Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS 161 The Rites of Memphis and Mi / raim 162 Consecration of the Richmond Lodge , No . 3031 16 : Consecration and Opening of the New Masonic Temple , Sydney 163 CORRESPONDENCEPortraits of Provincial Grand Masters ... 165
A Soldier's Daughter—An Appeal i 6 j Notes and Queries 105 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 165 Resuscitation of an Old R 0 v . 1 l Arch Chapter 165 The Cheshire Masonic Educational Institution 16 ; Consecration of the Borough of Greenwich Mark Lodge 166
Consecration of the Garnctt Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees 166 The Visit of the Grand Master to Peterborough i 6 ( j The Masonic Orphan School ! i 6 ( , REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 16 7
Instruction 16 9 Royal Arch 16 9 Mark Masonry 169 Knights Templar 169 His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Ufehnat Work 69 Masonic and General Tidings 150 Lodge Meetings for Next Week ... Page 3 Corer .
Ar00100
WE call attention to an appeal elsewhere from the Irish Masonic Orphan Schools , Dublin , as we think it is a subject in which many of our warmhearted brethren may take an interest in . Any support from this side of the water will be deeply appreciated in Ireland just now , as Irish Masonry has had , owing to extraneous circumstances , a very difficult position to maintain
during the last few troubled years , and this excellent Institution has had great obstacles to overcome to bring it to its present state of activity and usefulness . Our well-known Bro . \ V . E . GUMBLETON , P . G . D ., is tha Treasurer for England , and will be truly happy to receive any Masonic contributions towards so seasonable and good an object .
•*» THE consecration of new lodges is always a matter of interest and rejoicing to loyal Freemasons . There may be those who think they arc extending too rapidly , and expanding too hastily , but on this , as on most other questions , there are two sides . In the first place many old lodges are stagnant and
young Masons cannot get on , but arc condemned to vegetate many years before a hope of promotion conies . In the next place competition is healthful , the increase of lodges a true sign of Masonic vitality . It is perfectly competent and indeed proper for our rulers to scan with careful eye every petition for a new lodge , for there are of course " petitions and
petitions , " and we think this discretionary power is most wisely and cautiously exercized . But we cannot affect to deny that , on reasonable and seasonable grounds a charter for a new lodge is a good thing in itself , and we hold that all such legitimate extension is a benefit to and a strengthening of ou r
contemporary Freemasonry . We arc pleased to record elsewhere the consecration of a new lodge at Richmond , where , under the effective presidency of Bro . THOMAS FENK , in the unavoidable absence of our zealous GRAND S ECRETARY , the ceremony was most impressively performed , and left a very favourable impression on all who witnessed it .
# " # IT is announced on authority that in June next Sir J B . MONCKTON , who has for ten years past occupied the important position of President of the Board of General Purposes , will not be a candidate for re-appointment by the Grand Master . Sir J MONCKTON has done more varied
official work than probably any living member of the English Fraternity . He has been successively President of the Colonial Board , Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , and since 1874 President of that Board . He acted as Chairman of the Sub-Committee appointed by the Board to carry out the arrangements on the auspicious occasion of the
installation of H . R . H . the Prince of WALES as Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1875 , and recently presided over the Sub-Committee by whom virtually the Book of Constitutions has been so successfully revised . Many years ago he represented the Jerusalem Lodge as Grand Steward ,
and was subsequently appointed Senior Grand Deacon of England , and Grand Principal Sojourner . Sir J MONCKTON belongs to many lodges and chapters and has passed the chair on several occasions . He is now acting as Chairman of the Committee appointed by the Grand Lodge to superintend the rebuilding of the " Temple " at Freemasons' Hall ,
« •# THE questions which have been raised by some unwonted claims and dcvelopements of new appellations and elaborate rites arc neither few nor easy to solve . It is most important , while on the one hand we carefully bar the door against childish masquerades or absurd pretensions , we should
never forget upon the other the important and enduring claims of fairness , toleration , and justice . The course adopted or proposed to be adopted in one or two American bodies to interfere with such movements by " ex post facto" decrees of Craft Grand Lodge seeems to be open to the gravest
objections . A Craft Grand Lodge has no duties except quoad the Craft . It cannot rightly take any cognizance of any grade which oversteps the limits of Craft Masonry . Within its own dominion it is supreme , and none can question its jurisdiction , or dispute its "dicta . " But
Ar00101
the moment it seeks to legislate for other bodies , to lay down the law as regards separate organizations , it finds itself incessantly headed by difficulties , alike serious and overwhelming . It can , indeed , lay down a law that in its own assemblies none of its members shall wear insignia or claim affiliation with any other existing grade whatever , and can ignore any and every
other rite not of Craft Masonry ; but this is all it can fairly do ; this is all it ought legitimately to attempt to effect . The wisdom of the Grand Lodge of England and the position of the Grand Lodge of England , permeated as both have been by the long and faithful rule of Lord ZETLAND , have for years wisely eschewed all needless interference , and kept the Craft out of
