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Ad Untitled Page 1 of 1 Ad Untitled Page 1 of 1 Ad Untitled Page 1 of 1 Ad Untitled Page 1 of 1 Article To Correspondents. Page 1 of 1 Article Untitled Page 1 of 1 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 1 Article Original Correspondence. Page 1 of 1 Article REVIEWS Page 1 of 2 Article REVIEWS Page 1 of 2 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad00505
BACON'S CENTRAL HOTEL , ADJOINING FREEMASONS' HALL , GREAT OUEEN STREET , LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS , LONDON , W . C . BRO . THOMAS BACON begs to solicit the kind patronage of Brethren visiting London . The Craft is aware that it was supposed that the Grand Lodge would purchase the lease of his hotel , a statement to which effect was inserted in all the leading newspapers . He is sorry to say the report is operating much against his business , as many of his friends and the public , thinking his hotel closed , have gone elsewhere . He therefore trusts that his Brother Freemasons in the country will support him , and the more so as he has been a tenant of Grand Lodge for haif-a-century .
Ad00506
FREEMASONS throughout the Kingdom arc earnestly invited to send a DONATION , however small , towards the fund now being raised for the Restoration of the old Parish Church of ST . NICHOLAS , DEPTFORD , which , dating from the 12 th century , is in a terribly dilapidated state . £ 2445 required . Pop . Sooo , chiefly poor . " The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine , saith the Lord of Hosts . "—Address , Rev . J . M . Vaughan , P . M ., P . Z . ( Vicar ) , 215 , Evelyn-st ., Deptford , S . E ., or George Lockyer , Esq ., 33 , High-st ., Deptford , S . E .
Ad00507
AN IMPORTANT FACT ! r * T *~ \ and upwards carefully invested isj JL \ m ) in Options on Stocks and Shares is the safest and most popular way of rapidly making money on the Stock Exchange by the non-liability system . Explanatory Book ( new edition ) giving full details , gratis and post free . — Address , GEORGE EVANS and Co ., Sworn Brokers , Gresham House , London , E . C .
Ad00508
Freemasonry as it Is , v . Freemasonry according to the Pope . A FREEMASON . An extract from the Works of Zschokkc , setting forth in" a lively and entertaining manner most excellent arguments in favour of Freemasonry in its social and benevolent aspects , as against opposite opinions and prejudices . Translated by Bro . ERNST E . WOLFF . Demy Svo ., 6 d .
To Correspondents.
To Correspondents .
The following communications stand over until next week for want of space : — CRAFT LODGES : —Minerva , 250 ; Abbey , 1184 ; Saville , 1231 ; King Harold , 1327 . MARK LODGE : —Prince Leopold , 238 . CORRESPONDENCE : —An Old Certificate .
BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " Jewish Chronicle . ' , " " Loomis' Musical and Masonic Journal , " "Hull Packet , " " Bulletin du Grand Orient dc France , '" Broad /•vrrow , " " Citizen , " " Huddersfield Examiner , " ** Court Circular , " * ' Keystone , " " Diccionario Enciclopedico de la Masoneria , " " Lc Moniteur de la Chance Unircisellc , " * ' Ceremonies in Commemoration ot thc Dead , Philadelphia Lodge ot Perfection , 14 th Degree , " " Freemasons' journal , " " Montreal Herald , " " The Tricycling Journal , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " "La Revista Masonica del Peril . "
Ar00509
MfeS^^re ^^^^^ fw ^^^ v ' ^ v ^^ ¥ ^ ir ^ rm ^^ m SATURDAY , J 28 , 1884 , . —* .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinionsexpressedby oui correspondents , but we wish in aspirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion , ] ——
SIR J . B . MONCKTON'S TESTIMONIAL , To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have been a little disturbed by a circumstance which has just occurred . I took home two men from lodge to my Club to have a smoke . One of them to my astonishment said " I am sorry that you entertain feelings of
animosity toward Sir J . Monckton and oppose a testimonial being given to him , " " at least it is generally said so . " Of course I repudiated this at once . Now in this world it is not only necessary to do right but to appear to do it . Let me say to you now what 1 said to them . I received a printed circular from Bro . Glutton requesting me to subscribe and I replied that I was sorry to feel obliged to decline because I objected to testimonials unless under very
special circumstances , as they frequently smacked of a job . That personally I had always practised what I preached . Grand Lodge has on three different occasions offered me through a Committee . ( 1 ) A service of Plate ; ( 2 ) a carriage and horses ; and ( 3 ) when both these were respectfully but firmly declined , the same Committee put a notice of motion on the agenda paper that such a sum of money should be granted by Grand Lodge as would purchase for me the
right to have always one boy and one girl in their respective schools , and one old man as pensioner . That motion was never put to Grand Lodge . I purposely absented myself from Grand Lodge but wrote to the Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , gratefully but ( irmly declining to accept it . The Grand Master read that letter from the throne and was moved almost to tears in doing so—it was ordered
to be entered on the minutes , and was so , but I forget the date , nor is it material . There is another objection to this particular testimonial , viz ., the giving of it might seem a reflection on others who have done longer and larger service-to the Craft than Bro .
