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Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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Correspondence.
the substitution of what is , I regret to say , more generally the case , the word "Diaboli" for "Dei . " I hope that my Jersey brethren will feel themselves well represented by this gentlemanly though selfabasing "humble working P . M . " Tours fraternally , J . II . M . BAIKNSEATHEE .
TO THE EDITOR OF TItE FREE-MASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BEOTHER , —Kindly allow me space for a short running commentary on several remarks of different writers in your number of the 1 st inst . Bro . Hughan has very properly defended himself from the aspersions of a Jersey P . M . in a manner which , it is hoped , will be satisfactory , and induce
him to recall his words , for , iu the numerous Masonic duties ho undertakes and performs so well , he constantl y shows that he is actuated by pure love of the Craft , a determination to uphold its character , genuine kindly feelings towards the brethren , and an anxious desire to he guided by the spirit of charity and goodwill .
I deeply regret that I have been the innocent cause of painful feelings and expressions , ancl still more that Bro . Haye has added fuel to the fire when supporting our mutual friend . I full y believe , ancl I hope the Jersey P . M . will also , that it Avas not the object of Bro . Hughan to depreciate or undervalue the services of who have deserved well of the
many Craft , but merely to show wh . it mag Jiavc " been the prime cause of the conduct of Loyalty Lodge , arid , probably , he is not very far from the mark , for the same observation has been made by others , and , in corroboration , it is clue to him to mention another circumstance , which would have been withheld but
for the turn the discussion has taken . Not many weeks ago information as to the exact day of meeting of Loyalty Chapter appeared to be carefully concealed from me , though , knowing that one would soon be held , I had previously asked to be told when it would take place , and had offered to assist by taking either of the chairs on learning that the duties of all three were performed by one ancl the same P . Z . ; though , moreover , when the circulars of summons were issued
a suggestion was made that one should be sent to invite me , which was ignored ; and , farther , a P . Z . residing at a distance told me before the clay was fixed that he was asked , and hacl promised to attend ancl give assistance . Bro . White alludes to "the ri ghts of visitors , " & c , unworth for discussion
as y subjects in your pages , on the ground that an application to the ' proper authority would procure an immediate settlement of such points of Masonic jurisprudence . That this ought to be the case is admitted . Practicall y , however * it is very difficult to obtain solutions of doubtful
questions , as I have found in several instances , for not only have I failed to elicit the information , but I have been snubbed , and my right to ask questions of the kind has been disputed , when I have been conscious that I acted from the best of motives , and with the sanction of other brethren of eminenceA
. reference to the Board of General Purposes might possibly meet with attention , hut my limited experience leads me to the conclusion thafc a disposition to evade inquiries even there , aud the machinery requisite to be formally set in motion is too trouble- i
some to distant brethren . One might have supposed that , after a discussion extending over some weeks , either the Grand Registrar would have answered the appeal made to him for an opinion , or the Board of General Purposes would have taken up the matter in the preparation of its report to Grand Lodge on the
5 th inst . Much time is occupied by the investigation of alleged irregularities , some of which might possibly be prevented by greater regard to definite provisions and instructions in the "Book of Constitutions , " on the principle that prevention is better than cure . In national questions it may he observediu reply to
, Bro . White , where opinions differ much , it is considered desirable to have them well ventilated in the public journals before proceeding to direct legislation ,, and the same princi ple will apply to those Masonic matters Avith respect to whieh the " Book of Constitutions " is not explicit .
Bro . Haye suggests that " brethren writing to the Freemasons' Magazine should sign their proper names , " and he himself very properly acts upon it . Doubtless it is the most honourable course , but it would be very
easy to point out to him eases in whieh he would certainly admit its impolicy , and , in this statement , I think the experience of the editor would enable him to give support , Avho , however , is justified in requiring the name of every author of a paper before inserting it , ancl even of demanding its addition in print when he may deem it requisite .
Reference is made hy Bro . Hyde Clarke to the sign of prayer , whieh is constantly mistaken for that of ' fidelity , for between them there is but a slight though a marked difference . This is one of many little points with respect to which there is much laxity in thelodges . At proper times , and without much
obtrusiveness , I take every opportunity in my power , especially when called upon to instruct , to point out such matters , and to explain their importance in various aspects , which cannot here be particularised .. Hence the value of lodges of instruction , the desirabilit y of a strictly defined ritual , and of recognised
teachers competent to communicate ifc , as was suggested in a paper published in your columns a few weeks ago . Tours fraternally , Kidderminster , June 3 rd , 1867 . IT . H . [ With this correspondence , ample space having been given on both sides , we must close the discussion . —ED . P . M . ]
MASONIC LITERATURE . TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIEEOR . DEAR SIE AND BEOTHER . —Our brothers and Masonic writers have unfortunately laid themselves too open to the good humoured satire of Bro . Hayes , and it is much to be deplored that our brethren have departed from the ancient Avorking of the Craffc
degrees , for all the symbolical teaching of which they are indebted to the Templars who brought it irom . the Holy Land . Bro . Haye seems to think well-informed brethren consider the works of the late lamented Bro . Oliver ,. Bro . Howe & cauthoritiesbut valuable as their
, , , contributions are to Masonic literature , they are deficient in many important particulars . A wellknown American brother made a p ilgrimage to Tork Minster , and complained that all his expenses and trouble was thrown away ; what did he expect to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Correspondence.
the substitution of what is , I regret to say , more generally the case , the word "Diaboli" for "Dei . " I hope that my Jersey brethren will feel themselves well represented by this gentlemanly though selfabasing "humble working P . M . " Tours fraternally , J . II . M . BAIKNSEATHEE .
