Irish Visit To Newcastle.

kind message , in which he said how heartily welcome the Brethren from Ireland were in the Province . The following telegram from Sir Matthew was read : " To the Worshipful Master of the Lodge of Israel , Newcastle . —The Provincial Master of the Province of Northumberland wishes the

Lodge of Israel and the Brethren from Dublin welcome to the Province of Northumberland , and , further , wishes he were present to receive them personally . " Letters of apology from several Officers and past Officers of the Craft both here and in Ireland were also read .

The chairman proposed the health of the Worshipful Master , Past Masters , Officers , and Brethren of the Lodge of Israel , to whom he tendered , on behalf of his Lodge , the most hearty , cordial , and fraternal greeting and welcome that it was possible for man to offer . Might the fair city of Dublin ever be united with the coaly Tyne , in love , peace , and harmony .

The Eev . Bro . Batey W . M . of Lodge Israel , in responding , said although they were cut off from England by a narrow strip of sea , yet they were glad they were members of the same kingdom ruled by their beloved Queen . As Masons such a strip of soa could never divide them , as the universality of the Order was that which belonged to creation itself . He was glad that

throughout the length and breadth of the world the grand principles of Masonry were honoured . He assured them that it would be a great pleasure to remember the hearty welcome they , as Irish Brethren , had received in Newcastle . Bro . Batey concluded by proposing the health of the Worshipful Master , Past Masters , Officers , and Brethren of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Lodge .

The chairman and Bro . James Garland replied , thanking them for the toast . Other toasts followed . — " Newcastle Chronicle . "

The New Hall At Blyth.

THE NEW HALL AT BLYTH

ON Wednesday , 20 th inst ., Messrs . J . Goulding and Son , contractors for the building of the new Masonic Hall in Beaconsfield Street , Blyth , made a commencement with the work , the first sod having been cut at about ten o ' clock in the morning . It is expected the building will be completed in about six months ' time , says the " Newcastle Journal . " Amongst the company

present at the initial ceremony were the following Brethren belonging to the Blagdon Lodge : W . T . Eichardson W . M ., A . A . Askwith J . W ., Ed . Forster P . M . P . P . G . St . B ., Eobert Eobinson P . G . Sd ., Wm . Colvin , Jas . Thompson , Wm . Eobinson P . M . P . P . G . P ., John Tweedy P . M . P . G . S . of W ., Eobert Nicholson , W . P . Straker . and others .

Masonry At School Boards.

MASONRY AT SCHOOL BOARDS .

WE ( "Catholic Herald" ) publish an interesting letter addressed to us by Father Wyndham , of Bayswater , in which he makes it out that the endeavour to abolish religion from the schools of the country is largely a Masonic conspiracy . Father Wyndham ' s letter speaks for itself , and he is an authority on matters Masonic .

His view may or may not be a correct one , because we are aware that it is against Nonconformists that the charge is made of endeavouring to abolish religion from the schools . Now , if Father Wyndham is right , it is to the Tory party of the country that we must really charge this disgraceful plot , for it is

thoroughly well known that Nonconformists have very little to do with Masonry , while , on the other hand , the clergy of the Church of England and the Tory party generally are largely identified with Masonry . We have often pointed this out , and asked whether or not it is wise for Catholics to join hands with the Tory-Orange-Masonic party in the furtherance of its ends .

Father Wyndham gives very excellent reasons why we should not do so , and it would be interesting to see how far his view is accepted by others . If it is made quite clear that in this matter of education far more is to be feared from Conservative Masonic influences than from Nonconformity , we shall then be in

a better position to judge of what our real duty is . Father Wyndham ' s letter makes it incumbent upon every Catholic to fully consider the position , and then to act according to his conscientious convictions . After all , nobody will deny for a moment that the various Nonconformist bodies hold much more

clearly the chief points of Christian doctrine than do the adherents of Masonry , who are neither more nor less than " Naturalists" in religion . Gradually and surely we are getting a little more light upon many of these controverted questions . The letter referred to is as follows :

FEEEMASON , BUT NO TEAITOE . Sir , —The leading article in the " Tablet , " 9 th October , on " Mr . Diggle ' s Achievement , " speaks of " betrayal of the cause he was elected to serve . " As

Masonry At School Boards.

St . Thomas of Canterbury roplied : " Here I am ; Archbishop , but no traitor ; " so I can imagine Mr . Diggle responding : " Freemason , but no traitor . " Mr . Diggle and twelve ( at least ) other members of the London School Board are Brethren of the London School Board Lodge , No . 2611 ,

" consecrated " in July 1896 . The Masonic Brotherhood admits men of any and every religioD , and itself professes the " universal religion—the religion of nature . " This religion of the Lodges recognises no dogma , and permits nothing that is distinctive of any particular creed . What we have come to call Board School religion is in perfect harmony with the Masonic religion .

The Masonic members of the London School Board , in approving of this Board School religion , are quite consistent with their own principles ; and , therefore , in thus acting they may claim to be no traitors , but good and true Masons , who promote in the Board Schools that religion which they profess in the London School Board Lodge . The French and Italian Masons have met , during the past month of September , in formal assembly in Paris and Milan respectively . The Italian

Masons passed a resolution that elementary education should be imparted absolutely free from any religious idea . The action of the French Masons has been similar . The fundamental principles of Masonry are the sameall the world over , and their chief exponents are English and English-speaking writers ( see my Anti-Masonic Catechism—Washbourne , Id ) . Policy and practice may vary according to circumstances ; but the cautious policy of the English Masons tend with sure steps towards the same ultimate object as the more definite and explicit action of their French and Italian Brethren .

No roligious dogmas ; nothing essentially Christian , for that would be " sectarian ; " only the recognition of the " Great Architect of the Universe , " from whose worship is eliminated all idea of there being Three Persons in One God . Hence , no Incarnation , no Redemption , no Sanctification ; in fine , no Christianity . School Board Lodge religion is true to its Masonic origin in being Ohristless , un-Christia" , and , finally , anti-Christian .

Let the people of England understand that they cannot expect that the Masons on the London School Board should contradict their own principles by encouraging distinctive Christian education . We Catholics have solved the religious difficulty for ourselves ( and for others also , as regards the Catholic Faith ) by refusing to have any but our own Catholic Schools . The religious difficulty in the Board Schools is perhaps to be solved by each denomination having Schools or portions of Schools allotted to it , or by the children of each denomination receiving such religious teaching as shall be sanctioned by that denomination .

Lastly , if things are as I have described them , let Christian parents take warning . Let them not expect a Christian education to be spontaneously offered to their children . But let them summon up resolution and courage , and cry out with their loudest voice : " Christianity for the Christians . "

I am , & c , ( REV . ) F BANCIS M . WYNDHAM . St . Mary of the Angels , Bayswater , London , W .

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