Abuse Of Freemasonry.

honourable correspondent . " Wo are quite willing to admit that the writer thus described may be a " vainer 1 correspondent , " according to this journal ' s estimate of value . We see no earthly reason why a perverse minded person should not be as honourable as the most keen-siflhted

quick-witted individual that over walked in two shoes . But we fail utterly to trace any connection botweon the flax trade and Freemasonry , beyond the fact of their both beginning with the letter F . Were we disposed to analyze thesp precious papers—the first of a promised series—which

appeared in the Bel fast -journal last week , it might be perti nent to inquire , if the influence of Freemasonry on the Belfast flax trade is so baneful , how comes it that its influence on the trade of other largo cities and towns in the United Kingdom is not equally productive of harm ? But though

there are Lodges of Freemasons in Dublin , Cork , Galway , in Manchester , Liverpool , Birmingham , in Edinburgh , Glasgow , Aberdeen ; though our Order is hateful , both at home and abroad , to the Roman Catholic hierarchy , we have never yet heard of Freemasonry being held

responsible for the depression of trade . So far from this being the case , there are many silly people who describe the purpose of onr Order " to be good living and a display of finery . This being so for argument sake , it follows that Freemasonry must encourage all those trades which enable people to

live well and display finery . However this may be , this " valued and honourable correspondent" of the WeeTcly Examiner and Ulster Observer thinks hehassomehow established a connection between the flax trade and Freemasonry , greatly to the detriment of the former . Yet assertion is

not argument . These preliminary papers of his , —though they occupy four and a half pages of the Belfast journal , and are introduced to its readers with a preliminary flourish of trumpets , —these four and a half pages contain an abundance of assertion , an equal amount of abuse against Freemasonry , but not a single argument .

It were a waste of time to bestow more than a passing glance upon this farrago of inane twaddle . The writer proclaims at the outset that he takes up his pen solely in the interest of right and justice . " I have , " says he , " no base ends to serve . I have no personal motive to egg me on ,

I feed but no ancient grudge by my exposure . I have not a personal enemy in the trade . " . . . But every person engaged in this combination and Masonic Trades Union , the Compasses and Square ' Ring , ' which I mean to

expose and denounce , is my deadly enemy , is the enemy of every one of my co-religionists ; is not only that but his own worst enemy , the sworn enemy of his employers , the fellest enemy of the Ulster staple trade . " Freemasonry has a few lines before been described as " the

arch-conspirator , the conscience destroyer , this thing of envy , malice , hatred and all uncharitableness , this plague and pest . " " These be fine words , " and on the whole , we may affirm without fear of contradiction that this " valued and honourable correspondent" makes a very fair beginning .

His language is emphatic . He can quota scripture after the manner of a certain other personage we have read of , glibly , if not pertinently . But though the men who compose tho " Compasses and Square ' Ring ' " are his enemies , it is comforting to learn that he is not theirs . He is " tolerant to a fault ; " he is " charitable in the fullest and best

sense of the word . " He simply deplores their moral inturpitude . They live in a vitiated atmosphere redolent of bigotry . " In their schools , in their churches , in their play-grounds , in their Lodges , in their workshops , in their clubs , in their athletic sports , in their cricket and

footballtheir rinks and archery fields—every where they know , see , hear , learn , imbibe , inhale nothing but bigotry , intolerance , exclusiveness , sectarianism , class hatred , domination . " No wonder , with all these verbs and substantives to back him , that the writer should aim a " vital thrust at

imposturein-, iquity , sham , unfair dealing , trickery , fraud , corruption , conspiracy , combination , " all which terms , we are told , are " but synonyms for Freemasonry in its unscrupulous manipulation of the staple trade of Ulster . " We cannot , of course , pretend to explain these choice samples of the

writer ' s abuse of Freemasonry . They have a meaning , no doubt , but we have alread y said we are not posted in the fluctuations of Ulster trade . We repeat , therefore , iu all single-mindedness , we see no connection whatever between

flax and Freemasonry . The latter may be all the writer paints it , and even a great deal worse . Yet it puzzles us to see how a body , in a great measure composed of tradesmen , should be the enemy of trade . We can understand the hatred of au Ultraiaontane priesthood , for J onr Order .

