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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
the bakehouse-door—that he might take it to keep the soul in the body of a woman who had just brought a child into the world . I heard the baker crying like a baby as he declared that it was more than his life was worth to tamper with the stock which had been so carefully weighed out to him .
In another house in the same town I found a respectable family which had been living for more than a week on onion broth—not made with meat , but simply onions and water !" Others , and many writers with both the French and the German armies , but especially the former ,
give numerous proofs of similar and extreme suffering in other parts of the country through which the armies have advanced . Multitudes—women and children in particular—are thus reduced to the lowest ebb of poverty and distress ; and the future is no brighter nor more endurable than the present
—that is , if seasonable aid be not at once afforded them . Happily , there are some who , in view of their own happy Christmas , are thinking upon the desolate , and are sending their contributions to them . But the objects of relief are so many that the contributors need to be multiplied a hundredfold .
My appeal has met with a response from a few of my brethren , and from the daughter of one ; and what I now ask is , that you will permit me to acknowledge their contributions in the columns in which my appeal to them was made . Here is the list - . —Bros . W . Bartell ( 177 ) 10 s . ; H . Chapman ( 177 ) 2 s . 6 d . ; W . Carpenter ( 177 ) , 5 s . : W .
Shearman , 2 s . 6 d . ; G . Darcy ( 901 ) , 5 s . 6 d . ; W . G . Haylock ( 901 ) , 5 s . ; collected by the latter in 901 , 14 s . 2 d . ; Miss Tilly Anderson , 10 s . ; smaller sums , 6 s . I propose to keep my list open for a week or two more , and then hand the sums I have received to the Daily News Fund . Yours fraternally , WILLIAM CARPENTER .
{ To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Faith , hope , and perseverance , in a good cause , will not fail to be rewarded in the , one way or other ; while on the other hand , rashness and want of consideration , is always unfortunate . I therefore trust that I have
have not been too rash in sending you the following question , suggested to me by the communications of Bro . Hughan and a Masonic Student inlast Saturday ' s number of THE FREEMASON , page 641 I : —Suppose that two or three " Good Templars " were to affirm that their Order was first founded
or instituted by Jonadab , about A . M . 3128 ( Jerm . 35-6 , 2 Kings , chap , x . ) , or by any other worthy founder at any time prior to A . D . 1850 , and suppose them to affirm that the Order as it not exists was but a revival of the ancient Order and re-instituted , with improvements , say about i 860 , how could it
be proved , say a hundred years after this , that Good Templarism did not exist before 1850 , if they now , like " some too scrupulous brethren" in Masonry ( in 1720 ) , were to collect and destroy all the papers and parchment , evidences of their recent origin , for
the benefit of the mystery ? I submit that there would then be about as much evidence to prove the ancientness of the Good Templars as there is to prove the existence of Freemasonry prior to 1717 under the like circumstances . Yours fraternally , W . G . DORIC .
THE "RECTANGULAR REVIEW" ON "FREEMASONRY : ITS USE AND ABUSE . "
{ To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — " He who complies against his will , Is of the same opinion still , " and I presume such will be the case with our friend the " Editor R . R , "
I would not attempt to occupy your space further on this subject , were it not that I am unwilling to be thought capable of shrinking from the acceptance of a direct challenge , and thereby subjecting myself to the imputation of cowardice . I therefore , as the shortest , clearest answer to the " Editor of R . R . 's "
letter in your last , enclose you copy of balancesheet for 1869 , as circulated throughout the Craft , which will supply all the information called for b y your correspondent , except that in connection with the " Stewards' Fund . " For the management of that fund , which has nothing whatever to do with the
funds of the Institution , the Board of Stewards for each Festival is solely responsible , and the Board for 1869 , having , as a matter of course , been dissolved there is no one to call to account , and therefore I decline to republish its financial statement , contenting myself with simply stating that from
the surplus of its fund the Board of Stewards very generously voted ^ 131 5 s . od . to the funds of the Institution . In the statement enclosed , the item , " Ordinary Expenditure , , £ 4 , 671 19 s . 8 d ., " is the amount of the actual direct cost of the establishment at Wood Green , The other figures sneak for themselves ,
Original Correspondence.
