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Article CORRESPONDENCE. Page 1 of 1 Article PRESENTATION TO SIR JOHN B. MONCKTON. Page 1 of 1 Ad Untitled Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of owe Cor . respondents . All Letters must bear the name anl address or the Writer , no t necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
. BRO . NORTON ON THE WREN TRADITION . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have gone over most of the ground traversed by Bro . Norton in his elaborate essay on Wren ' s alleged membership of our Society , and it is because I have done so that I find myself under the necessity of differing from him . I hope to have more to say ou the subject in a future letter , bnt before going into the
question as he treats it , I prefer reading his contributions over again , the demands on my time having made it imperative that I shonld go through them somewhat hastily . Much of his argument I perceive is derived from Bro . Gould ' s History , or perhaps it wero better I should say , Bro . Norton appears to have endorsed Bro . Gould's con . elusions , and pretty much on the same grounds as have bpen advanced
by the latter . What I would now point out is , that while Anderson , Preston , and other Masonio writers—some or all of them to a greater or less degree—go to ono extreme in accepting everything , Bro . Norton is determined to go to the other extreme , and reject everything which cannot be vouched for by absolute authorities in black and white . It is very well for him to say that " ' May have been' and ' may be '
should therefore be discarded as evidence by every historian . " I bold that to summarily dismiss reasonable probnbilities as utterly nn worthv of acceptance , because they are not vouched for positively , is , in dealing with the history of a mysterious fraternity like ours , a mis . take if it is not almost equivalent to an inexcusable abdication of the functions of an historian . It is nowhere shown , so far as our present
knowledge goes , that Wren was a Mason , though it has bpen again and again asserted that he was . Yet there ia nothing improbable in the assertion . On the contrary , there is every likelihood of his having been associated with our early Lodges in some way or other , and particularly with our present Antiquity , No . 2 , which in his day met in the neighbourhood of St . Paul's Cathedral . A question like this is
not one to be submitted to an ordinary jury such as would be callpd upon to decide " a case involving a certain sum of money . " It is a delicate question—I use the word "delicate , " as indicating that el- boratp points must be considered in the attempt to arrive at a judgmentwhich it would be ridiculous to expect the average juror would have sense enough to discuss . I would rather have the allegation of a
" credulous gossip " and a mere " newspaper stntmeot , " even though unfortified by other evidence , than the verdict of such a jury as Bro . Norton seems to have in his mind . The value of the former mnv be small , bufc the value of the latter would be still smaller . The former were contemporary with the event they allege or suggest to have happened , tbe latter would have no qualification whatever tn determine such an issue , and nothing therefore to recommend their
decision to our acceptance . A man may be able to decide that n shilling and two sixpences are eqnivalen * - , bufc thafc would not makp his opinion valuable one way or the other in respect of something said to have taken place 200 years ago . Some Masonic writers may have gone too far , but we shall nofc set matters straight by nofc going so far as reason and common s ^ nse would justify . However , I hopp , as I have said , to write more fully on this question , and without further remark , therefore , beg to subscribe myself as being Fraternally yours , YOUR REVIEWER or BRO . GOULD ' S " HISTORY . "
TOURISTS' HAUNTS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR , —I see by your paper thafc you take an interest in pointing out fco intending holiday makers the various sumrapr excursions , aud having had a long residence ( thirty years ) in South Wales , during whioh I have been a constant traveller , I may state that I have become Acquainted with very many places of interest
and pleasurable resorts in South Wales not generally known , as they are not often referred to in the several tourists' guides ; in fact , are oufc of the beaten track ; bufc which , nevertheless , in very many instances possess more features of interest and beauty than those thafc find place in such books . Furthermore , some of tbe places I refer to have this further advantage— they are not so
expensive to visit . Now , as very many excursionists will this jear be denied , for wpll-known reasons , their Continental holiday trip , I would remind such that , they will fiud out-of-the-way nooks in Pembrokpshire and the adjacent counties which will well compensate for any loss they may sustain . I shall be happy to supply any of your
friends who maybe desirous to see this part of South Wales with particulars how to do so if you will only let me know . In the season there is plenty of shooting , fishing , and real hunting . Yours truly ,
HENRY BAEHAM 5 High-street , Haverfordwest , 2 nd August 1884 .
