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Article INVASION OF LAWFUL JURISDICTION. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE BOYS' SCHOOL. Page 1 of 1 Article ILLNESS AT THE GIRLS' SCHOOL. Page 1 of 1 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 2 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Invasion Of Lawful Jurisdiction.
than this—any Grand Lodge which refuses to accept this " new order of things , " to bow down before this " iconoclastic " revolution , just like the Septembrisers of old , is henceforth to have French warrants granted by the French Grand Orient to lodges that hold
meetings in England—yes , in Great Britain . When Bro . Findel can even approve of such ridiculous and impertinent threats , by the statement , which is an insult to the whole of Freemasonry in Great Britain , that those foreign refugees , and those who are ashamed to own belief in God ,
( Les Philadelphes Lodge , or Grand Lodge , to wit ) , are to do good to English Masonry , one sees to what length party spirit can lead sensible men , and evenenlightened Masons . When Bro . Rosenberg , in Der Bund , talks of the " monotonous " work of English Lodges , ( of which he knows
nothing ) , and coolly suggests that Gallic teaching may improve them , it becomes an outrage on good sense and kindly feeling , to say nothing of all Masor . ic : profession . We , who know of what material such lodges , ( or Grand Lodges , if you like , my little dear ) are
composed , must laugh heartily at the idea of the like , or countless such , doing any good to English Masonry . If our English lodges were to be turned into revolutionary and irreligious factions , we quite understand that with some the " wish " would be " father to the thought , " but that our
loyal , decorous , earnest , kindly brethren are to be so metamorphosed to please a revolutionary " camarilla , " is , beyond all conception , monstrous and impertinent . And then we beg to say to Bro . Findel , once for all , and we hope he will think it worth his careful consideration . When
he can show us that French and German Masonry seeks to do one fiftieth part of what our English Masons are doing for charity , ( the great pr actical tenet of our Order ) , quietly , heartily , unostentatiously , year by year , we will talk over the matter with him—inasmuch as we hold it to
be really almost too absurd to require further animadversion , though we cannot well leave it unnoticed . We protest once more against the threatened invasion by the Grand Orient of France , according to Bro . Caubet and others of all lawful Masonic jurisdictions .
The Boys' School.
THE BOYS' SCHOOL .
We congratulate Bro . Dr . Morris , the House Committee , and Bro . Binckes , on the remarkable report of the result of the last Cambridge Local Examination . Out of twenty-five candidates , twenty-four passed , two seniors and twenty-two juniors , only one failing . Of the
twenty-two juniors , nineteen gained honours and three satisfied the examiners : six being in the first class , seven in the second class , and six in the third class . Now , having had some experience in the middle-class examinations , we beg to call attention to the fact , specially and pointedly , as most creditable to the School , and .
above all , as most significative of the careful , and sound , and correct teaching of Bro . Dr . Morris . No such result could have been achieved without laborious " grounding" and steady " all-round work , " and we beg , once more , to express our admiration of such a result , and our gratification to all concerned in the management and tuition of the School .
Illness At The Girls' School.
ILLNESS AT THE GIRLS ' SCHOOL .
We regret to have to call attention to a statement we make elsewhere , that whooping-cough has been superadded to measles at the School , and that eighty children are now suffering from one or other of these complaints . Under these
circumstances it must be patent to all our readers that the probability of a Royal visit to the School this year is very greatly diminished . We think it well to point this out , in order to prevent eventual disappointment .
We are requested to state , which we do with much pleasure , that our esteemed Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., P . G . D ., has kindly consented to preside at the 6 ist anniversary banquet of the Stability Lodge of Instruction , to be held at the Cannon-street Hotel on the 2 t 5 th proximo . Further particulars will be duly announced .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . " 1
BRO . CAUBET'S LAST . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I see by the Monde Maconnique that that able but excitable Bro . Caubet is threatening ami thundering against the Grand Lodge of England , if it dared to pass any censure , direct or implied , on the Grand Orient of
France—if , in short , it does not accept the last Masonic French revolution . Inmost , according to my view , ( though I am an old fogey ) indecent and inflammatory language , he proposes to give French warrants or French charters to French lodges in England . And , stranger still , I note that this childish and unmasonic threat is actually commended by Bro . Findel , in Die Bauhulle , and Bro .
