Oh! Frederic, How Many Frauds Have Masons Committed In Thy Name?

Sahuff , priest of the Kapurziner , excited in tho cathedral the populace against the Freemasons . When Frederic the Great received knowledge of the fanatic behaviour which threatened tho public safety , ho wrote the following lettftr , dated 7 th February 1773 , to these pnblic instigators : — "My very Rev . Fathers , —Several reports , confirmed through the

press , have brought to my knowledge with what zeal yon endeavoured to whet the sword of fanaticism against quiet , virtuous and respected people called Freemasons . " As a former honour-bearer of this respected Fraternity I must , as mnoh as in my power , hurl back this slander with which yon affront them , and endeavour to draw aside the dark veil which

presents you the Temple which we have erected for all nations , as the place of meetng of all vices . "Now my very Rev . Fathers , would yon bring back those centuries of ignorance and barbarism which have been so long a disgrace to human intellect f Those times of fanaticism , to which the eye of human reason can only look back with horror ; those times when

hypocrisy was sitting between superstition and humility on the throne of despotism ; put shackles on progress , and without distinc tion burned nil those at the stake who were able to read . " Yon give the Freemasons not only the odious name of sorcerers , but you accuse them of being thieves and lawless people , the forerunners of anti-Christ , and you exhort a whole nation to exterminate that damned race .

Thieves , my very Rev . Fathers , do not mako it their duty , as we do , to assist the poor and orphans . Thieves , on the contrary , very often rob them of their inheritance , and fatten themselves on their spoils , in the lap of idleness and hypocrisy . " A Freemason , when he returns from his place of labour , where he receives

lessons for the benefit of mankind only , becomes a bettor husband in his family circle . Forerunners of anti-Christ would , most likely , endeavour to destroy the laws of the Most High , bnt Freemasons could not do this without destroying their own structure , and how conld those be a damned race who seek their glory in the indefatigable propagation of all virtues which make an honest man .

_ " FREDERIC . " lhe Keystone quotes this from the Canadian Craftsman . To my surprise , in the last issue of the Keystone , I found the identical Fredrio letter again , but this time it is credited to the Masonic Chronicle . Now it is well known , that upon one special point the worthy editor of the Keystone is afflicted with a repeating chronic

mania . I believe that since 1874 the Grand Mother Philadel phia question has appeared in the Keystone and elsewhere upon an average three or four times a year . The reappearance of the Fredrio letter after so short a period indicates that his chronic mania for repeating is extending to other- points of the Masonic compass . Well , then , in order to stop the of the

reappearance Frednc letter , I beg to inform you that I sent a copy of the said letter to Bro . Findel , and in his reply , dated 20 th September 1883 , he says , " Concerning the letter of Fredrio the Great , I mnst tell you that it is g , humbug . " He further informs me that the Handbuch der F . M . is of the same opinion , or to use his own words " it is an

error that Fredrio is the author of any of these writings " and that in 1860 Bro . Schetter enumerated ( as I understand it ) more than 50 of such spurious dccnments , and Bro . Findel adds , " Yon are therefore quite right to doubt the genuineness of that letter . " Thanks to Bro . Findel for tho explosion of tho Fredrio Masonic bubble .

Yonrs fraternall y , Boston , U . S . jAC 0 B NORTON 22 nd October 1883 .

Information Solicited.

INFORMATION SOLICITED .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I should feel greatly obliged if you would allow any Brother to inform me if it be customary for a Master of a Lodge to appoint ns his Junior Wa , rden a member who has held no office therein save and except that of being Secretary ? . I may

add , that tbe J . W . is only a joining member . In addition , Imay add , that the I . G ., J . D . and S . D . are all able to hold office , over whose head this preferment has been made . If there be analagous cases , I shonld be thankful to learn under

what circumstances such appointments have been made . _ As the S . D . is- ousted from office , what position does he now hold m his Lodge , and when will he reach the chair ? Is there no appeal , against such favouritism ? Most those thus passed over remain quiescent under these circumstances ?

