The History Of Freemasonry.

Wren , if the last-named was over Grand Master . We are not in love with the process known as hairsplitting , yet we would point out that Manningham was right , when he spoke of Payne succeeding Wren , though he was not his immediate successor .

As regards Preston and his " Illustrations of Masonry , ' we have no intention of following Bro . Gould through his examination of this author ' s statements . We have neither the time nor the inclination for so laborious a task . More ever , we are getting so much further away from the Wren

period , and he is so notoriously untrustworthy except it may be as regards events which occurred within his own personal knowledge , that we candidly confess wo should attach no importance whatever to the Wren tradition if it rested principally on his authority . In our judgment , Manningham ' s

casual reference to Wren , though not literally accurate , as to his having been succeeded by Payno , and though in capable of proof as to his ever having filled the position of Grand Master , is a hundredfold more important testimony as to Wren ' s membership than all Preston ' s statements put

together . We can only express our surprise that Bro . Gould should have considered thorn worthy of so critical an examination . But the remarks on the Aubrey testimony must not be dismissed with similar curtness ; we

should not be doing justice to either Aubrey or Bro . Gould if we attempted a discussion of their merits at the close of so long a paper . We shall , therefore , reserve such comments as we may think desirable till another occasion . ( To be continued . )

An Important Aspect Of Grand Lodge Sovereignty.

AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF GRAND LODGE SOVEREIGNTY .

THE several Grand Lodges of America are not infrequently called upon to decide questions of the first importance to the entire Masonic world . These questions are not of their own seeking , but are thrust upon them . The position of the United States , as " the land of the free , and the home of the brave , " invites to its shores ,

hospitality opened to all , citizens of every land under the sun They seek us , and we welcome them . As in the begin ning , when Swedes , English , Germans , French and Spa

niards , discovered or settled in this country , so ever since , people of all these nationalities have sought their welfare on our shores . To so great an extent has this migration proceeded , that , in certain sections of the United States ,

among entire communities you can hear only the German , French or Swedish languages spoken . These peoples have brought with them , as a matter of course , their usages and customs . They are among us , but for a time are not of us . Tears must elapse—and sometimes even a

generationbefore they can be thoroughly Americanized . Among these peoples , more or less , we find Freemasons ; but their Freemasonry , while radically the same as our own , is tinctured with certain idiosyncrasies , which segregate it from English cosmopolitan Masonry . Our Craft has

attained this distinction because it is Freemasonry pure and simple . It has in view no nlterior end . It does not antagonise the powers that be in the government , and hence is patriotic and non-partizan—it aims to right no national wrongs , such a purpose being outside of its

sphere . It has no quarrel with any religion , and hence is non-sectarian . It aims to secure the best good of all , and such good as has been recognised by the ages , not that simulation of good evolved out of the inner consciousness of a latter-day saint , or a new-day-new-duty fanatic .

ouch being tho character American Freemasonry , and of English-speaking Freemasonry round the globe , it is not surprising that when it is brought face to face , Masonicall y , with the elements we have adverted to , it shoul d be compelled to decide certain questions in

accordance with American Masonic usage , and , as well , of Masonic usage in the Grand Lodges of England , Scotland , nd Ireland . Such a qnestion , of primary importance , + w , Bp for somtion at the Annual Communication of roe Grand Lod ge of New York , just closed .

J . C seems that a number of German Brethren , in regular Masonic standing , united in the formation of an association styled "Veritas , " limited to German-speaking , asons * Its purpose and plans appear to be , in a measure , oomm able . The association openly declares its independ .

An Important Aspect Of Grand Lodge Sovereignty.

anco of all other Masonic authority ; that the Grand Master of Mn * -ns ha : - but a most limited master Mp , and that no Freemason is under obligation to pay him any except a partial respect ; that the work of the Lodge , in certain particulars , must bo modified to suit tho views of the members of "Veritas ; " that a certain

German newspaper is its organ — winch newspaper has gone , in its utterances , as far beyond tho leaders of " Veritas" as they have gono beyond the views of tho rank and file . The necessary outcome of all this has been tho attempted establishment , in New York city ,

of a bastard organisation in Masonry , whoso aim is to set aside tho legitimate authority of the Grand Lodge of New York—its Constitution , and the edicts of its Grand Master , and to substitute therefor tho levelling doctrines , unknown to English-speaking Masons , of an irresponsible

aud illegitimate body of associated Freemasons . This may not be , and we are gratified to know , not only that Grand Master M . W . Brother J . Edward Simmons , in his annual address , but also a committee of the Grand Lodgo to which the matter was referred , of which Bro . Chas . T .

McClenachan was Chairman , and the Grand Lodge of Now York itself , upon tho report of this Committee , have all done justice to tho subject , and taken such action as doubtless will result in speedily correcting the threatened evil . This action was unanimous , and it requires the offending

" Veritas " Association to expunge from its Constitution the rebellious language incorporated therein , and report the same to the Grand Master , and thus purge itself of

disloyalty to the Craft ; and , in addition , to obliterate from its Constitution tho assertion that a certain Masonically scurrillous German sheet is tho organ of " Veritas , " and re . pudiate its doctrines and offensive utterances .

We trust wo shall be pardoned for remarking , that we aro inclined to think our brethren of the Grand Lodge of New York are responsible , in part at least , for this inchoate rebellion , happily suppressed in its early stage . It appears , from the address of the Grand Master , that these

offending brethren have not only been accorded the privileges of Freemasons common to all in the jurisdiction , but also certain special privileges that , in our judgment , should never have been conceded , since they naturally tend to , and can only result in , disloyalty to the governing authority of

the Grand Lodge , and to some of the soundest principles acknowledged among lawful Masons . These brethren were allowed " to select their own rituals and ceremonies , " and there was not required on their part " a literal compliance with the regulations , a failure to observe which will not be

readily forgiven to the Lodges speaking the English language . " This was most ill-advised action . Tbero should be in each Mnsonic jurisdiction owing obedience to a Grand Lodge , but one ritual and one system of ceremonies . To permit more than one is practically for the Grand Lodge

to license anything that styles itself Masonry . Such a practice cannot but beget illegitimacy and rebellion . No matter what be the language spoken by brethren , whether French , Italian or German , it should be made to interpret to the initiate but one ritual , and one system of ceremonies .

We are not greatly surprised that " Veritas " shonld have presumed upon the existence of two or more rituals , and inferred thence that there might be two or more Constitututions , or two interpretations of the same Constitution , one to govern English-speaking Masons , and the other

the Germans . This cannot be . If there be no unity of law , there cannot be unity of action . If there be no identity in ceremonies , there can be none in thought and feeling . To authorise different rites , is to justify divergent

views , and to invite a disregard for the legitimate Masonic authority , when it pronounces counter to the wishes of those of its constituents who are licensed to do in Masonry as others may not do .

Another illustration of the evil of the mixed system of rites and ceremonies permitted in tho jurisdiction of the G . Lodge of New York has come to our notice while we are writing . On Tuesday , 10 th June 1884 , at the stated meeting of La Sincerite Lodge , No . 373 , of New York

city , the membership of which is composed of French , Spanish and Italian Masons , we read that " eight little blindfolded boys , " with their " parents and sponsors , " were introduced into the Lodge , and received "Masonic

baptism . " The French language was employed in the ceremonies . We read further that " the eight little boys were relieved of the handkerchiefs which covered their eyes , while their ei ght papas promised to see that they adhered strictly to the tenets of Masonry . They were then