Rosenberg , in the Blind , Well may an old Mason like myself rub his eyes , and ask , what next ? Whither are we going ? What is the end of it all ? With regard to the fact , I , for one , do not apprehend that it matters " two brass farthings , " despite Br- > . Findel ' s complimentary belief that such a Fiench " descente , " cr invasion , will do good to English Masonry . If the new lodges are of
the calibre of the " Philadelphes" they may well be left to the atmosphere of the "Bellows and Bagpipes , " the " Cat and the Monkey . " But the violence of Citizen Caubet ' s remarks remind me of some famous lines of George Canning , whose whole poem , from which they are taken , may well still be read over by Englishmen : —
Good Republicans all The Directory ' s call Invites you to visit John Bull . Oppressed by the rod Of a Queen and a God ,
The cup of his misery ' s full . Yours fraternally , LOYAL .
VAGRANT MASONS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can nothing be done to stop the idle fellows who go prowling about the country in the guise of Freemasons ; they are Masons in name only , not in heart ?
Being Treasurer and Almoner of my lodge , I see many of these gentry , and make a practice of enquiring from their mother lodge their antecedents , with the invariable result that they are undeserving members . This morning I had a letter about an Irishman ; he was raised in 187 , 1 , paid his dues , and has not paid a single penny to the lodge since , besides carrying off property not his
own . Now , I would suggest that the Treasurer or Almoner should , whenever he grants relief , endorse the certificate of the applicant , with his name , date , name and No . of his lodge . I venture to think , sir , that this will materially stop the sponging on lodges as carried on at present , because on presenting his parchment to the Treasurer or
Almoner , thus endorsed , he would naturally infer that something was wrong . I endorse those to whom I grant pecuniary assistance , and only those presenting their papers are relieved . Charity is our grand virtue and jewel in Freemasonry , and justly so , but it is not charity to encourage loafers and spongers who make a living out of the donations from sister lodges . March 20 th , 1878 . ST . PETER ' .
THE CHARITIES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As a Vice-President of all the Masonic Charitable Institutions I beg to throw out a suggestion , which should be seriously considered , in order to lessen the risk of a repetition of the very painful ordeal to which two of the
Charities and the Grand Lodge have had to submit . It is that all the eggs , i . e ., the funds , of the different institutions should not be placed in the same basket , i . e ., bank . If the funds are all placed in the same bank , and that bank should , as all banks are liable to , break , then all the Charities suffer , and the tax upon the brethren becomes trebly hard to make gooel their losses ; whereas , if each
Institution had its own bank , and that bank sanctioned by Grand Lodge , then in the case of failure of one of them the loss is comparatively small and easily borne by the members of the Craft . I beg to bring this matter thus publicly before the Masonic public for their consideration before the next general meeting of Grand Lodge , not out of any invidious feeling towards any bank in particular ,
for I believe that the present bank used is as sound as that of England , ( and who would have thought that Messrs . Willis , Percival , and Co ., after weathering the battle and the breeze for upwards of a century , would have had to succumb , ) but as a measure which carries its self-evident advantage in its face . I am , dear Sir , yours fraternally , C . S . PERCEVAL , V . P . 174 , S . W . rfio 7 .
To the Editor of the ' \ Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — May I ask for a small space to state briefly a . custom we have down here ? Instead of givinga P . M . ' s jewel our plan is to vote two guineas , on condition that the brother receiving it adds three more and qualifies himself , as a life governor . —Believe me , yours fraternally , JAMES A . HAYES .
Original Correspondence.
