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Article MASONRY AND THE COMPAGNONAGE. Page 1 of 1 Article INSTALLATION MEETINGS, &c. Page 1 of 2 →
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Masonry And The Compagnonage.
MASONRY AND THE COMPAGNONAGE .
To the Editor of the FKEEJJASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIU AND BROTHER , —Permit mo space to mako some remarks on Brothers Speed ancl Speth ' s letters of tho above date . 1 st . Bro . Speed will find , in the Freeynason , Vol . 3 , page 428 , an article of mine headed " Masonic Universality , " in which I discussed the Biblo question . This led to a controversy with tho late Bro .
W . Carpenter , in tho same volume . In the fourth volume , page 116 , he will find another of my communications , viz ., " Bro . Hughan and tho Bible question , " followed by two or moro papers on each side . 1 shall , however , briefly state , for the information of Bro . Speed , that I have a Ritual of 1723 , another of 1724 , another of unknown date , and still another of 1730 , which Bro . Abbott kindly gave mo ; ancl
in neither of the said rituals can I find three great lig hts , or the Bible either . In Dr . Anderson's account ( Constitution 1738 ) of Grand Master Richmond's inauguration in 1724 , he says , that in a procession , " The Master of a Lodgo with one great light , two other great lights born by two Masters of Lodges . " What tho lights wero I know not . They may have been candles . Tho procession of 1730 ,
when the Duko of Norfolk was installed Grand Master , is also described by Anderson . Here " three lights " were not carried , but , as in the former procession , a Master of a Lodge carried a sword , and another Master carried "Tho Book of Constitutions on the fine cushion . " * * * "And in this manner they decently walked into the Lodge room * * * and there tbe Masters and Wardens
of Lodges received their Grand Master * * * in due form . He sat down in his chair before the pedestal , covered with a rich cushion , upon which were laid the Constitutions , and the sword . " And then goes on , " After opening the Lodge , the last minutes were read , " & o . Here we see thafc on 29 th January 1730 , the Grand Lodge of England was opened iu clue form , without a Bible , Square , and
Compasses . I have , however , another ritnal of 1730 , probably improved after 29 th January , wherein the Mosaic Pavement , Blazing Star , dented Tarsel , Bible , Compasses , and Square , are all called " the furniture of the Lodge . " We see now that the Bible was not known in English Masonry as a great light in 1730 . Nor is there any reference made to a " rule and guide of faith . " Bro . Speed can draw from the
above facts what inferences he pleases . And now for my good friend Bro . Spetb . Ifc seems that he and myself alike doubt the Compagnonage theory . And , what is more , I intimated very plainly that Bro . Gould himself was not perfectly satisfied that all his arguments were conclusive , for I stated thafc Bro . Gould was not irretrievably committed to his theory . Let me ,
bowever , state that no one thinks more highly of Bro . Gould ' s History than I do . I am perfectly satisfied that he is not guilty of addition or omission with regard to his statements of facts . But yet the best man is liable to mistakes , and as a rumour was circulated long before I got bold of the new History that Bro . Gould had proved that our Masonry was derived from the Compagnons , I merely wished to
convince all whom it may concern that tbe subject was not proved . Bro . Spetb , however , was very anxious to show Bro . Gould ' s reasons . He says , " The Jacquites had a legend , " and hence the Solomonites ( he says ) must also have had a legend . Then he assumes that it must have been the Hiramic legend . All wbich I understand very well , but it was not sufficiently convincing to me , nor is it convincing
to Bro . Speth himself . Bro . Speth enumerates forty-one points of similarity between Masonry and the Compagnonage . I could raise some questions about these similarities , but for brevity ' s sake I admit that there are such similarities , and , what then ? For , if Perdignier ' s opinion is right , viz ., thafc his Solomonites got the Hiramic legend from the Masons ,
why conld not all the rest of the similarities have been derived from the same source ? True , I have admitted that the Charles Martel legend was imported from France into England because Martel was King of France , and snch a legend was more likely to be of French origin than of English . But Hiram was nofc a Frenchman , and I think that in a Protestant country like England , where the Old Testament
was during tbe period of the Puritans especially valued—for the Puritans talked Old Testament , preached Old Testament , sang Old Testament psalms , and gave their children Old Testament names . And , even after the Puritan fever was over , the Old Testamentwas not altogether abandoned . While , on tbe other hand , in France , a Catholic country , the working people heard much more about the
New Testament than about ; the Old ; and , as far as we know , the old Compagnons may never have heard about Hiram , or Solomon either , for we do nofc know for certain how long they called themselves Solomonites . Now , in balancing as to which is which , I am inclined to believe that the balance preponderates in favour of Bros . Deeagnliers and Anderson as the first introducers of the said legend .