Sir ] . Monckton , for example , in earlier days , Bros . Dobie , Henderson and J . L . Evans , who all served for much longer and in very trying times , and notably in the present month even , the case of Bro . Mclntyre who retired after 22 years of good work—no one has offered a testimonial to any of them .
Original Correspondence.
This is thc substance of what I wrote to Bro . Glutton and I added some words of respect toward Bro . Sir J . Monckton . I have never refused to accept a testimonial in the form of a vote of thanks inscribed on vellum—that costs next to nothing —I may mention in parenthesis that the last one
voted to me by Grand Lodge was at the conclusion of the new building , when on behalf of the Committee over whom I had the honour to preside , I accepted the offer , but we never saw those vellums and 1 have never heard of them since . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , June 19 th . JOHN HAVERS , P . G . W .
THE PAPAL ENCYCLICAL AND THE FOREIGN FREEMASONS . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Before the interest of Freemasons in the Pope's fulmination entirely subsides it would be satisfactory to many if before condemndation be heaped upon the heads of Continental brethren one or some of them were to enunciate
their ideas on the subject . It is all very well for Englishmen , who see Roman Catholicism in its mildest aspect and most respectable form , to protest against their action ; but did we know a tithe of the intolerance and injustice of thc priestly orders on theContinent we should probably as a body adopt their line of action and resist to the utmost the Papal efforts to control and dominate the education of the lower classes on the Continent . The promotion of education is
pre-eminently a Masonic duty , for without it , how can the masses become fit members of a well-organized society ? Without doubt , Freemasonry is the natural opponent of extreme sacredotalism . While advocating order and a due attention to ritual and reverence for religion , it is a determined opponent of ignorance and superstition . It is almost certain the Papacy would , if it could , obliterate our Order and all its works ; annihilate the Society and
the individual . It is only the strength of our principles and the unity of the brethren which prevent it from doing so . Continental Freemasons are charged with Atheism . It will be found b y careful observation that almost all " perverts " from Rome become more or less freethinkers , or what the Pope would denominate Atheists . There is for such scarcely any middle state ; Protestantism is to them only a half-way house . If a man were to deny the efficacy
of the Mass , the worth 01 relics , the Immaculate Conception , he would be at once stigmatized by his opponents as an Atheist . The Irish labourer in England when he forsakes Romanism generally becomes a Bradlaughite . Why should wc expect different results elsewhere ? It is fair to suppose that Continental Freemasons are intelligent men , and as capable as we are of distinguishing
right from wrong , and that they have had in the past , and have still , good reason for adopting their present line of conduct ; and it is even fair * to suppose that were we face to face with their difficulties—priestly intolerance and priestly encroachments—upon the rights of conscience and freedom of thought , as they are , we should adopt some similar line of conduct in opposition .
