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Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
to the editor of the freemasons * monthly magazine . Sir and Brother , In your Notices to Correspondents you ask , in your reply to "High Grades /' to be judged upon the pure principles of Masonry , " the chiefest of which is Charity . " I trust that none of your readers who belong to the Craft will judge you at any other tribunal . But you must pardon me , if in representing , as I feel I do , the feelings of a large section of our Order , I am constrained to remonstrate
[ The Editor , does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ]
with you at the undue preference given by you to the High Grades . The Grand Lodge has in the most unequivocal manner wisely decided that pure and ancient Masonry should be restricted to the three degrees of Craft Masonry , including the Royal Arch . As Christians , we believe Masonry to be the prototype of Christianity , for every symbol has a direct reference to our religion . But I cannot help looking at the Eighteenth and other Degrees as perfectly impious , and if you wish to receive the support of all lovers of pure Masonry , you will discontinue to extol , in the laudatory manner you generally adopt , the proceedings of 111 . Sov .
G . Insps . Gen . of the Thirty-third Degree , and other illustrious bodies . Now this is all so much twaddle , and will eventually prove an absolute curse upon Masonry in England as it has in France , for if Brethren are not content with the simple title of Brother , the sooner they leave the Order the better . I regret to say , that I have seen two Sov . G . Insps . Gen . read—one , the charge at initiation ; and the other , the Royal Arch ceremony , through from beginning to end in open Lodge and Chapter . If Brethren would learn their A B C in Masonry first , the principles of
our Order would be better developed , and be productive of more beneficial results ; instead of which , there is a morbid craving for titles and jewels . Our esteemed M . W . G . M . put a stop to wearing anything beyond a R . A . jewel in a Craft Lodge , by his constitutional conduct in Bro . Tucker ' s case , and acted as the head of the Craft ought under the circumstances . I write to you in all charity and brotherly love , and trust my letter will be inserted , for the benefit of the Masonic body throughout the world , as you profess to be the organ of the Craft , and not merely noticed in Answers to Correspondents .
Sir and Brother , In your Notices to Subscribers , you state that my letter dated the 26 th ult . shall certainly appear in your columns . For this I thank you . But you also go on to say , that if certain things named in that letter occurred in my presence , I am bound by my O . B . to bring my accusation before the B . of G . P . To this remark I feel bound to reply , and if you insert my previous letter I
must also ask you to append this one to it . My object in mentioning the two circumstances was principally to show that Brethren ought to learn their ABC , or Craft and Royal Arch Masonry thoroughly , before entering upon a host of what are called higher degrees , and I adduced these instances to shew the folly of taking others without being proficient in those above named . I invariably tell my Brethren that to exhaust the subjects of which "Masonry" treats , would transcend the powers of the brightest genius , and yet directly Brethren have taken
So long as you continue to support " Masonry , " we will support you , and no longer ; for directly the Constitutions are violated , we are bound by our O . B . to discountenance you . I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , Rath , January 26 , 1855 . B . C . V .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
to the editor of the freemasons * monthly magazine . Sir and Brother , In your Notices to Correspondents you ask , in your reply to "High Grades /' to be judged upon the pure principles of Masonry , " the chiefest of which is Charity . " I trust that none of your readers who belong to the Craft will judge you at any other tribunal . But you must pardon me , if in representing , as I feel I do , the feelings of a large section of our Order , I am constrained to remonstrate
[ The Editor , does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained by Correspondents . ]
with you at the undue preference given by you to the High Grades . The Grand Lodge has in the most unequivocal manner wisely decided that pure and ancient Masonry should be restricted to the three degrees of Craft Masonry , including the Royal Arch . As Christians , we believe Masonry to be the prototype of Christianity , for every symbol has a direct reference to our religion . But I cannot help looking at the Eighteenth and other Degrees as perfectly impious , and if you wish to receive the support of all lovers of pure Masonry , you will discontinue to extol , in the laudatory manner you generally adopt , the proceedings of 111 . Sov .
G . Insps . Gen . of the Thirty-third Degree , and other illustrious bodies . Now this is all so much twaddle , and will eventually prove an absolute curse upon Masonry in England as it has in France , for if Brethren are not content with the simple title of Brother , the sooner they leave the Order the better . I regret to say , that I have seen two Sov . G . Insps . Gen . read—one , the charge at initiation ; and the other , the Royal Arch ceremony , through from beginning to end in open Lodge and Chapter . If Brethren would learn their A B C in Masonry first , the principles of
our Order would be better developed , and be productive of more beneficial results ; instead of which , there is a morbid craving for titles and jewels . Our esteemed M . W . G . M . put a stop to wearing anything beyond a R . A . jewel in a Craft Lodge , by his constitutional conduct in Bro . Tucker ' s case , and acted as the head of the Craft ought under the circumstances . I write to you in all charity and brotherly love , and trust my letter will be inserted , for the benefit of the Masonic body throughout the world , as you profess to be the organ of the Craft , and not merely noticed in Answers to Correspondents .
Sir and Brother , In your Notices to Subscribers , you state that my letter dated the 26 th ult . shall certainly appear in your columns . For this I thank you . But you also go on to say , that if certain things named in that letter occurred in my presence , I am bound by my O . B . to bring my accusation before the B . of G . P . To this remark I feel bound to reply , and if you insert my previous letter I
must also ask you to append this one to it . My object in mentioning the two circumstances was principally to show that Brethren ought to learn their ABC , or Craft and Royal Arch Masonry thoroughly , before entering upon a host of what are called higher degrees , and I adduced these instances to shew the folly of taking others without being proficient in those above named . I invariably tell my Brethren that to exhaust the subjects of which "Masonry" treats , would transcend the powers of the brightest genius , and yet directly Brethren have taken
So long as you continue to support " Masonry , " we will support you , and no longer ; for directly the Constitutions are violated , we are bound by our O . B . to discountenance you . I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , Rath , January 26 , 1855 . B . C . V .