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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
1 am convinced that to lower the position of a Past Master in a lodge would have a most injurious effect on Masonry in India . —I have the honour to be , sir , yours fraternally , H . STUDHOLME BROWNRIGG , Past District G . M . Punjab . London , 15 th Sept .
To the Editor of " the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you allow me to suggest in the columns of your very useful paper that this question is of sufficient importance to be brought before the whole of the members of our Craft . Let it be put on the business paper of each
lodge , a vote taken , and the result communicated to the Grand Secretary before December , or , what would be better , a brother to attend Grand Lodge as Representative . The members of the Order below the rank of Warden should be heard , they being largely interested in the question . —Yours fraternally , ' INNER GUARD .
_ To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — To my mind the proposed change in the status of joining Past Masters will prove , if carried , a great misfortune to our Craft . One or two reasons immediately suggest themselves as to why I think so . 1 . There is no proved or even universally admitted
necessity for the proposed changes . 2 . A joining Past Master will never be regarded in the same light as a natural son of the lodge ; that is , as one who has actually passed the chair in the same . At least he will only be regarded with the same degree of affection which half brothers of the same family feel for each other , and this will lead to jealousies and bad feeling .
3 . The proposed change would interfere with the well understood and well defined order of precedence in our lodges , and thus cause endless heartburnings and illfeeling . 4 . Some of our most useful and trusty brethren are joining Past Masters—men who have done good suit and service in many lodges . They bring with them their experience and their enthusiasm ; they at once see before them their chance of the chair , and they wait patiently and
work steadily until their turn comes . I have known men work years to gain the much-prized and much-coveted position of Past Master of a lodge . But once give them that position on their joining and you take away all incentive to work . 5 . It is not fair to the other members of a lodge to thrust honours upon a stranger who has done nothing to merit them . —I am , dear sir and brother , faithfully and fraternally yours ,
D . VV . FINNEY , P . P . G . D . C . W . Lane , Warrington , September 9 th . Secretary 1250
To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As a member of two provincial lodges , and a Provincial Grand Officer , 1 have been struck by the repeated statements in your correspondence columns and in Grand Lodge that the provincial brethren desire the alteration making Past Masters in a . lodge Past Masters ot that
lodge , and that the London brethren oppose the alteration , but it is a singular fact that , except in Grand Lodge , I have not yet met a Worshipful Master , Past Master , or Warden of a provincial lodge who desires to see the change , nor do 1 wish it myself , but on the contrary voted against it in Grand Lodge , and will do so again if 1 have the opportunity . if this mischievous proposal becomes embodied in our
Constitutions , Past Masters must inevitably rest content with being Past Masters of the lodge whose chair they have occupied and passed for other lodges , whether metropolitan or provincial , will purely blackball them if they attempt to join , and so they will lose the privilege they now enjoy of being Past Masters in a lodge whose chair they have not filled —the substance sacrificed for an unattainable shadow .
But my object in writing now is to make a practical suggestion . The confirmation is postponed till December . Most lodges will meet before that time . Let the Worshipful Master bring the matter before the lodge , take a show of hands for and against , and communicate the result to the
Grand Secretary before Grand Lodge meets . This I have no doubt would be of very material assistance towards enabling Grand Lodge to arrive at a decision which would be satisfactory to the Craft in general . —Yours truly and fraternally , A PROVINCIAL VV . M . 17 th Sept .
To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I did not intend addressing you again on the Status of Past Masters . My reason for again presuming on your generosity is to ask * ' Country Secretary " from where ht gathers his information that " 90 percent , of provincial Masons would sign a petition against the new
rule ? " He is evidently very proud of the great feat he has done in drumming up the qualified members of his lodge to attend Grand Lodge and vote against the " new rule , " and what ( quoting "Country Secretary" ) we all consider an innovation . I take it that had it not been for such powerful and numerical strength that he brought forward Bro . Matthews ' s amendment would have been lost . Now ,
respecting the 90 per cent ., my opinion is that were the provinces to speak out the 90 per cent , would be just opposite t ° the conclusion arrived at by " Country Secretary . " I here is a growing feeling in our Northern provinces that the London brethren are wanting to conduct the business of the Craft too much after their own ideas , and not paying due attention to the suggestions of their country
Brethren . It is a great pity Grand Lodge will not make its meetings moveable , say one meeting in York , another in Birmingham , and so on ; but let the annual meeting for election of Grand Master and appointment of Grand Officers J ? e held in London , then perhaps the London brethren h ' ' k £ a k ' * ° ' earn more of the wishes of the provincial brethren , and would not be so often able to outvote those who
arc so far away . I have often noticed in your valuable Paper that when any subject of importance has come before rlf 1 ^ 8 > ancl ' which you took an interest , you have in t " £° " tlle London brethren to attend and vote accord"g to the ideas expressed in the Freemason . On the very br £ u ° " ' ssue you made the same appeal to the London as I n '• that is n leaving the question to its merits , but , _ a , ^ ' > a distinct invitation to the London brethren to assemble and swamp the votes of provincials . I would
Original Correspondence.
