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Article RANDOM THOUGHTS. ← Page 2 of 2 Article MASONRY IN FRANCE. Page 1 of 1
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Random Thoughts.
ourselves , ifcc . "—and further , to study " such of the liberal arts aud sciences as be within the easy compass of our attainment . " Ancl as if this were not enough , we are charged to make a " daily advancement in Masonic knowledge . " And how can this be done , save by discussing points of interest in our workings and lectures , aud making the
principles upon which we work , well and generally known to our members . I have many times thought upon this matter , and " random" though they maybe , yet the shots may still hit the mark . The first reference to allegory we meet with is a very simple one , relating to the form and shape of the Lodge , aud yet never have I heard it stated why a Masons'Lodge is
oblong . The shape thus given it , shows that our ancient brethren did not work carelessly or superficially . The shape was intended to convey universality—but how ? What peculiarity is there in ifc to convey such an impression—to make such a conclusion probable 1- They say that its length is east and westand ifcs breadth north and south . Now thisI think
, , , gives us a clue to the reason of the peculiar form adopted to convey this idea , for astronomers would at once say ifc refers to the earth , the very great diversfty ofthe animate and inanimate objects of the creation displayed on this planet being further referred to in our admirable lectures . Thus we can
readily understand the claim that this form of a Masons ' Lodge has to universality , and also the truth of the assertion that it is oblong . The earth is represented as being spherical or round , but it is not in fact a perfect sphere , for from its rapid revolution on its axis ( which is from pole to pole ) there is a swelling out at the equator , matter having a natural
tendency to fly off This , however , is restrained by the force of gravitation , but notwithstanding this power , there is a sensible difference in the diameter , the equatorial exceeding the polar diameter by many miles . Thus , then , if a sphere of the exact contour of the globe were put into a box , that box must be oblongin order to receive the greater length of
, the equatorial diameter ; and thus is the truth of the peculiar shape of a Masons' Lodge made manifest and clear , proving also thafc science and its pursuits were no strangers to our ancient brethren .
Perhaps some other brethren may like to follow up this idea , and pufc fco paper some of those effervescing random thoughts which are at times so valuable . Auy . 22 nd , 1 S 59 . AUPLIFTCA ' POI * ..
Masonry In France.
MASONRY IN FRANCE .
[ The following is au extract from a communication from the K . AA ' . Bro . DE AIARCOXXAY , Alaster of the Lodge "La Cleinetite Auntie ' , " in reply to a request for information in regard to the Supreme Council of the 33 ° , under whose authority the Lodge Le Progres de V Oceania , at Honolulu , was established , fee . —En . ] ' fJxFoirruxATELY ( I say unfortunately , for I consider it a because in Masonic
calamity , , as in other governments , conflicting authorities always cause confusion ) two legal Masonic bodies do exist m Prance—the Grand Orient , the most ancient and regular , of which Prince Lucien Murat is Grand Master , having under its jurisdiction two hundred and fift y Lodges—and the Supreme Council of the 33 ° , organized in 180-t , of which the Due de Gazes ( ex minister of state ) is Grand Commanderhaving under
, its jurisdiction eighty working Lodges . . l ' u ISOi , the Count De Grasse introduced into France the thirty-three degrees of the Ancient ancl Accepted ( Scottish ) Itite , ivhich degrees he received from the Supreme Council of Charleston , m South Carolina . This rite originated in Prance in 1 . 700 , under the title of the Kite of Perfection . It consisted of twenty-five degrees , and a JAlason named Morin ivas authorized to establish
( propagate ) it in America . Its reconstruction ( in its present form ) has been attributed to Frederick II . of Prussia , which is an error , as Lie Scottish Kite of thirty-three degrees is unknown in Prussia . It was introduced into Prance by the Count De Grasse at the end of the great revolution which resulted iu the empire—a time when the people were glad to find even iii Masonry , the most equalizing ot institutions , a sort of aristocracy ancl distinctiveness . Thus the new Order succeeded , and the Grand Orient , fearing its rivalry , in October , 180-1 , concluded a treaty with it , by which both bodies became united . This treaty was violated bv the Supreme Council in
