Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS ; r : S 91 Provincial Grand [ . ridge of Devon 392 Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall 393 Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire and Isle of Wight 39 ) French Freemasonry Fifty Years Ago—No . II ... 39 *
Consecration of the Royal Forest of Dean Mark Lodge , No . 340 39 J Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 393 History * of the Royal Masonic Institution for Bovs ( Cttntiiiiieil ) ' 395
. CoRRESI'OXnEXCEWest Yorkshire 397 Position of a P . M 397 Deserving Case . ' 397
r- . ORRF . spox'riEXCE ( Continued)—Provincial Clothing 397 The Grand Lodge of Ouebec 397 Reviews 397 - Notes and Queries 397 ' llro . Gould ' s Masonic History ' . 39 S Trip in Aid of the -West Lancashire
Masonic Chanties ; ,. 39 R REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry r . ' . 39 S Instruction . ¦ 39 S China ' . 39 s '
' Queensland 399 Obituary ' . 399 Masonic and General Tidings ... ' . „ ... 400 Lodge Meetings for Next Week Cover .
Ar00100
A CONTRARY opinion , on very high authority , having been expressed to us , relative to the wearing of Provincial clothing , and especially in reference to what wesaid last week in answer to a query , we think it right to observe to-• day that , according to the Book of Constitutions , there seems to be no actual limitation ' as to wearing Provincial clothing . We thought that by using the
word " member of a Provincial Grand Lodge , & c , '' the Book of Constitutions wished to limit the wearing-of such Provincial clothing to the actual . subscribing members of a lodge in the province ; in fact , bona-fide members . of the Provincial Grand Lodge . But , as this limitation is not distinctly ¦
expressed in so many words in . the Book of Constitutions , the wider interpretation must be accepted and must prevail . We therefore cancel our reply to our correspondent last week , for fear of misleading any of our readers .
WE regret exceedingly to have to announce to the Craft the decease of our esteemed-, distinguished , ' and much lamented Bro . Sir ERASMUS WILSON ' . By the Order and by his brethren , especially his old friends of "Antiquity , " he will be much missed and long remembered with the sincerest feelings of regard and affection . But Bro . Sir ERASMUS WILSON was no ordinary
individuality . Purely a self-made man , he was distinguished by his power of mind , his warm-hearted sympathies , and his unselfish , benevolence . He has indeed most thoroughly endeavoured to use a large fortune for the
noblest of purposes , patriotic duty , and the welfare of mankind ; and no more earnest and loyal benefactor of his race can well be named or found than him whose loss we . chronicle and deplore fraternally and honestly to-dav .
* * * . ALL our readers , wherever they be , will have read the announcement of Bro . Buss ' s intended resignation in our last with very sincere regret , He has been so long identified with the head-quarters of our English Freemasonry and for so many years connected with the office and Craft he has filled and
served so well , that his loss to the ofhcialty is a very seVious one indeed . Bro . Buss will both be difficult to replace and hard to follow . Few if any , are so well versed in the routine of his office and the earlier traditions of the Order . Indeed , in many ways his acquaintance with matters : of Masonic . detail and usage is alike unequalled and unrivalled . Heavy , as his work
often is in the office he has always been ready . to impart his invaluable information to others , and many brethren can bear grateful testimony to . his unfailing patience and . courtesy the great assistance he has . afforded to anxious querists about this and that . Bro . Buss has been for some time somewhat complaining , and , wise in his generation , seeks for
what may be a great " solatium" to him , —rest from official worry and work . We trust that , relieved from onerous duties and serious responsibilities , he may yet enjoy his " otium cum dignitate" for many good years to
come ; He leaves an office where he will be inost difficult to replace with the earnest good wishes of countless friends and of a grateful brotherhood . Grand Lodge will , no doubt , duly testify , its warm appreciation of his long , faithful , and meritorious services to our great Order . .
