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Original Correspondence.
threw the Empire of the West , and are now peopling , civilising , and evangelising the world . The Professor , however , has a third string to his bow ; but it will , upon being put to the test , as assuredly fail him as the other two have done . May I ask for further space to shew this ? Yours fraternally , WILLIAM CARPENTER .
THE RECOGNITION OF THE MARK GRAND LODGE .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —I notice you have inserted a letter from me to the editor of Pomeroifs Democrat , New York , and also the remarks by Bro . F . G . Tisdall , who is one of the best informed Masons in the United States . The
subject is an interesting one , viz ., the recognition of the Mark Grand Lodge , and its consideration has suggested an enquiry as to the origin and character of the Mark Master ' s degree , which Bro . Tisdall declares was formerly conferred in a Fellow Craft ' s Lodge . I have written to him for copies of the minutes , and if this degree was
really given to Fellow Crafts , and not the " Mark Man , " as I suspect , it will be for me to promptly acknowledge my error , so far as the United States are concerned . Yours fraternally . WILLIAM P . HUGHAN * . Truro , 3 rd August , 1872 .
PROVINCIAL GRAND OFFICERS .
7 b the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —Can you , or any of your numerous correspondents , inform me if a Warden in a Craft Lodge ( recently appointed ^ , and obliged to leave the Province , can , by paying up his arrears for twelve months , retain office , and at the expiration of his year of office ,
rank as a Past Warden ; and if there is any law , constitutional or otherwise , to prevent his doing so ? The highest authority on this point will oblige , Yours fraternally , J . P .
OUR CEREMONIES .
7 o the Editor oj the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —There is a quesfion I wish to ask , and if you will be kind enough to answer it in your next impression , I shall feel obliged .
The different ceremonies , & c , we pass , from initiation to a M . M ., are they ancient customs , or constituted in England in the year about 17115-18 . From a young beginner .
I beg to remain , Sir , Yours fraternally , E . J .
RENEWAL OF CHARTERS .
To the Editor of The Freemason : Dear Sir and Brother , — On the 1 st . Nov ., 1871 , the Grand Chapter , on discussing an appeal of * Comp . W . G . Laws , Z . of the De Sussex Chap ., from the decision of the Prov . G . Superintendent for Northumberland ,
held in its judicial capacity as a final Court of Appeal , that the minutes of a chapter authorising its removal previous to such being carried out , required confirmation , and it was stated in the discussion that such was required by the Committee of General purposes in similar cases in the Craft .
Is this the law , or is it not ? None' such was required on the removal of the Lodge of which I am a member . On reference to the Craft Regulations I find , Page 92 , art . 1 . "The motion being regularly proposed and seconded , the Master shall appoint a day for hearing and deciding the question . " And further on , " the majority shall
decide the question . " Nothing is here said of confirmation of minutes , nor is it , in my opinion , necessary to confirm any minutes , except where specially provided for , as in the election of Master . I takeitthe confirmation of a Lodge minutes is like that of any other minutes of a meeting , a mere affirmation to the effect that the proper entries of
Original Correspondence.
what took place have been made in the minute book . To secure this the minutes should be entered in the book at the time of meeting and confirmed before the meeting closes , as is the practice with some . If the law , in future , is to be that no resolution of a lodge or chapter shall
be acted upon without subsequent confirmation , the effect will be to create a good deal of trouble and unpleasantness . It will be open to a minority , on the confirmation of the minutes of the previous Lodge , to rescind anything then done , no matter how many voted for it , or what
precautions may have been taken to get the views of the majority of the members 011 the subject , by by summoning a special lodge or otherwise . Thus , a Lodge of sixty , specially called together to consider some particular matter may have , by a vote of fifty to ten , determined " yea , "
but on the confirmation of the minutes at the next Lodge the minority of ten , having kept secret their intention , and finding themselves by chance in the majority , may , by rejecting the minutes , virtually make the Lodge vote " nay , " and this is not an improbable case , for large
musters can be got in Lodges on particular occasions , whilst small musters are the rule , especially in country Lodges , and it must be remembered that the notice of the meeting at which the minutes would be confirmed , would contain no special notice of the subjects discussed and voted on at the previous meeting , and requiring
t-erillll 11 UIL 1 U 11 . It is a pity Comp . Strachan , when moving the rejection of the part of Grand Chap , minutes referring to this matter , did not instead move a law to the effect that , except when confirmation of minutes is exnresslv enactedno such shrmid
, in general be requisite . A previous notice of his motion , however , would of course have been requisite . X . Hull , Aug . 6 th , 1 S 72 .
