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Article LORD TENTERDEN ON MASONIC PROGRESS. Page 1 of 2 Article LORD TENTERDEN ON MASONIC PROGRESS. Page 1 of 2 →
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Lord Tenterden On Masonic Progress.
LORD TENTERDEN ON MASONIC PROGRESS .
LOED Tenterden , in his eloquent speech afc trie banquet which followed the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex , made some remarks on the progress of Freemasonry during these latter years which deserve something more than
a few parsing remarks . In propounding to himself the question " What is the reason of this great spread of "Freemasonry ? " his lordship went on to consider the several explanations which different people have offered , and tbe degree of credit to which they were severally entitled .
Several of the uninitiated , for instance , he remarked , accounted for this increase in our numbers by the fact that the Prince of Wales is Grand Master of the Craft in England . This reason , however , did not , in his opinion , suffice by itself to account for the progress which has been
made in Freemasonry , not in England only , but likewise throughout the whole of the civilised world . No doubt , he argued , the ability and zealous example of His Eoyal Highness had attracted many'to our ranks , but , he added , " ft musfc be something more than the fact that the Craft
in England is governed by so popular a prince , which leads our brethren all over the world to establish Masonic Lodges . " We have had Princes of the reigning house to preside over us in past times and the effect has been similar , though not to a similar extent . Frederick , Prince of
Wales , son of George II ., -who was initiated in 1737 , took no active part in the doings of tbe Craft , but most of the brothers and sons of George III . became members of the Fraternity , and from 1781 to 1843 the Craft in England was governed by a Prince , first by the Duke of
Cumberland , Grand Master 1781-90 , then by George Prince of Wales , afterwards George IV . G . M . from 1790 to 1813 , and lastly , by the Duke of Sussex , G . M . 1813 to 1843 . During this long period Freemasonry made very considerable headway , in spite of the internal dissensions which prevailed
during the first half , until 1813 , when the rival Grand Lodges agreed to re-unite the Lodges in their respective jurisdictions . Bufc though the progress during the government of these royal chiefs was , as we have said , considerable , it must be admitted that the popularity of our present
ruler , though it will not wholly explain the general increase in the Craft , has exercised a very sound influence . According to Grand Lodge Calendar for 1881 , and without taking any account of the Lodges for which warrants have dnce been granted , there have been constituted between- the
years 1875 and 1880 , both inclusive , no less than 359 Lodges , giving an average annual addition to the roll of Grand Lodge of sixty Lodges . Bat Freemasonry is continually advancing in other countries in which our Grand Master cannot possibly claim to exercise any influence
whatever , ancl hence , no doubt , Lord Tenterden ' s hesitation to accept the Grand Mastership of the Prince of Wales as a satisfactory explanation of- Masonic progress latterly . His Lordship next glanced at another reason which is frequently assigned , namely , that Freemasonry "leads to
pleasant dinners and social gatherings . " This , however , he dismisses curtly with the remark , that " in the days w ^ en conviviality , singing Bacchanalian choruses , and drinking endless toasts , were the fashion , and the popular
idea of a Freemason , as illustrated by Hogarth , was a man in a fantastic apron staggering home afc early morning , Freemasonry made comparatively little pi'ogress . " We quite agree with his lordship that , " pleasant dinners and social gatherings , " thongh they cannot have failed to exer-
Lord Tenterden On Masonic Progress.
cise a certain influence on the fortunes of the Craft , will , not by themselves , account for its progress . At the same time , with all respect for his lordship ' s opinion , we must point out that our countrymen were known for their convivial habits during all the years which elapsed from the
establishment of Grand Lodge in 1717 to ( say ) the end of the reign of George IV . in 1830 . Yet in that time Masonry extended , from a few Lodges in London and York , as well as in other parts of the United Kingdom , to many hundreds , spread all over the civilised world . France ,
Germany , the Netherlands , Sweden , Denmark , and other European countries received the Craffc from us ; so did our North American colonies , now the United States , and Canada ; so did India and other parts . If we look to the
roll of our Grand Lodge , we shall see there are only 300 Lodges yet remaining , which were established before the Union of 1813 , and not quite 500 which were constituted before the death of the Duke of Sussex in 1843 . But in order
to forma correct estimate of what was done in the course of those years , we must take account of the numerous Lodges in foreign countries , which received their warrants in the first instance from our Grand Lodge , to say nothing of those which owed their allegiance primarily to tbe Grand
Lodges of Ireland and Scotland . The war of American Independence led to the severance of the Masonic ties existing between the States of the American Union and the United Kingdom . The same result attended the establishment of Grand Lodges in tbe various European States .