unreasonable discussions , as regards the peculiarities and proceedings of other rites . Free itself , it accords perfect freedom to others to belong to the High Grade movement , so long as nothing is done which at all interferes with , or infringes upon , the undoubted rights and claims of its own unchallenged and unchallengeable jurisdiction . Hence in England no such burning
questions can arise , no such needless heats need be excited . The Grand Lodge of Englandknowsnothingofficiallyof anyhighergrade than the Royal Arch , and even that isascparategovcrnmcnt . and pretends in noway whatever to discuss or decide upon conflicting claims or rival coteries . It freely concedes that
brethren who , unsatisfied with the simpler rites of Craft Masonry , aspire to higher and more ornamented gradations in Masonic or quasi-Masonic bodies , may fairly do so without question and without blame . It seeks to ostracize none , anathematize none , to excommunicate none . It leaves to
angry combatants and vindictive conclaves , in petty imitation of Roman Catholic persecution of its brethren , the childish satisfaction of fulminatory decrees and anathemata , which very few read , hardly any care for , and none are in the slightest degree the worse for in any shape . We all may well be
proud that we stand to-day a firm phalanx under the ennobling banner of the English Grand Lodge , protesting against intolerance and injustice in every shape , and proclaiming in unerring tones an unfailing message of ' ove , charity , toleration , and goodwill .
•* # THE little archreological question touched upon in the last Freimason has for Masonic Students much of importance , in that it affects the entire history of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite since 1761 . On STEPHEN MORIN ' S patent rests the legitimate validity of a great portion of that
widespread organization . Antagonists of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , those who have sought to become "fautors" of other bodies and puffers of antagonistic claims have made several allegations equally hostile , unfair , and unfounded . The more close and critical studies of the present generation have aided to clear the facts of the case from the discolouring influences of
time and doubt , ignorance and apathy , and to revive the realities of forgotten realities and to set forth the outcome of actual history . MoRiNdidnot receive his patent from the Grand Lodge of France , the Council of the Emperors of the East and the West , as is often alleged , but from the Grand Lodge of St . John of Jerusalem of Perfection . His patent never was
recalled or cancelled , as the Body from which it emanated seems gradually itself to have passed out of sight ; and the confusion which has arisen by assuming that the Grand Lodge of France , ( purely symbolical Masonry ) , had anything to do with the matter has been very great . FINDEL and THORY both fall into the same error , by not realizing the existence of the
High Grade Grand •Lodge , but which we pointed out some years back . This one fact disposes of many difficulties connected with the history of the Ancient and Accepted Rite . It is thus seen at a glance , that the very serious question of the number of the degrees is easily settled . The Grand Lodge of St . John of Jerusalem talks in its patent
of "tous les Grades , " and there is no reason whatever to accept the commonly received statement put forward for many patent reasons that the Thirty-three Degrees came back from America . They clearly existed in France long before they went to America , and we have always rejected the common account as unfair to the real antiquity of the Ancient and
Accepted Rite . Another statement has now to be considered : the existence of relics from i / oo downwards ( and probably earlier ) , which seem to shew that the Rose Croix Grade existed long before the usual time allotted to the appearance of the High Grades on the scene . It has long been felt that the theory which connects them with RAMSAY , or as the developementof RAMSAY ' S
movement , must be given up . He seems to have left Masonry about 1736-37 , and to have died in 1741 , and we hear of Rose Croix relics of 1700 . The history of the High Grades and that of the Ancient and Accepted Rite has yet to be written , and we feel convinced when it is so , that giving up
untenable evidences and passing by unverihable allegations , it will be able to produce records alike clear and continuous , which will satisfy the scrutinizing claims of criticism , and fully meet the verifying demands of history and archxology .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS 161 The Rites of Memphis and Mi / raim 162 Consecration of the Richmond Lodge , No . 3031 16 : Consecration and Opening of the New Masonic Temple , Sydney 163 CORRESPONDENCEPortraits of Provincial Grand Masters ... 165
A Soldier's Daughter—An Appeal i 6 j Notes and Queries 105 Royal Masonic Institution for Girls 165 Resuscitation of an Old R 0 v . 1 l Arch Chapter 165 The Cheshire Masonic Educational Institution 16 ; Consecration of the Borough of Greenwich Mark Lodge 166
Consecration of the Garnctt Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees 166 The Visit of the Grand Master to Peterborough i 6 ( j The Masonic Orphan School ! i 6 ( , REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 16 7
Instruction 16 9 Royal Arch 16 9 Mark Masonry 169 Knights Templar 169 His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and the Ufehnat Work 69 Masonic and General Tidings 150 Lodge Meetings for Next Week ... Page 3 Corer .