and I flatter myself , that the balance-sheet is just evidence of that success which must inevitablybe the object of envy and detraction . Very fortunately the achievement of the former enables one comfortably to endure the latter , and in perfect equanimity I commend myself and this " unmanaged , "
bestabused Institution to the tender mercies of " R . R . " and his kindred spirits . Faithfully and fraternally yours , FRED . BINCKES , Secretary , Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Freemasons' Hall , 21 st Dec , 1870 .
RECEIPTS , 1 S 69 . £ s . d . To balance in hands of Bankers , 1 st January , 1869 1 , 286 15 10 Special donations ... ... ... 192 o o Ditto , and subscriptions 12 , 379 l 7 8
13 , 858 13 6 Bro . Rev . J . E . Cox , produce of sermon preached by ^ 22 3 4 Legacy of the late
Bro . G . Leach—Less duty 90 o o Interest 3 8 10 \ 93 8 10 Sale of lists of Subscribers 2 10 o
118 2 2 Purchased admission ... 157 10 o 275 12 2 14 . 134 5 8 To loan from bankers 5 , 000 o o To balance due to bankers on current account 582 13 2
, £ 19 , 716 18 10 EXPENDITURE , 1 S 69 . Building Account . £ s . d . Building acct ., architect ' s commission , & c . 8 , 71013 9 Special Expenditure . Interest on mortgage account ,
less income-tax ... ... 433 10 6 Interest on bankers' advances 4 S 14 4 Secretary ' s commission on surplus receipts .. ... 350 o o Secretary ' s provincial travelling expenses 67 12 6 Pension to Bro . A . U .
Thiselton , Past Secretary ... 100 o o Collector ' s commission on surplus receipts ... ... 70 o o Examination fees .. ... 4 S 19 3 Recreation for boys during holidays 23 14 4
Law costs , & c , purchase of plot of ground at Wood Green ... ... ... 1 9 13 2 Reprints for list of subscribers 14 15 o Gratuities to 12 boys on leaving institution ... 600 Hire of omnibus for
committee 19 10 o Bros . Winn and Cox , foundation of Oxford Local Examination prize , and " Canonbury Medal , " interest on ... ... 8 10 o
Secretary , per resolution of General Committee to recoup office expenses ... 100 o o Burglary , to recoup Assistant Masters , matron , and Servants .. 4 10 6
Commission on drafts ( link ' s ) o 1 10 Commission collector , being balance on surplus receipts to 31 st December , 1 S 6 S 19 5 o 1 . 334 6 5 Ordinary expenditure 4 . & 71 19 8
^ 14 , 716 10 To first moiety of mortgage paid to Messrs . Crawley , Arnold and Green ... ... ... 5 , 000 o o . £ 19 , 716 18 10
Audited and found correct , J HERVEY . JOHN UDAI . I .. PIERCE EUAN . J . A . S . LOVATT . Jan . 15 th , 1 S 70 .
THE PURPLE v . WEST LANCASHIRE .
{ To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Every member of the Order must fully agree with " P . Z ., " & c , that " the favouritism and abuses are too glaring in West Lancashire to be passed over ; " but I would remind him that individual efforts are useless if the
Prov . G . M . will not personally interest himself in these matters . I have heard that he is not likely to do this . That whilst it pleases your correspondents to write , it does the holders of office no harm ; and that if no reply is given to the various objections urged , the subject will soon be exhausted and die out . leaving them still open to adopt their own
Original Correspondence.
