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  • Oct. 1, 1855
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The Masonic Mirror, Oct. 1, 1855: Page 51

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    Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Page 51

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Correspondence.

obligations to the Mother Chapter , Dr . Jones is not a member of it , and never received any degree whatever from that source , his name not appearing recorded in the boohs of the Supreme Chapter , which is the only criterion of acknowledged legitimacy . It is to be doubted , therefore , Avhether the others stand in any different position . " When I read this , I immediately wrote to Scribe N ., requesting a list of members affiliated into the Bon Accord Chapter ; also the list of office-bearers elected in 1854 ( it should have been 1853 ) . Upon the 13 th , I received from Scribe N . a list of the

Companions who had been exalted in the Chapter , along with a list of original members . Dr . Jones's name was not in either list , the office-bearers for 1854 were correctly given , but the answer for the list of 1853 was , that the return had not been filled up . I will transpose the extract from the letter above quoted , and without hesitation say , that the Supreme Chapter is not correct , that it has not been fulfilling its obligations to the daughter Chapters , that Dr . Jones is a member of the Bon Accord Chapterthat he received three degrees ( MarkPastand Excellent ; ancl

, , , , must have done so before being affiliated into if , that his name does appear to be recorded in the books of the Supreme Chapter , the only criterion of acknowledged legitimacy . What are the facts of the case ? Companion Jones was affiliated into the Chapter , Sept . 23 rd , 1851 ; his name , along with the recording dues , was sent to the Supreme Chapter , January 23 rd , 1852 , for which monies we have a receipt signed by the Grand Treasurer , who at length sets forth that " Wm . Jones , of the Royal York Chapter , No . 7 , of England , " is recorded in the books of the Supreme Chapter , as a

member of the Bon Accord Chapter , No . 70 , Aberdeen ; this , in my opinion , and I think Scribe N . will coincide with me , is the only criterion of acknowledged legitimacy . And still further ( to guard the character of my friend , tho late Daniel Robertson , then Grand Treasurer ) , if Scribe N . will look at the accounts of the Supreme Chapter for the year 1851-52 , he will find it published that a sum of money was paid by the Bon Accord Chapter , for recording the name of a Companion ; the name of that Companion was Dr . Jones ; how conies the name to be omitted from the

record;—perhaps the " recording angel , " having some slight prophetic compunction , " dropped a tear upon the word , and blotted it out for ever . " Companion Jones was elected one of the office-bearers of the Chapter in 1853 ; how it happened that the annual return made by Chapter No . 70 that year was not filled up , I cannot say , but this I knoiv , that it was the Grand Scribe's duty to see that it was filled up . As to the other members " forming the London Bon Accord , " if you permit me in your next number , I will show you " the glaring amount of ignorance displayed" ( his

own words ) by Scribe N ., with reference to them , and of his knowledge of the laws ancl regulations of the Supreme Chapter . I think that I have already pointed out some facts wliich I hope will be of use to him in future , so that he may not be so very confident in his assertions , let him bear in mind that assertions are not facts , even when made by a Grand Scribe ; such individuals are not infallible , as can be proved by ¦ the many errors which his letter contains , errors not entirely the fault of the printer . I remain , Sir , Your obedient Servant ,

JAMES RETTIE , First Principal , Chapter No . 70 . To the Editor of the Masonic Mirror . SIR AND BROTHER , —You will probably receive many comments on the i r ery extraordinary letter of Comp . Gaylor , Scribe N . for Scotland , which appeared in your

number for September , on the subject of the London Bon Accord Lodge of Mark Masters . It must be admitted that the Bon Accord Chapter of Aberdeen has no power to grant warrants to hold Chapters or Lodges either in Scotland or elsewhere , and that the warrant granted by it to hold the London Bon Accord Lodge is a nullity . But the London Bon Accord Lodge is not on that account either a spurious or an illegal body . The Supreme Chapter of Scotland may , as long as it pleases , thunder forth its anathemas against the London Bon Accord Lodge . That Lodge is composed of a very large