Next , I beg to inform Bro . Spetb that he did not astonish me about what he heard in a Lodge afc Hamburg , for I myself visited a Lodge in Leipsic in 1869 , in company with Bro . Findel . Bufc German evidence on this point is nofc conclusive ; our Masonry originated in England , ancl it is English evidence I want . Now , the several Rituals up to 1730 confirm my belief that the Moderns never
changed their modes of recognition in the first two degrees . Within a month I tested an Irish brother , and also a Scotch brother , and I found that in first , second , and third , they did nofc differ from the English mode . On the other hand , I saw two Rituals of tbe Ancients , wherein first , second , and third differed from the present English Ritual , as well as from
the Rituals of the last century , before the Ancients existed ; tbe alteration in the mode of recognition in all tbe degrees was therefore the work of the Ancients . Preston was initiated in a Lodge of tbe Ancients , aud be doubtless learned from them that the Moderns changed ifc , and be believed and repeated it . But if Bro . Speth thinks
otherwise , I should feel obliged to him if he could ascertain about where , when , and why , the Irish and Scotch Masons changed their modus operandi ? Yours , & o . BOSTON , 18 th Sept . 1883 . JACOB NORTON .
Installation Meetings, &C.
INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .
— : o : — ST . LUKE'S LODGE , No . 144 .
rpHE annual meeting of this old established Lodge was held on J Monday , at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street . Lodge was opened by Bro . Thomas Markland , the VV . M ., who was supported by Past Masters P . Kirke , H . C . Ball , R . Barham , E . Witts ( Secretary ) , J . Maples M . C , R . J . Taylor , George Skeggs , Walbancke , Henry Cox S . W . and W . M . elect , A . C . Rawlings S . D . Amongst the visitors were Bros . W . Barbara 177 , H . S . Pearce 1780 , W . Stuart P . M . 141 ,
J . Lightfoofc 1901 , 0 . Enans J . D . 1922 , A . W . G . Weeks P . M . 3 , Horace White S . D . 1257 , J . M . Chapman W . M . elect 1922 , T . M . Greenwood P . M . 749 , J . J . Pope P . M . 1305 , John Murch S . W . 27 , W . Carter P . M . 141 , W . W . Morgan S . W . 211 , W . M . Tegg I . P . M . 754 , F . Holden 177 , Turlo Lee S . D . 1922 , Geo . John White 1772 , Richard Baker P . M . 1257 , W . S . Hunter P . M . 1677 , John Birnett 105 , 0 .
