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What A Great American Mason Can Believe.
side by side with the Hutchmsons , Olivers , Mackoys , Moores , with hosts of oratorical American Grand Masters and Masonic journalists of tho present day . Bro . Morris indeed believes in what I may call tho ritual
history of Masonry , but ho is not so absurd as to extend its history beyond the period the ritual assigned to its origin . For instance , he does not believe that Adam and the patriarchs were Masons , and taught in their Lodges the
Christian doctrine of Redemption ; he does not believe , with a writer in the Voice of Masonry , that Jesus Christ the Son of God constituted Freemasonry . He does not
believe that our Masonry is an offshoot of the Pagan Mysteries , and I might enumerate scores of other absurdities which our most learned Masons believed to be
as " true as Gospel" in which Bro . Morris seems to take no stock . But that is not all . The readers of long standing of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE may remember reading many papers of mine , in which I showed up the absurdity of our
Bro . MacCalla s claim , that because Daniel Coxe received a Deputation from the G . L . of England in 1730 , constituting him P . G . M . of New York , New Jersey , and Pennsylvania , and because , in 1731 , a G . L . was formed iu Philadelphia ,
therefore he claims that the said Philadelphia G . L . derived its authority from Daniel Coxe . When in 1874 Bro . MacCalla first advanced the claim that Philadelphia was the " mother city of American Masonry , " I was curious to
see how many of our luminaries at once believed it . But now , outside of Pennsylvania , I believe that there is but one brother who is still steeped in Bro . MacCalla's delusion , viz ., my good friend Bro . Hughan , and even Bro . Hughan ' s opinion upon the question is now materially modified .
To show that Bro . Calla s notion is discredited here in America I will mention two facts . First . Within two or three years a Masonic Temple was dedicated at Washington , and the G . M . of Massachusetts was there . Previous to the ceremony the Washington Masonic authorities told
Bro . Howland , the Massachusetts G . M ., that they were quite satisfied that the first legally chartered Lodge in America was constituted in Boston , in 1733 , and therefore they gave its representative precedence over those of
Pennsylvania , both in the procession in the G . L . and at the festive board . This fact , which , as far as I know , was not noticed in any Masonic paper , was told to me by the Massachusetts G . M . himself . And second . Within four
months the Supreme Council of the N . J . thirty-thirders met at Chicago , and there also the first American jurisdiction toasted at the table was that of Massachusetts . A Pennsylvanian 33 rd who was there made a swaggering
speech , I am informed , in behalf of the Pennsylvanian claim to priority , but he made no converts to his theory . Well , it seems that Bro . Rob . Morris also disbelieves in the " Philadelphia Mother of American Masonry " claim , for on page 37 he says ,
" I view London , the centre of Ancient York Masonry . From hence , in 1733 , was sent the holy spark to Western fields that has kindled into so goodly a blaze . " I merely add , that Bro . Morris is more correct in his
disbeliefs than in his beliefs . BOSTON U . S . 11 th January 1887 .
Prayers In Our Lodges.
PRAYERS IN OUR LODGES .
HAVING been consulted by the Chaplains of some of our subordinate Lodges , in reference to their official duties , we take this opportunity of saying a few words in answer to the question , " Does the Institution of Freemasonry ever require or expect from any of her members
the sacrifice of their religious convictions ? " To this question we answer , without hesitation , No ! never . As you all understand , every candidate for our mysteries , having professed his faith in God , is assured that nothing
will be required of him incompatible with any duty he owes to his family , to his country , or to his Maker . Yet , notwithstanding this , we fear that there is more or less misapprehension in relation to this subject—some holding
the view that because a candidate is only required to profess a belief in God , therefore our religious services and work should never arise above an elementary belief in Deity . This is a great mistake , and entirely at variance
with the past history of our Order , and of all her teachings and practice . While Freemasonry is not a religion , it is a profoundly religious Institution , having in all ages , according to our traditions , from the days of King Solomon ,
While We Do Not Forget That By The Exercise Of Brotherly Love "Freemasonry Unites Men Of Every Country, Sect And Opinion, Yet We Also Remember That, Guided By This Same Principle Of Brotherly Love, She Never Represses And Fetters The Soul, Nor Seals The Lips Of Any Of Her Loyal Sons
While we do not forget that by the exercise of Brotherly Love "Freemasonry unites men of every country , sect and opinion , yet we also remember that , guided by this same principle of Brotherly Love , she never represses and fetters the soul , nor seals the lips of any of her loyal sons
our traditional founder , down to the present hour , walked closed beside the Immemorial Church of God . Thus , as the Handmaid of True Religion , she has bacome vitalised with Divine Truth , and in her teachings has ever followed
her heavenly Guide . The foundation-stone , as we were all taught upon first entering the Lodge , is Faith in a personal God , who hears and answers prayer ; and all our
Ritual , Symbolism , and Work is intended to conduct the candidate by reason , by science , and by revelation as far as a human institution may , up " the World ' s great altar steps that lead from darkness up to God . "
in their aspirations and devotions to God their Maker . On the contrary , Freemasonry impresses upon the neophyte , at every step , that great fact that he was created for the worship and glory of God ; and not as " some would say , if they dared , that God exists for the sake of man . "
Hence , governed by these principles , but bound in the practice of them by the Rule of Charity , whenever a Jewish brother , as he stands at our altars waiting for the promised Messiah , offers his prayers to the God of
Abraham , the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob , the Christian brother recognises the Ancient Faith of the chosen people of God . In like spirit , the devout Israelite joins with those who on bended knee offer their devotions to the
Great Jehovah through the merits of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah , Jesus Christ our Lord . Again , although the religious convictions of some of our brothers have not brought them within the fellowship or communion of either
of these organisations , yet these brothers profess the belief that from the youngest apprentice to the Master who presides in the East , it is the duty of all to bow in lowly and adoring worship before that God in whom they have put their trust .
