The Religious Teaching Of Freemasonry.

" odium theologicum " which is ever seeing the mote" in its brother ' s eye , but forgetting the ' beam " in its own ! The theory of some German writers that the Masonic revival in 17 17 in this country was a sort of expression of deistical feelin and tendency is utterly tin-historical and

unfounded , and can only be laughed at by Endish Freemasons . For in the last century undoubtedly much of the teaching of our lodges and of our " Aporreta" was distinctly Christian . Though there was a universal teaching always no doubt , contemporaneous and synchronical ,

yet every honest student of Masonic archaeology must confess that the general bearing of the formal Eng lish Masonic ritualism of the last century was more or less actually Christian , alike in verbiage and in tone . Gradually , however , the utterances of English Freemasonry became more universal ,

and since 1813 such a colouring of all our formal enunciations and ceremonial language has all but universally prevailed . There is nothing , indeed , to prevent a Chaplain using a Christian prayer , if he so desires , and the brethren are willing , but the practical good sense of most of

or . r excellent reverend brethren has long since overcome the apparent but meaningless so called theological difficulty . Indeed , in Scotland , and in Ireland , Christian prayers are still in use . But such a state of things is very different frcm the accusation that

Freemasonry skilfully adapts itself to various religions , Christian and non-Christian . It does nothing of the kindjfor if it did so it would lay itself open to the charge , under the guise of unlimited toleration , of indifference and negativism . On the contrary , Freemasonry asserts with no

uncertain voice , always consistently and calmly , the great belief in the Fatherhood of God , and the Brotherhood of man . It seems to say , " I am not a Church laying down dogmata of faith , or articles of peace or catechisms of doctrinal truth , but I am a

religious and benevolent sodality based on the broad principles of humanitarian sympathy and toleration , but requiring that all who join my association , avoiding all other questions , shall be believers in God Most High , no atheists , and no libertines ! " This is the first declaration of

Freemasonry , which receives all who believe and worship the Great Creator and Father of mankind , though such a declaration goes too far for some , and not far enough for others , and , therefore , is b y some foolishly termed anti-Christian , which it is not , and never can be . All that any

one can fairly say , is that it is Theistic , and Freemasonry is avowedly so , though it does not interfere ever with the creed or conscience of any one . But Freemasonry does not stop here . It next points out to us , the revealed Word of God , and demands for it our reverence , our belief , andour

obedience ! And not only this , but it also affirms , that this life is not all for man , that this world is but the passage to another and a bstter , and that after this perishable frame has been committed to its mother land , earth to earth , ashes ' to ashes , dust to dust , and has long since

crumbled away , it is yet to rise again one day , from the grave and gate of death , immortal and imperishable , perfected and perpetual , victorious over the King of Terrors , and no more exposed to weakness , to decav , to death . Such is the

unceasing teaching of Freemasonry , founded too on the Word of God , which is to all Freemasons the unerring standard of right nnd wrong , and b y its divine principles , as well as b y its holy hopes , Freemasons are to regulate their actions , and elevate their lives .

Freemasonry commends to its alumni in addition , the practice of every moral and every social virtue , and inculcates powerfully alike toleration and charity , active benevolence , and genuine interest not onl y for our brethren in the world , but for all men . Who then can say that Freemasonry is

not religious ? That it admits non-Christians is ttue , and in the way most binding on their consciences , but in every Anglo-Saxon lodge , the Bible still is one of the three great lights of Masonry , and there it remains open , for all students

, and endures , an unerring evidence of the reli gious and reverential character of Freemasonry . Don ' t let us , then , confound things essentiall y distinct . Freemasonry is a religious as well as well as a reasonable body , it is theistic as well as tolerant , it respects the consciences of

The Religious Teaching Of Freemasonry.

all men , it never lets go and never will let go its owning and invocation at every meeting of its wide-spread lodges , of the Great Architect of the Universe , of the Great Banefactor , Preserver , and Ruler of the human nice , God Eternal and Most High \

The Late Bro. W. Farnfield.

THE LATE BRO . W . FARNFIELD .

The Craft will bo very sorry to hear of the demise of our worthy and lamented Bro . W . Farnlield , so long known in the Grand Secretary ' s office , and as Secretary to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . His kindness and urbanity , familiar face and many good qualities ; will long preserve his pleasant memory fresh 3 iid green amongst the brethren of our Order .