* * OUR good friend the Editor of the Philadel phia Keystone gallantly returns to the charge about wooden legs , & rc . He evidently looks upon us as " lax brethren , " those on whom the " blight of an innovating and revolutionary epoch has fallen . " We , on our side , still " stick to our text . " We think
the old charges on the subject obsolete , for there-is no law . The old charges are only read for " information , " and the English Grand Lodge has . ho law on the subject . We have known in our Masonic experience several one-armed Masons , one-legged Masons , and we think that the question is ' one for each lodge simply of common sense . There are always " candidates and candidates ; " but we confess we should never think of excluding
Ar00101
a candidate for a mere bodily defect if . his personal character and personal ' position were such as seemed to satisfy the exigencies of Freemasonry on the one hand , and the lodge bye-laws , on the other . If . the Editor of the Keystone is right in his views , no person with any bodily defect , on the old Guild laws , can be initiated . Surely ho proves and advances too much , and
destroys his own proposition , If such argument is sound , no one with the slightest corporal defect can be admitted into a lodge , and wc confess it does seem strange to us to hear our able and distinguished confrere in America in 188 4 invoking the regulations of Speculative Guilds in 1300 " ct seq . " We cannot pretend to lay'down , even to gratify our good friend by
telling him " how much of a man is to be natural " in order to justify his initiation in England ; but this we can certainly say , —that in Freemnsonry , as in other things , it is never good to yield us to the cltwds of sentiment and linrealism , but it is our wont in England , —and long mav it be so , —to guide us by the laws of practical real it ) ' and common sense . There is . in adherence to ancient formula ; which to us savours of superstition !
* THE editor of the New York Dispatch kindly alludes to our remarks anent the ladies at our recreation banquets , and then cleverly introduces the questions of "Freemason installations , and the like . " Now our difficulty always is and has been , where is the " line of demarcation to be drawn ' : "
What part of our ritual is " esoteric , . what part " exoteric" ? Are the " charges " in the installation ceremony equally for members and the outside world ! Where arc we- to stop when we once touch the normal cerc » monial r There have been occasions in England no dotibt , in the last century especially , vyhere oratorios were performed , and musical
interludesgiven at'the consecration of halls , Sec ., but then they preceded or followed the Masonic ceremonial , from which non-Masons were rigorously excluded . We do not see our way , we cohfess , to public admittances for Masonic ceremonials , and though in America it may be deemed advisable in some parts
thus to innovate on the old and imposing customs of our Order , we doubt , very much whether any such idsa is favoured , therefore , in England . We are , indeed , glad to think that our recreation banquets are graced by the presence of the ladies , but we cannot be induced , therefore , even by Bro , SIMOX ' S silvery words , to say more , or to go further ,
*»* A . FRESH batch of correspondence , as will be seen also in our review else * where , is now before us , as regards the interminable question of the Ouebec Grand Lodge and the English Mark Grand Lodge , and whatever else our good brethren are in Quebec , to our English notions they are
certainly awfully "long winded , ' When , for instance , you have waded through these twenty-four-pages of correspondence , as published by the Grand Chapter of Quebec , you find that every thing essential might have been said in one , that the whole subject is woefully spun out , and that , after all , it is " much ado about nothing , " a " tempest in a tea £ iip . " We really
begin to wish that Freemasonry was something more than a more exercize of dialectic skill or controversial energy , especially in this hot weather . Such letters as these try the nerves and affect the temper : We think it right to say , after reading various communications , & c , that we deem the position of the Mark' Grand Lodge is both legal and Masonic in Canada
We do not shut our eyes to the apparently hasty issue of new warrants ; but on the whole , taking all the facts of the case into consideration , we are . ourselves not prepared to impugn the legality or even the propriety of these proceedings . For be it remembered how the matter stands , " Ex confesso . '' The Quebec Freemasons are all now under the penalties of a-Secrot
Societies Act . They are , as far as Masonic law is ' truly concerned , a " caput mortuum , " a "dormant jurisdiction , " until ' made legal as before the law by a retrospective or enabling Act . We must not shut out this grave truth , for momentous issues rest upon this very reality . The universal law of Free- masonry is—that Freemasons , if forbidden by the laws of . the land , ca ' nnot
legally meet . It may be very hard for the Quebec Freemasons ; but the answer is plain , " obtain what the Grand Lodge of Canada had to do—a legalizing Act . " And then , " ex converso , " the truth is also' clear that the position of the English Freemasons in Ouebec is unimpeachable ; they are Masonically and legally lawful , witlv the' " best titie in the world . " '
We have never concealed in these pages the extreme disfavour with which we regard the very modern arrangement in America and Canada of including the " Mark" in the " Arch . " It is 'to our mind such an absurdity that we cannot understand any one clinging to such an obviouslv
unsuitable and ill-dejested an arrangement . The English Masons in Ouebec have by the Act ol Union an absolute right to the English system in its own full form . Tlmy are , therefore , entitled to their Royal Arch Chapter , and as the complement of Craft Masonry , remembering that the authorities of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Contents.
CONTENTS .
