Pope, Friendly Societies, And Masons.

As to Good Templars , there is a religious element in their organisation of a distinotive character , which has the effect of precluding Catholics from membership . We can quite agree that the temperance work of this and kindred bodies is most laudable , while being unable to join them . We have onr own temperance organisations , however , so that the cause of temperance among our people ia not placed ai * n

disadvantage . It is , I take it , the tone and essence of Gtn * d Temp larism and similar semi-religious organisations that guide the Church in warning her members against joining them . In regard to Masonry , it , I believe , comes nnder a different headini ; Catholics would like , lor instance , to know what the English Fret- - masons mean , or what Sir Charles Dilke means , by "the Grea *

Architect of the Universe . " Does thia title convey anything mor >> than " Manitoa the Mighty " in American Indian parlance ; dots it mean tha "Soul of tho world , " or aro we to take it as meaning * Personal God , the Upholder , Governor , and Ruler of the Universe ? The unexplained expression does not help us a little bit in answering the query , —Should Catholics become Freemasons ? Again , what

recognition of Christianity , as snob , do we find in Masonry ? We Catholics test everything by that standard . Are Christ ' s Divinity , Incarnation , Life , Death , Resurrection , Ascension ignored entirely by thia society , whioh has two main objects , " good fellowship and almsgiving" ? Good fellowship and alms-giving have been , aud aro , practised by Pagans . They are good in themselves , bnt jire not

enough to satisfy Catholics of the beneficent character of Masonr * . The thing must he considered as a whole . It has been so considered by the Church ; it has been weighed aud found wanting . Wo cau concede that English Masonry is very different indeed from the Continental article ; that a Mark Mason does not correspond to one of the Carbonari , * yet English Masonry is still incompatible witb

Catholicity . That the ceremonies havo been described accurately in books whioh are accessible doea not surely alter the nature of the difficulty . If any of yonr readers , or if Sir Charles Dilke , will take the trouble to investigate the gronnda of tha Church ' s condemnation , they will be fonnd wondrously enlightened , admirably explained , and based on

the highest principles . It ia open to any one to deny the first principles of tho Church's action , to ignore her mission , to declare bar claim to authority the most flagrant usurpation ; but , granting the first , the harmony and logical consistency of her law is undeniable . Sir Charles Dilke writes as if there were no secret societies worthy

of the name since those which between 1815 and 1848 did a work " the memory of whioh still haunts the Papal repose . " Sir Charles may choose to treat the anxieties of the Holy See on these matters as childish , bnt he can be quite certain tbat the Holy See of to-day does not legislate because of agencies which ceased to operate fifty years ago . The aim , tbe scope , the character , the power , the

methods of the secret societies of 1892 aro well enough known to the Pope and his advisers . Is it unknown to Sir Charles Dilke that there are powerful agencies at work evun now to overthrow the influence of the Holy See , and even to completely extirpata it ? Are there not those who proclaim this intention openly ? AVas not the " unification of Italy " a step in this direction ? Did not many

people , even here in England , hope tbat tbe loss of the Temporal Power waa the pralude to the final disappearance of the Papacy ? Sir Charles is very much mistaken if he imagines that the Holy See is alarmed by spectres of 1815 or 1848 , or even 1870 . Just aa ¦ he no longer legislates against slavery in Europs because it is nonexistent , so would she cease to war against secret societies were it

not that they are to-day powerful , unscrupulous , active . Between these bodies and tbe Holy See there can be no truce . It is a war to the knife . Even non-Catholics , who have studied history carefully , may gather that the Holy See is not unlikely , when the smoke and din of the contest are over , to emerge once again victorious from a death-grapple with her assailants . 15 th March . C . DIAMOND .

On Thursday , the 17 th instant , a tfieeting of the membera of various Nottingham Lodges waa held at the Masonic Hall , nnder tho presidency of Brother AV . Selby , for the purpose of presenting Misa Simpson , eldest daughter of the late Brother J . R . Simpson , with an album containing portraits of several prominent local Freemasons , a jewel bangle , and a purse of gold , on the occasion of her twentyfirst birthday , as a mark of the high esteem and regard in which sho

is held among the brethren . The movement was initiated by Brother Selby , who was heartily aupported by a large number of brethren . The presentation was made by Brother Samuel G . Johnson I . P . M . of the Newstead Lodge , the mother Lodge of tho Province , in the most able and eloquent manner . He referred to the long and happy connection the young lady ' s family bad had with Masonry in Nottingham , and spoke of tbe life of Miss Simpson as an example of modesty , courtesy and good conduct .

Is there any authentic record aa to the period at which the Society rf ™ ' ? a 80 n 8 wa 8 firs t established ? They seem to me to be inentined with the appearance of the Gothio architecture in Europe , were they known before this , and what is the date of tbe earliest l-n - »¦¦»» , c * uu nuou is » uo UQLO ui iuo e < M JlBSt

„ . Known erection in that style in Europe or elsewhere ? From the wand Lodge seal , with its cherubim , ark , and Hebrew inscription , hniwv a PP ° ar the Freemasons desire to be associated with the Mea ? g Th % o ] omoa ' Temple . Is there any foundation for this conrlivo ? "" eni P le 8 tyle - aa entirely opposite as it ia possible to bv ll IW *•** - Are we t 0 supple thafc «» o workmen lent merelv o -M l * "" Solomon were Freemasons , or is that Society times w * , t , T ? . " . tIzan 8 originating in Germany in early Chriatian of the w « liu r T ? formed OD the basis ( for P nrPoaea of secrecy ) « ' w » Westphahan Vehm . Qericht ?—E . G . IS . —Echo .

