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Article Original Correspondence. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 2 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 2 of 2 Article Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes and Queries. Page 1 of 1 Article Reviews. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
suppers , without extra charges , I emphatically protest against their customs being made a shield for those brethren who belong to lodges whose subscriptions are only levied to meet the necessary expenses of management , and who yet nevertheless " gratify their tastes in eating and drinking out
of the funds of the lodge . " M y opinion is that Bro . Gottheil was not aware of the latter fact , or he would have supported me in exposing such un-Masonic conduct , and having the pleasure of knowing how energetic he is in helping in a good cause , I quite believe he will be one of the
foremost in seeking the removal of customs so derogatory to the principles of Freemasonry . A great number of lodges in the country , probably nearly all , receive annual subscriptions from their members , varying generally from twelve to twenty shillings , which would usually be
sufficient to meet the . " incidental expenses , and allow of a sufficient margin to devise a portion to our masonic charities , without which I fail to see any just reason for their existence , It is not the custom to include banquets or suppers , for manifestly , if so , the foregoing subscriptions
would be insufficient , as the most of the Lodges meet either fortnightly or monthly all the year round . I know of several lodges where the brethren pay about a sovereign annually for their subscription , and yet the members have a supper , or
refreshment of some kind or other provided for them nearly every time the lodge meets ( lately such a " feast " was provided every month ) , for which no extra charge is made , and the members partake of the same for their " annual subscriptions . " From a computation 1 have made
the cost could not be less on an average than ¦ 2 s . per member for each night , making a total of twenty-four shillings per annum or in other words , if a member attended every meeting and partook of a supper , and in such lodges there are
alwaysjas many present at the latter as the former , the lodge would lose at least eight shillings annually , because of the dues to the Provincial and Grand Lodges having to be paid , as well as the balance to be met of four shillings , which the brethren had consumed " over and above " their
subscription . Hence the lodge adopting or allowing such a use of its funds , can only manage to " pay its way " by drawing from the " initiation fees , " and without new admissions frequently taking place the lodge is bound to get into debt , we can hardly wonder if unsuitable persons are initiated , rather than the members should lose the benefit of the " fees . "
Now I am quite certain Bro . Gottheil does not support this shameful system , and though I am glad to say such a course of " feasting out of the funds of the lodge " is gradually dying out ,
am I not warranted in appealing to the Craft to give it a " death blow , " and ami not justified in holding up the grand example of the " Great City Lodge ' for others to go and do likewise .
The Great City Lodge , however , gave what was VhtiiT own to one of our Masonic chanties , whereas my letter was especially written to ask certain brethren to keep from taking what strictly speaking was not their own , but money , which should bo applied exclusively for the
hallowed purposes of Freemasonry . Bro . " Nemo " has done well in so kindly supporting Bro . Gottheil from a London standpoint , and I should have much pleasure in doing the same had our friend confined his remarks to the metropolis of the Craft , but when he has stated
in The Freemason that my advice was not only " gratuitous , " but even ( however unintentionally ) " offensive , " it is time to say why we object to brethren feasting at the lodge ' s expense . Wherever and whatever brethren have paid for their dinners or refreshments , either by
additional subscriptions , or by charges made at the time , certainly no one in their senses would object to their enjoyment , but when I know that sometimes more money has been spent in lodge banquets in a year than the united subscriptions of the members would discharge , and when I
know that right thinking members have refrained to attend these " free banquets " because the funds of the lod ge were used to pay for them , and others disgusted with such gormandising and unmasonic exhibitions have retired from the Craft , I must again reiterate my former
Original Correspondence.
statement , and advise all such to " gratify their tastes in eating and drinking out of their own pockets . " W . T . HUGKAN . Truro , 20 th Dec , 1873 .
