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  • Aug. 22, 1863
  • Page 11
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Aug. 22, 1863: Page 11

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    Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 2 of 2
    Article THE PROVINCE OF KENT. Page 1 of 1
    Article THE PROVINCE OF CORNWALL. Page 1 of 1
Page 11

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Correspondence.

of one , who whilst exercising his office as a minister of the Most High with tenderness , implanted with the most tender regard those essential qualifications in the hearts of all who profess or call themselves Christians —reverence and humility . The church was what under other circumstances would have been characterised as brilliantly illuminated , but

now of a very mournful character , and the cortege led by the choristers in surplices , accompanied by Mr . Giles , the surgeon-attendant , the Chaplain , the Eev . Eoivland Hill , passed through double Hues of Ereemasous , who closed in double file , the procession entered the church in solemn array , and at the grave the Freemasons paid a just tribute to the departed gentleman and brother , by

gently dropping over him sprigs of the plant recognised in the ceremonies of the fraternity . The whole district for miles around was pervaded by a general gloom , and for a very long time the charities dispensed by the late good and excellent brother , will be remembered by many who may not probabl y find so . generous and liberal a successor . In truth it may he

said of him , " He has lived respected and has died regretted . " It was an honour to be known by him—it was a delight to render him comfort of any kind . The church has lost a high dignitary , the Masonic fraternity has lost one of its brightest ornaments . I am , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , E . S . COSSENS , ?!<

The Province Of Kent.

THE PROVINCE OF KENT .

TO THE EDITOK OF THE EEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC JIIKEOK . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In the rough draught of a letter , printed on page 79 of your present volume , there is an error , arising from the insertion of a word where , in the manuscript , a blank was designedly left , which I am desirous of pointing out . The passage "Many brothers in toxcn , I am persuaded , possess the numbers

of the MAGAZINE for August and October , 1860 , " should stand thus : — " Many brothers iu * * * * I am- persuaded , possess the numbers of the MAGAZINE for August and October , 1860 . " The asterisks are meant to represent -the town in which the brother resided to whom my letter was addressed . The members of the lodge held in that town are numerousand reputed wealthy ; and they not

, -uiiseldom afford to the world evidence of their being such ; and amongst them , I conclude , must be many who subscribed to the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , and possess its past numbers . I will take this opportunity of stating that it would grieve BIB much to learn that my conclusion was wrong . An extensive circulation of the MAGAZINE in the Provinces

is , in my judgment , necessary for the full prosperit ) ' of the Graft . In a lodge , such as I have described , there ought to be many brothers , by purse and example , promoting that circulation . Tours fraternally , CHAELES PUETON COOPEE . Chateau Frampas , 12 th August . 1863 ,

The Province Of Cornwall.

THE PROVINCE OF CORNWALL .

TO THE EDITOK OE THE EEEEMASONs' MAGAZINE AMD MASONIC MICUOB . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As a Mason of some standing , anxious to assist in carrying out with zeal , earnestness , and such ability as I may possess , the great principles of the Order , and especially those of charity , fraternal feeling , and respect for the opinions of others , I cannot but imagine that many , actuated by the same motives , must , like myself , have read with much surprise and concern , a report in your last number of a sermon preached at Truro , on the occasion of the meeting of the

Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall , by a Mason , a Past Grand Chaplain of two Provinces , to a body of Masons . I can hardly conceive a case of greater inconsistency and breach of propriety , as well as an infraction of our leading tenets and practices , than to make a church , lent for such a purpose , the arena for a most uncharitable attack on a Bishop , who at least has shown that'he knows

how to bear meekly and patiently the obloquy that has been heaped upon him , and for the discussion of a subject respecting which mens' minds are at present much divided . For , to say nothing of the assertion ( by the Bishop ) that a large body of the clergy hold , privately , if not publicly , opinions similar to his own , on most , if not all of the topics on which he has written , a very largo

proportion of the laity do undoubtedly sympathise with him in his doubts , and still more in the persecution he has had to endure . The days are happily past when the right of private judgment on the part of the people can be controlled by their " spiritual pastors and masters , " the education of the two classes being to so great an extent equalised . It appears to me that an opportunity of

