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  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Jan. 16, 1864
  • Page 7
  • CORRESPONDENCE.
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Jan. 16, 1864: Page 7

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    Article MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. ← Page 3 of 3
    Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1
    Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1
    Article THE GLAMORGAN LODGE AND ITS REINITIATION. Page 1 of 2 →
Page 7

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Masonic Notes And Queries.

members of the society , to be elected annually by ballot , on the first Saturday in January . IX . " Tbat none but members shall be admitted to the practice meetings of the society , but the committee shall have power to arrange for occasional open nights , not

exceeding four in the season , to which brethren will be admissible as visitors on tickets , obtained through members only . X . "That the Treasurer ' s accounts , duly audited , shall be laid before the members at the first meeting in January . XI .

" That no rule of the society shall be altered , or new rule added , without at least a fortnight ' s notice of the proposed alteration being given . " VOLTAIRE AND FREEMASONRY . Ill answer to " Zefca , " it is folly which Voltaire ascribed to the propagators of Freemasonry . There is a misprint

in the article communicated by me , Notes and Queries , page 375 , of the last volume of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . " Foris" should be read " fous . " " Zeta" professes to be versed in the French language , but he does not seem to have very great power of conjectural emendation . — CHARLES PURTON COOPER .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor it not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondent ) . MASONIC UNION . 10 IHB EDITOB OS THH FBE _ -- _ ASO _ . S' Hl _ tAZI _ . H A 5 . D MASO-flC MIl-HOB . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — -On reading your otherwise admirable report of the most interesting proceedings on the occasion of the opening of the new hall of the

" Masonic Union , Limited , " under the auspices of the Grand Conclave of Knights Templar , I much feared that misunderstanding would be excited in the minds of some Sir Knts . and others , who , from reading the account ¦ of tbe proposition and response by Sir Knt . Ridgway and myself , would be led to believe that an occurrence of an unpleasant nature had taken place at the close of a

memorable and most agreeable and successful meeting , which might threaten discord between members of a body now happily as united as ever , and , I believe , daily increasing in numbers , wealth , and importance . Unfortunately my fears have been realised , as evidenced by the letter in your columns of the Oth inst ., signed " A Young Provincial Brother , No . 2 . " My recollection may be at fault , or I may have attached to Sir Knt . Ridgway ' s observations a meaning other than that which you thought them calculated to convey . I have , however ,

spoken to many present -on the 9 th of December last , and they unanimously agree with me that in Sir Knt . Ridgway ' s language or manner there was nothing antagonistic to the best interests of the Order of Knights Templar , or that could be offensive to , or unpopular with , any assembly under its banners . Sir Knt . Ridgway was desirous of paying me a

compliment ( doubtless entirely undeserved ) in connection with the work that day brought to an issue . The chairman ruled that this was travelling out of the record , but kindly , and , as I believe , cordially concurred in the compliment in another shape . This difference in feeling and opinion upon an unimportant subject led to a very slight discussion , and most unquestionably , if I did use any

words which might be construed as objecting to the " interruptions" of Sir Knt . Ridgway , they were intended as altogether friendly and jocular . My attempts at wit may perhaps be of a ponderous and sombre character , and as I fancy they generally turn out to be failures , it will be for tbe better if I altogether abandon them for the future , and confine myself exclusively to the serious line of business .

Correspondence.

I am perfectly well aware bow competent Sir Knt . Ridgway is to maintain his own cause , to support his own opinions , and to defend himself against any attack or misrepresentations , with neither of which do I charge you or the author of the most excellent report in question . Since I have had the pleasure of his acquaintance , no essential difference of opinion has ever occurred

between us , though wo have often discussed questions of importance in connection with various orders and degrees of Masonry in which it is my happiness to meet him ; therefore it is that I am anxious to correct any erroneous impression as to expressions made use of by him while favourably noticing any poor exertions or services of mine .

