Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS fig " The Religion of Freemasonry" 680 Notes on the Ceremony of Installation ... 681 Provincial Grand Lodge of Cambridgeshire 683 Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire 683 Consecration of the Arrnitage Lodge ,
No . 2 * 161 684 Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Northumberland and Durham 68 J Provincial Grand Chapter of Devon 685 CoFRKSPONDKNCE"An Old Masonic Song" 685 Reviews 6 S 7
Contents.
Notes and Queries 688 RIPORTS OF MASONIC MHTINOSCraft Masonry 688 Instruction 692 Royal Arch 6 93 Ancient and Accepted Rite 6 93 Rp ^ Tm « nf Rnmc anil PntHilaiitiili . hr . 1
Jubilee of Freemasons in Halifax 693 The Old Masonians 6 94 Presentation to Bro . Frank Richardson ... 6 94 Obituary 6 94 Masonic and General Tidings 6 95 Lodge Meetings for Next Week ., 696
Ar00101
IT has often occurred to us that , notwithstanding the general from excellence of the arrangements for carrying out the duties of Abroad . Freemasonry , the provision made for the reception and
entertainment of distinguished visiting brethren from abroad is lamentably deficient—if , indeed , there can he said to exist any provision whatever for such a purpose . This deficiency is especially noticeable in the case of visitors from the United States and the Dominion of Canada , the former of which ,
though for the last century and upwards it has enjoyed a separate political existence , is nevertheless part and parcel of our own kith and kin , while the latter is an integral part of the British Empire . In both these countries Freemasonry is not only immensely popular , but it likewise enjoys a fair degree of prosperity . The two together can boast of having between them
50 and 60 Grand Lodges , and the private lodges that are scattered over their vast expanse of territory can be numbered by the thousand , and the subscribing members by the hundred thousand . And , whatever in the opinion of English brethren may be the shortcomings of these numerous Masonic communities , and however much , in some matters of minor and
even of major importance , they may differ from us in their method and practice of Freemasonry , there can be no doubt whatever on this one particular point , namely , that whenever brethren of distinction from the Old Country , or brethren deputed to perform a particular task , pay them a visit , the Masons of these countries lay themselves out to entertain them
with a generous and even profuse hospitality . Wehadan instance of this in 1 S 71 , when our then Grand Master , the Earl of RIPON , and the other members of the British Commission that visited Washington to arrange the Alabama Claims who happened to be Masons , were right royally entertained by the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia ; while this very
j ear we have had the Anglo-American Lodge Deputation to Grand Master SHRYOCK , of Maryland , which , though it was rather a personal and private lodge arrangement , was nevertheless greeted and entertained at Philadelphia , at Baltimore , in New Yoik , and wherever it visited . True there have been the Knights Templar pilgrimages from the United States of
1878 and 188 7 , the former of which was received at a grand banquet at Freemasons' Tavern by Bro . GEORGE KENNING , while the latter experienced a similarly enjoyable fate in York , and from the Baldwyn Preceptory , K . T ., and the Anglo-American Lodge in London . Nor must we omit
to mention that during the last few years two private lodges of a special character have been constituted for the express purpose of affording facilities for the reception of visitors from abroad ; the Empire Lodge , No . 2108 , directing its attention to those hailing from our Colonies , and the Anglo-American Lodge , No . 2191 , to those from the United States . Still ,
even when we have made due allowance for the facilities for reception and membership which are afforded by these lodges , and for the welcome extended by private brethren on behalf of the Masonic community generally , it seems to us there is still something wanting on our part in order to make the visiting Mason from abroad as much at home as he
should be made , and as the English Mason is when visiting other Masonic Communities . As a matter of course , he is greeted with courtesy and kindness by the Grand Secretary , who shows him every attention in his power , and if he is so fortunate as to include some English Masons among his friends and acquaintances , they , too , will extend towards him the rites
of hospitality on every possible occasion and to the utmost of their ability . •But many brethren visit this country on business or for pleasure who are of good standing in their own Grand Lodge , and have with them the necessary credentials , and who are desirous of learning something of the inner l'le of our lodges . The reception of such visitors in our lodges is not to
be thought of without that after reception at the festive board , which has almost grown to be a part of our lodge duty ; but then there is that " dining tee" to be thought of , and it is not always in the power of the private " ] ember who introduces the visitor , or of the private lodge which receives "n , to entertain all comershowever hospitablinclined they be
, y may . Jearly some provision in this respect should be made for the stranger Within our gates ; yet it is not just that it should be left to the private •" other or private Iod ge to find it . Perhaps some of our readers may be e to su ggest some plan by which this difficulty , which is by no means a "ew one , may be remedied .
