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Article THE APPROACHING ELECTION FOR THE BOYS' SCHOOL. ← Page 2 of 2 Article FREE MASONRY. Page 1 of 1 Article FREE MASONRY. Page 1 of 1 Article MASONIC GRUMBLERS. Page 1 of 2 →
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The Approaching Election For The Boys' School.
and in face of the comparatively small number of vacancies it is too much to hope they can all be successful . We only hope that each of them will obtain the full amount of support it is possible for
their friends to secure , and that the most deserving among them will be received into the Institution . There are four candidates , in addition to the two already referred to , who have each lost both parents , and . as usual , we accord to each a few words of
special reference , deeming them particularly deserving of any support it is in the power of our readers to bestow . No . 21 , John Herault de Caen , is
one of a family of three parentless children . This lad has taken part in the last two elections , and comes forward at the present time with 664 votes to his
credit . His father was a member of the Eoyal Alfred Loge , No . 877 , Jersey , who subsequently joined St . John ' s Lodge , No . 454 , Ceylon , and rose to the dignity of a Past Master in the Craft . No . 23 , Ernest
Edward Whale , is one of four now dependent on thenfriends . He also has taken part in the last two elections , and has 18 votes to his credit . The father was initiated in the Harmony Lodge , No . 309 , Hampshire , and had passed the chair thereof . No . 55 , Frederick
Eden Walter Cooper , is one of four children left by an old member of Mount Lebanon Lodge , No . 73 , London , while No . 63 , William Joseph Williams , is
one of five similarly circumstanced , whose father was initiated in St . John ' s Lodge , No . 761 , Gloucestershire , and who rose to the dignity of Junior Warden . Both of these last mentioned lads now make their first
application ; we sincerely trust they will receive such sympathy and actual assistance as will ultimately secure for them that home in the Institution which they seek . We do not purpose to deal specially with any of the remaining cases , although there are many to which we
should like to refer , but by making exceptions we run the risk of offending the friends of those not mentioned , and this , as our readers are aware ,
is very tar from our desire ; besides this , it is so difficult to say which is the most deserving among so many who are one and all recognised as being worthy of all the help that can be given them .
We feel sure , as we have said above , that the coming contest will be a severe one , nothing but a high number of votes will render a case secure , and as , unfortunately , it is not possible for the friends of every candidate to secure the requisite number , even
where it possible to admit them all if they did , there is nothing but disappointment in store for a large number . We hope that all or nearly all of those
unsuccessful at the coming election will be enabled to try their luck at a future one , and that in due course they may secure the coveted benefits .
Free Masonry.
FREE MASONRY .
IN the olden times tbe word Freemason was written Free-Mason or Free Mason . The modern merger of
the two -words into one has tended to obscure the meaning of the term to some minds . Every Mason is free , and every candidate for Masonry must be free . Free , in its varied Masonic connections , is a term of wide significance .
In the United States the candidate must have been free born , although in England , in consequence of a departure from the ancient Landmark , it is now sufficient that he be a free man . He must approach the Craft of his own free
will , and not through the persuasion of friends , since Freemasonry is not in any degree a proselyting organisation . When he is made , he is then a Freemason . What is the purport of " free , " in this connection ? Authorities are
not concurrent . One explanation is , that thereby , in mediaeval times , he became free of the Craft Guild ; another is , that he was in operative Masonry a worker in freestone ; and a third , that he is a Brother Mason—from the Norman French , " Frere Macon . " All of these , as reasons , are justified by facts , but as to which of the three was the
Free Masonry.
operative cause for the name , may not be dogmatically asserted . In the present article we do not desire to justify or emphasize any of the above reasons , but rather to invite
attention to the fact that our Craft , -while it exacts free , dom as a qualification in all applicants for initiation into Masonry , also in a remarkable degree respects and acknowledges their freedom , and accords them the right freely to choose the Masonic Lodge with which they
would connect themselves . We the more willingly refer to this subject , because it has been sometimes mistakenly asserted that Freemasonry is a stern master , and will not permit any candidate for Masonry to apply for initiation
and membership to any other than the local Lodge , within whose jurisdiction he chances to reside . Unless the Constitutions of a Grand Lodge prohibit it , a profane living anywhere is free to seek initiation in a Lodge anywhere else . For example , an applicant for
Freemasonry living m Jr hiladelphia may petition for initiation in a Lodge working in Pittsburgh—both being within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania ; or , an applicant living in Scranton , Pa ., may petition for
initiation in a Lodge working in Elmira , N . Y ., or in Trendon , N . J ., or the reverse . These are striking examples of the freedom accorded applicants by Freemasonry itself , and they are occurring constantly in practice , and are freely acknowledged by the jurisdictions named , as well as by
many others . There are a variety of reasons which may fairly actuate & profane to seek initiation and membership in a Lodge
distant from his place of residence . For example : his Father or other relative , or friends , may belong to the distant Lodge , or he may be a traveller , and more frequently in the vicinity of the Lodge he petitions than of the one nearest his place of residence . In any event his right to petition the distant Lodge is absolute , his freedom is
unabridged . Now , supposing such an application as the above to be made , tho course of procedure is as follows : The Lodge applied to , if it be in the same Masonic iurisdiction as that
in which the applicant lives , inquires of tbe Lodge nearest his place of residence , whether any Masonic objection exists to the action of the inquiring Lodge on said petition .