And now , Sir , if I have not exhausted your patience with a too lengthy dissertation on a private matter , I will just beg permission and space to refer to the points of public importance alluded to by your correspondent . I feel sure this brother writes in a spirit of friendliness and of well-wishing to the cause of Masonry generally , but I do not like his indiscriminate censure of the

Supreme Masonic Jurisdictions . Where we have sworn allegiance , let us be leal and true , and take the proper and constitutional means of reforming such abuses as may be proved to exist . There are many things in the relations between the ruling powers of the orders and degrees not recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England which , in the opinions of a large number of

influential members , are eminently unsatisfactory , but a wholesale denunciation in print will not tend to rectify them , nor will the application of such epithets as " tomfooleries" exclude from " Blue , Arch , or Knightly degrees " any practices thus characterised . Representation of the provinces in our governing assemblies is extremeldesirableand may be considerablextended if

y , y the same zeal which breathes in your correspondent ' s language is exhibited in act by him and the " hundreds of good men and true who pant for relief . " I do not intend the slightest reference in anything I have written to the United Grand Lodge of England , in whose affairs I feel a strong interest , though from its deliberations I withdrew nearly three years since ; but I

am sure that if our " Young Provincial Brother , No . 2 " will write privately to the Grand Vice-Chancellor of the Templars , to the Secretary-General of the Supreme Grand Council , to myself , any and every suggestion he or his friends may urge with a view to improvement , will be submitted to tho various executives with which we are connected , and will be carefully considered .

I cannot close this letter without adding the expression of my earnest wish to tbat contained iu your leading article of Saturday last , that friendly and peaceful counsels may guide all the members of our time-honoured Institution , in all its branches , tbat whatever may be the differing value we attach to this Order or that degree , we at least endeavour to cultivate social amenities

may , and to live in unity and brotherly love—remembering that the keystone of our structure is Charity . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours very fraternally , FREDK . BINCKES . Masonic Union Limited , 14 , Bedford-row , W . C , 12 th January , 1864 .

The Glamorgan Lodge And Its Reinitiation.

THE GLAMORGAN LODGE AND ITS REINITIATION .

10 IHB EDITOI- OF Till ! _ . _!_ . _ - ___ lSO _ . s' MAGAZINE AITD MASONIC J-IItHOIi . DEJIR SIR AND BROTHER , —Having in a former communication expressed an intention of reporting this unlawful proceeding to the higher Masonic authorities , allow me to explain to you , and to any of your numerous readers who may be looking for the denouement of this most extraordinary affair , my reasons for forbearing to adopt a course which I am convinced must have insured

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1864-01-16, Page 7” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 20 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_16011864/page/7/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
GRAND LODGE FOR AUSTRALIA. Article 1
FREEMASONRY, CONSIDERED IN ITS RELATIONS TO MORAL SCIENCL. Article 3
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 5
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 7
THE GLAMORGAN LODGE AND ITS REINITIATION. Article 7
THE GRAND LODGE, ALPINA. Article 8
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 8
PROVINCIAL. Article 11
ROYAL ARCH. Article 16
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 16
CHANNEL ISLANDS. Article 16
CHINA. Article 17
Obituary. Article 17
Poetry. 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.

Masonic Notes And Queries.

members of the society , to be elected annually by ballot , on the first Saturday in January . IX . " Tbat none but members shall be admitted to the practice meetings of the society , but the committee shall have power to arrange for occasional open nights , not

exceeding four in the season , to which brethren will be admissible as visitors on tickets , obtained through members only . X . "That the Treasurer ' s accounts , duly audited , shall be laid before the members at the first meeting in January . XI .

" That no rule of the society shall be altered , or new rule added , without at least a fortnight ' s notice of the proposed alteration being given . " VOLTAIRE AND FREEMASONRY . Ill answer to " Zefca , " it is folly which Voltaire ascribed to the propagators of Freemasonry . There is a misprint

in the article communicated by me , Notes and Queries , page 375 , of the last volume of the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . " Foris" should be read " fous . " " Zeta" professes to be versed in the French language , but he does not seem to have very great power of conjectural emendation . — CHARLES PURTON COOPER .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor it not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondent ) . MASONIC UNION . 10 IHB EDITOB OS THH FBE _ -- _ ASO _ . S' Hl _ tAZI _ . H A 5 . D MASO-flC MIl-HOB . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — -On reading your otherwise admirable report of the most interesting proceedings on the occasion of the opening of the new hall of the