Ar00102
p . OUR attention has been called to a recent innovation on the and usage ordinarily in vogue at Masonic banquets which occurred Freemasonry . not a huntjre * d miles from Freemasons' Hall , and which , in our judgment , cannot be too severely condemned . It seems that in the course
of the after dinner proceedings two songs of a distinctly political character were sung without a word of protest being uttered either by the Master in the chair , or any of the brethren present . It is always in questionable taste for any one to introduce or refer to politics at the festive board , where ' the company is a mixed one ; what is likely to please or amuse certain
of the guests , is almost sure to prove distasteful or annoying to others . But Freemasonry is essentially a non-political Society , and it is among its proudest boasts that the discussion of political questions being strictly forbidden , brethren of different political creeds are able to meet each other in lodge or at the banquet , and after spending a few pleasant hours in each
other s society , to separate with mutual feelings of respect and goodwill . This boast , however , will no longer remain good if a political song may be sung without protest at a Masonic banquet , and we trust that if any similar
innovation should be again attempted , either in the same or in any other lodge , the Master or presiding officer will exercise his undoubted authority , and forbid an attempt at harmony , which is certain , sooner or later , to create discord .
* * , t , THE familiar phrase to which the Calendars of the Crafthave rvcmHrkaLo ' c Occurrences accustomed us , will serve very well to usher in the short notice in asonry . we afe 0 yj gec j t 0 g j ve ; n our present issue , of a scheme that is now on foot to commemorate the services of a veteran in the ranks of
Masonic literature . The publication of Bro . GOULD ' famous " History of Freemasonry , " clearly formed one of those " Remarkable Occurrences " which demand a place in our annals , and we venture to think that a lukewarm reception by the brethren at large , by the appeal now made to them by the influential and representative Committee , a list of whom appears
elsewhere in our columns , would , as certainly , though in an entirely different sense , constitute another . Such a contingency need not , indeed , be anticipated for a moment , but in order that the success of the testimonial may be placed beyond all doubt , we earnestly hope that the Masonic press , both
here and abroad , will cordially unite in the grand aim of bringing fully home to the minds of all reading Freemasons the greatness of the service rendered by our Bro . GOULD , as the Historian , par excellence , of the Craft .
* * * IT is evident from the particulars published in the October Flee \ n . a ° ^ l '" number of the Australasian Keystone that the steps which are being taken in the Colony of Victoria to establish a United Grand Lodge on the lines of that which has been established in New South
Wales , and of which Bro . Lord CARRINGTON , Past S . G . W . of England , was in the month of September last installed M . W . G . M ., are very likely to prove successful . It appears that at a meeting at Freemasons' Hall , Melbourne , on the 26 th September , of the General Committee of the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions for the establishment of a United
Grand Lodge of Victoria , the Executive Committee reported that in reply to the circular which they had addressed the J une previous to the W . Masters of 119 lodges in the colony requesting their opinions as to the advisability of establishing a local Grand Lodge , with Bro . Sir W . J . CLARKE , Bart ., as the first Grand Master , replies had been received from
94 lodges with an aggregate membership of 4825 , of whom 3212 had voted in favour of such establishment and 74 against it , while 1538 had not voted at all . In other words , while between 66 and 67 per cent had expressed themselves as favourable to the proposal , only a little over i § per cent were unfavourable , and the remainder , having probably no very strong
inclination one way or the other , had voted neither in favour of nor against the scheme . Under these circumstances it was determined , on the recommendation of the Executive Committee , that steps should be at once taken to invite the co-operation of the authorities of the Victorian Constitution in establishing a United Grand Lodge , and we may reasonably assume that
ere long the example set by the brethren of the adjoining colony of New South Wales will be followed with every prospect of an equal measure of success by those of the prosperous Colony „ of Victoria , and that before many months have passed we shall be in a position to welcome a third independent Australasian Grand Lodge into the congregation of Grand
Lodges which have sprung directly or indirectly from the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland . The brethren of the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions in Victoria have already for some time past been presided over by one and the same chief in the person of Bro . Sir W . J . CLARKE ,
Bart ., and it is only one step further in the same direction for them to adopt a unity of Masonic system , while as regards the members of the Victorian Constitution , it is most unlikely that they vvill stand aloof from a movement , which will so effectively accomplish the purpose they have always had in
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS fig " The Religion of Freemasonry" 680 Notes on the Ceremony of Installation ... 681 Provincial Grand Lodge of Cambridgeshire 683 Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire 683 Consecration of the Arrnitage Lodge ,
No . 2 * 161 684 Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Northumberland and Durham 68 J Provincial Grand Chapter of Devon 685 CoFRKSPONDKNCE"An Old Masonic Song" 685 Reviews 6 S 7
Contents.