There is little doubt that but for Freemasonry on the Continent , the Papacy would be as obnoxious to free and intelligent men to-day as ever it was . It would sustain men ' s wills and restrict education to such an extent that there would scarcely be any education worth the name . It would be a graceful act if the Pro Grand Master , or some other influential brother , were to ask the Grand Lodges of the Continent to favour English Freemasons with a brief statement of the cause of their determined opposition to the
Papacy . The result . would probably be that we should understand our foreign brethren better than we do and esteem them more ,- and look upon the Pope ' s Encyclical as a political expedient to discredit in the name of religion those who oppose its efforts to obtain more political power . The probability is that Continental Freemasons deserve , instead of reproaches , our warmest commendations and earnest support . Apologising for addressing you at so great a length , and putting forth this novel view of the position of parties , —I remain , faithfully yours , J . C .
CARDINAL McCABE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you find me a corner in the Freemason to protest against Cardinal McCabe's statement , recently published at Dublin , that the " succession of revolutions that have shaken society for the last century can be easily traced to Masonry , a confederation organized for the unholiest ? The cardinal in this cathe
purposes" good saying " ex - dra " tells , as we say , a " thumper , " as no one statement can be so absolutely untrue . Such words constitute a great insulfcand impertinence to our loyal Order in Ireland , where they have before their eyes the existence of disloyal secret societies , with which many Roman Catholic priests are connected , as in the last Irish revolution . VVe can all afford to laugh at such silly words ; and 1 am yours fraternally , AN ENEMY TO INTOLERANCE .
Reviews
REVIEWS
THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY FOR MAY , Providence R . I ., U . S . This very ably edited Masonic Serial is before us , and we are pleased to receive it and peruse it . " To shew how thc wind blows" anent the Quebec Grand Lodge , & c , we note an editorial remark in respect of thc " prescriptive action of the Provincial Parliament and the Grand Lodge
of Quebec , " which we do not even profess to understand . Does our esteemed confrere realize the force and effect of his own words ? Are the laws of the land nothing to the Grand Lodge of Quebec , or Canadian and American Freemasons ? If the Act against " secret societies forbids Masonic lodges to meet except under certain conditions and
limitations , is there any Masonic power which can overlook , override , and dispense with the provisions of such laws ? If we understand certain Masonic writers aright on this point , it is "Anemia , " or lawlessness to which they are leading in their heated advocacy of the Grand Lodge of Quebec ? It is either a legal body or an illegal one—that is , legal not only according to Masonic precedent and usage ( for there is no law on the
Reviews
subject recognized in England ) , but legal as before the laws of the land . To obey the enactments of the Supreme Legislature is a cardinal point in all Masonic professions , and if Freemasonry bc not legal in any State , it has no legal existence , and cannot therefore assert legal Masonic jurisdiction or claim legal Masonic obedience while thus " ' ?"~? *' ' ° ' * " ** f '" t ,, e exigencies of a particular case of difficulty and excitement Freemasons everywhere are to put forward the Jesuit maxims , " the end justifies , the
means , " or "we may do evil that good may come , " we not only render all our professions ridiculous among men , but actually offer plausibility to some of the allegations of Leo XIII ., that we are an illegal secret society , which acts contrary to andis subversive of the laws of the land , and is therefore inimical and injurious to government and authority . We always make a little allowance for temporary excitement and aberration , and hope soon to see our brethren and our cousins across thc water return to a sounder state of mind on the subject .
