"A Grumble."

"A GRUMBLE . "

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The experience of the writer of a Utter headed as above , and which appeared in your last week ' s issue , is far from being an isolated one . In many respects it is similar to what I have passed through myself , and I found little determination and research to satisf

that it nccels no y the noviciate on the practical application of the principles Masonry instils . But what a lich field of delightful surprise is in store for him who essays the task ! With regard to the Charitable Institutions of the Order , there is sadly loo little known of them in the provinces ,

their aims , their working , and their achievements . Let me advi- ; e "I . P . M . 877 , " and other brethren who need such information , and feel this doubt and uncertainty in all pertaining to the " Charities , " to make the effort , and lake a Stewardship at any or all of the festivals held in their aid during the foithcoming year , and not only so , but visit , all three Instilnlions , when I promise them they

will more than satisfy their most sanguine ideas of Masonic benevolence . In furtherance of my own enlightenment , I visited all three establishments early in the present year , and made myself acquainted with all the facts relating to each ; their origin , their progress , and their present position . As a result , I acted as Steward at each of the festivals this year

and qualified as Life Governor of all the Charities . I fcit constrained to something more—being deeply conscious of the dearth of information current among tbe brtthrcu in all relating to this subject—I circulated my experiences in the form of a little pamphlet among the lodges of this neighbourhood , and the icsult has been apparent in many satisfactory shapes , one of which will be noticeable in the next

publication of " Lists of Subscribers " on reference to the Province of Worcestershire . If "I . P . M . 877 " will write me , or any other brother similarly exercised in mind , or who may wish to take a Stewardship for 1880 , and desires information to work

upon , I will with pleasure send him my little book , so far as the few remaining copies I have will go , as well as give him any aid or advice in my power . ParJon my intrusion on your space , but the subject , 1 know , will plead sufficiently . Faithfully an . 1 fraternally yours , GEORGE TAYLOR , P . M . and Treas . 377 , 5 60 , P . G . S D . VVoicestershire . Summerdvne , Kidderminster .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — By your favour I beg to be allo . ved to continue my lament . 1 still invoke the sacied name of Charity as the keynote of my dirge . I knew next to nothing concerning the Masonic Institutions until my insta'lation ; I knew very little afterwards , anil am not profoundly- wi-e

on the subject even now . It happened that my lodge had certain votes—how many this record saycth not , because the recorder does not happen to know . Here , Mr . Editor , let me cry peccavi . I ought , perhaps , to have worried the brethren into giving me information , but it would appear to be a somewhat ungracious n turn for the honour of being elected W . M . to make one ' s self generally

unpleasant . A portion of the installation ceremony should consist in instructing the new W . M . in these all-important concerns , which appear to occupy quite a subordinate position in the estimation of Freemasons . I was called upon once or twice to vote ; on the first occasion our deservedly respected Tyler came round with voting papers , and a list of applicants . I was requested to sign blank

votes , and upon dcmunuig » a-j told it wis the custom to send them in this manner to Bro . Someone for the use of his province , and that when we required votes here , they were returned in a lump sum , with interest . This was the kind of explanation with which I had to rest satisfied ; it scemeel rather an eccentric method to me—my voting was simply farcical under the circumstances ; but it

did not become me to raise an idle quibble , or impertinently break through long precedent , and the votes were accordingly given . Since my former letter was written incidents have transpired tending further to enlighten me as to the imperfections of this part of our charitable schemes ; and I stand utterly amazed that so rotten and unjust a system should so long have been tolerated among

Masons . I find that all the injustice , all the impurities , all the iniijuities which have for so long disgraced elections and charitable distributions among the profane arc still practised in Freemasonry . Interest—not merit ; might—not light , is the order of the day . The voting is a miserable farce ; canvassing is allowed ; pressure is brought to bear ; faggot votes a : c bought , begged , or

borrowed ; bribery 111 venous ways is practised ; favouritism is here seen in its worst fe rm . A list of candidates is printed , their circumstances made public , and their misery is fret Iy exposed , but to no purpose—the appeal of distress is spurned in favour of that of interest . I have not the slightest hesitation in affirming , from recent persona ! observations in this respect , that under the

present regime these institutions are not worthy of support ; the system of election is so monstrously unjust and vicious , that it will entail a lasting disgrace upon the Craft if it is longer tolerated . Let it be distinctly understood , I base these vituperations exclusively upon the method of election ; for reasons given , I am unable to penetrate deeper ; but I have not forgotten an old adage , Ex pale

llsrculem . Why should not Freemasonry rise above all this ? Why should we not insist upon a termination of this dreadful system of injustice ? I appeal to my brethren ; I appeal to the superior powers of Grand Lodge . Let us be just and equitable . Let us remove this stain . " Brotherly love , relief , and truth" appear really to mean—enmity , injustice , and falsehood ; and the term

"A Grumble."