less than a year ; but as Napoleon would not sufrer any war to exist in Prance , save the one he ivas waging against the whole of Europe , another treaty ( a secret one ) was entered into by the two bodies , whereby the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient was limited to the three symbolic degrees and the degree of Eose Croix , while the Supreme Council retained its authority over the higher ones . " Upon the fall of Napoleon , many of the most influential memtheir
bers ofthe Supreme Council were exiled in consequence of political opinions . The Grand Orient , which in its desire to avoid ( prevent ) schism , hacl not only united with that body , but , after the disruption of the union , had for the sake of peace , circumscribed its own authority , embraced this opportunity to annul the treaty before made , and resumed its authority over the Eite of Perfection , of which the Ancient and Accepted ( Scottish ) Kite thus resumed
was but an arbitrary modification ; and the authority was acknowledged by almost all the Lodges conferring those degrees in France . " In 182-1 , all political animosities and passions being appeased , the members of the Supreme Council reorganized that body , and claimed for it its former powers . Thereupon commenced disputes , projected treaties , & c , between the two bodies , until at last , tired of quarrels from which no good resulted , a peace ivas made , by which both bodies were acknowledged as legal ; and though it is indisputably true that the Grancl Orient is the only legitimate
power by which Lodges in both rites can be constituted m the French dominions , the Supreme Council claims and exercises the authority of constituting Lodges in the Scottish Kite . By virtue of such authority was the Lodge Le Progres de V Oceanic established in Honolulu in 1812 , under the auspices of Bro . Le Tellier . " From the report in some proceedings of 1856 , it appears that the LodLe Progres de V Oceanicin of not receiving
ge , consequence any communication from the body by which it was constituted , or from a desire to connect itself with a more influential and extensive power , petitioned the Grand Orient of France to endorse its old charter , or grant a new one ; but received for answer , that while that bod } '' would be gratified to add another Lodge to its jurisdiction , as the charter under which the Lodge was held was not derived from the Grand Orient—the supreme Masonic power in
France—but from another body , the request coulcl not be complied with until the wishes of the petitioners were more definitely expressed . In my opinion ( and such I think must be the opinion of every Mason , who has any knowledge of Masonic jurisprudence ) , the Lodge Le Progres de I'Oceanic , is not a regular Lodge ; for its legal existence depends upon uninterrupted correspondence with its parent body , the punctual payment of its dues , and the regular and correct return of its members , & c . AVhen it fails to perforin these duties for any length of time it becomes dormant , its work is not legal , nor are its acts entitled to any consideration .
'" I think I have thus answered the first four questions propounded in your letter to the Grand Orient , but will repeat briefly as follows : — " 1 st . The act of the Supreme Council establishing the Lodge Le Progres de P Oceanic , was legal . " 2 nd . The Supreme Council still exists in France . " 3 rd . It constitutes Lodges iu France and in the colonies , and
can resuscitate dormant ones ; and 111 th . Notwithstanding the existence of , and the power claimed by , the Supreme Council—which body exhibits a kind of rivalry with the Grand Orient , and has entered into competition with it by establishing Lodges of the Ancient ancl Accepted ( Scottish ) Kite—the latter is the onl y legal authority by ivhich Lodges can be established in Franceand in its colonics . It is the oldest
, body , has the greatest number of adherents , and confers all the Masonic titles acknowledged in France . " In answer to your fifth question * . The Alasonic laws of this jurisdiction require the subordinate Lodges to correspond regularly with the body which constituted them , hy sending every month thereto , i list of their members , and by paying certain dues , - and any Lodge which fails to comply with these requirements for one
year , is within three months thereafter declared extinct , or dormant . Lodges in the colonies are allowed six months' grace . AVhen a Lodge ceases to work , notice of that fact must he sent to the hotly by ivhich it was established , together with its charter , jewels , & c . Such Lodges cannot be resuscitated without permission . " In answer to sixth question : 'flic Grand Orient has not
your at auy time granted a charter to the Lodge Le Progres de V Oceanic ; and in reply to your seventh ancl last : If such a charter had been granted by the Grand Orient , that fact would have appeared together with the name , number , and locality of the Lodge , in the printed calendar annually published by its order . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Random Thoughts.
