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Correspondence.
founded is without a friendly advocate , and , consequently , the kindly remarks of tho FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , 13 th December , demand my gratitude . Thafc journal has seen fit to advise on former occasions , and the advice so given has not been neglected by me . I cordially accept every word of its editorial comment of 13 th Dec , and shall follow out the suggestionsgiven . I do sincerely hope thafc tho Provincial
Grand Lodges will each find some earnest Past Master , imbued with the samo sentiments en this subject as myself , to be their representatives on my Committee . The work I have undertaken , so far , has not only occupied my fullest leisure for a long period , but has occasioned me some expense , and I should prefer not to be obliged , of necessity , to bo at more labour and cost in bringing tho matter before
tho Provincial Grand Lodges , by circulars and other means , if that object conld be attained by tho voluntary action of Provincial Grand Officers or other Provincial Past Masters . Verbum sat sapienti . I shall be glad to hear from any such . In the same number of the FREEMASON ' S CiiRONrcLE ( 13 th Dec . ) is a letter from Bro . While , the seconder of Bro . Woodford ' s
amendment , in respect of which I may say , for my own justification , that ho misrepresents mo in stating that " the critic refused to be criticised . " Not so ; I challenge and approve of criticism . It is the very salt of argumentation . But facts , if yon please , not fallacies . Aud in tho lack of facts lies the impropriety of this letter . I shonld say one of the improprieties , for thero aro many . It is not proper , Bro . While ,
nor is it politic , to suggest that any of the audience on tho occasion referred to had the quality of tbe "bear" about them ,- nor to suggest that " intolerance" was shown by correcting your palpable errors ; nor , recognising your own occupation , to sneer at " amateur reporters ; " nor to make a " clumsy jest , " which , having the eccentricity of a boomerang , could fly back and strike tho striker . Bro .
While , tho " rancour of my wrath " is mildness itself . Why try to break a poor butterfly on such a ponderous wheel as that of your own acknowledged literary ability ? But there , as you say , at Grand Lodge you , " indeed , conveyed more than you intended ; " so now perh ' ap ' g yon have written more than yon intended . "Indeed" I think you have . Therefore you are forgiven ; go and sin no more .
I . now reach the correspondence contained in tho Freemason 20 th December , and first deal with Bro . Woodford ' s letter . It commences by a . "hi quoque , " directed against Bro . Perceval , who tlierebv finds that his expectation of getting a rap over tho knuckles for venturing to support my cause is promptly realised . Our Brother AVoodford says he always objects to " tu quoques , " but on my word I think lie introduces more such into his writings than any one [
know ; and I am bound to say—and if ho is the man he represents himself to be , ho will forgive my saying—that to differ from him on any point is to lay oneself open to all sorts of invective , sometimes veiled iu apparent courtesy , but ofteneriude and harsh to an nnneccssnry degree . But . that ' s not the present affair ! The question is tho "logic" of Bro . AVoodford , not his stylo . AVell , in thafc regard , arc ! having reference to his speech at Grand Lodsje , I refer him and
your readeis to the letter ot T . It ., P . M . < £ c , Cornwall , " which singularly enough appears in tbo FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE of same dale ( 20 th December ) . If that does not answer tlio question , 1 do not know what will . Pro . AVoodford says that Bro . Perceval has not vet clearl y understood what his argument was , and I don't wonder at ' it . 1 have not yet found any one who does : not even Bro . Whi ' e , tho
sccoi . dcr of his amendment , clever as that brother is in savin" - nil find ' n Utile more , than ho intends io say . Then liro . Bu . luuhatn -who thought lit to rise in his place , aud object to Bro . AVoodford ' s statement that the Lodges in the Provinces would not conform to the directions of Graud Lodgo as to working , & c , gets his epithet , hasty , "hasty remarks ! " as if there was always in Grand Lodge ample
time allowed for the utterance of our thoughts iu a deliberate aud "don't hurry yourself" manner . Is there anything done in Grand Lodge ' which , if it takes more than a very limited amount of time to discuss , is not obstructed by cries of " question , " and " vote , " or " divide " ? How then can the necessarily immediate denial of an assertion made in course of debate be p operly designated as hasty ?
