Report On Foreign Correspondence.

companions , old and dear , with time-honoured salute and token , as of yore . I While the last note of the deop-mouthed bell is still trembling in the air , reverberating from arch to arch , and dying away amid the frozen music of tho traceried roof , forth from tho western portal streams tho shadowy throng . Thrico around tho sacred edifice winds

tho waving , floating train , brave Old , E-rurin himself leading tho way ; while far up above , above tho sculptured saints Avho look down upon the sleeping city—up Avhere , at the very summit of tho feathery , fairy-like spire , tho imago of tho Queen of heaven stands—there floats a cold , white-robed female form , tho fair Sabina , Old Erwin ' s well

beloved child , whose fair hands aided him in his Avork . In her right hand a mallet , in her left a chisel , she flits among tho sculptured lace-work of the noble spires like the Genius of Masonry . With the faint blush of dawn the vision fades , tho phantom shapes dissolve , and tho old masons return to their sepulchre , there to rest until the next St . John's-eve shall summon them to earth .

Abbe Grandidear , in his " Essay on tho Cathedral of Strasburg , '' written in 1782 , gives this account of tho Craft : " Tho Masons of thoso fabrics and their pupils—spread over tho whole of Germany—to distinguish themsolvoa from tho common Avorkmen formed themselves into the fraternity of Masons , to Avhich they gave tho German nauio of Huttm , Avhich signifies Lodges ; btifc thoy all agreed to recognize the authority of tho original ono at Strasburg , which was named Hauvt-Hutten , or Grand Lodge .

" The different Masters of the individual Lodges assembled afc Ratisbon , whore thoy droAv up , on the 25 th of April 1459 , tho Act of Fraternity , which established tho chief of tho Cathedral of Strasburg and his successors as solo and perpetual Grand Masters of tho fraternity of Freemasons of Germany . In 149 S Emporor Maximilian confirmed thoir privileges in a diploma , which Avas successively renewed by Charles V ., Ferdinand , and successors .

" Their Lodgo as tribunal judged , without appeal , all cases brought before it , according to tho rules and statutes of the fraternity which wero renewed and printed in 1563 . Tho members of the society had no communication with other Masons , who merely knew tho use of tho trowel and mortar . They adopted for characteristic marks all that belonged to tho profession , whieh they regarded as an art far superior to that of tho simple laboring mason . Tho square , lovol and compasses

became their attributes . Resolved to form a body distinct from the common herd of Avorkmen , they invented , for use among themselves , rallying words , aud tokens of recognition , and other distinguishing signs . This thoy called the sign of Avords , das wortzeichen , le salut , dor grass . Tho Apprentices , Companions and Masters Avere received with ceremonies conducted in secret . Thoy took for their motto' Liberty . ' They Avere a fraternity , aud practiced a secret art , or technology .

" Tho Freemasons carried tho architecture of their country throughout tho Avholoof Europe . They indentured thoir apprentices—initiated only thoso who Avoro to form members of thoir body ; thoy bound thorn to secrecy by imposing oaths ; they carefully concealed , and oven destroyed , documents which might disclose thoir knowledge ;

they formed a secret language that thoy might describe their art to each other without uninitiated persons understanding them ; and thoy formed a code of secret signs that thoy might recognize each other as Masons , though personally uuknoAvn to each other , and keep strangers from getting into fellowship with them .

" Tho Lombard kings having been very zealous in spreading tho Christian religion , tho Freemasons wore largely employed in tilling their dominions with churches and monasteries . They spread into other countries in search of work . They became troops of labourers following iu the tracts of the Christian missionaries , and building the churches required for tho converts ; in fact , no sooner did a missionary

reach a remote place to convert tho inhabitants than a troupe of Freemasons appeared , ready to raise a tcmplo in which they might Avorship . As an edifice advance , they sent for moro of their brethren ; and being authorized by tho Pope , backed by kings , and upheld by public opinion by the sanctity of their work , they demanded and obtained materials , carriages , and manual assistance from the

neighbouring gentry . They also imposed conditions on the parishes in Avhich they laboured ; thus a covenant was entered into between a Lodge of Freemasons and the churchwardens of Parish Suffolk , in the reign of Henry VI ., that each Mason bo furnished with a pair of leather gloves and a white apron ; and that a Lodge , properly tiled , should be built for their meetings at the expense of the parish . "

Bro . M . Sycrs annoimces his annual benefit at the " Oxford , " for Thursday , oth July , on Avhich occasion MissKato Vaughan , Messrs . J . H . Milburn , G . Lcybouviie , Lieut . Cole , F . Jono-hmans , EllaWesner , andseveral talented

artistes Avill lend their assistance . A grand military band has been selected for the occasion . Bro . Sycrs is gradually recovering from his recent indisposition , and hopes to bo present .