KENNING'S CYCLOPEDIA OF FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I fail to see any need of apologising for the omission of this , or that , from the " Kenning ' s Cyclopredia " just issued , as it is not intended to be an exhaustive history of Freemasonry , but simply a handy volume for
reference , which I contend it truly is , and well worthy of the extended circulation it is destined to receive . The ground occupied by Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., P . G . C , is peculiarly his own , and makes the "Cyclo " different in many respects to all others . To those who desire more information on the many points alluded to in this work , we recommend them to consult Dr . Mackay ' s
splendid Encyclopaedia , or Bro . Kenneth R . Mackenzie ' s Cyclopaedia , published by Bro . John Hogg , two works of great value and research . The present work , however , for the great bulk of Masons will prove most acceptable , and is exceedingly cheap as a volume , and even those who may possibly be supplied with the other cyclopaedias will find the one by Bro . Woodford in some respects capable of
supplying portions omitted in the larger volumes , especially as to Masonic Bibliography . Had it not been for a little haste in compilation , it might have been made still more useful , after due condensation and additions , but to compile a cyclopaedia well you require almost to re-write it several times . Yours fraternally , WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN .
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — It has occurred to me that as H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , our M . W . G . M ., is about to open the new wing of the Girls' School , and eighteen girls are to be elected
from twenty-four candidates at the election in April , it would be a graceful compliment to His Royal Highness and an appropriate way to commemorate the event by the Committee of the Girls' School sanctioning the election of all the twenty-four candidates without a poll , and with that view I have taken the liberty to write to you , that the matter may be brought before the Governors for their
consideration . . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , R . THORPE , W . M . 588 .
ADMISSION OF CANDIDATES INTO FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I trust you will allow me a small portion of your valuable space for the ventilation of a subject which I was glad to see treated of by you some short time back , but
which is of such vital importance to our Order that it is to be hoped it will be earnestly taken up by the Fraternity . I refer to the evil practice of admitting candidates into Freemasonry without that strict examination as to their fitness which is enjoined by our Constitution . It too frequently happens that brethren propose as candidates men of whom they have but the scantiest
knowledge , the ability to pay the necessary fee , and a fair appearance of respectability are thought amply sufficient qualifications , and no searching enquiries are made in order to learn whether the candidate possesses that moral rectitude and sense of honour which the most impressive ceremony will fail to impart , and that discretion which
should be a distinguishing characteristic of every Freemason . _ Masonry is , doubtless , capable of stimulating into active exercise virtues which may have previously lain dormant in the soul , but it cannot impart those virtues , neither can it make a good brother out of an indifferent citizen . —Yours fraternally , March 27 th , 1878 . FIDELITAS .
MASONIC SPEECHES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I write to ask you if there is any book in publication containing a selection of Masonic speeches , which would give a young man and a Worshipful Master
elect some idea or outline as to the kind of speeches which should be made at the banquet following an ordinarylodge , and also at the festival banquet following the installation ceremony . Faithfully and fraternally yours , YOUNG MASON .
THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE . To the Editor of" The Canadian Craftsman . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The recent action of a large majority of the representatives of the various lodges acknowledging the supremacy of the Grand Orient of France is a death-blow to the existence of that Supreme body as a legally recognised Masonic
organisation . It is quite unnecessary for us to argue the question . The very corner-stone of the Masonic edifice is base 1 upon a belief in the Great Architect of the Universe . To remove this landmark ( the most ancient of all ) is to throw open our portals to those whom it has ever been our effort to discountenance and discourage . The whole of our system of allegory and symbolism owes its beauty to the broad and
liberal principles , the high and noble thoughts , the grand and priceless virtues , which have their origin in a belief in the Omnipotence , the Omniscience and the Omnipresence of the Great I AM . Those misguided men in the Grand Orient who have dared to decree that it is not absolutely
necessary for the neophyte to acknowledge a belief in God , have literally sapped the Masonic tree of the very essence that renders its growth so strong and vigorous , its foliage so green and thick , and its blossoms and fruit so beauteous and so luscious—to rob Masonry of that great and grand principle is to take from her the vital ' spark that renders her
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Invasion Of Lawful Jurisdiction.