But hasty or not , Bro . Bodenham is right . The Provincial Lodges are every whit as loyal as those of the Metropolis , and Bro . AVoodford docs not do justice when he speaks in such general terms in re » -ard to them . Even those who adopt the practices that others ' condemn err , I believe , more from the want of a reference to standard authority than from any intention to depart from what is recognised
as fit and proper . Aud this remark brings me to a direct denial of the suggested inferences of both Bro . AVoodford aud Bro . John Neilson ( Freemason , 20 th Dec . ) that I know nothing of the practices I have exposed in Grand Lodge . I repeat , and I cannot do more than a <* ain and again emphatically repeat , pledging my Masonic honour , ° and undertaking to name , in proper place , where I havo witnessed some
of them , and before which Provincial Grand Master ; that without any exaggeration whatever , pardonable or otherwise , I lave represented facts within my own experience . Does Bro . Neilson think no man travels but himself ? I have nothing to say about Lodges under other Constitutions than that of England ; and the English provinces have been enough for me , without the trouble of crossing St . George ' s Channel to observe what I know would further raise my indignation .
il malpractices are to lie totind here , and whatever may be Bro . AVoodford ' s opinion as to the present agitation , " landing us in a region of ' cribs and crams , ' or helping to make the fortune oi ' 'accommodating brethren '" ( what are they ?) , I believe that those who took care to carry my motion will , despite all his beseeching aud prayerful appeals , his denouncement of the inquiry to bo made , and Ida hard words against all who do not agrou with him , remain staunch , and seo that tho Committee is appointed in due coarse .
" Nothing is done whilst , aught remains to do . " There is but one other letter unnoticed . It is that of " Ono who was in Grand Lodge" ( Freemason , 20 ih Dec . ) . As its first paragraph contains two—well , untruth * , and its last a promise to " recur to the subject on another occasion , " I'll give tho " Anonymous '"
Correspondence.
author rope enough before I further notice him . He mag hang himself , and save mo an unpleasant operation . I fear I have greatly intruded on your space , and this letter has extended beyond oven the anticipated length ; therefore I hasten to conclude . If no better arguments than thoso which have beeu hitherto advanced can bo found to support the opposition to tho measure I advocate , I have no fear for tho result . AVhen it becomes
necessary to depart from logical deductions , to misrepresent facts even to the extent of mendacity , and to suggest interested motives in order to discredit a movement having for its object the reformation of acknowledged evils , the opponents thereof must bo driven into a sad strait indeed . Such , I maintain , is the position of those against whoso endeavours I now appeal to the general body of earnest Freemasons for continued assistance in making the resolution of
Grand Lodge on tho 3 rd inst . complete , and aiding me in the formation of a satisfactory Committee to carry out the inquiry , and present its report . Yours faithfully and fraternally , Clapham , 23 rd December 1879 . JAMES STEVENS .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .
DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I should much like , as a matter of curiosity and interest , to pay a visit to the Lodges of some of those excellent brethreu who are so strong in their opposition to any idea of Masonic Uniformity . I imagine , a priori , that their Lodges , at any rate , are quite freo from the innovations of which those who hold the
opposite view complain . It has not probably been their lot , after twenty-five years' service in the Craft , and famili-r rcquaintance with the working of such Lodges as tho Alfred , at Oxford—0 si sic omncs !—to find themselves associated with a Lodge which nofc only indulges in variations of tho kind complained of , and defends them , but insists on ifc that their Ritual is the only true , genuine and correcb
form , and that all others are spurious . And the most amusing part of all is , thafc this assertion is made by brethren who , from no fault of their own , know absolutely nothing of Masonic Ritual as ifc isi'racfcised in Lodges of the highest standing iu the Craft . " My dear brother , I assure you that this , and that , and the other are not done in the Burlington Lodgo , or iu the Bank of England Lodge , or in tho Alfred , or in a dozen other Lodges of high repute ,
which I have visited and could name . " " I don't know anything about that , " is the answer ; "but so much the worse for them ! " " But this very question has been referred to the Grand Secretary , and tho practice I complain of has been condemned by him !" " Pooh ! Grand Secretary I AVhat have wo got to do with him ? " I assure you , Dear Sir and Brother , this is noimaginary conversation , but a record of almost tho identical words which have been used to
myselt on more than one occasion . A P . M . in my own neighbourhood was present in Prov . Grand Lodge , not long since , when the wearing of illegal jewels was especially forbidden by the Prov . G . M . ; but what cares ho P If he chooses to wear his Mark jewel , & c , ho does so ,, and will do so—as Sam AVollcr says— "Lot ev ' rythin and cv ' rybody do their werv fiercest . "
And this is an illustration of the fidelity and obedience so " peculiarly and forcibly" impressed on young Masons at their initiation . I venture to think taut it is high time that some attempt , nt any rate , shonld bo made to tench the rulers of the Craft in such Lodges that tho Book of Constitutions and the ruling of the authorities is binding on all Lodges , and on all Masons , of whatever rank .