LA FRANC MACONN 1 ER 1 E . Paris . This is a monthly publication , which first appeared , it seems , last March , and which is printed by thc " Internalial Catholic Library , " in Paris , and is believed to be a Roman Catholic clerical attack on Freemasonry under the apparent banner of Freemasonry . A brother who uses the pseudonym of " Dumas Dazil" is said to be its editor , and we is , we are told , well known in Paris . We regret to think
much that by this very Jesuitical proceeding the enemies of French Freemasonry should thus improperly adopt the honoured name of Freemasonry . If the Roman Catholic clergy have complaints against the Grand Orient , let them be spoken out openly and fearlessly . We do not profess to approve of the proceedings of the Grand Orient of France , but we like fair play and honesty of purpose . We
detest Jesuitism and trickery , and feel that our French brethren may fairly complain of such a "pious fraud . " They may even recite Canning ' s polished lines : " Give me the erect , give me the wary foe ; I perhaps can meet , perhaps return the blow ; But from all ills which Heaven in wrath can send , Save me , oh ! save me , from the candid friend . "
THE MASONIC WORLD . No . 12 , Vol . 1 . Boston , U . S . Thc "Masonic World , " which is an organ of the Antient and Primitive Rite , as has been * shown before in these columns , cannot be commended by the calmly critical , asan exponent of Masonic History . Intent only on one thing viz ., to decry the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite , and to promulgate the Ancient and Primitive Rite so called , it seems at times to be utterly regardless of the normally
accepted canons of histonal accuracy and verification . So long as it can " crack on " about its own order , it does not seem to care much what it says or how it says it . Into the great dispute as between the Ancient Scottish Rite and the Ancient Primitive Rite thus carried on and thus developed we do not care to enter to-day . Suffice it to say that , whereas the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite is undoubtedly early in the eighteenth century , and probably older than
some like to think , the Ancient and Primitive Rite is the creation of some erratic Frenchman about 1 S 30 , and absolutel y untrue in its assertion of any Egyptian origin , just as it is equally ridiculous on its fabrication of meaningless names , and impossible Degrees . It is almost ludicrous to note the blunders made by the writer in his attempt to make out his pet child to be born of reputable parents , and to be really something in the world , instead
ot a pure " filius terra :. " We peruse for instance Masonic History , p . 190 , and we lind a succession of misstatements so peculiar and undoubted that we can only wonder any writer could take the trouble of putting them together . Indeed the ludicrous juxtaposition of namesand the incongruous assertion of events serve to convince us that the writer is not only " greatly at sea , " but must be for some purpose making his facts " square" with his theories , as
there is not positively historically one " scintilla" of accuracy or verity in any one of these bold and . untenable assertions . J . Balsamo //* at Frankport in 1771 did not communicate "a portion of the Degrees of the Egyptian Rite" ( of which by the way there were only three ) , to Swedenborg as Swedenborg was not a Freemason , and the * ' Maconnerie Egypticnne '' of J . Balsamo , of which we have an official copy , had nothing in thc least to do with Craft
Masonry , or any other known system , or with Swedenborgianism . J . Balsamo was found out in England , and certainly did not communicate his nonsense to many of the nobility . He professed to have obtained it himself from an Englishman , George Coston , or Cofton , or Gofton . He was turned out of the Lodge of Antiquity . 2 . It is true that he was at St . Petersburg , like many other places , but being " wanted by the police " there as elsewhere , suddenly
left that capital , as many others . It is true that he was at Strasburg , where he became thc portcge of that ill-conducted Bishop and discreditable intiguer , Prince L . de Rohan , and founded thc "Mere Loge" of " Sorgesse Triumphante , " at Lyons , which claimed to be a Grand Lodge . It may bc that it was for some time affiliated in some way with a French Craft lodge ; but they soon parted company , as was inevitable ,
when his system was known . He was mixed up with the " Philalethes , " the " Ecossais Philosophique , " and the " Illuminati ; " but he was not " recui" by the respectable French Freemasons , to their honour . Mirabeau never was a Freemason , though an Illuminati , and though several of the other names were it may be " Martinistes , " or Illuminati , there is no evidence we arc aware of of their being Freemasons . Thc Duke of Orleans ( Egalite ) was at one
time Grand Master of the Grand Orient ; but was properl y expelled from the Order , having become an Illuminati . Happily , none of Cagliostro ' s work stood , and he was eventually driven by the police from Paris and France as an impostor and rogue . He had begun his old game at Rome , —of imposing on rich women and practicisinghis ridiculous Egyptian Masonry , —when the Rome police very properly stepped in , closed his lodge , and put him in prison . There is nothing in common with J . Balsamo and the Ancient and
Primitive Rite , and we should doubt some of its respectable members in England at all relishing the association , and therefore we protest against this method of writing history . It is absolutely degrading to the name " history , " while it is revolting to the thoughtful student , and injurious to the study of all Masonic archaeology . There is also an article on the " Book of the Dead , " which , interesting if correct , is rendered of little use scientifically by its critical incorrectness . Thc passage from the " Book of the Dead " is thus set forth : " Says Thot to Osiris , King of Eternity , I am
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ad00505
BACON'S CENTRAL HOTEL , ADJOINING FREEMASONS' HALL , GREAT OUEEN STREET , LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS , LONDON , W . C . BRO . THOMAS BACON begs to solicit the kind patronage of Brethren visiting London . The Craft is aware that it was supposed that the Grand Lodge would purchase the lease of his hotel , a statement to which effect was inserted in all the leading newspapers . He is sorry to say the report is operating much against his business , as many of his friends and the public , thinking his hotel closed , have gone elsewhere . He therefore trusts that his Brother Freemasons in the country will support him , and the more so as he has been a tenant of Grand Lodge for haif-a-century .