The "Revised . Book of Constitutions ; Critically Considared and Compared with , the Old Edition . London : Simpkin , Marshall & Co ., 4 Stationers' Hall Court , E . C . Sent on receipt of stamps , One Shilling , by "W . "W . Morgan , Freemason ' s Chronicle Office , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville .
Presentation To Sir John B. Monckton.
PRESENTATION TO SIR JOHN B . MONCKTON .
IN order to mark the personal good feeling for Sir Johu B . Monckton , and their high estimation ot" the manner iu whioh ho has for ten consecutive years presided over the deliberations of the Board of General Purposes , a considerable number of the brethren , who have served on the Board during the above period , met at the Freemasons' Tavern on the 30 th ult ., for the purpose of presenting to Sir John a souvenir of his long service and the appreciation of
those who hud served with him . This took the form of an exceedingly handsome silver " Collar Bowl , " forty . two inches in circum . ference , manufactured by Bro . George Lambert , of Coventry-street , bearing the following inscription : " Presented to Right Worshipful Brother Sir John B . Monckton , Past Grand Warden , by manv present nnd former members of the Board of General Purposes United
Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of England iu slight reoog . nition of his eminent services as their President for a period of ten years . July 1884 . " Among those prpseut were Bros . Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ) P . G . W ., Thomas Fenn P . B . G . P ., Colonel Shadwell Gierke Grand Secretary , Captain N . G . Philips P . G . D ., Rucker P . G . D . and
President Colonial Board , Frank Riohardson P . G . D ., P . De L . Long P . G . D ., G . Bnrfc ( ex-Sheriflf ) P . A . G . D . C , Roborfc Grey P . G . D ., John Messenfc P . G . S . B ., Letchworth G . D ., Edgar Bowver P . G . Standard Bearer , Ralph ' Glutton V . P . B . G . P ., W . Bristow P . G . S ., Chynoweth P . G . S . j P . M . 's Headon , Mather , Hogard , F . G . Dobbs , E . Motley , Festa , and Lionel Monckton P . G . S . B . Oxon .
Bro . Ralph Clntton being called to tho ohair , rose amid cheers , aud explainpd that as the Vice President of Sir John B . Mouokton ' s last Presidential year , he had been invited to make the presentation for which they were assembled . They had met , he said , for the purpose of offering to their friend and brother , the late President , a token of their great esteem and fraternal regard on his retirement from
the active duties he had so ably and courteously performed during the long period of his occupying the chair of the most important Board in fche Craffc . Occasions suoh as the present were usually tinged with the sadness always attendant on a parting , but they were glad to feel that while no longer able to perform the arduous dutips of the chair , their esteemed brother remained an ordinary
member of the Board , where they hoped occasionally to see him and have the benefit of his experienced advice . After some further remarks expressive of the desire of tho brethren that the proposed presentation should be limited to present and former members of the Board since 1874 , Brother Glutton , amid much cheering , begged Sir J . B . Mouokton ' s acceptance of the piece of plate then on the table ,
together with a scroll of vellum , on whioh was beautifully illuminated the resolution of thanks unanimously passed by the Board on his retirement . Sir J . B . Monckton replied as follows : Bro . Vice President and Brethren , —During my tenure of the office I have just relinquished , many occasions have arisen of difficulty on the one hand and
gratification on the other , but never have the two been so combined as ( bey most truly are at tbe present moment . The gratification you cannot doubt ; indeed I see it reflected in yonr fraternal faces . The difficulty is not so much that I am at a loss for words to express the sentiments that animate mo , bnt that I scarce know where to begin , and where and when to leave off—there seems so mneh that may be
said ; but , nevertheless , I will endeavour to bo brief . First , let me remark on the peculiar nature of this testimonial , this handsome and , if I may say so , appropriate gift of yours ; appropriate and acceptable in more senses than ono . In the first place , it is most acceptable because it is not the result of a begging box sent round the Craft , most illogically asking brethren
far and wide to contribute in favour of a brother they have many of them never even seen . Such a result , whether ifc had taken the form of a coach and horses , or a room full of furniture , or life governorships of the Charities , would have been to me mosfc unpalatable . Your gift , however , comes in fche welcome shape of a mark of esteem from my own fellow labourers