" Masonic Union , Limited , " under the auspices of the Grand Conclave of Knights Templar , I much feared that misunderstanding would be excited in the minds of some Sir Knts . and others , who , from reading the account ¦ of tbe proposition and response by Sir Knt . Ridgway and myself , would be led to believe that an occurrence of an unpleasant nature had taken place at the close of a

memorable and most agreeable and successful meeting , which might threaten discord between members of a body now happily as united as ever , and , I believe , daily increasing in numbers , wealth , and importance . Unfortunately my fears have been realised , as evidenced by the letter in your columns of the Oth inst ., signed " A Young Provincial Brother , No . 2 . " My recollection may be at fault , or I may have attached to Sir Knt . Ridgway ' s observations a meaning other than that which you thought them calculated to convey . I have , however ,

spoken to many present -on the 9 th of December last , and they unanimously agree with me that in Sir Knt . Ridgway ' s language or manner there was nothing antagonistic to the best interests of the Order of Knights Templar , or that could be offensive to , or unpopular with , any assembly under its banners . Sir Knt . Ridgway was desirous of paying me a

compliment ( doubtless entirely undeserved ) in connection with the work that day brought to an issue . The chairman ruled that this was travelling out of the record , but kindly , and , as I believe , cordially concurred in the compliment in another shape . This difference in feeling and opinion upon an unimportant subject led to a very slight discussion , and most unquestionably , if I did use any

words which might be construed as objecting to the " interruptions" of Sir Knt . Ridgway , they were intended as altogether friendly and jocular . My attempts at wit may perhaps be of a ponderous and sombre character , and as I fancy they generally turn out to be failures , it will be for tbe better if I altogether abandon them for the future , and confine myself exclusively to the serious line of business .

Correspondence.

I am perfectly well aware bow competent Sir Knt . Ridgway is to maintain his own cause , to support his own opinions , and to defend himself against any attack or misrepresentations , with neither of which do I charge you or the author of the most excellent report in question . Since I have had the pleasure of his acquaintance , no essential difference of opinion has ever occurred

between us , though wo have often discussed questions of importance in connection with various orders and degrees of Masonry in which it is my happiness to meet him ; therefore it is that I am anxious to correct any erroneous impression as to expressions made use of by him while favourably noticing any poor exertions or services of mine .

And now , Sir , if I have not exhausted your patience with a too lengthy dissertation on a private matter , I will just beg permission and space to refer to the points of public importance alluded to by your correspondent . I feel sure this brother writes in a spirit of friendliness and of well-wishing to the cause of Masonry generally , but I do not like his indiscriminate censure of the

Supreme Masonic Jurisdictions . Where we have sworn allegiance , let us be leal and true , and take the proper and constitutional means of reforming such abuses as may be proved to exist . There are many things in the relations between the ruling powers of the orders and degrees not recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England which , in the opinions of a large number of

influential members , are eminently unsatisfactory , but a wholesale denunciation in print will not tend to rectify them , nor will the application of such epithets as " tomfooleries" exclude from " Blue , Arch , or Knightly degrees " any practices thus characterised . Representation of the provinces in our governing assemblies is extremeldesirableand may be considerablextended if

y , y the same zeal which breathes in your correspondent ' s language is exhibited in act by him and the " hundreds of good men and true who pant for relief . " I do not intend the slightest reference in anything I have written to the United Grand Lodge of England , in whose affairs I feel a strong interest , though from its deliberations I withdrew nearly three years since ; but I

am sure that if our " Young Provincial Brother , No . 2 " will write privately to the Grand Vice-Chancellor of the Templars , to the Secretary-General of the Supreme Grand Council , to myself , any and every suggestion he or his friends may urge with a view to improvement , will be submitted to tho various executives with which we are connected , and will be carefully considered .

I cannot close this letter without adding the expression of my earnest wish to tbat contained iu your leading article of Saturday last , that friendly and peaceful counsels may guide all the members of our time-honoured Institution , in all its branches , tbat whatever may be the differing value we attach to this Order or that degree , we at least endeavour to cultivate social amenities

may , and to live in unity and brotherly love—remembering that the keystone of our structure is Charity . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours very fraternally , FREDK . BINCKES . Masonic Union Limited , 14 , Bedford-row , W . C , 12 th January , 1864 .

The Glamorgan Lodge And Its Reinitiation.

THE GLAMORGAN LODGE AND ITS REINITIATION .

10 IHB EDITOI- OF Till ! _ . _!_ . _ - ___ lSO _ . s' MAGAZINE AITD MASONIC J-IItHOIi . DEJIR SIR AND BROTHER , —Having in a former communication expressed an intention of reporting this unlawful proceeding to the higher Masonic authorities , allow me to explain to you , and to any of your numerous readers who may be looking for the denouement of this most extraordinary affair , my reasons for forbearing to adopt a course which I am convinced must have insured

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