CHARITY VOTING . To the . Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — My attention having been called to your remarks of the : 3 th ult ., on " Charity Voting , " and to a wish that I should state , to which Masonic charity I alluded as doing its
work by a select body or committee , I will do so in as few words as possible . I feel some regret to find I was not reported more fully , as you would have seen that I stated the Masonic charities were in some respects quite exceptional , and for one or two vcrv good reasons , did not come within
the scope of any general remarks , Jinasmuch as they partake of the nature of private charities , are exclusively supported by the members of a fraternity who alone are responsible for their good management , and have a right to say how affairs should be conducted or candidates elected .
They are also well managed and free from most of the defects of those Institutions with which the " Charity Voting Reform Society , " proposes to deal . I therefore had little to say about them , and with the exception of expressing a wish to see a " Committee of Selection " tried , simply
because I know the great charity of the Masonic body is already administered by a " Committee , " or Lodge of Benevolence , which meets monthl y to distribute a large amount of very substantial relief to a number of most deserving candidates , in the true spirit of charity , that of " not letting
the right hand know what the left doeth , " and to the perfect satisfaction of the whole of the Craft . You will notice I purposely avoided any allusion to the Lodge of Benevolence in a mixed assembly , and who would not perhaps have understood me . I believe , however , you will admit
that it does its work in a most unexceptionable and satisfactory manner , and I see no reason wh y we should object to leave the work of selecting the most deserving candidates for our schools to a committee chosen , as is the Board of Benevolence . —annually—from the whole body of
subscribers . Such a committee would , doubtless , do its duty faithfully , and with a full knowledge of the responsibility imposed upon it ; while by such method the widow and friends of the candidates would be relieved from an outlay and amount of trouble which presses upon those who are ill able to bear it .
It will not be denied that the present system of canvassing for votes is an objectionable one , and one which we should like to get rid of ; while few will be disposed to say that individual interest and regard for our schools will be diminished if some other and better method of election were adopted . I am , yours fraternally , J AHEZ HOGG .
BRO . BIGG AND THE MIDDLESEX LODGE { alias THE EXCLUS 1 VES ) .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I think there remains very little to be said upon the question after the excellent letter from " An Old Past Grand Steward , " wherein he reminds Masons of the duty they owe to
the Crait 111 general , as explained in the beautiful ceremony at their initiation , which some of them seem to have forgotten . Masters of lodges cannot he too particular in who they admit into the lodge , indeed , some are not particular enough . If it had been that Bro . Bigg could not prove himself to be a Mason to
the satisfaction of the W . M ., then the W . M . would have been justified in excluding him ; but as that does not appear to be the reason , and the W . M . has not answered the accusation , either from shame or contempt , I think the Board of General Purposes ought to summon the W . M . before them to answer for his extraordinary conduct . Yours fraternally , AN OLD P . M . & : P . Z .
Original Correspondence.
THE JOPPA LODGE . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Seeing an announcement of a presentation of a Past Secretary ' s jewel to a Bro . John
Alexander , at the Lodge of Joppa , I beg to inform you that I have had the honour of being Secretary above ten years . There never has been a Secretary , or even a member of that name , belonging to the lodge .
Yours fraternally , G . P . ALBERT , P . M ., Hon . Sec .
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .
NEW MASONIC TEMPLE , PHILADELPHIA , U . S . A . Those brethren who have been interested in reading the capital descriptions of the grand Masonic Temple of Pennsylvania , which have appeared from time to time in The Freemason ,
will be glad to learn that Bro . F . Gutekunst , of 712 , Arch-street , Philadel phia , Penn . ( U . S . A . ) , has succeeded in taking a series of twenty-two stereoscopic views of this truly magnificent structure . Bro . Gutekunst is one of the leading photographic artists of the United States , and in
this instance has done good service , especially to the Craft , by producing such excellent and faithful pictures of the exterior and interior of the Temple . There are three magnificent photographs of the Grand Lodge Room , E ., S ., and W . ; also two fine views of the Grand Chapter
Room ( East and West ) , the Oriental Room , the Norman Room , the Ionic Room , the Egyptian Room , & c . The Library interests me most ; and certainly , judging from the photograph of this splendidly furnished room , and its well-filled cases of Masonic books , I shall not be satisfied until I have explored its contents personall y
before many years have passed . I know nothing of the cost of these stereoscopic slides , as they have been sent me by a very dear friend and . brother from across the " big pond : " but I strongly advise our artistic friends to procure copies , being photos of the finest Masonic Temple in the world . —W . J . HUGUAN .
