Masonic And General Tidings.

¦ ducated at a college m Rome , and was admitted deacon fl nd ordained a priest at the usual age . In 184 . 3 . when only 33 years of age , he -was made Bishop of Damieta , and afterwards sent as Papal Nuncio to Brussels . Three or four years later he was translated to the archiepiscopal

see of Perugia , which he has held to the present time . He was appointed " Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church " in September last . His baptismal name he received from his parents after St . Joachim , who is traditionally said to have been the father of the Blessed Virgin . In the "

Catholic Directory " for the present year his name stands eleventh upon the list o _ " Cardinals , " and fifth upon that of " Cardinal Priests . " The Cardinal Bishops are : —1 , San Filipo e Sorso ; 2 , DiPietro ; 3 , Sacchoni ; 4 , Guidi ; 5 , Bilio ; and 6 , Morichini . The Cardinal Priests senior

toPecciare : —1 , Von Schwartzenberg ; 2 , Asquint ; .. , Di Traetto ; and 4 , Donnet , Archbishop of Bordeaux . Two out of the ten cardinals above Pecci in the list of the members of the Sacred College are his juniors in point of years . The new Pope , we may observe , has

four brothers , the eldest of whom is 86 . The second has four sons , two of them volunteers in the Italian army- The third brother of the Pope is a Divinity Professor , formerly a Jesuit , but now he has quitted the Order . The Pope has also two married

sisters . He seems to have been an able ruler , a zealous archbishop , and a good man , but not favoured by Antonelli , or the Ultramontane party . After the death of Antonelli , Pius IX . recalled him from Perugia and made him " Camerlengo , " and he is now Leo XIII . The Italians seem to have hailed his election with

much satisfaction , and everything seems to point to a " regime " of religious earnestness and common sense . It is said that the Ultramontane party are displeased , and wished for the election of Cardinal Bilio—not a bad name , by the way , for an unheahhy-minded Ultramontane—but we

congratulate the Roman Catholic Church on their selecting the " right man " clearly for the time and for religion . We have always deplored the unwise and abnormal struggle going on between the Roman Catholic Church and civil authority and legislative enactments . It would

seem , that Leo XIII . is wishful to make the situation calmer , _ nd easier , and happier in every way . Two little facts are noted by the Times which seem to indicate a salutary change for the better . ' The one is—that "The Face del / a Ferita , a Clerical organ , in an article

evidently inspired , highly eulogises the Italian Government and nation for the faithful observance of the laws of Papal guarantees , insuring the perfect security and independence of the Conclave . The nation and Government , it says , have worthily acquitted themselves of their duties

to the Church . In another article , even more significant , the same journal moderates and reproves the excessive zeal of the Ultramontane Part j * . Such utterances from the Voce reveal an altogether new spirit prevailing in the Vatican . The other is , that a programme ofthe new Pope ,

bearing the date of the 10 th inst ., just three days after the death of Pius IX ., and published at Rome , is addressed to the people of Perugia as a Lent Pastoral , and entitled " La Chiesa , e la Civiltii . " It isa perfectly Christian enumeration

of the titles the Church is entitled to put forward as a promoter of civilization , and the founder of a mora ) society based on the sacredness of the family , on the meekness , purity , and self-denial of the Christian character , and on the authority exercised by a Church modelled on the faultless

type of her Divine founder . There is nothing aggressive in this homily , no allusion to the Temporal Power as a necessary basis of Papal independence , nothing whatever to which an English or German divine of the Reformed Churches could not freely subscribe . " All this is very hopeful . There is one good story of the Pope

as delegate which we must give to our readers , on the authority , as before , of the Times . He was twenty-seven years old when he was sent a delegate , or , as we should now say , subprefect , to Benevento , a Papal enclave on the frontier within the Neapolitan territory , at that time infested by a brigandage exhibiting all the feature s it now has in the provinces of Palermo

Masonic And General Tidings.

