Attack And Defence

Romish Church itself . We respect the members of that church who conscientiously accept , not only its doctrines , but even its dogmas . They , as we , have the right to worship the G . A . O . T . U . iu their own fashion . But the rulers of that Church , or we ought rather perhaps to say , a

section of its rulers , denies , and has ever denied this right to other people . In its earliest days the Christian Church was terribly persecuted by the monarchs of Imperial Rome . But it succeeded in establishing itself firmly notwithstanding . ' In timo the Bishops of Romo came to exercise

temporal sovereignty , and the Church of which they assumed themselves to be tho head became a political as well as a religious body . It followed , as a matter of course , that this body brought all its political influence to bear in maintaining its ecclesiastical authority , and all its ecclesiastical

influence to bear in upholding its political authority . Not unfrequently it suffered grievously for this confusion of the temporal with the spiritual , but more frequently still it inflicted grievous suffering on others . The crusade against the Albieenaes , the crnel destruction of the Order of

Knights Templar , the persecutions of the Hussites and of the followers of Wickliffe , the Marian persecution , the iniquities of the Inquisition in Spain and wherever else it exercised its fearful influence , the Massacre of St . Bartholomew ' s—these are merely some of the most conspicuous

instances in which the Christian Church of former days set at defiance the vital principles of Christianity . The essence of this relig ion is love , love of God and onr fellow man . But how can we describe these crusades and persecutions and massacres , the wholesale murder and torture , not of

men only , but likewise of women and children , as in accordance with this essential principle ? Either Christianity must have been nothing worth , that it required all these terrible crimes to be committed in its name , in order to vindicate its power , or they who perpetrated these crimes

in its behalf were monsters in human form , whom the world , as it has grown more and more enlightened , has at length deprived of the power , if not of the will , to re-enact such fearful scenes . Semper eadem is still the motto of the Romish Church . The power to persecute unbelievers

in its dogmas is lost to it we trust for ever , but the will remains , or we should not witness these occasional denunciations of Freemasonry . Let Dr . Vaughan confine himself to his proper sphere of duty . It is wide enough and serious enough to tax all his energies and power .

To train up his flock in the love of God and man is the duty he , as priest , has undertaken , while , as an Archbishop in partibus Infidelium , the business of converting heathenism to a sense of religion , if properly fulfilled , will leave him no spare moments for

denouncing the members of other religious faiths . We all of us have our appointed task to do , and the appointed task of Dr . Vaughan is apparently the conversion of the heathen to a belief in Christianity as it is understood by the Pope , Bishop Dupanloup , and othera . Let him ,

however , not lose sight of thafc Chanty without which , aa a grander Christian teacher than he has told the world , man is but " as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal . " If he is so engaged in expounding the dogmas of the Romish

Church that ho can find no place in his programme for Charity , let him not envy and disturb us poor Freemasons , who strive humbly , yet honestly , both to inculcate and practice thia chief est of all virtues .

At the meeting of the House Committee of the Boys ' School , held at Freemasons' Hall , last Saturday , the important question of extending the School so as to admit of there being three hundred instead of the present number of pupils was discussed . It is hardly necessary for us to add

that in a matter of such vast importance , the Committee resolved to act with the utmost deliberation , and in consequence our readers will not be surprised to bear that the meeting was adjourned till to-day , when the subject will be again discussed judically .

Masonic Ball At The Agricultural Hall.

MASONIC BALL AT THE AGRICULTURAL HALL .

THE ball at the Agricultural Hall , in aid of onr Masonic Charities , ¦ was , aa resarda the support it received , a great success . Intended in the first instance to be merely a friendly re-union amom . the members of the Sir Hugh Myddolton Lodgo and their lad y friends .

Masonic Ball At The Agricultural Hall.

it gradually assumed far more formidable proportions , until the question whore to find space enough to accommodate the numerous appli . cants became somewhat serious . Bro . RafFety at length solved thia difficulty by placing at the disposal of the committee as much of the gallery space in the Agricultural Hall as thoy wore likely to need . Accordingly , tho eastern portion was at once fitted up as a

ballroom , Brother Unite contributing all the decorations for the even , ing , which was most tastefully fitted , under tho gratuitous superintendenco of Bros . Ellon aud Boris . Tho flower 3 and shrub * were supplied by Bro . John Rainbow , jun . Bro . Cattermole did all the cartage of decorations to and from tho hall freo of all charge , while Bro . Weaver ' s admirable skill as a conductor wa 3 also placed at the

service of the committee with equal readiness , and disinterestedly . Thus , at the outset , the committee found themselvps " most favour , ably circumstanced , all the above-mentioned brethren having undertaken to supply free , certain goods , or fulfil , voluntarily cprrain duties whioh are usually found among the heaviest items of expense in organising a ball . As the day approached ,

