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Article Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland. ← Page 2 of 2 Article Masonry over the border. Page 1 of 2 →
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Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumberland.
And while appreciating the splendid work of our deceased right worshipful brother , and still mourning his loss to Freemasonry at large , it is with great expectation and real confidence that we welcome the accession to power in the Northern County of our brother Major Burdon , who , in 1892 ,
when he was appointed by Viscount Ridley , so ably served the county Freemasons as Provincial Senior Grand Warden . Bro . Burdon ' s Masonic progress has been rapid but wisely ordered and real . Indeed , it is just the record we like to see in one who may be called to a position of such rank and
responsibility . The danger which springs from the phenomenal prosperity of Freemasonry demands that enthusiasm and progress shall be linked with a thorough knowledge and appreciation of Masonic methods . Such conditions apply in a special sense and degree in the case of the new
Northumbrian Provincial Grand Master . Initiated in 1888 in St . Cuthbert ' s Lodge , No . 1902 , at Bedlington , Bro . Major Burdon passed on to the second and third degrees , and after serving as Inner Guard , Junior Warden , and Senior Warden , became Worshipful Master of his mother lodge .
He then took up the study of Mark Masonry and was advanced in the Tristram Lodge , December nth , 18 93 , and served in the same lodge as Overseer , etc . Upon the
consecration of the Hartford Lodge he became W . M ., and served as I . G . and S . W . in the Provincial Grand Lodge ( M . M . M . ) . from 18 99 to 1902 . He was exalted to the Royal Arch Degree in 18 9 8 , and serving lirst as Sojourner , etc ., he eventually occupied the chair of Z ., and also the post of H .,
in the Provincial Royal Arch Grand Chapter . We hear also that our Bro . Burdon is to be appointed Grand Superintendent of Northumberland Royal Arch Chapter , and is already Grand Deacon in the R . M . M . M . Grand Lodge . It will be seen at once from the foregoing that while
Bro . Major Burdon ' s motto appears to have been " Thorough " " in matters Masonic , he has already a brilliant record of attainment . And considering the prominence and emphasis given of late to both Mark and Royal Arch Masonry , it is probable that the accession of our Bro . Burdon may see a
still greater increase in the interest already taken in the work of these degrees . We are hoping that Masonic study will receive a very real impetus from the election to the highest position Northumbrian Masons can give , of one already experienced beyond the common , and yet young enough ,,
vigorous enough , and enthusiastic enough fcr another long period of splendid service . Vive le Roi !—J . G . G ., P . PROV . G . CHAP ., NORTHUJIHKRLAXD .
Masonry Over The Border.
Masonry over the border .
TT 7 E now propose to refer in some little detail to several of \/ y the grades and Orders referred to in our last article on this subject ( May , 1906 ) , and we commence with the Secret Monitor , perhaps the youngest of them . The youngest , that is to say , with a constitution , for the Order nourished as
a '' side show" in the United Slates for a long time before it became known in this country . It is not dependent on any other Order , nor does any other How from it . A few words as to its alleged antiquity . It is claimed that it lias existed in the United States for more than a centurv , and was originally
known as the Order of David and Jonathan . Some hold that the formation of this particular fraternal tie was due to the rebellion which in the 18 th Century led to the secession of the American Colonies . Brielly , the Order extends the Masonic obligation which enforces the duties of brothely love ,
relief and truth . It says in effect that our duty to a brother Mason is not exhausted when we have ministered to his material necessities . It is our duty to warn him when he appears to be embarking on a course of conduct which may lead to undesirable results , and incident !} ' prejudice his Masonic standing . No one will quarrel with this application
of the principle that prevention is better than cure . Students of Biblical history will remember that in the course of the friendship which existed between David and Jonathan , it became necessary to invent some form of warning whereby the former might be notified of any possible danger arising
from the jealousy of King Saul ( 1 Samuel xx . 18 , etc . ) .. This beautiful little story furnishes the Order with its legend and to some extent its ritual . As the latter is published by authority , and therefore is not unaccessible to the profane , there can be no impropriety in referring ( o it .