Bro. Harty's Picture Of The Installation.

BRO . HARTY'S PICTURE OF THE INSTALLATION .

We published in our last number a long list of subscribers to this spirited undertaking , which appears to be securing a large amount of merited support frcm the Craft . We understand that the engraving is proceeding most satisfactorily , and promises to be a great success . There is

still room it appears for about 150 portraits of brethren , and Bro . Harty will be obliged to all intending sitters to call at once at the Photographic Studio , 2 13 . Regent-street , where Bro . E . M . Haig h will take their photograph . We understand that H . R . H . Prince Leopold , P . G . M .

for Oxfordshire , has expressed his high approval of the proposed picture , and has become one of its patrons . We call attention in another column to a most interesting letter from our worthy P . G . Chaplain , Bro . R . P . Bent , with reference to the engraving . H . R . H . Prince

Leopold , also honoured Bro . Haigh with sittings in his clothing as Provincial Grand Master of Oxfordshire , on Saturday last . The paragraph in the " Daily News" of the 28 th is incorrect , H . R . H . Prince Leopold was not present at the

installation , it was his brother H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught . H . R . H . Prince Leopold did not sit to Bro . Harty . for the installation picture , and the brethren mentioned were not in attendance on H . R . H . the Prince .

The Wilson Ms. Constitutions.

THE WILSON MS . CONSTITUTIONS .

The following account of the Wilson M . S . by the owner is most interesting . " You asked me for any ' indicia' , ' respecting MS . Phillips 6351 , now being copied . I have asked an antiquary friend , and he says it is dedidedly not temp . Hen . 8 th , but that , as it is very

carefully wnt'en on vehum , not a court hand , or one used by the officers of the law court . It is , no doubt , an old copy of one then" existing . He thinks the M . S . we have , is early in the 17 th century , and he tells us it is written in the law hand of the period , that is the " engrossing" hand of the period . The copy will be ready for you the end of next week .

You will see then our several blanks , evidence I think of its having been copied from an older MS ., which no doubt in the places left blank was illegible . In Sir Thomas Phillips's catalogue it is called " Book of Constitutions ( of Freemasonry ) , for Mr . Richard Ban ( our ) the " our " being in italics , as if it was doubtful , perhaps could not be read , ' royal oct ., fol . S . 19 . '

That is all I can tell you about it . " The writer of this letter is the Rev . J . E . A . Fenwick , Tnirlcstane House , Cheltenham , in whose possession all the MS . collection of his father-in-law remains under trust . It is but proper to observe , that though Mr . Fenwick is full of kindness , a payment for the " privilegum" of seeing the MS . has to be required , anil Mr . Fenwick has kindly made an

exception in my case , and allowed me to have not only a complete copy of his MS ., but to publish it in the" Masonic Magazine . " I hope to give , under " Masonic Notes and Queries , " the heading and close ot the MS . next week , and to publish it in extenso in the April number of the Magazine . I have always kept it in mind , and hunted

for it everywhere , and a short time back it occurred to me to ascertain through Bro . S . B . Ellis if there was any foundation for the statement in Preston . Finding that there was , Bro . E . B . Ellis having applied to Bro . Nixon , who knew Mr . Rimington Wilson , now at Broomhead , and that the Wilson MSS . had been bought by Sir Thomas Phillips , I then applied to J . O . Halliwell , Esq ., the editor of the " Masonic Poem , " now J . O . Phillips ,

Esq ., who told me that all Sir T . Phillips ' s MSS . were in the possession of my friend Mr . Fenwick . Hence the happy result of a Masonic search after this long wanted MS . I hope that we may yet find others , such as the original of Dowland's MS ., which , Stephen Jones says , was a long roll of parchment . I have now the trai . script MS . in my possession . A . F . A . WOODFORD .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ we do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to ail , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —En . ]