Abuse Of Freemasonry.

Freemasonry is opposed to bigotry , and bigotry and Ultramontanism are interchangeable terms . We can understand ho charge of the silly people who describe us merely as a Hand of good-livers . Masons , when the labours of the Lodge are ended , do sit down at table together and enjoy

L hemselves in moderation . But why Freemasonry should bo the enemy of trade is utterly beyond our comprehension . It is most unfortunate for this " valued and honourable correspondent" of The Wrehhj Examiner and Ulster Observer that , as he says , " The conditions under which I write—the

restrictions I have imposed upon myself—prevent me from giving proof , from entering into details , from naming culprits , from citing cases . Details , names and cases are ready to my hand ; I could fill a page of this journal with them , and still have as many more in my wallet . " This , wo

remark , is most unfortunate . When a man comes forward to make a public accusation , he ought , in common fairness , to furnish evidence of the charge he makes . If he cannot

do this , if the restrictions he has thought it wise to impose upon himself , or which have been imposed on him , forbid this , the least he can do is to hold his tongue . His assertions go for nothing if they are incapable of proof .

We have a right to assume that this " valuable aud honourable correspondent" is a Freemason ; that being a Freemason in name , he is also learned in all the mysteries of the Craft ; and thus it is he is in a position to describe its aims and the influence it exercises on the trade of

Belfast . If he be a Freemason , there are few " valued and honourable " people in this world who will attach any value to his denunciations of Masonry . Renegades are a class of people in whom no man of sense has the slightest confidence . On the other hand , if he is not a Freemason—and for the honour of the Craft we trust he is not—his

denunciations are equally worthless , for he is writing about that of which he is profoundly ignorant . If this writer we have dealt with in the foregoing remarks has any common sense in him , let him exercise it . Let him say boldly , he hates Freemasonry because the

teachings of his religion require him to do so . Let him say he hates it because he does not understand it ; but , in tho name of all that is manly and honourable , let him refrain from making accusations he cannot prove . If he

must write vapid , indescribable nonsense , let him address himself to the inmates of lunatic asylums and asylums for idiots . There , at least , he will find a body of appreciative readers .

Nature And Science.

NATURE AND SCIENCE .

By Walter Spencer , F . B . G . S ., fyc . IT was my good fortune to meet in South America , Dr . Forbes , then of H . M . S . " Topaze , " formerly surgeon of the old "Acheron , " on the South Sea Station . I had perused , with much pleasure , his prize essay on " Vancouver ' sIsland , " treating of the capabilities of that Colony .

^ ' Is it , " I asked , " equal to New Zealand in natural advantages ? " "No . ' " said he , " not a patch upon it . " This coincided with my own impressions , for I was quite at a loss to understand the hi gh-flying articles published some

years ago in the Times , to incite immigration into tho former place and British Columbia . As an emigrant , I should never think of going thither whilst the more genial climates and superior resources of Australia and New Zealand remained open to me .

Dr . Forbes gave me , as the result of his observations of the Pacific Islands , that they were the mountain-tops of a great submerged continent . The similarit y of race and language of all the Kanakhas proves them to be a branch of the Malay family , of subsequent immigration . The

hypothesis of submersion has since been endorsed by our scientific schools . New Zealand , however , is an exception : its peculiarities would seem to indicate an upheaval of comparatively recent date . Nor does the

latter appear in connection with the mainland of Australia , for the vegetation and peculiar marsupial animals are wanting . Its only indigenous quadruped was a rat , called the " Maori rat , " which has been exterminated by the Norwegian rat imported in European vessels .

Owing to the absence of native quadrupeds , the few pigs , dogs and cats left there b y Captain Cook and earl y voyagers , soon multiplied to an alarming extent , and proved a serious trouble to early settlers on the Middle Island . Extensive contracts were given by the sheep