IIOLLOTVAT ' S Pitts . —Self Protection . —Alternations oE lioafc anil cold , aided by tho nso of unripe fruits and unsound vegetables , always beget a tendency to diarrhoea during summer . To prevent unpleasant consequences , tho first feeling of distention , rniu-cn , rumbling of tho bowels , or scnsatfcmof relaxation , should be promptly met by soiuo such corrective as these Pills , which will the

remove present symptoms , and avert their profession to choleraic dangers . With ordinary vigilance , there is no fear of contracting tho prevailing epidemic if Hollow-ay ' s medicine be taken when disordered digestion lirst manifests , nor need there be any alarm of a sudden outbreak of this formidable disease in any household , where these innocent Pills have purified ., cooled , regulated , pad Btrengthened ,

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must bear the name aud address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

FREEMASONRY EXPROBRATEB , BY A CLERGYMAN IN LINCOLNSHIRE . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . " Neither cloth ho himself receive tho brethren , and forbiclao n . them that would , and castoth tbom out of tho church . —3 John x . SIR , —It is generally understood that Freemasons in England havo an Annual Provincial Assembly , consisting of members of thoir fraternity residing in ono or two counties . And this year , 1876 , the

Freemasons of Lincolnshire met on tho 6 th day of Juno , at Brigg , under the Presidency of His Grace tho Duko of St . Albans . As Freemasons always open and closo thoir assemblies Avith prayer , it Avas not very remarkable that some of the Freemasons of Lincolnshire should express a dosiro to unite in prayor in tho service of the Clmroh of England on tho day of the meeting of tho Grand Lodge at Brigg ,

in tho church of that town , and havo tho benefit of a sermon preached to them , as is usual , by a clergyman of the Church of England , Avho is also oue of their Society . I repeat that this is usual , for tho Avritor of this epistlo has attended such a sorvico in York Minster , and , if his health had permitted , might havo dono so last week in . Peterborough Cathedral . But tho Rev . Wm . JohuWylie , ofBrigg , is gifted

with penetration far exceeding many of his clerical brethren , if nofc approximating to omniscience . Ho , like his holiness tho popo of Rome , has espied , in tho fraternity , if nofc actual ungodliness , consummato infidelity . Consequently , so far as tho town of Brigg is concerned , the gates of Zion may stand open night and day to returning prodigals , but these Freemasons , pessimi sontitim , tho worst of souls

or criminals , thoy shall not , as members of thoir fraternity , havo tho privilege , at Brigg Church , accorded to convicts elsewhere , to join in tho House of Cod iu prayor and praiso ; nay , thoy shall not bo addressed in church by a Priest in Holy Orders who has any con . uectiou with such a curious sodality , if not degraded fraternity ; an omnium gatherum of Jews , Turks , Infidels , and Christians . And if tho

anathema bo not openly enunciated , the baneful effects of the greater excommunication woro to be enforced on tho fraternity of Freemasons on the day of thoir convocation at Brigg , the Oth of Juno in 1870 . As abrotbcrclergyman , I yield in nothing to Mr . Wylio in my attachment to and connection with tho Church of England . I shall forbear to enter now into a defence of Freemasonry , Avhich has for its objects , inter

alia , unity and godly love , endeavours to do good , aud to aid tho distressed , to help thoso to right AVIIO suffer -wrongfully , support tho widow , and succour the orphan . But , instead of tho argument ad rem , I will now employ tho argument ad homineio-. Is not that influential sidesman of Brigg Church , by whoso endeavours , influence , aud purse , in common Avith others , a peal of bolls woro

recently placed in Brigg Church , a well-known , distinguished , Avorthy Mason , and a worthy churchman ? a man of piety aud Christian liberality . Again , is nofc Mr . Wylio's neighbouring clergyman the Master of tho Brigg Lodgo of Freemasons ? Mr . Wylio must admit that this clergyman is equal to himself in piety aud orthodoxy . So aro other

clergymen in Lincolnshire , belonging to tho Society of Freemasons —• which is tabooed by Mr . Wylio—his cqnals , if nofc superiors in ability , learning , and loyalty to tho Church of England , as well as to thoir Order . No clergyman by his connection with tho Order of Freemasons would deviate in his teaching ono jot from tho Articles or Liturgy of the Church of England , and since tho validity of his orders

cannot be impeached by Mr . Wylio , or the title " reverend" bo impugned , what more does this Itev . divine require ? The days aro past , even at Ouston Ferry , and afc Brigg , these little towns in a nook in Lincolnshire , for a priestly onslaught on tho civil or religious rights of tho laity . It will answer no good purpose for the clergy to assume to havo dominion over the faith of their flock or hearers , for

this is essentially little popedom ; but rather to bo the helpers of those to whom the clergy aro called to minister in holy things . But when a clergyman assumes to bo tho censor of his clerical brethren , —and certainly in this case Mr . Wylio has done so by implication , however unintentionally , —he must not bo surprised if

ho receives the retort , " Take heed to thyself and to thino own ministry , which thou bast received from Christ Jesus ; " and if his clerical brethren should , in charity ( as I sincerely do ) , pray that henceforth , in tho exevciso of his ministry , ho may bu characterized with tho spirit of'liberality , aud loA'e , aud of a sound mind .

I am , Sir , Yours respectfully , DAxViEr , ACE , D . D ., Vicar of Langhton , near Gainsborough , W . M . of 1232 at Bourne , P . P . G . C . for Lincolnshire . 14 th June 1876 .

The Perpetuation Of Masonic Error.

THE PERPETUATION OF MASONIC ERROR .

To the Editor O / TIIE FEEEHASOS ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR , —I havo been not a little amused thoso last few days afc tho fervent inconsistency of your London Masonic contemporary In the early part of the year you published a loadiug article ou " tho

Antiquity of Freemasonry . " In tho course of it lvfcruuco . was mudo to the famous MS . which is said to ha \ -c been sigiiod by Xing Henry VI ., to havo been seen—at least a copy of it—by Lclaud , by him preserved in the Bodeian Library , and to have been recojued and