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  • Feb. 25, 1865
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Feb. 25, 1865: Page 8

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    Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1
Page 8

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Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents FREEMASONRY IN THE LEVANT .

10 THE EDITOn OF THE FItEElIASONS' MAGAZINE AXD MASOXIC HIREOH . SIR ,- —In your issue of the 31 st December there appeared an article under the head of " Freemasonry in the Levant , " which appears to have been conceived in anything but a friendly spirit for the lodges holding under the United Grand Lodge of Eugland , and Avhich it is easy to understand arises from

erroneous information . As no brother has as yet replied to the statement set forth by you , permit me , in common fairness , to mention a few facts which will serve to dispel the impression that the English lodges in the Levant have in anywise been wanting in their duty .

The W . M . ( Bro . George Treu ) of the Germania Lodge , holding under the Grand Lodge of Hamburg , wishes , in his friend ' s letter to the Freimaurer Zeitung , to put himself forward as the exponent of some very strange , if not very un-Masonic , views connected Avith the spread of the Craft in the East .

I aai not going to enter into any discussion as to the soundness or appropriateness of the propositions of Bro . Treu , although I am firmly convinced that they are neither sound or feasible in any degree . The worshipful brother writes to a German paper in a style that he Avishes to make his readers believe

suitable to a person occupying a high standing in Freemasonry in the Levant . He complains of the non-cooperation of the brethren of the English lodges , and boasts of proposing the formation of a series of Greek lodges . Unfortunately for Bro . Treu—perhaps he may assign it to the cause that a prophet has no honour in his OAVU country—his own lodge furnishes ample proof of the distaste Avith

which his visionary theories are regarded by the brethren over Avhom he presides . The Germania Lodge has dwindled down — it never Avas very numerous—to a mere handful , and these brethren nearly all complain in the strongest manner against their mischief-making W . M ., Avhose extraordinary avidity for Avriting on every possible occasion involves

him in the greatest disfavour , not merely amongst his own brethren , but those of the other lodges he continuously assails Avith the most unwarrantable charges . As to Bro . Treu ' s influence Avith the Greeks , they are so thoroughly aware of the dangerous tendencies of his hobbiesthat the two Greek

, lodges already formed , aud those now in course of formation , have unanimousl y determined to work under the United Grand Lodge of England . Can there be a stronger proof of the favourable position the latter holds ? As to the English lodges not cooperating with him in what he so unfoundedly calls

his work of progress , it is enough to state that on every occasion Avhen the lodges of this city made the slightest friendly advance to Bro . Treu , or invited the co-operation of his small lodge , they have been met either Avith the greatest discourtesy , misrepresentation , and , too generally , abuse . I may adduce another signal proof of Bro . Treu ' s utter Avaut of influence , in the fact that , with the exception of the

feAV brethren constituting his semi-political lodge , the Germans have joined the English lodges . In what I have already said , I feel that enough has been put forward to refute Bro . Treu ; but there remains the important question to solve—What actually are the-English lodges doing in the Levant ? In the year 185 S there Avas not a single English

Masonic , or indeed any other , lodge in the Ottoman Empire . In the year 1865 there are no less than twelve , all of which are iu a flourishing state . Iu addition to this there is a District Grand Lodge , holding under the Grand Lodge of England , having for Prov . G . M . the Right . Honourable Sir H . L-

Bulwer , G . Q . B ., her Majesty's Ambassador to the Porte ; and for D . Prov . G . M , Bro . Hyde Clarke , the most able , indefatigable , and useful Mason to be found anywhere , to ivhom the progress of Masonry in the East is under the very greatest obligations . His name will be handed down iii the history of

the-Craft as one of those lights whose influence cannot be measured by time , and whose services will be best appreciated hy those AVIIO will succeed us . Underhis admirable administration of the district , not merely have Ave formed so many lodges already , hut their number willwe have every reason to believe ,,

