Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Some Further Remarks On The Extracts From The Sheffield Chapter Of Paradise Minute Books.*
SOME FURTHER REMARKS ON THE EXTRACTS FROM THE SHEFFIELD CHAPTER OF PARADISE MINUTE BOOKS . *
BY BRO . REV . W . TEBB 3 . THE thanks of the Craft are due to Bro . Ellis for bis exertions in bringing to the light these interesting records of the doings of Brethren and Companions of a
bye-gone age , as well as for the courteous aud fraternal way in which he has received the suggestions of several brethren who are anxious to extract somewhat of the valuable material that they seem to yield .
The first noteworth y fact that strikes us , in this instalment , is that in this Chapter were occasionall y' ! given lectures which , though not contained within the limits of the ritual proper , yet tend to illustrate subjects dear to Masons . This
plan has been adopted recently in different Lodges and , as we have experienced , with good result ; many Brethren to whom the mere routine business of the Lodge presents
but little attraction , being thereby led to resume their active working in the Craft's behalf . We now % come to a resumption of the title of " Superexeellent" but with the addition of the words " Master in ye chair , " and find that " raising" to this
degree was used as a preliminary step to exaltation . About three years later , as well as twice in the following year , § we find the same thing done , but here described as " passing the superlative chair . " In this latter year also we find the Mark degree
conferred . In his interesting notes on the former portion of extracts Brother Hughan calls attention to this fact , remarking that these Mark Masons could not have been advanced by the R . A . Warrant , but that "from about 17 70 lodges worked the Mark Masters frequentl y by their own authority , any legitimate
number of Mark Masons apparently doing so under the adopted wing of a Craft warrant . " Now it seems to us that such could hardly have been the case here , for we find that it is Companions that were advanced , and that in Chapter and not in
Lodge ; for , although this degree might not have been given by virtue of the £ ,. J ., Warrant , it appears to have been Companions who conferred it on Companions and not Brethren on Brethren .
The next thing that strikes us is the mode of election of Officers which was by show of hands * and not ballot although we read t that Brother Fouque was elected into the Chapter by the latter mode . Other business was > done b y show of hands as when the
recommendation to Grand Chapter for the holding a Chapter at Longnor was carried . ^ The usual rule , too , as to the previous choice of Principals ( to whom the warrant for forming a Chapter is addressed ) seems to have been departed from in the case of the opening of the Chapter at Doncaster §
, where , after the Chapter had been constituted , Brethren exalted , and a lecture given , " Officers were chose for their own chapter . " Brother Hughan has already pointed out that the Officers of the Paradise Chapter were chosen twice
instead of once a year . One other point is here worthy of notice , namely , that owing to a difference a first Principal resigued || when the Chapter forthwith proceeded to an election of Officers ; why Officers we cannot see ; any more than we
can the propriety of the step at all . It is not until late ^ f that we read of the election of a serving brother here called "Tiler , " unless the " Ninetor " ** of the former extracts be taken to mean , as we have before suggested" Janitor . "
, Public processions were as yet in existence and that apparently without dispensation , for we find one arranged between this Chapter , and the two Sheffield Lodges ( the "Brittamiia" and the "BrunsNrick" ) i "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Some Further Remarks On The Extracts From The Sheffield Chapter Of Paradise Minute Books.*
SOME FURTHER REMARKS ON THE EXTRACTS FROM THE SHEFFIELD CHAPTER OF PARADISE MINUTE BOOKS . *
BY BRO . REV . W . TEBB 3 . THE thanks of the Craft are due to Bro . Ellis for bis exertions in bringing to the light these interesting records of the doings of Brethren and Companions of a
bye-gone age , as well as for the courteous aud fraternal way in which he has received the suggestions of several brethren who are anxious to extract somewhat of the valuable material that they seem to yield .
The first noteworth y fact that strikes us , in this instalment , is that in this Chapter were occasionall y' ! given lectures which , though not contained within the limits of the ritual proper , yet tend to illustrate subjects dear to Masons . This
plan has been adopted recently in different Lodges and , as we have experienced , with good result ; many Brethren to whom the mere routine business of the Lodge presents
but little attraction , being thereby led to resume their active working in the Craft's behalf . We now % come to a resumption of the title of " Superexeellent" but with the addition of the words " Master in ye chair , " and find that " raising" to this
degree was used as a preliminary step to exaltation . About three years later , as well as twice in the following year , § we find the same thing done , but here described as " passing the superlative chair . " In this latter year also we find the Mark degree
conferred . In his interesting notes on the former portion of extracts Brother Hughan calls attention to this fact , remarking that these Mark Masons could not have been advanced by the R . A . Warrant , but that "from about 17 70 lodges worked the Mark Masters frequentl y by their own authority , any legitimate
number of Mark Masons apparently doing so under the adopted wing of a Craft warrant . " Now it seems to us that such could hardly have been the case here , for we find that it is Companions that were advanced , and that in Chapter and not in
Lodge ; for , although this degree might not have been given by virtue of the £ ,. J ., Warrant , it appears to have been Companions who conferred it on Companions and not Brethren on Brethren .
The next thing that strikes us is the mode of election of Officers which was by show of hands * and not ballot although we read t that Brother Fouque was elected into the Chapter by the latter mode . Other business was > done b y show of hands as when the
recommendation to Grand Chapter for the holding a Chapter at Longnor was carried . ^ The usual rule , too , as to the previous choice of Principals ( to whom the warrant for forming a Chapter is addressed ) seems to have been departed from in the case of the opening of the Chapter at Doncaster §
, where , after the Chapter had been constituted , Brethren exalted , and a lecture given , " Officers were chose for their own chapter . " Brother Hughan has already pointed out that the Officers of the Paradise Chapter were chosen twice
instead of once a year . One other point is here worthy of notice , namely , that owing to a difference a first Principal resigued || when the Chapter forthwith proceeded to an election of Officers ; why Officers we cannot see ; any more than we
can the propriety of the step at all . It is not until late ^ f that we read of the election of a serving brother here called "Tiler , " unless the " Ninetor " ** of the former extracts be taken to mean , as we have before suggested" Janitor . "
, Public processions were as yet in existence and that apparently without dispensation , for we find one arranged between this Chapter , and the two Sheffield Lodges ( the "Brittamiia" and the "BrunsNrick" ) i "