Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00902
gBWWWfr * WWrf g | wWtfWWW * AM | a ^^^^^^^ SATURDAY , 2 GTH AUGUST 1 S 93 .
Ar00901
All is lair in love or war , and it is unkind to criticise the actions of enthusiastic brethren when engaged in the sacred work of charity . When we stop to urge the cause of the distressed we are very apt to forget the strict letter of our laws , and it is probably true that much of the money annually raised in oi is secured not
Dne cause cnarity oy means wnoiiy in accord with the rules which govern us , either in Freemasonry , or in the general affairs of life . An instance is before us from the Province of Cornwall , where a dispensation to wear Masonic clothing at a
ball was granted on the condition that . £ 10 was guaranteed , and all profits were promised to Masonic charity . This is one of the smartest devices we can remember for raising Charity funds , but one that
seems to commend itself on the principle that it is perfectly straightforward and businesslike—it is in fact a novel way of " trading on Freemasonry , " only permissible in connection with the cause of charity ,
which might be more generally practised by those who have the power to allow it , and at the same time desire to help the distressed members of our Fraternity .
Very interesting particulars are given in the report of the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall , which we publish in this issue , as to the working of the Cornwall Annuity and Benevolent
Fund . The receipts for last year were stated to be £ 491 , and from the commencement of the Fund in 1864 , £ 9 , 009 lis Gd . Of this sum £ 1 , 774 9 s 6 d had
been disbursed to male annuitants , £ 513 10 s to female annuitants , £ 70 for relief , and £ 1 , 020 in Educational grants . The expenses of management bad n . mmintfifl in -P . 3 S 9 , ( Is fld nnd tho hnlnnno rxma ll
„ ., „„ ... „„„ ... v „ cvuv- « u « v ., I . UU l ' U > JLUXIVX 1 U < J It CCIO accordingly £ 5 , 249 5 s 3 d . There were ten annuitants on the fund , and four cases to which educational grants were made , further grants being confirmed at
the meeting referred to . In addition to this we direct the attention of our readers to the record of work done by the County Charity Association , which has collected £ 2 , 300 for the central Charities during its eight years existence .
Even as far afield as Melbourne members of the Craft arc getting _ tired of "the eternal P . M . ' s jewel rule , " and hail with satisfaction the presentation of a
CIOCK ana otner articles to mark their satisfaction of a Brother ' s work in the chair of his Lodge . It is , perhaps , little short of treason to advocate the
abolition of the custom of presenting jewels as marks of esteem , but surely something better might be gradually introduced into the Craft than Avhat we are
now accustomed to . In years gone by it has been advocated in these pages that Lodges would do infinitely more good if they allowed the price of the Past ^ Master ' s jewel to go to one or other of the Charities in the name of the Brother they intended to I
recipient , and explain what he had done in advancing the true principles of Masonry . We think it was suggested _ that the three Institutions should prepare special" iron crosses " for the purpose , which would
honour , and spent a few shillings extra on a decoration which should sufficiently distinguish the
Ar00900
certainly prove a profitable investment it it could be made popular .
The Grand Lodge of Scotland very wisely decided that tbe publication of the objectionable " Notes for
Freemasons , " to which official attention was directed , was unworthy of serious notice . As we said at the outset there was , perhaps , a little too much levity in
the remarks complained of , but beyond that there does not seem to be anything calling for interference , unless one cares to recognise the possibility of some
individual ' s personal feelings requiring official soothing . The Crafsmen across the border , while probably as anxious as any of us to uphold the rights and
dignities oi . Freemasonry , are evidently alive to the fact that it is not always wise to enforce the strict letter of the law . In laughing at the remarks to
which we have referred they showed much greater tact than if they had commenced a tirade against the rvnaoo wV » i /» li tvmilfl in oil nvnlinKilitv liavfl led fllATYl flVUllWiUVJUl -. ~« . VUVU
JJXGDD , IHUUU » "l "") * " « " ^ . IK . into all manner of difficulties , notwithstanding the fact that the Constitutions of the Order forbid the publication of Masonic matters .
