Freemasonry And The Press

careless in performance , as if the forms of salutation and recognition were mere idle mummeries . If any one doubts this statomeut , let him observe for himself , and if he be of a humourous turn of mind , he will not fail to find food for amusement ; if , on the other hand , he believes , as I do , that the forms are bat the caskets of the jewels

within , the rough stone covering the sparkling gem , he will feel pained and discouraged at the indifferense and slovenliness so habitually displayed . There is no brother so obtuse and illiterate as to be unable to distinguish the difference between the present slipshod methods of salutation and rehearsal and the skilfnl

performance of Lodge duties . Every brother can understand , if he cannot always fully appreciate , clear articulation , grammatical expression , and elocutionary force . To the cultured ear and mind the correct and fervid delivery of tho prayers and other ceremonial language is an exquisite charm . It is of itself an elevating kind of education ,

and were the qualifications for office more studied than they are , were the test of fitness made more real , and the conditions more stringent , much that is now gross , selfish and degrading would vanish . What is truo of tho working of tho ceremonies is also true , but in a lesser degree , of the methods of entering the Lodge . With the

enforced careful performance of the several offices of tho Craft would come a salutary lesson in discipline . Improved practice would necessarily tend to enlarge thought , and as nature is said to lead up to nature ' s God , so would the symbols of the Fraternity lead to the study of their hidden meaning . As children begin with learning the

alphabet , so Freemasons begin with learning the signs . If the learner stops at either stage , letters and signs become skeletonsmere drybones . Letters skilfully formed into words open out a new hope to the child , signs faithfully and intelligently translated into action are the life of Freemasonry . In both cases tho preliminary

knowledge must be complete in order that the superstructure may grow in strength and boauty . It is an admitted axiom that upon the early training of the young depends the career of tho adult . Healthy moral and intellectual instincts when properly cultivated in tho child , as a rule develop

into a strong well-balanced mind . Good training does not necessarily mean ostracism from fleshly indulgences , on the contrary , it enables the man who possesses it to partake of the good things of this world ao as to minister to his necessary and natural wants . The educated man makes tho pleasures of the table serve their proper purpose , but

he refuses to become the slave of desires . The initiate in Freemasonry jnst needs to be trained in the same way , then like results might fairly be expected to follow . Instead of lamenting the apathy and ignorance that now prevails , a healthy growth of intelligence would spring up , and with it would come an increased desire to know

more of the inward spiritual workings of the Order . The learned labours of our forefathers would fiod new students , mysteries that now lie concealed would probably yield to that keener vision of young enthusiasts , and the moral and intellectual status of the whole body would be placed on a footing as firm as tho rock of ages . If

Freemasonry is not divine it is nothing , and if hitherto it has been made of little effect , it is because the soul has not burst through the oarcase which holds it , or its brightness has been dimmed by dark shadows . Clear these away , let tho light shine as full as the grand orb of day , then Freemasonry will appear in its true glory . The

pleasures of the table would not bo less , their enjoyment would be more pure and chaste . The social intercourse of the brethren would then indeed bo " a feast of reason and a flow of soul . " How little there is now of either , I leave to tho brethren to consider ; for myself , I may say that I have often left the banquet table with sad

misgivings as to the moral teachings of the Craft , and as to its possible future . I expect to be met with sneers and cries of " goody goody . " Even giants in culture and morality havo met with the scoffs of the unthinking , and it is not likely that a puny disciple like myself will escape ; hard words , however , break no bones , and I am contented to

follow those whose motto in all things just and true is "Excelsior . " I shall be met too , most likely , with something like the following : " Look at our Charitable Institutions , at the increase in the number of members , and the power of tho Order . " My reply would be—that numbers is no test of real progress , that the Charities , glorious as

they are , might still be better , and that power is more seeming than ireal . Most brethren who have given the matter a thought do not regard numbers as equivalent to strength , and it is an open secret 'that the demands for succour have outgrown the power to relieve . Every year makes the difficulty greater on tho part of the Secretaries

in getting together the necessary sums to meet the needs of the several Institutions , and no one will say that the means adopted are always dignified and such as bespeak the possession of the power so often claimed . No doubt there is power iu tho Order , but it wants guiding and utilising . There is the power of the mind as well as the

depth of the pocket , the strength and ever-iucreasing vigour of intelligence which centres its hopes on the science and moral and spiritual beauties of the Craft . Depend upon it , Sir , FreemaBonry in England will never bo worthy of their inheritance until they learn the value of its literature , until they put the desires of tho mind

above the lusts of the flesh . Ono of the simplest and readiest means to this end is to improve the discipline of the Lodge , and to encourage ; che practice of an easy and correct , at tho same time solemn xehearsal of the ceremonies . Thanking you in anticipation for tho insertion of this letter , I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , PROGRESS .

