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  • The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine
  • Dec. 4, 1869
  • Page 12
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, Dec. 4, 1869: Page 12

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    Article CORRESPONDENCE. ← Page 3 of 3
Page 12

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Correspondence.

the collection of which will occupy him some time . sad form a very valuable library . Yours fraternally , JOHN YAEKEE . N OV . 29 . 1869 .

THE ISLE OF WIGHT AND THE M . W . G . M . TO IHE EDITOR OS THE EXEEJIASOIfS' MAGAZINE AIO ) ItASOX 10 3 IIEE 0 E . Dear Sir and Brother , —Will you allow me to trespass on your columns in reference to a paragraph m your last week ' s Magazine , in which you say you are informed that the lod in the Isle of Wiht do

ges g not intend to recognise the junction of the Isle of Wight with Hampshire , but intend to appeal against it at Grand Lodge , on the ground that the M . W . G . Master had not the authority to join the two Prov . Grand Lod ges without the sanction of the Grand Lodge . I fear , indeed , that this is what we are now

driven to , and I trust that herein we may have the support of all those brethren who believe that justice should always have the foremost place among us . Constituted as a separate Masonic province b y Grand Lodge in 1813 , when there were but two lodges in working orderthe Isle of Wiht has ever since

, g continued to progress in the business and practice of Masonry , and now possesses five lodges instead of two . So far back as 1787 , although at that time Hampshire and the Isle of Wight would seem to have been governed b y one Provincial Grand Master , yet the Isle of Wi ght had a separate Deputand a separate

y and distinct Grand Lodge with its complete roll of officers—as I am in a position to prove . Yet we are now to be deprived of our position as a province and annexed to Hampshire without a word being said to us about it , beyond the barren official notification of the Grand Secretary that Bro . Beach had been

appointed Prov . G . M . for Hampshire aud the Isle of Wight . This is the pill we are directed to swallow . We have several times , with all due respect and deference , memorialized the M . W . G . M . to continue ns

our ancient privileges , but have been met with a curt refusal , without a word of explanation as to the reasons which are thought to make a change desirable , if there be any such , and without the slightest excuse for the absence of any previous intimation of ivhat was iu store for us . If we are to be dealt with iu this what becomes

way , of our boasted freedom ? Where is the justice which I was told at my initiation should always be considered in Masonry ? Echo answers , where ! You , Sir , can have but a very faint conception of the feelings of sorrow and indignation which we entertain in connection with this ill-advised course of action on the of the

part Grand Master . If persisted in , it will be a death-blow to Masonry in the Isle of Wight , and Hampshire will attain a very barren honour in the shape of the discords and heartburning's to which such an uncalled for proceeding as the union will give rise . As an individual—much as I have loved and cherished Masonryheartiland earnestlthough I have laboured

, y y for the prosperity of my mother lodge here—yet would I far rather cease my connection with the Craft now andforever than I would continue membership of an institution which , under the cloak of prerogative , permits the perpetration of such gross injustice . Look at our geographical position , and the disadvantages under

which we must labour by the union with Hampshire . The latter is a large county , containing many lodges , all of which would have their claims to be considered as regards the holding of Prov . G . Lodges ; from such meetings we should be absolutely cut off , except when they were held in Portsmouth or Southampton in the very height of summer . Perhaps when the various

towns and lodges on the mainland have had their turn , it may suit the convenience of the Prov . G . M . to hold his Grand Lodge in the Isle of Wight once in ten or twelve years , and how can Masonry do other than languish under such a system . As an instance of the correctness of what I say on this point , take the Installation at Southampton on the 30 th instant ! The banquet is fixed for

four o ' clocl ., and tho last steamer leaves Southampton for Goives at twenty minutes past four , and as we have not among us many brethren who could remain at Southampton all night , we must perforce lose the pleasure of the banquet . In effect , we are as completely out off from opportunities of attending the Provincial Grand Lod on the mainland as if none such

ges took place . I have already exceeded the limits which I had assigned myself whyn I commenced this letter , and I will only add that I trust the whole mattter will come before Grand Lodge at no distant period , and that you may see your way to help us with your powerful advocacy to obtain a remedfor the evils with which we are

y threatened , and I remain—Yours fraternally , T . W . FAULKNER , P . Paov . G . J . W . ISLE OP WIGHT .

