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Article THE PROVINCE OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND THE CHARITIES. ← Page 2 of 2 Article MR. PAPWORTH'S LECTURE. Page 1 of 1 Article KNIGHT TEMPLARS AND HIGH GRADES. Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Province Of Northumberland And The Charities.
that 624 did not know the constitution of the funds , from which I proposed to raise the money required for the annuities . As this correspondence can lead to no result on the object of the Charities , I shall not again reply to P . M . 624 , as ho can , when he requires , elicit my opinions , and address his questions within Provincial Grand Lodge . Sir ancl Brother Fraternall
I remain , Dear , yours y , JOHN BARKER , Prov . G . Treas . [ The correspondence is closed . —ED . ]
Mr. Papworth's Lecture.
MR . PAPWORTH'S LECTURE .
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR . SIR . AND BROTHER , —The interesting subject on which Mr . Papworth lectured , last week before the Society of British Architects , as reaported in your columnsof last Saturday , deserves the attention of every Freemason . I have for some time now been engaged on a like
investigation , and notwithstanding Mr . Papworth ' s grave doubts , and Mr . Kerr ' s confident assertions , have come to a totally opposite conclusion . I believe that ample and indubtiable proofs ate forthcoming , of the connexion existing between modern Freemasonry and the mediceval guilds . It is somewhat amusing to note both thc great
dislike to admit , any , even the slightest link betiveen the operative and speculative brotherhood , and the foregone conclusion which marks the argument of that learned gentleman . Though it is clear , upon Mr . Papworth's own admission , and Mr . Kerr's own assertions , it is the very heiht of inconsistency on their part to deny such
g probable connexion . I hope ere long to publish a lecture on the same subject , proving , I think , beyond all doubt , from the very evidences they both allude to , aud many other like facts , the continuous and unchanging identity , between the secrets and mysteries of our speculative brotherhood , and the operative and speculative brotherhood of former days .
As Mr . Kerr says , no one in his senses had such a view , I am sorry to subscribe myself one of those unfortunate persons . "Very fraternally yours , A . T . A . WOODFIELD . Swellington Leeds , January 7 th , 1862 .
Knight Templars And High Grades.
KNIGHT TEMPLARS AND HIGH GRADES .
10 THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BRO . KNIGHT . —I notice in the Masonic Notes and Queries department of the MAGAZINE , a communication by G . G . T ., which if true , and I hope the matter will be thoroughly investigated , will render the constitution of the Supreme Council in this country illegal .
The best plan would be for the Templar and High Grade _ Masons to combine and build a hall for their own exclusive use . In common with many worthy Templars , I look upon the Supreme Council as a usurping body , who , under specious but unfounded pretexts , have deprived the Templars of their lawful birthright—the maintenance of the laws , rites , and ceremonies of the
Christian degrees of Masonry . The York rite of 25 ° , anciently practised by what is now called the Masonic Templars , having long preceded the establishment of the 33 ° with their fabulous powers from Frederick the Great ! What authority ought his representatives to exercise over England ? Let us , however , live hi unity and brotherly love , and seek ground on which we can combine ; can any brother throw out suggestions with this object hi view ? The only common ground , unless We accept as such their degree of Sovereign Commander ,
appears to be the Templar K . D . S . H ., which , in all probability , comes to us from the French Knights , and formerly constituted our highest degree of Ternplary , and which I believe is still practised by a few encampments . Let the Supreme Council , as a mark of favour or respect , recognise this degree when conferred on Knight Commanders ; iveon our partrecognising 3 ° of Ternplary
, , , viz .: Companion , Commander , ancl Grand Cross ( as is done in { France and Scotland ) , and engaging to admit none as brothers of the Temple , but such as have taken the 18 ° under their banner ; our Grand Master , who must have attained the highest degree of Ternplary , being the colleague of the Supreme Council . If the 18 ° was made a requisiteas is the case in France
, —our American brethren requiring the red cross—we could then reduce the necessary fee for installation to £ 2 2 s . Without this , I trust the Grand Conclave will oppose any alteration . The Very Eminent Sir Knt . Dr . Hinxman , who , I notice , is a contrast and pattern to many of our Prov . G . C . ' s , has given notice of his intention to move for a
committee to revise the statutes . I hope , before the time comes round , some brother will do for Ternplary what you are so ably doing for the Craft , viz ., give us comparison of the statutes of different countries , in order that we may blunder into something like uniformity . Allow me to put a few facts generally lost sight of , which should receive attention from the Knights .