Sims 1558 , J . Barney 1563 , Rnnacres P . M . 1922 . Robert Whitaker 1642 , George White 975 , G . A . Eunate 890 , J . H . Keaston 446 , A . Millward W . M . 1677 , F . Bevan 1706 , G . T . Carter P . M . 382 , Llew . ellyn Thomas 969 , W . Davis 1666 , T . Poore P . M . Panmure . After the miuutes of last meeting had been read and confirmed , the report of the Audit Committee was presented and adopted . Bro . Richard
Fidge was then examined and entrusted previous to being passed . Lodge was opened in the second degree , and the W . M . conferred on Brother Fidge the degree of Fellow Craft . The W . M . elect was then presented and obligated . In due course a Board of Installed Masters wns opened , and Brother Cox was regularly installed in the Master ' s chair . On the re-admission of the lay members , the W . M . was
saluted in the three degrees , and he then appointed the following brethren as bis Officers for the ensuing year -. —Cole S . W ., A . 0 . Rawlings J . W ., Unite P . M . Treasnrer , E . Witts P . M . Secretary , Tartarus ( named ) S . D ., P . Canghlan J . D ., R . W . Heney I . G ., J . Maples P . M . M . C , R . J . Taylor W . S ., Picket J . S ., T . Bowler Tyler . A pleasing feature of this part of tbe clay ' s proceedings was the formal
presentation of a very handsome album , in a pol ' shed oak case ; this was the gift of Brother Past Master Richard Barham . The album had an artistically illuminated title page , the work , we believe , of Brother Henry Barham , —the son of the donor . We are much in favour of the desire , that seems to be coming much in fashion , that the members of the several Lodges should retain the " counterfeit
presentment " of those with whom they are associated in Lodge ^ work , and , at the present day , when tha art of photography has attained fco such a height of perfection , we see very little difficulty in the way of the several Lodges thus perpetuating the remembrance of their members . In tbe case of the St . Luke ' s Lodge , Bro . Barbara ' s gift was undoubtedly a very acceptable one , and on our next visit we feel
assured that a substantial addition will be made to the number of portraits ifc already contains . App lication was made by two brethren for the votes at the disposal of the Lodge , each case appealed for having its special claims set forth . In the end , an amicable arrangement was entered into by tbe applicants , and we are assured the voting papers will be faithfully applied , and we trust may assisfcjin
carrying the candidates . A proposition for a candidate for initiation , the ballot to be taken at the next meeting , was then handed in , and shortly afterwards Lodge was closed . The banquet was served in the Pillar Room , and under the personal superintendence of Bros . Clemow gave every satisfaction to the assembled guests . Grace— "For these and all Tbv mercies "—having been sung , the W . M . briefly
introduced the Loyal toasts . These , with that of the M . W . the Pro G . M ., the D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers past and present , having been fully honoured , Bro . Chapman favoured the company with a capital song , and then the Immediate Pasfc Master—Brother Thomas Markland—proposed the health of the Wor . Master . All must a <» ree with him when he urged they had secured the services of
a competent Master , one who wonld do his best to promote the welfare of the Lodge . Personally he ( Bro . Markland ) had every confidence iu offering the toast for the acceptance of the brethren . After a glee , admirably sung by the musical party , the W . M . replied . He trusted they would accept his thanks for the way they had received the toast . Ho felt flattered afc the confidence reposed in him
in electing him to tbe exalted position he now held . He could assure them one and all he would strive to uphold the dignity of tbe Lodge , and farvently hoped that during his Mastership the lustre thafc had clung to it for so many years would not be dimmed , and that the same happy feeling that had hitherto existed would be paramount amongst the nembers . In speaking to the toast of the
Visitors , the W . M . expressed the gratification felt by the members at seeing so distinguished a body present . The Lodge was never chary in fche welcome ifc gave , and he could only hope thafc the gnests of the evening had enjoyed the entertainment provided . After a song by Bro . Millward . that was most vociferously applauded , several of the guests acknowledged the compliment paid them , and expressed themselves much indebted for the hearty welcome they had met
wifch . The health of fche Installing Master was the next toast on tha list , and tho W . M . complimented Bro . Markland on the way in which he had conducted the business of tbe Lodge during his year ot Mastership . The ability with which the installation ceremony bad been carried out was also gracefully alluded to by Bro . Cox , who then presented Bro . Markland with the Past Master ' s jewel of the L ° dg e > which he trusted would be accepted and worn for many years . lne
following was the inscription : — ST . LUKE ' S LODGE , NO . 144 . Presented to Bro . THOMAS MABKLAND P . M . By the Members of the above Lodge , in recognition of valuable services during his year of office ,
1882-1883 . Bro . Markland briefly thanked the brethren , and assured them be should ever retain a deep interest in the welfare of the Lodge . 1 replying to the toasfc of the Past Masters , Bro . Kirke stated that no
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Masonry And The Compagnonage.
