The History Of Freemasonry.

There is yefc another point , to whioh before we close our remarks for the present , we will take leave to refer . Bro . Gould is careful to suggest that , though the Masonic writers of last century were " uninfluenced by the singular entries in the Aubrey MSS ., " still we must be " on our

guard nofc to assume too confidently that none of the Fellows of fche Royal Society who joined the Fraternity between 1717 and 1750 were aware that one of their own number—Aubrey waa chosen an F . R . S . in 1663—had recorded in a manuscript work ( which he deposited in their

own library ) fche approaching initiation into Masonry of a former President of fche Royal Society . Ifc is improbable thafc so cnrious a circumstance was wholly unknown to Dr . Desaguliers , Martin Folkes , Martin Clare , or Richard Rawlinson , all Fellows of the Royal Society and zealous

Freemasons . If we admit the probability of some one or more of these distinguished brethren having perused the manuscript in question , it affords negative evidence , from which we may not unfairly conclude that the allusion to Wren failed to make any impression upon them . " The most

prominent of the four Fellows named by Bro . Gould is undoubtedly Desaguliers , and if we assume that he who played so conspicuous a part in the doings of both Societies was aware of Aubrey having recorded in his MSS . the contemplated initiation of Wren into Masonry , we may go a little further and assume that he communicated his

knowledge of the record to his friend and old coadjutor , Anderson , who—though both he and Desaguliers may have been aware of the initiation from their own personal knowledge of all fche circumstances—may have beon very glad to hear of such independent testimony to the truth of one of the

facts he was about to publish , namely , that Wren was a member of the Craft , and yet did nofc consider ifc part of his dnfcy io repeat ifc or draw any distinction between Wren ' s association with Masonry when Master of Work , and his more complete association with it from 1691 onwards , that is ,

from the date of his alleged acceptance into the Craft as a speculative member . We have noted this and our previous suggestions , not , as we have said , because we are disposed to entertain them very seriously , but in order to show Bro . Gould and any who may be inclined to follow his example ,

that for every conjecture he may feel disposed to raise in favour of his apparently pet theory that Wren was not a Freemason , it is possible to raise up another which may be made to tell with equal or almost equal effect against him . Theorists , like the man who is in a hurry to cross a road , will do" well to look both ways . ( To be continued ) .

The Bond Of Brotherhood.

THE BOND OF BROTHERHOOD .

THE unlikeness of Freemasonry to any other human society , and its superiority to them aU , is exampled in no one of its characteristics better than by its bond of brotherhood . It is the Bond of bonds , and introduces to the Brotherhood of brotherhoods . 'Tis in every respect the reverse of Sfaylock ' s bond , and is all unwritten . 'Tis

a kindred tie , an evidence of the closest possible relationship . Impalpable as air , it is yet a three-fold cord , that is not quickl y broken . Blood cannot inherit it— 'Freemasonry is no society of the Cincinnati . Our line of descent is

maintained by continual accessions of new material—the Temple is always building , and yet never completed . Only the Temple not made with hands will be perfect and finished . An eloquent writer has observed that " a bond is

necessary to complete our being , only we must be careful that the bond does not become bondage . " Both branches of this assertion have been abundantly proved to be true . Many are the bonds voluntarily assumed by men for the purpose of advancing their happinessand yet how few of

, them justify the confidence reposed in them . That which is usuall y esteemed the closest tie of all , wedlock , how useless has it often proven to be , to permanentl y bind those who enter into its bond ! When the bond becomes

bondage , then comes divorce . Freemasonry avoids the perils of this tie b y its peculiar usages , proving thereby niosfc conclusivel y that it is " a law unto itself . " While it is true that he who is once a Freemason is always a

Freemason , and cannot absolve himself from his voluntaril y assumed obligations , nor obtain absolution from any authorit y outside of himself , there is yet a permissible middle course—any Brother may become a non-affiliate . ^ other words , he may , if he will , sever his active connec-

