Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 421 United Grand Lodge of England 431 The Provincial Grand Lodge of Northumberland 422 The So-called-Grand Lodges of Victoria

and New South Wales 422 The Six . pointed and the Five-pointed Stars 433 The Ancient Mysteries 433 CORRESPONDENCEMasonic Benefit Society 42 S A Knotty Point 42 s

Reviews 426 REPORTS OP MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 426 Instruction .. ; 42 S Royal Arch 428

South Africa 4-s Australia 42 S Belfast Masonic Club 4 = The Theatres 4 * 8 The Craft Abroad 421 ) Masonic and General Tidings 430 Lodge Meetings for Next Week Cover .

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THE Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge took place on Wednesday , with a moderate attendance , as is usual at this time of the year , and nothing hardly to do . There was a longish list of Benevolent grants , and one appeal . We were glad to note the hearty reception by Grand Lodge of our worthy Bro . Major CHARLES HARDING , after his recent ill-treatment at Frankfort .

# # THERE is very little new or stirring to repeat in the way of Masonry . Everything and everybody seem permeated by the needful and recurring laws of rest and repose . Bro . H UBERT , in the "Chained'Union , " records some stupid acts of clerical intolerance , and , must we not add , some

questionable utterances of Masonic indiscretion ? But a " wave" of calmness and quietude seems to sway the Masonic world just now "pro tern ., " and we should be the last people in the world to disturb so pleasant a state of things by needless polemics or unseasonable controversy . If we may believe our correspondents everywhere , Freemasonry , under proper

conditions , and wise leadership , and safe axioms , is forging ahead , and nothing that intolerance or fanaticism now can do , we feel persuaded , can hinder its advance , or stay its progress . Only let Freemasons ever bear in mind that they are Freemasons , and that while it is true , no doubt , that there are " Freemasons and Freemasons , " yet that the genuine and

universal and leading tenets of the Order proscribe all commingling of political question or social ... criesj with the elevating and ennobling princip les of true Freemasonry . In a recent number of the " Chaine d'Union " a notable illustration of this mournful forgetfulness occurs , that is non - realization of what Masonic first principles alike forbid

and demand . Bro . H UBERT is himself a most fair , and careful , and impartial editor ; but his correspondents sometimes forget his wonted words of caution , and the normal dogmata of Freemasonry . The writer we allude to tells us that Freemasonry is " social and democratic , " and recommends persons to occupy themselves with the " progress and triumph of

Republican principles . " We say , " au contraire , " that therein lies the present weakness and future danger of French Freemasonry . Masonic lodges are not meant to be a "focus" for political intrigues or revolutionary sentiments . They are intended to be centres of light , toleration , charity , peace , and goodwill , that one spot on earth where religious and political

discussion are alike prohibited and unknown . There are Masonic lodges , unfortunately , that forget this the A B C of Freemasonry . Wherever jurisdictional bodies give their sanction and adhesion to such sentiments and proceedings , there the basis of the Masonic edifice is being surely if slowl y weakened , and one day , to the pain and consternation of all beholders , it will assuredly fall , and great will be the fall of it .

# * * A point of Masonic law has recently been decided by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts which it is interesting to note in the pages of the Freemason . A candidate had been several times rejected in one lodge in the State jurisdiction , but was recommended by the Worshipful Master and

Wardens to another lodge in the same jurisdiction , where in due time he was dul y initiated , passed , and raised . We apprehend this somewhat " prima facie" abnormal proceeding on the part of the Worship ful Master and Wardens of the rejecting lodge was based on the theory or idea that his rejection there was the result of a cabal or clique . Otherwise , we do not affect

to understand the " rationale" of such a procedure . It would not be allowed in England , and we presume , therefore , is allowed by American Masonic law . Objection was , however , taked to the fact that six months had not expired from the date of his rejection , which is imperative

accord'ng to the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts , just as such a provision is found in many bye-laws of our private lodges . •The English Grand Lodge specifies no such term . A defence was next made that " lunar " months , not " calendar " months , was all that was required by the terms of the law , but this " g loss " was rejected , and calendar months

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declared , as with us , the proper and intended limit . The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts has declared the brother clandestinely made , and the question now arises how he is to be "healed . " Let us hope , as the time was so very near the six months as to be satisfied , as we understand by the difference between "lunar" and " calendar , " that some " amicus curia : "

may be found , who may intelligently suggest both a " modus vivendi , " and a process of rehabilitation .

