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Original Correspondence.
make on a most important subject , you g ' the M . W . Pro Grand Master credit for the " greatest tact" in " stopping" their utterance . I should be the last in the world to doubt the discretion of the M . W . Pro Grand Master , but this does not imply an approval of the manner in which you draw attention to it .
You express your opinion that " in such a discussion , from his official position , Bro . Binckes is a little out of place , as Secretary of the Boys' School , somewhat of an interested party , in all good faith , in the consideration of such a motion . "
This is an exact reflex of the spirit in which legislation with reference to our Masonic Institutions has been and is conducted , —i gnoring , wherever and whenever possible , the evidence , views , opinions , and ideas of those who , from intimate knowledge and practical experience ,
ought to be—and with all deference , I submit , are—best qualified to guide—I don ' t say to direct —those before whom the various important questions connected with the welfare of the Institutions are brought for consideration . The raison d ' etre of this I can divine to my own satisfaction , but do not care to define at
this present writing . You proceed , " What our Bro . Binckes' op inions on the subject are we do not know , and if he likes to favour the Craft with them in our columns , we shall be most happy to afford him the means ofdoing so . "
• . Surely , as an interested party ( thoug h " in all . good faith , " ) my remarks would , ; " from my official position , be a little out of p lace "equally when published in the columns of the Freemasoh , as \[ orally expressed in Grand Lodge — and therefore I decline your offer , not caring to
subject myself to your criticism until you shall feel disposed—after due reflection shall have freed you from prejudice—to regard from a more just and equitable point of view those whose judgment might be allowed to have some weight in connection with the work in which they are
specifically engaged . Thus much I may inform you that the amendment I hoped to have been permitted to propose , would have met with the full concurrence of Bro . Clabon , ( whom I regret having been unable from
circumstances , to see previous to the meeting of Grand Lodge ) , and in proposing it I should have availed myself of the opportunity to place some few facts and figures before the numerous assemblage of brethren , of which 1 feel confident , not nine out of ten of our youngei brethren are
aware . I am , Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES . December 15 th , 1874 .
THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have the pleasure to enclose you the memorial from the Knights Templar of Dorset , which was received by the National Grand
Prior last Friday , and accepted by him for discussion at the next meeting of the N . G . Priory . At the same meeting , a memorial from Lancashire was accepted . Allow me to suggest to the Knights Templar
of England and Wales that each Preceptory ( Encampment ) should , after the example of Lancashire , send up a separate memorial in a registered envelope . I am , Sir , yours fraternally , A . P . G . C .
"To the very High and Eminent Great Prior of the United Religious and Military Orders of the Temple , and of St . John of Jerusalem , Palestine , Rhodes and Malta , in England and Wales and the Dependencies thereof . " The respectful Memorial of the Sir Knights Members of the Province of Dorset in
Provincial Priory assembled , sheweth : — " That your Memorialists view with regret and disapprobation many of the changes introduced into the Constitution of the Order , by the newly enacted Statutes of the Convent General ; and desire to call attention to the fact that the first
Original Correspondence.
notice of the new Statutes being prepared , was only issued at a very short period before the meeting of Grand Conclave , in December , 1872 and that that notice only intimated that those Statutes would be laid on the table , and in no way conveyed an impression that it would be
sought at once to pass them into Law . " Yuor Memorialists respectfull y represent that the Statute , enacting that matters recommended by the Report of the Committee might be passed into Law without notice bsing given thereof in the Summons , was never intended to
apply to alterations and innovations so extensive as are comprised in these new Statutes . "That by reason of the hurried manner in which these new Statutes were brought forward and passed into Law , no consideration could be given to their probable effect , and to the
expediency of their enactment : and your Memorialists as well as the general body of the Order were utterly debarred from any opportunity of discussing or considering them . " "That the experience since acquired of the
effect and working of these new Statutes , convincesyour memorialists that they are detrimental to the best interests of the Order , and must inevitably in the course of time thin its ranks and weaken its influence . "
" That it is unde sirable to drop the title " Masonic , " seeing that it is as Freemasons , that the Order enjoys immunity from penalties , under the provisions of the 39 Geo . III . Cap . 79 and 57 Geo . III . Cap . 19 , that the existing Order oi
the Temple has ever been a Masonic Order ; and that it is of importance to declare to the outside world that it still is and ever will be a Masonic Order j and so entitled to the Privileges of Freemasons .