The order of Knight Templars , or Knights of the Temple of Solomon , is a royal Order , the G . M . being its sovereign ; it cannot , therefore , have two or more G . M . ' s at one and the same time . It is alleged that our mystical Order originally possessed Masonic mysteries . However that may be , since 1313 chapters of the Order in England have continued disguisedly to exist in connection with speculative Masonry , until finally the Order has passed laws to admit none as members but those who have passed a Masonic
novitiate . Yet it by no means on that account loses its sovereign or chivalric character . No Papal suppression has been of any force ; and the Order would continue to exist entitled to all its privileges , where and whenever a sufficient number of its members could meet to conduct its affairs . It follows that if in any country there has been a succession of Grand Mastei s propei-ly
elected from the time of the martyred De Molay , the entire Order is and ought to be subject to that G . M . With the view of claiming this privilege , the French Templars show a charter of transmission , which they allege has been handed down from G . M . to G . M . along with the ritual , seals , banners , and bones of the martyred Templars ; and this bodis the onlone which
y y itself confers Masonic degrees . Of this branch Sir Sydney Smith was G . M ., the Duke of Sussex being Grand Prior of England , Earl of Durham , of Scotland , and Duke of Leinster of Ireland . After their deaths the entire Order fell for a time into abeyance , until Colonel Tynte was elected M . E . and S . G . M ., when the 18 ° and Templar K . D . S . H . were severed from ita step much
, to be regretted , as , if Masonic degrees are made necessary , it is strnogly objectionable to 0 . B ., a Templar without the Rose > J <; and I conceive that , in their rejection , the Order loses its independence , unless it claims to exercise an authority over the whole of Masonry , which it nowhere does in the statutes . Knights should be received into the Order in the
name of the G . M ., and be so informed at the time of clasping the mantle , as it is by that ceremony there reception is indicated ; and in place of the ordinary record of registry delivered to each Knight , he should receive a patent signed by the G . M ., expressive of his z-ecognition and protection of such brother as a Knt . Companion . In like manner a Knt . on his attaining the grade of a Commander , or any other higher degree in the Order , should receive a similar acknowledgment , for which the Chancellor should charge a small fee ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Province Of Northumberland And The Charities.
that 624 did not know the constitution of the funds , from which I proposed to raise the money required for the annuities . As this correspondence can lead to no result on the object of the Charities , I shall not again reply to P . M . 624 , as ho can , when he requires , elicit my opinions , and address his questions within Provincial Grand Lodge . Sir ancl Brother Fraternall
I remain , Dear , yours y , JOHN BARKER , Prov . G . Treas . [ The correspondence is closed . —ED . ]
Mr. Papworth's Lecture.
MR . PAPWORTH'S LECTURE .
TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR . SIR . AND BROTHER , —The interesting subject on which Mr . Papworth lectured , last week before the Society of British Architects , as reaported in your columnsof last Saturday , deserves the attention of every Freemason . I have for some time now been engaged on a like
investigation , and notwithstanding Mr . Papworth ' s grave doubts , and Mr . Kerr ' s confident assertions , have come to a totally opposite conclusion . I believe that ample and indubtiable proofs ate forthcoming , of the connexion existing between modern Freemasonry and the mediceval guilds . It is somewhat amusing to note both thc great
dislike to admit , any , even the slightest link betiveen the operative and speculative brotherhood , and the foregone conclusion which marks the argument of that learned gentleman . Though it is clear , upon Mr . Papworth's own admission , and Mr . Kerr's own assertions , it is the very heiht of inconsistency on their part to deny such
g probable connexion . I hope ere long to publish a lecture on the same subject , proving , I think , beyond all doubt , from the very evidences they both allude to , aud many other like facts , the continuous and unchanging identity , between the secrets and mysteries of our speculative brotherhood , and the operative and speculative brotherhood of former days .
As Mr . Kerr says , no one in his senses had such a view , I am sorry to subscribe myself one of those unfortunate persons . "Very fraternally yours , A . T . A . WOODFIELD . Swellington Leeds , January 7 th , 1862 .
Knight Templars And High Grades.
KNIGHT TEMPLARS AND HIGH GRADES .