suggest that in future " Country Secretary " sign his name , and let us know where be hails from ; it reads better and has more weight than anonymous communications . Thanking you for past indulgences , I am , dear sir and brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , JNO . VV . TURNER , P . M ., P . Z ., Sec . 521 . Water-street , Hudderslield , Sept . 17 th .
To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As you wish to know what is the opinion of the larger provinces on this question permit me to say that the largest province , East Lancashire , has unmistakeably pronounced itself in favour of joining Past Masters having their rank fully recognised . A special meeting of our
Provincial Grand Lodge was held to discuss the various amendments to the Book of Constitutions which had been suggested by brethren of the province , and these suggestions had been duly considered by a Committee appointed by the R . W . Prov . G . Master and circulated throughout the province so that the brethren might be fully aware of what was intended to be discussed . At this meeting , at which
representatives from 82 out of the 92 lodges in the province were present , amongst other questions the status of joining Past Masters was considered and thoroughly discussed , the result being that the Provincial Grand Lodge almost unanimously decided to suggest to Grand Lodge that " every joining Past Master should have all the privileges of the Past Masters of the lodge in which he is a joining
member , but that he should rank as Junior Past Master to the other Past Masters , then members of the lodge , including the then VV . M . " This it will be perceived is almost identical with the recent alteration . It must , I presume , be admitted that this expression of opinion by such a large representative gathering of the largest province is entitled
to some consideration by our London brethren and should not be altogether disregarded . My own views are strongly in favour of the rule as now amended , as you will no doubt be aware from my having previously taken part in the correspondence on this subject . —I am , dear sirand brother , yours fraternally , P . PROV . G . DEACON EAST LANCASHIRE .
To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The correspondence re Past Masters appears to me to be too discursive . Brethren surround the main point with so many trimmings , so much sage and onions , so much padding and stuffing , that the pure , neat , simple point is half-buried or smothered . The question itself was reduced
to its lowest denomination in my letters last year , especially the one in the Freemason of 16 th September , 1 SS 2 . At the present stage of Grand Lodge work and of this controversy there is little more required than an answer to the following questions : 1 . What privileges has a Past Master of a lodge which a joining Past Master in the same lodge has not ? ( See letter
iCth September , 1 SS 2 . ) 2 . Does not the amended Rule 141 meet the case completely , and give to joining Past Masters all they can legimately demand ? 3 . Is it not an utter impossibility that a brother who has never been elected to the chair of a lodge , nor filled
therein the office for a year , can be a Past Master of the said lodge ? 4 . Ought the inherent rights and privileges of lodges to select their own Worshipful Masters , and as a corrollary to make their own Past Masters , to be sacrificed in an attempt to make possible an impossibility?—Yours very trulv and fraternally . E . T . BUDDEN .
To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Asyouinvitediscussionon thisimportantsubjectl venture to send a few remarks thereon . I think the proposed alterations in the Constitutions far too sweeping , and likely in many cases to do more harm than good . At the same time it cannot be denied that there are many occasions
where it would be very desirable to give lodges absolute and undoubted power to elect joining Past Masters of other lodges who render good service to the lodge they join , to be Past Masters of that particular lodge . 1 know of several cases where Past Masters have become joining members of other lodges , and done much valuable work for them . As a natural consequence the chair has been offered to
them , and they have declined it , on the ground that they would be keeping back other worthy brethren , and as they are already members of Grand and Provincial Grand Lodge they think that would hardly be fair . I would therefore suggest that a paragraph should be inserted in the Constitutions recognising the right of lodges
to insert a provision in their bye-laws to the above mentioned effect . Many lodges elect distinguished brethren to be honorary members , and I think the same thing might be done with regard to joining Past Masters ( but only in exceptional cases ) with much benefit to the welfare of the Craft which we all have so much at heart . —I remain , yours trulv and fraternally , COMPROMISE .