If fche Lodge petitioned be out of the Masonic jurisdiction of the applicant , it inquires , through the Grand Secretary , of its own jurisdiction , of the local Lodge , through its Grand Secretary , in a similar manner . In either case ,
consent is usually and readily given . The only proper question for the . Brethren of the local Lodge to consider in any such case is , Is the applicant a good man and true , is
he fit , morally , mentally and physically , to be made a Mason , and are his motives worthy in seeking to be made in a distant Lodge ? The reason why the Craft requires
this inquiry to be made by the Lodge nearest the place of residence of the applicant , is simply because it is only there that he can be properly known . Where a man has lived ,
and dwells , and has associated , there his fellows have come to know him , and are able to disclose whether he is , or is not , upright and of good report . It will thus be seen that no Lodge absolutely owns its
local material ; it only has the custody , so to speak , of those living within its boundaries , and the right to make Masons of them , if worthy , itself , npon application , or to report upon their worthiness to a neighbouring or a distant Lodge , when duly inquired of . Freemasonry is rightly named : While applicants for participation in its mystery must be free , they are at the
same time free to choose the Masonio body m which they would be initiated . They must be free born before they seek us , they must come of their own free will , they are free to petition any Lodge , anywhere , and when made Masons they are free of the Craft . —Keystone .
Masonic Grumblers.
MASONIC GRUMBLERS .
f ^\ RUMBLERS can hardly , of right , be designated by V _ X the adjective Masonic , for the chronic grumbler is guilty of decidedly un-Masonic conduct . It will not be denied , however , that there is a considerable class included
in the ranks of the Fraternity , who in common speech may be spoken of as " Masonic Grumblers . " They are faultfinders in and out of season . They have the gift of caustic speech and use it unsparingly . Domestic life is
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Approaching Election For The Boys' School.
and in face of the comparatively small number of vacancies it is too much to hope they can all be successful . We only hope that each of them will obtain the full amount of support it is possible for
their friends to secure , and that the most deserving among them will be received into the Institution . There are four candidates , in addition to the two already referred to , who have each lost both parents , and . as usual , we accord to each a few words of
special reference , deeming them particularly deserving of any support it is in the power of our readers to bestow . No . 21 , John Herault de Caen , is
one of a family of three parentless children . This lad has taken part in the last two elections , and comes forward at the present time with 664 votes to his
credit . His father was a member of the Eoyal Alfred Loge , No . 877 , Jersey , who subsequently joined St . John ' s Lodge , No . 454 , Ceylon , and rose to the dignity of a Past Master in the Craft . No . 23 , Ernest
Edward Whale , is one of four now dependent on thenfriends . He also has taken part in the last two elections , and has 18 votes to his credit . The father was initiated in the Harmony Lodge , No . 309 , Hampshire , and had passed the chair thereof . No . 55 , Frederick
Eden Walter Cooper , is one of four children left by an old member of Mount Lebanon Lodge , No . 73 , London , while No . 63 , William Joseph Williams , is
one of five similarly circumstanced , whose father was initiated in St . John ' s Lodge , No . 761 , Gloucestershire , and who rose to the dignity of Junior Warden . Both of these last mentioned lads now make their first
application ; we sincerely trust they will receive such sympathy and actual assistance as will ultimately secure for them that home in the Institution which they seek . We do not purpose to deal specially with any of the remaining cases , although there are many to which we
should like to refer , but by making exceptions we run the risk of offending the friends of those not mentioned , and this , as our readers are aware ,
is very tar from our desire ; besides this , it is so difficult to say which is the most deserving among so many who are one and all recognised as being worthy of all the help that can be given them .
We feel sure , as we have said above , that the coming contest will be a severe one , nothing but a high number of votes will render a case secure , and as , unfortunately , it is not possible for the friends of every candidate to secure the requisite number , even
where it possible to admit them all if they did , there is nothing but disappointment in store for a large number . We hope that all or nearly all of those
unsuccessful at the coming election will be enabled to try their luck at a future one , and that in due course they may secure the coveted benefits .
