Masonic Principles.

The incidental and fortunate discovery by R . W . Bro . Clifford P . MacCnlla , among the archives of the Historical Society in Philadelphia , of the identical Ledger B [ Liber B ] of St . John ' s Lodge , whieh met on the first Monday in each month , removed many difficulties in trnoing the history of American Fremasonry . * * *

Chief Justice WiUiam Allen wns elected and installed Grand Mister of Pennsylvania on June 2 t , 1732 . Upon this election he appointed Willhm Pringle Dnpntv Muster , and Thomas Boudo and Benjamin Franklin were chosen Wardens . This assembly vvas held at the Tun TaVern in Water street .

A sketch of early Freemasonry in Massachusetts follows . Concerning it Bro . McClenachan remarks : The orisin of Freemasonry in an organized form in Massachusetts rests on precarious ground . The documents and powers claimed to

have been granted by the Grand Lodge of England to Henry Prico , in 1733 cannot be fonnd in England , while those in Boston , Mass ., appear to bo transcripts from memoranda made in 1751 by the newly , appointed Grand Secretary , Charles Pelham , which bad been collated and made of record dnting from 1733 .

Tho preliminary matter to Bro . McClenachan ' s History of Freemasonry in New York covers 107 pages , while the remaining 344 pages are devoted to sketches of the

Grand Lodge , and tho varions subordinate Lodges , down to 1788 . The latter include a number of Military Lodges , the memoranda concerning which are curious and interesting .

By resolution of the Grand Lodge of New York this History is dedicated to M . W . Bro . Frank R . Lawrence , Grand Master , and it is at once a tribute to tho Masonic

zeal of this distinguished Brother , to tho liberality of his Grand Lodge , and to the learning , ability and selfsacrificing labours of the Historian of tho Grand Lodge of New York , Bro . Charles T . McClenachan . —The Keystone

The Late Emperor Of Germany And Freemasonry.

THE LATE EMPEROR OF GERMANY AND FREEMASONRY .

An Address delivered at the Concordia Lodge , South Australia , on the occasion of the late Lodge of Sorrow , by Bro . H . C . E . Muecke P . G . M .

OUR Lodge is this evening decked with signs and symbols of sorrow and death , reminding us thafc the chain of Masonic brotherhood now surrounding the world has once more been broken ; a link has , by the ruthless hand of time , been torn from it ; an illustrious brother has

passed away—not illustrious only in rank and worldly station , but illustrious in good and noble works and in faithful adherence to the teachings of our Craft . When your Worshipful Master requested me to address you this

evening I could not resist the promptings of duty and inclination to give my assistance , however feeble , to the Lodge this evening in its endeavour , in sorrow for departed merit and in resolutions of renewed Masonic work ,

to add its mite to that of hundreds of other Lodges in again welding that chain together as strong as before in brotherly love , relief , and truth . In order that you may be enabled properly to value the services rendered by our

brother , late tbe Emperor of Germany , to Masonry , particularly to that of his own country , but also indirectly to that of the whole world , I must for a moment diverge from my subject and refer to Masonic history . ^ Many records

and landmarks are in existence to prove that Masonry had a footing in Germany ancl other countries of Continental Europe in the earliest ages of their history , Masonic guilds and other branches of the Craft flourished , and the Great

Order of the Knights Templars , who did such signal service during the Crusades ancl tho succeeding 200 years , is an outcome of Masonry . Tho latter increased to such an extent that the riches of the Order attracted the eyes of

princes , and Philip the Fair , King of France , commenced in 1306 the persecution of the Order so that ho mio-ht confiscate their rich holdings in that country . He secured the assistance of the weak Pope Clement V . and the

Inquisition , though before that the Church of Rome had been tbe best supporter of the Templars . Durino * the next dozen years thousands of them ended their lives at the stake and by torture . On the rack many of them were

ccinpelled to confess unheard of crimes against Society and State of which the Order was quite innocent , but these confessions were used to justify the persecutions . In 1320 ,

so far as known , Masonry was entirely stamped oufc on the Knropean Continent . It was heard of again publicly at thf end of the seventeenth century in En ; - !; md and Scotland . It is presumed thafc some of thc ELrdrrhts Templars

