Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS 4 2 ' United Grand Lodge 4 « Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire 423 Review 4 * 4 Freemasonry in York in the Eighteenth
Century ( Continued ) 42 4 History of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ( . Continued ) 42 S CORRESPONDENCEImportant 4 2 ? Reviews 4 ?
Notes and Queries 42 ; REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 42 ; Instruction 42 S Ancient and Accepted Rite 42 S
Interesting Masonic Ceremony 428 Masonic Ceremony in Coleraine 42 S Freemasoury and the Church 429 Obituary 429 Masonic and General Tidings 430 Lodge Meetings for Next Week Cover .
Ar00100
WF . have carefully considered the letter published in our last from " E . L . H . " questioning the legality of lodges under the Grand Lodge of England which have been founded since the year 1817 , and have consulted the two Acts of Parliament therein referred to . The result of our researches is that we have come to the conclusion that our correspondent is entirely mistaken
in his deduction , as to the purport and intention of the two Acts he quotes . The first referred to , Geo . 3 , cap . 79 , of 12 th July , 1 799 , against secret societies , specially exempts from its penalties the meetings of the " Society " denominated " Lodges of Freemasons , " which before the passing of that Act have been usually held according to their rules—provided that such "Society "
has before the passing of this Act been held as a lodge ( that is , " Grand Lodge" ) of Freemasons—and that the details of such meetings , with the names of the members , be returned to the Clerk of the Peace annually on 25 th March . The second Act referred to , Geo . 3 , cap . 19 , of 31 st March , 1817 , also against secret societies , is practically to the same effect ; it likewise
exempts from its penalties any " Society " ( that is " Grand Lodge " ) then holden " under the ' denomination of ¦ ' Lodges of Freemasons , " provided it carries out the rules as to registration of meetings and of members required by the former Act of 1817 . It is therefore quite clear that all subordinate bodies holden under " Societies denominated Lodges of
Freemasons , " provided such Societies existed in the year 1817 ( and which are now recognized and known as the three Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland ) , are lawful and regular bodies according to Act of Parliament . To sum up briefly , the error our correspondent has fallen into is in supposing that the Acts refer to private lodges , whereas instead of to the Societies or Grand Lodges under which the private lodges are held .
* # * OUR brethren in West Lancashire , and indeed our whole English Craft , will deeply regret to learn of the death of Bro . H . ALPASS , P . G . Std . Br ., and Provincial Grand Secretary for West Lancashire . He will be a great loss to his province and to Freemasonry . His attachment to our Order was
both active and unchanging , while his untiring zeal on behalf of the interests of his great province was most striking and commendable . Many brethren will deplore the loss of our old , and sincere , and valued friend , while the Craft mourns the passing away of a worthy , active , and high-minded brother . .. ..
* * * THE great success of the Worcester Exhibition , remarkable in itself , is a sufficient answer to those who doubted the intellectual and aesthetic tastes of English Freemasons , and will no doubt serve as a wholesome precedent for many subsequent exhibitions , and an effective incentive to greater exertions
in the same desirable direction . As a very praiseworthy " outcome " of this successful gathering , we understand that Bro . Sir EDMUND LECHMERE , Prov . Grand Master , to whom this movement is under great obli gations , has it in contemp lation to establish a Provincial Library and Museum for Worcestershire . We need not say that we shall hail such a movement as
emphatically a step in the right direction , and we trust that it will be warmly taken up by his distinguished province , and " thoroughly" carried out in the general idea . We feel sure that we are not saying too much when we add that many brethren will be glad to help such a reasonable and befitting movement with donations of books and the like ,
* * * Too much praise cannot be accorded to the untiring zeal and labour of Bro G EORGE T AYLOR . Not merely his own province , but all contributors and
the Craft , owe him many and warm thanks for a courtesy which has never failed , and at the same time heartfelt admiration for his energy and devotion amid his heavy labours , which nothing could tire and nothing could quench .