THE OLD YORK WORKING . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Bro . Hollon ' s note in your last number is most interesting . We have all long wished to know what " the old York working" was . 1 have visited scores of lodges in the North as well as in the South , and although all differ
in working , most of them claim to work the old York ritual . At last I hope we have discovered the real thing . Will Bro . Hollon tell us where he got it and what proof he has of its authenticity ? I am afraid our brother is not very logical in his conclusion that because he receives applications for his ritual that therefore lodges wish to hark bark from the present perfect
system to some unknown and obsolete plan . He might as well say that people wish to go b . nk to the manners of the ancient British because relics of l hose people are anxiously sought for . It is quite possible for brethren to wish to investigate the practices of their ancestors without intending to make them their own .
VVe should all much like to know what Bro . Hollon calls our " liist love . " I believe the earliest known ritual observed in the lodges included a large number of big drinks , taken at intervals in open lodge , during the progress of the ceremony . Does our correspondent wish us to revert to this pleasant and polite usage ? By the way , wc should
Original Correspondence.
be glad to have the proof for the statement that " senior lodges in towns issued warrants to hold lodges in the same place . " Is such a warrant in existence ?—I am , yours fraternally , AN INTERESTED READER .
VOTES FOR THE OCTOBER ELECTIONS . Dear Bro . Kenning , _ Though it may be a question of policy the custom of publicly appealing for charitable votes , yet I venture in the Freemason to remind many kind friends and subscribers that if they have no cases of their own , and have
not promised their votes , they will confer a great favour by sending me their spare proxy papers . I ' will gladly poll any they may prefer to fill up themselves . 1 forbear from pressing for votes for special cases , though I am myself trying to help Minnie Woodward , No . 2 , Girls , a Gibraltar case , a soldier ' s orphan ; and ( . How , No . iS , Boys , a comparatively friendless but "bona fide "
case . I am well aware how many other good cases there are like Hennah , No . iS . I often deeply regret to note that poor applicants come up for four , five , six , and seven elections , and are , alas ! unsuccessful at the end . —Fraternally yours , A . F . A . WOODFORD . 25 a , Norfolk-crescent , Hyde-park , VV ., September iSth .
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — On my return to town this day 1 find copy of circular asking for votes in favour of " Edward Bramble Green " for the ensuing election , 16 th October , with a note appended stating that " through inadvertence in the
office ( large caps ) the candidate ' s name was omitted to be placed in the official list . " This is a very serious reflection on myself , and on the office generally , and were 1 to reply as 1 feel , I should express myself in strong terms on the public circulation of so unwarrantable and baseless a statement , but I forbear . The petition in behalf of Edward Bramble Green did not reach me until after the closure of the list for the October
election , was accepted by the Committee on Saturday , 4 th August , and notice was sent to the representative of the case that the name would be included in the list of candidates for election in April , 1 SS 4 . —I am , dear sir and brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES ( P-G . Std . ) , V . Patron , G , Freemasons' Hall , W . C . Secretary . 20 th September .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
230 ] OLD YORK WORKING . I note what Bro . Hollon says in your last as to " old York working , " and also as to " lodges issuing warrants . " I will send a note thereanent next week ; but it would be too long for this issue of the Freemason . MASONIC STUDENT .
231 ] KLOSS'S LIBRARY . Mr . E . VV . Stibbs , of 32 , Museum-street , who has just returned from Scotland , tells me that Kloss ' s Library is in the Royal Library at the Hague , conjoined with another curious collection of Masonic works . Masonic students have probably overlooked or forgotten this fact , as indeed had the writer , though he now remembers seeing somewhere that Kloss ' s library had been purchased in its entirety . Many valuable works now scarcely procurable are no doubt there . MASONIC STUDENT .
