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Article GRAND LODGE OF MASSACHUSETTS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article " MASONIC FACTS AND FICTIONS." Page 1 of 1
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Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts.
was made by Rev . Brother Georgo Cooke , Chaplain of William Parkman Lodge , upon the historical matters contained in the box prepared to be deposited in the cornerstone . The services then proceeded , in accordance
with the ritual of this Grand Lodge , and the corner-stone of tho new building was laid in due and ancient form , and proclamation was made accordingly by the Grand Marshal . The Grand Master addressed the assembly , as follows : —
MR . CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN oi' TUE BOARD OF SELECTMEN , — In glad obedience to tho summons from those who have planned and undertaken this ceremony , the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massa ohnaetta have come to do their part in hallowing this public service .
Tho sympathy of Masonry in all that belongs to the pnblio good , in all that helps to make better men and better citizens , in all that affords a chance for different classes to meet on common ground and with common interests , in all that pertains to the higher life of the individual or of the community , justifies onr participation and our
] oy . The public coremoniea which attend the laying of the corner-stone of a new building have come down to us hallowed by tradition and by custom . Probably at first only temples , vowed to the service of
the gods , were thus consecrated by the oil and the taper , by ritnal and prayer ; but the world has come to believe that every building may serve the purposes of God , by serving the needs of His creatures , and shonld , in thought , if not by public service , bo nobly begun . It is eminently fitting that we como together to-day , nnder the
blue arch of heaven , and surrounded by the beauty of a Juno day , to lay with appropriate services tho corner-stone of a building which shall stand through fche years , to advance the good of this community and promote fche moral aud material interests of the people . It is to held its own place in the growing life of this town , and to increase fche opportunities which lead fco purer individual and municipal life . "
May it lend itself to many a noble undertaking for tho common good ! May the work of erection go on without interruption and in harmony ! May the completed building long stand as a centre for mneh that is best in the intercourse of man with man , and may the blessing of tbe Supreme Architect rest on to-day's work and crown it wifch completion !
At the conclusion of the Grand Master ' s address , the procession re-formed and returned to the Masonic Hall . The Grand Lodge repaired to the place of opening , and was closed in ample form , at 5 * 45 p . m .
A Quarterly Communication of the same Grand Lodge was held at the Masonic Temple , in the city of Boston , on Wednesday , 14 th September 1887 , Grand Officers present : —
Bros . Endicotfc Master , Sandford Senior Warden , Harris Junior Warden , Wells Treasurer , Nickerson Recording Secretary , with the D . D . Masters of Dist . Nos . 1 to 8 , 10 to 13 , 15 , 17 to 28 . Bros .
Israel Chaplain , Ehodes Marshal , Gleason Lecturer , Gould Senior Deacon , Williams Senior Steward , Tripp , Gifford and Gore Junior Stewards , Gerrish Organist , Parker Tyler , with a large assembly of prominent members and Lodge representatives .
The Grand Lodge was opened in ample form , at 2 o'clock p . m . The reading of the Record of the Quarterly Communication of 8 th June 1887 was dispensed with , the same having been distributed in print . The
Record of the Special Communication held at Winchester on the 28 th June 1887 was read and approved . Proxies from several Lodges were presented ; and , being found in form , the brethren designated therein were
duly recognised . By-laws from several Lodges were presented for approval , and referred to the Standing Committee on By-laws and Charters . Bro . Edwin Wright presented a graceful tribute to the memory of Past Deputy
Grand Master Marshall P . Wilder , which was accepted , and ordered to be spread upon the Records . Bro . Olivet A . Roberts , in behalf of the Committee , presented the memorial of a Past Grand Warden , which was accepted
and ordered to be spread upon the Records . The report of Bro . Gifford H . G . McGrew , in behalf of the Committee on Bye-laws , was accepted and his recommendations were adopted . The sum of five hundred dollars was placed at
the disposal of the Committee on Charity . The Report of Bro . Charles A . Welch , on behalf of the Board of Commissioners of Trials , was accepted . Bro . Parkman , Past Grand Master , made an interesting verbal report of
the ceremonies attending the laying of the corner-stone of the Bennington Battle Monument by the Grand Master of the State of Vermont . No further business being presented ,
prayer was offered by Bro . Rev . Fielder Israel , Grand Chaplain , a hymn was sung , and the Grand Lodge was closed in ample form , at twenty minutes after three o ' clock p . m .