"lour Memorialists further consider that many of the changes of the nomenclature of the Order , are injudicious and unnecessary , and only tend to confusion ; and that , if intended to identify this Order with the actual Kni ghts Templar , such identity is unwarranted by any
authority , and deprives this Order of its ori ginal and legitimate claim to be treated as an integral portion of the entire system of Freemasonry . " Your Memorialists are firml y of opinion that the abolition of Past Rank , and the substitution of appointments during pleasure , instead of
annual ones , is most injudicious and will tend to a practical monopoly of office by a few Knights , whilst the great body of the Order is deprived of any incentive to energy and zeal . Few Knights will care to accept Great or Provincial Great offices , which confer nothing but
temporary rank , and of which after the period of service of office has past , they can preserve no distinguishing mark or memorial , whilst at the same time a legitimate means of raising funds for Great Priory and Provincial Priories is virtually abolished , as Knights will not be disposed to pay Fees of Honour for a mere
ephemeral distinction ; and the newly created honours of " Knight Commander " and " Knight Grand Cross" being life appointments , limited in number , and attainable only at the pleasure of the " Grand Master , " will not form a compensating fund for Great Priory , and leave the Provincial Priories with no permanent distinction whatever to confer on their members .
Your Memorialists firmly believe that in consequence of these recent changes and of the manner in which they were introduced to the Order , a very serious and deep dissatisfaction is spreading throughout its ranks j and they respectfully pray that Great Priory will be pleased
forthwith to take measures for obtaining from each Preceptory the opinions of its members upon the present position and probable future prosp ? cts of the Order under the operations of these new Statutes ; and that the result of such enquiries may be laid before Convent General
for its consideration ; and that it be requested that a Special Meeting of that body may be summoned to meet in London at an early day , for the full and open discussion of the momentous questions which present themselves . Signed , on behalf of the Provincial Priory of Dorset , X C . J . ViGNE . Prov . Prior . I Tnos . COOMBS , Prov . Sub Prior . 19 th November 1874 .
Original Correspondence.
BRO . T- G . FINDEL , THE MASONIC HISTORIAN , RESPECTING COMENIUS AND FREEMASONRY . Ta the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have received the following from my friend [ and brother , Findel , and hasten to make his communication known to the many readers of the " Freemason . "
I am not prepared to endorse the views of our esteemed brother without further examination , but I hope the Masonic students interested in the subject will not fail to give the matter their close attention , for Bro . Findel is respected as a
Masonic historian wherever the literature of the Craft is valued , though of course many differ as to the origin and character of the society , which he has sketched in such a masterly manner in his " History of Freemasonry . " Fraternally yours , WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . Truro 19 th Dec . 18 74 .
COMMUNICATION BY BRO FINDEL . " In the writings of Amos Comenius , espe cially in his ' Panegersia' and ' Opera Didactica , there are many passages of pure Masonic
character , and so strikingly similar to the words used by Bro . J ames Anderson , and in our Rituals , that Bro . C . Krause , the German philosopher and Masonic author could not help believing that Dr . Anderson must have been familiar with these
sources . Krause gives , in his work , " Kunsturkunden der Freimr . - Conderchalft , " iv . p . 15—59 , a translation , from Latin , of some passages out of Comenius ' s " Panegersia , " and other quotations
in his " Tagclatt . " The works of Comenius have been published in Germany lately . I have not time enough , neither can I translate into English readily ; so I shall be obliged if
my dear brethren in England and the United States will have a number of passages from Comenius ' s writings of a Masonic character translated into their mother tongue . I can only give a few of them .
Comenius says he purposes to show that the true welfare of the human race is founded on three things—Philosophy , Religion , and Politics-Who does not think here of the three pillars
( or principles ) of Masonry ? The fruits of these , he says , are Wisdom , Piety , and Peace . Comenius speaks of the great society , or fellowship ( " rr . aximi collegii , " ) which composes
the whole human race dispersed over the face of the earth . Who does not here think of the form and extension of the Lodge and the Grand Lodges of the Universe ?
lhc world ( Comenius observes ) is naturally one whole , and should become so also spiritually and morally . We all live in this our common dwelling-place , and should be united to teach the ttue and good , we should walk the
threefold . way of Unity , Simplicity , ( humility ) , and Freedom in perfect harmony with one another . Look on God , who is one All , and desires that we , His image , should all become one . Comenius also alludes to the " centre of Unity" like
one of " Old Charges , " and in his society he will comprehend all men without any reference to their occupations , ( professions ) , religious sects , or nationalities , & c , & c , ( quite Masonic ) ,
and says that they should teach with one another in peace with attention and earnestness and in the manner of friends . He uses also the word Brother .
I am sorry that I cannot translate more and better to prove that Comenius in his works ( published 1702 ) has depicted the whole plan ,
purpose and the principles of the Craft , in such a manner that it is reasonable to suppose that Bros . Anderson and Desaguliers were familiar with his writings and followed in his steps . BRO . J . G FINDEL . Leipzig , Dec , 1874 .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
make on a most important subject , you g ' the M . W . Pro Grand Master credit for the " greatest tact" in " stopping" their utterance . I should be the last in the world to doubt the discretion of the M . W . Pro Grand Master , but this does not imply an approval of the manner in which you draw attention to it .