Ad00506
FREEMASONS throughout the Kingdom arc earnestly invited to send a DONATION , however small , towards the fund now being raised for the Restoration of the old Parish Church of ST . NICHOLAS , DEPTFORD , which , dating from the 12 th century , is in a terribly dilapidated state . £ 2445 required . Pop . Sooo , chiefly poor . " The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine , saith the Lord of Hosts . "—Address , Rev . J . M . Vaughan , P . M ., P . Z . ( Vicar ) , 215 , Evelyn-st ., Deptford , S . E ., or George Lockyer , Esq ., 33 , High-st ., Deptford , S . E .
Ad00507
AN IMPORTANT FACT ! r * T *~ \ and upwards carefully invested isj JL \ m ) in Options on Stocks and Shares is the safest and most popular way of rapidly making money on the Stock Exchange by the non-liability system . Explanatory Book ( new edition ) giving full details , gratis and post free . — Address , GEORGE EVANS and Co ., Sworn Brokers , Gresham House , London , E . C .
Ad00508
Freemasonry as it Is , v . Freemasonry according to the Pope . A FREEMASON . An extract from the Works of Zschokkc , setting forth in" a lively and entertaining manner most excellent arguments in favour of Freemasonry in its social and benevolent aspects , as against opposite opinions and prejudices . Translated by Bro . ERNST E . WOLFF . Demy Svo ., 6 d .
To Correspondents.
To Correspondents .
The following communications stand over until next week for want of space : — CRAFT LODGES : —Minerva , 250 ; Abbey , 1184 ; Saville , 1231 ; King Harold , 1327 . MARK LODGE : —Prince Leopold , 238 . CORRESPONDENCE : —An Old Certificate .
BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . " Jewish Chronicle . ' , " " Loomis' Musical and Masonic Journal , " "Hull Packet , " " Bulletin du Grand Orient dc France , '" Broad /•vrrow , " " Citizen , " " Huddersfield Examiner , " ** Court Circular , " * ' Keystone , " " Diccionario Enciclopedico de la Masoneria , " " Lc Moniteur de la Chance Unircisellc , " * ' Ceremonies in Commemoration ot thc Dead , Philadelphia Lodge ot Perfection , 14 th Degree , " " Freemasons' journal , " " Montreal Herald , " " The Tricycling Journal , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " "La Revista Masonica del Peril . "
Ar00509
MfeS^^re ^^^^^ fw ^^^ v ' ^ v ^^ ¥ ^ ir ^ rm ^^ m SATURDAY , J 28 , 1884 , . —* .