The brethren of the Boscawen Lodge , No . 699 , on Tuesday , the 27 th ult ., unanimously elected Bro . N . Pascoe S . W . as W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . W . A . Bennett P . M . waa elected Treasurer .
" Masonic Facts And Fictions."
" MASONIC FACTS AND FICTIONS . "
[ COMMUNICATED . ]
IN the course of perusal of the excellent work of Bro . Henry Sadler , recently published under ihe above title , we could not avoid the reflection that whereas thero can be no doubt as to the value of the
information afforded in relation to the events of the century in connection with Freemasonry prior to 1813 , there might also be even still more valuable instruction given to the
members of our Order in the present day by further research into , and communication of the minuted proceedings of the Craft since that date .
Be it understood this present writing is not intended as a critique on our worthy brother ' s work , but as we are about to use some portions of it as it were as pegs upon which to hang our own comments and remarks , it is but
simple justice to him to state at once that we never bafore closed a Masonic volume after perusal with greater regret that there was no more to read , or experienced greater satisfaction and interest during perusal than was afforded us by " Masonic Pacts and Fictions . "
Bro . Sadler in his Preface remarks that " Masonic literature , especially that of the last century and the first half of the present ( italics are ours ) contains many fictions , " and proceeds to devote his attention to and dispose of , " to the best of his ability , what he
considers to be the greatest fiction in the history of English Masonry " ( italics are his ) , and this we have no hesitation in saying he most effectually does . This " greatest fiction is the hitherto accepted fact that there was a schism ,
secession , or split—call it by what name we may please—m the community of Masons in 1722 , five years after the formation of the Grand Lodge of 1717 . In connection with his official position as Sub-Librarian of the United
Grand Lodge of England , Bro . Sadler has had the great advantage of access to the most important documents relating to the proceedings of that period and to the date of tbe Union in 1813 , and , as we have said , the result is a
most entertaining , interesting , and instructive volume , the perusal of which is to our mind necessary for all Craftsmen who profess to know the history of our Order and the
status of its members in its early days , and it most undoubtedly negatives the opinions hitherto held as to tho separation of the Craft in 1722 into two distinct Grand Lodges entitled respectively "Moderns" and " Antients . "
It is of course a matter of great importance in regard to tbe history of any Society that the truth in respect of all thing . , connected with it should be ascertained . And when , as in the present case , a blot upon its escutcheon has been
supposed , during many years , to have existed , then and that can remove a " bar sinister " is worthy of grateful recognition and encouragement , and such we feel assured will be awarded Bro . Sadler by those who take a deep interest in the proceedings of the Craffc prior to the Union in 1813 .
There remains , however , a vast number of our Order who entertain but little interest in what Freemasonry was antecedent to the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England ; and , if the truth must be told , a still vaster
number who have no interest whatever in the theory or practice of Freemasonry except in so far as it may conduce to social gatherings and the gratification of the senses . For the present generation of Freemasons , except
in but few instances , that is few as compared with the many thousands who are ranged under the Masonic banners , " fictions" which help to the formation of a system which , as to its theoretical teachings , is nofc honoured
by strict observance , are as carelessly permitted to accrue as errors of a like nature were in days long past . We can , and probably may , point out many " fictions" of the present day which might give a future Bro . Sadler
occasion for research into minutes and proceedings subsequent to the first fifteen years of this century . For a while we leave to our readers the opportunity to reflect on this statement , certain that should they do so they cannot fail
to note how frequent have been , and still continue , the departures from the true principles upon which Speculative Freemasonry has been established . We shall resume the subject in an early number of the CHRONICLE .
