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  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • April 4, 1863
  • Page 10
  • THE GRAND SUPT. OF WORKS.
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, April 4, 1863: Page 10

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    Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 2 of 2
    Article RIGHTS OF VISITORS. Page 1 of 1
    Article RIGHTS OF VISITORS. Page 1 of 1
    Article COMPETITION FOR MASONIC BUILDINGS. Page 1 of 1
    Article THE GRAND SUPT. OF WORKS. Page 1 of 1
Page 10

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Correspondence.

coffin , which was being followed to the grave by all the brethren of the deceased's lodge , headed by the W . M ., Bro . Leon Richer . All on a sudden , however , the procession came to a standstill , and it was ascertained that the police had violently and without previous notice , torn these decorations from the coffin , and would not allow it to proceed to the grave if they were replaced .

An altercacation ensued between the officers of the lodge and those of the police , but the latter had the best of it . If the display of Masonic decorations on the top of a coffin is dangerous in the eyes of tbe French police , I am at a loss to understand why they did not object to similar decorations being worn by scores of brethren , who

accompanied the coffin to tho grave ; and who were permitted to retain them unmolested . To mark the sense of my indignation as to the shameful conduct on the part of the police , I requested the W . M . to be allowed to attach my signature for myself as well as in the name of the foreign lodges , to the protest in questionand which was most courteously acceded to .

, To the credit of Bro . Leon Richer , I must state that the protest was couched in most energetic language , and that he has done all that lay in his power under these painful circumstances . What the result was , or what redress they have obtained , I have been unable to ascertain , as I left Paris shortly afterwardsbut should be much gratified to know

, more about it , perhaps through the courtesy of some of our French brethren . I enclose my card and beg to remain , Dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , London , March 30 tb , 1863 . M . B .

Rights Of Visitors.

RIGHTS OF VISITORS .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EEEESIASOXS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC JIIHKOB . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As a difference of opinion has arisen among the fraternity here in relation to the position of visitors , your valuable authority in the matter is invoked . It is considered , as a matter of course , that the W . M . can , at any time , if he thinks the business to be brought before his lodge is of a nature to

require it , restrict the meeting to the presence only of the members of his lodge , and this without assigning any reason , or referring to any authority for doing so . Considerable dissatisfaction , however , arose upon a recent occasion when this was done , the business being the trial of a member of the lodge under peculiar circumstances , having reference to the ballot . The

discontents , members of a Scotch lodge , maintained that brethren , in good standing , have a right to be present at all meetings of the Craft , except in such cases as is laid down by Dr . Oliver , at page 128 , of bis Masonic Jurisprudence , " when any business of a private nature , such as a discussion on the state of the funds , or any other topic which cannot be interesting to

strangers , occupies the attention of the brethren , " and that the trial of a brother , being a matter in which the entire Craft were concerned was not one of them . They even go further , and contend that the moment a brother is initiated and becomes a member of a lodge , the rights to visit is at once conferred upon him . On the other hand it is alleged that the rule laid down by

Grand Lodge at its quarterly communication , " that none shall be present but members , except by permission of the Grand Master , " extends to private lodges ; and that our M . W . G . M ., the Earl of Zetland , having ruled ( I forget tbe particular occasion ) , that the proceedings of the Craft are identical with those " of the House of Commonsvisitors in our lod are precisel the

, ges y upon same footing as " strangers " are in that body , namely , " on sufferance , " and can be excluded from our lodges , without demur or question , as tbe galleries of the House of Commons are cleared of strangers , without debate , upon the request of any member .

Rights Of Visitors.

Of course , as a universal rule , visitors are always welcomed in our lodges , under ordinary circumstances ; their presence , upon such occasions , being as unquestioned as the admission of the light of day into a dark room , aud were the W . M . then to refuse admission to au intending , visitor-, without sufficient cause assigned , the proceeding would be a most extraordinary and

unjustifiable one . And with reference to the particular occasion of tbe exclusion of visitors at the meeting , above referred to , tbe authority of Mackey ' s Masonic Jurisprudence , a work endorsed by Dr . Oliver , is quoted , where at page 562 is affirmed , "As a general and excellent rule that no visitors shall be present at a trial . " Your attention to the above will oblige .

Fraternally yours , Quebec , Canada , 16 th March , 1863 . 'W . M . 17 , R . E . [ A trial in lodge is , so far as we are aware , unknown in England ; but writers on the right of trial certainly give it as their opinion that visitors ought not to be present . We consider the Master has always the power to request visitors to withdraw if he , thinks it desirable . ]

Competition For Masonic Buildings.

