Harl . MS ., 1042 ( 11 ) , and expresses a belief that MSS . No . 44 and 11 , [ the former is not in strictness a manuscript , though that title is used both by Bro . Begemann
and myself , for convenience ] had a common original , now lost to us . This may be so—and I do not undervalue either the force or the clearness of the argument by which the contention is upheld ; but I think the doctor , in his laudable anxiety to get at the truth , by applying to every source of information , hardly realises to the full what a precarious footing of authority so much of it rests upon . The Roberts' version stands , as I have elsewhere said , " on the
faith of the compiler . " There is nothing at all closely approaching it , but Harleian MS . 1942 . Nor is the latter a document of any real weight . It comes from doubtful custody , and there are no circumstances from which we should be justified in inferring that it was ever the property of a lodge , or made use of at admissions into the Society . Neither the Roberts or the Harleian documents helps the other . If , indeed , the missing original of
both versions should be discovered and prove to be a well-attested " Lodge Record" ( see my " History of Freemasonry , " Vol . II ., p . 192 ) . the case would be altered , but upon the facts as at present before us , 1 do not see my way—much as I appreciate the powerful manner in which Dr . Begemann handles the evidence—to modifying the judgment I have already ventured to pass upon the Roberts and Harleian MSS .
By way of analogy let us take the Lansdowne ( 3 ) MS ., which is only a curious writing , and—standing alone—ranks as an historical document of the filth class ( Hist . vol . ii-, p . 192 ) . But its reading is endowed with a higher authority by the evidence of the AntiquUy ( 23 ) MS . Still the Lansdowne document is undoubtedly a manuscript , and one of ancient date ,
while the Roberts version , so far at least as any proof is forthcoming , wis never a manuscript at all , except , no doubt , in the restricted sense , that the efforts of the compiler may have served the homely purpose of printer ' s copy , and the reading it gives , even by being bracketed with that of Harleian 1492 , is only lifted from the sixth to the fifth class of documents .
Besides the " lost original of the Roberts and Harleian documents Dr . Begemann believes there must be two forms at least of which the readings have only partially come down to us , one being * the " parchment volum " seen by Plot ( 40 ) , and the other the missing York , No . 3 ( io * ) . The latter , Bro . Begemann considers must have had many points in common with Harleian MS . 1942 , and the Roberts print .
The dissection of the Spencer Family ( group iv . ) has been very complete , but the research and ingenuity of Bro . Begemann—as applied to this division of the subject—demand more careful attention than I am at present able to devote to them . One thing , however , strikes me forcibly , and it is this . If a falsification of documents was so unscrupulously
resorted to in order to bolster up the Hiramic legend , are we not justified in assuming that the exercise of this amusement must have been of a more general character ? Was Harleian MS . 1942 , therefore , in some sort a forerunner of the Locke MS . ?—and do we find in the attestation clause of the Antiquity roll ( 23 ) a further example of the prevailing mania ?
In conclusion , I gladly place on record my sense of the valuable labours now being proceeded with by Bro . Begemann , as well as my confident belief in the general accuracy of his research . But if I may give a word of caution , it will be this . Let our brother continue to freel y formulate in the Masonic press the views he may arrive at . His opinions , it may be hoped ,
will elicit those of others , and the process of winnowing and sifting will go on , but until Dr . Begemann has filled up his canvas , his critics cannot exercise their functions , and until the latter have had their say , I do not think our German brother will do well to embod y in a permanent form the results of his laborious and critical investigation .
"Ars Quatuor Coronatorum."—I.
"ARS QUATUOR CORONATORUM . "—I .
The Transactions of the " Quatuor Coronati" Lodge , from its origin 'h January , 1886 , to March , 1887 , are now published in most handsome and attractive form , and make the most interesting collection of Sketches ,
Biographies , and Papers , ever issued in connection with our Fraternity . We cannot now do more than glance at the chief features of this special ar | d invaluable publication . To begin with , the Frontispiece represents ' The four Crowned Martyrs , " from a missal of the Fifteenth Century , the
quartette having been adopted for general use by the Secretary , being so indicative of the name of the lodge . Whether Sir Charles Warren , the present W . M ., will feel flattered with the figure that represents him nolo'ing the Square it is not for us to say . The two Wardens will , we presume , be indicated by the " Brethren" holding the "Gage" and Mallet
, 'he former being more like Bro . Gould , S . W ., than the latter , which must 0 for Bro . Simpson , J . W . In the face of the former we can detect ro - Gould ' s happy smile , on seeing the confirmation of his prognostications Relative to the success of the lodge . Some may consider , however , that as the , mm m . u w ........... , WVMJ . W . . , .. ur . ^ . w , Ilia . UJ Hie
gure holds a Book in his hand , Bro . Woodford is referred to , who , so faras Ur memory serves us , was the first to suggest the formation of such a lodge . n that case , the less attractive looking artisan must answer for the Historian , we cannot give up the fourth to any one but Bro . Speth , the Secretary , as he holds a Trowel in one hand , and a Book ( of " Constitutions , " oi
"Ars Quatuor Coronatorum."—I.