of the last ten years , sharers with me in work for the general good of the Craft ; work sometimes light , sometimes laborious , but always harmonious . Work that inclnded the greatest Masonic ceremony of our , and almost of any time : the Installation of our Royal Grand Master in 1875 , at the fitly-named Eoyal Albert Hall , in the presence , and with the assistance of , ten thousand rulers in the Craft , and that
ended , so far as my presidency was concerned , with the heavy and important labour involved in fche revision of the Book of Constitutions , and when I speak of both of these important matters I fully bear in mind how thoroughly the labouring oars in each case were borne by others than myself , others who grace this little ceremony by their presence here to-day , and so it has been , Brethren , throughout
my period of office . We have been conscientious and willing workers together for ono common good , and iu the repeatedly-expressed approbation of Grand Lodge we have had our common reward . My special reward , however , in addition to tbe signal mark of the Grand Master ' s favour , conveyed in his graciously promoting me to the position of Past Grnnd Warden of England , comes to me to-day .
You ask me , as ifc seems , not to forget the many hours we have worked together , and as an appropriate token of your fraternal wishes , you seem to say " Shonld forgetfulness at any time arise , down with it , and drown it in the Bowl . " Brethren , that shall be so ; while I livo , this handsome and capacious bowl shall be to
me an emblem of the breadth and depth of your esteem and regard , and when on this earth the circle of my Masonic duties is at length nomplete , those wbo come after me shall look upon it as an undy ing evidence of that brotherl y love which is the first of the three grand principles of our Order . — City Press .
Ad00602
FUNERALS .-Bros . W . K . L . & Or . A . HUTTON , Coffin Makers and Undertakers , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W . O . and 30 Forest Hill Koad , Peckham Bye , S . E
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
CORRESPONDENCE .
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of owe Cor . respondents . All Letters must bear the name anl address or the Writer , no t necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .
. BRO . NORTON ON THE WREN TRADITION . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have gone over most of the ground traversed by Bro . Norton in his elaborate essay on Wren ' s alleged membership of our Society , and it is because I have done so that I find myself under the necessity of differing from him . I hope to have more to say ou the subject in a future letter , bnt before going into the
question as he treats it , I prefer reading his contributions over again , the demands on my time having made it imperative that I shonld go through them somewhat hastily . Much of his argument I perceive is derived from Bro . Gould ' s History , or perhaps it wero better I should say , Bro . Norton appears to have endorsed Bro . Gould's con . elusions , and pretty much on the same grounds as have bpen advanced
by the latter . What I would now point out is , that while Anderson , Preston , and other Masonio writers—some or all of them to a greater or less degree—go to ono extreme in accepting everything , Bro . Norton is determined to go to the other extreme , and reject everything which cannot be vouched for by absolute authorities in black and white . It is very well for him to say that " ' May have been' and ' may be '
should therefore be discarded as evidence by every historian . " I bold that to summarily dismiss reasonable probnbilities as utterly nn worthv of acceptance , because they are not vouched for positively , is , in dealing with the history of a mysterious fraternity like ours , a mis . take if it is not almost equivalent to an inexcusable abdication of the functions of an historian . It is nowhere shown , so far as our present
knowledge goes , that Wren was a Mason , though it has bpen again and again asserted that he was . Yet there ia nothing improbable in the assertion . On the contrary , there is every likelihood of his having been associated with our early Lodges in some way or other , and particularly with our present Antiquity , No . 2 , which in his day met in the neighbourhood of St . Paul's Cathedral . A question like this is
not one to be submitted to an ordinary jury such as would be callpd upon to decide " a case involving a certain sum of money . " It is a delicate question—I use the word "delicate , " as indicating that el- boratp points must be considered in the attempt to arrive at a judgmentwhich it would be ridiculous to expect the average juror would have sense enough to discuss . I would rather have the allegation of a