ourselves , ifcc . "—and further , to study " such of the liberal arts aud sciences as be within the easy compass of our attainment . " Ancl as if this were not enough , we are charged to make a " daily advancement in Masonic knowledge . " And how can this be done , save by discussing points of interest in our workings and lectures , aud making the
principles upon which we work , well and generally known to our members . I have many times thought upon this matter , and " random" though they maybe , yet the shots may still hit the mark . The first reference to allegory we meet with is a very simple one , relating to the form and shape of the Lodge , aud yet never have I heard it stated why a Masons'Lodge is
oblong . The shape thus given it , shows that our ancient brethren did not work carelessly or superficially . The shape was intended to convey universality—but how ? What peculiarity is there in ifc to convey such an impression—to make such a conclusion probable 1- They say that its length is east and westand ifcs breadth north and south . Now thisI think
, , , gives us a clue to the reason of the peculiar form adopted to convey this idea , for astronomers would at once say ifc refers to the earth , the very great diversfty ofthe animate and inanimate objects of the creation displayed on this planet being further referred to in our admirable lectures . Thus we can
readily understand the claim that this form of a Masons ' Lodge has to universality , and also the truth of the assertion that it is oblong . The earth is represented as being spherical or round , but it is not in fact a perfect sphere , for from its rapid revolution on its axis ( which is from pole to pole ) there is a swelling out at the equator , matter having a natural
tendency to fly off This , however , is restrained by the force of gravitation , but notwithstanding this power , there is a sensible difference in the diameter , the equatorial exceeding the polar diameter by many miles . Thus , then , if a sphere of the exact contour of the globe were put into a box , that box must be oblongin order to receive the greater length of
, the equatorial diameter ; and thus is the truth of the peculiar shape of a Masons' Lodge made manifest and clear , proving also thafc science and its pursuits were no strangers to our ancient brethren .
Perhaps some other brethren may like to follow up this idea , and pufc fco paper some of those effervescing random thoughts which are at times so valuable . Auy . 22 nd , 1 S 59 . AUPLIFTCA ' POI * ..
Masonry In France.
MASONRY IN FRANCE .
[ The following is au extract from a communication from the K . AA ' . Bro . DE AIARCOXXAY , Alaster of the Lodge "La Cleinetite Auntie ' , " in reply to a request for information in regard to the Supreme Council of the 33 ° , under whose authority the Lodge Le Progres de V Oceania , at Honolulu , was established , fee . —En . ] ' fJxFoirruxATELY ( I say unfortunately , for I consider it a because in Masonic
calamity , , as in other governments , conflicting authorities always cause confusion ) two legal Masonic bodies do exist m Prance—the Grand Orient , the most ancient and regular , of which Prince Lucien Murat is Grand Master , having under its jurisdiction two hundred and fift y Lodges—and the Supreme Council of the 33 ° , organized in 180-t , of which the Due de Gazes ( ex minister of state ) is Grand Commanderhaving under
, its jurisdiction eighty working Lodges . . l ' u ISOi , the Count De Grasse introduced into France the thirty-three degrees of the Ancient ancl Accepted ( Scottish ) Itite , ivhich degrees he received from the Supreme Council of Charleston , m South Carolina . This rite originated in Prance in 1 . 700 , under the title of the Kite of Perfection . It consisted of twenty-five degrees , and a JAlason named Morin ivas authorized to establish
( propagate ) it in America . Its reconstruction ( in its present form ) has been attributed to Frederick II . of Prussia , which is an error , as Lie Scottish Kite of thirty-three degrees is unknown in Prussia . It was introduced into Prance by the Count De Grasse at the end of the great revolution which resulted iu the empire—a time when the people were glad to find even iii Masonry , the most equalizing ot institutions , a sort of aristocracy ancl distinctiveness . Thus the new Order succeeded , and the Grand Orient , fearing its rivalry , in October , 180-1 , concluded a treaty with it , by which both bodies became united . This treaty was violated bv the Supreme Council in
less than a year ; but as Napoleon would not sufrer any war to exist in Prance , save the one he ivas waging against the whole of Europe , another treaty ( a secret one ) was entered into by the two bodies , whereby the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient was limited to the three symbolic degrees and the degree of Eose Croix , while the Supreme Council retained its authority over the higher ones . " Upon the fall of Napoleon , many of the most influential memtheir