MASONRY AND THE COMPAGNONAGE .
To the Editor of the FKEEJJASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIU AND BROTHER , —Permit mo space to mako some remarks on Brothers Speed ancl Speth ' s letters of tho above date . 1 st . Bro . Speed will find , in the Freeynason , Vol . 3 , page 428 , an article of mine headed " Masonic Universality , " in which I discussed the Biblo question . This led to a controversy with tho late Bro .
W . Carpenter , in tho same volume . In the fourth volume , page 116 , he will find another of my communications , viz ., " Bro . Hughan and tho Bible question , " followed by two or moro papers on each side . 1 shall , however , briefly state , for the information of Bro . Speed , that I have a Ritual of 1723 , another of 1724 , another of unknown date , and still another of 1730 , which Bro . Abbott kindly gave mo ; ancl
in neither of the said rituals can I find three great lig hts , or the Bible either . In Dr . Anderson's account ( Constitution 1738 ) of Grand Master Richmond's inauguration in 1724 , he says , that in a procession , " The Master of a Lodgo with one great light , two other great lights born by two Masters of Lodges . " What tho lights wero I know not . They may have been candles . Tho procession of 1730 ,
when the Duko of Norfolk was installed Grand Master , is also described by Anderson . Here " three lights " were not carried , but , as in the former procession , a Master of a Lodge carried a sword , and another Master carried "Tho Book of Constitutions on the fine cushion . " * * * "And in this manner they decently walked into the Lodge room * * * and there tbe Masters and Wardens
of Lodges received their Grand Master * * * in due form . He sat down in his chair before the pedestal , covered with a rich cushion , upon which were laid the Constitutions , and the sword . " And then goes on , " After opening the Lodge , the last minutes were read , " & o . Here we see thafc on 29 th January 1730 , the Grand Lodge of England was opened iu clue form , without a Bible , Square , and
Compasses . I have , however , another ritnal of 1730 , probably improved after 29 th January , wherein the Mosaic Pavement , Blazing Star , dented Tarsel , Bible , Compasses , and Square , are all called " the furniture of the Lodge . " We see now that the Bible was not known in English Masonry as a great light in 1730 . Nor is there any reference made to a " rule and guide of faith . " Bro . Speed can draw from the
above facts what inferences he pleases . And now for my good friend Bro . Spetb . Ifc seems that he and myself alike doubt the Compagnonage theory . And , what is more , I intimated very plainly that Bro . Gould himself was not perfectly satisfied that all his arguments were conclusive , for I stated thafc Bro . Gould was not irretrievably committed to his theory . Let me ,
bowever , state that no one thinks more highly of Bro . Gould ' s History than I do . I am perfectly satisfied that he is not guilty of addition or omission with regard to his statements of facts . But yet the best man is liable to mistakes , and as a rumour was circulated long before I got bold of the new History that Bro . Gould had proved that our Masonry was derived from the Compagnons , I merely wished to
convince all whom it may concern that tbe subject was not proved . Bro . Spetb , however , was very anxious to show Bro . Gould ' s reasons . He says , " The Jacquites had a legend , " and hence the Solomonites ( he says ) must also have had a legend . Then he assumes that it must have been the Hiramic legend . All wbich I understand very well , but it was not sufficiently convincing to me , nor is it convincing
to Bro . Speth himself . Bro . Speth enumerates forty-one points of similarity between Masonry and the Compagnonage . I could raise some questions about these similarities , but for brevity ' s sake I admit that there are such similarities , and , what then ? For , if Perdignier ' s opinion is right , viz ., thafc his Solomonites got the Hiramic legend from the Masons ,
why conld not all the rest of the similarities have been derived from the same source ? True , I have admitted that the Charles Martel legend was imported from France into England because Martel was King of France , and snch a legend was more likely to be of French origin than of English . But Hiram was nofc a Frenchman , and I think that in a Protestant country like England , where the Old Testament
was during tbe period of the Puritans especially valued—for the Puritans talked Old Testament , preached Old Testament , sang Old Testament psalms , and gave their children Old Testament names . And , even after the Puritan fever was over , the Old Testamentwas not altogether abandoned . While , on tbe other hand , in France , a Catholic country , the working people heard much more about the
New Testament than about ; the Old ; and , as far as we know , the old Compagnons may never have heard about Hiram , or Solomon either , for we do nofc know for certain how long they called themselves Solomonites . Now , in balancing as to which is which , I am inclined to believe that the balance preponderates in favour of Bros . Deeagnliers and Anderson as the first introducers of the said legend .
