"A Body Without A Head.''

accepting those Avords in their literal sense , we can only assure our French brethren that their example is not likely to be followed by other Grand Lodges , and that

the result of their violation of our most cherished landmarks will be excommunication from the Craft Universal . French Masons are already tabooed by half a

million brethren in America , in consequence of the foolish invasion of state jurisdiction in Louisiana , Avhich Avas countenanced by the Grand Orient in spite of

the indignant protests of the Masonic -overning bodies in the United States . We Avould therefore address a solemn warning to the authorities of the Craft in

France , not to persevere in the mistaken and suicidal policy which of late has seemed to dictate their ? . cts . We implore them to retrace their steps , and to seek again the

legitimate paths of Freemasonry , from which" they have so sadly strayed . The objects of the Masonic Institution are not

to be achieved by descending into the arena of political strife , and as the reputation of our Order is at stake , every true Mason will Avatch Avith anxiety the future course of the Brotherhood in France .

WE have much pleasure in culling from the Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of New Hampshire , U . S ., the following appreciative notice of one of our valued

contributors . We find that the article in question Avas Avritten to Comp . Dr . Mason , for the Grand Chapter of the District of Columbia ,

Comp . Hughan being the only one who responded to the fraternal communication and queries of Dr . Mason , out of the many in Great Britain who Avere invited to inform

American brethren of British Freemasonry . "We cannot pass through this revieAv without calling attention to thc very valuable paper prepared , at Comp . Mason ' s

request , by Comp . William James Hughan , of Truro , England , upon capitular Freemasonry in England , Scotland and Ireland . Comp . Hughan is one of the most

accomplished Masonic Avriters in the world , and has contributed much to the education and enlightenment of thc Fraternity , and he has conferred a great favour upon the Order by the preparation of this article . "

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

—?—One of the Constitutions directs that no business save that stated on the ^ circular can be transacted at a lodge of emergency . Is it not therefore inconsistent for the W . M . to make the usual enquiries before closing ? [ No Avcll-informcd Master Avould do so . — ED . F . ]

Is there not a similar inconsistency when a regular meeting ceases refreshment and returns to labour ? [ We do not see the inconsistency in this instance . —El ) . F . ] CHESHIRE .

AVIIAT I ' REEMASOXKY IS . Freemasonry' is the foundation of a speculative science upon an operative art , and thc symbolical use and explanation of the terms of that art for purposes of religious or moral teaching . CHALMERS I . PATON .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . ( To thc Editor of the Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As a member of a

flourishing colonial chapter , I have had many opportunities of witnessing the difficulty of obtaining companions properly qualified for a Principal chair , and the more or less objectionable practice ofa re-election or a shuffle , of

existing Principals has not unfrequently been necessitated . Thc Avarmest thanks of all colonial chapters are consequently due to E . Comp . the Rev . John Huyshe for the motion he brought forward at the last Quarterly

Convocation of Grand Chapter , and which , from your report of the proceedings , appears to have been carried . So important is this change , that I would beg to suggest that an official notice of

the alteration made in the Sth article of the R . A . Regulations be communicated with as little delay as possible to all colonial chapters . I am , dear Sir and Brother ,

Yours fraternally , J . BALFOUR COCKBURN , Z . Calpean R . A . Chapter . Gibraltar , 17 November , 1871 .

( To the Editor of The' Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Six months haA-e now elapsed since the representatives of various jurisdictions interested in the Mark Degree assembled in conference , for the purpose of

endeavouring to arrange terms and conditions by which the Degree should be placed on a thoroughly sound and satisfactory footing in this country . From the published proceedings of that " conference , " it will have been seen how

exhaustive Avas the discussion , so far as regards the Degree itself , and what grounds we had for confidence in a speedy solution of the differences and difficulties in the Avay of a union between conflicting authorities .

To our surprise , no official communication of the result of the deliberations of the Grand Lodge , or Grand Chapter , of Scotland has been received , and all the information we have is from the report of a meeting of the Prov Grand Mark

Lodge of Lancashire ( S . C . ) The Prov . Grand Master is there represented as saying : " It has been agreed on by the Supreme Chapter of Scotland to again ask the Grand Chapter of England to assume the management o ( those degrees

which , in every other country , are worked under a Royal Arch chapter , or , failing this , to recognise some Grand Body in England , to whom the superintendence of those degrees shall be committed . This message to the Grand Chapter of

