There Is Another St. John.

THERE IS ANOTHER ST . JOHN .

BRO . DANIEL F . BELL , of Marshal ; Ms ., in a communication to the Masonic Constellation , uses the following expression : — ' « Why do yon Masons celebrate the anniversary of St . John tho Baptist ? is a question thafc is asked by some of those who are possibly not well acquainted with the history of Masonry , and it is not an improper question , for we , as Masons , havo , as we think , good reasons for our actions . "

Bro . Bell gives two reasons for Masonic veneration of the forerunner , the second of which he urges because " he was a promoter aud lover of our Order and its principles , " whioh is about as reckless an assertion as the famous ono of tho French Bro . Enoch , that St . Michael the Archangel was our first Grand Master . Then

Bro . Bell gives a very interesting epitome of tbe customs attending celebrations of St . John ' s Day in various countries , all of which are remnants of usages peculiar to the Pagan observance of the festival of fche summer solstice , as has been demonstrated by observant critics ten times over .

To ns ifc appears incredible thafc Masons continue to confute St . John the Baptist with St . John of Jerusalem , a decidedly historical character to whom they are told their Lodges are dedicated . This saint , canonized by Rome , under the title of Almoner , or St . John of Jerusalem , was born in the sixth century , was patriarch of

Constantinople , went to Jerusalem and erected a hospital for relief of pilgrims to the Holy Sepulchre , dying a martyr to his charitable proclivities . He was , undoubtedly , the patron of the Knights Hos .

pitallers , and thence has passed into Masonry most appropriately . Should , as the learned Abbe Robin contends its original object to have been , perpetuation of the virtues of chivalry , moribund at advent of the renaissance , or re-birth of civilization . —Masonic Chronicle , August 1889 , New York .

Remarks On The Above, By Bro. Jacob Norton.

REMARKS ON THE ABOVE , BY BRO . JACOB NORTON .

However ridiculous Bro . Bell's belief is thafc St . John the Baptist " was a promoter and lover of our Order , " the belief of the critic in fche Masonic Chronicle , that St . John of Jerusalem was ever regarded by Masons as their Patron Sainfc , or that Masons have ever observed or celebrated his Festival Day , is equally absurd . The fact is ,

Masons in America , until within twenty-five years or so , observed fche Saints John Days , because they believed , as Bro . Bell now believes , that the Sts . John were " Eminent Masons , " Grand Masters of Masons , & c . But since the sectarian question in Masonry has been raised , and the Masonry of the Sts . John has been exploded , some

luminaries have tried to persuade the Jewish Masons that the Masonio Sts . John were not originally designed for the Baptist or for the Evangelist , but for St . John of Jerusalem . St . John of Jerusalem may have been the Patron Saint of the Hospitallers , but as Masons never had any connection with chivalry before Masonic Templarism

was invented , and as tho Grand Lodge in London was organized on the 24 th June 1717 , and as Anderson ' s Constitution ordained that the Days of the Baptist and of the Evangelist should be the Masonic festivals , it is nonsense therefore to talk about St . John of Jerusalem over having been the Masons' Patron Saint . BOSTON , U . S ., 20 th August 1889 .

Bro . John Lane ' s "Masonic Records , 1717-1880 , " is uow oufe of print . The volume , as its merits became known , was eagerly purchased by student * , and , as a matter of course , is already at a premium . These remarks

appl y also to Bro . W . J . Hughan ' s last book , which relates to the" Engraved List of 1734 , " and the Histories of the old Lodgps . This is the more gratifying to Bro . Hiifjlian , as the work has only recently been issued . Wo are

convinced the few cipies of both books held b y booksellers will rapidly increase in value as those facts become known , consequently we advise collector ;) to procure copies as soon as possible .

At the installation meeting of the Ethelborfc Lodge , No . 2009 , held on Tuesday , the 13 th ulfc ., Brc . J . S . White was installed b y fche Immediate Past Master , Bro . H . C . Jones .

Lord Egerton of Tutto'i , Provincial Grand Muster of Cheshire , has summoned the Officers and Brethren of the Province to the annual meetin <_ r of the Provincial Grand

Lodge , to be held at Hyde , on 18 th September next . There will bo the usual investiture of officers for the cusuing year , aud there will be a motion to grant fifty guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , in London .

HOLLOWAY ' S OIXTMOT AJJIJ PILLS . —Counsel f ur the delicate . —Those to whom the changeable temperature is a protracted peril of trial should . seek the earliest opportunity of removing all obstacles to good health . This cooling Okttncut , perseveringly rubbed upon the skin , is the most reliable remedy for overcoming all diseases of the throat and cheat . Quinsey , relaxed tonsil-, sore

throat , swollen glands , ordinary catarrh , arid bronehit s , usually prevailing at this season , may be arrested as soon as discovered , and every symptom banished by Holloway ' s simple and effective treatment . This Ointment and Pills are highly commended for the facility with which they successfully con' -eml with inllttcii / . a ; they u'lay in an incredibly short time the distressing Ivver aud teasing cu tigh t

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Ilermea Hill , Pentonville , London , N " . — : o : — L ' jnccr and ita Complications . By Charles Egerton Jennings , F . K . C . S . Bng ., M . S ., M . B . London : Baillftre , Tindall and Cox , King William Street , Strand .