232 J CHARLES SACKVILLE . Disney , in his " Memoirs of Thomas Hollis , " previously alluded to , thus mentions Laurence Natter , at page 1 S 2 , vol . i .: " Mr . Laurence Natter . of Biberach , in Swabia , a worthy man , and a most able artist in gems , " & c . It seems , from an account too long to transcribe and not of much importance , that Natter went to St . Petersbugh about
16 months before his death , and that he died there , in 1763 , of an asthmatic attack and polypus of the heart . He was in high favour with the empress and the higher circles of that capital . He had been in Ital y and England , and at Copenhagen , and probably Stockholm . He published more than oneworkin London about 1751 . The"Handbuch "istherefore probably right in stating that when in St . Petersburgh
he assisted to found a lodge of the Strict Observance , and for it probably the medal was struck . So I think we must now assume , as a fact , that there was a medal , though what its real history or true bearing was has yet to be found out . The common idea that it was struck in Florence in ' 733 must , 1 think , be given up for the following reasons : At page S 22 , vol . ii ., of the "Appendix , " where is an
account of medals and gems engraved by Natter , Disney tells us that among the gems and medals " penes " that is in possession of " T . Hollis , " is the following one : " Carolus Sackville , Magister , F . I .. " Reverse : "Aborigine , " a figure of Harpocrates , with the emblems of Masonry , " L . Natter , Florent . " My readers will note at once that if this description of the medal be a correct one there is no
date , so that much of the interest attaching to the medal passes away . The medal may have been struck at any time between 1733 and 1770 , and hence the probability is increased that the medal was struck for the St . Petersburgh Lodge . Two points come out forcbily—one is , Where is the medal now ? and the second is , When was the first mention of the medal ? Hollis left his residue to Mr .
Brand , of The Hide , Essex , and he took the name of Brand-Hollis , and he , in turn , left his residue to Dr . Disney , who wrote the " Memoirs of Hollis . " The medal may be in the possession of the inheritors from Dr . Disney , or , it his effects were disposed of , it may be in the British Museum , and I shall therefore seek to ascertain this point . A " replica " of the original will probably still exist
at Moscow , where all the effects , books , jewels , medals , and furniture of the Russian lodges are and have been in one collection since the suppression of Freemasons and Freemasonry by Alexander 1 . in 1 S 21 . This collection is not accessible to the public , but is kept "au secret , " as the French say . As I have often said , the first notice I have stumbled upon is in the little Strict Observance Almanack
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
1 am convinced that to lower the position of a Past Master in a lodge would have a most injurious effect on Masonry in India . —I have the honour to be , sir , yours fraternally , H . STUDHOLME BROWNRIGG , Past District G . M . Punjab . London , 15 th Sept .
To the Editor of " the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you allow me to suggest in the columns of your very useful paper that this question is of sufficient importance to be brought before the whole of the members of our Craft . Let it be put on the business paper of each
lodge , a vote taken , and the result communicated to the Grand Secretary before December , or , what would be better , a brother to attend Grand Lodge as Representative . The members of the Order below the rank of Warden should be heard , they being largely interested in the question . —Yours fraternally , ' INNER GUARD .
_ To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — To my mind the proposed change in the status of joining Past Masters will prove , if carried , a great misfortune to our Craft . One or two reasons immediately suggest themselves as to why I think so . 1 . There is no proved or even universally admitted
necessity for the proposed changes . 2 . A joining Past Master will never be regarded in the same light as a natural son of the lodge ; that is , as one who has actually passed the chair in the same . At least he will only be regarded with the same degree of affection which half brothers of the same family feel for each other , and this will lead to jealousies and bad feeling .
3 . The proposed change would interfere with the well understood and well defined order of precedence in our lodges , and thus cause endless heartburnings and illfeeling . 4 . Some of our most useful and trusty brethren are joining Past Masters—men who have done good suit and service in many lodges . They bring with them their experience and their enthusiasm ; they at once see before them their chance of the chair , and they wait patiently and
work steadily until their turn comes . I have known men work years to gain the much-prized and much-coveted position of Past Master of a lodge . But once give them that position on their joining and you take away all incentive to work . 5 . It is not fair to the other members of a lodge to thrust honours upon a stranger who has done nothing to merit them . —I am , dear sir and brother , faithfully and fraternally yours ,
D . VV . FINNEY , P . P . G . D . C . W . Lane , Warrington , September 9 th . Secretary 1250
To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As a member of two provincial lodges , and a Provincial Grand Officer , 1 have been struck by the repeated statements in your correspondence columns and in Grand Lodge that the provincial brethren desire the alteration making Past Masters in a . lodge Past Masters ot that
lodge , and that the London brethren oppose the alteration , but it is a singular fact that , except in Grand Lodge , I have not yet met a Worshipful Master , Past Master , or Warden of a provincial lodge who desires to see the change , nor do 1 wish it myself , but on the contrary voted against it in Grand Lodge , and will do so again if 1 have the opportunity . if this mischievous proposal becomes embodied in our
Constitutions , Past Masters must inevitably rest content with being Past Masters of the lodge whose chair they have occupied and passed for other lodges , whether metropolitan or provincial , will purely blackball them if they attempt to join , and so they will lose the privilege they now enjoy of being Past Masters in a lodge whose chair they have not filled —the substance sacrificed for an unattainable shadow .
