Free (And Easy) Masons.

In wearing dusters on the head and boots round the neck ; and did he not nearly break his neck while out riding within a week afterwards ? Shrewish wives and delusive tips are the least the male sinners have to expect : stingy husbands and cross babies the lig htest punishment the lady offenders can look for as the results of disobeying the holy injunctions of His Eminence of Dublin .

Seriously , however , not only all good Protestants , but very many Roman Catholics—for the influence of " the man in black " is decreasing even in Irelandwill rejoice that an insolent attempt on the part of the ultramontane clergy to dictate and control the form which Irish loyalty should assume in welcoming the

son of our Queen has been defeated . The success of the ball in Dublin is a perfect confutation of the theory which seeks to bracket Freemasonry with Fenianism . The one is an association for the purpose of overthrowing law , of disorganising society , and reproducing orig inal chaotic anarchy ; the other a society which ,

formed to illustrate the angelic proclamation , " Glory to God in the hig hest ; on earth peace and goodwill towards men , " places in the foreground of its tenets the duties of allegiance to the sovereign , and obedience to the law . AVhatever Freemasonry may be on tho continent , this is its character in these islands . Here

it is emphaticall y non-political and non-sectarian . Cardinal Cullen ' s denunciation of the Fraternity , which has recently had the distinction to enrol among its members " The Prince of all the land , " on the occasion of its assembling to offer a loyal and hospitable reception to his royal brother , was tactically a

mistakeit evinced that incurable propensity on the part of the Roman Catholic hierarchy to behold the affairs of the world at large exclusively through the distorting media of Italian lenses which is fast destroying all Papal claims to Catholicity ; and wc are much mistaken if English and Irish Romanists do not

themselves smart under the effects of this artificiallyproduced obliquity of vision in their pastors . The Ultramontane clergy of Ireland have been accused of toying with treason—of secretly sympathising with Fenianism . AVe will not reiterate the imputation , but let them reflect that it will not be without colour of

probability so long as they continue to denounce a system which teaches , in the words with which we conclude , a lesson of loyalty , not superfluous surely in our unhappy sister island . Every one of these denounced brethren has obliged himself " to be exemplary in the discharge of his civil duties by never proposing ,

or at all countenancing , any act that may have a tendency to subvert the peace and good order of society , by paying due obedience to the laws of any state which may for the time being become the place of his residence , or afford him its protection : and ,

above all , by never losing sight of the allegiance duo to the sovereign of his native land ; ever remembering that nature has implanted in his breast a sacred and indissoluble attachment towards that country whence he derived his birth and infant nurture . " —The Blue Budget .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

As a matter of reference for our readers wc furnish thc following information relative to the Election of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , which took place on the 12 th ult . Tho following were the successful candidates : —

Name . Votes . Name . Votes . Lane , F . Dalrymple .. 1501 Dowsing , J . Edward ... 1017 Lane , John 1422 Walkington , A . J 995 Sweet , Edw . G . Leigh 1370 Marjason , Josiah 951

Gilkes , !" . Lawson ... 1212 llrufbrd , Wm . Alex .... 872 Smith , Lewis 1183 Harrison , E . M 804 Mace , Win . Francis ... 1179 Cluippell , 0 . \ V 8 ( 50 Shaw , Henry Giles ... 1151 Sherry , Maurice 833 Ilennis , Charles 1124

Ihe numbers placed against the names of tlie following unsuccessful candidates will be carried to their credit at the election in October next : — - Name . Votes . Name . Votes . Coltingwood , John ... 716 ' Wright , W . G . C 71 Hush , Henry Cling . ... 089 Nicholas T . Ferdinand . 01

1-abian , Win . Grant ... 001 Coombs , Geo . Albion ... 52 Whiteley , Alfred 1 ! .... Ml Chase , Edward Arthur 51 Cottroll , John T 60 : 1 Edwards , Win . Albert ... 44 Anicry , Fred . Taylor .. 379 Law * , George 31 Eade , " Henry Chas . .. 372 Wilkinson , Geo . F . W . 22 Iti ^ ilun . Henry T JI 43 Fox , Henry Linzee 18

HiiskiiiH , Win . Albion 318 Campbcli , Frank G . ... 17 White , Win . Herbert . 282 Ellis , George 17 Axon , James Joseph ... 214 Hone , Thomas Robert ... 8 Hustler , Arthur Ernest 212 Sinclair , Joseph II 8 XV Is , Frank 207 M'Oowcll , Win - Hrytiut Robert 205 I ' arsons , Georgo 4

Wills , Thomas Wm .... 198 Lowry , Herbert 1 I . ndd , Frederick Edwin 113 Harvey , Frank 1 Spicer , Arthur E Ill Kitchen , John Henry ... 0 Travcrs , John II . II .... 107 Kitchen , James George 0 Tate . Wm . Frederick ... 96 Dcnnison , Alfred Martin 0 Walsha , Herbert 88

Papers On Masonry.