The Late Emperor Of Germany And Freemasonry.

found an exile in the latter country , and exercised their rites , transmitting them to their descendants . The Grand Lodges of England and Scotland were established in 1717 and 173 G respectively . In Germany the first Lodge was

opened at Hamburg in 1737 , under a warrant of the Graud Lodge of England , but again met very strong opposition , when a friend arose in the person of Frederick , Crown Prince of Prussia , afterwards Frederick the Great . At his

earnest solicitation , an authorised commission was sent by tho Lodge of Hamburg to Brunswick in 1738 and secretly initiated him into the Order immediately after he ascended the throne . He in 1740 established the first Lodge in

Berlin , for which he obtained a warrant from the Grand Lodge of Scotland . Tho relation between the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Prussia havo since thon ever been of a most fraternal character . The late Emperor of

Germany was an honorary member of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . Frederick the Great was an enthusiastic supporter of Masonry till his death . The Craft prospered greatly under his reign , and ever since in Prussia and

Germany ; but his successors were not at all such strong men as thafc greafc monarch , and until recently the Craft was still subjected to much suspicion and persecution . It

is peculiar that the Protestant Churches of Germany were among the greatest of the detractors of Masonry . Ifc was then decreed thafc a Prince of the reigning family of Prussia should ever assume the office of " Protector" of the

Masonic Order . He was initiated into all its mvsteries , and had a raised seat behind fche Worshipful Master ' s chair in all the Lodges . It was urged that the presence of the Princel y Protector was the best reply to the constant

charges made against the Craft that their object ; was treason to tbe State . King Frederick William III , shortly before his death , named his second son , William ( the late Emperor ) , to this oflice of Protector . His advent was

hailed with enthusiasm . He was initiated into the Order on 22 nd May 1840 , and appeared so impressed with its noble teachings that he at once became one of its warmest supporters and friends , which he continued to be till his

death . Our Order fonnd in him an able and energetic defender , and he finally succeeded in breaking down all the influence of the Masonic detractors , still so numerous in Germany at the time . Immediately after his

assumption of oflice he increased the strength and usefulness of Freemasonry by bringing about a closer union and more fraternal working between the three Grand Lodges ruling

the Order in Prussia , among whom , prior to that , an unseemly rivalry had existed , and by interceding with Princes of other German States for the Masons in their

countries he successfully placed all the German Lodges on a better footing . On 5 th November 1853 his son , the Emperor Frederick , then twenty-two years old , was admitted a member of the Craffc with mnch rejoicing , his father , the

Protector , himself being present , and I cannot better show you the opinion the latter had of our Order than by reading to you a few words he addressed to his son on thab occasion , immediately after the initiation : —For a long time

nast you expressed the wish to be initiated a Freemason . This wish has this day been fulfilled . Your reception has taken place in an exactly similar manner to that in which I myself was received , and in which manner I desired yon

should bo admitted . Although the instructions and explanations you were taught this evening were necessarily only general and emblematical , they will have proved to you that the work of the Order is serious—that it is holy

and exalted . There is only one conclusion , one end to the life of a man who has realised its highest aim , and to the correct understanding of thafc necessary knowledge the Order will guide you if you will practise ifc in deed and

in truth . There are many outside onr Order who throw doubts of suspicion on the same , bufc I cannot allow any one an opinion of the Craffc who does nofc know or understand ifc ; nor can I , after the knowledge I have

acquired , listen to such detractors . May your future also show thafc yon will not only be able to penetrate , with clear , unclouded eye its teachings , bnt that you will also accordingly defend the Order . Our Craft is attacked because ifc

has been shrouded in mysteries , and the trouble is not taken to investigate the necessity of them . Such is ever the manner of those who desire to destroy ; they are satisfied with the superficial ; and also in our case our

opponents do not penetrate deeper , as they have no wish to be convinced by true knowledge . Bufc you , my son , be you ever fco our Order a strong protection , and not only will your own future he assured , hut you will also carry