and Girgenti , flourishing under the patronage of the petty nobles and landowners of the district . The Cardinals Pacca , Pedicini , and De Sicnone , who belonged to Benevento , appealed to the Pope , condemning the too severe and resolute measures by which the delegate was providing

for the public security . Pecci fought the brigands tooth and nail , pursued them in their mountain fastnesses , and stormed them regardless of the complaints of the landowners , who stood upon the inviolability of their domiciles and domains . One of these , the most powerful , called upon the

delegate , telling him he was going to Rome , where he had interest enough to remove him from his oflice . " It is very well , my lord marquis , " quoth Pecci , " but meanwhile I will shut you up in gaol for three months , where I will keep you on bread and water with your friends

the brigands . " And he was as good as his word , and during the nobleman ' s imprisonment his castle was taken by storm , the brigands were all killed or taken , and the people blessed the brave delegate . We are not among those Freemasons , happily few , who think it a proof of good

Masonry , to be always attacking the Church of Rome qua the Church of Rome . As Freemasons we have nothing to do with the Church of Rome , and if left alone , would treat it , as a great religious body , with proper respect on all occasions . We , therefore , trust that under Leo XIII . the

ceaseless and childish ,: anathemata against Freemasons and Freemasonry may cease , and that Freemasonry may do its work , and the Church of Rome do its work , without perpetual contests and angry censures . Hopeful for the future , we are glad to note the election of Joachim Pecci , Leo XIII .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

We congratulate Bro . Terry on the result of the proceedings of the last meeting of the Board of Stewards , of which we give a report elsewhere . Bro . Terry , as it will be seen , reports tbat - £ 679 has been received , and £ 671 expended , and the small balance of £ 8 was voted with hearty unanimity to Bro . Terry to dispose of

as he thought best . This seems to us to be the fitting sequel of a successful Stewardship . We only regret that the balance was not larger , and we beg to offer Bro . Terry our hearty good wishes , and we hope for an equally successful meeting on the next occasion . We are happy to ennounce that £ 11 , 300 , in round numbers , has been received for the festival .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do nut hold ourselves responsible lor , or even AS approving _ ft _ -opinions expressed by ourcorrcspondents , but we wish , in 3 spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . 1

THE PRESENT POSITION ! OK THE FREMCH GRAND ORIENT . Dear Bro . Kenning , — Having had my attention called to Bro . The-venot ' s letter in your last , ane ! his remarks on my humble words in the Freemason , I think it well to senel you a few lines to-day , tnough I shall be chary both of your space—very

valuable just now—and of your readers' patience . Though I note that Bro . The-venot terms my view of the present position of the French Grand Orient " fantastic , " he carefully avoid .- pointing out how it is so . I am afraid that my real offence in good Bro . The ' ve-iot's eyes is that 1 have spoken the truth . It vvas not likely , a priori , that thc Grand Secretary of the Grand Orient woulel annove

of my letter , and I am only very sorry to find that so estimable and educated a Freemason as Bro . The ' venot is , does not vet see the position in which the Grand Orient of France is placed , " envers " Cosmopolitan Freemasonry , and where French Freemasonry is drifting to . Bro . The-venot uses some words to which I feel bound to object strongly . He s . ys that all " educated" Masons will

realise the "fantastic" character of ' my words . I do not know who they arc whom _ ro . Th - venottert _ s " educated" Masons , but if Bro . The-venot means that educated men will reject the fantastic assertions of an uneducated person , ( as would seem to be the inference ) , then such a remark is altogether unworthy of Bro . The ' venot as a man or a Mason . But I forbear sayiig more , as I detest personalities and always

avoid them myself . I wish Bro . The ' venot would be correct in his quotations . I have used no worels which he can faiily translate " sanglante injure , " nor have I asked the question hc gives as a distinct quotation of my words . The only passage approaching to it is as follows , which your readers will see is quite a different matter : ' * I am now simply arguing as a French Freemason on thc " el ' cta" of the Grand Orient

Original Correspondence.

itself , and I leave out of the case ' pour le moment' the heavy blow inflicted b y the recent decision of the French Grand Orient on French Freemasonry . " Where Bro . The ' venot finds many of the words he alleges I used in my letter in the Freemason I know not . Though I may be wrong , I see no ambiguity or absurdity in the words " inflicted by the recent elecision of the French Grand