MR . JENNINGS , in tho book before us , treats of tho various forms of enncor , and appears to bring considerable skill and experience to bear upon his subject . It is to such works , and to the researches of such distinguished specialists as tho author , that tho world owes many of the remedies which have been introduced to lessen or eradicate

the sufferings of the human race . Cancer ia , unfortunately , a source of great trouble to a very large section of mankind , and any suggestions or practical recommendations likely to lead to its cure , or lesson tho number of its victims , are matters of importance to the world at large . To

the ordinary reader the work before us may not , perhaps , be very attractive ; it is more suitable for the medical student or professor , but there is sufficient iu it to interest us , and we cannot peruse it without admiring tho author ' s ability to explain the varied points of his subject , and the apparent skill with which he treats its several

parte . Wo hope tho desire of Mr . Jennings , to in some measure alleviate tho terrible effects of cancer , may result from the publication of his book , and that he may be able to give tho world other results of his researches and ability . We understand that a former work , by the same author , " Transfusion of blood aad saline fluids , " was well received and approved of in many quarters .

Why A P.G. Commander Withdraws From Scottish Rite Masonry.

WHY A P . G . COMMANDER WITHDRAWS FROM SCOTTISH RITE MASONRY .

NEW YORK , 20 th August . MASONIC circles were greatly agitated to-day by tho resignation of Past M . Grand Commander William H . Peckham , thirty , third degree , from membership in Cerneau Consistory , No . 1 , thirty , second degree , this city , thus severing his connection with Scottish Bite Masonry . This action adds new interest to the bitter feud between the adherents of Albert Pike and those of Ferdinand

Gorgas . Every adherent of the latter is , by recent Masonio proclamation , in danger of expulsion from the Blue Lodge of Masonry , and tbe resignation of Mr . Peckham will , it is said by prominent Masons , be followed by many others . Mr . Peckham was for many years prominent among the Cerneau Rite Masons , and for several

years held the highest rank in the body , that of Grand Commander for the United States . Two years ago he resigned , and was succeeded by F . S . J . Gorgas , of Baltimore . Mr . Peckham ' s present resignation , as ho states in an open letter addressed " To tho Masonic Fraternity throughout tho world , " is because of the affiliation

of i ho Supreme Council of the body with the Grand Orient of Franco , which does not recognize the existence of a personal God ; whorcae , Mr . Peckham states , such recognition is the very corner stone of true Masonry . Mr . Peckham has been a Mason forty years . Tho affiliation referred to consisted of Mr . Gorgas visiting and meeting

with the " Council of the Order" of the Grand Orient while on a visit to Paris in 1888 . This Council , it has been claimed , is a distinct body from that of the Grand Orient , but Mr . Peckham girca the names of the members of the Grand Orient , and shows that tho

Council is marie up from them . Consequently , he says , the Council was nnder tho ban of non-Masonic intercourse . In view of theso facts he feels constrained to sever his connection with Scottish Kite Masonry . — Boston Post .

The Spirit Of Masonry.

THE SPIRIT OF MASONRY .

When the Temple of Solomon , gorgeous and bright , Its glories display'd on Jerusalem's height , Both Gentile and Jow on the edifice gazed , Its beauties admired , and its architect praised . Its strength , 'twas predicted would baffle old Time ,

And win praise for the Craft through each ago and each clime ; Even foemen , whilst viewing , their quarrels forgot , For tho " Spirit of Masonry " hallow'd tho spot . Where now are its pillars , its roof-tree , its walls ? They arc dust , like the sculptures of Pharoah ' s proud halls :

But tho spirit which rear d them shall know no decay , Establish'd in strength doth it flourish to-day ; And , even as then , it now reconciles foes , Aud a balm on tho waters of trouble still throws ; And better , far better , the word would be found ,

Did the "Spirit of Masonry" further abound . 'Tis a spirit of peace , 'tis a spirit of love , With prudence and wisdom it blendeth the dove ; It links in one cable the rich and the poor , To the lowly and lofty it opens one door .

One breath of its atmosphere lulls to repose Tho demon of discord , its rancour and woes : For auger will scatter like chaS' to the wind , Where the " Spirit of Masonry's " truly enshrined . Madras Masonic Review

The oldest oxtaut minutes of an English Lodge aro those of the Alnwick Lodge . Tho Grand Lodgo of Tennessee has roeolved that ' ' no uow Lodgea shall bear the name of any liyiujj poraou ; "