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Article Original Correspondence. ← Page 3 of 3 Article Original Correspondence. Page 3 of 3 Article THE NEW WORK STYLED "VERITAS." Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I feel much disappointed in not hearing of or seeing a protest or letter from the Senior
Provincial Grand Officer , residing in these towns , respecting the unchristianlike conduct of Mr . Cuffe in refusing to pay the last sad office to a worthy soldier ( who was also a worthy Freemason ) .
I , as an humble individual , a Catholic of Christ ' s Holy Apostolic Church , do denounce Father Cuffe as being unworthy to act in any way for the welfare of the flock entrusted to his keeping . I feel such conduct would not have dared to
be shown by him under any other circumstances so pressing . Had this refusal been known by the members of the Craft , there is no doubt the Grand Lodge would have taken immediate steps to have had the funeral rites respectfully completed to a much loved brother . Great credit
is due to the Christian minister who performed the burial ceremony at a moment ' s notice . As a Freemason , I will ask Mr . Cuffe , " What he will do when he is called upon to perform Mass for the repose of the soul of His Holiness , the Pope ? " It is a well-known fact that the
Pope is a Mason , and none the worse for it . Respecting Mr . Cuffe's letter to the Times , " What does he know , or how can he know about Freemasonry ? " It shows his narrowness of mind and simplicity of those grand principles which he ought to know , and if known , forgets
to teach—Brotherly love , kindness , hope , and charity . I shall be pleased to contribute a guinea towards a fund to defray the expenses , that this case may be at once laid before His Royal Highness , the Commander-in-Chief , who is the
soldier's friend , and who will most assuredly see that justice is done , for without doubt Mr . Cuffe has most deservedly brought upon himself the odium of the British army . He receives his pay from the State , and his duty is to teach and to inculcate the principles of kindness , love , and
charity to those who are entrusted to his care . I most fervently hope that the military brethren will at once take such steps as may be legal , and show their confreres that the conduct of Mr . Cuffe cannot be tolerated . His contumacy should be at once resented , for as a Roman
Catholic priest , he is entirely unfitted for that office , or as a Chaplain , and ought at once be turned out of the army with disgrace . If the most eminent men of the present age do not feel it derogatory to use the Trowel , is it not daring insolence and cool effrontery on the
part of Mr . Cuffe to refuse to do what he is actually paid for as a servant ? If Mr . Gladstone ' s Government feel satisfied with Mr . Cuffe's conduct , I most sincerely hope that Mr . Disraeli ' s Government will take a different view of the case , and through the proper
authorities cause an inquiry at once to be made , which will not only satisfy tho friends of the deceased , brethren of the Roman Catholic persuasion , but members of the Craft in general . I am , Sir , Your obedient servant , Feb . 24 , 1874 . CHARITY .
OUR MASONIC CHARITIES . To the Editor of t / ic Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In your excellent leader on the above subject in last Saturday's Freemason , you asked the pertinent question , " How can we make the support of our great charities more general and
more regular in our order ? " Your assertion that they are not sufficiently known and advertised must be acknowledged by all who examine the subject in the most cursory manner , and if the money spent in advertising in non-Masonic journal were partially spent
m making known the claims of our various charities , through the recognised organs of the Craft , a better knowledge of these institutions would prevail amongst us , and a subscription list increasing year by year would be the result . All our charities stand much in need of assistance in the shape of increased annual or
Original Correspondence.