But my object in writing now is to make a practical suggestion . The confirmation is postponed till December . Most lodges will meet before that time . Let the Worshipful Master bring the matter before the lodge , take a show of hands for and against , and communicate the result to the
Grand Secretary before Grand Lodge meets . This I have no doubt would be of very material assistance towards enabling Grand Lodge to arrive at a decision which would be satisfactory to the Craft in general . —Yours truly and fraternally , A PROVINCIAL VV . M . 17 th Sept .
To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I did not intend addressing you again on the Status of Past Masters . My reason for again presuming on your generosity is to ask * ' Country Secretary " from where ht gathers his information that " 90 percent , of provincial Masons would sign a petition against the new
rule ? " He is evidently very proud of the great feat he has done in drumming up the qualified members of his lodge to attend Grand Lodge and vote against the " new rule , " and what ( quoting "Country Secretary" ) we all consider an innovation . I take it that had it not been for such powerful and numerical strength that he brought forward Bro . Matthews ' s amendment would have been lost . Now ,
respecting the 90 per cent ., my opinion is that were the provinces to speak out the 90 per cent , would be just opposite t ° the conclusion arrived at by " Country Secretary . " I here is a growing feeling in our Northern provinces that the London brethren are wanting to conduct the business of the Craft too much after their own ideas , and not paying due attention to the suggestions of their country
Brethren . It is a great pity Grand Lodge will not make its meetings moveable , say one meeting in York , another in Birmingham , and so on ; but let the annual meeting for election of Grand Master and appointment of Grand Officers J ? e held in London , then perhaps the London brethren h ' ' k £ a k ' * ° ' earn more of the wishes of the provincial brethren , and would not be so often able to outvote those who
arc so far away . I have often noticed in your valuable Paper that when any subject of importance has come before rlf 1 ^ 8 > ancl ' which you took an interest , you have in t " £° " tlle London brethren to attend and vote accord"g to the ideas expressed in the Freemason . On the very br £ u ° " ' ssue you made the same appeal to the London as I n '• that is n leaving the question to its merits , but , _ a , ^ ' > a distinct invitation to the London brethren to assemble and swamp the votes of provincials . I would
Original Correspondence.
suggest that in future " Country Secretary " sign his name , and let us know where be hails from ; it reads better and has more weight than anonymous communications . Thanking you for past indulgences , I am , dear sir and brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , JNO . VV . TURNER , P . M ., P . Z ., Sec . 521 . Water-street , Hudderslield , Sept . 17 th .
To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As you wish to know what is the opinion of the larger provinces on this question permit me to say that the largest province , East Lancashire , has unmistakeably pronounced itself in favour of joining Past Masters having their rank fully recognised . A special meeting of our
Provincial Grand Lodge was held to discuss the various amendments to the Book of Constitutions which had been suggested by brethren of the province , and these suggestions had been duly considered by a Committee appointed by the R . W . Prov . G . Master and circulated throughout the province so that the brethren might be fully aware of what was intended to be discussed . At this meeting , at which
representatives from 82 out of the 92 lodges in the province were present , amongst other questions the status of joining Past Masters was considered and thoroughly discussed , the result being that the Provincial Grand Lodge almost unanimously decided to suggest to Grand Lodge that " every joining Past Master should have all the privileges of the Past Masters of the lodge in which he is a joining
member , but that he should rank as Junior Past Master to the other Past Masters , then members of the lodge , including the then VV . M . " This it will be perceived is almost identical with the recent alteration . It must , I presume , be admitted that this expression of opinion by such a large representative gathering of the largest province is entitled
to some consideration by our London brethren and should not be altogether disregarded . My own views are strongly in favour of the rule as now amended , as you will no doubt be aware from my having previously taken part in the correspondence on this subject . —I am , dear sirand brother , yours fraternally , P . PROV . G . DEACON EAST LANCASHIRE .