Ar00100
WE call attention to an appeal elsewhere from the Irish Masonic Orphan Schools , Dublin , as we think it is a subject in which many of our warmhearted brethren may take an interest in . Any support from this side of the water will be deeply appreciated in Ireland just now , as Irish Masonry has had , owing to extraneous circumstances , a very difficult position to maintain
during the last few troubled years , and this excellent Institution has had great obstacles to overcome to bring it to its present state of activity and usefulness . Our well-known Bro . \ V . E . GUMBLETON , P . G . D ., is tha Treasurer for England , and will be truly happy to receive any Masonic contributions towards so seasonable and good an object .
•*» THE consecration of new lodges is always a matter of interest and rejoicing to loyal Freemasons . There may be those who think they arc extending too rapidly , and expanding too hastily , but on this , as on most other questions , there are two sides . In the first place many old lodges are stagnant and
young Masons cannot get on , but arc condemned to vegetate many years before a hope of promotion conies . In the next place competition is healthful , the increase of lodges a true sign of Masonic vitality . It is perfectly competent and indeed proper for our rulers to scan with careful eye every petition for a new lodge , for there are of course " petitions and
petitions , " and we think this discretionary power is most wisely and cautiously exercized . But we cannot affect to deny that , on reasonable and seasonable grounds a charter for a new lodge is a good thing in itself , and we hold that all such legitimate extension is a benefit to and a strengthening of ou r
contemporary Freemasonry . We arc pleased to record elsewhere the consecration of a new lodge at Richmond , where , under the effective presidency of Bro . THOMAS FENK , in the unavoidable absence of our zealous GRAND S ECRETARY , the ceremony was most impressively performed , and left a very favourable impression on all who witnessed it .
# " # IT is announced on authority that in June next Sir J B . MONCKTON , who has for ten years past occupied the important position of President of the Board of General Purposes , will not be a candidate for re-appointment by the Grand Master . Sir J MONCKTON has done more varied
official work than probably any living member of the English Fraternity . He has been successively President of the Colonial Board , Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , and since 1874 President of that Board . He acted as Chairman of the Sub-Committee appointed by the Board to carry out the arrangements on the auspicious occasion of the
installation of H . R . H . the Prince of WALES as Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1875 , and recently presided over the Sub-Committee by whom virtually the Book of Constitutions has been so successfully revised . Many years ago he represented the Jerusalem Lodge as Grand Steward ,
and was subsequently appointed Senior Grand Deacon of England , and Grand Principal Sojourner . Sir J MONCKTON belongs to many lodges and chapters and has passed the chair on several occasions . He is now acting as Chairman of the Committee appointed by the Grand Lodge to superintend the rebuilding of the " Temple " at Freemasons' Hall ,
« •# THE questions which have been raised by some unwonted claims and dcvelopements of new appellations and elaborate rites arc neither few nor easy to solve . It is most important , while on the one hand we carefully bar the door against childish masquerades or absurd pretensions , we should
never forget upon the other the important and enduring claims of fairness , toleration , and justice . The course adopted or proposed to be adopted in one or two American bodies to interfere with such movements by " ex post facto" decrees of Craft Grand Lodge seeems to be open to the gravest
objections . A Craft Grand Lodge has no duties except quoad the Craft . It cannot rightly take any cognizance of any grade which oversteps the limits of Craft Masonry . Within its own dominion it is supreme , and none can question its jurisdiction , or dispute its "dicta . " But
Ar00101
the moment it seeks to legislate for other bodies , to lay down the law as regards separate organizations , it finds itself incessantly headed by difficulties , alike serious and overwhelming . It can , indeed , lay down a law that in its own assemblies none of its members shall wear insignia or claim affiliation with any other existing grade whatever , and can ignore any and every
other rite not of Craft Masonry ; but this is all it can fairly do ; this is all it ought legitimately to attempt to effect . The wisdom of the Grand Lodge of England and the position of the Grand Lodge of England , permeated as both have been by the long and faithful rule of Lord ZETLAND , have for years wisely eschewed all needless interference , and kept the Craft out of