BRO . IIARTV'S PICTURE OF THE INSTALLATION . [ The following letter has hein addressed to Bro . Harty for publication . ] Dear Sir , and Brother , — In sending you the address of a mw subscriber to your picture of the installation ( another Swedish brother of high staading , who is Secretary of the Craft Lodge in

this city , and an office-bearer in the higher degrees ) I must congratulate you on the interest taken in the picture by the Freemasons of Sweden . This interest is clearly shown by the orders given for copies of it by the King , and some of those who , under the Grand Mastership of His Majesty , hold the highest Masonic offices in this country . I hope that no delay will occur in the issue of the picture , that

the anxiety with which its arrival here is expected may not suffer any disappointment . It cannot , of course , be wondered at that the Swedish brethren were deeply interested in the installation itself , and that they will , therefcre , welcome your delineatien of that most successful ceremony . Their interest arises from the fact that the Prince of Wales was not

only initiated 111 Stockholm by the late King , but was also rapidly advanced there to the higher degrees , so that after his visit to Sweden he returned to England fully qualified for the high position he now so worthily fills ; and from the further fact that at the installation of H . R . H . the Grand Lodge of Sweden was represented by five of its most distinguished members , the portraits of all

of whom will ( I believe ) be found in your picture . Pardon me if I mention one more paint of interest to the Swedes in this matter . The Senior Grand Chaplain was at the time residing among them , and had to go over to England for the express purpose of officiating on the occasion ; and when they see his portrait , also in your picture , they will recognise it as that of one who is now a Swedish as well

as an English Mason . Perhaps I should explain that after being very cordially received by the brethren as a visitor on my first coming to Gothenburg—I have been more than once saluted as a Grand Officer of England—I was invited to become a joining member of the St . Andrew ' s Lodge , or the Lodge of Scotch Misters , which is their 6 th Degree . Application was then made to the King for his sanction to

my taking the 7 th and 8 th Degrees without loss of time , and by a dispensation from His Majesty I received the 8 th Degree a fortnight after receiving the j-th , whereas it is in most cases a matter of years rather than weeks . I consider this to have been intended more as a compliment to the Grand Lodge of England than to myself personally . The 8 th Degree corresponds to the English " Knight

Templar . " 1 am now a Priest , or Chaplain of that Order , and as such I had the privilege on Saturday last of assisting at an imposing ceremony of no less than nineteen admissions , in the presence of a large and influential body of Knights . Freemasonry , in all its branches , is indeed a flourishing and most popular institution in this country . I could expatiate largely on its admirable working , Sec , but I must

not forget that I began to write about your picture in particular , and not about the whole subject in general . I will , therefore , only beg you to make what use yoj pleise of this letter , and remain , Yours very truly and fraternally , It . P . BENT , P . G . C . Gothenburg , Feb . 21 st , 1876 .

CONSECRATION OF A NEW LODGE IN NEW ZEALAND . To the Editor of The Freemason , Dear Sir and Brother , — Knowing how ready you arc at all times to give publicity to the progress of the Craft , I hasten to lay before you an account of the consecration ( and installation of

officers ) of the Canterbury Kilwinning Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , being the second lodge under the Scotch constitution established in the Province of Canterbury . The brethren living in Lyttelton having after due deliberation determined to apply to the R . W . the P . G . Lodge of New Zealand , S . C , for a dispensation , sent in their application , which , after receiving proper consideration and

investigation , was granted . Bro . F . W . rhiel , Esq ., of St . Andrew ' s Lodge , Dunedin , S . C , No . 432 ( Bro . Thiel is also P . D . D . G . M . of E . C . in Canterbury ) , was eleputed by the Provinci il Grand Master t-j consecrate the lodge anil install the officers thereof . Bro . Thiel , being a most earnest and zealous Mason , went into tlu matter with all his heart , and being most

ably assisted by his subordinate officers—a list of whose names I send you—the result was a grand success . The lodge was opened at 3 . 10 p . m . in due form , and after the cor . secration of lodge and the installing of the R . W . M ., Bro . Alex . Taylor , and his officers , five candidates were introduced ( Messrs . Angus , Allwright , James Grubb , John Grubb , and Robt . Findlay ) , and were duly initiated

into Freemasonry , Bro . 1 hiel and his officers also performing the ceremony . Five gentlemen were then proposed as candidates , and the lodge was closed in accordance with ancient custom , The brethren adjourned to Bro . Buruip ' s ( the lodge room being too small to p . operly accommodate the brethren ) . He having provided a most magnificent banquet , about

fifty brethren sat down , and , after discussing the goop things provided and duly honouring the usual toasts , separated at 11 . 30 p . m . highly pleased with the proceedings of the day , and wishing every prosperity to the Canterbury Kilwinning . I must mention that Bro . Wm . Donald , Esq ., the R . W , the District Grand Master of Canterbury , E . C , was present during the whole of the proceedings , and showed by