LEADERS ; r : S 91 Provincial Grand [ . ridge of Devon 392 Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall 393 Provincial Grand Lodge of Hampshire and Isle of Wight 39 ) French Freemasonry Fifty Years Ago—No . II ... 39 *
Consecration of the Royal Forest of Dean Mark Lodge , No . 340 39 J Royal Masonic Institution for Boys 393 History * of the Royal Masonic Institution for Bovs ( Cttntiiiiieil ) ' 395
. CoRRESI'OXnEXCEWest Yorkshire 397 Position of a P . M 397 Deserving Case . ' 397
r- . ORRF . spox'riEXCE ( Continued)—Provincial Clothing 397 The Grand Lodge of Ouebec 397 Reviews 397 - Notes and Queries 397 ' llro . Gould ' s Masonic History ' . 39 S Trip in Aid of the -West Lancashire
Masonic Chanties ; ,. 39 R REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry r . ' . 39 S Instruction . ¦ 39 S China ' . 39 s '
' Queensland 399 Obituary ' . 399 Masonic and General Tidings ... ' . „ ... 400 Lodge Meetings for Next Week Cover .
Ar00100
A CONTRARY opinion , on very high authority , having been expressed to us , relative to the wearing of Provincial clothing , and especially in reference to what wesaid last week in answer to a query , we think it right to observe to-• day that , according to the Book of Constitutions , there seems to be no actual limitation ' as to wearing Provincial clothing . We thought that by using the
word " member of a Provincial Grand Lodge , & c , '' the Book of Constitutions wished to limit the wearing-of such Provincial clothing to the actual . subscribing members of a lodge in the province ; in fact , bona-fide members . of the Provincial Grand Lodge . But , as this limitation is not distinctly ¦
expressed in so many words in . the Book of Constitutions , the wider interpretation must be accepted and must prevail . We therefore cancel our reply to our correspondent last week , for fear of misleading any of our readers .
WE regret exceedingly to have to announce to the Craft the decease of our esteemed-, distinguished , ' and much lamented Bro . Sir ERASMUS WILSON ' . By the Order and by his brethren , especially his old friends of "Antiquity , " he will be much missed and long remembered with the sincerest feelings of regard and affection . But Bro . Sir ERASMUS WILSON was no ordinary
individuality . Purely a self-made man , he was distinguished by his power of mind , his warm-hearted sympathies , and his unselfish , benevolence . He has indeed most thoroughly endeavoured to use a large fortune for the
noblest of purposes , patriotic duty , and the welfare of mankind ; and no more earnest and loyal benefactor of his race can well be named or found than him whose loss we . chronicle and deplore fraternally and honestly to-dav .
* * * . ALL our readers , wherever they be , will have read the announcement of Bro . Buss ' s intended resignation in our last with very sincere regret , He has been so long identified with the head-quarters of our English Freemasonry and for so many years connected with the office and Craft he has filled and
served so well , that his loss to the ofhcialty is a very seVious one indeed . Bro . Buss will both be difficult to replace and hard to follow . Few if any , are so well versed in the routine of his office and the earlier traditions of the Order . Indeed , in many ways his acquaintance with matters : of Masonic . detail and usage is alike unequalled and unrivalled . Heavy , as his work
often is in the office he has always been ready . to impart his invaluable information to others , and many brethren can bear grateful testimony to . his unfailing patience and . courtesy the great assistance he has . afforded to anxious querists about this and that . Bro . Buss has been for some time somewhat complaining , and , wise in his generation , seeks for
what may be a great " solatium" to him , —rest from official worry and work . We trust that , relieved from onerous duties and serious responsibilities , he may yet enjoy his " otium cum dignitate" for many good years to
come ; He leaves an office where he will be inost difficult to replace with the earnest good wishes of countless friends and of a grateful brotherhood . Grand Lodge will , no doubt , duly testify , its warm appreciation of his long , faithful , and meritorious services to our great Order . .