Bro . Wellington Dale ( ex-Mayor of Penzance ) has been elected W . M . of Mount Sinai Lodge , No . 121 , for the ensuing year . Bro . C . Read was re-elected Treasurer ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Grand Lodge Of Massachusetts.
was made by Rev . Brother Georgo Cooke , Chaplain of William Parkman Lodge , upon the historical matters contained in the box prepared to be deposited in the cornerstone . The services then proceeded , in accordance
with the ritual of this Grand Lodge , and the corner-stone of tho new building was laid in due and ancient form , and proclamation was made accordingly by the Grand Marshal . The Grand Master addressed the assembly , as follows : —
MR . CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN oi' TUE BOARD OF SELECTMEN , — In glad obedience to tho summons from those who have planned and undertaken this ceremony , the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massa ohnaetta have come to do their part in hallowing this public service .
Tho sympathy of Masonry in all that belongs to the pnblio good , in all that helps to make better men and better citizens , in all that affords a chance for different classes to meet on common ground and with common interests , in all that pertains to the higher life of the individual or of the community , justifies onr participation and our
] oy . The public coremoniea which attend the laying of the corner-stone of a new building have come down to us hallowed by tradition and by custom . Probably at first only temples , vowed to the service of
the gods , were thus consecrated by the oil and the taper , by ritnal and prayer ; but the world has come to believe that every building may serve the purposes of God , by serving the needs of His creatures , and shonld , in thought , if not by public service , bo nobly begun . It is eminently fitting that we como together to-day , nnder the
blue arch of heaven , and surrounded by the beauty of a Juno day , to lay with appropriate services tho corner-stone of a building which shall stand through fche years , to advance the good of this community and promote fche moral aud material interests of the people . It is to held its own place in the growing life of this town , and to increase fche opportunities which lead fco purer individual and municipal life . "
May it lend itself to many a noble undertaking for tho common good ! May the work of erection go on without interruption and in harmony ! May the completed building long stand as a centre for mneh that is best in the intercourse of man with man , and may the blessing of tbe Supreme Architect rest on to-day's work and crown it wifch completion !
At the conclusion of the Grand Master ' s address , the procession re-formed and returned to the Masonic Hall . The Grand Lodge repaired to the place of opening , and was closed in ample form , at 5 * 45 p . m .
A Quarterly Communication of the same Grand Lodge was held at the Masonic Temple , in the city of Boston , on Wednesday , 14 th September 1887 , Grand Officers present : —
Bros . Endicotfc Master , Sandford Senior Warden , Harris Junior Warden , Wells Treasurer , Nickerson Recording Secretary , with the D . D . Masters of Dist . Nos . 1 to 8 , 10 to 13 , 15 , 17 to 28 . Bros .
Israel Chaplain , Ehodes Marshal , Gleason Lecturer , Gould Senior Deacon , Williams Senior Steward , Tripp , Gifford and Gore Junior Stewards , Gerrish Organist , Parker Tyler , with a large assembly of prominent members and Lodge representatives .
The Grand Lodge was opened in ample form , at 2 o'clock p . m . The reading of the Record of the Quarterly Communication of 8 th June 1887 was dispensed with , the same having been distributed in print . The
Record of the Special Communication held at Winchester on the 28 th June 1887 was read and approved . Proxies from several Lodges were presented ; and , being found in form , the brethren designated therein were
duly recognised . By-laws from several Lodges were presented for approval , and referred to the Standing Committee on By-laws and Charters . Bro . Edwin Wright presented a graceful tribute to the memory of Past Deputy
Grand Master Marshall P . Wilder , which was accepted , and ordered to be spread upon the Records . Bro . Olivet A . Roberts , in behalf of the Committee , presented the memorial of a Past Grand Warden , which was accepted
and ordered to be spread upon the Records . The report of Bro . Gifford H . G . McGrew , in behalf of the Committee on Bye-laws , was accepted and his recommendations were adopted . The sum of five hundred dollars was placed at
the disposal of the Committee on Charity . The Report of Bro . Charles A . Welch , on behalf of the Board of Commissioners of Trials , was accepted . Bro . Parkman , Past Grand Master , made an interesting verbal report of
the ceremonies attending the laying of the corner-stone of the Bennington Battle Monument by the Grand Master of the State of Vermont . No further business being presented ,
prayer was offered by Bro . Rev . Fielder Israel , Grand Chaplain , a hymn was sung , and the Grand Lodge was closed in ample form , at twenty minutes after three o ' clock p . m .