My brothers , let us urge upon you to guard this foundation principle of Freemasonry ; for it is only in the exercise of the Spirit of Charity that we can hope for the perpetuation of our Order in a Christian land . If that sad
day should ever come—which God forbid—when all reference to the Christian religion is eliminated from our Work and Ritual , and Christian prayers are no longer allowed in our Lodges , then genuine Freemasonry will disappear
from among the Institutions of every Christian country ; or if perchance it remain for a time , it will only be as a dead and putrefying body , alike offensive in the sight of God and man . —G . M . lAjman Klapp .
Assembly Booms , Leicester , by kind permission and under the patronage of Sir Henry St . John Halford , Bart ., P . D . P . G . M . Leicestershire and Rutland , on Monday , 7 th February 1887 . The Committee have secured the distinguished patronage of the Bight Honourable the Earl of Carnarvon M . W . Pro Grand Master of England ; the
Gratified at the success that attended their efforts last year , the brethren of the five Leicester Lodges—St . John's , No . 279 ; John of Gaunt , No . 523 ; Commercial , No . 1391 ; Albert Edward , No . 1560 ; Golden Fleece , No . 2081—have deoided to again hold a Masonio Ball in aid of the Masonic Charities , which will take place at the County
Bight Honourable the Earl of Lathom Eight Worshipful Deputy Grand Master of England ; the Bight Honourable the Earl Ferrers Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Leicestershire and Rutland ; his Grace the Duke of St . Albans Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Nottinghamshire ; the Most Noble the Marquis
of Hartington , M . P ., Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Derbyshire ; William Kelly , Esq ., F . S . A ., F . R . His . Soc , Right Worshipful P . P . G . Master Leicestershire and Rutland ; S . S . Partridge , Esq ., Worshipful Deputy Prov . Grand Master Leicestershire and Eutland ; and his Worship the Mayor of Leicester , Israel Hart , Esq .
Full Masonic clothing will be worn on the occasion , and Officers of the Army , Navy , and Auxiliary Forces are invited to appear in uniform . Tickets ( to include Supper and Light Befreshments ) : — Gentlemen , 12 s 6 d each ; Ladies , 10 s 6 d each ; may ( upon the introduction of a Mason ) be obtained from any of the following
brethren ( members of the Ball Committee ) : —Lodge 279—C . F . Wike , 20 Newtown-atreet ; Bobert Bowley , Queen-street ; F . Griffith , 57 Regent-strect , Soutbfields ; J . H . Marshall , Rutland-street . Lodge 523—H . P . Brown , 10 New-street ; G . Newsome , "Welfordplace ; J . G . Murdin , 57 Princess-street ; T . G . Charlesworth , The Hollow . Lodge 1391—J . E . Beazeley , 8 Southgates ; S . Knight ,
10 Guthlaxton-street ; R . B . Starkey , 28 London-road ; G . Jessop , Granville House , London-road . Lodge 1560—T . Macaulay , Kibworth ; W . J . Freer , New-street ; J . D . Harris , Brannstone Gate ; Dr . O . A . Moore , 12 King-street . Lodge 2081—E . P . Steeds , 20 Friar-lane ; W . H . Lead , 40 Silver-street ; J . L . West , 3 Market-street ; J . G . Parr , Humberstone Gate ; or J . B . Waring , Hon . Sec , Freemasons ' Hall , Leicester .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
What A Great American Mason Can Believe.