The Roman Catholic Bishop And Freemasonry.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP AND FREEMASONRY .

To the Editor of the Nottingham Daily Guardian . SIR , —Bishop Bagshawe's silly attack ou the Masonic Brotherhood has now become an annual affair . The general mot d ' ordre comes , of

The Roman Catholic Bishop And Freemasonry.

course , from Home , but in a local pastoral the matter becomes a gratuitous insult to a large body of leading and honourable men in our community . So long as Dr . Bagshawe confines his Lenten remarks to those innocent injunctions of culinary discipline , which he deems good for

his flock—as , for instance , whether their omelette may be cooked in butter or suet—we have no quarrel with him . We can only hope that his followers are loyal to him in his oapacity of maitre du cw » - sine . The Salvation Army has its bill of fare—Hallelujah jam and other delicacies—why should not tho bishop and the Romanists enjoy theira ?

When , however , the bishop takes the liberty of classing us , as Masons , with assassins and dinamitards , it is a more serious matter . The attack i 3 neither truthful nor charitable , and by way of turning the bishop's guns on himself I should like to ask him a question or two .

Who are the assassins and dynamiters plotting against the Government ? If those we have canght and hanged are specimens of the whole , without exception , whether Irish , French , or American , they all belong to the Romish Church . The Phoenix Park gang present no exception . A priest of Bishop Bagshawo's persuasion invariably

gave the last ministrations on the scaffold . I challenge the bishop to produce any one outside his own communion who has put hand to dagger or dynamite against tho English Government . Masonry oan take care of itself , but how will the Lenten pastoral get out of this ? Dr . Bagshawe would have us believe that the millennium of morals

would at once set in if we all joined the Romish Church . I prefer the verdict of history on tho subject . Let U 3 take Italy as an example , when the whole nation was on its knees to Rome . The morals of Italy at this stage of her history would have made a Zulu blush . Assassination , of which the bishops speaks , was so rife in

Rome itself that it was reduced to a fine art , and could be purchased like any common commodity , and what is worse pardoned by the Church for a consideration . A bishop of the Romish sect must smile as he pens his little anathema against tho Masons as a secret society , for does nofc his

own religions communion embrace the Jesuits , the most gigantic and corrupt secret society the world has ever seen— " a society , " says Boileau , " whose work ha 3 ever been to lengthen the creed and shorten the decalogue ? " The principles of Jesuit morals are so corrupt that no true Mason could for a moment associate himself with such . Let

me add for the information of Dr . Bagshawe , and also of his cham . pion , " Pro ecclesia Dei , " that they both err in treating Masonry as a religion . It does not profess to be or call itself a religion , but a

system of morality ; and as a Mason of some experience I may add that the system is so lofty and pure that all the little thunder of all the Lent pastorals of all the Romish bishops in the world will never shake its stability . I am , Sir , & o . SQUARE .

The Grand Treasurership

THE GRAND TREASURERSHIP

To the Editor of the FREEMASON s CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Will yoa permit me , through your columns , to thank tho 421 Brethren who attended Grand Lodge to snpport mo by their vote ou Wednesday ; more especially those who came from afar .

Yours in fraternity , JAS . WILLING JUN .

Rock Hall , Cricklewood , N . W ., 5 th March .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Kindly favour mo with space in your columns to thauk those brethren who attended Grand Lodge , on iascto in caucuuauive ior ui

vveanesciay , suppers mo my IUO umuo Grand Treasurer . Yours fraternally , D . P . CAMA . 3 Gt . Winchester Street Buildings , E . C .

Bros . Brown , Butterworth , and Foulson , Quartermasters of the Brigade of Guards now on its way to Egypt , are all members of the Wanderers' Lodge , No . 1604 . We

wish them success , and a safe and speedy return to their native land .

Wc note that within the last few weeks Bro . Frank Snook , late of the King ' s Arms , Kentish Town , has taken over the business of Mr . Harris , at the Golden Anchor Tavern , Evelina-road , Peckham , and that by improvements

which have been effected in the management the old " Anchor" is becoming an increasingly favourite haunt of the brethren of " ye mystic tie " residing in this part of the Peckham district . We wish Bro . Snook every success in his new venture .

£ 20 . —TOBACCONISTS COMMENCING . —A Pamphlet , 110 pages . How to Open respectaMy from £ 20 to £ o 00 . 3 Slumps . H . JIVEKS & Co ., Cigar and Tobacco Merchaus , 1 U 0 Eustoii Road , London . Wholesale only . Telephone No . 7511 .