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinionsexpressedby oui correspondents , but we wish in aspirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion , ] ——
SIR J . B . MONCKTON'S TESTIMONIAL , To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , I have been a little disturbed by a circumstance which has just occurred . I took home two men from lodge to my Club to have a smoke . One of them to my astonishment said " I am sorry that you entertain feelings of
animosity toward Sir J . Monckton and oppose a testimonial being given to him , " " at least it is generally said so . " Of course I repudiated this at once . Now in this world it is not only necessary to do right but to appear to do it . Let me say to you now what 1 said to them . I received a printed circular from Bro . Glutton requesting me to subscribe and I replied that I was sorry to feel obliged to decline because I objected to testimonials unless under very
special circumstances , as they frequently smacked of a job . That personally I had always practised what I preached . Grand Lodge has on three different occasions offered me through a Committee . ( 1 ) A service of Plate ; ( 2 ) a carriage and horses ; and ( 3 ) when both these were respectfully but firmly declined , the same Committee put a notice of motion on the agenda paper that such a sum of money should be granted by Grand Lodge as would purchase for me the
right to have always one boy and one girl in their respective schools , and one old man as pensioner . That motion was never put to Grand Lodge . I purposely absented myself from Grand Lodge but wrote to the Grand Master , the Earl of Zetland , gratefully but ( irmly declining to accept it . The Grand Master read that letter from the throne and was moved almost to tears in doing so—it was ordered
to be entered on the minutes , and was so , but I forget the date , nor is it material . There is another objection to this particular testimonial , viz ., the giving of it might seem a reflection on others who have done longer and larger service-to the Craft than Bro .
Sir ] . Monckton , for example , in earlier days , Bros . Dobie , Henderson and J . L . Evans , who all served for much longer and in very trying times , and notably in the present month even , the case of Bro . Mclntyre who retired after 22 years of good work—no one has offered a testimonial to any of them .
Original Correspondence.
This is thc substance of what I wrote to Bro . Glutton and I added some words of respect toward Bro . Sir J . Monckton . I have never refused to accept a testimonial in the form of a vote of thanks inscribed on vellum—that costs next to nothing —I may mention in parenthesis that the last one
voted to me by Grand Lodge was at the conclusion of the new building , when on behalf of the Committee over whom I had the honour to preside , I accepted the offer , but we never saw those vellums and 1 have never heard of them since . —Yours faithfully and fraternally , June 19 th . JOHN HAVERS , P . G . W .
THE PAPAL ENCYCLICAL AND THE FOREIGN FREEMASONS . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Before the interest of Freemasons in the Pope's fulmination entirely subsides it would be satisfactory to many if before condemndation be heaped upon the heads of Continental brethren one or some of them were to enunciate
their ideas on the subject . It is all very well for Englishmen , who see Roman Catholicism in its mildest aspect and most respectable form , to protest against their action ; but did we know a tithe of the intolerance and injustice of thc priestly orders on theContinent we should probably as a body adopt their line of action and resist to the utmost the Papal efforts to control and dominate the education of the lower classes on the Continent . The promotion of education is
pre-eminently a Masonic duty , for without it , how can the masses become fit members of a well-organized society ? Without doubt , Freemasonry is the natural opponent of extreme sacredotalism . While advocating order and a due attention to ritual and reverence for religion , it is a determined opponent of ignorance and superstition . It is almost certain the Papacy would , if it could , obliterate our Order and all its works ; annihilate the Society and
the individual . It is only the strength of our principles and the unity of the brethren which prevent it from doing so . Continental Freemasons are charged with Atheism . It will be found b y careful observation that almost all " perverts " from Rome become more or less freethinkers , or what the Pope would denominate Atheists . There is for such scarcely any middle state ; Protestantism is to them only a half-way house . If a man were to deny the efficacy
of the Mass , the worth 01 relics , the Immaculate Conception , he would be at once stigmatized by his opponents as an Atheist . The Irish labourer in England when he forsakes Romanism generally becomes a Bradlaughite . Why should wc expect different results elsewhere ? It is fair to suppose that Continental Freemasons are intelligent men , and as capable as we are of distinguishing
right from wrong , and that they have had in the past , and have still , good reason for adopting their present line of conduct ; and it is even fair * to suppose that were we face to face with their difficulties—priestly intolerance and priestly encroachments—upon the rights of conscience and freedom of thought , as they are , we should adopt some similar line of conduct in opposition .