Ar00101
VVE trust that we shall not be deemed instrusive or interfering if we press upon our central authorities a more serious treatment of the intellectual claims of Freemasonry . Up to this time it may be fairly said the English Grand Lodge has done nothing in this direction to prove itself worthy of its undoubted position as the premier Grand Lodge in the
world . It has a library , but it is not worthy of its name , in relation that is to the Grand Lodge of England , and it has no museum at all . Our excellent and zealous Grand Secretary has sought , on his own initiative , to collect some " curios , " and has got together some very interesting ones . AH praise to him ! But what we want is an official acknowledgment of the
need of such collections , and a library and museum open to all Freemasons , under proper official control . The only other alternative is a private library and museum , as the result and developement of some Masonic archaeological society . It is impossible , in our opinion , to overrate the good such a movement , wisely directed and controlled , would effect in various ways , and
we should most earnestly desiderate to hail it as a " fait accompli . " Time and perseverance no doubt effect wonders , and we must wait in patience until it shall please our rulers to exhibit both their sense of the need of such additions to our wonted Masonic life , as well as their realization that English Freemasonry is something more and higher than a normal round of ritual work and social entertainment .
* * * ABOUT five years hence a grave question will come before Grand Lodge , namely , the " falling in" of the lease of BACON ' Hotel . By that time , we think , the Craft will have made up its mind whether it is to retain its head-quarters in Great
Oueenstreet , or to " make tracks , " and seek a home and centre for English Freemasonry elsewhere . Whatever be the result , we trust that to a more suitable and representative Committee it will be given to submit plans and propositions to the consideration of Grand Lodge . The haste and inconsideration with which the reports , so unanimously rejected by Grand Lodge
on the last occasion , were framed and presented , will , we hope , never be repeated ; but , on the next occasion , —not in a hurry , and not by a chance vote , by which one of our best men was erroneously excluded , —we trust and believe that Grand Lodge , after due consideration , will appoint a full and fitting Building Committee of experts to decide this most important
question . And then we hope that wherever Grand Lodge fixes its future locale , a library and museum may be found , not merely esteemed among the "desiderata" or "luxuries , " but among the necessary appendages of a new and enlarged Freemasons' Hall . We could afford to do without a " supper room ; " we could perhaps dispense with a " private means of
approach and egress ; but in the present position of Cosmopolitan and English Freemasonry we cannot afford to go on without a library and museum any longer , —that is , a library and museum suitable to the English Grand Lodge . America is setting us a laudable example in this respect . Most of the Grand Lodges are creating libraries . Pennsylvania has a good library .
Iowa , ( thanks to Bro . BOWERS collection ) an unrivalled one ; and if our piovinces are going to follow suit , the Grand Lodge of England will be compelled " nolens volens" to consider carefully this most important subject , as well for ourselves as those who come after us . Let no personal questions ,
or petty jealousies , or hesitating indifference stand in the | way of such a sound policy , such a needful work . Rather ( let us all set to work at once to prepare for the future by constant labour , by sympathetic aid , and careful collections of Masonic books , curios , and relics .
* * * OUR esteemed and able confrere , J . W . SIMONS , in the New York Dispatch , after commending very warmly and kindly some remarks of ours anent " minority rights " as arising out of some colonial movements , also says , and we beg special attention to his words : " The point made that , while a
sufficient minority to establish a lodge declines to surrender a warrant , the charter remains , is universally held in the United States , and hence the Grand Lodges of ; New South Wales and Victoria are eminently and thoroughly illegal and clandestine . " This surely , from the American point
of view , is a sufficient reply to some good friends and impugners of ours , to which we would beg them to pay Masonic attention , and when next they " discoorse " on their own rights or wrongs , or the " laches " of the Grand Lodge of England , we would fraternally ask them alike to change their tactics , and amend their vocabulary .