side by side with the Hutchmsons , Olivers , Mackoys , Moores , with hosts of oratorical American Grand Masters and Masonic journalists of tho present day . Bro . Morris indeed believes in what I may call tho ritual
history of Masonry , but ho is not so absurd as to extend its history beyond the period the ritual assigned to its origin . For instance , he does not believe that Adam and the patriarchs were Masons , and taught in their Lodges the
Christian doctrine of Redemption ; he does not believe , with a writer in the Voice of Masonry , that Jesus Christ the Son of God constituted Freemasonry . He does not
believe that our Masonry is an offshoot of the Pagan Mysteries , and I might enumerate scores of other absurdities which our most learned Masons believed to be
as " true as Gospel" in which Bro . Morris seems to take no stock . But that is not all . The readers of long standing of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE may remember reading many papers of mine , in which I showed up the absurdity of our
Bro . MacCalla s claim , that because Daniel Coxe received a Deputation from the G . L . of England in 1730 , constituting him P . G . M . of New York , New Jersey , and Pennsylvania , and because , in 1731 , a G . L . was formed iu Philadelphia ,
therefore he claims that the said Philadelphia G . L . derived its authority from Daniel Coxe . When in 1874 Bro . MacCalla first advanced the claim that Philadelphia was the " mother city of American Masonry , " I was curious to
see how many of our luminaries at once believed it . But now , outside of Pennsylvania , I believe that there is but one brother who is still steeped in Bro . MacCalla's delusion , viz ., my good friend Bro . Hughan , and even Bro . Hughan ' s opinion upon the question is now materially modified .
To show that Bro . Calla s notion is discredited here in America I will mention two facts . First . Within two or three years a Masonic Temple was dedicated at Washington , and the G . M . of Massachusetts was there . Previous to the ceremony the Washington Masonic authorities told
Bro . Howland , the Massachusetts G . M ., that they were quite satisfied that the first legally chartered Lodge in America was constituted in Boston , in 1733 , and therefore they gave its representative precedence over those of
Pennsylvania , both in the procession in the G . L . and at the festive board . This fact , which , as far as I know , was not noticed in any Masonic paper , was told to me by the Massachusetts G . M . himself . And second . Within four
months the Supreme Council of the N . J . thirty-thirders met at Chicago , and there also the first American jurisdiction toasted at the table was that of Massachusetts . A Pennsylvanian 33 rd who was there made a swaggering
speech , I am informed , in behalf of the Pennsylvanian claim to priority , but he made no converts to his theory . Well , it seems that Bro . Rob . Morris also disbelieves in the " Philadelphia Mother of American Masonry " claim , for on page 37 he says ,
" I view London , the centre of Ancient York Masonry . From hence , in 1733 , was sent the holy spark to Western fields that has kindled into so goodly a blaze . " I merely add , that Bro . Morris is more correct in his
disbeliefs than in his beliefs . BOSTON U . S . 11 th January 1887 .
Prayers In Our Lodges.
PRAYERS IN OUR LODGES .
HAVING been consulted by the Chaplains of some of our subordinate Lodges , in reference to their official duties , we take this opportunity of saying a few words in answer to the question , " Does the Institution of Freemasonry ever require or expect from any of her members
the sacrifice of their religious convictions ? " To this question we answer , without hesitation , No ! never . As you all understand , every candidate for our mysteries , having professed his faith in God , is assured that nothing
will be required of him incompatible with any duty he owes to his family , to his country , or to his Maker . Yet , notwithstanding this , we fear that there is more or less misapprehension in relation to this subject—some holding
the view that because a candidate is only required to profess a belief in God , therefore our religious services and work should never arise above an elementary belief in Deity . This is a great mistake , and entirely at variance
with the past history of our Order , and of all her teachings and practice . While Freemasonry is not a religion , it is a profoundly religious Institution , having in all ages , according to our traditions , from the days of King Solomon ,
While We Do Not Forget That By The Exercise Of Brotherly Love "Freemasonry Unites Men Of Every Country, Sect And Opinion, Yet We Also Remember That, Guided By This Same Principle Of Brotherly Love, She Never Represses And Fetters The Soul, Nor Seals The Lips Of Any Of Her Loyal Sons
While we do not forget that by the exercise of Brotherly Love "Freemasonry unites men of every country , sect and opinion , yet we also remember that , guided by this same principle of Brotherly Love , she never represses and fetters the soul , nor seals the lips of any of her loyal sons
our traditional founder , down to the present hour , walked closed beside the Immemorial Church of God . Thus , as the Handmaid of True Religion , she has bacome vitalised with Divine Truth , and in her teachings has ever followed
her heavenly Guide . The foundation-stone , as we were all taught upon first entering the Lodge , is Faith in a personal God , who hears and answers prayer ; and all our
Ritual , Symbolism , and Work is intended to conduct the candidate by reason , by science , and by revelation as far as a human institution may , up " the World ' s great altar steps that lead from darkness up to God . "
in their aspirations and devotions to God their Maker . On the contrary , Freemasonry impresses upon the neophyte , at every step , that great fact that he was created for the worship and glory of God ; and not as " some would say , if they dared , that God exists for the sake of man . "
Hence , governed by these principles , but bound in the practice of them by the Rule of Charity , whenever a Jewish brother , as he stands at our altars waiting for the promised Messiah , offers his prayers to the God of
Abraham , the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob , the Christian brother recognises the Ancient Faith of the chosen people of God . In like spirit , the devout Israelite joins with those who on bended knee offer their devotions to the
Great Jehovah through the merits of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah , Jesus Christ our Lord . Again , although the religious convictions of some of our brothers have not brought them within the fellowship or communion of either
of these organisations , yet these brothers profess the belief that from the youngest apprentice to the Master who presides in the East , it is the duty of all to bow in lowly and adoring worship before that God in whom they have put their trust .