England will be delivered at the meeting in November , and should that body decline to adopt either of the courses I have mentioned , the Supreme Chapters of Scotland and Ireland will then consider the propriety of according

recognition to a body in England to govern those degrees . I do not think , however , that this body will be the present body styling itself the ' Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , ' but a new body , established on a footing more firmlv based ,- and

formed by a union of all the contending jurisdictions , and which will be-in authority over all those degrees called -side degrees , such as the Royal Ark Mariner , Knight of the Sword , Knight of the East and West , & c . Some of

these , according to ' . the system obtaining mall other countries , are only conferred on R . A . Masons , but the present G . M . M . M . wishes to Avork them under the Grand Mark Lodge , and to confer them on Mark Masters—thus , in effect ,

putting the greater in * subjection to tlie less . 'J Ins isone objection to recognition of the G . L . ofM . M ., and the Supreme Chapter deprecates acknowledging any new Grand Body in England , if it can be possibly avoided , for two reasons : —

ist . Because . such body exists in no other country . 2 nd . Because , were such a body to be recognised , it would doubtless become . so numerically strong as to even affect prejudicially the Grand Lodge and Ciiapter of England . ' ' To this statement of the present views and

Original Correspondence.

feelings of the Grand Chapter of Scotlandcoming from such a source , and in the absence of direct official information—I presume that a certain amount of authority must be attached . In the first place , however , as a matter of fact ,

no mention of any communication having been received either from the Grand Chapter of Scotland , or that of Ireland , was made at the Quarterly-Convocation of the Grand Chapter of England , on the ist inst .

2 nd . Should a communication of the nature alluded to in the statement as given above be received by the Grand Chapter of England , there cannot be a doubt that the reply would be a direct negative .

3 rd . The alternative is then confessed to be " to recognise some Grand Body in England , to whom the superintendence of ( certain ) degrees shall be committed , " accompanied Avith the expression of opinion that such body will " not

be the present body styling itself the Grand ¦ Lodge of Mark Masters , but a new body , established on a footing more firmly based , and : formed by a union of all the contending jurisdictions , & c . "

Granting that the Grand Chapter of Scotland is prepared to recognise a Supreme Body in England as head of the Mark and other degrees , howwill itattemptto reconcile its "deprecation to acknowledge ANV new Grand Masonic Body in

England if it can possibly be avoided , " Avith its readiness to acknoAvledge a new body fashioned after its OA \ m Avishes . Such creation , by recognition , ofa «

existing body ; and to ignore a de facto , for the purpose of setting up a new organisation , is not strong evidence in favour of the consistency of the Grand Chapter of Scotland , in its expressed desire not to encourage the multiplication oi

Masonic jurisdictions . The same argument will reply to the oftrepeated objection of the Grand Chapter of Scotland to this Grand Lodge—that it is an " anomaly "—no similar supreme governing body

being to be found elsewhere , while it does not hesitate to establish what is certainly not to be found elsewhere than in England—a Provincial ¦ Grand Mark Lodge , as we have under the Grand Chapter of Scotland , professing to rule the Mark

Degree in Lancashire and adjoining districts . Again , how a " more firmly-established " body than this Grand Lodge , with its 141 lodges , can be found or formed , I am at a loss to imagine . But this question has long since been settled to the

satisfaction of every dispassionate and unprejudiced inquirer , as well as to that of the other " non-recognised " supreme jurisdictions in this country , and I must decline to occupy your space by any further attempt to confirm confirmation .

The " statement" continues , that the contemplated new body is " to be formed by a union of all the contending jurisdictions . " Although this Grand Lodge has made great sacrifices , and used large efforts , to avoid contention , I may

presume that it would be included in this category . On this head , I would simply ask if it be seriously imagined for a moment that this Grand Lodge could consent to absorption , with 141 lodges on its roll , and with 5 , 560 members on its register ?

As regards the other degrees to Avhich reference is made , and the objection urged against the G . M . M . M ., as " wishing to work them under this Grand Lodge , and to confer them on Mark Master Masons—thus , in effect , putting the

greater in subjection to the less , " all that need be said is , that tlie subject was made a conversational one after tlie formal proceedings of tlie conference had closed , and that the desire expressed by tlie M . W . G . M . M . M . was , that in

the event of union being happily effected , some plan might lie devised , in concert with the authorities of the Grand Ciiapter of Scotland , by which certain degrees conferred in R . A . chapters not under English jurisdiction , might

be conferred on Mark Master Masons , by a body to be hereafter organised , so as to render them fully qualified for the R . A . degrees in foreign or colonial chapters , which at present they were , not . Details were left for further consideration