Notes and Queries 688 RIPORTS OF MASONIC MHTINOSCraft Masonry 688 Instruction 692 Royal Arch 6 93 Ancient and Accepted Rite 6 93 Rp ^ Tm « nf Rnmc anil PntHilaiitiili . hr . 1
Jubilee of Freemasons in Halifax 693 The Old Masonians 6 94 Presentation to Bro . Frank Richardson ... 6 94 Obituary 6 94 Masonic and General Tidings 6 95 Lodge Meetings for Next Week ., 696
Ar00101
IT has often occurred to us that , notwithstanding the general from excellence of the arrangements for carrying out the duties of Abroad . Freemasonry , the provision made for the reception and
entertainment of distinguished visiting brethren from abroad is lamentably deficient—if , indeed , there can he said to exist any provision whatever for such a purpose . This deficiency is especially noticeable in the case of visitors from the United States and the Dominion of Canada , the former of which ,
though for the last century and upwards it has enjoyed a separate political existence , is nevertheless part and parcel of our own kith and kin , while the latter is an integral part of the British Empire . In both these countries Freemasonry is not only immensely popular , but it likewise enjoys a fair degree of prosperity . The two together can boast of having between them
50 and 60 Grand Lodges , and the private lodges that are scattered over their vast expanse of territory can be numbered by the thousand , and the subscribing members by the hundred thousand . And , whatever in the opinion of English brethren may be the shortcomings of these numerous Masonic communities , and however much , in some matters of minor and
even of major importance , they may differ from us in their method and practice of Freemasonry , there can be no doubt whatever on this one particular point , namely , that whenever brethren of distinction from the Old Country , or brethren deputed to perform a particular task , pay them a visit , the Masons of these countries lay themselves out to entertain them
with a generous and even profuse hospitality . Wehadan instance of this in 1 S 71 , when our then Grand Master , the Earl of RIPON , and the other members of the British Commission that visited Washington to arrange the Alabama Claims who happened to be Masons , were right royally entertained by the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia ; while this very
j ear we have had the Anglo-American Lodge Deputation to Grand Master SHRYOCK , of Maryland , which , though it was rather a personal and private lodge arrangement , was nevertheless greeted and entertained at Philadelphia , at Baltimore , in New Yoik , and wherever it visited . True there have been the Knights Templar pilgrimages from the United States of
1878 and 188 7 , the former of which was received at a grand banquet at Freemasons' Tavern by Bro . GEORGE KENNING , while the latter experienced a similarly enjoyable fate in York , and from the Baldwyn Preceptory , K . T ., and the Anglo-American Lodge in London . Nor must we omit
to mention that during the last few years two private lodges of a special character have been constituted for the express purpose of affording facilities for the reception of visitors from abroad ; the Empire Lodge , No . 2108 , directing its attention to those hailing from our Colonies , and the Anglo-American Lodge , No . 2191 , to those from the United States . Still ,
even when we have made due allowance for the facilities for reception and membership which are afforded by these lodges , and for the welcome extended by private brethren on behalf of the Masonic community generally , it seems to us there is still something wanting on our part in order to make the visiting Mason from abroad as much at home as he
should be made , and as the English Mason is when visiting other Masonic Communities . As a matter of course , he is greeted with courtesy and kindness by the Grand Secretary , who shows him every attention in his power , and if he is so fortunate as to include some English Masons among his friends and acquaintances , they , too , will extend towards him the rites
of hospitality on every possible occasion and to the utmost of their ability . •But many brethren visit this country on business or for pleasure who are of good standing in their own Grand Lodge , and have with them the necessary credentials , and who are desirous of learning something of the inner l'le of our lodges . The reception of such visitors in our lodges is not to
be thought of without that after reception at the festive board , which has almost grown to be a part of our lodge duty ; but then there is that " dining tee" to be thought of , and it is not always in the power of the private " ] ember who introduces the visitor , or of the private lodge which receives "n , to entertain all comershowever hospitablinclined they be
, y may . Jearly some provision in this respect should be made for the stranger Within our gates ; yet it is not just that it should be left to the private •" other or private Iod ge to find it . Perhaps some of our readers may be e to su ggest some plan by which this difficulty , which is by no means a "ew one , may be remedied .