Obituary.
Obituary .
BRO . AUGUSTUS SMITH , The eldest son of the late John Smith , Esq , of Ashlims , Herts , by Mary , eldest daughter of Augustus Pechell , Esq , Receiver-General of Customs , was born 1804 , and educated at Harrow and Christ Church , Oxford , where he graduated
B . A ., in 1826 . A magistrate for the counties of Herts , Bucks , and Cornwall , and a Deputy-Lieutenant for Herts ' , this gentleman belonged to an elder branch of the same very numerous family of Smith , which for a long period flourished as yeomen in Nottinghamshire , antl
subsequently rose to wealth and importance , soon after the civil wars , as bankers at Nottingham . That establishment still exists as the oldest provincial bank in the kingdom under the same name , and a branch of the same family , being identical with that of Smith , Payne , and Smiths in
London . The families of Sir Robert Bromley , formerl y Smith , Lord Carrington , and numerous others , still bearing the name of Smith , are all lineall y derived from the same stock . In early life the subject of this memoir first applied himself to public business by taking an
active part 111 the administration of the Poor Laws , previous to the passing of the new Poor Law , and acted as the first chairman of the Berkhamstead Union . From that post he retired , in consequence of his not finding himself supported by other landowners in those ameliorating
measures for the improvement of the labouring classes which he always contended ought to accompany the restrictions on indiscriminate relief , affected by the new Poor Law ; of these , he considered a system of industrial education to be the most essential , and the objections to which
he vainly endeavoured to meet b y a pamphlet entitled " ( Apology for Parochial Education on Comprehensive Princi ples . " This made some local stir at the time , and advocated a system which is in part now attempted to be carried out by wjiat are called the " Conscience Clauses . "
After the passing of the Reform Bill , which gave thecotinty of Hertford three membersjie was invited by a large requisition , without any asking on his part , to come forward as the thire candi-
Obituary.
date for the county , but circumstances at the time did not allow of his availing himself of this early opportunity of entering parliament . The next work of public utility undertaken by this gentleman was the opening of King Edward VI . ' s Grammar School at Great Berkhamstead
which had for more than a century been closed as a place of education . Its revenues , from the year 1735 , had been in a chronic state of litigation , under the care of the Court of Chancery , through which , and the sinecure salaries of the master and usher , its whole receipts were annually
absorbed . After several years' active prosecution of law proceedings , a decree was issued by Lord Chancellor Cottonham , in 1 S 41 , by which a scheme was sanctioned thereby , securing the teaching of grammar freely , according to the words of the original foundation , in conjunction with a general course of useful English
instruction . Bro . Augustus Smith ' s connection with the county of Cornwall began in 1834 , when he became lessee on " ' lives" for the Islands of
Scilly , under the Duchy of Cornwall , since which period he has been a constant resident there , personally engaged in and responsible for the various measures carried out for the irnprovment of the property , and the population inhabiting the same , which have resulted in great permanent and important changes , for the benefit of all concerned .