10 THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BRO . KNIGHT . —I notice in the Masonic Notes and Queries department of the MAGAZINE , a communication by G . G . T ., which if true , and I hope the matter will be thoroughly investigated , will render the constitution of the Supreme Council in this country illegal .
The best plan would be for the Templar and High Grade _ Masons to combine and build a hall for their own exclusive use . In common with many worthy Templars , I look upon the Supreme Council as a usurping body , who , under specious but unfounded pretexts , have deprived the Templars of their lawful birthright—the maintenance of the laws , rites , and ceremonies of the
Christian degrees of Masonry . The York rite of 25 ° , anciently practised by what is now called the Masonic Templars , having long preceded the establishment of the 33 ° with their fabulous powers from Frederick the Great ! What authority ought his representatives to exercise over England ? Let us , however , live hi unity and brotherly love , and seek ground on which we can combine ; can any brother throw out suggestions with this object hi view ? The only common ground , unless We accept as such their degree of Sovereign Commander ,
appears to be the Templar K . D . S . H ., which , in all probability , comes to us from the French Knights , and formerly constituted our highest degree of Ternplary , and which I believe is still practised by a few encampments . Let the Supreme Council , as a mark of favour or respect , recognise this degree when conferred on Knight Commanders ; iveon our partrecognising 3 ° of Ternplary
, , , viz .: Companion , Commander , ancl Grand Cross ( as is done in { France and Scotland ) , and engaging to admit none as brothers of the Temple , but such as have taken the 18 ° under their banner ; our Grand Master , who must have attained the highest degree of Ternplary , being the colleague of the Supreme Council . If the 18 ° was made a requisiteas is the case in France
, —our American brethren requiring the red cross—we could then reduce the necessary fee for installation to £ 2 2 s . Without this , I trust the Grand Conclave will oppose any alteration . The Very Eminent Sir Knt . Dr . Hinxman , who , I notice , is a contrast and pattern to many of our Prov . G . C . ' s , has given notice of his intention to move for a
committee to revise the statutes . I hope , before the time comes round , some brother will do for Ternplary what you are so ably doing for the Craft , viz ., give us comparison of the statutes of different countries , in order that we may blunder into something like uniformity . Allow me to put a few facts generally lost sight of , which should receive attention from the Knights .
The order of Knight Templars , or Knights of the Temple of Solomon , is a royal Order , the G . M . being its sovereign ; it cannot , therefore , have two or more G . M . ' s at one and the same time . It is alleged that our mystical Order originally possessed Masonic mysteries . However that may be , since 1313 chapters of the Order in England have continued disguisedly to exist in connection with speculative Masonry , until finally the Order has passed laws to admit none as members but those who have passed a Masonic
novitiate . Yet it by no means on that account loses its sovereign or chivalric character . No Papal suppression has been of any force ; and the Order would continue to exist entitled to all its privileges , where and whenever a sufficient number of its members could meet to conduct its affairs . It follows that if in any country there has been a succession of Grand Mastei s propei-ly
elected from the time of the martyred De Molay , the entire Order is and ought to be subject to that G . M . With the view of claiming this privilege , the French Templars show a charter of transmission , which they allege has been handed down from G . M . to G . M . along with the ritual , seals , banners , and bones of the martyred Templars ; and this bodis the onlone which
y y itself confers Masonic degrees . Of this branch Sir Sydney Smith was G . M ., the Duke of Sussex being Grand Prior of England , Earl of Durham , of Scotland , and Duke of Leinster of Ireland . After their deaths the entire Order fell for a time into abeyance , until Colonel Tynte was elected M . E . and S . G . M ., when the 18 ° and Templar K . D . S . H . were severed from ita step much
, to be regretted , as , if Masonic degrees are made necessary , it is strnogly objectionable to 0 . B ., a Templar without the Rose > J <; and I conceive that , in their rejection , the Order loses its independence , unless it claims to exercise an authority over the whole of Masonry , which it nowhere does in the statutes . Knights should be received into the Order in the
name of the G . M ., and be so informed at the time of clasping the mantle , as it is by that ceremony there reception is indicated ; and in place of the ordinary record of registry delivered to each Knight , he should receive a patent signed by the G . M ., expressive of his z-ecognition and protection of such brother as a Knt . Companion . In like manner a Knt . on his attaining the grade of a Commander , or any other higher degree in the Order , should receive a similar acknowledgment , for which the Chancellor should charge a small fee ,