Ar00102
p . OUR attention has been called to a recent innovation on the and usage ordinarily in vogue at Masonic banquets which occurred Freemasonry . not a huntjre * d miles from Freemasons' Hall , and which , in our judgment , cannot be too severely condemned . It seems that in the course
of the after dinner proceedings two songs of a distinctly political character were sung without a word of protest being uttered either by the Master in the chair , or any of the brethren present . It is always in questionable taste for any one to introduce or refer to politics at the festive board , where ' the company is a mixed one ; what is likely to please or amuse certain
of the guests , is almost sure to prove distasteful or annoying to others . But Freemasonry is essentially a non-political Society , and it is among its proudest boasts that the discussion of political questions being strictly forbidden , brethren of different political creeds are able to meet each other in lodge or at the banquet , and after spending a few pleasant hours in each
other s society , to separate with mutual feelings of respect and goodwill . This boast , however , will no longer remain good if a political song may be sung without protest at a Masonic banquet , and we trust that if any similar
innovation should be again attempted , either in the same or in any other lodge , the Master or presiding officer will exercise his undoubted authority , and forbid an attempt at harmony , which is certain , sooner or later , to create discord .
* * , t , THE familiar phrase to which the Calendars of the Crafthave rvcmHrkaLo ' c Occurrences accustomed us , will serve very well to usher in the short notice in asonry . we afe 0 yj gec j t 0 g j ve ; n our present issue , of a scheme that is now on foot to commemorate the services of a veteran in the ranks of
Masonic literature . The publication of Bro . GOULD ' famous " History of Freemasonry , " clearly formed one of those " Remarkable Occurrences " which demand a place in our annals , and we venture to think that a lukewarm reception by the brethren at large , by the appeal now made to them by the influential and representative Committee , a list of whom appears
elsewhere in our columns , would , as certainly , though in an entirely different sense , constitute another . Such a contingency need not , indeed , be anticipated for a moment , but in order that the success of the testimonial may be placed beyond all doubt , we earnestly hope that the Masonic press , both
here and abroad , will cordially unite in the grand aim of bringing fully home to the minds of all reading Freemasons the greatness of the service rendered by our Bro . GOULD , as the Historian , par excellence , of the Craft .
* * * IT is evident from the particulars published in the October Flee \ n . a ° ^ l '" number of the Australasian Keystone that the steps which are being taken in the Colony of Victoria to establish a United Grand Lodge on the lines of that which has been established in New South
Wales , and of which Bro . Lord CARRINGTON , Past S . G . W . of England , was in the month of September last installed M . W . G . M ., are very likely to prove successful . It appears that at a meeting at Freemasons' Hall , Melbourne , on the 26 th September , of the General Committee of the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions for the establishment of a United
Grand Lodge of Victoria , the Executive Committee reported that in reply to the circular which they had addressed the J une previous to the W . Masters of 119 lodges in the colony requesting their opinions as to the advisability of establishing a local Grand Lodge , with Bro . Sir W . J . CLARKE , Bart ., as the first Grand Master , replies had been received from
94 lodges with an aggregate membership of 4825 , of whom 3212 had voted in favour of such establishment and 74 against it , while 1538 had not voted at all . In other words , while between 66 and 67 per cent had expressed themselves as favourable to the proposal , only a little over i § per cent were unfavourable , and the remainder , having probably no very strong
inclination one way or the other , had voted neither in favour of nor against the scheme . Under these circumstances it was determined , on the recommendation of the Executive Committee , that steps should be at once taken to invite the co-operation of the authorities of the Victorian Constitution in establishing a United Grand Lodge , and we may reasonably assume that
ere long the example set by the brethren of the adjoining colony of New South Wales will be followed with every prospect of an equal measure of success by those of the prosperous Colony „ of Victoria , and that before many months have passed we shall be in a position to welcome a third independent Australasian Grand Lodge into the congregation of Grand
Lodges which have sprung directly or indirectly from the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland . The brethren of the English , Irish , and Scotch Constitutions in Victoria have already for some time past been presided over by one and the same chief in the person of Bro . Sir W . J . CLARKE ,
Bart ., and it is only one step further in the same direction for them to adopt a unity of Masonic system , while as regards the members of the Victorian Constitution , it is most unlikely that they vvill stand aloof from a movement , which will so effectively accomplish the purpose they have always had in