lO SHE E 15 ITOTC OP THE Er . EE 3 rASO _ i'S' MAGAZINE AND -JASOI . IO JIIBEOB . Dear Sir and Brother ,- —Owing to the amalgamation of the two provinces of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , a question has arisen as to the precedence of the lodges in Prov . G . Lodge . At our Prov . G . Lodge , held this day at Southampton , the Dir . of Cers . ( Bro . Forbes , an old and distinguished

Mason ) placed an Isle of Wight lodge , the Medina , ' No . 35 , on the right of the chair , and my lodge , No . 76 , Economy , Winchester ( which has always prided itself on being tho premier lodge in the province ) on the left , thereby giving the precedence to No . 35 . To this I demurred , and previous to the opening of the lodge I stated objection to the Dir . of Cers . who insisted

my , that the order adopted by him was correct , and I , not willing to disturb or delay the proceedings , reluctantly acquiesced . I now refer to the Book of Constitutions . Subject—Country Lodges , sec . 4 : — " Every country lodge shall have a local as well as a general rank , so that if any lodge

be removed from one province to another , although it is to retain the original number in the Grand Lodge Books , and preserve the same rank iu the United Grand Lodge , and in all public meetings out of the province into which it may have been removed , yet within such province , it is to rank immediately after the lowest numbered lodge previously existing , as well as the Prov .

Q . Lodge as at public ceremonies within the province , unless the Grand Master , Pro . G . Master , or Deputy G . Master preside . The seniority of country lodges in their particular district is to be determined by the date of their registry in tho books of the Provincial Grand Lodge . " I submit that tho Isle of Wight lod are in tho

ges position contemplated by the above law of lodges removing from one province to another , and that the old Lodge of Economy should stand xJo . 1 on the Books of the Prov . G . Lodge . I ask the judgment of your experienced readers on this subject . Yours fraternally , JAMES HAKMS , W . M . 76 .

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1869-12-04, Page 12” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 11 July 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_04121869/page/12/.
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
BRO. H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES. Article 1
THE GRAND MASTERSHIP. Article 1
THE UNIFORMITY OF RITUAL. Article 1
THE MASTER COURT AND THE MASTER DEGREE. Article 2
HOW I SPENT MY FIVE WEEKS' LEAVE. Article 3
Untitled Article 5
MASONIC CELESTIAL MYSTERIES. Article 6
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 8
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 10
Untitled Article 13
MASONIC MEMS. Article 13
GRAND LODGE. Article 13
Craft Masonry. Article 15
PROVINCIAL. Article 16
SCOTTISH CONSTITUTION. Article 18
ROYAL ARCH. Article 19
MARK MASONRY. Article 19
SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK. Article 19
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Correspondence.

the collection of which will occupy him some time . sad form a very valuable library . Yours fraternally , JOHN YAEKEE . N OV . 29 . 1869 .

THE ISLE OF WIGHT AND THE M . W . G . M . TO IHE EDITOR OS THE EXEEJIASOIfS' MAGAZINE AIO ) ItASOX 10 3 IIEE 0 E . Dear Sir and Brother , —Will you allow me to trespass on your columns in reference to a paragraph m your last week ' s Magazine , in which you say you are informed that the lod in the Isle of Wiht do

ges g not intend to recognise the junction of the Isle of Wight with Hampshire , but intend to appeal against it at Grand Lodge , on the ground that the M . W . G . Master had not the authority to join the two Prov . Grand Lod ges without the sanction of the Grand Lodge . I fear , indeed , that this is what we are now

driven to , and I trust that herein we may have the support of all those brethren who believe that justice should always have the foremost place among us . Constituted as a separate Masonic province b y Grand Lodge in 1813 , when there were but two lodges in working orderthe Isle of Wiht has ever since

