The Glorificatoin Of Freemasonry.

selves , the right—within the limits of propriety—of free thought and free speech . They are free thinkers—not in the sense in which the term is ordinarily used , but in its widest and most liberal interpretation . Thus , in respect of religion , they one and all believe in the existence of the

Creator , or , to use their own expression , the Great Architect of the Universe ; but each of them is at liberty to worship that Creator in the manner that to him seems most fitting . The majority of them are Christians , many are Jews , many Mohammedans , Parsees , and so on through

the whole category of religious faiths . In their Lodges they meet on one common ground as God-fearing men , respecting their brethren ' s belief as they respect their own , and avoiding the discussion of any and every subject which , as being likely to evoke differences of opinion , is

at the same time calculated to breed contention and strife . They humbly endeavour to inculcate , practically as well as in theory , the simple truths of morality , by doing unto others as they would that others should do unto them . They do not think that it is a part of their ordinary duty to

sneer at those who differ with them . They are not minded to speak evil of people when occasion offers , or , as we regret to say is too often the case , when there is no occasion for speaking of them at all . While they admire a man for his virtues , they deal tenderly with his faults ,

ever bearing in mind what the poet has so tersely expressed , that " To err is human , to forgive divine . " They claim no merit because they conscientiously strive to be God-fearing and neighbour-loving folk , neither do they hold themselves out as possessing any special immunity from

the ordinary failings of humanity . They do not regard their system as Christian because it is charitable , for they consider charity is of the essence of all religions , and that where there is no charity , there can be no true religion . Masons , in short , try to do their duty in the

station of life in which they are placed , and in accordance with the moral and religious light that is in them . Tf they are not always successful , they have , at least , the consolation of knowing it is their misfortune , not their fault—a misfortune which has been shared by many

worthy men in the past , and will be shared by many men in the ages to come . We are not offended with the Christian Age , because it has spoken its mind freely on a subject of which it knows but little . We would , however , modestly suggest to its editor that he should make himself

acquainted with " the system of Masonry , " by reading our Old Charges or Book of Constitutions , before he again proposes to himself to enlighten his readers on either its merits or its shortcomings . As we have not taken upon ourselves the functions of a clerk in holv orders , we are

not so presumptuous as to attempt instructing our readers in the mysteries of religion , but we do claim to know something of the Fraternit y to which we belong . That being so , we may state that we see nothing inappropriate , or partaking too much of the character of self-glorification in

ex-Lord Mayor Truscott ' s remarks at the Masonic banquet at the Mansion House . Possibly the editor of the Christian Age may in time be brought to understand that , how great soever may be his qualifications for enli ghtening the Christian world as to the truths of Christianit y , they do

not constitute a sufficient justification of his attempt to instruct his readers in a subject about which , if we take his remarks below as a criterion of his knowledge , he is

to put it as gently as possible , but very ill-informed . He will do wisely to ponder well the simple truth contained in the familiar proverb , " The Cobbler to his Last . " The excerpt reads as follows : —

THE GLORIFICATION OP FREEMASONRY . —la not this thing being carried a trifle too far ? Lord Mayor Trnscott is a Mason ; so is the Prince of Wales . What so natural as that they shonld meet , give the Mason ' s grip , dine , and drink together ? But is it necessary to talk after the fashion Lord Mayor Trnscott has adopted ? Wh y , the

great ecclesiastical alliance of the future alread y exists in Masonry " Let a man's religion or mode of worship be what it may , he is not excluded from the Order , provided he believes in the glorious Architect of heaven and earth , and practises the sacred duties of Morality . " We are afraid the Order has not always been a promoter of good

morals , and are not fully persuaded that it is so now ; as to religion , the less said about it the better . But the Prince , as Mason-in-Chief , has laid the foundation stone of Truro Cathedral with Masonic ceremonies ; and this must cover a multitude of sins . The Masonic Creed at the consecration of the first atone will hardly harmonize

with the Athanasian Creed at the opening of the building itself by the Archbishops and Bishops , and the consigning of some brother Masons , who believe the former but not the latter , to endless torments . The system of the Masons is unique , but it is not necessarily pious ; it is charitable , but it is not therefore Christian . Let there be a clear distinction drawn between things that differ . Surely this

The Glorificatoin Of Freemasonry.

is not too much to ask in the interest both of dear thought and Christianity . Have our readers ever seen Professor Finney ' s book on Masonry ? Its study would clear the atmosphere which i 3 breathed at Mansion House banquets .

Philadelphia, The Premier Masonic City Of America.

PHILADELPHIA , THE PREMIER MASONIC CITY OF AMERICA .

BY BRO . W . J . HUGHAN .

WHENEVER and wherever my good friend Brother Gould S . G . D . desires my opinion , I always feel bound to respond , though , in the present instance , I must confess that we are all simply examining a puzzle without the means of completely solving it . Brother Gould has

ably and most fairly stated the negative side of the question as to the claim of a Lodge at Philadelphia , U . S . A ., being at any time on the roll from 1730 to 1734 , as published in

the engraved lists of the Grand Lodge of England . The affirmative side I hive already given , and shall only now refer to points raised by Bro . Gould which require particular consideration .

1 . It will be well , however , as preliminary , to note the following established facts : — ( a ) Daniel Coxe , Esq ., was appointed Prov . G . M .

of " New York , Neio Jersey , and Pensilvama by the Duke of Norfolk M . W . G . M ., by Patent dated 5 th day of June 1730 , being the first for any part of America .

( b ) The Patent empowered Bro . Coxe to " to constitute the brethren ( free and accepted Masons ) now residing , or who shall hereafter reside in those parts , into one or more regular Lodge or Lodges , as he shall think fit , " & c .

( o ) The app lication for the appointment was made by Bro . Coxe " and several other brethren , free and accepted Masons , residing , or about to reside , in the said Provinces . "

( d ) The " Patent" gave authority to " the brethren who do now reside , or who may hereafter reside , in all or any of the said Provinces , " to elect a Prov . G . M . " every other year on the Feast of St . John the Baptist . "

( e ) The privilege thus given was exercised on June 26 th 1732 , in Philadelphia , when Bro . W . Allen was chosen Prov . G . M ., and appointed Bro . W . Pringle D . G . M . The Wardens chosen were Bros . T . Boude and Benjamin

Franklin . This account of the Prov . G . L . is to be found in the Pennsylvania Gazette , June 19 th to June 26 th 1732 . This is the earliest printed notice known of the election of a Prov . G . M . in America , and is doubtless the first of its kind .

(/) In the " Dedication Memorial Volume " ( Philadelphia , 1875 ) is a copy of a letter ( still extant ) by Bro . H . Bell to Bro . Dr . Cadwallader , of date Nov . 15 th 1754 , in which the writer claims to be " owe of the

originators of the first Masonic Lodge in Philadelphia . " He also states that , in " the fall of 1730 " they made application to the Grand Lodge of England for a Charter , " but before receiving it , heard that Daniel Coxe ,

of New Jersey , had been appointed by that Grand Lodge as Prov . G . M ., " & c , & c . " We therefore made application to him , and

our request was granted . ( g ) In the Pennsylvania Gazette for Dec . 8 th 1730 , it is stated " there are several Lodges of Freemasons erected in this Province . "

( h ) Bro . Benjamin Franklin subsequently became Prov . G . M ., and , as Prov . G . M . or G . M ., wrote to Bro . Henry Price , Nov . 28 th 1784 , for a confirmation of the privileges which

the brethren of Pennsylvania enjoy , " of holding annually their Grand Lodge , " & c . He explains that this step was taken because he had heard that Bro . Price ' s Patent was