Correspondence.

justifiable on the ground that this grandisonant phrase means nothing but " absolute license " in the matter of religion . But if this absolute liberty is so very precious in this particular respect , why may we not take exception to tho limits imposed on it in respect of morals . Our Grand Lodge is , at all events , consistent . It exclndes irreligious

as well as immoral men . Tho Grand Orient admits tho former , but excludes the latter , yet both are the disciples of "license" as contradistinguished from " liberty . " Let us remember one important particular , in which the Emperor Augustus ' s condnct as a ruler extorted praise from the poet Horace , —

" Ordinem Rectum evaganti frtcna Licentiso Injecit . " I am almost ashamed to qnoto so trite a passage , bnt its appositeness in connection with the distinction I have raised must bo my justification .

I demur to tho statement that Grand Lodge has " broken through that estimable rule" which forbids religious discussions in our Lodges . What wo hold to be a fundamental principle of Freemasonry was broken last autumn by the French Grand Orient . A Committee of Inquiry was appointed in December . That Committee reported , in March , that it was truo this fundamental principle had

been broken . It reiterated that principlo as emphatically as possible , aud in order to vindicate tho purity of English Freemasonry it recommended that French brethren visiting our Lodges should , among other proofs of their being true and genuine Masons , declaro their belief , not in tho God of the Christians , or iu tho God of tho Jews , or in the God of the Mahommedans , but in the Great Architect

of tho Universe . Thero was no discussion about forms of religious worship . It was simply laid down , and Grand Lodge unanimously endorsed it , that the essential principlo of Freemasonry is belief in tho existence of God and tho immortality of the sonl . No attempt wasmade to express anyideasor opinions respecting the " G . A . O . T . U ., " and thereforo " A Free-Mason and P . M . " need be under no alarm

about the terrible consequences he has pictured to him as likely to result from the action of our Grand Lodge . It has simply but emphatically re-enunciated a fundamental principle , which is entirely different from discussing a form . Tho works of the late John Stuart Mill are the last I should dream of consulting on a question of religion . The phrase " whose God is

their belly , " is a mere figure of speech . " A JVec-Mason and P . M . ' s " letter would have been better and stronger had he left Mill and the belly-Gcd ont . I am afraid thero aro none so blind as those who will not see , and though " A Free-Mason and P . M . 's " letter is evidently that of an able and experienced Craftsman , I imagine it will be of little use

argnmg this question with him till ho recognises the important distinction that exists between requiring a foreign brother to declare his belief in the G . A . O . T . U ., and asking what are "his ideas aud opinions of the G . A . O . T . U . " In the former case we are acting in obedience to our Grand Lodgo , and for tho maintenance of tho essential principle of

Freemasonry . In the latter case , we should be acting in direct opposition to tho laws of Grand Lodge , and be guilty of a most un-Masonic act of impertinence . Having said thus much , which I fear is much too much , having regard to tho limited space at your disposal ,

I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Fraternally yours , " Q . "

A Suggestion.

A SUGGESTION .

To the Editor of TnE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —It has occurred to mo that as H . R . II . the Prince of Wales our M . W . G . M ., is about to open the new wing of tho Girls' School , and eighteen girls are to be elected out of twenty-four candidates at the next election in April , it would be well to commemorate tho great event in a graceful and appropriate way . This

could be done by the Committee of the Girls' School sanctioning the election of all the twenty-four girls , without a poll , and with that viow I have taken the liberty to write you , that the matter may bo brought before the consideration of the Governors . If you have room for this in your next issue I shall be obliged , and am , Sir and Brother ,

Yours fraternally , R . TnoRi-E W . M . 588 . Sleaford , 19 th March 1878 .

Shrewsbury Freemasons And A Masonic Chart Seller, From Bristol.

SHREWSBURY FREEMASONS AND A MASONIC CHART SELLER , FROM BRISTOL .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SrIS AND BROTHER , —Recently there arrived in this town a " Traveller" from " Bristol , " who offered for sale among the members of tho Craft a Masonic Chart . Tho advent of this unfortunate individual in the flourishing town of Salop has caused a lively time among some of the "Salopians , " who have not been edified or gratified by his visit . The trouble may be explained briefly thus . The

vendor of the Chart , in his rounds , called upon a good-natured brother , who indiscreetly gave him a circular on which was the names oi three candidates . Without Joss of time the " Bristoliau" called upon each of the aspirants for out glorious Order , making sure of effecting a sale of his wares . Not finding them eager to entertain his application , and they declaring they had not received Masonic light , or any signification that they ever would , the circular was produced , backed up by tho assertion that all was right , and that they had been bal-

Shrewsbury Freemasons And A Masonic Chart Seller, From Bristol.

