The Historian Of Freemasonry.

" Its object undoubtedly is fraternity and to seek the promotion of the Christian evangel of ' Peace on earth , goodwill to men . ' My firm opinion and belief is thafc the society of Freemasons has done more to bring about the present " entente cordiale " between America and this country than any other factor , and I would

dare to say that ifc was the greatest factor in the preservation of peace between fche United States and ourselves some four years back . As regards our charities England takes front rank . On an average ifc expends £ 300 a day all the year round , and in some years considerably more . My opinion is that whilst our charities

are our pride they are also our stumbling block , because I am fully persuaded that they lead to wrong persons joining the Fraternity . Quality , I think , rather than quantity , should be our aim . We have found to our cost that numbers are more a source of danger than profit . "

In response to a request for some information regarding Freemasonry in Torquay and the district , Mr . Hughan said that iu Bro . John Lane , Torquay could pride itself upon possessing , in his opinion , the first living Masonic statistician . Bro . F . J . W .

Crowe has the finest collection of old and modern Masonic aprons , certificates and other articles connected with the Craft in the world . These two Brethren have also been elected members of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , No . 2076 , London , membership in which is considered fco be the " blue ribbon of the Order . "

" What is the nature of the Lodge and the honour it is intended to convey ? " I inquired . Mr . Hughan , in reply , descanted in enthusiastic terms upon the objects and achievements of the Quatuor Coronati . " It is a Lodge , " he remarked , " founded by myself and a few other

members of the Craft to provide a centre and a bond of union among Masonic students and to imbue them with a love for Masonic research . It is the ' University College ' of Freemasonry , and only tbe inner circle of the learned of the Craft are admitted . Membership is limited to forty , and no members are admitted

without a high literary , artistic , or scientific qualification . Sir Walter Besant is our Treasurer , and Sir Charles Warren was the first Master . Its members include the most eminent scholars of the Craft , and among them are -Dr . Crawley , the Eev . Charles Ball , Caspar Purdon Clarke , of the South Kensington Museum ;

Klein , the amateur astronomer ; and Admiral Markham . In connection with this organisation there is a strong corresponding circle , the members of which are from every clime and country . I am proud to think that this Lodge is one of the most useful institutions belonging to the Order . "

Returning to speak of local Lodges , Mr . Hughan informed me that the St . John ' s Lodge , Torquay , dated from 1810 , whilst the Jordan Lodge was opened in 1872 . The oldest Lodge in Devon is the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 39 , Exeter , which was formed in 1732 , and still preserves its original document of constitutionthe oldest of its kind extant .

I mildly suggested to Mr . Hughan that the honours and degress conferred upon him must have been as plentiful as leaves in Vallombrosa . He smiled and remarked , " Well , of the making of Masonic degrees there is truly no end . I think I have received quite a hundred , and there are obtainable still more , many of

which are more ornamental than useful and some of which are neither . I am a Past Grand Warden of Iowa , U . S . A ., and of Egypt . A compliment which I very much appreciated was my election as a life member of the Lafayette Chapter , City of Washington , in 1871 , in , company with the Earl of Ripon , Lord Tenterden , and Sir John Macdonald , Prime Minister of Canada . "

More than this I could nofc get Mr . Hughan to reveal of the high honours he holds . I believe it is a fact that , despite pressure from many persons , Mr . Hughan has never yet been photographed in the full regalia of the Order , and his modesty forbids him descanting upon the honours , which , however valuable , he regards as of less value than work accomplished .

In my simplicity , knowing Mr . Hughan to be a Nonconformist , I asked him how he reconciled his abhorrence of ritual in religious matters as a Nonconformist with the ritual of the Masonic Lodges .

"There is certainly some ritual in the Chapters , but what there is is of a religious nature . There is absolutely no difficulty for a Nonconformist , provided he be a man of moral character , to be a conscientious Freemason . In fact , if a man possesses

integrity and virtue , he is not excluded whatever be his religious views . Belonging to the Fraternity in India there are Jews , Hindoos , Mahommedans , Parsees and Christians , and they work together amicably in the same Lodge . "

" Welder of races into one grand confraternity , " I remarked . " Your universal Chapter , I suppose , would be a parliament of man . "

" I suppose ifc would . We recognise neither caste , colour , nor creed . " Breaking away from this interesting topic , I suggested to Mr . Hughan that in the course of his career he must have met a number of emineut Masonic personages . " Only the other day , " pursued Mr . Hughan " I was

The Historian Of Freemasonry.

visited by one of the foremost American Masons . General John Corson Smith , of Chicago , ex-Lieutenanfc Governor of the State of Illinois , who won great reputation as a fighter in the American rebellion , paid Torquay a visit recently , and told me that he enjoyed Torquay very much . If it were nofc for his family and his duties in the States he would settle here and end his days .

Another frequent visitor has been John Eoss Robertson , M . P ., of Toronto , Past Grand Master of Canada , who is now about to issue a colossal history of Freemasonry in that Dominion . Here is the first volume , " and Mr . Hughan handed me a large , bulky book , the first volume of the history . I opened it , and the first thing my eyes met was a lengthy and learned introduction upon Canadian Freemasonry from'the pen of Mr . W . J . Hughan !

" I have had the pleasure of meeting many famous Brethren of the Fraternity , too numerous fco mention , " continued Mr . Hughan , " and I enjoy a very extensive correspondence with distinguished Brethren throughout the world . " We talked somewhat discoursively upon several Masonic topics , and I was interested to learn that among recent developments was the formation of Temperance Lodges , the

condition of membership being that no intoxicating liquor should be placed on the table afc refreshment . These Lodges are not confined to total abstainers . Sfc . George ' s Lodge , Plymouth , is one . Mr . Hughan , who is an earnest ; total abstainer , informed me that in the American Lodges no manufacturer or seller of intoxicating liquor is allowed to join the Fraternity—a somewhat suggestive comment on the current ideas of conviviality among Masons .

I left Mr . Hughan with my journalistic quiver replete with a large sheaf of arrows for the purposes of this article . No pains did he spare to illumine me upon any subject which I chose to raise . Dates , facts , and figures rushed from his lips in a stream

which testified to his well-nigh omniscience in his subject and the enormous concentration and enthusiasm which he has brought to bear upon it . He did not , however , enlighten me upon the mysterious ritual of the Craft—a reservation upon which I did not venture to encroach .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

" AMEBICAK TYLEE . "—Note you are sending us duplicate copies of your paper each issue .

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