bers ofthe Supreme Council were exiled in consequence of political opinions . The Grand Orient , which in its desire to avoid ( prevent ) schism , hacl not only united with that body , but , after the disruption of the union , had for the sake of peace , circumscribed its own authority , embraced this opportunity to annul the treaty before made , and resumed its authority over the Eite of Perfection , of which the Ancient and Accepted ( Scottish ) Kite thus resumed
was but an arbitrary modification ; and the authority was acknowledged by almost all the Lodges conferring those degrees in France . " In 182-1 , all political animosities and passions being appeased , the members of the Supreme Council reorganized that body , and claimed for it its former powers . Thereupon commenced disputes , projected treaties , & c , between the two bodies , until at last , tired of quarrels from which no good resulted , a peace ivas made , by which both bodies were acknowledged as legal ; and though it is indisputably true that the Grancl Orient is the only legitimate
power by which Lodges in both rites can be constituted m the French dominions , the Supreme Council claims and exercises the authority of constituting Lodges in the Scottish Kite . By virtue of such authority was the Lodge Le Progres de V Oceanic established in Honolulu in 1812 , under the auspices of Bro . Le Tellier . " From the report in some proceedings of 1856 , it appears that the LodLe Progres de V Oceanicin of not receiving
ge , consequence any communication from the body by which it was constituted , or from a desire to connect itself with a more influential and extensive power , petitioned the Grand Orient of France to endorse its old charter , or grant a new one ; but received for answer , that while that bod } '' would be gratified to add another Lodge to its jurisdiction , as the charter under which the Lodge was held was not derived from the Grand Orient—the supreme Masonic power in
France—but from another body , the request coulcl not be complied with until the wishes of the petitioners were more definitely expressed . In my opinion ( and such I think must be the opinion of every Mason , who has any knowledge of Masonic jurisprudence ) , the Lodge Le Progres de I'Oceanic , is not a regular Lodge ; for its legal existence depends upon uninterrupted correspondence with its parent body , the punctual payment of its dues , and the regular and correct return of its members , & c . AVhen it fails to perforin these duties for any length of time it becomes dormant , its work is not legal , nor are its acts entitled to any consideration .
'" I think I have thus answered the first four questions propounded in your letter to the Grand Orient , but will repeat briefly as follows : — " 1 st . The act of the Supreme Council establishing the Lodge Le Progres de P Oceanic , was legal . " 2 nd . The Supreme Council still exists in France . " 3 rd . It constitutes Lodges iu France and in the colonies , and
can resuscitate dormant ones ; and 111 th . Notwithstanding the existence of , and the power claimed by , the Supreme Council—which body exhibits a kind of rivalry with the Grand Orient , and has entered into competition with it by establishing Lodges of the Ancient ancl Accepted ( Scottish ) Kite—the latter is the onl y legal authority by ivhich Lodges can be established in Franceand in its colonics . It is the oldest
, body , has the greatest number of adherents , and confers all the Masonic titles acknowledged in France . " In answer to your fifth question * . The Alasonic laws of this jurisdiction require the subordinate Lodges to correspond regularly with the body which constituted them , hy sending every month thereto , i list of their members , and by paying certain dues , - and any Lodge which fails to comply with these requirements for one
year , is within three months thereafter declared extinct , or dormant . Lodges in the colonies are allowed six months' grace . AVhen a Lodge ceases to work , notice of that fact must he sent to the hotly by ivhich it was established , together with its charter , jewels , & c . Such Lodges cannot be resuscitated without permission . " In answer to sixth question : 'flic Grand Orient has not
your at auy time granted a charter to the Lodge Le Progres de V Oceanic ; and in reply to your seventh ancl last : If such a charter had been granted by the Grand Orient , that fact would have appeared together with the name , number , and locality of the Lodge , in the printed calendar annually published by its order . "