Next , I beg to inform Bro . Spetb that he did not astonish me about what he heard in a Lodge afc Hamburg , for I myself visited a Lodge in Leipsic in 1869 , in company with Bro . Findel . Bufc German evidence on this point is nofc conclusive ; our Masonry originated in England , ancl it is English evidence I want . Now , the several Rituals up to 1730 confirm my belief that the Moderns never
changed their modes of recognition in the first two degrees . Within a month I tested an Irish brother , and also a Scotch brother , and I found that in first , second , and third , they did nofc differ from the English mode . On the other hand , I saw two Rituals of tbe Ancients , wherein first , second , and third differed from the present English Ritual , as well as from
the Rituals of the last century , before the Ancients existed ; tbe alteration in the mode of recognition in all tbe degrees was therefore the work of the Ancients . Preston was initiated in a Lodge of tbe Ancients , aud be doubtless learned from them that the Moderns changed ifc , and be believed and repeated it . But if Bro . Speth thinks
otherwise , I should feel obliged to him if he could ascertain about where , when , and why , the Irish and Scotch Masons changed their modus operandi ? Yours , & o . BOSTON , 18 th Sept . 1883 . JACOB NORTON .
Installation Meetings, &C.
INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .
— : o : — ST . LUKE'S LODGE , No . 144 .
rpHE annual meeting of this old established Lodge was held on J Monday , at Anderton's Hotel , Fleet Street . Lodge was opened by Bro . Thomas Markland , the VV . M ., who was supported by Past Masters P . Kirke , H . C . Ball , R . Barham , E . Witts ( Secretary ) , J . Maples M . C , R . J . Taylor , George Skeggs , Walbancke , Henry Cox S . W . and W . M . elect , A . C . Rawlings S . D . Amongst the visitors were Bros . W . Barbara 177 , H . S . Pearce 1780 , W . Stuart P . M . 141 ,
J . Lightfoofc 1901 , 0 . Enans J . D . 1922 , A . W . G . Weeks P . M . 3 , Horace White S . D . 1257 , J . M . Chapman W . M . elect 1922 , T . M . Greenwood P . M . 749 , J . J . Pope P . M . 1305 , John Murch S . W . 27 , W . Carter P . M . 141 , W . W . Morgan S . W . 211 , W . M . Tegg I . P . M . 754 , F . Holden 177 , Turlo Lee S . D . 1922 , Geo . John White 1772 , Richard Baker P . M . 1257 , W . S . Hunter P . M . 1677 , John Birnett 105 , 0 .
