Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee 0 / good faith .

THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CIIRONICLE .

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Rumour , mostly mendacious , but somotimes possessed of some amount of veracity , asserts that at its next meeting the Grand Lodge oi England intends to emulate tho example of the Irish Grand Lodge , and propose tho cessation of fraternal intercourse with the Grand Orient of France . Although ono might

venture upon an approximate guess as to the views generally entertained by the members of tho EngliBh Fraternity regarding the anomalous stand the Grand Orient in its discretion has thought it wise to take , it would be idle to speculate upon tho measures Grand Lodge will be likely to adopt in a matter of such high and vital importance . As an individual whose feeble influence is powerless to

bias their decisions , I would ask those who take interest in the question to well reflect upon the course which ought to be pursued . It may at OHCO be admitted that the resolution of the Grand Orient to eliminate from their constitution the direct acknowledgment of the only safe basis npon which Freemasonry , and indeed any other society , can hope to rest with any degreo of permanency

or prospect of real usefulness is most deplorable , and it is easy to understand that , to a mind imbued with the natural faith iu the Supreme Artificer , and a yearning for a life to come , the omission must be distressingly shocking . Nevertheless , I venture to affirm that the course the Irish Grand Lodgo has adopted is , to say the least , impolitio and injudicious . Their resolution savours too much

of the spirit of persecution , and bears too close an affinity to an act of excommunication . Any approach to this fearful weapon , always mercilessly wielded against opponents by the most intolerant creed upon earth , shonld be resolutely discountenanced by Freemasonry , whose tendency has ever inclined towards freedom and enlightenment , and whose benign influence has done more , perhaps , than any

other cause to destroy prejudice against race and rancour in matters of conscience . After all , npon calm consideration , what is the great sin of which our French brethren have been guilty , that it should raise up so great an amount of ill will ? They omit to make it imperative upon the novice to declare his belief in God , but at the same time aver that Masonry has never claimed to be

considered a system of religion , and as their society has for its object the encouragement of the practice of charity and benevolence , and the promotion of fraternal feelings and unity of sentiment in the performance of every good work calculated to ameliorate the condition of mankind , man might be permitted to participate in these acts of mercy without any reference whatsoever aa to their

beliefs or non-beliefs . From this it does not follow that the French Masons are Godless . By their works let them be judged . Belief , especially when made designedly conspicuous , is not always beneficial ; ostentations lip worship has before now been known as a creator of mischief , while true piety is silent and only discerned by its blessed results . The character of an individual is judged by his

conduct , regardless of profession of faith , why should a different mode be pursued when estimating the value of an association ? In the consideration of this subject we must not lose sight of the surroundings and conditions of French Masonry . They cannot be compared with those of this favoured country . Who knows but that the Grand Orient was forced to take this step , so distressing to English

susceptibilities , as an emphatic and unmistakable protest against the arrogant presumption of the dominant priesthood , whose fierce antagonism against any kind of freedom of thought or conscience knows no limit f It is therefore I raise my feeble voice to urge English Masons to pause before they conclude to refuse recognition and fellowship to our foreign brethren . Time enough lo do that when their acts and

not their profession merit condemnation . It does not require a wonderful amonnt of sagacity to foresee that should the example of the Masonic authorities of Dublin be generally followed , a fatal blow will be struck against one of the most important bulwarks of the Craft , its universality , but no one can tell the disastrous consequences which may follow . If our brethren across the Channel

have erred , it is not by anathema or coercion you can hope or expect to lead them back to the path of wisdom and truth . Kindness and the force of example are much more likely to bring about the deside . ratum . Meanwhile , the interest , nay the very stability of the Order , is threatened by disunion . Our enemies , and they are not few or impotent , ever vigilant , will not be slow to take advantage of any

show of weakness , and are not likely to miss striking at the most vulnerable part . Let ns , therefore , be wary and cautions . Our pros , perity has reached a dazzling height , and days of adversity seem to be at band . These may , however , still be averted , by prudence , justice and moderation . Yours fraternally , 1

E . GOTTHEIL .

THE BRITISH ORPHAN ASYLUM . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Will you kindly allow me to trespass on your space in order to bring before your readers tho claims of the above Charity on their support . Tho asylum was established in 1827 , for the gratuitous maintenance and education of orphans of both sexes , aud of all denominations , whoso parents once moved iu proa-

Correspondence.