You express your opinion that " in such a discussion , from his official position , Bro . Binckes is a little out of place , as Secretary of the Boys' School , somewhat of an interested party , in all good faith , in the consideration of such a motion . "
This is an exact reflex of the spirit in which legislation with reference to our Masonic Institutions has been and is conducted , —i gnoring , wherever and whenever possible , the evidence , views , opinions , and ideas of those who , from intimate knowledge and practical experience ,
ought to be—and with all deference , I submit , are—best qualified to guide—I don ' t say to direct —those before whom the various important questions connected with the welfare of the Institutions are brought for consideration . The raison d ' etre of this I can divine to my own satisfaction , but do not care to define at
this present writing . You proceed , " What our Bro . Binckes' op inions on the subject are we do not know , and if he likes to favour the Craft with them in our columns , we shall be most happy to afford him the means ofdoing so . "
• . Surely , as an interested party ( thoug h " in all . good faith , " ) my remarks would , ; " from my official position , be a little out of p lace "equally when published in the columns of the Freemasoh , as \[ orally expressed in Grand Lodge — and therefore I decline your offer , not caring to
subject myself to your criticism until you shall feel disposed—after due reflection shall have freed you from prejudice—to regard from a more just and equitable point of view those whose judgment might be allowed to have some weight in connection with the work in which they are
specifically engaged . Thus much I may inform you that the amendment I hoped to have been permitted to propose , would have met with the full concurrence of Bro . Clabon , ( whom I regret having been unable from
circumstances , to see previous to the meeting of Grand Lodge ) , and in proposing it I should have availed myself of the opportunity to place some few facts and figures before the numerous assemblage of brethren , of which 1 feel confident , not nine out of ten of our youngei brethren are
aware . I am , Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES . December 15 th , 1874 .
THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have the pleasure to enclose you the memorial from the Knights Templar of Dorset , which was received by the National Grand
Prior last Friday , and accepted by him for discussion at the next meeting of the N . G . Priory . At the same meeting , a memorial from Lancashire was accepted . Allow me to suggest to the Knights Templar
of England and Wales that each Preceptory ( Encampment ) should , after the example of Lancashire , send up a separate memorial in a registered envelope . I am , Sir , yours fraternally , A . P . G . C .
"To the very High and Eminent Great Prior of the United Religious and Military Orders of the Temple , and of St . John of Jerusalem , Palestine , Rhodes and Malta , in England and Wales and the Dependencies thereof . " The respectful Memorial of the Sir Knights Members of the Province of Dorset in
Provincial Priory assembled , sheweth : — " That your Memorialists view with regret and disapprobation many of the changes introduced into the Constitution of the Order , by the newly enacted Statutes of the Convent General ; and desire to call attention to the fact that the first
Original Correspondence.
notice of the new Statutes being prepared , was only issued at a very short period before the meeting of Grand Conclave , in December , 1872 and that that notice only intimated that those Statutes would be laid on the table , and in no way conveyed an impression that it would be
sought at once to pass them into Law . " Yuor Memorialists respectfull y represent that the Statute , enacting that matters recommended by the Report of the Committee might be passed into Law without notice bsing given thereof in the Summons , was never intended to
apply to alterations and innovations so extensive as are comprised in these new Statutes . "That by reason of the hurried manner in which these new Statutes were brought forward and passed into Law , no consideration could be given to their probable effect , and to the
expediency of their enactment : and your Memorialists as well as the general body of the Order were utterly debarred from any opportunity of discussing or considering them . " "That the experience since acquired of the
effect and working of these new Statutes , convincesyour memorialists that they are detrimental to the best interests of the Order , and must inevitably in the course of time thin its ranks and weaken its influence . "
" That it is unde sirable to drop the title " Masonic , " seeing that it is as Freemasons , that the Order enjoys immunity from penalties , under the provisions of the 39 Geo . III . Cap . 79 and 57 Geo . III . Cap . 19 , that the existing Order oi
the Temple has ever been a Masonic Order ; and that it is of importance to declare to the outside world that it still is and ever will be a Masonic Order j and so entitled to the Privileges of Freemasons .