To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The correspondence re Past Masters appears to me to be too discursive . Brethren surround the main point with so many trimmings , so much sage and onions , so much padding and stuffing , that the pure , neat , simple point is half-buried or smothered . The question itself was reduced
to its lowest denomination in my letters last year , especially the one in the Freemason of 16 th September , 1 SS 2 . At the present stage of Grand Lodge work and of this controversy there is little more required than an answer to the following questions : 1 . What privileges has a Past Master of a lodge which a joining Past Master in the same lodge has not ? ( See letter
iCth September , 1 SS 2 . ) 2 . Does not the amended Rule 141 meet the case completely , and give to joining Past Masters all they can legimately demand ? 3 . Is it not an utter impossibility that a brother who has never been elected to the chair of a lodge , nor filled
therein the office for a year , can be a Past Master of the said lodge ? 4 . Ought the inherent rights and privileges of lodges to select their own Worshipful Masters , and as a corrollary to make their own Past Masters , to be sacrificed in an attempt to make possible an impossibility?—Yours very trulv and fraternally . E . T . BUDDEN .
To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Asyouinvitediscussionon thisimportantsubjectl venture to send a few remarks thereon . I think the proposed alterations in the Constitutions far too sweeping , and likely in many cases to do more harm than good . At the same time it cannot be denied that there are many occasions
where it would be very desirable to give lodges absolute and undoubted power to elect joining Past Masters of other lodges who render good service to the lodge they join , to be Past Masters of that particular lodge . 1 know of several cases where Past Masters have become joining members of other lodges , and done much valuable work for them . As a natural consequence the chair has been offered to
them , and they have declined it , on the ground that they would be keeping back other worthy brethren , and as they are already members of Grand and Provincial Grand Lodge they think that would hardly be fair . I would therefore suggest that a paragraph should be inserted in the Constitutions recognising the right of lodges
to insert a provision in their bye-laws to the above mentioned effect . Many lodges elect distinguished brethren to be honorary members , and I think the same thing might be done with regard to joining Past Masters ( but only in exceptional cases ) with much benefit to the welfare of the Craft which we all have so much at heart . —I remain , yours trulv and fraternally , COMPROMISE .
THE OLD YORK WORKING . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Bro . Hollon ' s note in your last number is most interesting . We have all long wished to know what " the old York working" was . 1 have visited scores of lodges in the North as well as in the South , and although all differ
in working , most of them claim to work the old York ritual . At last I hope we have discovered the real thing . Will Bro . Hollon tell us where he got it and what proof he has of its authenticity ? I am afraid our brother is not very logical in his conclusion that because he receives applications for his ritual that therefore lodges wish to hark bark from the present perfect
system to some unknown and obsolete plan . He might as well say that people wish to go b . nk to the manners of the ancient British because relics of l hose people are anxiously sought for . It is quite possible for brethren to wish to investigate the practices of their ancestors without intending to make them their own .
VVe should all much like to know what Bro . Hollon calls our " liist love . " I believe the earliest known ritual observed in the lodges included a large number of big drinks , taken at intervals in open lodge , during the progress of the ceremony . Does our correspondent wish us to revert to this pleasant and polite usage ? By the way , wc should
Original Correspondence.
be glad to have the proof for the statement that " senior lodges in towns issued warrants to hold lodges in the same place . " Is such a warrant in existence ?—I am , yours fraternally , AN INTERESTED READER .
VOTES FOR THE OCTOBER ELECTIONS . Dear Bro . Kenning , _ Though it may be a question of policy the custom of publicly appealing for charitable votes , yet I venture in the Freemason to remind many kind friends and subscribers that if they have no cases of their own , and have
not promised their votes , they will confer a great favour by sending me their spare proxy papers . I ' will gladly poll any they may prefer to fill up themselves . 1 forbear from pressing for votes for special cases , though I am myself trying to help Minnie Woodward , No . 2 , Girls , a Gibraltar case , a soldier ' s orphan ; and ( . How , No . iS , Boys , a comparatively friendless but "bona fide "
case . I am well aware how many other good cases there are like Hennah , No . iS . I often deeply regret to note that poor applicants come up for four , five , six , and seven elections , and are , alas ! unsuccessful at the end . —Fraternally yours , A . F . A . WOODFORD . 25 a , Norfolk-crescent , Hyde-park , VV ., September iSth .