I am , Dear Sir aud Brother , Yours fraternally , 9 th November 1883 . JUSTICE # [ A W . M . is all-powerful in his Lodge , and has a perfect right to select his officers . He is responsible for the

workin g and honour of the Lodge , and bis action m the choice of officers cannot be questioned . Wc know of no Wore irksome and onerous office than that of Secretary . The brother chosen for the post is generally one skilled in

the Craft , and who has gained the confidence of tbo Members of his Lodge . No brother has less chance of ' onour than he , and not only is it the Master s prerogative to take a Secretary from his post , and placo him in ono of the Warden's chairs , but in our opinion it is simply an act ° f justice . —ED . F . C . J

Random Notes And Reflections.

RANDOM NOTES AND REFLECTIONS .

WE trust Bro . Sadler has met with the portraits of the eminent members of the Craft whose features were limned in oil , which a few months ago looked down from tho walls of the now ruined Temple . When last we referred to the subject , Bro . Sadler had obtained a fair measure of success , and we shall be glad to learn that ho

has succeeded still further . Writing to a contemporary , " Macunium" calls attention to some steel engravings which were sent to him among papers belonging to a Lodge , which are portraits of eminent Masons . He gives a list of them , but they only contain portraits of two out

of the eight brethren mentioned by Bro . Sadler . No doubt it is desirable to obtain the best pictures possible of the old Grand Masters , but there is no reason Avhy the portraits of other brethren eminent in the Craft should not find a place on the walls of Grand Lodge . Now that

inquiry has been set on foot , why not carry it on , in tho hope of forming a Masonic portrait gallery , which shall honour many a noble feature , and form a charming link , connecting the past with the present ? In a magazine published over a quarter of a century ago , we saw a notice of

a portrait of Bro . the Earl of Zetland by Bro . Shenton . It is a half-length figure , and is surrounded with Masonic emblems . This engraving may be known to Bro . Sadler ; it may perhaps be found in many places : if not , it is worth while to make inquiry respecting it . Even if Grand

Lodge possesses a portrait of that old nobleman and Mason , Bro . the Earl of Zetland , a duplicate would not be unwelcome . We should very much like to see this matter of portrait hunting carried on with spirit , and if tbe

brethren would include books in their search , and send samples of both to Grand Lodge , the question of the establishment of a library and museum would soon receive a practical solution .

We have no desire to discuss what are termed the higher grades of Freemasonry . We are content with Craft Masonry , and in its teaching is found all that is essential for the development of the intellect , for the improvement of morals , ancl for the cultivation of the best impulses of the heart .

Let others seek fresh fields and pastures new—richer they may be in colour and dress , but nob more satisfying to the soul . While being content ourselves , we by . no means wish to cast contempt upon those who have other aspirations .

What we do desire is , that Craft Masonry should stand first as the foundation upon which all else rests , and when that claim is accorded , we are content to let the question as to the relative value of the several rival rites be

determined by individuals according to their bent . We have been much struck with some remarks made by Bro . Longley at the proceedings of the Sovereign Sanctuary

of Eoyal and Oriental Freemasonry 33 ° , 96 ° , 90 ° , held at Ottawa , Canada , in July last . * Bro . Longley , who is styled Most Worthy Grand Master General , in his address , used the following language :

Permit me , brethren , to remind yon that it is to Craft Masonry , the mother and foundation of all ntes , that our best allegiance ^ is flue ; and that in comparison with tho Bine Lodge , and tho genuine and practical Masonry therein taught , all Eites and so-called High Grades sink into insignificance . It has been frequently urged , as a

matter of reproach against the High Grades , that by their multiplicity of degrees and elaborate ritual , they cause in the minds of many of the brethren a distaste for and a neglect of the more simple ceremonies of the three Craft degrees . I trust that this reproach

may never be brought , with justice , against the members of onr Rite , but that we may , one and fill , plainly show that our lovo and reverence for tho Blno Lodge , the nursing mother of all practical Masonry , is as it oaght to be—pure , fervent , and of undiminished zeal .

Bro . Longley ' s plain speaking does not end with the foregoing . Here is a further acknowledgment , couched in no less vigorous language , which we deem worthy of being recorded . He says :

For my part , I havo taken every opportunity , both by voico and by pen , to assert that before all high-sounding titles , or myatcrioas numbers , or ornamental appendages , I esteem and value most tho simple title of a Master Mason .

Having vindicated the kingshi p of the Craft , Bro . Longley i * cbukcs tho pretensions ot pome members of tho ruling bodies of other rites who ' * elevate themselves to an equalit y with the genuine rulers of Masonry . . . the officers and members of the Craft Grand Loilffe . " He