It may be worthy of recording that one of the Notes " particularly complained of had reference to
** the new collar designed and executed lor the Kight Worshipful Grand Master Mason of Scotland , " which is severely criticised on account of its size , the writer
describing it as ** ponderously massive , ornamentally embellished , obsoletely antiquated , and every way suited to adorn the neck of a prize Clydesdale
stallion ; but to place it upon a man is to innict upon him one of the tortures of the dark ages . " Of course such comments are far from flattering to those
who designed the collar , but we presume there is some ground for such scathing criticism . We imagine Scotch Craftsmen are in many ways like their
English brethren , and we are well aware there are some among us who seem to take great delight in making exhibitions of themselves with tawdry finery ,
and expecting others to do the same . Neatness and humility do not enter into their calculations , and as a 1
result they are sometimes ridiculed by their less pretentious fellows . Wo imagine that is the sum and substance of what has recently been done in Scotland .
A former member of one of the best Glasgow Lodges , now resident in London , recently visited his old home , and is reported to have borne testimony in
his Lodge to its " efficiency as compared with those over the border . " We are very pleased to hear such
an opinion from a reliable source , as it tends to show au improvement in Scottish Masonry . A few years back it would not have been possible to make such an
assertion , and as we cannot admit there has been any great falling off in the quality of English Masonry in
recent years we must account for the change by recognising Scotland ' s improvement . Friendly rivalry
never did any harm , and our Scotch friends need have no fear of our being ioalous if they surpass us ,
but they will have to work pretty hard , and to the purpose , if they hope to keep ahead of their English brethren .
Something out of the common has evidently been prepared by the wife of an Australian Craftsman , in
the form ol a handsome hand painted banner , which she has presented to her husband ' s Lodge , and which is thus described in a local paper :
"On its beautiful folds arc depicted a life-liko and acenruia portrait of one of the ancient Grand Masters of Freemasonry , which occupies the foreground , whilst the background is honimcJ iu with every attention to historic , architectural , and artistic dotai 1 , a magnificent representation of Solomon ' s temple . "
Who is the ancient Grand Master portrayed with such
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar00902
gBWWWfr * WWrf g | wWtfWWW * AM | a ^^^^^^^ SATURDAY , 2 GTH AUGUST 1 S 93 .
Ar00901
All is lair in love or war , and it is unkind to criticise the actions of enthusiastic brethren when engaged in the sacred work of charity . When we stop to urge the cause of the distressed we are very apt to forget the strict letter of our laws , and it is probably true that much of the money annually raised in oi is secured not
Dne cause cnarity oy means wnoiiy in accord with the rules which govern us , either in Freemasonry , or in the general affairs of life . An instance is before us from the Province of Cornwall , where a dispensation to wear Masonic clothing at a
ball was granted on the condition that . £ 10 was guaranteed , and all profits were promised to Masonic charity . This is one of the smartest devices we can remember for raising Charity funds , but one that
seems to commend itself on the principle that it is perfectly straightforward and businesslike—it is in fact a novel way of " trading on Freemasonry , " only permissible in connection with the cause of charity ,
which might be more generally practised by those who have the power to allow it , and at the same time desire to help the distressed members of our Fraternity .
Very interesting particulars are given in the report of the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall , which we publish in this issue , as to the working of the Cornwall Annuity and Benevolent
Fund . The receipts for last year were stated to be £ 491 , and from the commencement of the Fund in 1864 , £ 9 , 009 lis Gd . Of this sum £ 1 , 774 9 s 6 d had
been disbursed to male annuitants , £ 513 10 s to female annuitants , £ 70 for relief , and £ 1 , 020 in Educational grants . The expenses of management bad n . mmintfifl in -P . 3 S 9 , ( Is fld nnd tho hnlnnno rxma ll
„ ., „„ ... „„„ ... v „ cvuv- « u « v ., I . UU l ' U > JLUXIVX 1 U < J It CCIO accordingly £ 5 , 249 5 s 3 d . There were ten annuitants on the fund , and four cases to which educational grants were made , further grants being confirmed at
the meeting referred to . In addition to this we direct the attention of our readers to the record of work done by the County Charity Association , which has collected £ 2 , 300 for the central Charities during its eight years existence .