"lour Memorialists further consider that many of the changes of the nomenclature of the Order , are injudicious and unnecessary , and only tend to confusion ; and that , if intended to identify this Order with the actual Kni ghts Templar , such identity is unwarranted by any
authority , and deprives this Order of its ori ginal and legitimate claim to be treated as an integral portion of the entire system of Freemasonry . " Your Memorialists are firml y of opinion that the abolition of Past Rank , and the substitution of appointments during pleasure , instead of
annual ones , is most injudicious and will tend to a practical monopoly of office by a few Knights , whilst the great body of the Order is deprived of any incentive to energy and zeal . Few Knights will care to accept Great or Provincial Great offices , which confer nothing but
temporary rank , and of which after the period of service of office has past , they can preserve no distinguishing mark or memorial , whilst at the same time a legitimate means of raising funds for Great Priory and Provincial Priories is virtually abolished , as Knights will not be disposed to pay Fees of Honour for a mere
ephemeral distinction ; and the newly created honours of " Knight Commander " and " Knight Grand Cross" being life appointments , limited in number , and attainable only at the pleasure of the " Grand Master , " will not form a compensating fund for Great Priory , and leave the Provincial Priories with no permanent distinction whatever to confer on their members .
Your Memorialists firmly believe that in consequence of these recent changes and of the manner in which they were introduced to the Order , a very serious and deep dissatisfaction is spreading throughout its ranks j and they respectfully pray that Great Priory will be pleased
forthwith to take measures for obtaining from each Preceptory the opinions of its members upon the present position and probable future prosp ? cts of the Order under the operations of these new Statutes ; and that the result of such enquiries may be laid before Convent General
for its consideration ; and that it be requested that a Special Meeting of that body may be summoned to meet in London at an early day , for the full and open discussion of the momentous questions which present themselves . Signed , on behalf of the Provincial Priory of Dorset , X C . J . ViGNE . Prov . Prior . I Tnos . COOMBS , Prov . Sub Prior . 19 th November 1874 .
Original Correspondence.
BRO . T- G . FINDEL , THE MASONIC HISTORIAN , RESPECTING COMENIUS AND FREEMASONRY . Ta the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have received the following from my friend [ and brother , Findel , and hasten to make his communication known to the many readers of the " Freemason . "
I am not prepared to endorse the views of our esteemed brother without further examination , but I hope the Masonic students interested in the subject will not fail to give the matter their close attention , for Bro . Findel is respected as a
Masonic historian wherever the literature of the Craft is valued , though of course many differ as to the origin and character of the society , which he has sketched in such a masterly manner in his " History of Freemasonry . " Fraternally yours , WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . Truro 19 th Dec . 18 74 .
COMMUNICATION BY BRO FINDEL . " In the writings of Amos Comenius , espe cially in his ' Panegersia' and ' Opera Didactica , there are many passages of pure Masonic
character , and so strikingly similar to the words used by Bro . J ames Anderson , and in our Rituals , that Bro . C . Krause , the German philosopher and Masonic author could not help believing that Dr . Anderson must have been familiar with these
sources . Krause gives , in his work , " Kunsturkunden der Freimr . - Conderchalft , " iv . p . 15—59 , a translation , from Latin , of some passages out of Comenius ' s " Panegersia , " and other quotations
in his " Tagclatt . " The works of Comenius have been published in Germany lately . I have not time enough , neither can I translate into English readily ; so I shall be obliged if
my dear brethren in England and the United States will have a number of passages from Comenius ' s writings of a Masonic character translated into their mother tongue . I can only give a few of them .
Comenius says he purposes to show that the true welfare of the human race is founded on three things—Philosophy , Religion , and Politics-Who does not think here of the three pillars
( or principles ) of Masonry ? The fruits of these , he says , are Wisdom , Piety , and Peace . Comenius speaks of the great society , or fellowship ( " rr . aximi collegii , " ) which composes
the whole human race dispersed over the face of the earth . Who does not here think of the form and extension of the Lodge and the Grand Lodges of the Universe ?
lhc world ( Comenius observes ) is naturally one whole , and should become so also spiritually and morally . We all live in this our common dwelling-place , and should be united to teach the ttue and good , we should walk the
threefold . way of Unity , Simplicity , ( humility ) , and Freedom in perfect harmony with one another . Look on God , who is one All , and desires that we , His image , should all become one . Comenius also alludes to the " centre of Unity" like
one of " Old Charges , " and in his society he will comprehend all men without any reference to their occupations , ( professions ) , religious sects , or nationalities , & c , & c , ( quite Masonic ) ,
and says that they should teach with one another in peace with attention and earnestness and in the manner of friends . He uses also the word Brother .
I am sorry that I cannot translate more and better to prove that Comenius in his works ( published 1702 ) has depicted the whole plan ,
purpose and the principles of the Craft , in such a manner that it is reasonable to suppose that Bros . Anderson and Desaguliers were familiar with his writings and followed in his steps . BRO . J . G FINDEL . Leipzig , Dec , 1874 .