PAPERS ON MASONRY .

BY A LEWIS . VI . —MASONRY AND HISTORY . " That which is far off , and exceeding deep , who can find it out ?"—Ecclesiastes vii . 24 .

Diverse indeed have been the theories broached by men of intellect concerning the historical nature of Freemasonry . Some have referred its origin to ages of which the most acute and appreciative mind fails to

form any adequate idea . Others have assumed an orig in within reasonable historical limits . AVhich is the true view ? Witli the inquiring Indian of Texas , who accepts all things as he finds them , we may say Quien sabe ? " Who knows ?" Perhaps , however , the answer is moro readily to hand

than is suspected . Captain Cuttle s oracular friend , to whose judgment iu all difficult cases he was accustomed to defer , used to say , " The application of the obscrwation lays in the bearings of it . " The individual notion of the present writer is , that in all ages of which wc have any historical knowledge we find

thc human mind naturally predisposed to a leaning towards some system of symbolism ; a desire for mysticism prevailing amongst men , as commonly as a desire for eating and drinking . All literature , all art , all poesy , veils within itself the nexus between the scrutable and the inscrutable , the finite aud thc

infinite . Taking this view , the hi g hest antiquity of Freemasonry is reconcileable with its most modern reconstruction . Elcusis is not , therefore , so remote , nor is the Temple of King Solomon less a reality , when regarded through the light of symbolism . The father

of Greek , perhaps of universal history , Herodotus , passes over the Jewish polity in silence , but , in a higher and holier sense , that polity existed . Yet it is p lain from documents commanding our respect as evidence , that the origin of speculative or philosophical Masonry has a definite date attachable to it . England ,

the cradle of much that is good , but unfortunately also of much that is evil , gave Freemasonry , as now understood , coherency and form . . The tendency to symbolise the solemn events of life and death—the application of pre-existent instruments of architecture —are no novelties . In the Roman buildiiur

communities thc symbols existed on the tombs ; but those writers , in my opinion , err who would claim for speculative Masonry an origin more remote than a period extending back to the age of Sir Christopcr AVren . It is a question fairly to be encountered , and courteously to be investigated . Let it be admitted that

the Bible , as delivered to us in these days , contains the princi ples , practice , and , as it is argued by many , even the literal ritual of Freemasonry—it is at the same time self-evident that that system may have originated at a period very much closer to our modern times than is supposed . AVhen it is remembered that

Christendom was for many centuries in possession only of incomplete and incorrect versions of the Scripturesincorrect in the grossest manner even now—it is easy to undertand that the application of those scriptures to Freemasonry must have been a literal impossibility on thc part of men who could neither read nor write .

I hero was a relative truth m the beautiful fictions of Hellenic and Roman mythology , but no one in their senses , either during their prevalence or since their decadence , claims for the heroes of Hesiod and Ovid absolute actuality of existence . So with the mythology—to express it by one word—of Freemasonry .

It is relatively true , but absolutely a systematized fiction founded upon historic verity , of which very dim shadows are extant for men of modern times . One Order connected with Masonry existing at the present time—the Red Cross of Constantine—is avowedly founded upon a vision , and unless it is proposed to

affirm that the age of miracles is not past , a symbolical , and not an actual , truth must be allowed for similar ceremonies and presumed events . The Temple , of which Christ is represented as speaking , was " not made with hands , " but is the human body , with its concomitant outbirth , the mind and soul—the

enduring immortal essence . AVell says the learned and philosophic Krausc : — " When we find in any nation or age social elforts resembling in aim and organisation those of thc Freemasons , we are by no means justified in seeing any closer connection in them than such as human nature everywhere and iu all ages

is known to have in common—which characteristics form the basis of all social intercourse—unless wo are thoroughly convinced , by most reliable historical facts , that a real historical connection exists . And even such historical connections are very various iu kind ; for it is one thing when mi institution flourishes through the being constantly renewed by the

addition of new members , its sphere of action and regulations undergoing at the same time repeated changes ; and another thing when we learn from history that from an already established institution a perfectly new one takes its rise ; and again somewhat different is it when a newly-formed institution , just rising into existence , takes for its model the views ,

sphere of action , and social forms of one which has become entirely extinct . The difference between these , three kinds of historical connection must be everywhere most clearly defined in such cases , likewise , where they all three appear . In thc history of Freemasonry the third kind is most e-pecially important , because it is most generally to bo found , und to those