other subscriptions . There is a great need for a scheme that would collect amounts ( in many cases in smaller sums than one guinea ) from the very large number of the brethren who do not subscribe . No doubt there are very many of these brethren who , without any detriment to
themselves or connections , could subscribe largely , and materially assist our charities . There are also , it must be admitted , many who though filling a respectable position in life , yet hardly feel justified , considering the many claims they have daily upon their purses , in
subscribing the minimum amount required to appear on the subscription lists as individual donors or annual subscribers , hut the great majority of whom would subscribe a small sum annually in support of one or all ofthe Masonic charities . Within a recent period a sum of
, £ ro ios ., and a further sum of £ 1 $ 15 s . was readily raised in my own lodge in this manner . In the latter case a worthy Past Master ( who desired his name to be kept secret ) giving £$ 5 s . additional on condition that the other members subscribed jQ \ $ 5 s . An appeal was
made , and the amount was quickly raised , principally in sums of five and ten shillings each . Could not the managers of our charities devise and carry out some scheme by which an annual appeal could be made to every member of our craft for a subscription , be it ever so small ? A
joint appeal would , in my opinion , be best , as if an appeal was made separately on behalf of each charity it might become irksome , and tend to defeat the object in view . But to carry a plan of this sort out would require thorough organisation to reach every lodge and member , and
should , to be effectual , receive a large measure of ' cotiiitcnaiiccixom the higherpowers in Masonry , some of whom ought to take an active part in the formation and permanent working of a special charity committee in connection with each Province , Lodge , and Chapter , for the
purpose of collecting these small subscriptions . How many would refuse to pay a small amount yearly towards such a committee , and if only half the non-subscribers contributed five shillings each , a further sum of . £ 5 , 000 would annally be added to the income of these very deserving
chanties . And what an amount of good this would do every year amongst us ? There are also very many Chapters and Lodges who either do not appear at all as subscribing to the charities—or , if they do subscribe , the amount is not at all worthy of them . Could the claims of
the charities be brought prominently before the notice of individual members , I am confident a large increase would soon be perceived in the amounts subscribed by Lodges and Chapters also , and Masonry pure and simple would
become more and more a living reality , and would become less and less a series of gatherings , the only apparent aim of which appears to be the display of glittering jewels and a participation in the joys of the banqueting table .
Will some distinguished brother take the lead ? A small beginning steadily worked out must in the end—and that not far off—become successful , and produce great results . Can Bros . Binckes , Little , and Terry , induce some good hardworking Mason whose name is well known , to make a commencement , and appeal
to his brethren for their active co-operation . _ I need not add , that what little aid I could give would be ready and cheerfully given , and I have no doubt the Freemason would give its active support in every way . Yours fraternally , 24 , Holmeside , J . H . COATES , Sunderland , Feb . 24 , 1 S 74 . W . M ., No . 949 .
OLIVER'S MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . To the Editor of thc Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The Grand Master who declared that , a " Masons' Lodge is a Masons' Church , and that no qualified brethren could be legally refused
admittance , & c . as quoted by you , in last week ' s issue , from the new Edition of " Oliver ' s Masonic Jurisprudence" was H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex . Yours fraternally , WALTER SPENCER . 26 , Great Queen St ., W . C .
The New Work Styled "Veritas."
THE NEW WORK STYLED "VERITAS . "
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Would you kindly allow me space in your periodical to draw your attention and that of your readers to a work of a very unique
character which has just made its appearance , as will be seen by the following Trade circular . The subjoined obituary notice of our Brother , the author of Veritas , was published in the London Illustrated News , on the 3 rd of January instant : —
On the 22 nd ult ., in London , Henry Melville , aged 72 . He was the author of a very intelligent work on the Australian colonies , where he was known as the father of the Australian press . More than forty years ago he was
engaged in printing a work on Buddhism , which led him to investigate the origin of Eastern religions ¦ and , as his vigorous intellect took no historical tradition for granted , he tested as he went , until rewarded by the discovery , one by
one , of the Median and Persian laws , heretofore the oral , religious secret of Freemasonry , as well as by the discovery of the use of the keys of knowledge , still worn by Royal Arch Masons .