Reviews.
Reviews .
The Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar . ( By an old Editor of Masonic Calendars . ) The fourth year of publication of this most useful and handy volume has arrived , and we are glad to notice various changes have been made in the arrangement of the information which will
considerably add to its . value . As each successive edition has appeared , the Craft will have seen how numerous improvements have been introduced , and ^ certainly the present copy has far excelled all previous issues . It is virtually the successor of the extinct British and Irish Masonic
Calendar , published , we think , from 1850 , first of all under the editorship of Bro . Donald Campbell—a well-known Mason—and latterl y by the accomplished craftsman , Bro . J . Dixon Porteous , of Glasgow . We are glad to see that an accurate list of all the London and Provincial
Lodges and Chapters , have been arranged and classified alphabetically according to their names , and towns they are held in ; and a capital calendar is given , in which will be found all the London Lodges , Chapters , & c , as also the various Board and Benevolent Committee
meetings . These , we know , have only been compiled after an expenditure of considerable time , labour , and patience . The information respecting the Mark Grand Lodge , the Grand Council of Royal , Select , and Super Excellent Masters , the Orders of the Temple , and of the Red Cross of Constantine , and the Supreme Council of the
Ancient and Accepted Rite , is especially full and valuable j and their various Lodges , Councils , Preceptories , Conclaves , and Chapters , are carefully recorded , and nothing of importance seems to have been omitted with respect to these ritesinformation , by the way , which cannot be obtained in any other publication , and which alone is sufficient to make the Calendar a great success .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
suppers , without extra charges , I emphatically protest against their customs being made a shield for those brethren who belong to lodges whose subscriptions are only levied to meet the necessary expenses of management , and who yet nevertheless " gratify their tastes in eating and drinking out
of the funds of the lodge . " M y opinion is that Bro . Gottheil was not aware of the latter fact , or he would have supported me in exposing such un-Masonic conduct , and having the pleasure of knowing how energetic he is in helping in a good cause , I quite believe he will be one of the
foremost in seeking the removal of customs so derogatory to the principles of Freemasonry . A great number of lodges in the country , probably nearly all , receive annual subscriptions from their members , varying generally from twelve to twenty shillings , which would usually be
sufficient to meet the . " incidental expenses , and allow of a sufficient margin to devise a portion to our masonic charities , without which I fail to see any just reason for their existence , It is not the custom to include banquets or suppers , for manifestly , if so , the foregoing subscriptions
would be insufficient , as the most of the Lodges meet either fortnightly or monthly all the year round . I know of several lodges where the brethren pay about a sovereign annually for their subscription , and yet the members have a supper , or
refreshment of some kind or other provided for them nearly every time the lodge meets ( lately such a " feast " was provided every month ) , for which no extra charge is made , and the members partake of the same for their " annual subscriptions . " From a computation 1 have made
the cost could not be less on an average than ¦ 2 s . per member for each night , making a total of twenty-four shillings per annum or in other words , if a member attended every meeting and partook of a supper , and in such lodges there are
alwaysjas many present at the latter as the former , the lodge would lose at least eight shillings annually , because of the dues to the Provincial and Grand Lodges having to be paid , as well as the balance to be met of four shillings , which the brethren had consumed " over and above " their
subscription . Hence the lodge adopting or allowing such a use of its funds , can only manage to " pay its way " by drawing from the " initiation fees , " and without new admissions frequently taking place the lodge is bound to get into debt , we can hardly wonder if unsuitable persons are initiated , rather than the members should lose the benefit of the " fees . "
Now I am quite certain Bro . Gottheil does not support this shameful system , and though I am glad to say such a course of " feasting out of the funds of the lodge " is gradually dying out ,
am I not warranted in appealing to the Craft to give it a " death blow , " and ami not justified in holding up the grand example of the " Great City Lodge ' for others to go and do likewise .