• • • WE call attention to a review of Bro . HUGHAN ' S ' last work elsewhere . VVe hope iit is not the last contribution by many from his pen . It will repay perusal .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS 4 2 ' United Grand Lodge 4 « Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire 423 Review 4 * 4 Freemasonry in York in the Eighteenth
Century ( Continued ) 42 4 History of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ( . Continued ) 42 S CORRESPONDENCEImportant 4 2 ? Reviews 4 ?
Notes and Queries 42 ; REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 42 ; Instruction 42 S Ancient and Accepted Rite 42 S
Interesting Masonic Ceremony 428 Masonic Ceremony in Coleraine 42 S Freemasoury and the Church 429 Obituary 429 Masonic and General Tidings 430 Lodge Meetings for Next Week Cover .
Ar00100
WF . have carefully considered the letter published in our last from " E . L . H . " questioning the legality of lodges under the Grand Lodge of England which have been founded since the year 1817 , and have consulted the two Acts of Parliament therein referred to . The result of our researches is that we have come to the conclusion that our correspondent is entirely mistaken
in his deduction , as to the purport and intention of the two Acts he quotes . The first referred to , Geo . 3 , cap . 79 , of 12 th July , 1 799 , against secret societies , specially exempts from its penalties the meetings of the " Society " denominated " Lodges of Freemasons , " which before the passing of that Act have been usually held according to their rules—provided that such "Society "
has before the passing of this Act been held as a lodge ( that is , " Grand Lodge" ) of Freemasons—and that the details of such meetings , with the names of the members , be returned to the Clerk of the Peace annually on 25 th March . The second Act referred to , Geo . 3 , cap . 19 , of 31 st March , 1817 , also against secret societies , is practically to the same effect ; it likewise
exempts from its penalties any " Society " ( that is " Grand Lodge " ) then holden " under the ' denomination of ¦ ' Lodges of Freemasons , " provided it carries out the rules as to registration of meetings and of members required by the former Act of 1817 . It is therefore quite clear that all subordinate bodies holden under " Societies denominated Lodges of
Freemasons , " provided such Societies existed in the year 1817 ( and which are now recognized and known as the three Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland ) , are lawful and regular bodies according to Act of Parliament . To sum up briefly , the error our correspondent has fallen into is in supposing that the Acts refer to private lodges , whereas instead of to the Societies or Grand Lodges under which the private lodges are held .
* # * OUR brethren in West Lancashire , and indeed our whole English Craft , will deeply regret to learn of the death of Bro . H . ALPASS , P . G . Std . Br ., and Provincial Grand Secretary for West Lancashire . He will be a great loss to his province and to Freemasonry . His attachment to our Order was
both active and unchanging , while his untiring zeal on behalf of the interests of his great province was most striking and commendable . Many brethren will deplore the loss of our old , and sincere , and valued friend , while the Craft mourns the passing away of a worthy , active , and high-minded brother . .. ..
* * * THE great success of the Worcester Exhibition , remarkable in itself , is a sufficient answer to those who doubted the intellectual and aesthetic tastes of English Freemasons , and will no doubt serve as a wholesome precedent for many subsequent exhibitions , and an effective incentive to greater exertions
in the same desirable direction . As a very praiseworthy " outcome " of this successful gathering , we understand that Bro . Sir EDMUND LECHMERE , Prov . Grand Master , to whom this movement is under great obli gations , has it in contemp lation to establish a Provincial Library and Museum for Worcestershire . We need not say that we shall hail such a movement as
emphatically a step in the right direction , and we trust that it will be warmly taken up by his distinguished province , and " thoroughly" carried out in the general idea . We feel sure that we are not saying too much when we add that many brethren will be glad to help such a reasonable and befitting movement with donations of books and the like ,
* * * Too much praise cannot be accorded to the untiring zeal and labour of Bro G EORGE T AYLOR . Not merely his own province , but all contributors and
the Craft , owe him many and warm thanks for a courtesy which has never failed , and at the same time heartfelt admiration for his energy and devotion amid his heavy labours , which nothing could tire and nothing could quench .