, g continued to progress in the business and practice of Masonry , and now possesses five lodges instead of two . So far back as 1787 , although at that time Hampshire and the Isle of Wight would seem to have been governed b y one Provincial Grand Master , yet the Isle of Wi ght had a separate Deputand a separate

y and distinct Grand Lodge with its complete roll of officers—as I am in a position to prove . Yet we are now to be deprived of our position as a province and annexed to Hampshire without a word being said to us about it , beyond the barren official notification of the Grand Secretary that Bro . Beach had been

appointed Prov . G . M . for Hampshire aud the Isle of Wight . This is the pill we are directed to swallow . We have several times , with all due respect and deference , memorialized the M . W . G . M . to continue ns

our ancient privileges , but have been met with a curt refusal , without a word of explanation as to the reasons which are thought to make a change desirable , if there be any such , and without the slightest excuse for the absence of any previous intimation of ivhat was iu store for us . If we are to be dealt with iu this what becomes

way , of our boasted freedom ? Where is the justice which I was told at my initiation should always be considered in Masonry ? Echo answers , where ! You , Sir , can have but a very faint conception of the feelings of sorrow and indignation which we entertain in connection with this ill-advised course of action on the of the

part Grand Master . If persisted in , it will be a death-blow to Masonry in the Isle of Wight , and Hampshire will attain a very barren honour in the shape of the discords and heartburning's to which such an uncalled for proceeding as the union will give rise . As an individual—much as I have loved and cherished Masonryheartiland earnestlthough I have laboured

, y y for the prosperity of my mother lodge here—yet would I far rather cease my connection with the Craft now andforever than I would continue membership of an institution which , under the cloak of prerogative , permits the perpetration of such gross injustice . Look at our geographical position , and the disadvantages under

which we must labour by the union with Hampshire . The latter is a large county , containing many lodges , all of which would have their claims to be considered as regards the holding of Prov . G . Lodges ; from such meetings we should be absolutely cut off , except when they were held in Portsmouth or Southampton in the very height of summer . Perhaps when the various

towns and lodges on the mainland have had their turn , it may suit the convenience of the Prov . G . M . to hold his Grand Lodge in the Isle of Wight once in ten or twelve years , and how can Masonry do other than languish under such a system . As an instance of the correctness of what I say on this point , take the Installation at Southampton on the 30 th instant ! The banquet is fixed for

four o ' clocl ., and tho last steamer leaves Southampton for Goives at twenty minutes past four , and as we have not among us many brethren who could remain at Southampton all night , we must perforce lose the pleasure of the banquet . In effect , we are as completely out off from opportunities of attending the Provincial Grand Lod on the mainland as if none such

ges took place . I have already exceeded the limits which I had assigned myself whyn I commenced this letter , and I will only add that I trust the whole mattter will come before Grand Lodge at no distant period , and that you may see your way to help us with your powerful advocacy to obtain a remedfor the evils with which we are

y threatened , and I remain—Yours fraternally , T . W . FAULKNER , P . Paov . G . J . W . ISLE OP WIGHT .

lO SHE E 15 ITOTC OP THE Er . EE 3 rASO _ i'S' MAGAZINE AND -JASOI . IO JIIBEOB . Dear Sir and Brother ,- —Owing to the amalgamation of the two provinces of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight , a question has arisen as to the precedence of the lodges in Prov . G . Lodge . At our Prov . G . Lodge , held this day at Southampton , the Dir . of Cers . ( Bro . Forbes , an old and distinguished

Mason ) placed an Isle of Wight lodge , the Medina , ' No . 35 , on the right of the chair , and my lodge , No . 76 , Economy , Winchester ( which has always prided itself on being tho premier lodge in the province ) on the left , thereby giving the precedence to No . 35 . To this I demurred , and previous to the opening of the lodge I stated objection to the Dir . of Cers . who insisted

my , that the order adopted by him was correct , and I , not willing to disturb or delay the proceedings , reluctantly acquiesced . I now refer to the Book of Constitutions . Subject—Country Lodges , sec . 4 : — " Every country lodge shall have a local as well as a general rank , so that if any lodge

be removed from one province to another , although it is to retain the original number in the Grand Lodge Books , and preserve the same rank iu the United Grand Lodge , and in all public meetings out of the province into which it may have been removed , yet within such province , it is to rank immediately after the lowest numbered lodge previously existing , as well as the Prov .

Q . Lodge as at public ceremonies within the province , unless the Grand Master , Pro . G . Master , or Deputy G . Master preside . The seniority of country lodges in their particular district is to be determined by the date of their registry in tho books of the Provincial Grand Lodge . " I submit that tho Isle of Wight lod are in tho

ges position contemplated by the above law of lodges removing from one province to another , and that the old Lodge of Economy should stand xJo . 1 on the Books of the Prov . G . Lodge . I ask the judgment of your experienced readers on this subject . Yours fraternally , JAMES HAKMS , W . M . 76 .

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