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — On my return to town this day 1 find copy of circular asking for votes in favour of " Edward Bramble Green " for the ensuing election , 16 th October , with a note appended stating that " through inadvertence in the
office ( large caps ) the candidate ' s name was omitted to be placed in the official list . " This is a very serious reflection on myself , and on the office generally , and were 1 to reply as 1 feel , I should express myself in strong terms on the public circulation of so unwarrantable and baseless a statement , but I forbear . The petition in behalf of Edward Bramble Green did not reach me until after the closure of the list for the October
election , was accepted by the Committee on Saturday , 4 th August , and notice was sent to the representative of the case that the name would be included in the list of candidates for election in April , 1 SS 4 . —I am , dear sir and brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES ( P-G . Std . ) , V . Patron , G , Freemasons' Hall , W . C . Secretary . 20 th September .
Masonic Notes And Queries.
Masonic Notes and Queries .
230 ] OLD YORK WORKING . I note what Bro . Hollon says in your last as to " old York working , " and also as to " lodges issuing warrants . " I will send a note thereanent next week ; but it would be too long for this issue of the Freemason . MASONIC STUDENT .
231 ] KLOSS'S LIBRARY . Mr . E . VV . Stibbs , of 32 , Museum-street , who has just returned from Scotland , tells me that Kloss ' s Library is in the Royal Library at the Hague , conjoined with another curious collection of Masonic works . Masonic students have probably overlooked or forgotten this fact , as indeed had the writer , though he now remembers seeing somewhere that Kloss ' s library had been purchased in its entirety . Many valuable works now scarcely procurable are no doubt there . MASONIC STUDENT .
232 J CHARLES SACKVILLE . Disney , in his " Memoirs of Thomas Hollis , " previously alluded to , thus mentions Laurence Natter , at page 1 S 2 , vol . i .: " Mr . Laurence Natter . of Biberach , in Swabia , a worthy man , and a most able artist in gems , " & c . It seems , from an account too long to transcribe and not of much importance , that Natter went to St . Petersbugh about
16 months before his death , and that he died there , in 1763 , of an asthmatic attack and polypus of the heart . He was in high favour with the empress and the higher circles of that capital . He had been in Ital y and England , and at Copenhagen , and probably Stockholm . He published more than oneworkin London about 1751 . The"Handbuch "istherefore probably right in stating that when in St . Petersburgh
he assisted to found a lodge of the Strict Observance , and for it probably the medal was struck . So I think we must now assume , as a fact , that there was a medal , though what its real history or true bearing was has yet to be found out . The common idea that it was struck in Florence in ' 733 must , 1 think , be given up for the following reasons : At page S 22 , vol . ii ., of the "Appendix , " where is an
account of medals and gems engraved by Natter , Disney tells us that among the gems and medals " penes " that is in possession of " T . Hollis , " is the following one : " Carolus Sackville , Magister , F . I .. " Reverse : "Aborigine , " a figure of Harpocrates , with the emblems of Masonry , " L . Natter , Florent . " My readers will note at once that if this description of the medal be a correct one there is no
date , so that much of the interest attaching to the medal passes away . The medal may have been struck at any time between 1733 and 1770 , and hence the probability is increased that the medal was struck for the St . Petersburgh Lodge . Two points come out forcbily—one is , Where is the medal now ? and the second is , When was the first mention of the medal ? Hollis left his residue to Mr .
Brand , of The Hide , Essex , and he took the name of Brand-Hollis , and he , in turn , left his residue to Dr . Disney , who wrote the " Memoirs of Hollis . " The medal may be in the possession of the inheritors from Dr . Disney , or , it his effects were disposed of , it may be in the British Museum , and I shall therefore seek to ascertain this point . A " replica " of the original will probably still exist
at Moscow , where all the effects , books , jewels , medals , and furniture of the Russian lodges are and have been in one collection since the suppression of Freemasons and Freemasonry by Alexander 1 . in 1 S 21 . This collection is not accessible to the public , but is kept "au secret , " as the French say . As I have often said , the first notice I have stumbled upon is in the little Strict Observance Almanack