In 1852 he was invited to fi ght the battle for the Liberal party in the borough of Truro , which he only lost by some half-dozen votes , through certain support being withheld by a leading interest . In the two succeeding Parliaments , he , however , represented the borough in the
Commons . In Ins political course he has proved himself a steady and constant supporter of the Liberal cause , independent of mere party and ministerial considerations , and has always contended , as a practical reformer , that it is of far more importance to correct the mismanagements and
extravagance so prevalent in the various departments of the Executive Government , rather than encourage any speculative alterations of a doubtful and experimental tendency on the British Constitution . At the resignation of Sir Charles Lemon , in i 8 < 6 , as President of the
Royal Geological Society of Cornwall , he was selected as his successor , and continued to act in that honourable capacity until 186 4 , when he resigned . He was elected President of the Royal Institution of Cornwall , at its forty-fifth annual general meeting , on the 23 rd Nov . 1863 , and
with considerable zeal and ability discharged its important duties . He also , in his addresses to the institution , brought to their notice various subjects of a scientific character , particularly in relation to meteorology and ethnology , evincing much exactness and intelligence during his term
of office , which expired in Nov . iSrja . The R . W . Brother Augustus Smith , Provincial Grand Master for Cornwall , has long been a member of the craft , having been initiated as long ago as 1832 , in the Watford Lodge , No 404 ( late <; 8 o ) , where he was also raised to the
sublime degree of a M . M . on the 4 th Nov ., 18 34 . On the 17 th of Jan . 1853 , he became a member of the Phoenix Lodge , Truro , to the chair of which he was advanced and installed on the 19 th January , 1 S 57 . His first appearance in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall was in 18154 ,
at Callington , on which occasion he was nominated to the office of Provincial Senior Grand Warden , by the Prov . G . M ., R . W . Bro . Sir Charles Lemon , which office he was again called on to fill at the annual festival , the next year , at St Austell , the last occasion on which Sir
Charles Lemon in person , presided as Grand Master . In the following year , he was duly installed at Helston as D . P . G . M ., since which he was presided over all the meetings of the craft in Cornwall , viz ., at Truro , in 1857 ; Liskeard , 1858 ; Chacewater , 1859 ; Launceston , i 860 ; Penzance , 1861 ; and at Lostwithiel , in
1862 . On the resignation of Sir Charles Lemon , in 1863 , Mr Augustus Smith was installed as his successor at Truro , to the high office of Provincial Grand Master , bv the R . W . Brother the Rev J ohn Huyshe , M . A ., P . G . C , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire , in the presence of the largest number of brethren ever assembled together in the province , who thus
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
threw the Empire of the West , and are now peopling , civilising , and evangelising the world . The Professor , however , has a third string to his bow ; but it will , upon being put to the test , as assuredly fail him as the other two have done . May I ask for further space to shew this ? Yours fraternally , WILLIAM CARPENTER .
THE RECOGNITION OF THE MARK GRAND LODGE .
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —I notice you have inserted a letter from me to the editor of Pomeroifs Democrat , New York , and also the remarks by Bro . F . G . Tisdall , who is one of the best informed Masons in the United States . The
subject is an interesting one , viz ., the recognition of the Mark Grand Lodge , and its consideration has suggested an enquiry as to the origin and character of the Mark Master ' s degree , which Bro . Tisdall declares was formerly conferred in a Fellow Craft ' s Lodge . I have written to him for copies of the minutes , and if this degree was
really given to Fellow Crafts , and not the " Mark Man , " as I suspect , it will be for me to promptly acknowledge my error , so far as the United States are concerned . Yours fraternally . WILLIAM P . HUGHAN * . Truro , 3 rd August , 1872 .
PROVINCIAL GRAND OFFICERS .
7 b the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —Can you , or any of your numerous correspondents , inform me if a Warden in a Craft Lodge ( recently appointed ^ , and obliged to leave the Province , can , by paying up his arrears for twelve months , retain office , and at the expiration of his year of office ,
rank as a Past Warden ; and if there is any law , constitutional or otherwise , to prevent his doing so ? The highest authority on this point will oblige , Yours fraternally , J . P .
OUR CEREMONIES .
7 o the Editor oj the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —There is a quesfion I wish to ask , and if you will be kind enough to answer it in your next impression , I shall feel obliged .
The different ceremonies , & c , we pass , from initiation to a M . M ., are they ancient customs , or constituted in England in the year about 17115-18 . From a young beginner .
I beg to remain , Sir , Yours fraternally , E . J .
RENEWAL OF CHARTERS .