His great work - Veritas , solving biblical and historical problems , by means of the laws and keys , was in the hands of the bookbinders at the time of his death , and is a solemn termination of his work in the Divine cause of Truth . "
The opinions of religious reformers hitherto having been based upon their reasoning faculties alone , gave rise to various biblical interpretations and hence to conflicting creeds . But , it would now appear , from the discoveries set forth in
" Veritas , " that science is to supersede reason by demonstrating that the Bible is a record of Celestial and not of Terrestial history , whence the cause of so many mysterious passages therein . Therefore it becomes an all absorbing question to know whether the discoveries are
true or false ? For if the former , then the future religion of civilization will necessarily become Masonic , or finely and simply theistic * but if the latter , then sectarianism will , peradventure , as heretofore , continue to abound to the end of time .
A friend whom I wished to write a review of " Veritas , " thus replied : — " If I had ever written a review—which I have not—and if I had written a hundred on unscientific subjects this would be no preparation
for the task which you propose to me . In the first place the whole matter of Bro . Melville ' s discoveries was thrust upon me unexpectedly . I never entered earnestly into his science—never acquired more than the most superficial
smattering of it—and was only interested in it as one of the interior senses of Scripture—going hand in hand with the spiritual sense of Swedenborg in shewing forth the inspiration of the Great Book written like no other . I could never
devote time or patience now to the accurate acquirement of knowledge , which however wonderful , is a purely mechanical system—or to the practical application of it to Scripture or to history , & c , & c . Such a review should be
undertaken by a man of profound insight into the relations between different mythological systems—should have gone deep into Philology —should have a passion for puzzles , and the long-suffering of a chess player—surely there can be no lack among Masons of able and learned
men—men of science and research , who would take up and do justice to the subject , which I could never do were I to give my life to it . I got a copy of " Veritas " which is every thing that can be desired in the way of typography , illustration , & c , and I sincerely hope it may have an extensive sale . "
"Yours Sincerely . Individually I regard the discoveries as a precious means of restoring man to the unmystified worship of his Omnipresent and adorable Creator *—the Great Architect of the Universe .
I remain dear Sir , Yours fraternally , WM . N . CRAWFORD , Orchard Hill , Guernsey .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I feel much disappointed in not hearing of or seeing a protest or letter from the Senior
Provincial Grand Officer , residing in these towns , respecting the unchristianlike conduct of Mr . Cuffe in refusing to pay the last sad office to a worthy soldier ( who was also a worthy Freemason ) .
I , as an humble individual , a Catholic of Christ ' s Holy Apostolic Church , do denounce Father Cuffe as being unworthy to act in any way for the welfare of the flock entrusted to his keeping . I feel such conduct would not have dared to
be shown by him under any other circumstances so pressing . Had this refusal been known by the members of the Craft , there is no doubt the Grand Lodge would have taken immediate steps to have had the funeral rites respectfully completed to a much loved brother . Great credit
is due to the Christian minister who performed the burial ceremony at a moment ' s notice . As a Freemason , I will ask Mr . Cuffe , " What he will do when he is called upon to perform Mass for the repose of the soul of His Holiness , the Pope ? " It is a well-known fact that the
Pope is a Mason , and none the worse for it . Respecting Mr . Cuffe's letter to the Times , " What does he know , or how can he know about Freemasonry ? " It shows his narrowness of mind and simplicity of those grand principles which he ought to know , and if known , forgets
to teach—Brotherly love , kindness , hope , and charity . I shall be pleased to contribute a guinea towards a fund to defray the expenses , that this case may be at once laid before His Royal Highness , the Commander-in-Chief , who is the
soldier's friend , and who will most assuredly see that justice is done , for without doubt Mr . Cuffe has most deservedly brought upon himself the odium of the British army . He receives his pay from the State , and his duty is to teach and to inculcate the principles of kindness , love , and
charity to those who are entrusted to his care . I most fervently hope that the military brethren will at once take such steps as may be legal , and show their confreres that the conduct of Mr . Cuffe cannot be tolerated . His contumacy should be at once resented , for as a Roman
Catholic priest , he is entirely unfitted for that office , or as a Chaplain , and ought at once be turned out of the army with disgrace . If the most eminent men of the present age do not feel it derogatory to use the Trowel , is it not daring insolence and cool effrontery on the
part of Mr . Cuffe to refuse to do what he is actually paid for as a servant ? If Mr . Gladstone ' s Government feel satisfied with Mr . Cuffe's conduct , I most sincerely hope that Mr . Disraeli ' s Government will take a different view of the case , and through the proper
authorities cause an inquiry at once to be made , which will not only satisfy tho friends of the deceased , brethren of the Roman Catholic persuasion , but members of the Craft in general . I am , Sir , Your obedient servant , Feb . 24 , 1874 . CHARITY .
