Grand Lodge Honours.

epistle carefully , its language , if not plain and clear , is , at all events , extremely suggestive . . You will there find we are scolded for being content with " a vague declaration of equality , " for our stupidity in failing to discover that , " in practice ; we , like somo states of society , have our aristocracy and commons , " and with marked impatience wo are asked , " when will the Masonic commons endeavour to put an end

to a government which ignores , in its practice , the first principles of Masonry ?" "Enquirer" further condescendingly favours us with one of tho articles of his belief , " that tho apathy of tho Craft , with regard to this subject is rather the result of ignorance than indifference " ( i . e ., apathy ) .

Having satisfied yourself of tho bona fides of what I havo advanced , please put the paper aside and permit me to ask your correspondent why he is not consistent ? Why does he not practise what ho preaches . In tho first place , ho should enlighten our obtuseness by pointing out what are tho first principles of Freemasonry , which , in its practice , tho Masonio government ignores ; and , in the second

place , ho should show less apathy himself , while blaming our indifference in not endeavouring to put an end to it . Endeavour Why he , as the would-be leader and champion , ought to have moved in the matter with sufficient energy to induce us to emulate his glorious example . This Masonic Peter tho Hermit ought long ago to havo said , why should men with cultivated minds , refined tastes and

habits , and of immense social influence , and consequently of tho highest benefit to the Order , monopolise the high places and havo it all for themselves . Notwithstanding that affairs have been conducted with so much wisdom and discretion , and the prosperity of tho Institution advanced to a pitch unparalleled in tho history of Masonry of this , or any other country , we will have a change—Liberty ,

Equality , Fraternity—let the plebeian element predominate . Suppose the power were given to our friend to try tho experiment , ho will but find another corroboration , if ono wero needed , that muddle is tho inevitable result of every attempt to better that which is perfect , or requires no improvement . Again , how is it "Enquirer" was so apathetic as to permit , without a protest , the re-election of His Royal

Highness ? Why did he fail to show his zeal and earnestness in tho principles he advocates by submitting tho name of a brother ho would prefer ? I have no doubt he has in his mind ' s eye those ho would deem qualified for the post . For instance , there is Bro . Growler , P . M . of Lodge Noname , No . 000 , a worthy man , subscribes to the Charities , is perfect in the knowledge of tho Ritual , which ,

however , in strict veracity it must be recorded , he repeats like a parrot , and like that precocious grey or green plumed biped , he is composedly ignorant and indifferent as to its drift and meaning . He is , however , genial and trusty , and in his unsophisticated way a staunch advocate of democratic principles , but profoundly contemptuous of the manners and usages of refined society . Havo him

at the head of the Craft . Admit that he is in the highest degree honourable , yet his mental culture being of a low standard ho will naturally shrink from fraternising in too close commnnion with those whose intellectual calibre , or social rank , is so far above his own , he will therefore appoint his subordinates , and surround himself with men who possess affinity to his own tastes and sentiments . Thus

would be alienated from us nobility of birth , mental culture , and , in all probability , the power and influence of wealth . I can only most sincerely exclaim , may that timo never arrive , for the result of such a consummation can be better imagined than described . " Enquirer " asserts " that no principle of selection which is adopted in the secular world is followed by our Masonic rulers . " What of that ?

Supposing the method unique , is it therefore to be deprecated , is not its value clearly determined by its practicability , and sufficiently demonstrated by its perfect adaptability to all our requirements ? Curiously enough , on the same page on which appears the complaint of " Enquirer , " is a statement by " An Aspirant , " that " Masonry was never in a more flourishing condition , as evinced by the

announcement , in your last week s issue , that warrants have been granted for eighteen new Lodges during tho past quarter , " and in another column your ingenious and versatile contributor , whose sketches of eminent and well known brethren give so much pleasure , and aro so deservedly admired , points out that " Onr great Masonic Parliament is based upon tho popular suffrages , and its decrees , therefore , aro entitled to

duo respect . We believe that no unworthy Mason has ever received the highest honours of the Craft . Grand Lodge in this , as in other matters which come under its notice , no doubt acts wisely , and if our brother really aspires to the last distinction which the Fraternity has to bestow , we can merely counsel him to take courage and to exercise patience . " Let " Enquirer , " " Legitimate Ambition , "

and the rest of tho dissatisfied mark , learn and inwardly digest the foregoing sensible and well considered sentiments . It is so easy , though sometimes pleasant , but often an imperative duty , to find fault with things as they exist , yet experience tenches how difficult it is to eradicate , or even modify any custom , however undesirable , or usage however poiutlcss , which tradition and timo has sanctified .

How much moro rugged , thorny and hopeless would bo found the patli to upset a system , the rapidity of whose progressive strides prove its enormous power aud vitality . " Let well alone , " is an old adage ; finality would bo bad policy because progress is the law of existence , but progress , when unobstructed , pursues its steady march , silently sowing the seeds of reform , which blossom aud fructify when

the necessity for improvement is ri pe . Sudden or violent changes have over wrought iii ' . ' . ilculablo mischief ; when tho method of sel ection of which '' Enquirer" and othors so causelessly complain , shall nrove inimical to the best interests of the Craft , then will bo the time to consider conditions likely to secure any alteration for the better . I venture to assort that tho vast majority arc thoroiifhly

content with the existing system ; the dissentients few . Lot it also be borno in mind that tho offices Grand Lod ge has to bestow arc limited , and the number of worthy brethren who are full y deserving to be honoured exceedingly great , and that , therefore , the disappointments must be many ; of this , however , we may rest assured , that those who make themselves conspicuous by active services , either in

Grand Lodge Honours.

supporting the charities or iu other respects exert their influence for tho benefit of the Craft , and men who are universally honoured for their blameless lives or intellectual attainments , or the prestige of whose names is calculated to shed additional lustre upon tho Institution aro not likely to bo passed by , overlooked or forgotten . Yours fraternally , E . GOTTHEIL .