course . This is also evident from the fact that the Prov . G . M . has not replied either to my letter to him direct ( which I can assure " PM ., P . Z ., " duly came to his hands ) , or to that inserted in your publication of the 29 th October last . A difficulty in carrying out the suggestion of " G ,
B . E ., " that the province be divided , might soon be got over if lodges in the northern division would take the necessary steps ; and I would advise members not to delay in taking the initiative . Such an arrangement is indeed very desirable . I shall be glad to tabulate for publication , as
suggested by "P . M ., P . Z ., " a list of brethren who for the last fifteen or twenty years , have been appointed Prov . G . Officers ( if Secretaries of lodges will kindly furnish me with particulars , through you ) , also information as to the number of times we
have , in our several lodges , had the advantage of their supervision and instruction . Yours fraternally , P . M ., Liverpool . December 20 th , 1870 .
{ To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —A great deal has been written upon the above subject , and appeared in your journal from time to time , and I quite agree with those who advance that many have just grounds for complaint ; but all who may desire the coveted
distinction cannot obtain it in so large and numerous a province . I know of instances where brethren have joined lodges in other provinces in order to get into Provincial Grand Lodge ; and of many others in which brethren of education and position , who worked in every instance well and
efficiently for the cause in lodge and chapter , as well as outside of both , who have been passed over , indifferent workers and young Masons being appointed to offices in the West Lancashire Prov . Grand Lodge . This is sufficient to disgust and wean from us
many of our best and most influential members . Now , what is the cause of this state of things ? Simply the leaving of matters in other hands than the proper ones . If the Prov . G . M . would visit lodges and chapters in his own province , make himself acquainted with the manner in which each
were worked , and seek for information from the various P . M . 's and P . Z . 's , such astate as the present one would not exist ; but so long as the recommendation of two or three of the Prov . G . L Offices are taken and acted upon , so long wil' unju t appointments be made , favouritism and cli-iueism
be in the ascendant , and those who would grace the Prov . G . L ., and whose investment would be hailed with satisfaction by the brethren generally , kept in the background . A radical change is required ; it must , and will , occur . The brethren are commencing to agitate for it : they ask that no unfair appointments be longer made , and say that
the continuance in office year after year of those who can never expect to take higher rank , should be put a stop to ; that these should resign upon their laurels , and make way for others who are worthy of any Prov . G . L . distinction , and whose name is legion . Yours very truly , & c ,
A P . M . WHO PLEADS FOR OTHERS THAN HIMSELF . Dec . 20 th , 1870 .
The City Masonic Club.
THE CITY MASONIC CLUB .
This club held its annual banquet at the Jamaica Coffee House , Cornhill , on the 12 th inst ., Bro . W . Carpenter , P . M . 177 , in the chair , and Bro . W . E . Haycock , P . M . 901 , in the vice-chair . There were also present amongst others : Bros . E . G . Rolls , W . Naylor , H . Chapman , F . Walters , J . Child ,
Ferguson , Darcy , W . Mann , D . D . Beck , W . Seaman , S . Homcwood , J . Cox , T . Lawrence , R . Ord , T . Jackson , G . Carey , J . Lawrence , and J . T . Lucas . The charities are well supported by this society , and about a month since a subscription was
commenced for the " City of London Masonic Lifeboat , " and already amounts to over £ 200 ; and we hope before the summer to sec the object attained for which the members have so ably appealed . After a good banquet had been discussed , the claims of the fund were ably advocated by
The Chairman , who roseand said he had now to propose what , on these occasions , was called the toast of the evening . It reminded him that we were living in the era of clubs . There were clubs of every conceivable description—clubs for eating and for drinking , and some for both . There were clubs for clothing , and buiiding , and talking , and
walking , and swimming , and dancing , and singing , and rowing , and yatching , and thieving . Wc had clubs of all grades , from the aristocratic Carlton to the Christmas gin ancl pudding clubs . ( Laughter . ) Of the value of these clubs it would be difficult to form a just estimate . He might say , however , that some were mischievous , - some harmless , and some
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
the bakehouse-door—that he might take it to keep the soul in the body of a woman who had just brought a child into the world . I heard the baker crying like a baby as he declared that it was more than his life was worth to tamper with the stock which had been so carefully weighed out to him .