loted for and accepted . It is needless to add each of the candidates pnrchased a Chart , tho price being 10 s 6 d . Now tho facts aro , that only one candidate was balloted for , and ho was under a cloud ; consequently , the other two candidates wero withdrawn . Tho indignation of tho worthy brethren of Shrewsbury has been aroused , and it must bo apparent to every Mason that such conduct is very reprehensible ,

to use a mild term , especially if tho party alluded to can claim the honour of being a Mason . This somewhat unpleasant occurrence somewhat affects yon , inasmuch as your Mr . S . M . Davies has arrived in this town on a Masonic tour , to give the brethren a complete idea of your able journal , and the name of tho Chart vendor being Davies thero has been a fixed impression that tho two individuals are in somo

way connected , or that tho Bristolian has re-appeared as a Londoner , and your representative . Of conrse , those who have see' ! both individuals do not labour under such a mistake , but there may bo a " feeling" on your Mr . Davies presenting his card , and there is a conviction that this matter ought to be mado public , through the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE , and by this means givo you a chance to protect a member of your staff .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours truly and fraternally , ONE WHO KNOWS , Shrewsbury , 28 th March 1878 . [ We havo no knowledge whatever of tho Mr . Davies , of Bristol , who sells Masonic Charts , but we know that Bro . S . M . Davies is in

Shrewsbury , on business connected with the FRKEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , and wo sincerely trust that our esteemed brethren in that town ,- and indeed throughout the Province , will extend to him a fraternal greeting , and faeilitato his object , as far a 3 in them lies . ]—ED . FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE .

Lodge Victoria In Burmah.

LODGE VICTORIA IN BURMAH .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — You will not fail to recollect that on the 5 th December 1877 the Grand Lodgo was , on the appeal of Bros . A . L . Vaillant , T . N . Seymour , E . Dover , J . C . Jordan and W . Marsh , against a sentence of exclusion passed by Lodge Victoria in Burmah , No . 832 , Rangoon , for having opposed the election of Bro . tho Rev .

J . E . Marks , and for daring to appeal to the then Deputy District Grand Master of British Burmah , as is known to you to no purpose , pleased to annul the sentence of exclusion . On the 10 th of January last , Bro . A . Yaillant received a copy of the two resolutions of tho Grand Lodge , of tho 5 th December , which decided that Bro . Marks ' s election was invalid , and that those

brethren should be restored j and on tho 11 th idem , thoy presented themselves at tho Lodgo , in a becoming manner , thero being tho usual monthly regular meeting on that evening , when they wero refused admission ( though it was admitted that orders had been received from tho Grand Secretary to admit them ) , and all tho excluded had to go back very disconsolate at tho pronounced hostility

with which they were met . An appeal was made to tho D . G . M ., and though tho result is known to tho brethren , their appeal has not been acknowledged , or tho decision thereon communicated to them ; yet it is fair to Btatethat tho District Grand Master has " given the Worshipful Master distinct orders to receive these brethron into tho Lodge , and restore them

to their privileges as members . To evado opening the Lodge , and to frnstrato as long as possible the orders of the Grand Lodge , plain and unmistakable as they are , the Worshipfnl Master , Bro . C . T . Baxendale , now professes to have qualms of conscience as to tho validity of his election , aud his right to sit in the chair , and has

declined to open his Lodge till tho validity of his election and in . stallation has been decided , though bo it known that not a soul has challenged it ( but with this question I have nought to do ) , and so baa closed his Lodge . But this is not all ; a Circular , headed " Cou . fidential , " has issued from the Lodge , of which the following is a copy : I enclose also one of the printed copies circulated .

CONFIDENTIAL . Lodgo Victoria in Burma , No . 832 , E . C , Bro . C . T . BAXENDALE W . M .

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , Several brethren having expressed that they havo conscientious scruples , and cannot , in conformity with their obligation , sit in Lodge with Bros . Vaillant , Seymour , Dover , Jordan and Marsh , in

the event of their re-admission ; tho W . Master , in order to ascer . tain the feelings of tho brethren , requests that you will be good enough to inform him , under sealed cover , without delay , your decision on tho subject . I am ,

Masotiic Temple , " ) Dear Sir and Bro ., Rangoon , > Yours fraternally , 1 st February 1878 . ) ANDREW BALD , Secretary No . 832 . Address Loco . Supts . Office

Tho circular was not sent to all the members of the Lodgo , but to those only who were presumed to belong to the parly of . aggression against the excluded , aud in opposition to the edict of the Most

Worshipfnl tho Grand Master of England . Sir and Brother , I feel too indignant and sad to proceed to dilute upvn the treatment , tn ^ se brethren have received , and now seek again the aid of your valuable paper and pen .

Yours fraternally , A LOOKER . ONJ 16 th February 1878 ,