Papers On Masonry.

unversed in the subject it seems as if tbere actually existed historical connection of thc first arid second kind . Take , for example , the strong resemblance , most distinctly marked , between the constitutions and symbols in Freemasonry , anrt

the sect called the Essenes . AVhoever should give this as a reason for asserting that the Essenes had by successive transitions been incorporated into the Society of Freemasons , would greatly err by coming too hastily to a conclusion . " No ! Freemasons must be content to date the full

development of their benevolent and universal system from the latter part of the seventeenth , or the beginning of the eig hteenth century ; and in thus throwing away the mantle of age a very promising career of healthful activity may be predicated . Surely it is a matter of experience that all institutions of a purely

human character have their youth , prime , manhood , and decay ; and though the great principle of Charity —with its three fundamental and organic laws of Fraternal Affection , Relief , and Truth—is destined to flourish perpetually , a misty and mythical past is hardly to be desired for an institution as noble as it is

vigorous . Two other points , and I have done with this branch of my theme . It may appear strange to affirm that Freemasonry is a political institution , seeing that politics form no portion of its functions , but surely every institution is political per se which busies itself with

the education of youth and the moral regulation of the conduct of citizens ? It is political in the highest sense ; forming an aid to the executive Government , adding stability and preserving order . In a similar sense it is eminently religious ; it reveres as one of its

great lights the volume in which all Christendom places a reverence of the highest kind , and though men of all faiths can join thc Brotherhood , it forms a necessary portion of the furniture of a lodge . In the purest sense of the Religion of the Heart , Freemasonry is a religious institution . CRYPTONYMUS .

P . S . —Since forwarding the foregoing paper , I have read the remarks made bv the Bro ., signing himself " Leo , " in the number of tlie 24 th April . "Will '' Leo " kindly understand that a courteous notice will be taken of his observations in No . VIII . of these papers ? No . VII . I had proposed to apply symbolically , and therefore would prefer to maintain the prescribed

order for sufficient reasons . At the same time , these papers are of a tentative nature , so that criticism of them is both fair and desirable . But my view as to ¦• speculative" Masonry , in contradistinction to pure " operative , " " Leo " will find confirmed by my researches , although wc must not forget the power of symbolism . C .

RED Citoss OF ROME AND CONSTANTINE . —The following reply to the claim of Antonio Lascaris Comneno , to which we gave publicity in No . 4 , appears in the Court Journal and in the Court Circular of the 17 th April : — . "To THE EoiTon . —Sir , —My attention has been called

to a paragraph in your influential journal of the 27 th ult ., which lias also been extensively circulated in other European publications , stating that the Roman Senate has lately inscribed in the Golden Hook of the Patriciate , the name of ' Antonio Lascar ' s Comneno , ' as the solo descendant in a direct line of the Eastern Emperors , and perpetual Grand

Master , by right of hereditary transmission , of the Supreme Constanthiiaii Order of Knights of St . George . As the representative of my house in this country , I hasten at once to protest against such inscription by the Roman Senate , and against the claim set up by 'Antonio Lascaris Comneno . ' My family are the senior direct lineal descendants of the Byzantine

Emperor * , and the sole legal inheritors of the titles and honors belonging to that dignity , now improperly assumed by 'Antonio Lascaris Comneno' , and steps will forthwith be taken to establish our indisputable rights and privileges . Accept , Sir , tho assurances of my highest consideration . —RHODOCANAKIS . "Clarendon Hotel , New Hond-strcct , April 15 th . "

A Grand Masonic full-dress entertainment took place at the Theatre Royal , Cork , on Friday evening , April 23 rd , in aid of the funds being raised for the erection of a Masonic Hall at Skibbereen , under tho distinguished patronage of the Provincial Grand Lodgo of Minister , the Masters , Wardens , and

Brethren of the several Lodges ofthe Province , and the officers of the garrison , who kindly granted the valuable assistance of ( heir splendid band . Brilliant success attended the performance—a thing not to be at all wondered at considering the great array ot attractions announced . The plav chosen for represen

tation was Lord Lytton'sgrand production "Richelieu , " Mr . durance I Iolt taking the part of the celebrated Cardinal . He was very ably supported by Mr . AVallaco as De Muuprat , and by the entire company . After "Richelieu" had concluded , thc splendid band of ( he loth came on the stage , and under the direction of Mr . Allen , band-master , performed a varied selection

of Irish quick steps and airs in a manner which was a convincing proof of their having received most skilful and careful training . Madlle . Tarelli next can **• , and sang in her very best style , and with immense effect , sonic of her choicest selections . The performance wound up with a miscellaneous concert by amateur brethren of tho Craft .