CORRESPONDENCE. ARMFIELD HOTEL, FINSBURY, 16 July, 1872. RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR AND BROTHER, In consequence of what transpired at our interview with you, Most Worshipful Sir, on Friday last, we beg leave to forward the Petition then decided upon. You were pleased to intimate to us that we might publish any discoveries relating to Masonry, provided the Obligations were not divulged. In the event of the prayer of our Petition being granted, we pledge ourselves most sincerely not to refer, directly or indirectly, to any obligation of modern Masonry. An early reply to our Petition will greatly oblige us, having left our homes in Jersey expressly for the purpose of obtaining an interview, and presenting the enclosed to you, That in former ages the learned rulers retained the Masonic Mysteries for the use and benefit of the Craft, and these Mysteries were not to be divulged under a lesser penalty than death. Such mystic secrecy might have been advisable and requisite in ages past, but such retention of knowledge your Petitioners verily believe to be no longer necessary, as the advancement of truth is now the policy of the civilized world, more especially so of the British Nation. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray, Most Worshipful Sir, that you will be pleased to order a Commission of learned and intelligent Brethren to be appointed to enquire and decide Istly. Whether the knowledge we possess was in former times considered Masonic. 2ndly. Whether the Lost Mysteries were, and consequently still are, celestial truths. 3rdly. Whether truth should be published to mankind under the sanction of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, provided always that these lost truths interfere not with the Mysteries and Ritual of Modern Masonry. And lastly. Whether, under all considerations, the Grand Lodge of Ireland will assist fraternally the dissemination of the recovered truths, which will enlighten the most "enlightened chiefs" of this present generation. Most Worshipful Sir, Respectfully and fraternally, F. TENNYSON. H. MELVILLE. Armfield Hotel, Finsbury. HENRY MELVILLE, FREDERICK TENNYSON. ARMFIELD HOTEL, FINSBURY, 22 Aug. 1872. RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR AND BROTHER, We received your communication dated the 18th July, informing us that you had forwarded our Petition to the Deputy Grand Master of Freemasons in Ireland, to present to the Grand Lodge at their next meeting, on Thursday the 1st August. We have waited patiently expecting to hear the result, but we have not been favoured with the least notice from the Grand Lodge. Our stay in London-our absence from home-are serious inconveniences to us, and if the Irish brethren intend to treat us with discourteous silence, we shall adopt our own course of proceeding. With the utmost possible respect, SIR AND BROTHER, GRAND SECRETARY'S OFFICE, FREEMASON HALL, DUBLIN, 23d day of August, 1872. His Grace the Grand Master has sent forward a letter from you, and Bro. Tennyson, dated 22 Aug. I was under the impression that Bro. Walmisley (who is now absent on leave) had communicated to you what had been done in the matter referred to. Your letters and that from the Grand Master were laid before the Board of Genl. Purposes, and by the Board referred to Grand Lodge-Grand Lodge, desirous of affording every facility in their power to you, appointed a Special Committee, consisting of the Dep. Grd. Master, the Hon. Judge Townsend and George Chatterton, Esq., with a request that they would report to Grand Lodge whether they considered the matter one that should be entertained by Grd. Lodge. The continued absence from Dublin of two of this Committee has prevented any action being taken: but I am in great hopes that there will be a report from the Committee at Grand on the 5th September next. If there be any statement or documents you would wish to lay before this Committee, you can forward them to me or to the Deputy Grand Master, under cover to me at this office. It may perhaps be as well to mention that all the Members of the Committee are Members of the 33d and all minor degrees. I have the Honor to be, Your Obt. Servant, that a Committee has been appointed to report whether our discoveries should be entertained by the Grand Lodge. What report can be made, without enquiry as to the nature of the discoveries, I am at a loss to imagine. From the Fraternal silence since the 1st Aug., both Bro. Tennyson and myself were led to believe that no notice would be taken of our Petition; we therefore prepared to publish. Indeed the Median and Persian Laws are in the hands of the printers, and I have before me a proof page taken haphazard from the body of the work in order to obtain an estimate of the probable expense. I will consult Brother Tennyson when I see him on Wednesday as to the course to be pursued. In the meantime I send you a copy of the printers' proof. ARMFIELD HOTEL, FINSBURY, 31st August. SIR AND BROTHER, As you have not called upon us for information respecting our discoveries, of course you cannot be acquainted with the nature of those Masonic truths respecting which we petitioned the Grand Master to order a Commission of Enquiry. We are anxious to proceed without delay, and in order to furnish. you with some idea as to the truths we have rescued from darkness, we forward to each of you, for your perusal, printer's proof slips of the portion already set up, as far as page 23. To the Deputy Grand Secretary, the HON. BRO. TOWNSEND, and BRO.GEO. CHATTERTON. Respectfully and fraternally, HENRY MELVILLE. [Not having been favoured with any refly, thus terminated the correspondence.] |