, rapidly increased ; and , with the co-operation of our Greek brethren , the day is not far distant Avhen every part of the Levant will have lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of Eugland . It is to be expected that in time , Avhen the Greeks have sufficiently multi plied their lodges , that they will look to forming a

Grand Lodge of their own ; but it never AVIU be forgotten that to the Grand Lodge of England the initiative of reviving the Craft in the East is due ; . and the name of the Oriental Lodge ( No . 687 ) , of Constantinople , the pioneer and most nourishing of all the Levant lodges , Avill rank highest amongst the numbers Avhich haveaud willspring from her . From

, , Avhat has been already stated , it Avill be easy to understand Avhether Bro . Treu's mischievous insinuations against the English lodges have a shadoAV of foundation . Not only under the English , but other jurisdictions —French and Italian—Masonry is advancing iu

the-Levanfc . The French haA e , in addition to two lodgesin this city , one at Smyrna , one at Bucharest , and- , auother at Alexandria . The Italians have a very flourishing lodge here , and four others in differentparts of the empire . The Germans have one lodgehere and another at Smyrnathe two not numbering

, fifty members together . I trust that you Avill do the brethren of the English , lodges in the Levant the justice of repelling theattack made so unfairly upon them by Bro . Treu .. There are many zealous , active , and hard working brethren AA-IIO labour indefatigably for the

advancement of the Craft in the East ; and it Avill be some satisfaction for them to find that Avhat they are doing is appreciated h y the brethren at home , and that they do not labour under the stigma Bro . True so unscrupulously attempts to place upon them . I am , Sir , yours fraternally ,

Constantinople , Feb . 4 , 1865 . [ " C . " will find , by reference to our number of Feb . 4 th , Ave have already answered the allegations of Bro . Treu . ED . ]!

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1865-02-25, Page 8” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 13 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_25021865/page/8/.
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Title Category Page
FREEMASONRY IN CHINA. Article 1
ALGERNON, DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND, K.G., IN CONNECTION WITH ART. Article 2
A FIRST REHEARSAL. Article 5
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 6
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 8
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 9
GRAND LODGE. Article 9
METROPOLITAN. Article 10
PEOVINCIAL. Article 11
ROYAL ARCH. Article 12
MARK MASONRY. Article 13
IRELAND. Article 13
INDIA. Article 13
LITERARY EXTRACTS. Article 14
Poetry. Article 16
THE WEEK. Article 17
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents FREEMASONRY IN THE LEVANT .

10 THE EDITOn OF THE FItEElIASONS' MAGAZINE AXD MASOXIC HIREOH . SIR ,- —In your issue of the 31 st December there appeared an article under the head of " Freemasonry in the Levant , " which appears to have been conceived in anything but a friendly spirit for the lodges holding under the United Grand Lodge of Eugland , and Avhich it is easy to understand arises from

erroneous information . As no brother has as yet replied to the statement set forth by you , permit me , in common fairness , to mention a few facts which will serve to dispel the impression that the English lodges in the Levant have in anywise been wanting in their duty .

The W . M . ( Bro . George Treu ) of the Germania Lodge , holding under the Grand Lodge of Hamburg , wishes , in his friend ' s letter to the Freimaurer Zeitung , to put himself forward as the exponent of some very strange , if not very un-Masonic , views connected Avith the spread of the Craft in the East .

I aai not going to enter into any discussion as to the soundness or appropriateness of the propositions of Bro . Treu , although I am firmly convinced that they are neither sound or feasible in any degree . The worshipful brother writes to a German paper in a style that he Avishes to make his readers believe

suitable to a person occupying a high standing in Freemasonry in the Levant . He complains of the non-cooperation of the brethren of the English lodges , and boasts of proposing the formation of a series of Greek lodges . Unfortunately for Bro . Treu—perhaps he may assign it to the cause that a prophet has no honour in his OAVU country—his own lodge furnishes ample proof of the distaste Avith

which his visionary theories are regarded by the brethren over Avhom he presides . The Germania Lodge has dwindled down — it never Avas very numerous—to a mere handful , and these brethren nearly all complain in the strongest manner against their mischief-making W . M ., Avhose extraordinary avidity for Avriting on every possible occasion involves

him in the greatest disfavour , not merely amongst his own brethren , but those of the other lodges he continuously assails Avith the most unwarrantable charges . As to Bro . Treu ' s influence Avith the Greeks , they are so thoroughly aware of the dangerous tendencies of his hobbiesthat the two Greek