There are three degrees—Member of the Order , Prince of the Order , and Supreme Ruler . The processes of entry are respectively described as induction , admission and commission . The governing body comprises the Grand Supreme Ruler and eleven other officers , many of whom perform duties analogous to those of Grand Lodge officers . The G . S . R . may in addition
nominate four Councillors , one of whom shall be Grand Organist . The above , together with all Past Grand Officers , form what is called the Grand Council . This body meets every six months . Much more democratic is the Grand Conclave , which meets once a year . We might say in passing that all private " lodges " are described as " conclaves . " Grand Conclave comprises all members , present and past , of Grand
Council , all Grand Stewards , present and past , all past Supreme Rulers , and the four chief officers of every private conclave . Although widely spread , ( he number of conclaves is not sufficient to demand such local government as in the Craft is provided by Provincial and District Grand Lodges . The premier conclave is the " Alfred Meadows , " No . 1 , which
meets in London , No . 3 , is in Penang , and thence we go to Madras , Natal , Jamaica etc ., etc . There is no clothing which it is obligatory for brethren to wear , the insignia comprising jewels only , suspended by ribands which vary with the rank of the wearer . The
officers of private conclaves are the Supreme Ruler , Counsellor and Guide , corresponding with the Wardens , Secretary and Treasurer , Visiting Deacons not exceeding four , Director of Ceremonies , Guarder and Sentinel ( Inner and Outer Guard ) . It is interesting to note that the officers appointed by the
G . S . R . to assist him are described as Councillors , the difference according to etymologists being that the latter have only a corporate entity , the former are known individually . It would not occur to Ihe ordinary person to make these purist and subject distinctions . There is a peculiarity about the
ballot . For the fust degree , three black balls are fatal , but by-laws may reduce this number to two . For the second degree no number is specified , but on the contrary the provision exists , that " no person may be admitted a Prince of the Order , if any Prince object thereto . " Not necessarily
in a ballot box , and the objector is not necessarily a member of the conclave concerned . This provision is peculiar to the Order we are describing .
The sun never sets on the Secret Monitor . Its conclaves are scattered over the face of the whole earth . They are not many in number , but numbers are the last thing considered . The Order is as select in its way as is the A . & A . Rite , and a perusal of the names of distinguished brethren who have been admitted bears witness to the estimation in which it is held .
We find such names as Shadwell Clerke , C . F . Matier , W . W . B . Beach . Lord Halsbnry , the Earl of Warwick , G . Kenning , N . G . Philips , F . A . Philbrick , General J . Studholme Brownrigg , Frank Richardson , Richard Eve , Thomas Fenn , and a host of others no less distinguished . Whilst it is not
impossible for one to enter into Craft Masonry , whom with some better knowledge we should have kept out , no such excuse exists for admitting brethren to ( he concomitant Orders who are not to be a credit , for the members have the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Provincial Grand Lodge Of Northumberland.
And while appreciating the splendid work of our deceased right worshipful brother , and still mourning his loss to Freemasonry at large , it is with great expectation and real confidence that we welcome the accession to power in the Northern County of our brother Major Burdon , who , in 1892 ,
when he was appointed by Viscount Ridley , so ably served the county Freemasons as Provincial Senior Grand Warden . Bro . Burdon ' s Masonic progress has been rapid but wisely ordered and real . Indeed , it is just the record we like to see in one who may be called to a position of such rank and
responsibility . The danger which springs from the phenomenal prosperity of Freemasonry demands that enthusiasm and progress shall be linked with a thorough knowledge and appreciation of Masonic methods . Such conditions apply in a special sense and degree in the case of the new
Northumbrian Provincial Grand Master . Initiated in 1888 in St . Cuthbert ' s Lodge , No . 1902 , at Bedlington , Bro . Major Burdon passed on to the second and third degrees , and after serving as Inner Guard , Junior Warden , and Senior Warden , became Worshipful Master of his mother lodge .
He then took up the study of Mark Masonry and was advanced in the Tristram Lodge , December nth , 18 93 , and served in the same lodge as Overseer , etc . Upon the
consecration of the Hartford Lodge he became W . M ., and served as I . G . and S . W . in the Provincial Grand Lodge ( M . M . M . ) . from 18 99 to 1902 . He was exalted to the Royal Arch Degree in 18 9 8 , and serving lirst as Sojourner , etc ., he eventually occupied the chair of Z ., and also the post of H .,
in the Provincial Royal Arch Grand Chapter . We hear also that our Bro . Burdon is to be appointed Grand Superintendent of Northumberland Royal Arch Chapter , and is already Grand Deacon in the R . M . M . M . Grand Lodge . It will be seen at once from the foregoing that while
Bro . Major Burdon ' s motto appears to have been " Thorough " " in matters Masonic , he has already a brilliant record of attainment . And considering the prominence and emphasis given of late to both Mark and Royal Arch Masonry , it is probable that the accession of our Bro . Burdon may see a
still greater increase in the interest already taken in the work of these degrees . We are hoping that Masonic study will receive a very real impetus from the election to the highest position Northumbrian Masons can give , of one already experienced beyond the common , and yet young enough ,,
vigorous enough , and enthusiastic enough fcr another long period of splendid service . Vive le Roi !—J . G . G ., P . PROV . G . CHAP ., NORTHUJIHKRLAXD .