The Bond Of Brotherhood.

tion with tho Fraternity ; ho may retire from official service ; he may be a Freemason at large , paying nothing into the treasury of the Craffc , and resigning thereby certain related privileges , bnt he cannot surrender the Light ho received onco for all , nor blot out his knowledge of secrets

imparted in good faith , and in like good faith accepted , to be kept sacred and inviolate for ever . True , no Brother will become a non-afliliato except a half-hearted , a miserly spirited , an intellectually blinded , or a daft Freemason ; but

if for any reason one becomes reduced to such a condition , he has tho optional resort of non-affiliation . More than this he cannot do . Tho indelibility of Freemasonry is liko the indelibility of orders in the Church—it cannot bo forgotten , cancelled or effaced .

So much for the bond ; now for tho Brotherhood to which it introduces . The candidate for Freemasonry seeks ifc because he feels thafc he needs the impartation of its Truth , and the boundless sympathy and aid which distinguish its membership . Rugged Carlyle , a man of all

men who most stood alone , least mingling with his fellows , was yet so conscious in his inmost soul of the power of human sympathy , that he said , " Infinite is the help that man can yield to man . " The truth of this assertion is intensified if we say , Infinite is the help that a Freemason

can yield to a Freemason . Not merely help of the grosser kind , although all of that , but also that finer , deeper , purer help , which grows onfc of tbe Masonio fellowship of kindred minds . No man better than a Freemason realises this fact , and no Freemason ever stated it moro pointedly

than Bro . Sir Walter Scofcfc , when he wrote : — " From the time that the mother binds the child ' s head , till the moment that some kind assistant wipes the death-damp from the brow of the dying , we cannot exist without mutual help . " To the most fortunately circumstanced , friendship

ancl brotherly love are grateful , while to the unfortunate they are indispensible . We cannot have too many friends , and no friend sticketh closer than a Masonic brother . All may be well with us now , but what of the future ? Who can read ifc , who can foretell it ? Our Brother Bulwer , Lord

Lytton , was right : — " Whatever the number of a man ' s friends , there may be times in his life when he has ono too few . " Cultivate your friends . Cherish them . Make them , if possible , doubly yours—once in the bonds of Brotherhood , and again by personal sympathy and fellowship .

There are other bonds of so-called brotherhood ? Oh , yes , but how frail ! Distress overtakes you , and their disciples pass you by on the other side . Calumny assails you , and they at once believe in the foul aspersion . Not so the true Freemason ; not so Freemasonry itself , in its

essence and spirit . It is for sunshine and storm , for weal and woe , for happiness and distress . A joy to the joyful , it is no less a helping hand to the sorrowful and distressed . Its compass is wonderful , covering in its diapason the note of highest felicity and the wail of deepest distress .

Do any despise the bond ? Alas , a few do . But then we are all human , and the greatest of Popes—the poet , has told us , too true , that " to err is human . " Freemasonry assumes to work no miracles . Ifc can improve fche man , but ifc cannot renew him . It may be deceived in accepting

him , and if so be is a dead branch . But ifc is rarely deceived . The scrutiny is close , the tests are numerous , the chances to impose upon it are few . The Bond of Brotherhood is only for the elect , and he who is approved

by the Fraternity as a fit ashlar to go into its spiritual Temple , proves , in very large majority of instances , to be indeed a good man and true and worthy of all acceptation by the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons . —Key stone .

The new Temperance Lodge , King Solomon , No . 2029 , will be consecrated by the Grand Secretary , Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke , at 33 Golden Square , on Saturday , 31 st May , at four p . m . After the ceremony the brethren will

adjourn for banquet to the Holborn Restaurant , all intoxicating drinks being excluded . Dr . B . W . Richardson , F . R . S ., is the W . M . designate , and Harry Tipper , 118 The Grove , Hammersmith , the Acting Secretary .

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