it became evident there would bo a very large gathering . Many , were , of conrse , prevented attending by prior engagements , bnt the committee , in arranging for the supper , were able to guarantee 350 guests , which number would , of course , be catered for , whether all of them came or not . As a matter of faot , those present were olose on 400 in number , and when all wero assembled , and the brethren aud

their partners were busy paying their devotions to Terpsichore , the scene was a very busy one indeed . Great taste had been shown in the decoration of the ball room . Shields and banners with various devices on them were placed along the walls at very frequent inter , vals . Festoons of flowers hung suspended from the light net . work of iron which ordinarily forms the only ornament in these

galleries . Gaseliers were placed at close intervals . Indeed , nothing could have been better , or in better taste , than the arrangements for the reception and accommodation of the guests . The office of member of tbe committee , especially in the case of the Chairman , Bro . Somers , and the Hon . Secretaries , Bros . Osborne and Weston , was no sinecure . All of them , bnt especially those wo

have mentioned , laboured hard in promoting the success of the ball ; and if , in addition to the excellence of the arrangements wo have already mentioned , the large number of guests , and the evidence they gave that they were thoroughly enjoying themselves , must be taken as a measure . of their success , it was certainly a very full measure . That the weather as regards warmth was not quite as propitious aa

it might have been for a ball in a long gallery , from which , in spite of every effort , it was impossible to exclude the keen wind , was no fault of tbe Committee . They had done all that was possible to make the YOOVA 3 as snag and cosy as possible , but the drafts were not to be denied . And iF the snpper was not all that could have been wished , the price agreed to be paid was not illiberal . If any Brother , or the

friend of a Brother , quitted the Hall without having had his due- * in the way of refreshment , we set that down as the fault of the contractors , whose provision for the occasion waa neither choice nor sufficient . Craft clothing only was to be woru , but this sufficed in the way of colour with the gay dresses of the ladies . With the pecuniary results the Committee have every reason to be satisfied , and no doubt the

Charities will largely benefit as a result . Indeed , we believe this is merely the first step , Primus Gradus , towards having a similar gathering every year for the same purpose . If so , and the plan shonld be carried out , we are confident our threo Institutions will largely benefit . Success generally follows where duty and pleasure are combined .

Among those present were Bro . Binckes and the Misses Binckes , Bro , J . and Mrs . Constable , Bro . Groner and Mrs . Groner , Bros . Somers , RafTerty , Cattermole , T . Hadley Prestage , and R . G . Thomas—these three last kindly undertook the duties of M . C . —Weston , Osborne , Rowley , Richardson , & o ., & c .

Kent Lodge of Instruction , No . 15 . —This Lodge heia its weekly meeting on Thursday , the 1 st inst ., at Bro . J . Hallows , the Chequers , Marsh-street , Walthamstow . Present—Bros . Oldroyd W . M ., W . G . Hallows S . W ., Saunders J . W . and Seo ., T . Franklin S . D ., F . Hallows J . G ., Evennett I . G . Past Master Pinder ; also Bros . Brand , Christian , Mnmford , and Brown . Business—The Lodge was opened , and the minutes of the last meeting confirmed . The

ceremony of initiation was rehearsed , Bro . Brown acting as candidate . Bro . Christian worked the 3 rd and 4 th seotions of the Lectnre , assisted by the brethren . Bro . W . G . Hallows was unanimousl y elected W . M . for the ensuing week , and appointed his officers in rotation . A vote of thanks was passed to Bro . Oldroyd for his admirable working , this being his first time of occupying tho chair . The Lodge waa then closed in duo form .

Great City Lodge of Instruction , No . 1426 . —A meeting of this Lodge was held at Masons' Hall Tavern , Mason ' s-avenne , Basinghall-street , on Thursday evening , 1 st March , at 6 . 30 p . m . Present—Bros . Goodman W . M ., Payne S . W ., Gladwell J . W ., Bisset S . D ., Moss J . D ., Saul I . G ., Moody P . M ., Blackie , Lambe , Levy , Thornes , Ockendon , Cadiot . The Lodge was opened in the first

degree , and the minutes of the last meeting read and confirmed . Bro . Lambe having offered himself as candidate , the ceremony of initiation was rehearsed . The 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , and 4 th sections of the Lectnre were then worked . Bro . Payne was unanimously elected W . M . for the ensuing week , and appointed his officers in rotation .

Bro . Colmer was unanimously re-elected Treasurer , and Bro . Blackie was elected Hon . Sec . for the ensuing year . Bros . Goodman , Cadiot , wd Saul were appointed to audit tho accounts for the past year . The Fifteen Sections will be worked on the fourth Thursday , 22 nd March . All Masonio business being ended , the Lodge was closed in due form .