delivering a discourse to the Craft should be used only in such manner as to cement the ties of brotherhood , by setting forth the beauties of our Order , the grand objects it has in view , the means of reconciling it with Christianity , the power it has to control the unruly minds and affections of its votaries , and the desirability of regarding with leniency the failings or mistakes of

othersIn-. stead of this , the reverend brother referred to has taken advantage of his position , to ester at great length into a question tending to produce dissension and animosity , to anathematize and abuse a Bishop of the Church to which he himself belongs ; nor is his manner of doing this less objectionable than his matter ; for , if I mistake

not , he renders his conduct still more open to objection , by imputing to him " the avowed advocacy of deistical or rationalistic opinions , " a charge which I imagine the Bishop of Natal would repudiate with the greatest indignation , did he think it worth his -while to notice every attack upon him . Be that as it may , I hold that subjects of tho class alluded to are such as ought to be carefully

avoided at all times in societies of Masons , especially when assembled for the purpose of carrying out our peculiar ceremonies , and this is in accordance with our ancient charge , the enforcement of which is as obligatory on a Chaplain as on an Entered Apprentice , wherein ic is said , '' your obedience must be proved by abstaining from every topic of political or reliious discussion . " Had I

g , as a Mason , been present , I should certainly have quitted the church as soon as I discovered the nature of the address , and I cannot but hope the brethren , at least to some extent , participated in this feeling , since among the list of toasts at the subsequent banquet , one in honour of the preacher is not mentioned , a- very unusual omissionwhich it may be presumed was intentional after such

, an act of impropriety , and so complete a breach of Masonic discipline . I shall be much disappointed if others more able and influential than myself do not take up this matter in your columns or elsewhere , with all the force which the occasion demands * Meanwhile , as an individual deeply interested in the welfare of the Order , I cannot rest content without a protest , as public as that

which calls it forth , not against the Chaplain ' s opinions , for with these I have nothing to do , every one being free to form his own , but against their promulgation with feelings of bitterness , on a special occasion when every word ought to breathe a spirit of peace , good-will , and harmony . I am , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , P . M . AND W . M . Jersey , August 11 th , 1863 .

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1863-08-22, Page 11” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 23 June 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_22081863/page/11/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
MASONIC REFORM. Article 1
GRAND LODGE FOR VICTORIA ( AUSTRALIA). Article 7
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 8
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 10
THE PROVINCE OF KENT. Article 11
THE PROVINCE OF CORNWALL. Article 11
METROPOLITAN. Article 12
PROVINCIAL. Article 12
AUSTRALIA. Article 13
COLONIAL. Article 14
Poetry. Article 16
Untitled 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.

of one , who whilst exercising his office as a minister of the Most High with tenderness , implanted with the most tender regard those essential qualifications in the hearts of all who profess or call themselves Christians —reverence and humility . The church was what under other circumstances would have been characterised as brilliantly illuminated , but

now of a very mournful character , and the cortege led by the choristers in surplices , accompanied by Mr . Giles , the surgeon-attendant , the Chaplain , the Eev . Eoivland Hill , passed through double Hues of Ereemasous , who closed in double file , the procession entered the church in solemn array , and at the grave the Freemasons paid a just tribute to the departed gentleman and brother , by

gently dropping over him sprigs of the plant recognised in the ceremonies of the fraternity . The whole district for miles around was pervaded by a general gloom , and for a very long time the charities dispensed by the late good and excellent brother , will be remembered by many who may not probabl y find so . generous and liberal a successor . In truth it may he

said of him , " He has lived respected and has died regretted . " It was an honour to be known by him—it was a delight to render him comfort of any kind . The church has lost a high dignitary , the Masonic fraternity has lost one of its brightest ornaments . I am , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , E . S . COSSENS , ?!<

The Province Of Kent.

THE PROVINCE OF KENT .