" brother , " as used- among Masons , is only an empty namc . Funds are in hand , schools ( I suppose ) are built , but the system of election to benefits is so abominably corrupt and vicious , that our benevolent efforts are greatly frustrated . We talk a great deal about honour , morality , virtue , e ( hoc genus omiic ; we congratulate ourselves that we are not as other men are ; and yet , alas , -even our

charitable actions will not bear the light of day . I know well the difficulty of coping with vested interests , but fear that obstacle much less than listless indifference on the part of Masons ; being every Mason ' s business , no Mason will perform it . It behoves , however , every Freemason to bestir himself in the ma'tcr , and to insist that our house shall forthwith be set in ordci ; which done , a

glourous future awaits the Craft . Some weeks ago , I was conversing on this subject with our esteemed Bro . Dr . Hopkins , of Bath , he concurred with my views , and stated that most Masons were dissatisfied with the present condition of affairs , an ! that a crusade need only be in tiated , pointing out a remedy , to effect a change . I regret our time diil not allow a discussion of the subject , because he

seemed to regard the execution of reform as almost impossible ; but I believe the difficulty is not so insuperable as may be supposed ; a remedy might surely be found . I woulel suggest that canvassing be prohibited , and that it should jnvalidate an election if carried on . It shoulel be required that each candidate be nominated by a brother or loelge possessing a vote or votes ; and further

rccommended as worthy by- the lodge to which the distressed brother belongs or belonged ; the c ' ucumstanccs of the case shoulel be rigorously investigated and vouched for by ( say ) six Masters or Past Masters of lodges with which the candidate is unconnected . A short precis should be given of these facts , as is at present dene , and a declaration signed by the investigators sent to the Provincial

Grand Lodge , which shall enquire further by Sub-Committee into the matter , and , if the case is fairly stated , shall rndorse the report , or otherwise amend it if nccessaiy . These applications should be scheduled in alphabetical order , and sent to each voter , allowing him a week or two for deliberation . To each voting paper should be appended the following declaration ( or some such ) , to be signed in

the presence of the Master of a lodge : — And I solemnly declare upon my honour as a man , and my fidelity as a Mason , that I have rn t been influenced in this my vi te by canvassing ; by local or personal bias , prejudice , or consideration whatever ; or by any unworthy motive ; but f give this vote after having duly considered the list of applications , and weighed

each claim , conscientiously believing the circumstances of the case , as represented , to be most worthy of s ) mpathy and assistance . It might also be questioned whether cumuUtitc voting should m t be discontinued ; the necessity for rs cxiit-.-nce would depart with the disappearance of corrupt voting . Thus each brother desirous of exercising binevolencc

would feel that whatever he might cor . tnbute to our Masonic Institutions would reach those for whom it was intended ; this much , certainly , cannot truthfully be said at the present time . I will endeavour to finish my observations in my next letter . Yours faithfully and fraternally , . I . P . M . 877 .

UNIFORMITY OF WORKING . 7 b the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have carefully read the letters by Bros . Frances and Stevens on the question of " Unifoimily of Work , " and whilst feeling anxious to take part in the consideration of so important a subject , it is in many respects so beset

with difficulties , from the esoteric character of the question , that to do justice to the matter in the pages of a journal is simply impossible , so I must forbear from eloing my humble part in any way , for to explain would require me to say more than is desirable in print . That a uniformity in rssentittts is not only desirable but shoulel be att linable , as much in this country as in the United States ,

and many of our Colonics and Dependencies , I firmly believe . That more will be attained is unlikely , but it will be time enough to talk about the minor differences existing between the various London workings when the provinces are in harmony generally with the chief lodges of instruction in London , so far as essentials arc concerned .

In many provincial lodges at the present lime the membcis of the chief London lodges of instruction would be like "fish " out of water , " and " vice versa . " As to the "landmarks , " who knows for tcitain what llicy are , and especially when some of the generally accepted landmarks , as theories , differ so much practically

as to be scarcely recognisable ? For the provinces , at least , I advocate the appointment of Provincial Grand Lecturers—say the Prov . Grand Registrars—whose duty it shall be to visit eich lodge in their provinces once a year , the travelling expenses to be paid out of the general funds , and who shall seek to promote that uniformity in essentials whbh is so desirable . W . J . I 1 UGH . \ N .

