Correspondence.

the discoveries of biblical MSS ., biblical researches and criticism necessitated a reformed edition of the New Testament and Old Testament too . The German and Dutch theologians have done theii share in questioning the authenticity or genuineness of various books in the Bible . The " Essays and Reviews , " Dr . Samuel Davidson ' s "Introduction to the New Testament , " and Professor Robinson

Smith ' s lectures , & c , all helped to fracture old beliefs . But if we look further back wo find that au eminent Rabbi is mentioned in the Talmud , who taught that the book of Job was a fiction . The learned Erasmus doubted the inspiration of tho Apocalypse , and Luther bluntly denied the said book as neither " apostolical nor prophetical . " Tbe above facts were unknown to our old brethren who formed the

Grand Lodge , and Christians then believed that every word in the Bible waa alike inspired . Hence , when the phrase was first introduced into the Masonio ritual , viz ., " Let the Bible be the rule and guide of yonr faitb , " it was doubtless very appropriate , at least as far as Christians were concerned . Bnt now even a Christian might be bold enough to ask , " How mucb of the Bible , and what part thereof , am I

to believe ? " Or , " Am I to believe in the King James's Bible or in the new translation ? " And for these reasons , probably , Bro . Speed P . G . M . of Mississippi , thongh evidently a sincere Christian , suggested to bis Grand Lodge the substitution in the above phrase the word " conduct" for the word "faith . " I was , of course , pleased with Bro . Sp ° ed ' s proposition , indeed it is not often we hear of

an American Grand Master who makes sensible suggestions . But with all due respect to Bro . Speed , I think that , in order to avoid theological discussion among Masons , which the present system will engender ere long , it would be better for all parties concerned to remove sacred books from Masonio altars , and banish all sectarian buncombe from the ritual and from the Masonio press , for if , as Bro .

Pike admits , " Masonry is not a religion , & c , then sectarianism is against the true spirit of Masonry . If , however , our Trinitarianizers and saint-worshippers mnst have a Christianized Masonry , let them say what they mean and mean what they say . Instead of resorting to Jesuitical quibbles , let them boldly demand of their respective Grand Lodges to pass a law that

in future , no man shall be admitted into Masonry who does not believe in the inspiration of every word in the Bible , in accordance with the requirements of the Westminster Confession . I shall only add , that I have perused about a third of Bro . Pike ' s work , the remainder I merely glanced at here and there . So far as I could judge , the latter is much of a muchness with the former , and , take it all in all , it may he briefly summed up

with" What is new is not true , and what is true is not new . " Tours fraternally , JACOB NORTON , Boston , U . S . 27 th June 1884 .

AN OLD RECORD . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . Beach House , Stretford , near Manchester , 5 th July 1884 .

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —On looking over an old minute book of the Lodge of Friendship , No . 44 , I found amongst other curious matter the enclosed minute of the Lodge of Reconciliation , held in Manchester in 1814 , by the Ancient and Modern Lodges . As this

may interest some , of your readers , I send the copy of the minute herewith . Yours very truly , J . G . SMITH P . M . 44 .

August 2 1814 . Talbot Inn , Markets * .

Manchester . At a meeting of the fraternities of Freemasons of Tbe Old & New Systems . A Lodge of Reconciliation was held . Present ( on the part of the old system ) :

W . M . Jno . McClelland of Lodge 59 / 39 in the chair S . W . Terence Devine „ 85 / 62 J . W . Jno . Wyohe „ 250 / 201 S . D . Jno . Macguire „ 347 / 275 J . D . Wm . Toft „ 366 / 289 Secy . Barny . Kavanagh „ 347 / 275 Treas . Pat . Murphy „ 377 / 296 P . M . Hy . Dey „ 351 / 278 Tyler . Daniel Macguire „ 347 / 275 Also Bros . Jno . Tute of 366 / 289 , James Hall 378 / 297 , ' Jno . Martin 59 / 39 .

Opened on the 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd degree of Masonry . August 2 nd 1814 . Lodge of Integrity 267 / 212

The Lod ge was opened in due form on the 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd degree of Masonry , for tho purpose of forming a Lodge of Eeconcihation between the two Fraternities . esent—Bros , ( on the part of the new system ) :

Beut , of Lodge No . 599 / 580 W . M . Chew „ 267 / 212 S . W . Boslem „ . 599 / 580 J . W .

Booth „ j 507 / 403 S . D . Bentley „ 507 / 403 J . D . Pidgeon „ 267 / 212 Secy . McDowall „ " 599 / 580 Asst . Do .

Correspondence.

Bros . Musgrove , Lynch , and Harlehurst Tylers . A message being sent by tho W . M ., Jno . Bent , requesting the attendance of Lodge of Ancient Masonry , which had previously been opened in an adjoining room , the following Brs . presented themselves as such as is mentioned before .