perity , and livod in any part of tho British ompire . The number of children at present in the establishment is over 200 ; they aro tho sons and daughters of clergyman , naval and military officers , solicitors , merchants , & c . Tho education imparted is of a practical Christian character , and many pupils havebeeu enabled to regain tho position onco occupied by their parents . Tho present being tho

jubilee year of tho Institution , an effort is boing mado to raise a jubileo fund to enable tho Board of Directors to enlarge thoir sphcro of usefulness , and I am endeavouring to obtain a hundred guiueas to add to this fund at tho annual meeting in January next . I havo a special reason for making this effort . My brother , William Charles Cooper , died on Whit-Mouday last year , after a severe and protracted

illness , the result of tho oxposnro to which ho was subjected when serving his fellow-countrymen as a roportor iu many parts of tho kingdom . Ho left a widow and fivo children , tho eldest only nine years old , entirely unprovided for , his illnoss having absorbed all his means . My sister-in-law is doing her best to provide for herself and little ones by lodging lotting ; but , as you can easily imagino , finds

the care and other accompaniments of so large a family a serious drawback to her success . With a view , therefore , of assisting in tho removal of this obstacle , a good brother Mason , who knew my brothor , and who is well known for his Christiau liberality in such cases , has nominated my brother ' s oldest child , Catherine Jano Coopor , as a candidate for admission into the above-named asylum . After two

elections we find that wo shall reqmro at least four hundred more votes than we can hope to obtain by canvassing to secure her election at Christmas ; but if I can succeed in filling my subscription list of ono hundred gnineas , I shall bo entitled , under one of tho rules ( the 47 th ) , to the required number of votes ou that occasion only . It is on this account that I seek the kind co-operation and

assistance of my brother Masons everywhere—and especially those connected with the Press—and I am sure I shall not appeal to them in vain , for the care of the fatherless and the widoiv is ono of the chief objects of our banding ourselves together . It is especially desirable that my niece should be successful at tho forthcoming election , as my aged mother , by whom necessarily the greater part of the

canvass has been conducted , is unable to continue it , on account of failing health and sight . Will you kindly permit me to acknowledge in your columns any contributions I mny be favoured with ? Many of us have recently been attending thanksgiving services for tho bounteous harvest with which we havo been favoured , and for

preservation from tho horrors of a war into which ab one time it seemed probable we might drift . Is it possible to conceive of a better way in which to show our gratitude to the Father of tho fatherless and tho Husband of tho widow , than by doing our best to provide for those who are left desolate by the hand of death ?

Yours fraternally , E . SEYMOUR COOI ' EK . 7 Garrick-street , Covont Garden , W . C . 28 th Nov . 1877 . P . S . —Tho following amounts havo been promised , or contributed : — £ s d I £ s d

Bro . Magnus Ohreu , and C Utnnoy , Esq ., London 110 the employes of the Mr . George Powlson , Crystal Palace Gas Co . Warrington 1 1 0 ( for whom my brother Mrs . Bevitt , Edgbaston , acted as Collector ) ... 3 13 6 Birmingham ... 1 1 0 J . Tattersall , Esq ., Stoko Messrs . Unwiu Bros ., Newinaton 2 12 6 London ... ... 1 1 0

E . Seymour Cooper ... 2 12 6 Mr . R . E . Cooper / Honley-A Friend , Warwick ... 2 2 0 in-Ardcn 0 10 6 Miss E . Cooper 1 1 0 Mrs . Orm an , Bedford 0 10 6 Mrs . C . Cooper , Bedford 110 George Hurst , Esq ., J . P ., Mr . H . C . Cooper , ditto 110 Bedford 0 10 6

Messrs . McIntyre , London 110 James Wyatt , Esq ., G . C . Young , Esq ., do 110 Bedford 0 10 6 J . Atkins , Esq ., Bedford 1 1 0 F . Trapp , Esq ., Bedford 0 10 6 The Loyal Bruce Castle Bro . R . H . Coombs , Lodge of Oddfellows , Bedford 0 10 6 Tottenham 1 1 0 .

VALLEY OE NEW ZEALAND . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Allow me to inform " Rose Croix " thafc I apply the word schismatic to all so-called Masonic bodies outside tho recognised degrees of Ancient , Free and Accepted Masonry according to the articles of Union . I do not know where the so-called S . G . C . Valley of New Zealand

obtained its charter , neither does it much matter , in my simple opinion ; because I deny tho right of any so-called Grand Lodge or Council to prohibit me from joining any other body which does not infringe on the rights and privileges of that Order . For instance , supposing I am a member of tho Mark degree , what right have thoy to prevent mo joining the Order of Knights of Rome and of the Red

Gross of Constantine or tho Royal Order ot Scotland ? a ^ ain , supposing the members of a " time-immemorial Mark Lodge which has never acknowledged tho Grand Mark Lodge chooso to form a new Lodge of Mark Masons in whatever town or province they desire , what power or authority has the so-called Grand Mark Lodge to attempt to prevent their doing so ? It is on these grounds that I

claim the liberty of onr New Zealand brethren to patronize what Conncil they chooso to obtain a charter from ; thcro is room enough tuc all , a :.: d tho same f ; oed . jin of i :,-jL ::: ' .... ' ..- i .: . y . Ai h . ' . ¦ .. ' .. ' .. ; .::. -. taiu orders in this country must be allowed to other individuals , for we will not havo any of that persecution which was attempted a year or two ago by tho so-called Tri partite combination . Yours fraternally , A KNIGHT ROSE CROIX , 11 ° , Orion Chapter , No . 3 , 26 th Nov . 1677 ,