Random Notes And Reflections.

the dollar is mightier than anything else . We refer to this scurrillous print just to give the Craft in England some idea of what their brethren in America have to endure . Our course here is smooth and pleasant ; for

many years Brother Jonathan had to fi ght against a host of foes . Now he is assailed by a few noxious parasites and the common enemy—the Romish priest . The latter is respectable but wrongheaded and tyrannical ; tho former is nasty and abusive . .

It appears by the editor of the print mentioned above , that Freemasonry in America " contravenes the spirit and letter of various clauses of the Constitution of tho United States . " The Lodges and Chapters actually dare to give

titles to the brethren , aud this is held to be a shocking violation of the law against granting titles . This Republican Simon Pure has so little faith in his principles that ho is afraid of the bare mention of the names of Masters and

Past Masters , of Most Worshipfnl , Illustrious , Potent , and Sovereign Masters , while the mention of the word King sends him into fits of despair . It i * nought to him that the various Lodges " are incorporated by the local legal

authorities . " The latter are wrong , and he wants to know how they dare go against the fundamental law of the land . Poor man , he cannot distinguish between the symbolical and the practical ; if he could he would find plenty of

honest work in correcting the corruption of his own government . The theory of Republicanism is the purity of the governors and the governed , but probably there is no government in the world more hopelessly corrupt than

the American . The system favours dishonesty , and the love of the "Almighty Dollar " finds ready means for plying a nefarious trade . Our advice to the editor of the

American Freeman is to look to matters about which there is do doubt , and not trouble himself anent things he possibly cannot understand , and certainly cannot appreciate .

This mock moralist goes on to say that Freemasonry abridges the right of "freedom of speech , " and "freedom of the Press . " What a pity it has not reached this wholesale slanderer . Then he runs a muck against the oaths ,

raves about " slavery ancl involuntary servitude , " and says that Masonry is " organised swindling , " and in fact " is at war with every part and parcel of the Federal Constitution and the principles of free government . " How

shocking . There is a good deal more , all tending to the grossest misrepresentation , and urging upon the readers of the Freeman the necessity of agitating for State crusades against Freemasonry and its members . The editor of this

violent paper comes a century too late ; he has no doubt adopted the congenial calling of slinging dirt , but such wordy scavengers are now onl 7 needed among the scum of the community , and among Roman Catholics , who are the sworn enemies of all liberty and progress .

If genuine , the portrait in oil of Bro . Sir Walter Scott , said to be in possession of a lady of Boston , U . S ., is undoubtedly a valuable treasure . The Keystone says : — It represents the poet in early manhood . He wears no beard ; his

hair is brown ; his shirt collar , in something like the Byrouesqne style , falls away from his neck ; the eyes are blue , and the features are evidently the same as in the more familiar portraits . It is supposed to have been taken from a Scotch Castle .

From the description given there ought to be no difficulty about its identification . Our contemporary says nothing about the portrait as a work of art , but if it be what it purports to be , "it is a very curious * and interesting memorial . "

With all their go-a-headism there is a limit even beyond which American Masons , or rather the besfc of them , are not prepared to go . A protest is made in the Freemasons ' ¦ Repository against the publication of Masonic matters that

relate in a delicate way to members of the Craft , and Past Grand Master King , of Maine , looks with great disfavour upon what he calls " gift enterprises . " He doubts the propriet y of making Masonic appeals for financial aid to

those outside the Order . Bro . King says : A Lodge is constituted by Masons , of Masons , and for Masons : it shonld never seek the assistance of the profane , for , by availing itself

of their generosity or charity , and denying them fraternity , it would discredit its profession to act honourably by all men . Have S * fiT ' - ' - nments as y ° please among yourselves and families , either for instruction or amusement : "Let every Brother give

Random Notes And Reflections.

according to his ability , not grudgingly nor in hope of reward , but for the glory of God and love of the Brotherhood . " Wo once made the experiment of asking a cowan to help ; tho tone of his answer as well as the answer itself were sufficient to prevent any renewal of the attempt . Many

men who are not Masons are jealous of those who are , and take delight in snubbing a brother if he happens to make a slip , as we did . We agree with Bro . King—the less we have to do with the outside world the better , except in the cause of charity , when our liberality should only be bounded by our resources .

Every now and then instances are cropping up to show " the universality of the science , " and tbe following is not without interest to the Fraternity . The Rev . J . J . Kelly , a Mohawk chieftain , in an address recently given at Siioara , M . E ., said he was of opinion , with reference to the origin

of the Aborigines of the Continent of America , that they were descended from the crews of the nine ships which Solomon sent to Ophir after gold , and which never

returned . Proof of this , he considered , was in tbe fact that Masonry had been known amongst the Indians long before the arrival of the whites , and that there were over 700 Hebrew'words in the Indian language .

People go from home to hear news , and certainly the English learn a great deal from foreigners of the " lions " of their own country . There are exceptions to this rule , and Westminster Abbey forms one of them . We are not ignorant of that grand pile , and our countrymen and

countrywomen are more familiar with the Abbey probably than any other show place in the kingdom . We are always glad , however , to learn what our foreign visitors have to say about our venerable sanctum of kings and king-like men . A Mrs . Low Wallace , hailing from the

other side of the Atlantic , was delighted with the Abbey , and has expressed her admiration in print . Yankee like , her Republican notions eke out , although in the present instance they are neither obtrusive nor strong . She alludes to the desecration of Cromwell's remams after the

restoration of Charles II ., and says some complimentary things of the Protector , but she does not omit to state—That the only desecration the Abbey has received in all these ages

has been by Puritan soldiers quartered there in 1643 . They burnt the altar rails , sat on benches ronnd the Communion Table , drinking , smoking , singing ; broke many altars , images ; defaced tombs , and shattered the stained glass windows .

She might have added that the same devilish work was done in almost every sacred and noble edifice throughout the country . Nothing of art and beauty was Spared by the Puritan iconoclasts , who , whatever their virtues , were Goths and Vandals with regard to symbolic architecture

and art generally . We Masons must ever regret the destruction that was wrought by Cromwell and his followers . We cannot enter into the political aspect of the question , but we express the views held by all intelligent members of the Craffc when we say that the Puritan

devastations were a disgrace to the whole body , and a sad reflection upon the faith they undertook to defend . Returning to Mrs . Wallace , we call attention to a blot she has discovered , and which sbe exposes with no little force . She says :

The Abbey of Westminster ... . is a very dirty place , the dust and grime of the monuments lie in heavy deposits , giving the impression of neglect . In time-worn grey marble the effigy of Edward Third now lies , at his head his sword and shield , carried before him to France .- The sword is seven feet long , and weighs eighteen

pounds ; a mass of rust , in high contrast with tbe niceness with which the French guard the sacred relics of the Louvre . In that palace is the old sword of Charlemagne , nnder polished glass , not a

speck of dnst on the velvet scabbard . No trace of the God-like grace of Edward remains in the blackened stone which bears his name and features , carved , it may be , by skilful hands , now mouldering and marred by effacing fingers , busy as time itself .

We are not particularly concerned with the doings of the Jesuit Priest , Monsignor Capel , who is in America , notwithstanding the fact that he is credited with having captured the Marquis of Ripon " as a trophy for the Pope . " The Keystone , dealing with Monsignor Capel , says :

We don t think we have a Marquis of Ripon among us . We feel safe in Pennsylvania , at all events , not having even a Past Grand Master that , is not Jesuit proof . Return from whence you came , Monsignor Capel—go East . Above we have recorded the existence of what ia said to