The Great City Lodge , however , gave what was VhtiiT own to one of our Masonic chanties , whereas my letter was especially written to ask certain brethren to keep from taking what strictly speaking was not their own , but money , which should bo applied exclusively for the
hallowed purposes of Freemasonry . Bro . " Nemo " has done well in so kindly supporting Bro . Gottheil from a London standpoint , and I should have much pleasure in doing the same had our friend confined his remarks to the metropolis of the Craft , but when he has stated
in The Freemason that my advice was not only " gratuitous , " but even ( however unintentionally ) " offensive , " it is time to say why we object to brethren feasting at the lodge ' s expense . Wherever and whatever brethren have paid for their dinners or refreshments , either by
additional subscriptions , or by charges made at the time , certainly no one in their senses would object to their enjoyment , but when I know that sometimes more money has been spent in lodge banquets in a year than the united subscriptions of the members would discharge , and when I
know that right thinking members have refrained to attend these " free banquets " because the funds of the lod ge were used to pay for them , and others disgusted with such gormandising and unmasonic exhibitions have retired from the Craft , I must again reiterate my former
Original Correspondence.
statement , and advise all such to " gratify their tastes in eating and drinking out of their own pockets . " W . T . HUGKAN . Truro , 20 th Dec , 1873 .
CHARITY VOTING . To the . Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — My attention having been called to your remarks of the : 3 th ult ., on " Charity Voting , " and to a wish that I should state , to which Masonic charity I alluded as doing its
work by a select body or committee , I will do so in as few words as possible . I feel some regret to find I was not reported more fully , as you would have seen that I stated the Masonic charities were in some respects quite exceptional , and for one or two vcrv good reasons , did not come within
the scope of any general remarks , Jinasmuch as they partake of the nature of private charities , are exclusively supported by the members of a fraternity who alone are responsible for their good management , and have a right to say how affairs should be conducted or candidates elected .
They are also well managed and free from most of the defects of those Institutions with which the " Charity Voting Reform Society , " proposes to deal . I therefore had little to say about them , and with the exception of expressing a wish to see a " Committee of Selection " tried , simply
because I know the great charity of the Masonic body is already administered by a " Committee , " or Lodge of Benevolence , which meets monthl y to distribute a large amount of very substantial relief to a number of most deserving candidates , in the true spirit of charity , that of " not letting
the right hand know what the left doeth , " and to the perfect satisfaction of the whole of the Craft . You will notice I purposely avoided any allusion to the Lodge of Benevolence in a mixed assembly , and who would not perhaps have understood me . I believe , however , you will admit
that it does its work in a most unexceptionable and satisfactory manner , and I see no reason wh y we should object to leave the work of selecting the most deserving candidates for our schools to a committee chosen , as is the Board of Benevolence . —annually—from the whole body of
subscribers . Such a committee would , doubtless , do its duty faithfully , and with a full knowledge of the responsibility imposed upon it ; while by such method the widow and friends of the candidates would be relieved from an outlay and amount of trouble which presses upon those who are ill able to bear it .
It will not be denied that the present system of canvassing for votes is an objectionable one , and one which we should like to get rid of ; while few will be disposed to say that individual interest and regard for our schools will be diminished if some other and better method of election were adopted . I am , yours fraternally , J AHEZ HOGG .