" credulous gossip " and a mere " newspaper stntmeot , " even though unfortified by other evidence , than the verdict of such a jury as Bro . Norton seems to have in his mind . The value of the former mnv be small , bufc the value of the latter would be still smaller . The former were contemporary with the event they allege or suggest to have happened , tbe latter would have no qualification whatever tn determine such an issue , and nothing therefore to recommend their
decision to our acceptance . A man may be able to decide that n shilling and two sixpences are eqnivalen * - , bufc thafc would not makp his opinion valuable one way or the other in respect of something said to have taken place 200 years ago . Some Masonic writers may have gone too far , but we shall nofc set matters straight by nofc going so far as reason and common s ^ nse would justify . However , I hopp , as I have said , to write more fully on this question , and without further remark , therefore , beg to subscribe myself as being Fraternally yours , YOUR REVIEWER or BRO . GOULD ' S " HISTORY . "
TOURISTS' HAUNTS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR , —I see by your paper thafc you take an interest in pointing out fco intending holiday makers the various sumrapr excursions , aud having had a long residence ( thirty years ) in South Wales , during whioh I have been a constant traveller , I may state that I have become Acquainted with very many places of interest
and pleasurable resorts in South Wales not generally known , as they are not often referred to in the several tourists' guides ; in fact , are oufc of the beaten track ; bufc which , nevertheless , in very many instances possess more features of interest and beauty than those thafc find place in such books . Furthermore , some of tbe places I refer to have this further advantage— they are not so
expensive to visit . Now , as very many excursionists will this jear be denied , for wpll-known reasons , their Continental holiday trip , I would remind such that , they will fiud out-of-the-way nooks in Pembrokpshire and the adjacent counties which will well compensate for any loss they may sustain . I shall be happy to supply any of your
friends who maybe desirous to see this part of South Wales with particulars how to do so if you will only let me know . In the season there is plenty of shooting , fishing , and real hunting . Yours truly ,
HENRY BAEHAM 5 High-street , Haverfordwest , 2 nd August 1884 .
The "Revised . Book of Constitutions ; Critically Considared and Compared with , the Old Edition . London : Simpkin , Marshall & Co ., 4 Stationers' Hall Court , E . C . Sent on receipt of stamps , One Shilling , by "W . "W . Morgan , Freemason ' s Chronicle Office , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville .
Presentation To Sir John B. Monckton.
PRESENTATION TO SIR JOHN B . MONCKTON .
IN order to mark the personal good feeling for Sir Johu B . Monckton , and their high estimation ot" the manner iu whioh ho has for ten consecutive years presided over the deliberations of the Board of General Purposes , a considerable number of the brethren , who have served on the Board during the above period , met at the Freemasons' Tavern on the 30 th ult ., for the purpose of presenting to Sir John a souvenir of his long service and the appreciation of
those who hud served with him . This took the form of an exceedingly handsome silver " Collar Bowl , " forty . two inches in circum . ference , manufactured by Bro . George Lambert , of Coventry-street , bearing the following inscription : " Presented to Right Worshipful Brother Sir John B . Monckton , Past Grand Warden , by manv present nnd former members of the Board of General Purposes United
Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of England iu slight reoog . nition of his eminent services as their President for a period of ten years . July 1884 . " Among those prpseut were Bros . Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ) P . G . W ., Thomas Fenn P . B . G . P ., Colonel Shadwell Gierke Grand Secretary , Captain N . G . Philips P . G . D ., Rucker P . G . D . and
President Colonial Board , Frank Riohardson P . G . D ., P . De L . Long P . G . D ., G . Bnrfc ( ex-Sheriflf ) P . A . G . D . C , Roborfc Grey P . G . D ., John Messenfc P . G . S . B ., Letchworth G . D ., Edgar Bowver P . G . Standard Bearer , Ralph ' Glutton V . P . B . G . P ., W . Bristow P . G . S ., Chynoweth P . G . S . j P . M . 's Headon , Mather , Hogard , F . G . Dobbs , E . Motley , Festa , and Lionel Monckton P . G . S . B . Oxon .