TO THE EDITOR OF TItE FREE-MASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BEOTHER , —Kindly allow me space for a short running commentary on several remarks of different writers in your number of the 1 st inst . Bro . Hughan has very properly defended himself from the aspersions of a Jersey P . M . in a manner which , it is hoped , will be satisfactory , and induce
him to recall his words , for , iu the numerous Masonic duties ho undertakes and performs so well , he constantl y shows that he is actuated by pure love of the Craft , a determination to uphold its character , genuine kindly feelings towards the brethren , and an anxious desire to he guided by the spirit of charity and goodwill .
I deeply regret that I have been the innocent cause of painful feelings and expressions , ancl still more that Bro . Haye has added fuel to the fire when supporting our mutual friend . I full y believe , ancl I hope the Jersey P . M . will also , that it Avas not the object of Bro . Hughan to depreciate or undervalue the services of who have deserved well of the
many Craft , but merely to show wh . it mag Jiavc " been the prime cause of the conduct of Loyalty Lodge , arid , probably , he is not very far from the mark , for the same observation has been made by others , and , in corroboration , it is clue to him to mention another circumstance , which would have been withheld but
for the turn the discussion has taken . Not many weeks ago information as to the exact day of meeting of Loyalty Chapter appeared to be carefully concealed from me , though , knowing that one would soon be held , I had previously asked to be told when it would take place , and had offered to assist by taking either of the chairs on learning that the duties of all three were performed by one ancl the same P . Z . ; though , moreover , when the circulars of summons were issued
a suggestion was made that one should be sent to invite me , which was ignored ; and , farther , a P . Z . residing at a distance told me before the clay was fixed that he was asked , and hacl promised to attend ancl give assistance . Bro . White alludes to "the ri ghts of visitors , " & c , unworth for discussion
as y subjects in your pages , on the ground that an application to the ' proper authority would procure an immediate settlement of such points of Masonic jurisprudence . That this ought to be the case is admitted . Practicall y , however * it is very difficult to obtain solutions of doubtful
questions , as I have found in several instances , for not only have I failed to elicit the information , but I have been snubbed , and my right to ask questions of the kind has been disputed , when I have been conscious that I acted from the best of motives , and with the sanction of other brethren of eminenceA
. reference to the Board of General Purposes might possibly meet with attention , hut my limited experience leads me to the conclusion thafc a disposition to evade inquiries even there , aud the machinery requisite to be formally set in motion is too trouble- i
some to distant brethren . One might have supposed that , after a discussion extending over some weeks , either the Grand Registrar would have answered the appeal made to him for an opinion , or the Board of General Purposes would have taken up the matter in the preparation of its report to Grand Lodge on the
5 th inst . Much time is occupied by the investigation of alleged irregularities , some of which might possibly be prevented by greater regard to definite provisions and instructions in the "Book of Constitutions , " on the principle that prevention is better than cure . In national questions it may he observediu reply to
, Bro . White , where opinions differ much , it is considered desirable to have them well ventilated in the public journals before proceeding to direct legislation ,, and the same princi ple will apply to those Masonic matters Avith respect to whieh the " Book of Constitutions " is not explicit .
Bro . Haye suggests that " brethren writing to the Freemasons' Magazine should sign their proper names , " and he himself very properly acts upon it . Doubtless it is the most honourable course , but it would be very
easy to point out to him eases in whieh he would certainly admit its impolicy , and , in this statement , I think the experience of the editor would enable him to give support , Avho , however , is justified in requiring the name of every author of a paper before inserting it , ancl even of demanding its addition in print when he may deem it requisite .
Reference is made hy Bro . Hyde Clarke to the sign of prayer , whieh is constantly mistaken for that of ' fidelity , for between them there is but a slight though a marked difference . This is one of many little points with respect to which there is much laxity in thelodges . At proper times , and without much
obtrusiveness , I take every opportunity in my power , especially when called upon to instruct , to point out such matters , and to explain their importance in various aspects , which cannot here be particularised .. Hence the value of lodges of instruction , the desirabilit y of a strictly defined ritual , and of recognised
teachers competent to communicate ifc , as was suggested in a paper published in your columns a few weeks ago . Tours fraternally , Kidderminster , June 3 rd , 1867 . IT . H . [ With this correspondence , ample space having been given on both sides , we must close the discussion . —ED . P . M . ]
MASONIC LITERATURE . TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIEEOR . DEAR SIE AND BEOTHER . —Our brothers and Masonic writers have unfortunately laid themselves too open to the good humoured satire of Bro . Hayes , and it is much to be deplored that our brethren have departed from the ancient Avorking of the Craffc
degrees , for all the symbolical teaching of which they are indebted to the Templars who brought it irom . the Holy Land . Bro . Haye seems to think well-informed brethren consider the works of the late lamented Bro . Oliver ,. Bro . Howe & cauthoritiesbut valuable as their
, , , contributions are to Masonic literature , they are deficient in many important particulars . A wellknown American brother made a p ilgrimage to Tork Minster , and complained that all his expenses and trouble was thrown away ; what did he expect to