The brethren of the Boscawen Lodge , No . 699 , on Tuesday , the 27 th ult ., unanimously elected Bro . N . Pascoe S . W . as W . M . for the ensuing year . Bro . W . A . Bennett P . M . waa elected Treasurer .
" Masonic Facts And Fictions."
" MASONIC FACTS AND FICTIONS . "
[ COMMUNICATED . ]
IN the course of perusal of the excellent work of Bro . Henry Sadler , recently published under ihe above title , we could not avoid the reflection that whereas thero can be no doubt as to the value of the
information afforded in relation to the events of the century in connection with Freemasonry prior to 1813 , there might also be even still more valuable instruction given to the
members of our Order in the present day by further research into , and communication of the minuted proceedings of the Craft since that date .
Be it understood this present writing is not intended as a critique on our worthy brother ' s work , but as we are about to use some portions of it as it were as pegs upon which to hang our own comments and remarks , it is but
simple justice to him to state at once that we never bafore closed a Masonic volume after perusal with greater regret that there was no more to read , or experienced greater satisfaction and interest during perusal than was afforded us by " Masonic Pacts and Fictions . "
Bro . Sadler in his Preface remarks that " Masonic literature , especially that of the last century and the first half of the present ( italics are ours ) contains many fictions , " and proceeds to devote his attention to and dispose of , " to the best of his ability , what he
considers to be the greatest fiction in the history of English Masonry " ( italics are his ) , and this we have no hesitation in saying he most effectually does . This " greatest fiction is the hitherto accepted fact that there was a schism ,
secession , or split—call it by what name we may please—m the community of Masons in 1722 , five years after the formation of the Grand Lodge of 1717 . In connection with his official position as Sub-Librarian of the United
Grand Lodge of England , Bro . Sadler has had the great advantage of access to the most important documents relating to the proceedings of that period and to the date of tbe Union in 1813 , and , as we have said , the result is a
most entertaining , interesting , and instructive volume , the perusal of which is to our mind necessary for all Craftsmen who profess to know the history of our Order and the
status of its members in its early days , and it most undoubtedly negatives the opinions hitherto held as to tho separation of the Craft in 1722 into two distinct Grand Lodges entitled respectively "Moderns" and " Antients . "
It is of course a matter of great importance in regard to tbe history of any Society that the truth in respect of all thing . , connected with it should be ascertained . And when , as in the present case , a blot upon its escutcheon has been
supposed , during many years , to have existed , then and that can remove a " bar sinister " is worthy of grateful recognition and encouragement , and such we feel assured will be awarded Bro . Sadler by those who take a deep interest in the proceedings of the Craffc prior to the Union in 1813 .
There remains , however , a vast number of our Order who entertain but little interest in what Freemasonry was antecedent to the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England ; and , if the truth must be told , a still vaster
number who have no interest whatever in the theory or practice of Freemasonry except in so far as it may conduce to social gatherings and the gratification of the senses . For the present generation of Freemasons , except
in but few instances , that is few as compared with the many thousands who are ranged under the Masonic banners , " fictions" which help to the formation of a system which , as to its theoretical teachings , is nofc honoured
by strict observance , are as carelessly permitted to accrue as errors of a like nature were in days long past . We can , and probably may , point out many " fictions" of the present day which might give a future Bro . Sadler
occasion for research into minutes and proceedings subsequent to the first fifteen years of this century . For a while we leave to our readers the opportunity to reflect on this statement , certain that should they do so they cannot fail
to note how frequent have been , and still continue , the departures from the true principles upon which Speculative Freemasonry has been established . We shall resume the subject in an early number of the CHRONICLE .
Bro . Wellington Dale ( ex-Mayor of Penzance ) has been elected W . M . of Mount Sinai Lodge , No . 121 , for the ensuing year . Bro . C . Read was re-elected Treasurer ,