OUR MASONIC CHARITIES . To the Editor of t / ic Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In your excellent leader on the above subject in last Saturday's Freemason , you asked the pertinent question , " How can we make the support of our great charities more general and
more regular in our order ? " Your assertion that they are not sufficiently known and advertised must be acknowledged by all who examine the subject in the most cursory manner , and if the money spent in advertising in non-Masonic journal were partially spent
m making known the claims of our various charities , through the recognised organs of the Craft , a better knowledge of these institutions would prevail amongst us , and a subscription list increasing year by year would be the result . All our charities stand much in need of assistance in the shape of increased annual or
Original Correspondence.
other subscriptions . There is a great need for a scheme that would collect amounts ( in many cases in smaller sums than one guinea ) from the very large number of the brethren who do not subscribe . No doubt there are very many of these brethren who , without any detriment to
themselves or connections , could subscribe largely , and materially assist our charities . There are also , it must be admitted , many who though filling a respectable position in life , yet hardly feel justified , considering the many claims they have daily upon their purses , in
subscribing the minimum amount required to appear on the subscription lists as individual donors or annual subscribers , hut the great majority of whom would subscribe a small sum annually in support of one or all ofthe Masonic charities . Within a recent period a sum of
, £ ro ios ., and a further sum of £ 1 $ 15 s . was readily raised in my own lodge in this manner . In the latter case a worthy Past Master ( who desired his name to be kept secret ) giving £$ 5 s . additional on condition that the other members subscribed jQ \ $ 5 s . An appeal was
made , and the amount was quickly raised , principally in sums of five and ten shillings each . Could not the managers of our charities devise and carry out some scheme by which an annual appeal could be made to every member of our craft for a subscription , be it ever so small ? A
joint appeal would , in my opinion , be best , as if an appeal was made separately on behalf of each charity it might become irksome , and tend to defeat the object in view . But to carry a plan of this sort out would require thorough organisation to reach every lodge and member , and
should , to be effectual , receive a large measure of ' cotiiitcnaiiccixom the higherpowers in Masonry , some of whom ought to take an active part in the formation and permanent working of a special charity committee in connection with each Province , Lodge , and Chapter , for the
purpose of collecting these small subscriptions . How many would refuse to pay a small amount yearly towards such a committee , and if only half the non-subscribers contributed five shillings each , a further sum of . £ 5 , 000 would annally be added to the income of these very deserving
chanties . And what an amount of good this would do every year amongst us ? There are also very many Chapters and Lodges who either do not appear at all as subscribing to the charities—or , if they do subscribe , the amount is not at all worthy of them . Could the claims of
the charities be brought prominently before the notice of individual members , I am confident a large increase would soon be perceived in the amounts subscribed by Lodges and Chapters also , and Masonry pure and simple would
become more and more a living reality , and would become less and less a series of gatherings , the only apparent aim of which appears to be the display of glittering jewels and a participation in the joys of the banqueting table .