In another house in the same town I found a respectable family which had been living for more than a week on onion broth—not made with meat , but simply onions and water !" Others , and many writers with both the French and the German armies , but especially the former ,
give numerous proofs of similar and extreme suffering in other parts of the country through which the armies have advanced . Multitudes—women and children in particular—are thus reduced to the lowest ebb of poverty and distress ; and the future is no brighter nor more endurable than the present
—that is , if seasonable aid be not at once afforded them . Happily , there are some who , in view of their own happy Christmas , are thinking upon the desolate , and are sending their contributions to them . But the objects of relief are so many that the contributors need to be multiplied a hundredfold .
My appeal has met with a response from a few of my brethren , and from the daughter of one ; and what I now ask is , that you will permit me to acknowledge their contributions in the columns in which my appeal to them was made . Here is the list - . —Bros . W . Bartell ( 177 ) 10 s . ; H . Chapman ( 177 ) 2 s . 6 d . ; W . Carpenter ( 177 ) , 5 s . : W .
Shearman , 2 s . 6 d . ; G . Darcy ( 901 ) , 5 s . 6 d . ; W . G . Haylock ( 901 ) , 5 s . ; collected by the latter in 901 , 14 s . 2 d . ; Miss Tilly Anderson , 10 s . ; smaller sums , 6 s . I propose to keep my list open for a week or two more , and then hand the sums I have received to the Daily News Fund . Yours fraternally , WILLIAM CARPENTER .
{ To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Faith , hope , and perseverance , in a good cause , will not fail to be rewarded in the , one way or other ; while on the other hand , rashness and want of consideration , is always unfortunate . I therefore trust that I have
have not been too rash in sending you the following question , suggested to me by the communications of Bro . Hughan and a Masonic Student inlast Saturday ' s number of THE FREEMASON , page 641 I : —Suppose that two or three " Good Templars " were to affirm that their Order was first founded
or instituted by Jonadab , about A . M . 3128 ( Jerm . 35-6 , 2 Kings , chap , x . ) , or by any other worthy founder at any time prior to A . D . 1850 , and suppose them to affirm that the Order as it not exists was but a revival of the ancient Order and re-instituted , with improvements , say about i 860 , how could it
be proved , say a hundred years after this , that Good Templarism did not exist before 1850 , if they now , like " some too scrupulous brethren" in Masonry ( in 1720 ) , were to collect and destroy all the papers and parchment , evidences of their recent origin , for
the benefit of the mystery ? I submit that there would then be about as much evidence to prove the ancientness of the Good Templars as there is to prove the existence of Freemasonry prior to 1717 under the like circumstances . Yours fraternally , W . G . DORIC .
THE "RECTANGULAR REVIEW" ON "FREEMASONRY : ITS USE AND ABUSE . "
{ To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — " He who complies against his will , Is of the same opinion still , " and I presume such will be the case with our friend the " Editor R . R , "
I would not attempt to occupy your space further on this subject , were it not that I am unwilling to be thought capable of shrinking from the acceptance of a direct challenge , and thereby subjecting myself to the imputation of cowardice . I therefore , as the shortest , clearest answer to the " Editor of R . R . 's "
letter in your last , enclose you copy of balancesheet for 1869 , as circulated throughout the Craft , which will supply all the information called for b y your correspondent , except that in connection with the " Stewards' Fund . " For the management of that fund , which has nothing whatever to do with the
funds of the Institution , the Board of Stewards for each Festival is solely responsible , and the Board for 1869 , having , as a matter of course , been dissolved there is no one to call to account , and therefore I decline to republish its financial statement , contenting myself with simply stating that from
the surplus of its fund the Board of Stewards very generously voted ^ 131 5 s . od . to the funds of the Institution . In the statement enclosed , the item , " Ordinary Expenditure , , £ 4 , 671 19 s . 8 d ., " is the amount of the actual direct cost of the establishment at Wood Green , The other figures sneak for themselves ,
Original Correspondence.