than this—any Grand Lodge which refuses to accept this " new order of things , " to bow down before this " iconoclastic " revolution , just like the Septembrisers of old , is henceforth to have French warrants granted by the French Grand Orient to lodges that hold
meetings in England—yes , in Great Britain . When Bro . Findel can even approve of such ridiculous and impertinent threats , by the statement , which is an insult to the whole of Freemasonry in Great Britain , that those foreign refugees , and those who are ashamed to own belief in God ,
( Les Philadelphes Lodge , or Grand Lodge , to wit ) , are to do good to English Masonry , one sees to what length party spirit can lead sensible men , and evenenlightened Masons . When Bro . Rosenberg , in Der Bund , talks of the " monotonous " work of English Lodges , ( of which he knows
nothing ) , and coolly suggests that Gallic teaching may improve them , it becomes an outrage on good sense and kindly feeling , to say nothing of all Masor . ic : profession . We , who know of what material such lodges , ( or Grand Lodges , if you like , my little dear ) are
composed , must laugh heartily at the idea of the like , or countless such , doing any good to English Masonry . If our English lodges were to be turned into revolutionary and irreligious factions , we quite understand that with some the " wish " would be " father to the thought , " but that our
loyal , decorous , earnest , kindly brethren are to be so metamorphosed to please a revolutionary " camarilla , " is , beyond all conception , monstrous and impertinent . And then we beg to say to Bro . Findel , once for all , and we hope he will think it worth his careful consideration . When
he can show us that French and German Masonry seeks to do one fiftieth part of what our English Masons are doing for charity , ( the great pr actical tenet of our Order ) , quietly , heartily , unostentatiously , year by year , we will talk over the matter with him—inasmuch as we hold it to
be really almost too absurd to require further animadversion , though we cannot well leave it unnoticed . We protest once more against the threatened invasion by the Grand Orient of France , according to Bro . Caubet and others of all lawful Masonic jurisdictions .
The Boys' School.
THE BOYS' SCHOOL .
We congratulate Bro . Dr . Morris , the House Committee , and Bro . Binckes , on the remarkable report of the result of the last Cambridge Local Examination . Out of twenty-five candidates , twenty-four passed , two seniors and twenty-two juniors , only one failing . Of the
twenty-two juniors , nineteen gained honours and three satisfied the examiners : six being in the first class , seven in the second class , and six in the third class . Now , having had some experience in the middle-class examinations , we beg to call attention to the fact , specially and pointedly , as most creditable to the School , and .
above all , as most significative of the careful , and sound , and correct teaching of Bro . Dr . Morris . No such result could have been achieved without laborious " grounding" and steady " all-round work , " and we beg , once more , to express our admiration of such a result , and our gratification to all concerned in the management and tuition of the School .
Illness At The Girls' School.
ILLNESS AT THE GIRLS ' SCHOOL .
We regret to have to call attention to a statement we make elsewhere , that whooping-cough has been superadded to measles at the School , and that eighty children are now suffering from one or other of these complaints . Under these
circumstances it must be patent to all our readers that the probability of a Royal visit to the School this year is very greatly diminished . We think it well to point this out , in order to prevent eventual disappointment .
We are requested to state , which we do with much pleasure , that our esteemed Bro . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C ., P . G . D ., has kindly consented to preside at the 6 ist anniversary banquet of the Stability Lodge of Instruction , to be held at the Cannon-street Hotel on the 2 t 5 th proximo . Further particulars will be duly announced .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . " 1
BRO . CAUBET'S LAST . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I see by the Monde Maconnique that that able but excitable Bro . Caubet is threatening ami thundering against the Grand Lodge of England , if it dared to pass any censure , direct or implied , on the Grand Orient of
France—if , in short , it does not accept the last Masonic French revolution . Inmost , according to my view , ( though I am an old fogey ) indecent and inflammatory language , he proposes to give French warrants or French charters to French lodges in England . And , stranger still , I note that this childish and unmasonic threat is actually commended by Bro . Findel , in Die Bauhulle , and Bro .