* * OUR good friend the Editor of the Philadel phia Keystone gallantly returns to the charge about wooden legs , & rc . He evidently looks upon us as " lax brethren , " those on whom the " blight of an innovating and revolutionary epoch has fallen . " We , on our side , still " stick to our text . " We think
the old charges on the subject obsolete , for there-is no law . The old charges are only read for " information , " and the English Grand Lodge has . ho law on the subject . We have known in our Masonic experience several one-armed Masons , one-legged Masons , and we think that the question is ' one for each lodge simply of common sense . There are always " candidates and candidates ; " but we confess we should never think of excluding
Ar00101
a candidate for a mere bodily defect if . his personal character and personal ' position were such as seemed to satisfy the exigencies of Freemasonry on the one hand , and the lodge bye-laws , on the other . If . the Editor of the Keystone is right in his views , no person with any bodily defect , on the old Guild laws , can be initiated . Surely ho proves and advances too much , and
destroys his own proposition , If such argument is sound , no one with the slightest corporal defect can be admitted into a lodge , and wc confess it does seem strange to us to hear our able and distinguished confrere in America in 188 4 invoking the regulations of Speculative Guilds in 1300 " ct seq . " We cannot pretend to lay'down , even to gratify our good friend by
telling him " how much of a man is to be natural " in order to justify his initiation in England ; but this we can certainly say , —that in Freemnsonry , as in other things , it is never good to yield us to the cltwds of sentiment and linrealism , but it is our wont in England , —and long mav it be so , —to guide us by the laws of practical real it ) ' and common sense . There is . in adherence to ancient formula ; which to us savours of superstition !
* THE editor of the New York Dispatch kindly alludes to our remarks anent the ladies at our recreation banquets , and then cleverly introduces the questions of "Freemason installations , and the like . " Now our difficulty always is and has been , where is the " line of demarcation to be drawn ' : "
What part of our ritual is " esoteric , . what part " exoteric" ? Are the " charges " in the installation ceremony equally for members and the outside world ! Where arc we- to stop when we once touch the normal cerc » monial r There have been occasions in England no dotibt , in the last century especially , vyhere oratorios were performed , and musical
interludesgiven at'the consecration of halls , Sec ., but then they preceded or followed the Masonic ceremonial , from which non-Masons were rigorously excluded . We do not see our way , we cohfess , to public admittances for Masonic ceremonials , and though in America it may be deemed advisable in some parts
thus to innovate on the old and imposing customs of our Order , we doubt , very much whether any such idsa is favoured , therefore , in England . We are , indeed , glad to think that our recreation banquets are graced by the presence of the ladies , but we cannot be induced , therefore , even by Bro , SIMOX ' S silvery words , to say more , or to go further ,
*»* A . FRESH batch of correspondence , as will be seen also in our review else * where , is now before us , as regards the interminable question of the Ouebec Grand Lodge and the English Mark Grand Lodge , and whatever else our good brethren are in Quebec , to our English notions they are
certainly awfully "long winded , ' When , for instance , you have waded through these twenty-four-pages of correspondence , as published by the Grand Chapter of Quebec , you find that every thing essential might have been said in one , that the whole subject is woefully spun out , and that , after all , it is " much ado about nothing , " a " tempest in a tea £ iip . " We really
begin to wish that Freemasonry was something more than a more exercize of dialectic skill or controversial energy , especially in this hot weather . Such letters as these try the nerves and affect the temper : We think it right to say , after reading various communications , & c , that we deem the position of the Mark' Grand Lodge is both legal and Masonic in Canada
We do not shut our eyes to the apparently hasty issue of new warrants ; but on the whole , taking all the facts of the case into consideration , we are . ourselves not prepared to impugn the legality or even the propriety of these proceedings . For be it remembered how the matter stands , " Ex confesso . '' The Quebec Freemasons are all now under the penalties of a-Secrot
Societies Act . They are , as far as Masonic law is ' truly concerned , a " caput mortuum , " a "dormant jurisdiction , " until ' made legal as before the law by a retrospective or enabling Act . We must not shut out this grave truth , for momentous issues rest upon this very reality . The universal law of Free- masonry is—that Freemasons , if forbidden by the laws of . the land , ca ' nnot
legally meet . It may be very hard for the Quebec Freemasons ; but the answer is plain , " obtain what the Grand Lodge of Canada had to do—a legalizing Act . " And then , " ex converso , " the truth is also' clear that the position of the English Freemasons in Ouebec is unimpeachable ; they are Masonically and legally lawful , witlv the' " best titie in the world . " '
We have never concealed in these pages the extreme disfavour with which we regard the very modern arrangement in America and Canada of including the " Mark" in the " Arch . " It is 'to our mind such an absurdity that we cannot understand any one clinging to such an obviouslv
unsuitable and ill-dejested an arrangement . The English Masons in Ouebec have by the Act ol Union an absolute right to the English system in its own full form . Tlmy are , therefore , entitled to their Royal Arch Chapter , and as the complement of Craft Masonry , remembering that the authorities of