Will some distinguished brother take the lead ? A small beginning steadily worked out must in the end—and that not far off—become successful , and produce great results . Can Bros . Binckes , Little , and Terry , induce some good hardworking Mason whose name is well known , to make a commencement , and appeal
to his brethren for their active co-operation . _ I need not add , that what little aid I could give would be ready and cheerfully given , and I have no doubt the Freemason would give its active support in every way . Yours fraternally , 24 , Holmeside , J . H . COATES , Sunderland , Feb . 24 , 1 S 74 . W . M ., No . 949 .
OLIVER'S MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE . To the Editor of thc Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The Grand Master who declared that , a " Masons' Lodge is a Masons' Church , and that no qualified brethren could be legally refused
admittance , & c . as quoted by you , in last week ' s issue , from the new Edition of " Oliver ' s Masonic Jurisprudence" was H . R . H . the Duke of Sussex . Yours fraternally , WALTER SPENCER . 26 , Great Queen St ., W . C .
The New Work Styled "Veritas."
THE NEW WORK STYLED "VERITAS . "
To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Would you kindly allow me space in your periodical to draw your attention and that of your readers to a work of a very unique
character which has just made its appearance , as will be seen by the following Trade circular . The subjoined obituary notice of our Brother , the author of Veritas , was published in the London Illustrated News , on the 3 rd of January instant : —
On the 22 nd ult ., in London , Henry Melville , aged 72 . He was the author of a very intelligent work on the Australian colonies , where he was known as the father of the Australian press . More than forty years ago he was
engaged in printing a work on Buddhism , which led him to investigate the origin of Eastern religions ¦ and , as his vigorous intellect took no historical tradition for granted , he tested as he went , until rewarded by the discovery , one by
one , of the Median and Persian laws , heretofore the oral , religious secret of Freemasonry , as well as by the discovery of the use of the keys of knowledge , still worn by Royal Arch Masons .
His great work - Veritas , solving biblical and historical problems , by means of the laws and keys , was in the hands of the bookbinders at the time of his death , and is a solemn termination of his work in the Divine cause of Truth . "
The opinions of religious reformers hitherto having been based upon their reasoning faculties alone , gave rise to various biblical interpretations and hence to conflicting creeds . But , it would now appear , from the discoveries set forth in
" Veritas , " that science is to supersede reason by demonstrating that the Bible is a record of Celestial and not of Terrestial history , whence the cause of so many mysterious passages therein . Therefore it becomes an all absorbing question to know whether the discoveries are
true or false ? For if the former , then the future religion of civilization will necessarily become Masonic , or finely and simply theistic * but if the latter , then sectarianism will , peradventure , as heretofore , continue to abound to the end of time .
A friend whom I wished to write a review of " Veritas , " thus replied : — " If I had ever written a review—which I have not—and if I had written a hundred on unscientific subjects this would be no preparation
for the task which you propose to me . In the first place the whole matter of Bro . Melville ' s discoveries was thrust upon me unexpectedly . I never entered earnestly into his science—never acquired more than the most superficial
smattering of it—and was only interested in it as one of the interior senses of Scripture—going hand in hand with the spiritual sense of Swedenborg in shewing forth the inspiration of the Great Book written like no other . I could never
devote time or patience now to the accurate acquirement of knowledge , which however wonderful , is a purely mechanical system—or to the practical application of it to Scripture or to history , & c , & c . Such a review should be
undertaken by a man of profound insight into the relations between different mythological systems—should have gone deep into Philology —should have a passion for puzzles , and the long-suffering of a chess player—surely there can be no lack among Masons of able and learned
men—men of science and research , who would take up and do justice to the subject , which I could never do were I to give my life to it . I got a copy of " Veritas " which is every thing that can be desired in the way of typography , illustration , & c , and I sincerely hope it may have an extensive sale . "
"Yours Sincerely . Individually I regard the discoveries as a precious means of restoring man to the unmystified worship of his Omnipresent and adorable Creator *—the Great Architect of the Universe .
I remain dear Sir , Yours fraternally , WM . N . CRAWFORD , Orchard Hill , Guernsey .