To the Editor of The Freemason : Dear Sir and Brother , — On the 1 st . Nov ., 1871 , the Grand Chapter , on discussing an appeal of * Comp . W . G . Laws , Z . of the De Sussex Chap ., from the decision of the Prov . G . Superintendent for Northumberland ,
held in its judicial capacity as a final Court of Appeal , that the minutes of a chapter authorising its removal previous to such being carried out , required confirmation , and it was stated in the discussion that such was required by the Committee of General purposes in similar cases in the Craft .
Is this the law , or is it not ? None' such was required on the removal of the Lodge of which I am a member . On reference to the Craft Regulations I find , Page 92 , art . 1 . "The motion being regularly proposed and seconded , the Master shall appoint a day for hearing and deciding the question . " And further on , " the majority shall
decide the question . " Nothing is here said of confirmation of minutes , nor is it , in my opinion , necessary to confirm any minutes , except where specially provided for , as in the election of Master . I takeitthe confirmation of a Lodge minutes is like that of any other minutes of a meeting , a mere affirmation to the effect that the proper entries of
Original Correspondence.
what took place have been made in the minute book . To secure this the minutes should be entered in the book at the time of meeting and confirmed before the meeting closes , as is the practice with some . If the law , in future , is to be that no resolution of a lodge or chapter shall
be acted upon without subsequent confirmation , the effect will be to create a good deal of trouble and unpleasantness . It will be open to a minority , on the confirmation of the minutes of the previous Lodge , to rescind anything then done , no matter how many voted for it , or what
precautions may have been taken to get the views of the majority of the members 011 the subject , by by summoning a special lodge or otherwise . Thus , a Lodge of sixty , specially called together to consider some particular matter may have , by a vote of fifty to ten , determined " yea , "
but on the confirmation of the minutes at the next Lodge the minority of ten , having kept secret their intention , and finding themselves by chance in the majority , may , by rejecting the minutes , virtually make the Lodge vote " nay , " and this is not an improbable case , for large
musters can be got in Lodges on particular occasions , whilst small musters are the rule , especially in country Lodges , and it must be remembered that the notice of the meeting at which the minutes would be confirmed , would contain no special notice of the subjects discussed and voted on at the previous meeting , and requiring
t-erillll 11 UIL 1 U 11 . It is a pity Comp . Strachan , when moving the rejection of the part of Grand Chap , minutes referring to this matter , did not instead move a law to the effect that , except when confirmation of minutes is exnresslv enactedno such shrmid
, in general be requisite . A previous notice of his motion , however , would of course have been requisite . X . Hull , Aug . 6 th , 1 S 72 .
Obituary.
Obituary .
BRO . AUGUSTUS SMITH , The eldest son of the late John Smith , Esq , of Ashlims , Herts , by Mary , eldest daughter of Augustus Pechell , Esq , Receiver-General of Customs , was born 1804 , and educated at Harrow and Christ Church , Oxford , where he graduated
B . A ., in 1826 . A magistrate for the counties of Herts , Bucks , and Cornwall , and a Deputy-Lieutenant for Herts ' , this gentleman belonged to an elder branch of the same very numerous family of Smith , which for a long period flourished as yeomen in Nottinghamshire , antl
subsequently rose to wealth and importance , soon after the civil wars , as bankers at Nottingham . That establishment still exists as the oldest provincial bank in the kingdom under the same name , and a branch of the same family , being identical with that of Smith , Payne , and Smiths in
London . The families of Sir Robert Bromley , formerl y Smith , Lord Carrington , and numerous others , still bearing the name of Smith , are all lineall y derived from the same stock . In early life the subject of this memoir first applied himself to public business by taking an
active part 111 the administration of the Poor Laws , previous to the passing of the new Poor Law , and acted as the first chairman of the Berkhamstead Union . From that post he retired , in consequence of his not finding himself supported by other landowners in those ameliorating
measures for the improvement of the labouring classes which he always contended ought to accompany the restrictions on indiscriminate relief , affected by the new Poor Law ; of these , he considered a system of industrial education to be the most essential , and the objections to which
he vainly endeavoured to meet b y a pamphlet entitled " ( Apology for Parochial Education on Comprehensive Princi ples . " This made some local stir at the time , and advocated a system which is in part now attempted to be carried out by wjiat are called the " Conscience Clauses . "
After the passing of the Reform Bill , which gave thecotinty of Hertford three membersjie was invited by a large requisition , without any asking on his part , to come forward as the thire candi-
Obituary.