, lodges already formed , aud those now in course of formation , have unanimousl y determined to work under the United Grand Lodge of England . Can there be a stronger proof of the favourable position the latter holds ? As to the English lodges not cooperating with him in what he so unfoundedly calls

his work of progress , it is enough to state that on every occasion Avhen the lodges of this city made the slightest friendly advance to Bro . Treu , or invited the co-operation of his small lodge , they have been met either Avith the greatest discourtesy , misrepresentation , and , too generally , abuse . I may adduce another signal proof of Bro . Treu ' s utter Avaut of influence , in the fact that , with the exception of the

feAV brethren constituting his semi-political lodge , the Germans have joined the English lodges . In what I have already said , I feel that enough has been put forward to refute Bro . Treu ; but there remains the important question to solve—What actually are the-English lodges doing in the Levant ? In the year 185 S there Avas not a single English

Masonic , or indeed any other , lodge in the Ottoman Empire . In the year 1865 there are no less than twelve , all of which are iu a flourishing state . Iu addition to this there is a District Grand Lodge , holding under the Grand Lodge of England , having for Prov . G . M . the Right . Honourable Sir H . L-

Bulwer , G . Q . B ., her Majesty's Ambassador to the Porte ; and for D . Prov . G . M , Bro . Hyde Clarke , the most able , indefatigable , and useful Mason to be found anywhere , to ivhom the progress of Masonry in the East is under the very greatest obligations . His name will be handed down iii the history of

the-Craft as one of those lights whose influence cannot be measured by time , and whose services will be best appreciated hy those AVIIO will succeed us . Underhis admirable administration of the district , not merely have Ave formed so many lodges already , hut their number willwe have every reason to believe ,,

, rapidly increased ; and , with the co-operation of our Greek brethren , the day is not far distant Avhen every part of the Levant will have lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of Eugland . It is to be expected that in time , Avhen the Greeks have sufficiently multi plied their lodges , that they will look to forming a

Grand Lodge of their own ; but it never AVIU be forgotten that to the Grand Lodge of England the initiative of reviving the Craft in the East is due ; . and the name of the Oriental Lodge ( No . 687 ) , of Constantinople , the pioneer and most nourishing of all the Levant lodges , Avill rank highest amongst the numbers Avhich haveaud willspring from her . From

, , Avhat has been already stated , it Avill be easy to understand Avhether Bro . Treu's mischievous insinuations against the English lodges have a shadoAV of foundation . Not only under the English , but other jurisdictions —French and Italian—Masonry is advancing iu

the-Levanfc . The French haA e , in addition to two lodgesin this city , one at Smyrna , one at Bucharest , and- , auother at Alexandria . The Italians have a very flourishing lodge here , and four others in differentparts of the empire . The Germans have one lodgehere and another at Smyrnathe two not numbering

, fifty members together . I trust that you Avill do the brethren of the English , lodges in the Levant the justice of repelling theattack made so unfairly upon them by Bro . Treu .. There are many zealous , active , and hard working brethren AA-IIO labour indefatigably for the

advancement of the Craft in the East ; and it Avill be some satisfaction for them to find that Avhat they are doing is appreciated h y the brethren at home , and that they do not labour under the stigma Bro . True so unscrupulously attempts to place upon them . I am , Sir , yours fraternally ,

Constantinople , Feb . 4 , 1865 . [ " C . " will find , by reference to our number of Feb . 4 th , Ave have already answered the allegations of Bro . Treu . ED . ]!

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