Onent on French Freemasonry . " Bro . Thevenot ' s argument that the French Grand Orient is a convertible term for French Freemasonry docs not affect the " gist" of my contention , that by its recent decision the French Grand Orient has inflicted a heav y blow on French Freemasonry in the eyes of the Cosmopolitan Order , in that it has undermined its very foundation and placed it in entire isolation ,

with respect to the great majority of the Masonic world . I do not see the use of saying any more to-day , except to observe that , as our old English proverb has it , " hard words butter no parsnip * , " so I , for one , am not to be deterred from expressing my opinion , though Bro . Thevenot may not consider me educated or reasonable , because I

venture to speak openly and manfully , as every loyal and educated English Freemason ought to do . Time will show whether Bro . Thevenot or I be right as to our estimate of the present position of French Freemasonry , anel there 1 leave thc matter as far as I am concerned . I am , dear Bro . Kenning , yours fraternally , MASKEI . YNE .

PROVINCIAL EDUCATION _ . L li . STITUTIONS . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , — Your correspondent " P . M . Line , " assumes to enelorse my views when he advocates the institution of schools that are to receive the orphans of " one , two , or three provinces . " 1 must , however , trespass upon your

good nature to permit me to point out that a very wide difference holtls between his proposal and my suggestion . While a movement that -would satisiy the former partakes of an almost national character , thc latter merely seeks to graft a little branch on to our own provincial tree , that has borne hitherto such abundmt and gootl fruit , and which appears flourishing enough to afford support to

another little cause . Before briefly stating the object in view , and the modus operandi , I must most earnestly repudiate any intention of interfering with the existing charitable agencies . I must also deprecate any allusion to the powers above allueled to in last week ' s letter , if by such term our provincial superiors are meant ; ior the scheme proposed has merely been presented to their notice

in a crude form , anel that so recently as to render it impossible ' or them to have expressed any decided opinion upon its merits . Their offhand support is not expecteel ; their consideration only is now requested , and it must leave events to work out their own course . The present idea emanated at that time when an important discussion was going on as to the best moele of

showing our appreciation of the character anel works of oejr late worthy neighbour , Bro . Dr . Oliver , who was , as the majority of old Masons know , the most prolific of Masonic authors , and a Lincolnshire rector . It was eventually decided to raise a sum of one thousand guineas to secure the constant attendance in the Boys' School of a Lincolnshire boy , who was to be kne . wn as the " Oliver

Memorial Boy . " Th ; amoun ' . is now , or shortly will be , wholly collected , with a surplus to go to the Girls ' School . An amount of £ 200 vvas at that time in hand , and amongst the suggestions as to its appropriation was one to the effect that it should be set apart as a nucleus of a fund to perpetuate the memory of such a worthy Mason

withii- the province where he had so ardently and so lovingly bestowed the result of his learned researches . In every community there are constantly recurring instances of the pe-cs _ . ee of the grim hand of death , and in the natural course of things wc have freemently to call to mind the charitable intentions of our Craft that are so forcibly impressed upon us at our initiatior . No more

appropuate means of practically carrying out this object appareel adapted to the circumstances of thc case than a provision for the orphan children in the province who were not successful in obtaining aelmission to the Schools . We as a province are proud to be able to enjeiy the benefits of those Institutions and anxious to secure them , but it is not possible that our candidate's can be invariably successful .

nor is it well that advantages shall be confined to particular provinc : s , and with that view it was considered within the bounels of practicability to afford immediate assistance to orphans of a somewhat similar nature to that already rendered to widows or indigent brethren by the provinci . 1 benevolent funels , with this exception , that this relief should be permanent and increasing , instead of being casual .

I bus , if a fund were raised sufficient to defray the annual cost of education of orphans at schools near their own homes they would in after life have reason to remember the good works of the brotherhood , whereas at present Masonry is merely a name to many . Several children might in this manner receive benefits who at present experience none , and the same chance of admission to thc

schools would be available as is now open to candidates whose friends are disposed to interest themselves on their behalf . Even if unable through age or insufficient canvassing to secure admission to tine school or the other , they would be recognisetl proteges to the Craft equally with those who have rcceiveel thc superior aelvantages of the great charities , and would be the additional proofs of the

goodness inherent in our principles , A very small annual contribution per member would suffice to provide this education , so smill that I feel convinced thc central charities would sustain no diminution of support , while for the sake of getting one of thc orpl-ians in , the liberality of the brethren would then , as it ever has been , be assuredly relieel uron . So that the intention may be stated to 1 > L- aeon-