Interesting Researches.

INTERESTING RESEARCHES .

THE early history and transactions of tho Grand Lodgo of New York aro now to be brought to light , authority for the publica . tion of the same having been granted to Kane Lodge , No . 454 , which has undertaken tho work . Part I ., covering a period from 1781 to 1784 , this latter date being tho time when the Grand Lodge was formally organised as an independent Body , is now before us . The pamphlet also contains an interesting sketch of Masonry in New

York prior to the formation of the Grand Lodge , with citations from tho records of tho Provincial Lodges that were in existence in that jurisdiction previous to the days of the Revolution . Extracts from the records of " Master's Lodges " in Albany , constituted in 1768 , give evidence that the Secretary was the right man in the right place , and the proceedings are given with a clear detail

of statement . Thus , under date of 6 th June 1870 , this entry appears " Brother Hogan paid his fine for coming after the hour , 6 d , which was given the Tyler , making up 4 s , in fines delivered to him to purchase a pair of genteel snuffers for the use of the Lodge . " If somo Masonio organisations of which we have knowledge imposed fines ou brethren lacking in punctuality the revenues of such

organisations would bo greatly increased . Tho fines imposed in Master ' s Lodgo were not appropriated always to the purchase of snuffers and such like articles of furniture , for a little further on wo come to this entry : " That the fines arising from the non-attendance of members , and coming after the hour , shall bo appropriated for tho use of liquor for the good of tho Lodge , when called from labour to refreshment . Paid for liquor 2 s . "

At this communication "Bro . Bleeeher was fined 4 s for going out without permission . ' . ' Verily the discipline in those days was somewhat rigid ! Perhaps the fines increased moro than was for the good of the Lodge , as a few years later this vote appears on record : " that no brother be allowed to drink more than half-a-pint of wine each Lodge night . Ordered that the Stewards pay strict attention to the above . "

Under date 2 nd May 1781 , this entry appears : " Brother Treasurer reported that ho had purchased , pursuant to an order of the Lodgo , a New York City Lotteiy Ticket , No . 21 , 186 , which is deposited in his bands . " This would seem a strange kind of bnsiness to engage in now-a-days , but at that period it provoked no criticism . Even the Grand Lodge at its first session invested in two " State Lottery

rickets , besides putting on record the following expression of its gratitude for the gift of another Ticket : " Resolved , that tho thanks of this Grand Lodge bo given to Bro . Joshua Watson , Grand Treasurer , for his liberal donation of a Lottery Ticket , and that tho Grand Secretary transmit tho same in terms of suitable respect and affection , for so particular an instance of benevolence . " The flight of a

century brings about many changes in opinions and practices , for " time makes ancient good uncouth . " We shonld not want to return to the customs of the fathers , albeit we may believe that they were as faithful to tho light of their clay as we are to the superior illumination of our time . Nevertheless , it is every way profitable and

interesting to explore the early history of the Craft , aud to bring to light the transactions that indicate the characteristics of Lodges and Masons in tho former days . Wo trust that the enterprise of publication undertaken by Kane Lodge may be generously sustained , and prove an incitement to like movements in other jurisdictions . —Freemasons' Repository .

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN CHINA . —There are three grades of capital punishment : 1 st , strangulation ; 2 nd decapitation , which is much feared , from tho idea that a person goes into the next world in the same state in which he left this one ; aud 3 rd , for heinous crimes , such as treason , parricide , sacrilege , & c , tho punishment , which tho Europeans somewhat incorrectly style , cutting into ten

thousand , pieces . This consists in tbe prisoner having his face and other parts of the body so slashed , before the final blow is struck , that ho enters Hades not only headless , but with his skeleton partially divested of flesh . Crucifixion and sawing asunder arc two of the other horrible modes by which criminals are executed , and strange to say , tho former means , with all its long , lingering torture , is often

preferred to decapitation , simply because tho crucified man saves his head , iu which ho is anxious to fignre before his ancestors in the next world ! In all these punishments a rich man can usually obtain a substitute ; the great difficulty being , not in bribing a man to take the real criminal ' s place , but simply to bribe all the officials whose

business it is to sec the sentence carried into execution ; or , indeed , primarily , the one who has to pronounce it . Chinese prisons aro terribly severe in their discipline , so that to avoid these Tyo-yo , or Hells , as they arc p jpularly called , for long tonus , death is frequency preferred . —From " The Races of Mankind , " br Dr . Robert Brown , for February .

IEotr . owiY's OT : ; TJU : NT A : ; D PH . LS . —NO h ' rnj . M-ino — Cold winds , heated rooms awl disordered stomachs display licit' de ' eterious effects up m the human skin ; roughness , irritation , eruptions a , n .. u . tho mouth and mnc . cracked lips and chapped hands are readily cured , hy tho application of ilolhnvay ' s Ointment , which renders the skin soft and healthy . This Ointment is the l / e .-t corrective

of tlie red spots , dry patches , and irritable pimples incidental to tender "kins . It saves all the torments of . such au ' ections , and spares their unsightly blemishes , which are not ilight or questionable advantages . At the chen ^ v of seasons , ia all c .-untries , no means of securing ; the human frame against ilisenie can surpass , in safety and potency , tho good effects derivable hum Holloway's remedies .