BRO . BIGG AND THE MIDDLESEX LODGE { alias THE EXCLUS 1 VES ) .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I think there remains very little to be said upon the question after the excellent letter from " An Old Past Grand Steward , " wherein he reminds Masons of the duty they owe to
the Crait 111 general , as explained in the beautiful ceremony at their initiation , which some of them seem to have forgotten . Masters of lodges cannot he too particular in who they admit into the lodge , indeed , some are not particular enough . If it had been that Bro . Bigg could not prove himself to be a Mason to
the satisfaction of the W . M ., then the W . M . would have been justified in excluding him ; but as that does not appear to be the reason , and the W . M . has not answered the accusation , either from shame or contempt , I think the Board of General Purposes ought to summon the W . M . before them to answer for his extraordinary conduct . Yours fraternally , AN OLD P . M . & : P . Z .
Original Correspondence.
THE JOPPA LODGE . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Seeing an announcement of a presentation of a Past Secretary ' s jewel to a Bro . John
Alexander , at the Lodge of Joppa , I beg to inform you that I have had the honour of being Secretary above ten years . There never has been a Secretary , or even a member of that name , belonging to the lodge .
Yours fraternally , G . P . ALBERT , P . M ., Hon . Sec .
Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.
Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .
NEW MASONIC TEMPLE , PHILADELPHIA , U . S . A . Those brethren who have been interested in reading the capital descriptions of the grand Masonic Temple of Pennsylvania , which have appeared from time to time in The Freemason ,
will be glad to learn that Bro . F . Gutekunst , of 712 , Arch-street , Philadel phia , Penn . ( U . S . A . ) , has succeeded in taking a series of twenty-two stereoscopic views of this truly magnificent structure . Bro . Gutekunst is one of the leading photographic artists of the United States , and in
this instance has done good service , especially to the Craft , by producing such excellent and faithful pictures of the exterior and interior of the Temple . There are three magnificent photographs of the Grand Lodge Room , E ., S ., and W . ; also two fine views of the Grand Chapter
Room ( East and West ) , the Oriental Room , the Norman Room , the Ionic Room , the Egyptian Room , & c . The Library interests me most ; and certainly , judging from the photograph of this splendidly furnished room , and its well-filled cases of Masonic books , I shall not be satisfied until I have explored its contents personall y
before many years have passed . I know nothing of the cost of these stereoscopic slides , as they have been sent me by a very dear friend and . brother from across the " big pond : " but I strongly advise our artistic friends to procure copies , being photos of the finest Masonic Temple in the world . —W . J . HUGUAN .
Reviews.
Reviews .
The Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar . ( By an old Editor of Masonic Calendars . ) The fourth year of publication of this most useful and handy volume has arrived , and we are glad to notice various changes have been made in the arrangement of the information which will
considerably add to its . value . As each successive edition has appeared , the Craft will have seen how numerous improvements have been introduced , and ^ certainly the present copy has far excelled all previous issues . It is virtually the successor of the extinct British and Irish Masonic
Calendar , published , we think , from 1850 , first of all under the editorship of Bro . Donald Campbell—a well-known Mason—and latterl y by the accomplished craftsman , Bro . J . Dixon Porteous , of Glasgow . We are glad to see that an accurate list of all the London and Provincial
Lodges and Chapters , have been arranged and classified alphabetically according to their names , and towns they are held in ; and a capital calendar is given , in which will be found all the London Lodges , Chapters , & c , as also the various Board and Benevolent Committee
meetings . These , we know , have only been compiled after an expenditure of considerable time , labour , and patience . The information respecting the Mark Grand Lodge , the Grand Council of Royal , Select , and Super Excellent Masters , the Orders of the Temple , and of the Red Cross of Constantine , and the Supreme Council of the
Ancient and Accepted Rite , is especially full and valuable j and their various Lodges , Councils , Preceptories , Conclaves , and Chapters , are carefully recorded , and nothing of importance seems to have been omitted with respect to these ritesinformation , by the way , which cannot be obtained in any other publication , and which alone is sufficient to make the Calendar a great success .