Pope, Friendly Societies, And Masons.

The monthly meeting of the Board of Benevolence was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Robt . Grey P . G . D . President . The Vice-Presidents' chairs were filled by Bros . J . Brett P . G . P . and 0 . A . Cottebrnne P . G . P . The Grand Secretary ( Bro . E . Letchworth ) P . G . D . officiated

for the first time as Grand Secretary . Bro . A . A . Pendlebury Assistant Grand Secretary , Bro . W . Dodd and Bro . W . H . Lee were the other brethren who represented Grand Secretary's Office . There were also present Bros . W . P . Brown , David D . Mercer , George B . Chapman ,

Henry Garrod , J . H . Matthews , Charles J . B . Tijou , S . Vallentine , S . V . Abraham , George Coop , T . W . Whitmarsh , S . H . Golclschmidt , George Read , Charles Davey , Walter Hopekirk , Jas . Bunker , Sir Reginald Hanson , Bt ., B . 0 . Mulvey , Geo . S . Horsnail , T . H . Thomson , Thos . Roe ,

Charles P . Bellerby , Edmund B . Cox , John Hardy , Thos . B . Daniel ] , H . Massey , J . Duncan , . Richard Croydon , John Oldis , Geo . K Pngh , Dr . G . Mickley , W . H . Making G . M . E . Hamilton , C . H . Webb , Edwin W . Lewcock , S . Pollitzer ; J . M . Belsham , W . Webber , W . Powles

Dr . Corrie Jackson , H . Godwin , Geo . M . Mitchell , S . Toye , James W . Cain , Thos . Harrison , Abel Laurence , H . J . Smith , Robert J . Voisey , Howard Ruff , J . Holland , W . Cleghorn , J . La Feuillade , W . L . Crow , S . K . Milne , and H . Sadler Grand Tyler . Recommendations made to the Grand Master

to the amount of £ 290 were confirmed . There were 41 cases on the new list . Out of these four were deferred , and two dismissed . The remainder were relieved , with a total of £ 880 One case was recommended to Grand Lodge

for £ 75 , and three petitions wero recommended for £ 50 each . The Grand Master was recommended to grant £ 40 each in five cases , and £ 30 in six . Nine petitioners were relieved with £ 20 , eight with £ 10 , and three with £ 5 each .

We have to record the death of Mrs . J . Morrison McLeod , wife of Bro . McLeod , the Secretary of the Royal Masonic Institntion for Boys . The lady had been in a critical state of health for some time past , and succumbed to her illness on Friday , the 18 th inst . We tender to Bro . McLeod our sincere sympathy in his affliction .

OLD BRANDY . —Dr . Lander Brnnton , and there is no hi gher authority on the subject , has said , "Brandy ought to be made by the distillation of wine , and when prepared in this way ia one of tha purest and least injurious forms of spirit . " It is obvious also that it should be of a certain age tbat the alcoholic strength may be lowered , while the four specific ethers , which it contains , are concentrated . It is these ethers which , according to Dr . Brnnton ,

render brandy " more stimulating to the secretion of the digestive juices" than other spirits , and hence ita presence with the cnp of cafe noir after dinner . A brandy whioh would have thoroughly met the doctor's view is now being offered to connoisseurs by Messrs . Spiers and Pond . It comes from one of the first houses in Cognac , and ia at present twenty-seven years old , beautifully soft and refined in flavour ; such a brandy , in fact , as ia very rarely offered to the public .

Tbe half-yearly meeting of the General Committee of the East Lancashire Systematic Masonio Ednoational and Benevolent Institution was held in the Freemasons' Hall , Manchester , on Friday afternoon , the 18 th inst . The various sub-committees were elected . Two children were elected to the educational benefits of the Institution .

Bro . Alderman Harwood , of Bolton , was re-elected Chairman for tbe enauing year , and Bro . Sillitoe , of Manchester , Vice-Chairman . A contest took place for the office of Secretary , rendered vacant by the resignation of Bro . Chadwick , of Mancheater , the result being that Bro . Newton , of Bolton , was elected by a large majority .

A numerous company of Masonio brethren and their lady friends assembled in the rooms of the Masonio Hall , Kingston Square , on the 10 th inst ., at the invitation of Bro . J . AV . Tindell , the AVorshi pful Master of the De la Pole Lodge , of Hull , to a conversazione and dance in celebration of the 21 st birthday of hia son , Mr . T . AV .

Tindell . All that could add to the highly attractive features of the evening ' s arrangements was adopted with esprit , and throughout the AVorshipful Master had the hearty co-operation of his OffioSrs in ensuring success to the multifarious items submitted for general delectation .

By the way of compliment to Mr . Dodd , the ring ; master at the Circus , who is a member of the Craft , the brethren of Merthyr recently attended in force his benefit performance .

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Crown Svo , ls Paper Covers ; ls 6 d Cloth , Lettered . GO SSIP ABOUT FREEMASONRY ; its History and Traditions . A Paper read by Bro . S . VALLBim-fi * , P . M . andZ . No . 9 , to the Brethren of the Albion "dodge of Instruction , 2 nd November 1889 . Free by post of W . W . "VToaeuw , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Psntonville