and I flatter myself , that the balance-sheet is just evidence of that success which must inevitablybe the object of envy and detraction . Very fortunately the achievement of the former enables one comfortably to endure the latter , and in perfect equanimity I commend myself and this " unmanaged , "
bestabused Institution to the tender mercies of " R . R . " and his kindred spirits . Faithfully and fraternally yours , FRED . BINCKES , Secretary , Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . Freemasons' Hall , 21 st Dec , 1870 .
RECEIPTS , 1 S 69 . £ s . d . To balance in hands of Bankers , 1 st January , 1869 1 , 286 15 10 Special donations ... ... ... 192 o o Ditto , and subscriptions 12 , 379 l 7 8
13 , 858 13 6 Bro . Rev . J . E . Cox , produce of sermon preached by ^ 22 3 4 Legacy of the late
Bro . G . Leach—Less duty 90 o o Interest 3 8 10 \ 93 8 10 Sale of lists of Subscribers 2 10 o
118 2 2 Purchased admission ... 157 10 o 275 12 2 14 . 134 5 8 To loan from bankers 5 , 000 o o To balance due to bankers on current account 582 13 2
, £ 19 , 716 18 10 EXPENDITURE , 1 S 69 . Building Account . £ s . d . Building acct ., architect ' s commission , & c . 8 , 71013 9 Special Expenditure . Interest on mortgage account ,
less income-tax ... ... 433 10 6 Interest on bankers' advances 4 S 14 4 Secretary ' s commission on surplus receipts .. ... 350 o o Secretary ' s provincial travelling expenses 67 12 6 Pension to Bro . A . U .
Thiselton , Past Secretary ... 100 o o Collector ' s commission on surplus receipts ... ... 70 o o Examination fees .. ... 4 S 19 3 Recreation for boys during holidays 23 14 4
Law costs , & c , purchase of plot of ground at Wood Green ... ... ... 1 9 13 2 Reprints for list of subscribers 14 15 o Gratuities to 12 boys on leaving institution ... 600 Hire of omnibus for
committee 19 10 o Bros . Winn and Cox , foundation of Oxford Local Examination prize , and " Canonbury Medal , " interest on ... ... 8 10 o
Secretary , per resolution of General Committee to recoup office expenses ... 100 o o Burglary , to recoup Assistant Masters , matron , and Servants .. 4 10 6
Commission on drafts ( link ' s ) o 1 10 Commission collector , being balance on surplus receipts to 31 st December , 1 S 6 S 19 5 o 1 . 334 6 5 Ordinary expenditure 4 . & 71 19 8
^ 14 , 716 10 To first moiety of mortgage paid to Messrs . Crawley , Arnold and Green ... ... ... 5 , 000 o o . £ 19 , 716 18 10
Audited and found correct , J HERVEY . JOHN UDAI . I .. PIERCE EUAN . J . A . S . LOVATT . Jan . 15 th , 1 S 70 .
THE PURPLE v . WEST LANCASHIRE .
{ To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Every member of the Order must fully agree with " P . Z ., " & c , that " the favouritism and abuses are too glaring in West Lancashire to be passed over ; " but I would remind him that individual efforts are useless if the
Prov . G . M . will not personally interest himself in these matters . I have heard that he is not likely to do this . That whilst it pleases your correspondents to write , it does the holders of office no harm ; and that if no reply is given to the various objections urged , the subject will soon be exhausted and die out . leaving them still open to adopt their own
Original Correspondence.