My brothers , let us urge upon you to guard this foundation principle of Freemasonry ; for it is only in the exercise of the Spirit of Charity that we can hope for the perpetuation of our Order in a Christian land . If that sad
day should ever come—which God forbid—when all reference to the Christian religion is eliminated from our Work and Ritual , and Christian prayers are no longer allowed in our Lodges , then genuine Freemasonry will disappear
from among the Institutions of every Christian country ; or if perchance it remain for a time , it will only be as a dead and putrefying body , alike offensive in the sight of God and man . —G . M . lAjman Klapp .
Assembly Booms , Leicester , by kind permission and under the patronage of Sir Henry St . John Halford , Bart ., P . D . P . G . M . Leicestershire and Rutland , on Monday , 7 th February 1887 . The Committee have secured the distinguished patronage of the Bight Honourable the Earl of Carnarvon M . W . Pro Grand Master of England ; the
Gratified at the success that attended their efforts last year , the brethren of the five Leicester Lodges—St . John's , No . 279 ; John of Gaunt , No . 523 ; Commercial , No . 1391 ; Albert Edward , No . 1560 ; Golden Fleece , No . 2081—have deoided to again hold a Masonio Ball in aid of the Masonic Charities , which will take place at the County
Bight Honourable the Earl of Lathom Eight Worshipful Deputy Grand Master of England ; the Bight Honourable the Earl Ferrers Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Leicestershire and Rutland ; his Grace the Duke of St . Albans Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Nottinghamshire ; the Most Noble the Marquis
of Hartington , M . P ., Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Derbyshire ; William Kelly , Esq ., F . S . A ., F . R . His . Soc , Right Worshipful P . P . G . Master Leicestershire and Rutland ; S . S . Partridge , Esq ., Worshipful Deputy Prov . Grand Master Leicestershire and Eutland ; and his Worship the Mayor of Leicester , Israel Hart , Esq .
Full Masonic clothing will be worn on the occasion , and Officers of the Army , Navy , and Auxiliary Forces are invited to appear in uniform . Tickets ( to include Supper and Light Befreshments ) : — Gentlemen , 12 s 6 d each ; Ladies , 10 s 6 d each ; may ( upon the introduction of a Mason ) be obtained from any of the following
brethren ( members of the Ball Committee ) : —Lodge 279—C . F . Wike , 20 Newtown-atreet ; Bobert Bowley , Queen-street ; F . Griffith , 57 Regent-strect , Soutbfields ; J . H . Marshall , Rutland-street . Lodge 523—H . P . Brown , 10 New-street ; G . Newsome , "Welfordplace ; J . G . Murdin , 57 Princess-street ; T . G . Charlesworth , The Hollow . Lodge 1391—J . E . Beazeley , 8 Southgates ; S . Knight ,
10 Guthlaxton-street ; R . B . Starkey , 28 London-road ; G . Jessop , Granville House , London-road . Lodge 1560—T . Macaulay , Kibworth ; W . J . Freer , New-street ; J . D . Harris , Brannstone Gate ; Dr . O . A . Moore , 12 King-street . Lodge 2081—E . P . Steeds , 20 Friar-lane ; W . H . Lead , 40 Silver-street ; J . L . West , 3 Market-street ; J . G . Parr , Humberstone Gate ; or J . B . Waring , Hon . Sec , Freemasons ' Hall , Leicester .