There is little doubt that but for Freemasonry on the Continent , the Papacy would be as obnoxious to free and intelligent men to-day as ever it was . It would sustain men ' s wills and restrict education to such an extent that there would scarcely be any education worth the name . It would be a graceful act if the Pro Grand Master , or some other influential brother , were to ask the Grand Lodges of the Continent to favour English Freemasons with a brief statement of the cause of their determined opposition to the
Papacy . The result . would probably be that we should understand our foreign brethren better than we do and esteem them more ,- and look upon the Pope ' s Encyclical as a political expedient to discredit in the name of religion those who oppose its efforts to obtain more political power . The probability is that Continental Freemasons deserve , instead of reproaches , our warmest commendations and earnest support . Apologising for addressing you at so great a length , and putting forth this novel view of the position of parties , —I remain , faithfully yours , J . C .
CARDINAL McCABE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you find me a corner in the Freemason to protest against Cardinal McCabe's statement , recently published at Dublin , that the " succession of revolutions that have shaken society for the last century can be easily traced to Masonry , a confederation organized for the unholiest ? The cardinal in this cathe
purposes" good saying " ex - dra " tells , as we say , a " thumper , " as no one statement can be so absolutely untrue . Such words constitute a great insulfcand impertinence to our loyal Order in Ireland , where they have before their eyes the existence of disloyal secret societies , with which many Roman Catholic priests are connected , as in the last Irish revolution . VVe can all afford to laugh at such silly words ; and 1 am yours fraternally , AN ENEMY TO INTOLERANCE .
Reviews
REVIEWS
THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY FOR MAY , Providence R . I ., U . S . This very ably edited Masonic Serial is before us , and we are pleased to receive it and peruse it . " To shew how thc wind blows" anent the Quebec Grand Lodge , & c , we note an editorial remark in respect of thc " prescriptive action of the Provincial Parliament and the Grand Lodge
of Quebec , " which we do not even profess to understand . Does our esteemed confrere realize the force and effect of his own words ? Are the laws of the land nothing to the Grand Lodge of Quebec , or Canadian and American Freemasons ? If the Act against " secret societies forbids Masonic lodges to meet except under certain conditions and
limitations , is there any Masonic power which can overlook , override , and dispense with the provisions of such laws ? If we understand certain Masonic writers aright on this point , it is "Anemia , " or lawlessness to which they are leading in their heated advocacy of the Grand Lodge of Quebec ? It is either a legal body or an illegal one—that is , legal not only according to Masonic precedent and usage ( for there is no law on the
Reviews
subject recognized in England ) , but legal as before the laws of the land . To obey the enactments of the Supreme Legislature is a cardinal point in all Masonic professions , and if Freemasonry bc not legal in any State , it has no legal existence , and cannot therefore assert legal Masonic jurisdiction or claim legal Masonic obedience while thus " ' ?"~? *' ' ° ' * " ** f '" t ,, e exigencies of a particular case of difficulty and excitement Freemasons everywhere are to put forward the Jesuit maxims , " the end justifies , the
means , " or "we may do evil that good may come , " we not only render all our professions ridiculous among men , but actually offer plausibility to some of the allegations of Leo XIII ., that we are an illegal secret society , which acts contrary to andis subversive of the laws of the land , and is therefore inimical and injurious to government and authority . We always make a little allowance for temporary excitement and aberration , and hope soon to see our brethren and our cousins across thc water return to a sounder state of mind on the subject .