COMPETITION FOR MASONIC BUILDINGS .

TO THE EDITOlt OF TIIE " BUILDING NEWS . " SIR , —On reading the letters which have appeared in your paper on the competition for the Masonic buildings in Great Queen-street , there is something so anomalous in the whole affair as to make some explanation desirable . I should , therefore , wish to be informed if the Grand Superintendent of Works therein referred to , will be

permitted to compete for that building . If so , it would be most irregular for him to advise upon the designs submitted in competition ; but if his duty , in his official capacity , is to advise the society , he is consequently excluded from competing . In what position then , would that Masonic officer be , in regard to this contemplated Masonic building , if the

chairman ' s view be correct ? Certainly not a very consistent or enviable one ; for his appointment as architect to the society precludes him from having anything whatever to do with their building , the supervision and direction of which must surely be the object iu the appointment of such au officer . If he competes with other architectshe cannot honourabladvise

, y upon the competing plans ; and if he does not compete , be has no chance of being in any way connected with the building . I should , therefore , very much doubt if the society of Freemasons , so true to their brotherhood , would be so discourteous , as not only to ignore their own officer ' s appointment , but deprive him of even the opportunity of submitting a desifor their buildings .

gn Your obedient servant , AN INTENDED COMPETITOR . [ The Grand Superintendent of Works may compete , but if he does , he will of course decline to give any advice to the Committee , who must seek it elsewhere . —ED . 1

The Grand Supt. Of Works.

THE GRAND SUPT . OF WORKS .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE rilEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC lilRKOK . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In reference to various letters which have appeared in TIIE MASONIC MIRRIOR , respecting the competition now going on for the new Masonic buildings in Great Queen-street , and tbe position and powers of the Grand Supt . of Works in relation thereto , I beg to inform you that the appointment of

Grand Supt . of Works ( like other offices in Masonry ) is an annual one—is in the hands of the Grand Master—and will cease and determine this year on the 29 fch inst . ; and that for the purpose of avoiding any question or embarrassment , the Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , has , upon my recommendation to that effect , declared his intention not to appoint any brother to that office , until the result of the competition is known . I am , yours fraternally , April 1 st , S . W . DAUKES , G . S . W .

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1863-04-04, Page 10” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 9 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_04041863/page/10/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
CLASSICAL THEOLOGY. Article 1
ODD WORDS. Article 2
ON ARCHITECTURAL ART. Article 3
EXPRESSION IS ART. Article 5
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 7
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 9
RIGHTS OF VISITORS. Article 10
COMPETITION FOR MASONIC BUILDINGS. Article 10
THE GRAND SUPT. OF WORKS. Article 10
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 11
METROPOLITAN. Article 11
PROVINCIAL. Article 12
WEST INDIES. Article 13
INDIA. Article 14
MARK MASONRY. Article 18
Obituary. Article 18
THE WEEK. Article 18
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Correspondence.

coffin , which was being followed to the grave by all the brethren of the deceased's lodge , headed by the W . M ., Bro . Leon Richer . All on a sudden , however , the procession came to a standstill , and it was ascertained that the police had violently and without previous notice , torn these decorations from the coffin , and would not allow it to proceed to the grave if they were replaced .

An altercacation ensued between the officers of the lodge and those of the police , but the latter had the best of it . If the display of Masonic decorations on the top of a coffin is dangerous in the eyes of tbe French police , I am at a loss to understand why they did not object to similar decorations being worn by scores of brethren , who

accompanied the coffin to tho grave ; and who were permitted to retain them unmolested . To mark the sense of my indignation as to the shameful conduct on the part of the police , I requested the W . M . to be allowed to attach my signature for myself as well as in the name of the foreign lodges , to the protest in questionand which was most courteously acceded to .

, To the credit of Bro . Leon Richer , I must state that the protest was couched in most energetic language , and that he has done all that lay in his power under these painful circumstances . What the result was , or what redress they have obtained , I have been unable to ascertain , as I left Paris shortly afterwardsbut should be much gratified to know

, more about it , perhaps through the courtesy of some of our French brethren . I enclose my card and beg to remain , Dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , London , March 30 tb , 1863 . M . B .

Rights Of Visitors.