course . This is also evident from the fact that the Prov . G . M . has not replied either to my letter to him direct ( which I can assure " PM ., P . Z ., " duly came to his hands ) , or to that inserted in your publication of the 29 th October last . A difficulty in carrying out the suggestion of " G ,
B . E ., " that the province be divided , might soon be got over if lodges in the northern division would take the necessary steps ; and I would advise members not to delay in taking the initiative . Such an arrangement is indeed very desirable . I shall be glad to tabulate for publication , as
suggested by "P . M ., P . Z ., " a list of brethren who for the last fifteen or twenty years , have been appointed Prov . G . Officers ( if Secretaries of lodges will kindly furnish me with particulars , through you ) , also information as to the number of times we
have , in our several lodges , had the advantage of their supervision and instruction . Yours fraternally , P . M ., Liverpool . December 20 th , 1870 .
{ To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —A great deal has been written upon the above subject , and appeared in your journal from time to time , and I quite agree with those who advance that many have just grounds for complaint ; but all who may desire the coveted
distinction cannot obtain it in so large and numerous a province . I know of instances where brethren have joined lodges in other provinces in order to get into Provincial Grand Lodge ; and of many others in which brethren of education and position , who worked in every instance well and
efficiently for the cause in lodge and chapter , as well as outside of both , who have been passed over , indifferent workers and young Masons being appointed to offices in the West Lancashire Prov . Grand Lodge . This is sufficient to disgust and wean from us
many of our best and most influential members . Now , what is the cause of this state of things ? Simply the leaving of matters in other hands than the proper ones . If the Prov . G . M . would visit lodges and chapters in his own province , make himself acquainted with the manner in which each
were worked , and seek for information from the various P . M . 's and P . Z . 's , such astate as the present one would not exist ; but so long as the recommendation of two or three of the Prov . G . L Offices are taken and acted upon , so long wil' unju t appointments be made , favouritism and cli-iueism
be in the ascendant , and those who would grace the Prov . G . L ., and whose investment would be hailed with satisfaction by the brethren generally , kept in the background . A radical change is required ; it must , and will , occur . The brethren are commencing to agitate for it : they ask that no unfair appointments be longer made , and say that
the continuance in office year after year of those who can never expect to take higher rank , should be put a stop to ; that these should resign upon their laurels , and make way for others who are worthy of any Prov . G . L . distinction , and whose name is legion . Yours very truly , & c ,
A P . M . WHO PLEADS FOR OTHERS THAN HIMSELF . Dec . 20 th , 1870 .
The City Masonic Club.
THE CITY MASONIC CLUB .
This club held its annual banquet at the Jamaica Coffee House , Cornhill , on the 12 th inst ., Bro . W . Carpenter , P . M . 177 , in the chair , and Bro . W . E . Haycock , P . M . 901 , in the vice-chair . There were also present amongst others : Bros . E . G . Rolls , W . Naylor , H . Chapman , F . Walters , J . Child ,
Ferguson , Darcy , W . Mann , D . D . Beck , W . Seaman , S . Homcwood , J . Cox , T . Lawrence , R . Ord , T . Jackson , G . Carey , J . Lawrence , and J . T . Lucas . The charities are well supported by this society , and about a month since a subscription was
commenced for the " City of London Masonic Lifeboat , " and already amounts to over £ 200 ; and we hope before the summer to sec the object attained for which the members have so ably appealed . After a good banquet had been discussed , the claims of the fund were ably advocated by
The Chairman , who roseand said he had now to propose what , on these occasions , was called the toast of the evening . It reminded him that we were living in the era of clubs . There were clubs of every conceivable description—clubs for eating and for drinking , and some for both . There were clubs for clothing , and buiiding , and talking , and
walking , and swimming , and dancing , and singing , and rowing , and yatching , and thieving . Wc had clubs of all grades , from the aristocratic Carlton to the Christmas gin ancl pudding clubs . ( Laughter . ) Of the value of these clubs it would be difficult to form a just estimate . He might say , however , that some were mischievous , - some harmless , and some