Masons And Catholics At The Graveside.

MASONS AND CATHOLICS AT THE GRAVESIDE .

AN unusual incident , and one that in less experienced hands might have led to very undesirable

consequences , occurred a few clays since at Plymouth , when the body of the late Dr . Thomas was laid in its last resting place at the local cemetery . Our deceased

Brother had , it appears , lately become a convert to the Church of Rome , but had given so little public notice of the fact that one of his most intimate friends—one

who had worked with him for a quarter of a century in Freemasonry , and had been with him almost up to the clay of his death—was not aware of the change in his

religion , and even discussed with Bro . Thomas three weeks before his decease arrangements for attendance

at his funeral—which , at that time , it was hoped was an event of the far-off future . But it was willed otherwise , and Bro . Thomas being dead , the officials of the

two Lodges with which he had been associated issued circulars asking his fellow members to attend his funeral . This came to the notice of the church authorities , upon which an intimation was conveyed that there must be no Masonic ceremony , and , as Bro .

J . B . Gover , Secretary of Lodge No . 70 observes , no

" ceremony" being intended , assent was at once given . It was not until the Masonic Brethren had alighted from their carriages at the cemetery that they were

informed that " the Romish ceremony could not be performed if they went to the grave . " It can well be imagined that such an edict caused some annoyance to a body of Masons who were present in all sincerity to

offer a last tribute of respect to a deceased companion , and whose only crime consisted in being members of an association which for some reason or other is under the

ban of the Church of Rome . One can only pity those who are the victims of such narrow-mindedness as was displayed on this occasion , and however much the priest

who officiated may consider he was within his rights in

taking the stand he did , men of the world , who are not biassed by bigoted ideas , will see in his conduct such a display of uncharitableness as any man should be ashamed of , while it is particularly out of place in a

in mister of the gospel , whose business it should be to preach goodwill to all men , and practice it on every possible occasion . It is universally recognised that death , the great leveller of all humanity , puts an end to

all differences of opinion ; and on this basis it frequently happens that men of the most opposite opinions and tastes meet around the grave of a former co-worker or

fierce opponent , anxious to show their appreciation of his merit as a man , rather than pay a tribute to the special characteristics of his life—but the Church whose

Masons And Catholics At The Graveside.

mission it should be to preach charity to all men steps in and says this shall no longer be ; warfare against the living is more desirable than respect for the dead , even on the brink of the grave , and the feelings of friends and

acquaintances are to be outraged because the narrowmindedness of an individual is allowed to hold sway against the common sense ideas of the age . It is such high handed proceedings that has caused men to study

for themselves , and has led to the enlightenment of the present age ; so that one ought not to wholly condemn the principal actors on such occasions , but , as we have said before , we can and do pity them for their inconsistency—they preach love , and practise hate .

In another part of this issue we give a brief account of the funeral , as it appeared in the local papers ; together with copy of a letter addressed to the " Western Morning News" by the priest who officiated at the

cemetery , and Bro . John B . Gover ' s reply thereto ; so that our readers may see for themselves how the matter was regarded on the spot ; for ourselves , we have only

to consider the subject in its general application , and as , happily , such unpleasantness is of very rare occurrence , we need not devote too much time to the present outburst .

We can well believe that the authorities of the Church of Rome would object to any Masonic ceremony

side by side with their own service ; but , as is well known to the Craft , members of the Masonic Order have no desire to parade their " ceremonies " in public , much less force them npon those who are unwilling to

witness or recognise them . In this case it seems that the members of the Craft who attended at the cemetery were forbidden to even stand round the grave , lest by their presence , we presume , they might contaminate the

Catholics who were there . We consider such intolerance most unbecoming , and regard it as calling for general Masonic protest , especially as such a course would in a

measure compensate the Brethren of Plymouth for the insult they received at the instance of the Romish authorities .

Demonstration At St. Helens.

DEMONSTRATION AT ST . HELENS .

rj ^ HE memorial stone of the new schools and mission JL church at Cowley Hill , St . Helens , connected with the Parish Church , was laid with full Masonic honours on Tuesday afternoon , by the Earl of Lathom , G . C . B .,

M . W . Pro Grand Master , and R . W . Provincial Grand Master of the Western Division of Lancashire . The ceremony was made the occasion of an elaborate display of Masonry , and the proceedings were witnessed by

many thousands of persons who , in bright summer weather , gathered around the site . The spot chosen for the erection of the new buildings is a most advantageous one on the slope of Cowley Hill , near the Cowley Middleclass Schools , and the land was purchased from Messrs