RIGHTS OF VISITORS .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EEEESIASOXS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC JIIHKOB . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As a difference of opinion has arisen among the fraternity here in relation to the position of visitors , your valuable authority in the matter is invoked . It is considered , as a matter of course , that the W . M . can , at any time , if he thinks the business to be brought before his lodge is of a nature to

require it , restrict the meeting to the presence only of the members of his lodge , and this without assigning any reason , or referring to any authority for doing so . Considerable dissatisfaction , however , arose upon a recent occasion when this was done , the business being the trial of a member of the lodge under peculiar circumstances , having reference to the ballot . The

discontents , members of a Scotch lodge , maintained that brethren , in good standing , have a right to be present at all meetings of the Craft , except in such cases as is laid down by Dr . Oliver , at page 128 , of bis Masonic Jurisprudence , " when any business of a private nature , such as a discussion on the state of the funds , or any other topic which cannot be interesting to

strangers , occupies the attention of the brethren , " and that the trial of a brother , being a matter in which the entire Craft were concerned was not one of them . They even go further , and contend that the moment a brother is initiated and becomes a member of a lodge , the rights to visit is at once conferred upon him . On the other hand it is alleged that the rule laid down by

Grand Lodge at its quarterly communication , " that none shall be present but members , except by permission of the Grand Master , " extends to private lodges ; and that our M . W . G . M ., the Earl of Zetland , having ruled ( I forget tbe particular occasion ) , that the proceedings of the Craft are identical with those " of the House of Commonsvisitors in our lod are precisel the

, ges y upon same footing as " strangers " are in that body , namely , " on sufferance , " and can be excluded from our lodges , without demur or question , as tbe galleries of the House of Commons are cleared of strangers , without debate , upon the request of any member .

Rights Of Visitors.

Of course , as a universal rule , visitors are always welcomed in our lodges , under ordinary circumstances ; their presence , upon such occasions , being as unquestioned as the admission of the light of day into a dark room , aud were the W . M . then to refuse admission to au intending , visitor-, without sufficient cause assigned , the proceeding would be a most extraordinary and

unjustifiable one . And with reference to the particular occasion of tbe exclusion of visitors at the meeting , above referred to , tbe authority of Mackey ' s Masonic Jurisprudence , a work endorsed by Dr . Oliver , is quoted , where at page 562 is affirmed , "As a general and excellent rule that no visitors shall be present at a trial . " Your attention to the above will oblige .

Fraternally yours , Quebec , Canada , 16 th March , 1863 . 'W . M . 17 , R . E . [ A trial in lodge is , so far as we are aware , unknown in England ; but writers on the right of trial certainly give it as their opinion that visitors ought not to be present . We consider the Master has always the power to request visitors to withdraw if he , thinks it desirable . ]

Competition For Masonic Buildings.

COMPETITION FOR MASONIC BUILDINGS .

TO THE EDITOlt OF TIIE " BUILDING NEWS . " SIR , —On reading the letters which have appeared in your paper on the competition for the Masonic buildings in Great Queen-street , there is something so anomalous in the whole affair as to make some explanation desirable . I should , therefore , wish to be informed if the Grand Superintendent of Works therein referred to , will be

permitted to compete for that building . If so , it would be most irregular for him to advise upon the designs submitted in competition ; but if his duty , in his official capacity , is to advise the society , he is consequently excluded from competing . In what position then , would that Masonic officer be , in regard to this contemplated Masonic building , if the

chairman ' s view be correct ? Certainly not a very consistent or enviable one ; for his appointment as architect to the society precludes him from having anything whatever to do with their building , the supervision and direction of which must surely be the object iu the appointment of such au officer . If he competes with other architectshe cannot honourabladvise

, y upon the competing plans ; and if he does not compete , be has no chance of being in any way connected with the building . I should , therefore , very much doubt if the society of Freemasons , so true to their brotherhood , would be so discourteous , as not only to ignore their own officer ' s appointment , but deprive him of even the opportunity of submitting a desifor their buildings .

gn Your obedient servant , AN INTENDED COMPETITOR . [ The Grand Superintendent of Works may compete , but if he does , he will of course decline to give any advice to the Committee , who must seek it elsewhere . —ED . 1

The Grand Supt. Of Works.

THE GRAND SUPT . OF WORKS .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE rilEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC lilRKOK . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In reference to various letters which have appeared in TIIE MASONIC MIRRIOR , respecting the competition now going on for the new Masonic buildings in Great Queen-street , and tbe position and powers of the Grand Supt . of Works in relation thereto , I beg to inform you that the appointment of

Grand Supt . of Works ( like other offices in Masonry ) is an annual one—is in the hands of the Grand Master—and will cease and determine this year on the 29 fch inst . ; and that for the purpose of avoiding any question or embarrassment , the Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , has , upon my recommendation to that effect , declared his intention not to appoint any brother to that office , until the result of the competition is known . I am , yours fraternally , April 1 st , S . W . DAUKES , G . S . W .

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