Ad00705

THE LONDON MUTUAL MASONIC VOTING ASSOCIATION . UNITY IS STRENGTH . The object in view in promoting the Association is to endeavour to establish in London a system that has met with great success in the Provinces , whereby Members ( should occasion require ) may look forward to a successful application to either of the Masonic Institutions ; and also to support deserving cases when sufficient Votes are in hand . The Committee will meet at No . 2 , YORK-STREET , ST . J AMES ' S-SOUARE , every THURSDAY in September and October , from 8 to 10 , to receive Votes and to give information to those desirous of joining or supporting the Association . By order . G . COOP , Hon . Sec . 44 Great Windmill-st ., Haymarket .

Ad00706

OUR EYES . BROWNING'S IMPROVED METHOD OF SUITING THE SIGHT WITH SPECTACLES either personally or by correspondence . Browning ' s axis-cut pebbles are the most perfect lenses made , being cut from pure crystals of Brazilian pebbles at right angles to the axis , and every lens tested separately by the polariscope . Spectacles of superior quality from 4 s . 6 d . per pair ; with pebble lenses in best steel frames , from ios . 6 d . per pair ; and in gold frames from £ 1 3 s . fid . Full particulars of Browning ' s Method of Suiting the Sight by correspondence , and testimonials post free .-JOHN BROWNING , C 3 ) Strand , London , W . C .

Ad00707

Naval , Military , and Tropical ^ ^^ T ^ BOOT MAKERS . ^ ^ - ^ QCJS ^^ ^igGJ^'21, ^ ^ ^ ~^ PICCADILLY , LONDON , W .

Ad00708

FlFNT , c V ILLUSTRATED J-ZXilN J . O CATALOGUE of HIGH-CLASS WATPTTTi ^ WATCHES and CLOCKS at VViiALTllHtf . REDUCED PRICES , sent post Jb ^^ \ A * free on application to E . DENT « jjSr \ % ft and Co ., Makers to the Queen , VTlFNTv 6 l « STRAND , LONDON , W . C , S UfcWi X or A > ROYAL EXCHANGE .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

Correspondents arc particularly requested to write on ONE side o £ the paper only . The following communications stand over : The Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland . The Six-pointed Star and the Five-pointed Stars . The Craft Abroad .

BOOKS . & c „ RECEIVED . " Keystone , " *• English Illustrated Magazine , " * ' Saint John Globe , " "Light , " "The Child ' s Pictorial , " "Broad Arrow , " " Citizen , " " Forbes' Directory and Bulletin , " cl Proceedings 01 the firand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of

Queensland , " " Victorian Masonic Journal , " " Charters Towers Herald , " " Masonic Chronicle , " ' * Freemason " ( Sydney ) , " Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Maine , " "La Chaine D'Union de Paris , " ** Jewish Chronicle , " " Die Bauhiitte , " " Newcastle Daily Journal , " "' Sunday Times" ( New York ) , " Hull Packet , " "Sunday Times" ( London ) .

Ar00709

^^re^ts^H . it ^ &^ yyy ^^ rTvyir ^^^^^^^^ l SATURDAY , AUG . 29 , 1885 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of the opinionsexpressedby our correspondents , but wewish in aspirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

MASONIC BENEFIT SOCIETY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Bro . Stevens will find some interesting particulars of the Masonic Benefit Society of 1 S 00 given in my History of 3 S 7 ( 1880 edition ) , pp . 13 and 14 , also on pp . 287 and 532 of Vol of the

. XV . Freemason . _ If Bro . Stevens would like to see the Rules and Regulations , & c , of said Society , I shall be pleased to send them for his perusal . I should esteem it a favour if he would send me the 570 Certificate he refers to for inspection . Jacobs Lodge became 589 at the Union , and was erased 5 th December , 1 S 27 . —Yours fraternally ,

n AC , v 1 u- , . J' RAMSDEN RILEY . Bradford , Yorkshire , 22 nd August .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , ? u , - he , etter of Bro - Stevens > P-M ., in your issue of * ne 22 nd inst ., called my attention to a certificate in my possession of fhe "Suffolk Masonic Society , " established > n Ipswich 1 S 06 , as follows :

This is to certify that Brother William Johnson was amy admitted a member of , and registered this iC day of September , A . L . 5840 , A . D . 1836 . Signed by the Chairman , John Pitcher , and Secretary , William Catchpole . " I _ have to-day seen one dated two years later , so that societ y existed in our town over 30 years . I am making enquiries to ascertain , if possible , further particulars , and

Original Correspondence.