course ) in the other , with doubtless a lot of cement in the well filled pocket at the right . In the grand volume will be found full particulars of the origin of the lodge , copies of Petition , Warrant , & c , & c , and a capital digest of each of the meetings held , since the consecration of the lodge on January 12 th , 1886 . The short Biographs of the members form an excellent leature of the
work , for though not personally known to all the brethien connected in one form or the other with the lodge , the particulars supplied enable one to realise most vividly their qualifications for membership of the " Inner Circle . " Most of them are "Veterans" by service of over 21 years , but a few who are younger in years have lost no time in proving their capacity for work . A lodge that can include in their roll of members such able
writers and Masonic authors as Sir Charles Warren , K . C . M . G . ; Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , MA . ; Robert Freke Gould ; Walter Besant , M . A . j William James Hughan , Major F . G . Irwin , John Lane , George W . Speth , W . Harry Rylands , F . S . A . ; W . M . Bywater . J . Ramsden Riley , Professor T . Hayter-Lewis , W . Simpson , F . R . G . S . ; T . B . Whytehead , and Dr . W . W . Westcott , must surely have a magnificent future before it
and none need wonder at the marked success which has already crowned the efforts of its distinguished founders . Some of these brethren have added to the value of the present number by able Papers , which have been delivered at the several meetings which are duly chronicled . These we shall allude to later on . They comprise the consecration oration by the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , and the addresses by Bros . Gould , Speth , Hayter-Lewis ,
Woodford , and Sir Charles Warren respectively , on ( a ) " Some old Scottish Customs , " ( b ) " The Steinmetz Theory , " ( c ) " An Early Version of the Hiramic Legend , " ( d ) Freemasonry and Hermeticism , " ( e ) and " The Orientation of Temples . '' Either of these alone would render any publication famous and noteworthy , but when united under the one cover ot the
first part of the Transactions , together with the criticisms thereon , and the remaining contents they constitute a publication of sustained value and interest , the like of which has never before appeared under the wing of any lodge , nor indeed is there another lodge that could possibly issue such a volume by a number of such well-known and trusted Masonic authors .
The History Of The Royal Masonic Institution For Girls
THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS
WHOM ITS ORIGIN , 1788 , TO ITS CENTJ 3 NAEY , 1888 . G-eneral and Interior Regulations , however , though in these earl y clays they necessarily occupied much of the Committee ' s time , did not absorb it entirely . The children had not been domiciled many days in Somers Place East , when the friends of the Institution were
reminded of the near approach of the first anniversary of its foundation , and measures were at once taken for suitabl y and beneficiall y commemorating so auspicious an event . The general "wish , appears
to have been that the celebration , whatever form it mi ght assume , should take place on or as near as possible to Lady Da , y , that being the day on which the Charity was instituted . On the loth January the Treasurer announced that " his Friend The Honble . Francis
Stanhope had been so obliging as to Avait on the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Winchester , and had obtained his lordshi p ' s consent to preach a sei'mon for the Benefit of the Charity , " and on the question being referred to him as to the day on Avhich it should be
preached , the reverend prelate expressed it as his opinion that " the latter end of April or beginning of May would be the most beneficial . " In this her Royal Highness the Patroness concurred , but ultimatel y it was arranged that the anniversary sermon should be preached on
Thursday , the 2 nd April , and the anniversary dinner take place the same day at Freemasons' Hall , which was kindly placed at the disposition of the Governors for the purpose b y the Hall Committee , provided the kitchen accommodation could be made available in time .
The Bishop fulfilled his part on the day proposed , the matron and the children—the latter in their new clothing—being present ; while the dinner took p lace on the 17 th April , and resulted in a contribution of £ 53 8 s . 3 d . to the funds of the Charity . The collection after the
sermon amounted to £ 29 2 s . 3 d ., and as the Stewards took upon themselves to defray the expenses , the whole of this was handed to the Charity , the total realised for the Anniversary being thus
£ 82 10 s . od . There was also a concert held . later in the year , but in this case the expenditure was slightl y in excess of the recei pts , the former amounting * to £ 74 9 s . 3 d ., and the latter to £ 72 19 s . 6 d .
In the meantime other matters of a less agreeable complexion were brought under the notice of the Committee . At the Quarterly Court in April , the recently Eippointed Audit Committee having carefull y examined the Treasurer ' s and Collector ' s accounts , submitted sundry
important recommendations with a view to a better and more economical management of the Institution . Passing over the recommendation as to the salary and commission of the Secretary and Collector , which the Court did not deem fit to adopt , we find the
Committee complaining in serious terms of " the incidental charges made by the Secretary , " which , they point out , " if not put a stop to , will very materially injure the Charit y by causing many Governors to withdraw their subscri ptions , it being contrary to the Maxim
proposed and strongly recommended by the Royal Patroness , viz ., CEconomy , " They therefore suggested that the business should be confined to the monthly meetings , and so " prevent the frequent charges of summoning and other heavy expenses incurred thereby . "