Rosenberg , in the Blind , Well may an old Mason like myself rub his eyes , and ask , what next ? Whither are we going ? What is the end of it all ? With regard to the fact , I , for one , do not apprehend that it matters " two brass farthings , " despite Br- > . Findel ' s complimentary belief that such a Fiench " descente , " cr invasion , will do good to English Masonry . If the new lodges are of
the calibre of the " Philadelphes" they may well be left to the atmosphere of the "Bellows and Bagpipes , " the " Cat and the Monkey . " But the violence of Citizen Caubet ' s remarks remind me of some famous lines of George Canning , whose whole poem , from which they are taken , may well still be read over by Englishmen : —
Good Republicans all The Directory ' s call Invites you to visit John Bull . Oppressed by the rod Of a Queen and a God ,
The cup of his misery ' s full . Yours fraternally , LOYAL .
VAGRANT MASONS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can nothing be done to stop the idle fellows who go prowling about the country in the guise of Freemasons ; they are Masons in name only , not in heart ?
Being Treasurer and Almoner of my lodge , I see many of these gentry , and make a practice of enquiring from their mother lodge their antecedents , with the invariable result that they are undeserving members . This morning I had a letter about an Irishman ; he was raised in 187 , 1 , paid his dues , and has not paid a single penny to the lodge since , besides carrying off property not his
own . Now , I would suggest that the Treasurer or Almoner should , whenever he grants relief , endorse the certificate of the applicant , with his name , date , name and No . of his lodge . I venture to think , sir , that this will materially stop the sponging on lodges as carried on at present , because on presenting his parchment to the Treasurer or
Almoner , thus endorsed , he would naturally infer that something was wrong . I endorse those to whom I grant pecuniary assistance , and only those presenting their papers are relieved . Charity is our grand virtue and jewel in Freemasonry , and justly so , but it is not charity to encourage loafers and spongers who make a living out of the donations from sister lodges . March 20 th , 1878 . ST . PETER ' .
THE CHARITIES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As a Vice-President of all the Masonic Charitable Institutions I beg to throw out a suggestion , which should be seriously considered , in order to lessen the risk of a repetition of the very painful ordeal to which two of the
Charities and the Grand Lodge have had to submit . It is that all the eggs , i . e ., the funds , of the different institutions should not be placed in the same basket , i . e ., bank . If the funds are all placed in the same bank , and that bank should , as all banks are liable to , break , then all the Charities suffer , and the tax upon the brethren becomes trebly hard to make gooel their losses ; whereas , if each
Institution had its own bank , and that bank sanctioned by Grand Lodge , then in the case of failure of one of them the loss is comparatively small and easily borne by the members of the Craft . I beg to bring this matter thus publicly before the Masonic public for their consideration before the next general meeting of Grand Lodge , not out of any invidious feeling towards any bank in particular ,
for I believe that the present bank used is as sound as that of England , ( and who would have thought that Messrs . Willis , Percival , and Co ., after weathering the battle and the breeze for upwards of a century , would have had to succumb , ) but as a measure which carries its self-evident advantage in its face . I am , dear Sir , yours fraternally , C . S . PERCEVAL , V . P . 174 , S . W . rfio 7 .
To the Editor of the ' \ Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — May I ask for a small space to state briefly a . custom we have down here ? Instead of givinga P . M . ' s jewel our plan is to vote two guineas , on condition that the brother receiving it adds three more and qualifies himself , as a life governor . —Believe me , yours fraternally , JAMES A . HAYES .
Original Correspondence.