It vexes me , Dear Sir and Brother , to see—month after month , and in spite of protests—the Masonic ceremonies thus tampered with . And I , for one , look forward to the result of this agitation for Unifortuity with hope , in spite of tho protestations of its usolessness and futility . All good success wait upon Bro . Stevens and the plucky brethren who support him ! I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours very fraternally , P . P . J . G . AV .
DEVON EDUCATIONAL FUND .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I beg to forward you a copy of the Western Daily Mercury , in which yon will see a report of the Devon Educational Fund , and I shall bo glad if you could givo insertion to ifc in yonr columns , as I think it a very important Institution , and one that will do a great public good , and it is especially worthy of notice
by brethren in tbo provinces at a time when ifc is proposed , in London , to expend a very large amount of money in the purchasing of a house with a small quantity of ground for the Girls' Institution . It will bo seen that an immense amount of good is being done in the country , by an economical expenditure , for the benefit of the widows and orphans of deceased Masons . AVe have , on former occasions ,
contributed largely , and shall probably still continue to do so , to the great Institutions of London ; but , finding that our children had to contest for the benefits of these Institutions with all the other Lodges in the kingdom , and that it took a great deal of money and a greau deal of personal exertion to get children elected , wo determined upon tlio adoption of * a system of educating and sustaining : our children at
home . The plan wo have adopted is this : we have obtained subscriptions throughout tho Province , and twice a year we proceed to rhc election of as many children as the fnndswill allow , and we give to tlio children soolccted an education nt somo school near their own homes , which the Committee may select , with the approval of tho relatives of the child . Wc also give to the mother , or the nearest friend , some money to sustain and clothe the child . By this means we are able to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
founded is without a friendly advocate , and , consequently , the kindly remarks of tho FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , 13 th December , demand my gratitude . Thafc journal has seen fit to advise on former occasions , and the advice so given has not been neglected by me . I cordially accept every word of its editorial comment of 13 th Dec , and shall follow out the suggestionsgiven . I do sincerely hope thafc tho Provincial
Grand Lodges will each find some earnest Past Master , imbued with the samo sentiments en this subject as myself , to be their representatives on my Committee . The work I have undertaken , so far , has not only occupied my fullest leisure for a long period , but has occasioned me some expense , and I should prefer not to be obliged , of necessity , to bo at more labour and cost in bringing tho matter before
tho Provincial Grand Lodges , by circulars and other means , if that object conld be attained by tho voluntary action of Provincial Grand Officers or other Provincial Past Masters . Verbum sat sapienti . I shall be glad to hear from any such . In the same number of the FREEMASON ' S CiiRONrcLE ( 13 th Dec . ) is a letter from Bro . While , the seconder of Bro . Woodford ' s
amendment , in respect of which I may say , for my own justification , that ho misrepresents mo in stating that " the critic refused to be criticised . " Not so ; I challenge and approve of criticism . It is the very salt of argumentation . But facts , if yon please , not fallacies . Aud in tho lack of facts lies the impropriety of this letter . I shonld say one of the improprieties , for thero aro many . It is not proper , Bro . While ,
nor is it politic , to suggest that any of the audience on tho occasion referred to had the quality of tbe "bear" about them ,- nor to suggest that " intolerance" was shown by correcting your palpable errors ; nor , recognising your own occupation , to sneer at " amateur reporters ; " nor to make a " clumsy jest , " which , having the eccentricity of a boomerang , could fly back and strike tho striker . Bro .
While , tho " rancour of my wrath " is mildness itself . Why try to break a poor butterfly on such a ponderous wheel as that of your own acknowledged literary ability ? But there , as you say , at Grand Lodge you , " indeed , conveyed more than you intended ; " so now perh ' ap ' g yon have written more than yon intended . "Indeed" I think you have . Therefore you are forgiven ; go and sin no more .
