Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

. „; . i BIRTH . WILSON . —On the 23 rd ult ., at Great Berkhempstead , the wife of Bro . W . Wilson ( S . W . 504 ) , of a ' son .

MARRIAGE . TAVEBNKK—L EE . —On the 19 th ultimo , at West Hackney Church , by the Rev . Thos . Holly , Captain T . G . Gardiner , son of the late W . F . Tavcrner , Esq ., of Limerick , to Mary Ebsina , daughter of Bro . Nelson Lee , of Shrubland-roa'd , Dalston .

DEATH . SLAUGHTER . —On the 19 th ult .. at Rochdale , Brother John Slaughter , P . M . Lodge of Harmony , No . 20 S , Companion of Unity , and K . T . Albert Encampment , aged 55 years .

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Light.

LIGHT .

WHEN the i ' nc's of Freemasonry desire to aim what they conceive to he a deadly blow at the institution , they aver that it is basi-d upon the sidereal worshi p of the . ancients . The materialism which this charge implies is , however , of so

refined , so aesthetic a nature , that , while we are tempted to smile at such an inane accusation being made in the nineteenth century , wo are unwilling to demolish the theory in its entirety . For , has not Hod Himself , the Eternal

Architect of the Creation , evolved from the wondrous elements of nature the celestial and all pervading essence known as Li g ht t Are not the stars the ministers of His heavenl y will , and the sun a symbol of His supreme glory 1 The

picture of man , untutored man , kneeling before what he considered the mirror of the Divine Presence , is not so humiliating to an enli ghtened mind as the spectacle of our modern idolaters , who sacrifice freedom , principle , ay , even thought

itself , at the shrine of a mortal man like themselves . The letters which bound the sunworshipper of old were impalpable compared to the weig ht , of superstition ' s chains . The p ilgrim from afar can catch a glimpse of the

grandeur of the temple which is denied to tho blind man who grovels at its porch . But materialism is no part of tho creed , or , we should sav , the philosophy , of Freemasonry .

The symbols of the Order are figurative of moral truths , and the light to which we aspire is the radiance of Him who is the Light of the Universe .

Light.

The morning star—to which . ' we look for guidance arid peace—is the hope of the whole human race ; arid the illumination with which we seek to encdiiipass the earth is derived frorn wisdom , sanctified b y relig ion , arid sustained by truth .

Li g ht , therefore , as an essential attribute of Divinity , is viewed with reverence and veneration by every thoughtful Mason . But , it is urged by our opponents , this devotion of the brethren to light , or knowledge , is

an abstraction—it has no real influence over their lives and actions— -it is but a parody of the ancient Oriental watching the rising of the sun and rejoicing in his faintest rays . Verily , the tree shall be judged b y its fruits , and , although

our worth y ultramontane and sacerdotal friends ignore all virtues but their own , the world at large—the vox populi—can bear witness that the deeds of Freemasonry are consonant with its hig h designs , and coincident with its exalted

principles . In the path of the weary , the forlorn , the forsaken , Freemasonry scatters more than grains of corn ; her hand is not merely the hand of decent charity—it holds on hi g h the lanip of hope , and

sheds upon all the radiance of fraternal love . Like . the Indian tree , its branches , perpetually seeking mother earth , create a shade and a rest for the way-worn pilgrims of life . Knowledge is the li g ht of the mind , and , therefore ,

Freemasons are the friends of every movement which has for its object the extension of education or the advancement of learning . The sciences are

paths leading to the hill of intellectual power , where truth and wisdom sit enthroned , and man is the traveller who climbs , by slow degrees , the difficult though not inaccessible steep .

To aid his progress is the mission of Freemasonry , and so we find that the instruction of youth is not forgotten by the Craft . The existence of two noble institutions for children

of both sexes is a proof that the importance of education is appreciated b ) ' the Freemasons of England , and it is also well known that Ireland is not far behind when her resources « re considered .

Our brethren in France have , for . sevt-ral years , devoted themselves to the same sublime duty ; and we may say that in many other parts ofthe world similar efforts are being made to introduce lig ht and knowledge where darkness and igiiorance prevail .

In this sense , then , we acknowledge that Freemasons are lovers of light , and rejoice in the splendour of doing good to their fellowcreatures .

Funeral Of The Right Worshipful Bro. Jennings, P.G.W.

FUNERAL OF THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL BRO . JENNINGS , P . G . W .