Later still , the erection of Canada into a separate and independent Masonic power further reduced the Lodges on our roll . All this mast be considered in forming an estimate of the progress made by the Craft from 1717 , as well as the fact thafc at the commencement of any enterprise
the progress is ordinarily slow , and the extent of thafc progress correspondingly less appreciable . But , as nothing succeeds like success , so when the enterprise has attained a certain degree of stability , the work ordinarily proceeds thenceforward overwhelmingly . We fancy Lord
Tenterden has hardly made sufficient allowance for the difficulties with which the Grand Lodge of 1717 , like all novel institutions , was surrounded , or for the dissensions which broke out in the Craft about 1738 , and led ultimately to the establishment of a rival Grand Lodge . Had he done this ,
we think ifc is probable he would have viewed the progress of the Craft during the convivial period of our history somewhat more favourably . However , we are of his opinion that the true explanation lies in the fact that Freemasonry is a Charitable Institution , not in the narrowest , bufc in the widest sense of the term . The Masonic
Charities , of which we have so great reason to be proud , are only a subordinate part of our system . They are only one of many results which Masonry seeks to attain . As Lord Tenterden points out , and it is impossible any one could have done so more precisely or correctly ,
" nofc only must a Freemason have ' a tear for pity , and a hand open as day for _ melting charity , ' but he is bound by his Masonic obligations to exercise the spirit and brotherly love towards all mankind , and especially towards his brethren in Freemasonry . " Herein lies
the gist of the whole matter . "It is very often much easier to give a sovereign than to forgive an injury . Freemasonry teaches us not only to succour the distressed , but to exercise universal toleration , and to receive and treat as
brethren men of all races and creeds who join us in recognising the landmarks of our Order , the duties we owe to the Most High , to our Fraternity , ancl to the Queen . " There ia no question as to this being the real aim , as it is
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Lord Tenterden On Masonic Progress.
LORD TENTERDEN ON MASONIC PROGRESS .
LOED Tenterden , in his eloquent speech afc trie banquet which followed the Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex , made some remarks on the progress of Freemasonry during these latter years which deserve something more than
a few parsing remarks . In propounding to himself the question " What is the reason of this great spread of "Freemasonry ? " his lordship went on to consider the several explanations which different people have offered , and tbe degree of credit to which they were severally entitled .
Several of the uninitiated , for instance , he remarked , accounted for this increase in our numbers by the fact that the Prince of Wales is Grand Master of the Craft in England . This reason , however , did not , in his opinion , suffice by itself to account for the progress which has been
made in Freemasonry , not in England only , but likewise throughout the whole of the civilised world . No doubt , he argued , the ability and zealous example of His Eoyal Highness had attracted many'to our ranks , but , he added , " ft musfc be something more than the fact that the Craft
in England is governed by so popular a prince , which leads our brethren all over the world to establish Masonic Lodges . " We have had Princes of the reigning house to preside over us in past times and the effect has been similar , though not to a similar extent . Frederick , Prince of
Wales , son of George II ., -who was initiated in 1737 , took no active part in the doings of tbe Craft , but most of the brothers and sons of George III . became members of the Fraternity , and from 1781 to 1843 the Craft in England was governed by a Prince , first by the Duke of
Cumberland , Grand Master 1781-90 , then by George Prince of Wales , afterwards George IV . G . M . from 1790 to 1813 , and lastly , by the Duke of Sussex , G . M . 1813 to 1843 . During this long period Freemasonry made very considerable headway , in spite of the internal dissensions which prevailed
during the first half , until 1813 , when the rival Grand Lodges agreed to re-unite the Lodges in their respective jurisdictions . Bufc though the progress during the government of these royal chiefs was , as we have said , considerable , it must be admitted that the popularity of our present
ruler , though it will not wholly explain the general increase in the Craft , has exercised a very sound influence . According to Grand Lodge Calendar for 1881 , and without taking any account of the Lodges for which warrants have dnce been granted , there have been constituted between- the
years 1875 and 1880 , both inclusive , no less than 359 Lodges , giving an average annual addition to the roll of Grand Lodge of sixty Lodges . Bat Freemasonry is continually advancing in other countries in which our Grand Master cannot possibly claim to exercise any influence
whatever , ancl hence , no doubt , Lord Tenterden ' s hesitation to accept the Grand Mastership of the Prince of Wales as a satisfactory explanation of- Masonic progress latterly . His Lordship next glanced at another reason which is frequently assigned , namely , that Freemasonry "leads to
pleasant dinners and social gatherings . " This , however , he dismisses curtly with the remark , that " in the days w ^ en conviviality , singing Bacchanalian choruses , and drinking endless toasts , were the fashion , and the popular
idea of a Freemason , as illustrated by Hogarth , was a man in a fantastic apron staggering home afc early morning , Freemasonry made comparatively little pi'ogress . " We quite agree with his lordship that , " pleasant dinners and social gatherings , " thongh they cannot have failed to exer-
Lord Tenterden On Masonic Progress.
