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Article CGREE8P0NDENGE. ← Page 4 of 4
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cgree8p0ndenge.
in a former part of his letter . Unmasonic and sectarian his letter certainly is -for whether the sect be large and powerful , or small and insignificant , it is a sect ; and a desire to elevate it above its fellows by unfair means is sectarian in its principle . And unmasonic his letter is also , for it tends and necessarily must tend , to separate and not to unite inebrotherhood- ~ tointrodiiee a bone of contention , an apple of discord , among those who should be united in brotherly love and charity . If it is intended to do away w ith
the cowan ' s reproach that we are a nest of infidels , it will fail—for I have so much faith in Masonry as to anticipate a storm of indignant replies ; and even if it answered its purpose , a division between two Brethren is of more harm than the reproach of all the cow ans in the world . Let them revile : good men and true have always been reproached and blamed ; good men and true have always lived down reproach : and surely to give up a point in Masonry for the sake of convincing cowans is one of the strangest reasons to advance in a Masonic letter . Never let Masons attempt to narrow the bounds of the Craft : never let them at least act the
doctrinally exclusive — let them rather strive that their Lodge may be as long , and as broad , and as deep as the earth , and may include all that is good and noble , pure and holy among the sons of men . Then if not in the strictest sense universal , it may include all that is good on earth ; and Christianity can do no more . I am , Sir arid Brother , yours fraternally , March 29 , 1858 . - A Universalist .
Bro . John Harris . —As a rule we make it a practice not to recommend any candidate for the benefits of our charities to the notice of the Brethren , lest we should unfortunately thereby appear to undervalue the claim of others ; but Bro , Harris has been so long before , and is so well known to the Craft , that we feel we may fairly lay his claims to support before them . Bro . John Harris was in early life a miniature painter and architectural draughtsman . In February , 1818 , he was initiated into Freemasonry , Finding a great want of . tracing-boards in Lodges generally , he commenced a series of new designs for the same , and in 1823 published a small set—three were upon one sheet —dedicated to his late Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , M . W . G-. M ., & c . & c . Thirty years afterwards , the Lodge of Emulation sought for new designs , when those sent in by Bro . Harris were approved , and a set painted , which are in use in that Lodge . For nearly forty years the worthy Brother devoted himself to close study in his business . In addition to illustrating various Masonic works of the Rev . G . Oliver , D , I ) ., & c . & c , many tracing-boards were painted by him for different Lodges . His designs are invariably adopted , but , we regret to say , they
are too often surreptitiously copied , and generally veiy inferior in execution . The last and improved edition , published in 1849 , is considered the standard design for the Craft at large . It is our painful duty to state that Bro . Harris became blind from too close an application to his profession , and being thereby rendered incapable of supporting himself and wife ( who is in very bad health ) he is now making his second application to be placed on the annuity fund for Aged Masons . His case is most earnestly recommended to the subscribers , and it is to be hoped
his long and eminently useful Masonic career may be brought to a peaceful close through the aid of the members of a Society of which ho has been such an efficient member . We believe Lodges and Brothers may still obtain boards painted from his designs—and a new tracing-board of the 3 rd Degree , corresponding with the model tracing-boards in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , designed and painted by him in 1846— at Bro . Harris ' s residence , 31 , Gloucester-place , Kentish Town .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cgree8p0ndenge.
in a former part of his letter . Unmasonic and sectarian his letter certainly is -for whether the sect be large and powerful , or small and insignificant , it is a sect ; and a desire to elevate it above its fellows by unfair means is sectarian in its principle . And unmasonic his letter is also , for it tends and necessarily must tend , to separate and not to unite inebrotherhood- ~ tointrodiiee a bone of contention , an apple of discord , among those who should be united in brotherly love and charity . If it is intended to do away w ith
the cowan ' s reproach that we are a nest of infidels , it will fail—for I have so much faith in Masonry as to anticipate a storm of indignant replies ; and even if it answered its purpose , a division between two Brethren is of more harm than the reproach of all the cow ans in the world . Let them revile : good men and true have always been reproached and blamed ; good men and true have always lived down reproach : and surely to give up a point in Masonry for the sake of convincing cowans is one of the strangest reasons to advance in a Masonic letter . Never let Masons attempt to narrow the bounds of the Craft : never let them at least act the
doctrinally exclusive — let them rather strive that their Lodge may be as long , and as broad , and as deep as the earth , and may include all that is good and noble , pure and holy among the sons of men . Then if not in the strictest sense universal , it may include all that is good on earth ; and Christianity can do no more . I am , Sir arid Brother , yours fraternally , March 29 , 1858 . - A Universalist .
Bro . John Harris . —As a rule we make it a practice not to recommend any candidate for the benefits of our charities to the notice of the Brethren , lest we should unfortunately thereby appear to undervalue the claim of others ; but Bro , Harris has been so long before , and is so well known to the Craft , that we feel we may fairly lay his claims to support before them . Bro . John Harris was in early life a miniature painter and architectural draughtsman . In February , 1818 , he was initiated into Freemasonry , Finding a great want of . tracing-boards in Lodges generally , he commenced a series of new designs for the same , and in 1823 published a small set—three were upon one sheet —dedicated to his late Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex , M . W . G-. M ., & c . & c . Thirty years afterwards , the Lodge of Emulation sought for new designs , when those sent in by Bro . Harris were approved , and a set painted , which are in use in that Lodge . For nearly forty years the worthy Brother devoted himself to close study in his business . In addition to illustrating various Masonic works of the Rev . G . Oliver , D , I ) ., & c . & c , many tracing-boards were painted by him for different Lodges . His designs are invariably adopted , but , we regret to say , they
are too often surreptitiously copied , and generally veiy inferior in execution . The last and improved edition , published in 1849 , is considered the standard design for the Craft at large . It is our painful duty to state that Bro . Harris became blind from too close an application to his profession , and being thereby rendered incapable of supporting himself and wife ( who is in very bad health ) he is now making his second application to be placed on the annuity fund for Aged Masons . His case is most earnestly recommended to the subscribers , and it is to be hoped
his long and eminently useful Masonic career may be brought to a peaceful close through the aid of the members of a Society of which ho has been such an efficient member . We believe Lodges and Brothers may still obtain boards painted from his designs—and a new tracing-board of the 3 rd Degree , corresponding with the model tracing-boards in the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , designed and painted by him in 1846— at Bro . Harris ' s residence , 31 , Gloucester-place , Kentish Town .