Unanimity Of Voting.

should bo strictly excluded ; and that whatever the result none will feel aggrieved or entertain animosity against thoso who , by contrary voting , appeared to oppose them .

Masonry's Detractors.

MASONRY'S DETRACTORS .

"DECENT events in various parts of the country - " - have amply demonstrated that it is particularly easy to make charges against Freemasonry , or individual members of the Order ; and we , on our side , have regularly argued that it should be almost

as easy to prove the truth or falsity of the accusations . But it is not at all unusual for difficulties to arise if we desire to go beyond this point—it very seldom happening that the detractors of Freemasonry take the trouble to substantiate their charges , much less

acknowledge their faults if they discover they were mistaken . As there are exceptions to every rule , however , so we find that it is not always the case that our assailants omit to make the amende honorable when they are convinced , even against their will , that

they were in error when they attacked the Craft . A notable case in point is found in connection with the charges recently made against members of the Masonic Order by our contemporary Truth , where it

was said that certain offences m the army were winked at , or virtually so , in some cases whei *** - the accused and the superior officers were associated with each other by the ties of Freemasonry . We have referred to these charges from time to time of lato ,

and have always urged the desirability of an investigation , with the object of putting the Craft right in the eyes of the world , as we never for one moment imagined that the case was as bad as it was made out .

In fact we were inclined to adopt the view expressed by a correspondent of Truth , who cites cases with a view of convincing the editor of that paper that " a Freemason who commits a military offence , so far

from being treated with favour by an officer m authority over him , is more likely than not to be at a disadvantage . " The case noticed by our contemporary was thafc oi

a certain Colour-Sergeant who was convicted ot embezzlement at Poona , and who was treated with singular leniency , the suggestion being that he was so let off because he was a member of the Masonic Order . A military correspondent of Truth entirely

upsets this view oi the case hy the announcement that the culprit neither was nor is now a Freemason , and so the charge made against the Order falls through , and our contemporary expresses the pleasure he feels , for the sake of the Freemasons , on hearing that this is so . But there is an old saying to the effect that

" A man convinced against his will , Is of his own opinion still , "

and this apparently holds good in the case of the editor of Truth , who reluctantly declines to be convinced by his correspondent , when he argues , as we have just explained he does do , that a military

offender who happened to be a Freemason , and was brought before an officer who was also a member of the Craft , would more likely than not be at a disadvantage . Our contemporary has heard of late too

much evidence the other way , but probably if it were possible to sift the evidence as has been done in this Poona case Freemasonry would be able to clear itself , and the editor of Truth would not think so badly of mustwvmuvta ui &

ine uraer , aua * mo cmy wno jut * associated with it , as he now appears to do . Continuing the subject our contemporary further

explains his views m regard to this question . I do not say that it is in the mere assessment of punishment for crimes that Freemasonry in the Army is most mischievous , " are his words , and thus we may infer

Masonry's Detractors.

that ho rather regards the connection of the two matters as out of place , and we would most decidedly support him in his contention did we believe that Masonic fellowship among officers and men was

detrimental to the service , or harmful m any way to those concerned . On the contrary , we believe that association with Freemasonry must be of absolute advantage to any one who joins it , be he officer or subordinat

e , and this advantage to the individual is not purchased at the expense of others . Freemasonry rather teaches a man to be a better soldier , as it teaches civilians to be better citizens , and we hopo

the day may not be very far distant when the distinguished editor of Truth will be able to acknowledge that further investigation of the charges ho has made against the Order , or its members , has

convinced him that he was in error , or that he had been misled into believing that Freemasonry could be other than a blessing to its members , and those of tho outside world brought into contact with them .

CONSECRATION : BORDER LODGE , No . 2475 .

rpHIS Lodge was consecrated on Tuesday , 10 th inst ., by J _ the Provincial Grand Master for Hants and tbo Isle of Wight ( Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P . ) . The new Lodge is to bo held at tho White Hart , near Blackwator Station , a very handsome and suitable room having been erected

from the designs of Bro . G . W . Webb , who is also tho architect for the new hostelry being built for Col . May , the owner of the property . The consecration was attended by a large number of brethren , and tho solemn service was

most impressively performed by the Provincial Grand Master , assisted by the Chaplain and other P . G . Officers . After the consecration and the installation of Capt . Mandera tis first Master , and the investiture of the other Officers , the

brethren sat down to a recherche repast , provided by Bro . Ellis . The Worshipful Master presided . The usual Masonic toasts were honoured . In proposing the Worshipful Master and success to tho

Border Lodgo the Prov . Grand Master said he had no doubt the Lodge would prove an advantage to the Craffc in that locality , and would do much to promulgate tho noblo principles of Freemasonry throughout the Province of Hampshire and the Islo of Wight .

CONSECRATION : 2 nd MIDDLESEX ARTILLERY LODGE , No . 2484 .

nnHlS Lodge was consecrated on the 9 th inst ., at Free-JL masons' Hall , Great Queen Street , by Bro . Edward Letchworth Grand Secretary . The proceedings commenced at 4 * 30 , when there was a large assembly . Among thoso

who assisted the Grand Secretary were Bro . Colonel and Alderman Sir Reginald Hanson , Bart ., M . P ., P . G . W ., Sir John B . Monckton , Major-General Grassland Hay , C . B . * and tho Rev . Studholme Brownrigg P . G . Chaplain . Tho musical arrangements were under the direction of . Brother Vernon Lee .

REVIVAL OF A LODGE OF 1759 .

ON Saturday afternoon , 14 th inst ., tho Masouic Hall , Downshire Road , Newry , was the scene of an exceedingly interesting ceremony—the revival of St . Patrick ' s Lodge , No . 79 . Tho meetings of this old and

respectable LoJge , which was founded at Tandragee in tho year 1759 , have for fche last thirty years been held at tho Four-Mile-House , Donaghmore , and during tho lifetime of fcho late Brn . Wm . Sannderson , M . B ., of Union Lodge ,

Poynfzpa ** . " -, ifc enjoyed the reputation of being ono of thc besfc working Lodges in "Ulster , a Royal Arch Chapter and a Ki-ighl Templar Encampment being then attached to it . His death was , however , a serious blow to the prosperity of fcho Lodgo , and for several years past tho surviving