unreasonable discussions , as regards the peculiarities and proceedings of other rites . Free itself , it accords perfect freedom to others to belong to the High Grade movement , so long as nothing is done which at all interferes with , or infringes upon , the undoubted rights and claims of its own unchallenged and unchallengeable jurisdiction . Hence in England no such burning
questions can arise , no such needless heats need be excited . The Grand Lodge of Englandknowsnothingofficiallyof anyhighergrade than the Royal Arch , and even that isascparategovcrnmcnt . and pretends in noway whatever to discuss or decide upon conflicting claims or rival coteries . It freely concedes that
brethren who , unsatisfied with the simpler rites of Craft Masonry , aspire to higher and more ornamented gradations in Masonic or quasi-Masonic bodies , may fairly do so without question and without blame . It seeks to ostracize none , anathematize none , to excommunicate none . It leaves to
angry combatants and vindictive conclaves , in petty imitation of Roman Catholic persecution of its brethren , the childish satisfaction of fulminatory decrees and anathemata , which very few read , hardly any care for , and none are in the slightest degree the worse for in any shape . We all may well be
proud that we stand to-day a firm phalanx under the ennobling banner of the English Grand Lodge , protesting against intolerance and injustice in every shape , and proclaiming in unerring tones an unfailing message of ' ove , charity , toleration , and goodwill .
•* # THE little archreological question touched upon in the last Freimason has for Masonic Students much of importance , in that it affects the entire history of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite since 1761 . On STEPHEN MORIN ' S patent rests the legitimate validity of a great portion of that
widespread organization . Antagonists of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , those who have sought to become "fautors" of other bodies and puffers of antagonistic claims have made several allegations equally hostile , unfair , and unfounded . The more close and critical studies of the present generation have aided to clear the facts of the case from the discolouring influences of
time and doubt , ignorance and apathy , and to revive the realities of forgotten realities and to set forth the outcome of actual history . MoRiNdidnot receive his patent from the Grand Lodge of France , the Council of the Emperors of the East and the West , as is often alleged , but from the Grand Lodge of St . John of Jerusalem of Perfection . His patent never was
recalled or cancelled , as the Body from which it emanated seems gradually itself to have passed out of sight ; and the confusion which has arisen by assuming that the Grand Lodge of France , ( purely symbolical Masonry ) , had anything to do with the matter has been very great . FINDEL and THORY both fall into the same error , by not realizing the existence of the
High Grade Grand •Lodge , but which we pointed out some years back . This one fact disposes of many difficulties connected with the history of the Ancient and Accepted Rite . It is thus seen at a glance , that the very serious question of the number of the degrees is easily settled . The Grand Lodge of St . John of Jerusalem talks in its patent
of "tous les Grades , " and there is no reason whatever to accept the commonly received statement put forward for many patent reasons that the Thirty-three Degrees came back from America . They clearly existed in France long before they went to America , and we have always rejected the common account as unfair to the real antiquity of the Ancient and
Accepted Rite . Another statement has now to be considered : the existence of relics from i / oo downwards ( and probably earlier ) , which seem to shew that the Rose Croix Grade existed long before the usual time allotted to the appearance of the High Grades on the scene . It has long been felt that the theory which connects them with RAMSAY , or as the developementof RAMSAY ' S
movement , must be given up . He seems to have left Masonry about 1736-37 , and to have died in 1741 , and we hear of Rose Croix relics of 1700 . The history of the High Grades and that of the Ancient and Accepted Rite has yet to be written , and we feel convinced when it is so , that giving up
untenable evidences and passing by unverihable allegations , it will be able to produce records alike clear and continuous , which will satisfy the scrutinizing claims of criticism , and fully meet the verifying demands of history and archxology .