On Wednesday the remains of the much respected aud lamented R . W . Bro . R . W . Jennings , P . G . W . and P . G . D . C ., were conveyed to the ir last resting place inNorwood Cemetery . The cortege consisting of a hearse and four ,

with three mourning coaches—conveying the eldest sou and a grandson of the deceased , and other of his relatives and most intimate friends , including tbeV . W . Bro . Albert Woods , G . D . O . — left the famil y residence , at Bickley , at Twelve

o ' clock , and on arriving at the Cemetery the Vicar of Bickley , in an impressive manner performed the funeral service . At the grave we observed man } ' friends who attended to mark their high esteem for departed worth .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ Tlie Editor is not responsible . for the opinions'expressed'by Correspondents . ^] ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS .

{ To tlie Edtior of the Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTiiEu . ^ Referring to a letter addressed by me to you , arid inserted in your number of the 29 th of May , and having received a complaint from Mr . Gbsderi that he felt himself injured by such

letter , I beg to say that I : never had any ill-feeling against Mr . Gosden , and had no intention of doing him any injury whatever ; indeed , I only considered him as manager of the Freemasons' Tavern Company Limited , and' simply doing his best to make money for

Ins employers . I however beg to say , that other tavern keepers and managers of companies , have had similar strictures made on their conduct , and have answered such charges in the most practical manner , either by a denial of the truth , or explanation ; the

I'reemasons Tavern Company might have adopted this course , if they thought proper . I have no doubt your paper will be open to any explanation , ' on their part . 1 am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally ,

II . W . IIEMSWORTH , W . M . and Steward , Oak Lodge , No . 190 . June 29 , 1869 .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

—«—Bro . Yorker ' s History of tlie Jerusalem Encampment , Manchester . —In common with many Masonic students , I am delighted to hear that the Province of Lancashire ( K . T . ) , has decided to print their transactions , together with the valuable history of the above Encampment , by Sir Kt . John Yarker . For a little extra expense , a copy of the

work might be sent toevery Encampmeut in England , and thus its merits would become generally known , and its information made of service for Knights Templar throughout the country . Sir Kt . R Woofs excellent work on the Knights Templar , war , I believe , issued thus , and the boon was duly and thankfully received by the members . —W . J . IIUdHAN .

Bro . the . Chevalier Ramsay , and the Chapter of Arras . —Is Tiro Ei Heboid ' s authority respecting the Constitution of the Arras Chapter , April 15 th 1707 , M . Michael ) I ask tlie question because a non-Masonic correspondent , some year * ago , saw the Cln ; valier , whilst in London , personally

respecting this Charter , and I understood then that it was given to confirm their privileges as a Metropolitan Chapter . As Prince Charles was only constituted Chief of the High Grades in Britain in I 7 Go , he could not have confirmed their privilege ! earlier , and the Chapter was possibly constituted at a time prior to the custom of granting charters ,

Tho Rose Croix jewel is identical with the standard used by James III ., in 17 If > , when his General , Lord Mar , was ( i . M . of the Templars , as successor to Viscount Dundee , who wore the Grand Cross when he fell at Killiecrankie , in IGSf ) . I should be

glad to accept Bro . Hughan s views , did T not feel certain there are documents in existence ( to which I have personally no access ) , to disprove them . I agree with Bro . Hughan so far as to think that the whole tale about Ramsay may be a fiction of the Moderns . —JOHN YAKKKR , Manchester .

There are low writers more qualified to speak authoritatively respecting the " high grades" than Bro . Yarker , yet 1 am constrained to believe that he is petting his favourite theory of the origin of the A . and A . rite , when he ignores the superior

claims of the Templar aud Red Cross degrees to the veneration of Euglish Masons . There is something genuine , I readily admit , iu the Rose Croix alia Kadosh degrees , as illustrations of the York rite , but the system of 33 grades (?) is intolerable , obsolete , and absurd . —K . T .

EIIIIATA . —At page 7 , of our last week ' s issue , in the third verso of "The Temple , " for "triumph appear" read triumph tiprear , and for " glorious li ght " read glorious height ; also , in second verse , for " " on God surely" read on God's surely . THK CitAiit DHOUIU :, KTC . —In Tnu FKEBMABOM

of June 19 th , third column of page 8 , in reference to extant minutes of Aberdeen Lodge , for ' from 1677 " read ' from 1070 . " This is important , as it alone proves the existence of the Aberdeen Lodge , No . 3-1 , seven years before the Canongate Kilwinning No . ' 2 originated . — LEO .