I . now reach the correspondence contained in tho Freemason 20 th December , and first deal with Bro . Woodford ' s letter . It commences by a . "hi quoque , " directed against Bro . Perceval , who tlierebv finds that his expectation of getting a rap over tho knuckles for venturing to support my cause is promptly realised . Our Brother AVoodford says he always objects to " tu quoques , " but on my word I think lie introduces more such into his writings than any one [
know ; and I am bound to say—and if ho is the man he represents himself to be , ho will forgive my saying—that to differ from him on any point is to lay oneself open to all sorts of invective , sometimes veiled iu apparent courtesy , but ofteneriude and harsh to an nnneccssnry degree . But . that ' s not the present affair ! The question is tho "logic" of Bro . AVoodford , not his stylo . AVell , in thafc regard , arc ! having reference to his speech at Grand Lodsje , I refer him and
your readeis to the letter ot T . It ., P . M . < £ c , Cornwall , " which singularly enough appears in tbo FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE of same dale ( 20 th December ) . If that does not answer tlio question , 1 do not know what will . Pro . AVoodford says that Bro . Perceval has not vet clearl y understood what his argument was , and I don't wonder at ' it . 1 have not yet found any one who does : not even Bro . Whi ' e , tho
sccoi . dcr of his amendment , clever as that brother is in savin" - nil find ' n Utile more , than ho intends io say . Then liro . Bu . luuhatn -who thought lit to rise in his place , aud object to Bro . AVoodford ' s statement that the Lodges in the Provinces would not conform to the directions of Graud Lodgo as to working , & c , gets his epithet , hasty , "hasty remarks ! " as if there was always in Grand Lodge ample
time allowed for the utterance of our thoughts iu a deliberate aud "don't hurry yourself" manner . Is there anything done in Grand Lodge ' which , if it takes more than a very limited amount of time to discuss , is not obstructed by cries of " question , " and " vote , " or " divide " ? How then can the necessarily immediate denial of an assertion made in course of debate be p operly designated as hasty ?
But hasty or not , Bro . Bodenham is right . The Provincial Lodges are every whit as loyal as those of the Metropolis , and Bro . AVoodford docs not do justice when he speaks in such general terms in re » -ard to them . Even those who adopt the practices that others ' condemn err , I believe , more from the want of a reference to standard authority than from any intention to depart from what is recognised
as fit and proper . Aud this remark brings me to a direct denial of the suggested inferences of both Bro . AVoodford aud Bro . John Neilson ( Freemason , 20 th Dec . ) that I know nothing of the practices I have exposed in Grand Lodge . I repeat , and I cannot do more than a <* ain and again emphatically repeat , pledging my Masonic honour , ° and undertaking to name , in proper place , where I havo witnessed some
of them , and before which Provincial Grand Master ; that without any exaggeration whatever , pardonable or otherwise , I lave represented facts within my own experience . Does Bro . Neilson think no man travels but himself ? I have nothing to say about Lodges under other Constitutions than that of England ; and the English provinces have been enough for me , without the trouble of crossing St . George ' s Channel to observe what I know would further raise my indignation .
il malpractices are to lie totind here , and whatever may be Bro . AVoodford ' s opinion as to the present agitation , " landing us in a region of ' cribs and crams , ' or helping to make the fortune oi ' 'accommodating brethren '" ( what are they ?) , I believe that those who took care to carry my motion will , despite all his beseeching aud prayerful appeals , his denouncement of the inquiry to bo made , and Ida hard words against all who do not agrou with him , remain staunch , and seo that tho Committee is appointed in due coarse .
" Nothing is done whilst , aught remains to do . " There is but one other letter unnoticed . It is that of " Ono who was in Grand Lodge" ( Freemason , 20 ih Dec . ) . As its first paragraph contains two—well , untruth * , and its last a promise to " recur to the subject on another occasion , " I'll give tho " Anonymous '"
Correspondence.
author rope enough before I further notice him . He mag hang himself , and save mo an unpleasant operation . I fear I have greatly intruded on your space , and this letter has extended beyond oven the anticipated length ; therefore I hasten to conclude . If no better arguments than thoso which have beeu hitherto advanced can bo found to support the opposition to tho measure I advocate , I have no fear for tho result . AVhen it becomes
necessary to depart from logical deductions , to misrepresent facts even to the extent of mendacity , and to suggest interested motives in order to discredit a movement having for its object the reformation of acknowledged evils , the opponents thereof must bo driven into a sad strait indeed . Such , I maintain , is the position of those against whoso endeavours I now appeal to the general body of earnest Freemasons for continued assistance in making the resolution of
Grand Lodge on tho 3 rd inst . complete , and aiding me in the formation of a satisfactory Committee to carry out the inquiry , and present its report . Yours faithfully and fraternally , Clapham , 23 rd December 1879 . JAMES STEVENS .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .
DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I should much like , as a matter of curiosity and interest , to pay a visit to the Lodges of some of those excellent brethreu who are so strong in their opposition to any idea of Masonic Uniformity . I imagine , a priori , that their Lodges , at any rate , are quite freo from the innovations of which those who hold the
opposite view complain . It has not probably been their lot , after twenty-five years' service in the Craft , and famili-r rcquaintance with the working of such Lodges as tho Alfred , at Oxford—0 si sic omncs !—to find themselves associated with a Lodge which nofc only indulges in variations of tho kind complained of , and defends them , but insists on ifc that their Ritual is the only true , genuine and correcb
form , and that all others are spurious . And the most amusing part of all is , thafc this assertion is made by brethren who , from no fault of their own , know absolutely nothing of Masonic Ritual as ifc isi'racfcised in Lodges of the highest standing iu the Craft . " My dear brother , I assure you that this , and that , and the other are not done in the Burlington Lodgo , or iu the Bank of England Lodge , or in tho Alfred , or in a dozen other Lodges of high repute ,
which I have visited and could name . " " I don't know anything about that , " is the answer ; "but so much the worse for them ! " " But this very question has been referred to the Grand Secretary , and tho practice I complain of has been condemned by him !" " Pooh ! Grand Secretary I AVhat have wo got to do with him ? " I assure you , Dear Sir and Brother , this is noimaginary conversation , but a record of almost tho identical words which have been used to
myselt on more than one occasion . A P . M . in my own neighbourhood was present in Prov . Grand Lodge , not long since , when the wearing of illegal jewels was especially forbidden by the Prov . G . M . ; but what cares ho P If he chooses to wear his Mark jewel , & c , ho does so ,, and will do so—as Sam AVollcr says— "Lot ev ' rythin and cv ' rybody do their werv fiercest . "
And this is an illustration of the fidelity and obedience so " peculiarly and forcibly" impressed on young Masons at their initiation . I venture to think taut it is high time that some attempt , nt any rate , shonld bo made to tench the rulers of the Craft in such Lodges that tho Book of Constitutions and the ruling of the authorities is binding on all Lodges , and on all Masons , of whatever rank .
It vexes me , Dear Sir and Brother , to see—month after month , and in spite of protests—the Masonic ceremonies thus tampered with . And I , for one , look forward to the result of this agitation for Unifortuity with hope , in spite of tho protestations of its usolessness and futility . All good success wait upon Bro . Stevens and the plucky brethren who support him ! I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours very fraternally , P . P . J . G . AV .
DEVON EDUCATIONAL FUND .
To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I beg to forward you a copy of the Western Daily Mercury , in which yon will see a report of the Devon Educational Fund , and I shall bo glad if you could givo insertion to ifc in yonr columns , as I think it a very important Institution , and one that will do a great public good , and it is especially worthy of notice
by brethren in tbo provinces at a time when ifc is proposed , in London , to expend a very large amount of money in the purchasing of a house with a small quantity of ground for the Girls' Institution . It will bo seen that an immense amount of good is being done in the country , by an economical expenditure , for the benefit of the widows and orphans of deceased Masons . AVe have , on former occasions ,
contributed largely , and shall probably still continue to do so , to the great Institutions of London ; but , finding that our children had to contest for the benefits of these Institutions with all the other Lodges in the kingdom , and that it took a great deal of money and a greau deal of personal exertion to get children elected , wo determined upon tlio adoption of * a system of educating and sustaining : our children at
home . The plan wo have adopted is this : we have obtained subscriptions throughout tho Province , and twice a year we proceed to rhc election of as many children as the fnndswill allow , and we give to tlio children soolccted an education nt somo school near their own homes , which the Committee may select , with the approval of tho relatives of the child . Wc also give to the mother , or the nearest friend , some money to sustain and clothe the child . By this means we are able to