Masonry Over The Border.
Masonry over the border .
TT 7 E now propose to refer in some little detail to several of \/ y the grades and Orders referred to in our last article on this subject ( May , 1906 ) , and we commence with the Secret Monitor , perhaps the youngest of them . The youngest , that is to say , with a constitution , for the Order nourished as
a '' side show" in the United Slates for a long time before it became known in this country . It is not dependent on any other Order , nor does any other How from it . A few words as to its alleged antiquity . It is claimed that it lias existed in the United States for more than a centurv , and was originally
known as the Order of David and Jonathan . Some hold that the formation of this particular fraternal tie was due to the rebellion which in the 18 th Century led to the secession of the American Colonies . Brielly , the Order extends the Masonic obligation which enforces the duties of brothely love ,
relief and truth . It says in effect that our duty to a brother Mason is not exhausted when we have ministered to his material necessities . It is our duty to warn him when he appears to be embarking on a course of conduct which may lead to undesirable results , and incident !} ' prejudice his Masonic standing . No one will quarrel with this application
of the principle that prevention is better than cure . Students of Biblical history will remember that in the course of the friendship which existed between David and Jonathan , it became necessary to invent some form of warning whereby the former might be notified of any possible danger arising
from the jealousy of King Saul ( 1 Samuel xx . 18 , etc . ) .. This beautiful little story furnishes the Order with its legend and to some extent its ritual . As the latter is published by authority , and therefore is not unaccessible to the profane , there can be no impropriety in referring ( o it .
There are three degrees—Member of the Order , Prince of the Order , and Supreme Ruler . The processes of entry are respectively described as induction , admission and commission . The governing body comprises the Grand Supreme Ruler and eleven other officers , many of whom perform duties analogous to those of Grand Lodge officers . The G . S . R . may in addition
nominate four Councillors , one of whom shall be Grand Organist . The above , together with all Past Grand Officers , form what is called the Grand Council . This body meets every six months . Much more democratic is the Grand Conclave , which meets once a year . We might say in passing that all private " lodges " are described as " conclaves . " Grand Conclave comprises all members , present and past , of Grand
Council , all Grand Stewards , present and past , all past Supreme Rulers , and the four chief officers of every private conclave . Although widely spread , ( he number of conclaves is not sufficient to demand such local government as in the Craft is provided by Provincial and District Grand Lodges . The premier conclave is the " Alfred Meadows , " No . 1 , which
meets in London , No . 3 , is in Penang , and thence we go to Madras , Natal , Jamaica etc ., etc . There is no clothing which it is obligatory for brethren to wear , the insignia comprising jewels only , suspended by ribands which vary with the rank of the wearer . The
officers of private conclaves are the Supreme Ruler , Counsellor and Guide , corresponding with the Wardens , Secretary and Treasurer , Visiting Deacons not exceeding four , Director of Ceremonies , Guarder and Sentinel ( Inner and Outer Guard ) . It is interesting to note that the officers appointed by the
G . S . R . to assist him are described as Councillors , the difference according to etymologists being that the latter have only a corporate entity , the former are known individually . It would not occur to Ihe ordinary person to make these purist and subject distinctions . There is a peculiarity about the
ballot . For the fust degree , three black balls are fatal , but by-laws may reduce this number to two . For the second degree no number is specified , but on the contrary the provision exists , that " no person may be admitted a Prince of the Order , if any Prince object thereto . " Not necessarily
in a ballot box , and the objector is not necessarily a member of the conclave concerned . This provision is peculiar to the Order we are describing .
The sun never sets on the Secret Monitor . Its conclaves are scattered over the face of the whole earth . They are not many in number , but numbers are the last thing considered . The Order is as select in its way as is the A . & A . Rite , and a perusal of the names of distinguished brethren who have been admitted bears witness to the estimation in which it is held .
We find such names as Shadwell Clerke , C . F . Matier , W . W . B . Beach . Lord Halsbnry , the Earl of Warwick , G . Kenning , N . G . Philips , F . A . Philbrick , General J . Studholme Brownrigg , Frank Richardson , Richard Eve , Thomas Fenn , and a host of others no less distinguished . Whilst it is not
impossible for one to enter into Craft Masonry , whom with some better knowledge we should have kept out , no such excuse exists for admitting brethren to ( he concomitant Orders who are not to be a credit , for the members have the