Ar00101
VVE trust that we shall not be deemed instrusive or interfering if we press upon our central authorities a more serious treatment of the intellectual claims of Freemasonry . Up to this time it may be fairly said the English Grand Lodge has done nothing in this direction to prove itself worthy of its undoubted position as the premier Grand Lodge in the
world . It has a library , but it is not worthy of its name , in relation that is to the Grand Lodge of England , and it has no museum at all . Our excellent and zealous Grand Secretary has sought , on his own initiative , to collect some " curios , " and has got together some very interesting ones . AH praise to him ! But what we want is an official acknowledgment of the
need of such collections , and a library and museum open to all Freemasons , under proper official control . The only other alternative is a private library and museum , as the result and developement of some Masonic archaeological society . It is impossible , in our opinion , to overrate the good such a movement , wisely directed and controlled , would effect in various ways , and
we should most earnestly desiderate to hail it as a " fait accompli . " Time and perseverance no doubt effect wonders , and we must wait in patience until it shall please our rulers to exhibit both their sense of the need of such additions to our wonted Masonic life , as well as their realization that English Freemasonry is something more and higher than a normal round of ritual work and social entertainment .
* * * ABOUT five years hence a grave question will come before Grand Lodge , namely , the " falling in" of the lease of BACON ' Hotel . By that time , we think , the Craft will have made up its mind whether it is to retain its head-quarters in Great
Oueenstreet , or to " make tracks , " and seek a home and centre for English Freemasonry elsewhere . Whatever be the result , we trust that to a more suitable and representative Committee it will be given to submit plans and propositions to the consideration of Grand Lodge . The haste and inconsideration with which the reports , so unanimously rejected by Grand Lodge
on the last occasion , were framed and presented , will , we hope , never be repeated ; but , on the next occasion , —not in a hurry , and not by a chance vote , by which one of our best men was erroneously excluded , —we trust and believe that Grand Lodge , after due consideration , will appoint a full and fitting Building Committee of experts to decide this most important
question . And then we hope that wherever Grand Lodge fixes its future locale , a library and museum may be found , not merely esteemed among the "desiderata" or "luxuries , " but among the necessary appendages of a new and enlarged Freemasons' Hall . We could afford to do without a " supper room ; " we could perhaps dispense with a " private means of
approach and egress ; but in the present position of Cosmopolitan and English Freemasonry we cannot afford to go on without a library and museum any longer , —that is , a library and museum suitable to the English Grand Lodge . America is setting us a laudable example in this respect . Most of the Grand Lodges are creating libraries . Pennsylvania has a good library .
Iowa , ( thanks to Bro . BOWERS collection ) an unrivalled one ; and if our piovinces are going to follow suit , the Grand Lodge of England will be compelled " nolens volens" to consider carefully this most important subject , as well for ourselves as those who come after us . Let no personal questions ,
or petty jealousies , or hesitating indifference stand in the | way of such a sound policy , such a needful work . Rather ( let us all set to work at once to prepare for the future by constant labour , by sympathetic aid , and careful collections of Masonic books , curios , and relics .
* * * OUR esteemed and able confrere , J . W . SIMONS , in the New York Dispatch , after commending very warmly and kindly some remarks of ours anent " minority rights " as arising out of some colonial movements , also says , and we beg special attention to his words : " The point made that , while a
sufficient minority to establish a lodge declines to surrender a warrant , the charter remains , is universally held in the United States , and hence the Grand Lodges of ; New South Wales and Victoria are eminently and thoroughly illegal and clandestine . " This surely , from the American point
of view , is a sufficient reply to some good friends and impugners of ours , to which we would beg them to pay Masonic attention , and when next they " discoorse " on their own rights or wrongs , or the " laches " of the Grand Lodge of England , we would fraternally ask them alike to change their tactics , and amend their vocabulary .
• • • WE call attention to a review of Bro . HUGHAN ' S ' last work elsewhere . VVe hope iit is not the last contribution by many from his pen . It will repay perusal .