Jews And German Freemasonry.

JEWS AND GERMAN FREEMASONRY .

AT last an cud has been put to the complete exclusion of Jews from membership of Lodges in Prussia . This exclusion has always been regarded as anomalous , by English Masons especially . Somo iiftv years ago the late Brother Henry Faudel

brought the subject under the attention of the English Grand Lodge and embodied his protest in the practical form of objecting to the presence at the Grand Lodge of the Representative of the German

Grand Lodges . Much excitement m Masonic circles was created by the incident and the discussion which ensued ; but although general sympathy was expressed with the views of Brother Faudel , the matter was not carried further .

About ten years ago the subject was again raised at Grand Lodge—mainly owing to the active interest shown in the -question and tho influence brought to bear on the matter by Bro . the Bev . Dr . Joseph Strauss , M . A ., then Chaplain of the Harmony Lodge , Bradford , and chief Rabbi of West Riding , Yorkshire

—on a definite resolution regretting the exclusion of Jews from the German Lodges . The Earl of Carnarvon pleaded special circumstances in the "Christian" view entertained of Freemasonry in Germany , the feelings on the subject of the late Emperor "William I ., and the " comity of nations , "

which should prevent English Masons from interfering in tho internal regulations of foreign Lodges . On this appeal , the resolution was reluctantly withdrawn . Tardy justice has now been done , and a reproach has been removed from German

Freemasonry which has tarnished its fair fame for a century past . It should , however , be remembered that the three Mother Lodges in Germany , the Three Globes , the United Countries , and York of Friendship , will still have the right of excluding

Jews from membership , but independent Lodges , to which Jews will have the right of admission as members , may now bc formed in Prussia ( as they exist at Hamburg and elsewhere in Germany ) wherein a most fraternal genuinely Masonic spirit

will prevail . The Masonic Fraternity will for ever be grateful to Dr . Strauss for the true fraternal spirit with which he dealt with the subject in the Masonic and profane press ten years ago , and by which this desideratam

was brought about . The Bev . Doctor has the true Masonic heart brimful of Brotherly Friendship , and the following verse from a German poet does not inaccurately describe him : —

He is a man who bears a bit ; load lightly , And looks on grave things with a blithe face brightly ; And when he flings a stinging jest on others , Laughs at himself , and says , — We all are Brothers I

A Quarterly Communication of tlio Grand Lodge of Scotland -was held at the Ereernasons' Hall , Edinburgh , On Thursday , the 4 th instant , at fonr o'clock p . m .

The Degrees Of Masonry.

THE DEGREES OF MASONRY .

Br Buo . BOUGHT FUEKE GOULD .

IN the New Zealand Craftsman of 16 th June 1891 thero is a cutting from the South African Freemason—a publication of singular merit—wherein is discussed the " Power and Influence of the Masonio Press "—a subject which tho Editor of the former journal takes np in turn , and expatiates upon with much ability .

The far-reaching power of a Masonic newspaper has still more recently been impressed on my mind , by some articles and reports in the South Australian Freemason—a literary organ of what I shall venture to term a highly intellectual

jurisdiction . My reasons for so describing it will bo fonnd in a recent number of Ars Quatuor Coronatorum , where a review will bo found , from my pen , of an excellent address , delivered by Bro . W . Barlow , before Lodge

St . Alban , No . 38 , Adelaide , S . A . The address in question having been printed by tho Lodge , can be readily referred to , and I therefore pass at once to a fow remarks of my

own in the capacity of reviewer , which will serve as tho prelude to somo further observations of a liko character , having for their object the legitimate increase of tho " Power and Influence of tho Masonic Press . "

Tho " remarks" to be quoted from my review are the following : — " Tho excellent address , of which an outline has been given , affords a convincing proof—if such , indeed , were

needed—of tho extent to which the example of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , has served to refine and elevate the practice of Freemasonry . On this point , and for a further reason to which I shall presently refer , let us again listen

to Bro . Barlow : — ' Papers , too , read before this Lodgo need not always be original . Why shall we be too conceited to read and discuss in Lodge papers which , when perused in solitude by the fireside , charm us ineffably ?

The papers recorded in the A . Q . G . were read before distinguished Brethren . Are we so superior that these essays merit no attention from ns collectively in Lodge , although , individually , we admire and delight in them ?¦**

" Now , from timo to time , papers of more than a passing interest are read in 2076 , and it is with regard to these that I shall venture to take up and pursue the line of inquiry indicated in tho remarks of Bro . Barlow . What is

most wanted in the true interests of Masonic study , or perhaps it would bc better to say , in the diffusion of genuine Masonic knowledge—is a tabulation of results . Year by year , the early history of our ancient Craft is

being gradually unfolded to us . But no Masonic book ever seems to grow out of date . The visionary writings of past times , and the more scholarly productions of our own , are perused with au equal faith . Old texts are found to

yield new readings , but the old readings are not thereby displaced . Popular fallacies are exploded , i . e ., within a limited circle , —but within a larger circle , their vitality remains unimpaired .

" Let me give an example—the degrees of Freemasonry . The first three degrees , as wo now have them , though communicated in two steps instead of three , were in existence

before the era of Grand Lodges . But a popular delusion sprang up , owing to undue weight being attached to the evidence of Scottish Masonic documents , that a plurality of degrees was unknown before tbe existence of Grand Lodges , This delusion , it shonld be added , was deemed to