Bro . Ralph Clntton being called to tho ohair , rose amid cheers , aud explainpd that as the Vice President of Sir John B . Mouokton ' s last Presidential year , he had been invited to make the presentation for which they were assembled . They had met , he said , for the purpose of offering to their friend and brother , the late President , a token of their great esteem and fraternal regard on his retirement from
the active duties he had so ably and courteously performed during the long period of his occupying the chair of the most important Board in fche Craffc . Occasions suoh as the present were usually tinged with the sadness always attendant on a parting , but they were glad to feel that while no longer able to perform the arduous dutips of the chair , their esteemed brother remained an ordinary
member of the Board , where they hoped occasionally to see him and have the benefit of his experienced advice . After some further remarks expressive of the desire of tho brethren that the proposed presentation should be limited to present and former members of the Board since 1874 , Brother Glutton , amid much cheering , begged Sir J . B . Mouokton ' s acceptance of the piece of plate then on the table ,
together with a scroll of vellum , on whioh was beautifully illuminated the resolution of thanks unanimously passed by the Board on his retirement . Sir J . B . Monckton replied as follows : Bro . Vice President and Brethren , —During my tenure of the office I have just relinquished , many occasions have arisen of difficulty on the one hand and
gratification on the other , but never have the two been so combined as ( bey most truly are at tbe present moment . The gratification you cannot doubt ; indeed I see it reflected in yonr fraternal faces . The difficulty is not so much that I am at a loss for words to express the sentiments that animate mo , bnt that I scarce know where to begin , and where and when to leave off—there seems so mneh that may be
said ; but , nevertheless , I will endeavour to bo brief . First , let me remark on the peculiar nature of this testimonial , this handsome and , if I may say so , appropriate gift of yours ; appropriate and acceptable in more senses than ono . In the first place , it is most acceptable because it is not the result of a begging box sent round the Craft , most illogically asking brethren
far and wide to contribute in favour of a brother they have many of them never even seen . Such a result , whether ifc had taken the form of a coach and horses , or a room full of furniture , or life governorships of the Charities , would have been to me mosfc unpalatable . Your gift , however , comes in fche welcome shape of a mark of esteem from my own fellow labourers
of the last ten years , sharers with me in work for the general good of the Craft ; work sometimes light , sometimes laborious , but always harmonious . Work that inclnded the greatest Masonic ceremony of our , and almost of any time : the Installation of our Royal Grand Master in 1875 , at the fitly-named Eoyal Albert Hall , in the presence , and with the assistance of , ten thousand rulers in the Craft , and that
ended , so far as my presidency was concerned , with the heavy and important labour involved in fche revision of the Book of Constitutions , and when I speak of both of these important matters I fully bear in mind how thoroughly the labouring oars in each case were borne by others than myself , others who grace this little ceremony by their presence here to-day , and so it has been , Brethren , throughout
my period of office . We have been conscientious and willing workers together for ono common good , and iu the repeatedly-expressed approbation of Grand Lodge we have had our common reward . My special reward , however , in addition to tbe signal mark of the Grand Master ' s favour , conveyed in his graciously promoting me to the position of Past Grnnd Warden of England , comes to me to-day .
You ask me , as ifc seems , not to forget the many hours we have worked together , and as an appropriate token of your fraternal wishes , you seem to say " Shonld forgetfulness at any time arise , down with it , and drown it in the Bowl . " Brethren , that shall be so ; while I livo , this handsome and capacious bowl shall be to
me an emblem of the breadth and depth of your esteem and regard , and when on this earth the circle of my Masonic duties is at length nomplete , those wbo come after me shall look upon it as an undy ing evidence of that brotherl y love which is the first of the three grand principles of our Order . — City Press .
Ad00602
FUNERALS .-Bros . W . K . L . & Or . A . HUTTON , Coffin Makers and Undertakers , 17 Newcastle Street , Strand , W . O . and 30 Forest Hill Koad , Peckham Bye , S . E