KENNING'S CYCLOPEDIA OF FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I fail to see any need of apologising for the omission of this , or that , from the " Kenning ' s Cyclopredia " just issued , as it is not intended to be an exhaustive history of Freemasonry , but simply a handy volume for
reference , which I contend it truly is , and well worthy of the extended circulation it is destined to receive . The ground occupied by Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., P . G . C , is peculiarly his own , and makes the "Cyclo " different in many respects to all others . To those who desire more information on the many points alluded to in this work , we recommend them to consult Dr . Mackay ' s
splendid Encyclopaedia , or Bro . Kenneth R . Mackenzie ' s Cyclopaedia , published by Bro . John Hogg , two works of great value and research . The present work , however , for the great bulk of Masons will prove most acceptable , and is exceedingly cheap as a volume , and even those who may possibly be supplied with the other cyclopaedias will find the one by Bro . Woodford in some respects capable of
supplying portions omitted in the larger volumes , especially as to Masonic Bibliography . Had it not been for a little haste in compilation , it might have been made still more useful , after due condensation and additions , but to compile a cyclopaedia well you require almost to re-write it several times . Yours fraternally , WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN .
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — It has occurred to me that as H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , our M . W . G . M ., is about to open the new wing of the Girls' School , and eighteen girls are to be elected
from twenty-four candidates at the election in April , it would be a graceful compliment to His Royal Highness and an appropriate way to commemorate the event by the Committee of the Girls' School sanctioning the election of all the twenty-four candidates without a poll , and with that view I have taken the liberty to write to you , that the matter may be brought before the Governors for their
consideration . . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , R . THORPE , W . M . 588 .
ADMISSION OF CANDIDATES INTO FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I trust you will allow me a small portion of your valuable space for the ventilation of a subject which I was glad to see treated of by you some short time back , but
which is of such vital importance to our Order that it is to be hoped it will be earnestly taken up by the Fraternity . I refer to the evil practice of admitting candidates into Freemasonry without that strict examination as to their fitness which is enjoined by our Constitution . It too frequently happens that brethren propose as candidates men of whom they have but the scantiest
knowledge , the ability to pay the necessary fee , and a fair appearance of respectability are thought amply sufficient qualifications , and no searching enquiries are made in order to learn whether the candidate possesses that moral rectitude and sense of honour which the most impressive ceremony will fail to impart , and that discretion which
should be a distinguishing characteristic of every Freemason . _ Masonry is , doubtless , capable of stimulating into active exercise virtues which may have previously lain dormant in the soul , but it cannot impart those virtues , neither can it make a good brother out of an indifferent citizen . —Yours fraternally , March 27 th , 1878 . FIDELITAS .
MASONIC SPEECHES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I write to ask you if there is any book in publication containing a selection of Masonic speeches , which would give a young man and a Worshipful Master
elect some idea or outline as to the kind of speeches which should be made at the banquet following an ordinarylodge , and also at the festival banquet following the installation ceremony . Faithfully and fraternally yours , YOUNG MASON .
THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE . To the Editor of" The Canadian Craftsman . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The recent action of a large majority of the representatives of the various lodges acknowledging the supremacy of the Grand Orient of France is a death-blow to the existence of that Supreme body as a legally recognised Masonic
organisation . It is quite unnecessary for us to argue the question . The very corner-stone of the Masonic edifice is base 1 upon a belief in the Great Architect of the Universe . To remove this landmark ( the most ancient of all ) is to throw open our portals to those whom it has ever been our effort to discountenance and discourage . The whole of our system of allegory and symbolism owes its beauty to the broad and
liberal principles , the high and noble thoughts , the grand and priceless virtues , which have their origin in a belief in the Omnipotence , the Omniscience and the Omnipresence of the Great I AM . Those misguided men in the Grand Orient who have dared to decree that it is not absolutely
necessary for the neophyte to acknowledge a belief in God , have literally sapped the Masonic tree of the very essence that renders its growth so strong and vigorous , its foliage so green and thick , and its blossoms and fruit so beauteous and so luscious—to rob Masonry of that great and grand principle is to take from her the vital ' spark that renders her