Sims 1558 , J . Barney 1563 , Rnnacres P . M . 1922 . Robert Whitaker 1642 , George White 975 , G . A . Eunate 890 , J . H . Keaston 446 , A . Millward W . M . 1677 , F . Bevan 1706 , G . T . Carter P . M . 382 , Llew . ellyn Thomas 969 , W . Davis 1666 , T . Poore P . M . Panmure . After the miuutes of last meeting had been read and confirmed , the report of the Audit Committee was presented and adopted . Bro . Richard
Fidge was then examined and entrusted previous to being passed . Lodge was opened in the second degree , and the W . M . conferred on Brother Fidge the degree of Fellow Craft . The W . M . elect was then presented and obligated . In due course a Board of Installed Masters wns opened , and Brother Cox was regularly installed in the Master ' s chair . On the re-admission of the lay members , the W . M . was
saluted in the three degrees , and he then appointed the following brethren as bis Officers for the ensuing year -. —Cole S . W ., A . 0 . Rawlings J . W ., Unite P . M . Treasnrer , E . Witts P . M . Secretary , Tartarus ( named ) S . D ., P . Canghlan J . D ., R . W . Heney I . G ., J . Maples P . M . M . C , R . J . Taylor W . S ., Picket J . S ., T . Bowler Tyler . A pleasing feature of this part of tbe clay ' s proceedings was the formal
presentation of a very handsome album , in a pol ' shed oak case ; this was the gift of Brother Past Master Richard Barham . The album had an artistically illuminated title page , the work , we believe , of Brother Henry Barham , —the son of the donor . We are much in favour of the desire , that seems to be coming much in fashion , that the members of the several Lodges should retain the " counterfeit
presentment " of those with whom they are associated in Lodge ^ work , and , at the present day , when tha art of photography has attained fco such a height of perfection , we see very little difficulty in the way of the several Lodges thus perpetuating the remembrance of their members . In tbe case of the St . Luke ' s Lodge , Bro . Barbara ' s gift was undoubtedly a very acceptable one , and on our next visit we feel
assured that a substantial addition will be made to the number of portraits ifc already contains . App lication was made by two brethren for the votes at the disposal of the Lodge , each case appealed for having its special claims set forth . In the end , an amicable arrangement was entered into by tbe applicants , and we are assured the voting papers will be faithfully applied , and we trust may assisfcjin
carrying the candidates . A proposition for a candidate for initiation , the ballot to be taken at the next meeting , was then handed in , and shortly afterwards Lodge was closed . The banquet was served in the Pillar Room , and under the personal superintendence of Bros . Clemow gave every satisfaction to the assembled guests . Grace— "For these and all Tbv mercies "—having been sung , the W . M . briefly
introduced the Loyal toasts . These , with that of the M . W . the Pro G . M ., the D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers past and present , having been fully honoured , Bro . Chapman favoured the company with a capital song , and then the Immediate Pasfc Master—Brother Thomas Markland—proposed the health of the Wor . Master . All must a <» ree with him when he urged they had secured the services of
a competent Master , one who wonld do his best to promote the welfare of the Lodge . Personally he ( Bro . Markland ) had every confidence iu offering the toast for the acceptance of the brethren . After a glee , admirably sung by the musical party , the W . M . replied . He trusted they would accept his thanks for the way they had received the toast . Ho felt flattered afc the confidence reposed in him
in electing him to tbe exalted position he now held . He could assure them one and all he would strive to uphold the dignity of tbe Lodge , and farvently hoped that during his Mastership the lustre thafc had clung to it for so many years would not be dimmed , and that the same happy feeling that had hitherto existed would be paramount amongst the nembers . In speaking to the toast of the
Visitors , the W . M . expressed the gratification felt by the members at seeing so distinguished a body present . The Lodge was never chary in fche welcome ifc gave , and he could only hope thafc the gnests of the evening had enjoyed the entertainment provided . After a song by Bro . Millward . that was most vociferously applauded , several of the guests acknowledged the compliment paid them , and expressed themselves much indebted for the hearty welcome they had met
wifch . The health of fche Installing Master was the next toast on tha list , and tho W . M . complimented Bro . Markland on the way in which he had conducted the business of tbe Lodge during his year ot Mastership . The ability with which the installation ceremony bad been carried out was also gracefully alluded to by Bro . Cox , who then presented Bro . Markland with the Past Master ' s jewel of the L ° dg e > which he trusted would be accepted and worn for many years . lne
following was the inscription : — ST . LUKE ' S LODGE , NO . 144 . Presented to Bro . THOMAS MABKLAND P . M . By the Members of the above Lodge , in recognition of valuable services during his year of office ,
1882-1883 . Bro . Markland briefly thanked the brethren , and assured them be should ever retain a deep interest in the welfare of the Lodge . 1 replying to the toasfc of the Past Masters , Bro . Kirke stated that no