LA FRANC MACONN 1 ER 1 E . Paris . This is a monthly publication , which first appeared , it seems , last March , and which is printed by thc " Internalial Catholic Library , " in Paris , and is believed to be a Roman Catholic clerical attack on Freemasonry under the apparent banner of Freemasonry . A brother who uses the pseudonym of " Dumas Dazil" is said to be its editor , and we is , we are told , well known in Paris . We regret to think
much that by this very Jesuitical proceeding the enemies of French Freemasonry should thus improperly adopt the honoured name of Freemasonry . If the Roman Catholic clergy have complaints against the Grand Orient , let them be spoken out openly and fearlessly . We do not profess to approve of the proceedings of the Grand Orient of France , but we like fair play and honesty of purpose . We
detest Jesuitism and trickery , and feel that our French brethren may fairly complain of such a "pious fraud . " They may even recite Canning ' s polished lines : " Give me the erect , give me the wary foe ; I perhaps can meet , perhaps return the blow ; But from all ills which Heaven in wrath can send , Save me , oh ! save me , from the candid friend . "
THE MASONIC WORLD . No . 12 , Vol . 1 . Boston , U . S . Thc "Masonic World , " which is an organ of the Antient and Primitive Rite , as has been * shown before in these columns , cannot be commended by the calmly critical , asan exponent of Masonic History . Intent only on one thing viz ., to decry the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite , and to promulgate the Ancient and Primitive Rite so called , it seems at times to be utterly regardless of the normally
accepted canons of histonal accuracy and verification . So long as it can " crack on " about its own order , it does not seem to care much what it says or how it says it . Into the great dispute as between the Ancient Scottish Rite and the Ancient Primitive Rite thus carried on and thus developed we do not care to enter to-day . Suffice it to say that , whereas the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite is undoubtedly early in the eighteenth century , and probably older than
some like to think , the Ancient and Primitive Rite is the creation of some erratic Frenchman about 1 S 30 , and absolutel y untrue in its assertion of any Egyptian origin , just as it is equally ridiculous on its fabrication of meaningless names , and impossible Degrees . It is almost ludicrous to note the blunders made by the writer in his attempt to make out his pet child to be born of reputable parents , and to be really something in the world , instead
ot a pure " filius terra :. " We peruse for instance Masonic History , p . 190 , and we lind a succession of misstatements so peculiar and undoubted that we can only wonder any writer could take the trouble of putting them together . Indeed the ludicrous juxtaposition of namesand the incongruous assertion of events serve to convince us that the writer is not only " greatly at sea , " but must be for some purpose making his facts " square" with his theories , as
there is not positively historically one " scintilla" of accuracy or verity in any one of these bold and . untenable assertions . J . Balsamo //* at Frankport in 1771 did not communicate "a portion of the Degrees of the Egyptian Rite" ( of which by the way there were only three ) , to Swedenborg as Swedenborg was not a Freemason , and the * ' Maconnerie Egypticnne '' of J . Balsamo , of which we have an official copy , had nothing in thc least to do with Craft
Masonry , or any other known system , or with Swedenborgianism . J . Balsamo was found out in England , and certainly did not communicate his nonsense to many of the nobility . He professed to have obtained it himself from an Englishman , George Coston , or Cofton , or Gofton . He was turned out of the Lodge of Antiquity . 2 . It is true that he was at St . Petersburg , like many other places , but being " wanted by the police " there as elsewhere , suddenly
left that capital , as many others . It is true that he was at Strasburg , where he became thc portcge of that ill-conducted Bishop and discreditable intiguer , Prince L . de Rohan , and founded thc "Mere Loge" of " Sorgesse Triumphante , " at Lyons , which claimed to be a Grand Lodge . It may bc that it was for some time affiliated in some way with a French Craft lodge ; but they soon parted company , as was inevitable ,
when his system was known . He was mixed up with the " Philalethes , " the " Ecossais Philosophique , " and the " Illuminati ; " but he was not " recui" by the respectable French Freemasons , to their honour . Mirabeau never was a Freemason , though an Illuminati , and though several of the other names were it may be " Martinistes , " or Illuminati , there is no evidence we arc aware of of their being Freemasons . Thc Duke of Orleans ( Egalite ) was at one
time Grand Master of the Grand Orient ; but was properl y expelled from the Order , having become an Illuminati . Happily , none of Cagliostro ' s work stood , and he was eventually driven by the police from Paris and France as an impostor and rogue . He had begun his old game at Rome , —of imposing on rich women and practicisinghis ridiculous Egyptian Masonry , —when the Rome police very properly stepped in , closed his lodge , and put him in prison . There is nothing in common with J . Balsamo and the Ancient and
Primitive Rite , and we should doubt some of its respectable members in England at all relishing the association , and therefore we protest against this method of writing history . It is absolutely degrading to the name " history , " while it is revolting to the thoughtful student , and injurious to the study of all Masonic archaeology . There is also an article on the " Book of the Dead , " which , interesting if correct , is rendered of little use scientifically by its critical incorrectness . Thc passage from the " Book of the Dead " is thus set forth : " Says Thot to Osiris , King of Eternity , I am