date for the county , but circumstances at the time did not allow of his availing himself of this early opportunity of entering parliament . The next work of public utility undertaken by this gentleman was the opening of King Edward VI . ' s Grammar School at Great Berkhamstead
which had for more than a century been closed as a place of education . Its revenues , from the year 1735 , had been in a chronic state of litigation , under the care of the Court of Chancery , through which , and the sinecure salaries of the master and usher , its whole receipts were annually
absorbed . After several years' active prosecution of law proceedings , a decree was issued by Lord Chancellor Cottonham , in 1 S 41 , by which a scheme was sanctioned thereby , securing the teaching of grammar freely , according to the words of the original foundation , in conjunction with a general course of useful English
instruction . Bro . Augustus Smith ' s connection with the county of Cornwall began in 1834 , when he became lessee on " ' lives" for the Islands of
Scilly , under the Duchy of Cornwall , since which period he has been a constant resident there , personally engaged in and responsible for the various measures carried out for the irnprovment of the property , and the population inhabiting the same , which have resulted in great permanent and important changes , for the benefit of all concerned .
In 1852 he was invited to fi ght the battle for the Liberal party in the borough of Truro , which he only lost by some half-dozen votes , through certain support being withheld by a leading interest . In the two succeeding Parliaments , he , however , represented the borough in the
Commons . In Ins political course he has proved himself a steady and constant supporter of the Liberal cause , independent of mere party and ministerial considerations , and has always contended , as a practical reformer , that it is of far more importance to correct the mismanagements and
extravagance so prevalent in the various departments of the Executive Government , rather than encourage any speculative alterations of a doubtful and experimental tendency on the British Constitution . At the resignation of Sir Charles Lemon , in i 8 < 6 , as President of the
Royal Geological Society of Cornwall , he was selected as his successor , and continued to act in that honourable capacity until 186 4 , when he resigned . He was elected President of the Royal Institution of Cornwall , at its forty-fifth annual general meeting , on the 23 rd Nov . 1863 , and
with considerable zeal and ability discharged its important duties . He also , in his addresses to the institution , brought to their notice various subjects of a scientific character , particularly in relation to meteorology and ethnology , evincing much exactness and intelligence during his term
of office , which expired in Nov . iSrja . The R . W . Brother Augustus Smith , Provincial Grand Master for Cornwall , has long been a member of the craft , having been initiated as long ago as 1832 , in the Watford Lodge , No 404 ( late <; 8 o ) , where he was also raised to the
sublime degree of a M . M . on the 4 th Nov ., 18 34 . On the 17 th of Jan . 1853 , he became a member of the Phoenix Lodge , Truro , to the chair of which he was advanced and installed on the 19 th January , 1 S 57 . His first appearance in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall was in 18154 ,
at Callington , on which occasion he was nominated to the office of Provincial Senior Grand Warden , by the Prov . G . M ., R . W . Bro . Sir Charles Lemon , which office he was again called on to fill at the annual festival , the next year , at St Austell , the last occasion on which Sir
Charles Lemon in person , presided as Grand Master . In the following year , he was duly installed at Helston as D . P . G . M ., since which he was presided over all the meetings of the craft in Cornwall , viz ., at Truro , in 1857 ; Liskeard , 1858 ; Chacewater , 1859 ; Launceston , i 860 ; Penzance , 1861 ; and at Lostwithiel , in
1862 . On the resignation of Sir Charles Lemon , in 1863 , Mr Augustus Smith was installed as his successor at Truro , to the high office of Provincial Grand Master , bv the R . W . Brother the Rev J ohn Huyshe , M . A ., P . G . C , Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire , in the presence of the largest number of brethren ever assembled together in the province , who thus