* * » BRO . HUBERT alludes in a recent number of the " Chaine d'Union " to the possibility of certain alterations in the old Mansion Rue Cadet , Paris , where the Grand Orient of France has " a local habitation and a name , " and suggests that the Grand Orient should seek to "improve the occasion , "

and obtain a building suitable to their wants and worthy of the Order . We quite agree with him . But we apprehend the difficulty lies in the connection of the Grand Orient with the " Societe Civile . " As we understand the matter , the Grand Orient pays rent to the Society for the use of the hall and the bureau , and lodge rooms , and holds shares in the Society . We believe

that this state of things , much to be deprecated , is ol many years inheritance now , and arose at a time when the Grand Orient was in want of capital . But things ought net always so to remain , as this dependence on the * ' Societe Civile " has at times all but swamped the Grand Orient , and has dwarfed and marred any efforts for Charity in an almost inconceivable

degree . We hope the rulers of that body will rouse themselves from their wonted system of do-nothing , and by an appeal to their Order procure funds to place the arrangements at head-quarters on a much better and

surer footing . Anyhow , the Grand Orient ought to be independent of every other body . We entirel y therefore concur in the seasonable remarks and that intelligent appreciation of facts which always distinguish our esteemed confrere Bro . HUBERT .

# * # SINCE the theory of the Roman Colleges of Masons was first started , we have had to modify the original ideas on the subject materially . It has long been clear to students that very great difficulties surround the subject . Admitted that Roman Colleges existed , that there were " licita" and

"illicita , " that in their formation and aims and general plan of procedure , they much resembled our Masonic lodges , yet " non constat " that we , as English Freemasons , can trace as yet any direct line of parentage and perpetuation . With the fall of the Roman Empire fell , too , its municipal institutions , its colleges , and internal organization . If the Guilds and

Colleges were revived or ( preserved in Italy , Germany , and Gaul , as Mr . HOPE and others contend , it is yet clear that their normal or abnormal existence must henceforth run under different conditions and in an altered form . Before , they were Pagan , at any rate , until the time of CONSTANTINE ; they arc henceforth Christian , and when next they appear , in some form

connected with the Monasteries , and Bro . FORT in his recent interesting publication supports FIXDEL ' original contention in this respect , which deserves the thoughtful consideration of Masonic students . We propose therefore to recur to the subject next week , having merel y touched the fringe of the question to-day .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

The Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lod ge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday evening in Freemasons' Hall . General J . Studholme Brownrigg , C . B ., Past Grand Warden , Provincial Grand Master for Surrey , presided , in the absence of the Prince of Wales , the Earl of Carnarvon , and the Earl of Lathom . Sir

Robert N . Fowler , Bart . ( Lord Mayor ) , Past Junior Grand Warden , took the chair of Grand Senior Warden ; Lieut .-Col . Sackville West , Grand Junior Warden , occupied the chair of Grand Junior Warden ; Bro . Hugh D . Sandetnan , Past District Grand Master of Bengal , acted as Deputy Grand Master , and there were also present among the Present and Past Grand Officers ;—

Bros . Rev . R . N . Sanderson , G . Chaplain ; Rev . G . R . Portal , G . Chaplain ; I . W . Woodall , G . Treasurer ; F . A . Philbrick , G . Registrar ; T . Fenn , President of Board of General Purposes ; F . H . Goldney , G . J . D . ; Sir Albert Woods , G . D . of C . : C . Hammerton , G . Swd . Br . ; G . B . Brockbank , G . Std . Br . ; Butler Wilkins , G . Std . n " r , A J •n- * . °rg '•Henry Garrod , G . Purst . ; A . Lucking , G . Asst . Purst . ; Adair Pickard

P , , " " . . . , P . G . Chaplain ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . Chaplain ; Rev . H , J . Simpson , P . G . Chaplain ; Rev . W . K . R . Bedford , P . G . Chaplain ; Rev . I . Cox , P . G . Chaplain ; Jas . Glaisher , P . G . D . ; F . Richardson , P . G . D . ; J . Samoson Peirce , P . G . D . ; Capt . Nathaniel G . Philips , P . G . D . ; Brackstone Baker , P . G D Frank Green , P . G . D . ; H . Maudslay , P . G . D . ; Robert Grey , P . G . D . ; I s ' Eastes , P . G . D . ; Raynham H . Stewart , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; M . Clark ' P . G . D . j Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; J . Lewis Thomas , P . G . A . D . of C ; Raymond H * .