Free Masonry.
FREE MASONRY .
IN the olden times tbe word Freemason was written Free-Mason or Free Mason . The modern merger of
the two -words into one has tended to obscure the meaning of the term to some minds . Every Mason is free , and every candidate for Masonry must be free . Free , in its varied Masonic connections , is a term of wide significance .
In the United States the candidate must have been free born , although in England , in consequence of a departure from the ancient Landmark , it is now sufficient that he be a free man . He must approach the Craft of his own free
will , and not through the persuasion of friends , since Freemasonry is not in any degree a proselyting organisation . When he is made , he is then a Freemason . What is the purport of " free , " in this connection ? Authorities are
not concurrent . One explanation is , that thereby , in mediaeval times , he became free of the Craft Guild ; another is , that he was in operative Masonry a worker in freestone ; and a third , that he is a Brother Mason—from the Norman French , " Frere Macon . " All of these , as reasons , are justified by facts , but as to which of the three was the
Free Masonry.
operative cause for the name , may not be dogmatically asserted . In the present article we do not desire to justify or emphasize any of the above reasons , but rather to invite
attention to the fact that our Craft , -while it exacts free , dom as a qualification in all applicants for initiation into Masonry , also in a remarkable degree respects and acknowledges their freedom , and accords them the right freely to choose the Masonic Lodge with which they
would connect themselves . We the more willingly refer to this subject , because it has been sometimes mistakenly asserted that Freemasonry is a stern master , and will not permit any candidate for Masonry to apply for initiation
and membership to any other than the local Lodge , within whose jurisdiction he chances to reside . Unless the Constitutions of a Grand Lodge prohibit it , a profane living anywhere is free to seek initiation in a Lodge anywhere else . For example , an applicant for
Freemasonry living m Jr hiladelphia may petition for initiation in a Lodge working in Pittsburgh—both being within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania ; or , an applicant living in Scranton , Pa ., may petition for
initiation in a Lodge working in Elmira , N . Y ., or in Trendon , N . J ., or the reverse . These are striking examples of the freedom accorded applicants by Freemasonry itself , and they are occurring constantly in practice , and are freely acknowledged by the jurisdictions named , as well as by
many others . There are a variety of reasons which may fairly actuate & profane to seek initiation and membership in a Lodge
distant from his place of residence . For example : his Father or other relative , or friends , may belong to the distant Lodge , or he may be a traveller , and more frequently in the vicinity of the Lodge he petitions than of the one nearest his place of residence . In any event his right to petition the distant Lodge is absolute , his freedom is
unabridged . Now , supposing such an application as the above to be made , tho course of procedure is as follows : The Lodge applied to , if it be in the same Masonic iurisdiction as that
in which the applicant lives , inquires of tbe Lodge nearest his place of residence , whether any Masonic objection exists to the action of the inquiring Lodge on said petition .
If fche Lodge petitioned be out of the Masonic jurisdiction of the applicant , it inquires , through the Grand Secretary , of its own jurisdiction , of the local Lodge , through its Grand Secretary , in a similar manner . In either case ,
consent is usually and readily given . The only proper question for the . Brethren of the local Lodge to consider in any such case is , Is the applicant a good man and true , is
he fit , morally , mentally and physically , to be made a Mason , and are his motives worthy in seeking to be made in a distant Lodge ? The reason why the Craft requires
this inquiry to be made by the Lodge nearest the place of residence of the applicant , is simply because it is only there that he can be properly known . Where a man has lived ,
and dwells , and has associated , there his fellows have come to know him , and are able to disclose whether he is , or is not , upright and of good report . It will thus be seen that no Lodge absolutely owns its
local material ; it only has the custody , so to speak , of those living within its boundaries , and the right to make Masons of them , if worthy , itself , npon application , or to report upon their worthiness to a neighbouring or a distant Lodge , when duly inquired of . Freemasonry is rightly named : While applicants for participation in its mystery must be free , they are at the
same time free to choose the Masonio body m which they would be initiated . They must be free born before they seek us , they must come of their own free will , they are free to petition any Lodge , anywhere , and when made Masons they are free of the Craft . —Keystone .
Masonic Grumblers.
MASONIC GRUMBLERS .
f ^\ RUMBLERS can hardly , of right , be designated by V _ X the adjective Masonic , for the chronic grumbler is guilty of decidedly un-Masonic conduct . It will not be denied , however , that there is a considerable class included
in the ranks of the Fraternity , who in common speech may be spoken of as " Masonic Grumblers . " They are faultfinders in and out of season . They have the gift of caustic speech and use it unsparingly . Domestic life is