To the Editor of the " Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , — The present discussion of this question gives me a fitting opportunity for bringing to the notice of the authorities , through the medium of your highly-valued journal , two points upon which , I venture to think , some

action is imperative , if one of the main principles of Masonry as a cosmopolitan society is not to be practically ceded . I refer to the welcome which every brother , come he from whence he may , is entitled to demand from a lodge he may desire to attend when away from home . There are two points upon which , as I before said , an au-

"A Grumble."

thoritative ruling should be given affect ng this princip ' e , viz .: — 1 . Ha \ e English lodges any right to refuse admission to a lodge to a strange brother who , although perfectly willing and able to impart what he received at his initiation , passing , and raising , cannot or ( on principle ) will not answer certain preliminary catch questions , which it is customary ,

I understand , in England to administer to the applicant for admission ? I have it on the best authority that I have rightly stated what is , or has been , actually done . Indeed , on one occasion , the esteemed Grand Tyler of the G . L . of Scotland—who , I suppose , knows more of the working of Masonry than the bulk of London Masons—was actually

refused admittance into a London loelge because he declined to submit himself to a catechism for which there is no warrant , until the officers of the lodge thought better of it . I contend that no stranger should tie treated in this way , and the sooner the custom is authoritative Iy forbidden the bitter . 2 . I am also given to understand that the E . A . S . in England differs materially from that imparted in

Scotland . I know not whether the same anomaly exists with the other Degrees , or under other Constitutions , but I venture to think that , wbatevi r the opinion of the Craft may be as to uniformity in the inner working of a lodge , none will deny that in this particular it is essential that uniformity should be aimed at . This could easily be accomplished , I imagine , by . consultation between the Grand Lodges of the world .

I only heard of this latter want of uniformity accidentally a few days ago , and I know not how many other stumbling-blocks may lie in my path when I return to London and seek to work my way into a lodge there . Youis fraternally , M . M . 392 , S . C . Edinburgh , 17 th Nov .

SWEDENBORGIAN RITE LODGE OF INSTRUCTION . " To the Editor if the Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have great pleasure in informing the Craft , through the medium of your wide-spread paper , that a warrant has been issued by the Supreme Grand Master

for the establishment of a lodge of instruction in the Swedenborgian Rite , to be called the " Pythagorean Lodge and Temple for the Instruction of Enlightened , Sublime , and Perfect Freemasons . " The extreme length of the ritual of the Three Degrees ( I V ° ., V ° ., and Vl ° ., ) of . the Sweelenborgian Rite renders an attentive study of it of the greatest importance te , all who desire pnfkiency in the

rite . It is of couisc needltss to add that this lodge of instruction has no power to confer the Three Degrees of which the rite consists , but the fact that a lodge of instruction has bien thought necessary at all is good evidence of the increasing interest felt in the important ceremonial of the Three Degrees of the S « -eelenborgian Rite—a rite which is loyally attached to Ancient Craft Masonry as established at the Union in 1813 , and is friendly with all

other systems of Masonry recognising the cardinal principles of the txistence of God and the immortality of the soul . Brethren who hive taken the Degrees of the Sweden , borgian Hit-, and others ( Master Masons ) interested in the same , will always receive fraternal and cordial explanation on applying to , dear Sir and Brother , yours truly and fraternally ,

KENNETH R . II . MACKENZIE , Supreme Grand Secretary , Swedenborgian Rite , Flint-villas , Hounslow , i ; Vh November , 1870 .

AMERICAN CORRESPONDENCE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Our Grand Lodges just now arc excrcisrd over the quarrel between Scotlanel and Quebec . ¦ Will you kindly inseit the deliverance of our Past Grand Master Johnson on this subject . We , in Kentucky , are agreed that there

are two sides to this question , and while we ate far from j us . tifying the course of the Scotch brethren in forming a Provincial Grand Lodge in Quebec , which seems a sort of de . fiance of public opinion in the premises , yet the course pursued at Quebec was oppressive , anil it seemed necessary for the Edinburgh people to protect her . protege . I am entirely in ac : ord with Bro . Johnson iti the following : —

" Henderson , Ky ., Siptembcr 151 I 1 , 1879 . " To the M . W . Grand Lodge K . and A . M . of Kentucky : " 'Flic undersigned , your accredited representative of the Granel Lodge of Scotlanel , near the Grand Lodge of Kentucky , being desirous of strengthening the tic of amity that has ever existed between that venerable organisation and our own , since our establishment as a Grand Lodge ,

begs leave to lay before you the difficulty that has arisen between the Grand Lo : ! gc of Scotlanel and that of Quibec . " When the Grand Lodge of Canada was formed , in 1854 ( one of our veteran Kentucky Masons , still living , having borne an honoured part therein ) , it was agreed that the Scotch and English lodges , working then , might , in

their own option , retain their connection with their mother countiits . Several Scotch lodge ; did so , and have continued so until this day . " Any one who has seen the tie which binds a subject of the British Government to his native lane ) , will see the

reason of this . At least | two lodges near Montreal never united with the Grand Lodge of Canada , and , knowing this , the Grand Lodge of Kentucky , in 1855 , recognised the Grand Lodge of Canada , and began the long career of brotherly offices which have subsisted to this day , and , may they be perpetuated .