The two W . M . having exchanged the O . B . ' s as is used by both Fraternities to the satisfaction of all Brethren present , likewise the usual forms & o . of each , an O . B . of Reconciliation was given by the two W . Ms , repeated by the wholo of the Brethren present , and accepted as an act of union according to the instructions from the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasonry of England .

On the motion of Mr . Pidgeon , which was seconded by Br . Chew , that the thanks of the Lodge of Integrity be given to the Brethren forming the above Lodge , for their ready and punctual attendance for tho purpose above specified , which was carried nnanimously , and as unanimously carried were the thanks of tbo above Lodge to the Lodge of Integrity .

Tbe thanks of the Lodge of Reconciliation was unanimously voted to Bro . Bent W . M . for his impartial and upright conduct this evening . Chas . Pidgeon ) Joint | Jno . Bent W . M . B . Kavanagh j Seoys . Jno . McClelland W . M .

"Unattached" Stewards At The Festivals.

" UNATTACHED" STEWARDS AT THE FESTIVALS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . — " Honour to whom honour is due , " and all honour , say I , to those brethren who come forward , Festival after Festival , and prove it is possible to get together a goodly amount for the Charities , without assistance from their respective Lodges , for such is what I imagine to be implied when Stewards are returned aa

unattached . " I do not wish to " look the gift horse in the month , " or to offer any slight to these " unattached " Stewards ; I ask , for information , how is it that a brother prefers to rotnrn himself as " unattached " rather than associate the name of his Lodge with his own , and thereby bring honour on it in addition to that whioh be personally earns by serving and working as a Steward ? I may be

wrong , but I fancy tbe list of " unattached " Stewards some years since was much smaller than it is now , and I fear that if the list is allowed to continue to grow as it has lately it will be the means of creating au impression , which I hope is an incorrect one , that Lodges ar not as enthusiastic in their support of the Institutions as are private individuals . In the list of " nnattached" Stewards whioh

appeared in your last issue in connection with the recent Festival of the Boys' School , I see the names of brethren who have , for years past , been unceasing in their efforts to promote the welfare of tbe Charities , and it seems to me a great pity that the large amounts they have contributed should be lost to the credit of tbe several Lodges with which they are associated .

I may tell you , Sir , that this qnery is only tbo prelude to another I have had it on my mind to put : —Out of the total annually subscribed to tbe three Charitns , how much is actually voted from the several Lodges P I have been a visitor at Lrdges on more than one occasion when a member his proposed to serve as Steward , and

represent it at one of tho Festivals , when it has been stated that the Lodge would not be able to nfford nnytbins to put on the brother ' s list , so that in those cases the Lodgo had the credit of sending up a Steward with a list of some pounds of which it had nob , directly , contributed anything . Is there any connection between the two states to which my queries refer . I am , & o . ONE WHO HAS SERVED AS STEWARD .

Royal Order Of Scotland.

ROYAL ORDER OF SCOTLAND .

THE Right Hon . the Earl of Rosslyn has been elected Deputy Grand Master and Governor , in room of the late Bro . Whyte Mellville , and his Lordship has appointed Bros . William Mann S . S . C . Deputy Governor . Alexander Hay and William Hay have been re-elected Senior and Junior Grand Wardens respectively , D . Murray Lyon has succeeded Bro . Mann in the office of G . Secretary , and Doctor

George Dickson Grand Treasurer vice George Murray , C . A ., deceased . The other office-bearers are : —Bros . Earl of Mar and Kellie Grand Sword Bearer , J . T . S . Elliot Grand Banner Bearer , Rev . T . N . Wannop Grand Chaplain , Earl of Kintore Grand Marischal , A . Mitchell Deputy Grand Marischal , R . S . Brown Grand Introdnctor and Examiner , Wm .

Edwards Grand Constable of the Tower , H ; J . Shields Grand Guarder , W . M . Bryce Deputy Grand Guarder , W . N . Fraser , J . Webster , and F . E . Villiers Grand Stewards . The Office Bearers , with L . Mackersy , Jas . Crichton and J . Kirk form the Executive Committee . Lord Rosslyn ' s installation will take place early in October

next . At the banquet in Freemasons'Hall , on 4 th inst ., tbe Depnty Governor , Bro . Mann , was snpported by Bros . Thomas John Haynes Provincial Grand Master , aud Gresswell D . Haynes Provincial Grand Master Depute of Gibraltar , under the Grand Lodge of Scotland , Dr . James Carmichael , J . Dalrymple Duncan , Edward Arrnitage of Cambridge , and others .

The following dinners have taken place at the Freemasons' Tavern during the current week : — Monday 7 th—Regularity Chapter ; "Wednesday , 9 th—Installation banquet of the United Lodge ; Friday , ilth—Dinner of the Setto of Odd Volumes .