Even as far afield as Melbourne members of the Craft arc getting _ tired of "the eternal P . M . ' s jewel rule , " and hail with satisfaction the presentation of a
CIOCK ana otner articles to mark their satisfaction of a Brother ' s work in the chair of his Lodge . It is , perhaps , little short of treason to advocate the
abolition of the custom of presenting jewels as marks of esteem , but surely something better might be gradually introduced into the Craft than Avhat we are
now accustomed to . In years gone by it has been advocated in these pages that Lodges would do infinitely more good if they allowed the price of the Past ^ Master ' s jewel to go to one or other of the Charities in the name of the Brother they intended to I
recipient , and explain what he had done in advancing the true principles of Masonry . We think it was suggested _ that the three Institutions should prepare special" iron crosses " for the purpose , which would
honour , and spent a few shillings extra on a decoration which should sufficiently distinguish the
Ar00900
certainly prove a profitable investment it it could be made popular .
The Grand Lodge of Scotland very wisely decided that tbe publication of the objectionable " Notes for
Freemasons , " to which official attention was directed , was unworthy of serious notice . As we said at the outset there was , perhaps , a little too much levity in
the remarks complained of , but beyond that there does not seem to be anything calling for interference , unless one cares to recognise the possibility of some
individual ' s personal feelings requiring official soothing . The Crafsmen across the border , while probably as anxious as any of us to uphold the rights and
dignities oi . Freemasonry , are evidently alive to the fact that it is not always wise to enforce the strict letter of the law . In laughing at the remarks to
which we have referred they showed much greater tact than if they had commenced a tirade against the rvnaoo wV » i /» li tvmilfl in oil nvnlinKilitv liavfl led fllATYl flVUllWiUVJUl -. ~« . VUVU
JJXGDD , IHUUU » "l "") * " « " ^ . IK . into all manner of difficulties , notwithstanding the fact that the Constitutions of the Order forbid the publication of Masonic matters .
It may be worthy of recording that one of the Notes " particularly complained of had reference to
** the new collar designed and executed lor the Kight Worshipful Grand Master Mason of Scotland , " which is severely criticised on account of its size , the writer
describing it as ** ponderously massive , ornamentally embellished , obsoletely antiquated , and every way suited to adorn the neck of a prize Clydesdale
stallion ; but to place it upon a man is to innict upon him one of the tortures of the dark ages . " Of course such comments are far from flattering to those
who designed the collar , but we presume there is some ground for such scathing criticism . We imagine Scotch Craftsmen are in many ways like their
English brethren , and we are well aware there are some among us who seem to take great delight in making exhibitions of themselves with tawdry finery ,
and expecting others to do the same . Neatness and humility do not enter into their calculations , and as a 1
result they are sometimes ridiculed by their less pretentious fellows . Wo imagine that is the sum and substance of what has recently been done in Scotland .
A former member of one of the best Glasgow Lodges , now resident in London , recently visited his old home , and is reported to have borne testimony in
his Lodge to its " efficiency as compared with those over the border . " We are very pleased to hear such
an opinion from a reliable source , as it tends to show au improvement in Scottish Masonry . A few years back it would not have been possible to make such an
assertion , and as we cannot admit there has been any great falling off in the quality of English Masonry in
recent years we must account for the change by recognising Scotland ' s improvement . Friendly rivalry
never did any harm , and our Scotch friends need have no fear of our being ioalous if they surpass us ,
but they will have to work pretty hard , and to the purpose , if they hope to keep ahead of their English brethren .
Something out of the common has evidently been prepared by the wife of an Australian Craftsman , in
the form ol a handsome hand painted banner , which she has presented to her husband ' s Lodge , and which is thus described in a local paper :
"On its beautiful folds arc depicted a life-liko and acenruia portrait of one of the ancient Grand Masters of Freemasonry , which occupies the foreground , whilst the background is honimcJ iu with every attention to historic , architectural , and artistic dotai 1 , a magnificent representation of Solomon ' s temple . "
Who is the ancient Grand Master portrayed with such