TO THE EDITOK OF THE EEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC JIIKEOK . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In the rough draught of a letter , printed on page 79 of your present volume , there is an error , arising from the insertion of a word where , in the manuscript , a blank was designedly left , which I am desirous of pointing out . The passage "Many brothers in toxcn , I am persuaded , possess the numbers

of the MAGAZINE for August and October , 1860 , " should stand thus : — " Many brothers iu * * * * I am- persuaded , possess the numbers of the MAGAZINE for August and October , 1860 . " The asterisks are meant to represent -the town in which the brother resided to whom my letter was addressed . The members of the lodge held in that town are numerousand reputed wealthy ; and they not

, -uiiseldom afford to the world evidence of their being such ; and amongst them , I conclude , must be many who subscribed to the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , and possess its past numbers . I will take this opportunity of stating that it would grieve BIB much to learn that my conclusion was wrong . An extensive circulation of the MAGAZINE in the Provinces

is , in my judgment , necessary for the full prosperit ) ' of the Graft . In a lodge , such as I have described , there ought to be many brothers , by purse and example , promoting that circulation . Tours fraternally , CHAELES PUETON COOPEE . Chateau Frampas , 12 th August . 1863 ,

The Province Of Cornwall.

THE PROVINCE OF CORNWALL .

TO THE EDITOK OE THE EEEEMASONs' MAGAZINE AMD MASONIC MICUOB . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As a Mason of some standing , anxious to assist in carrying out with zeal , earnestness , and such ability as I may possess , the great principles of the Order , and especially those of charity , fraternal feeling , and respect for the opinions of others , I cannot but imagine that many , actuated by the same motives , must , like myself , have read with much surprise and concern , a report in your last number of a sermon preached at Truro , on the occasion of the meeting of the

Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall , by a Mason , a Past Grand Chaplain of two Provinces , to a body of Masons . I can hardly conceive a case of greater inconsistency and breach of propriety , as well as an infraction of our leading tenets and practices , than to make a church , lent for such a purpose , the arena for a most uncharitable attack on a Bishop , who at least has shown that'he knows

how to bear meekly and patiently the obloquy that has been heaped upon him , and for the discussion of a subject respecting which mens' minds are at present much divided . For , to say nothing of the assertion ( by the Bishop ) that a large body of the clergy hold , privately , if not publicly , opinions similar to his own , on most , if not all of the topics on which he has written , a very largo

proportion of the laity do undoubtedly sympathise with him in his doubts , and still more in the persecution he has had to endure . The days are happily past when the right of private judgment on the part of the people can be controlled by their " spiritual pastors and masters , " the education of the two classes being to so great an extent equalised . It appears to me that an opportunity of

delivering a discourse to the Craft should be used only in such manner as to cement the ties of brotherhood , by setting forth the beauties of our Order , the grand objects it has in view , the means of reconciling it with Christianity , the power it has to control the unruly minds and affections of its votaries , and the desirability of regarding with leniency the failings or mistakes of

othersIn-. stead of this , the reverend brother referred to has taken advantage of his position , to ester at great length into a question tending to produce dissension and animosity , to anathematize and abuse a Bishop of the Church to which he himself belongs ; nor is his manner of doing this less objectionable than his matter ; for , if I mistake

not , he renders his conduct still more open to objection , by imputing to him " the avowed advocacy of deistical or rationalistic opinions , " a charge which I imagine the Bishop of Natal would repudiate with the greatest indignation , did he think it worth his -while to notice every attack upon him . Be that as it may , I hold that subjects of tho class alluded to are such as ought to be carefully

avoided at all times in societies of Masons , especially when assembled for the purpose of carrying out our peculiar ceremonies , and this is in accordance with our ancient charge , the enforcement of which is as obligatory on a Chaplain as on an Entered Apprentice , wherein ic is said , '' your obedience must be proved by abstaining from every topic of political or reliious discussion . " Had I

g , as a Mason , been present , I should certainly have quitted the church as soon as I discovered the nature of the address , and I cannot but hope the brethren , at least to some extent , participated in this feeling , since among the list of toasts at the subsequent banquet , one in honour of the preacher is not mentioned , a- very unusual omissionwhich it may be presumed was intentional after such

, an act of impropriety , and so complete a breach of Masonic discipline . I shall be much disappointed if others more able and influential than myself do not take up this matter in your columns or elsewhere , with all the force which the occasion demands * Meanwhile , as an individual deeply interested in the welfare of the Order , I cannot rest content without a protest , as public as that

which calls it forth , not against the Chaplain ' s opinions , for with these I have nothing to do , every one being free to form his own , but against their promulgation with feelings of bitterness , on a special occasion when every word ought to breathe a spirit of peace , good-will , and harmony . I am , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , P . M . AND W . M . Jersey , August 11 th , 1863 .

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