cise a certain influence on the fortunes of the Craft , will , not by themselves , account for its progress . At the same time , with all respect for his lordship ' s opinion , we must point out that our countrymen were known for their convivial habits during all the years which elapsed from the
establishment of Grand Lodge in 1717 to ( say ) the end of the reign of George IV . in 1830 . Yet in that time Masonry extended , from a few Lodges in London and York , as well as in other parts of the United Kingdom , to many hundreds , spread all over the civilised world . France ,
Germany , the Netherlands , Sweden , Denmark , and other European countries received the Craffc from us ; so did our North American colonies , now the United States , and Canada ; so did India and other parts . If we look to the
roll of our Grand Lodge , we shall see there are only 300 Lodges yet remaining , which were established before the Union of 1813 , and not quite 500 which were constituted before the death of the Duke of Sussex in 1843 . But in order
to forma correct estimate of what was done in the course of those years , we must take account of the numerous Lodges in foreign countries , which received their warrants in the first instance from our Grand Lodge , to say nothing of those which owed their allegiance primarily to tbe Grand
Lodges of Ireland and Scotland . The war of American Independence led to the severance of the Masonic ties existing between the States of the American Union and the United Kingdom . The same result attended the establishment of Grand Lodges in tbe various European States .
Later still , the erection of Canada into a separate and independent Masonic power further reduced the Lodges on our roll . All this mast be considered in forming an estimate of the progress made by the Craft from 1717 , as well as the fact thafc at the commencement of any enterprise
the progress is ordinarily slow , and the extent of thafc progress correspondingly less appreciable . But , as nothing succeeds like success , so when the enterprise has attained a certain degree of stability , the work ordinarily proceeds thenceforward overwhelmingly . We fancy Lord
Tenterden has hardly made sufficient allowance for the difficulties with which the Grand Lodge of 1717 , like all novel institutions , was surrounded , or for the dissensions which broke out in the Craft about 1738 , and led ultimately to the establishment of a rival Grand Lodge . Had he done this ,
we think ifc is probable he would have viewed the progress of the Craft during the convivial period of our history somewhat more favourably . However , we are of his opinion that the true explanation lies in the fact that Freemasonry is a Charitable Institution , not in the narrowest , bufc in the widest sense of the term . The Masonic
Charities , of which we have so great reason to be proud , are only a subordinate part of our system . They are only one of many results which Masonry seeks to attain . As Lord Tenterden points out , and it is impossible any one could have done so more precisely or correctly ,
" nofc only must a Freemason have ' a tear for pity , and a hand open as day for _ melting charity , ' but he is bound by his Masonic obligations to exercise the spirit and brotherly love towards all mankind , and especially towards his brethren in Freemasonry . " Herein lies
the gist of the whole matter . "It is very often much easier to give a sovereign than to forgive an injury . Freemasonry teaches us not only to succour the distressed , but to exercise universal toleration , and to receive and treat as
brethren men of all races and creeds who join us in recognising the landmarks of our Order , the duties we owe to the Most High , to our Fraternity , ancl to the Queen . " There ia no question as to this being the real aim , as it is