“The Masonic Mirror: 1855-10-01, Page 51” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 29 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mir/issues/mmg_01101855/page/51/.
  • List
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Title Category Page
UNIFORMITY OF RITUAL. Article 1
FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND. Article 4
MASONIC REMINISCENCES. Article 11
THE NEW CONSTITUTIONS OF THE FRENCH MASONS. Article 17
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE. Article 21
LONDON LODGES. Article 24
PROVINCIAL LODGES. Article 25
ROYAL ARCH. Article 42
SCOTLAND. Article 43
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 50
SUMMARY OF SMEWS FOR SEPTEMBER. Article 53
NOTICES. Article 59
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Correspondence.

obligations to the Mother Chapter , Dr . Jones is not a member of it , and never received any degree whatever from that source , his name not appearing recorded in the boohs of the Supreme Chapter , which is the only criterion of acknowledged legitimacy . It is to be doubted , therefore , Avhether the others stand in any different position . " When I read this , I immediately wrote to Scribe N ., requesting a list of members affiliated into the Bon Accord Chapter ; also the list of office-bearers elected in 1854 ( it should have been 1853 ) . Upon the 13 th , I received from Scribe N . a list of the

Companions who had been exalted in the Chapter , along with a list of original members . Dr . Jones's name was not in either list , the office-bearers for 1854 were correctly given , but the answer for the list of 1853 was , that the return had not been filled up . I will transpose the extract from the letter above quoted , and without hesitation say , that the Supreme Chapter is not correct , that it has not been fulfilling its obligations to the daughter Chapters , that Dr . Jones is a member of the Bon Accord Chapterthat he received three degrees ( MarkPastand Excellent ; ancl

, , , , must have done so before being affiliated into if , that his name does appear to be recorded in the books of the Supreme Chapter , the only criterion of acknowledged legitimacy . What are the facts of the case ? Companion Jones was affiliated into the Chapter , Sept . 23 rd , 1851 ; his name , along with the recording dues , was sent to the Supreme Chapter , January 23 rd , 1852 , for which monies we have a receipt signed by the Grand Treasurer , who at length sets forth that " Wm . Jones , of the Royal York Chapter , No . 7 , of England , " is recorded in the books of the Supreme Chapter , as a

member of the Bon Accord Chapter , No . 70 , Aberdeen ; this , in my opinion , and I think Scribe N . will coincide with me , is the only criterion of acknowledged legitimacy . And still further ( to guard the character of my friend , tho late Daniel Robertson , then Grand Treasurer ) , if Scribe N . will look at the accounts of the Supreme Chapter for the year 1851-52 , he will find it published that a sum of money was paid by the Bon Accord Chapter , for recording the name of a Companion ; the name of that Companion was Dr . Jones ; how conies the name to be omitted from the

record;—perhaps the " recording angel , " having some slight prophetic compunction , " dropped a tear upon the word , and blotted it out for ever . " Companion Jones was elected one of the office-bearers of the Chapter in 1853 ; how it happened that the annual return made by Chapter No . 70 that year was not filled up , I cannot say , but this I knoiv , that it was the Grand Scribe's duty to see that it was filled up . As to the other members " forming the London Bon Accord , " if you permit me in your next number , I will show you " the glaring amount of ignorance displayed" ( his

own words ) by Scribe N ., with reference to them , and of his knowledge of the laws ancl regulations of the Supreme Chapter . I think that I have already pointed out some facts wliich I hope will be of use to him in future , so that he may not be so very confident in his assertions , let him bear in mind that assertions are not facts , even when made by a Grand Scribe ; such individuals are not infallible , as can be proved by ¦ the many errors which his letter contains , errors not entirely the fault of the printer . I remain , Sir , Your obedient Servant ,

JAMES RETTIE , First Principal , Chapter No . 70 . To the Editor of the Masonic Mirror . SIR AND BROTHER , —You will probably receive many comments on the i r ery extraordinary letter of Comp . Gaylor , Scribe N . for Scotland , which appeared in your

number for September , on the subject of the London Bon Accord Lodge of Mark Masters . It must be admitted that the Bon Accord Chapter of Aberdeen has no power to grant warrants to hold Chapters or Lodges either in Scotland or elsewhere , and that the warrant granted by it to hold the London Bon Accord Lodge is a nullity . But the London Bon Accord Lodge is not on that account either a spurious or an illegal body . The Supreme Chapter of Scotland may , as long as it pleases , thunder forth its anathemas against the London Bon Accord Lodge . That Lodge is composed of a very large

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