I shall be very pleased to send them to you , should you deem them of interest . I enclose the following extract from Clarke's History of Ipswich , 1 S 30 , page 116 , referring to the election of C . A . Crickett , and Sir John D'Oyley , June iSth , 1790 . — "A great deal of money was spent at this election . Sir John D'Oyley had just returned from India with a handsome

fortune ; and he , in the most honourable manner , paid off the debts of his deceased father , who had but a very small estate . This praiseworthy conduct added much to his popularity , and a stratagem was resorted to that tended greatly to secure the freemen in his favour . A person of the name of Noah Sibley , a man of some parts and oratory , established a club or society , at a house in St . Clements ,

purporting to be a particular branch of Freemasonry , called the Good Samaritans , or the Arch Masons . The oath of introduction was binding on every member to unite together in brotherly love and friendship , and to assist each other as much as possible on every occasion . The young freemen in particular were artfully seduced and wheedled to enter as members into this Fraternity , and , as Sir John D'Oyley

was a brother Samaritan , they became bound by their oath to support him . Their public exhibitions were attended with much ceremony in their various processions through the town , when a model of Noah's Ark and a variety of insignia and banners were displayed , and bands of music

played before them ; and every evening , for a considerable length of time , this Society celebrated the midnight orgies with great spirit and festivity , and , doubtless , it was the means of placing Sir John at the head of the poll . " I remain , yours fraternally , August 24 th , N . TRACY .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , No doubt the documents referred to in Bro . James Stevens's letter of last week have some value , as a kind of benefit society was established in connection with Freemasonry under the auspices of the " Moderns . " There is a pretty long account given of itin Preston's " Illustrations

of Masonry , " in which it is described as having been instituted " for the relief of sick , aged , and imprisoned brethren , and for the protection of their widows , children , and orphans . " It enjoyed the patronage of the " Prince of Wales , the Earl of Moira , and all the other acting officers of the Grand Lodge , who , in order to render its advantages more generally known , particularly

recommended it to all the Provincial Grand Masters in their several districts . " Great care was taken in the selection of members , and in the course of the year 1 S 00 it must have been , financially , in a very prosperous state , as Preston says , "Above 3000 names are enrolled , and the subscriptions already received amount to several thousand pounds . The funds have also considerably increased , not only by

many voluntary donations from a number of eminent brethren who have patronised the Charity , but by the addition of one guinea to the first annual subscription having been paid by every member admitted since the 25 th of June , 1 S 00 . " What subsequently became of the Society I do not know , but as other of your readers may be in the same position of ignorance as to its existence as Bro .

Stevens , I append in full from Preston his " abstract of the Rules and Orders of the Society . " "Any brother of fair character being a subscribing member of a regular lodge under the Constitution of England , and recommended by a member of this Society who is Master of a lodge , is capable of admission . ' * No person above forty-five years of age is admitted a

member of this Society , unless he give proper security that he will not become chargeable in his own person to the fund ; which , though under this restriction , shall always be liable to the provisions for his widow and children after his decease . " The subscription is one guinea per annum ; and at the end of twenty-four months theKsubscriber becomes a free

member , and is entitled to all the benefits ot the Society . " Members when sick , lame , or blind , are to be entitled to fourteen shillings per week . " Members in reduced circumstances , and imprisoned for debt , are to be allowed a sum not exceeding four shillings per week , if found not unworthy of aid . " Members who , through old age , become incapable of

earning their living , are to be allowed six shillings per week till the first General Court ; and afterwards such a pension for life as their situation may require and the funds of the Society will admit . " The widows of members , if their circumstances require it , are to be allowed the sum of four shillings per week for their support , and two shillings per week for every lawful

child under twelve years of age . " The orphans of members , not otherwise provided for , are to be entitled to the sum of four shillings per week for their maintenance , and a further sum at a proper age as an apprentice fee . " A General Court of all the Subscribers is to be held

once a year , to fill up any vacancy which may have happened among the trustees , choose [ committee men , make by-laws , & c . The other affairs of the Society are to be managed by a quarterly and monthly Committee , a Committee of Auditors , and an Actuary . " Fraternally yours , O . E . D .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In answer to ; . letter in your last issue , headed " Masonic Benefit Society , " by Bro . James Stevens , P . M ., P . Z ., I herewith beg to tender the information he requires . In the year 179 S a society called "The Freemasons' Sick and Benefit Club " ( not Masonic Benefit Society ) was

established in London under the distinguished patronage of his Royal Highness tGeorge , Prince of Wales , the Earl of Moira , and all the other acting officers of the Grand Lodge . It was sanctioned by an Act of Parliament in the year after , i . e ., 1799 , and whose object was * ' the relief of the sick , aged , and imprisoned brethren , and the protection of their widows , children , and orphans . " The payment of one guinea per annum entitled every member , when sick or

destitute , or his widow and orphans , in case of his death , to a fixed contribution . No member was received after fortyfive years of age , or who was not a contributing member of a lodge ; the allowance to sick members was three shillings a day ; ten pounds were appropriated to pay the funeral expenses of a deceased member , and five pounds those of a member ' s wife j on the death of a member a gratuity was given to his family j ten per cent , of all fees

Original Correspondence.

and dues was appropriated to an orphan fund ; and it was contemplated , if the funds would justify , to pension the widows of deceased members , if their circumstances required it . The Earl of Moira was for some time Chairman of the Committee , and W . Harmany , Actuary , which stood for Honorary or Acting Secretary , 1 premise . The Institution had by-laws framed , held regular meetings , there were fines levied , change of officers , & c . ; their meetings were fortni

ghtly , and held at the Goose and Gridiron , St . Paul ' s Churchyard . The society existed as late as 1 S 27 . Further reflection and a more careful investigation of the principles of our Order have convinced me that the establishment in lodges of such benefit funds as are described in the last parapraph , are in opposition to the pure system of . Masonic Charity . They have , therefore , been very properly discouraged by several Grand Lodges . Benefit

funds of this kind have , until very lately , been unknown to the Masons of America ; theContinental Masons never had them . But in America several lodges have established since 1 SG 0 a fund for the purpose—for instance , the Lodge of Strict Observance in the Citv of New York , and others in Troy , Ballston , Schenectady , & c , have adopted benefit funds . In 1 S 44 and 1 S 73 several members of the lodges in

Louisville , Kentucky , & c , organised a society with branch lodges under the title of " The Friendly Sons ' of St . John . " The society was constructed after the model of the English society already mentioned . *—I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , LOUIS HESPIRADOUX , P . M . 244 . St . Aubin's , Jersey , 23 rd August .

A Correction.

A CORRECTION .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Allow me to correct "A Freemason " saying in his letter to you in last week ' s number of the Freemason , that the Order of St . John of Jerusalem is not a Masonic Order . I will , therefore , first call his attention to this historical fact : According to a tradition of the Rose Croix , 27 , 000 of

the descendants of the Masons , who , at the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus , had lied to Scotland , being desirous of uniting in the war of the Crusaders , obtained permission of the Scotch monarch , and , on their arrival in Palestine , performed so many deeds of valour as to attract the admiration of the Knights of St . John of Jerusalem , who , as a token of their esteem , requested to be initiated into the Masonic Order , whence arose the first connection of that body with

the Freemasons , and since that event of their amalgamation have ever remained a ( strictly speaking ) Masonic Order of Knighthood . Originally , I willingly admit , they were but Knights of a Military and Religious Order , and wherefrom I may be allowed to give the proof by stating who and what the Knights of St . John of Jerusalem were . The founder of this Order was St . John the Almoner , and it is , by-the-by , to this saint to whom

Encampments of Knights Templars are dedicated . He was the son of the King of Cyprus , and was born in that island in the sixth century . He was elected patriarch of Alexandria , and has been canonized by both the Greek and Roman churches—his festival among the former occurring on the nth of November , and among the latter on the 23 rd of January . A short time ago I read in Bazot a manual of Freemasonry , published in 1 S 11 , at Paris , some ten

pages about this remarkable institution of Masonic Chivalry . t Bazot thinks even , that it is this saint , and not St . John the Evangelist , or St . John the Baptist , who is meant as the true patron of our Order . " He quitted his country and the hope of a throne , " says this author , "to go to Jerusalem , that he might generously aid and assist the Knights and Pilgrims . " " He founded a hospital and organized a fraternity to attend upon sick and wounded

Christians , and to bestow pecuniary aid upon the pilgrims who visited the Holy Sepulchre . St . John , who was worthy to become the patron of a society whose only object is charity , exposed his life a thousand times in the cause of virtue . Neither war , nor pestilence , nor the fury of the infidels could deter him from pursuits of benevolence . But death at length arrested him in the midst of his labours . Yet he left the example of his virtues to the brethren , who

have made it their duty to endeavour to imitate him . Rome canonized him under the name of St . John the Almoner , orj St . John of Jerusalem ; and the Masons , whose temples , overthrown by the barbarians , he had caused to be rebuilt , selected him with one accord as their patron , " so say the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , c . ii ., sect . I . I may here safely assert that it is an Order of Knighthood , and the only genuine one in connection

with Masonry , as in it there is an intimate connection between the Sword and the Trowel , which is indeed wanting in the others . Here we have the true Knight Templars and their offsprings , such as the Rose Croix , or , which is the same , Rose Croix de Herodom , ( not to be confounded with the Rosicrucians or Brothers of the Rosy Cross ) , the Kadoshes , Knights of Malta—mark here that the Knights of St . John of Jerusalem , better

known as the Hospitallers of St . John , who were afterwards called Knights of Rhodes , and finally Knights of Malta , were founded about the commencement of the Crusades , and , I positively allow , then as a merely Military and Religious Order . In 104 S some pious merchants , being Freemasons , from Amalli , in the Kingdom of Naples , built a church and monastery at Jerusalem , which they dedicated

to St . John the Almoner . The monks were initiated into the mysteries , and hence called Brothers of St . John , or Hospitallers . They meet in Priories , and Knights of Malta in Encampments , but not in Chapters as " A Freemason" states . There is a Priory held at Beyrouth and another at Lattakia , and there are others in Syria . It has made a good spread in Europeand particularly in England , and is called The Great Priory of the United , Religiou ; , and