Original Correspondence.

rivileges in accordance with the provisions of Law XXXV ., as the voting being by ballot and the lists being distributable amongst the brethren only , the privilege is thereby confined to Masons and to Masons only . This adverse contention is materially strengthened by he operation of Rules XXXVII . and XLVIL , as thereby it is declared that the House Committee and the Finance and

Audit Committees are to be chosen from the General Committee , and if it be conceded that Life Governors of the Female sex are entitled to any of the privileges conferred on Masons with a similar status , they are equally entitled to all , and mig ht be nominated to serve on the Finance and Audit Committee , the omission from Law XLVII . of the word " brethren" ( which is used in Law XXXVII . )

conferring upon them in common with other Life Governors the privilege of so acting when elected—I refrain from using the words "if elected , "for who amongst us would be so ungallant , or so forgetful of the Entered Apprentice ' s song , as to vote negatively to a lady candidate ' s aspirations ? Support is also given to the view entertained by those

who oppose the claim , by the fact that the sex of the person to be nominated ( as a member of the House Committee , as well as that of the person voting ) is prescribed , and if it be ruled that the word " brother" will include a lady as qualified to vote , the word " brethren " will also include ladies , as eligiblcfor nomination and thus the House Committee may become in its turn a mingled assembly

of the two sexes . Is the Craft prepared to accept this ? Is Freemasonry included in the platform of " women ' s rights ? " I trow not . At the General Committee meeting , on Thursday last , Bro . Browse stated that he and Bro . Symonds had been entrusted with the preparation of the bye-laws now in force—that it was their intention to exclude ladies from the

privilege contended for , and with that object in view they drafted the laws subsequently submitted for acceptance and confirmation . 1 agree with him in the proposition that the rules can Masonically admit of but one interpretation , and that an adverse one to the claim urged in Bro . Starr's interest .

The importance of the subject as affecting the interests of the Masonic Charitable Institutions , in many other and far hig her ways than the mere election of a Secretary , must be my apology for intruding at such length on your space . Yours truly and fraternally , 102 , Chancery Lane . EDWARD COX .

CAN LADIES VOTE IN THE GENERAL COMMITTEE ? To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The question " Cau Ladies , being Life Governors , vote at elections for Officers ? " has 1 am told been referred to the Grand Registrar .

I have always been led to believe , that in tins country , gentlemen holding legal offices invariably refrain from expressing an opinion on subjects in which they are interested , or to the advancement of which they may have pledged themselves . In this sense it strikes me that the Grand Registrar forcibly illustrates the oft quoted position of a man between two stools . If he determines that Lady

Life Governors arc not entitled to vote at the elections for Officers , & c , he runs the risk of being twitted by Bro . Storr ' s supporters with disloyalty to the cause he has publicly avowed—if his opinion be contrariwise , the other candidates and their supporters may challenge him with bias and partiality . I honestly believe that every member of the Craft will

agree with me in expressing the fullest confidence m the Grand Registrar ' s conscientiousness , but would il not have been better for the General Committee to have referred the question to some disinterested Queen ' s Counsel for adjudication ? I am , Sir , with feelings of high respect , yours very truly , D . D .

To the Editor if the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 am very glad to note that by your report of the meeting of the General Committee on Thursday week the question has been submitted to Bro . Mclntyre , and as the matter is now " juilice , " I think that perhaps discussion is not advisable , at any rate , at any length . But two points

I wish toallude to . The one is , the generally unsatisfactory state of the laws , their want of clearness and precision ; and I would suggest that a committee be appointed to revise the laws , which certainly are , in my opinion , anything but what they should be . The question of the admission of ladies is narrowed , 1 hink , to this , —are they or are they not contemplated in

the word " Members" mentioned in the Section relating to the election of Secretary ? If they are , then this anomaly occurs . A brother pays £ to ios ., a lady pays £ 3 3 s . and has equal rights with a brother , and so equally has a minor , even in " statu pupillari . " For if the lady can vote in General Committees /; equally can t > c minor , and though in the election of members of the House Committee , "brethren , " and " qualified brethren , "

alone are mentioned , yet if the lady can vote , it seems to me to he difficult to limit her privileges . It may be that she can vote lor the Secretary ; but how about minors : I still venture to believe , pace higher legal authorities , that the intention of the laws is to make the Lady a Life Governor only quatenus voting for candidates , on special terms , and I understand that our esteemed Bro . Browse stated at the General Committee that such was the

intention of the revised law . Whatever IJro . Mclntyrc ' s decision may be , it is one in which we shall all acquiesce , though I trust that these doubts may lead lo a revision of the lawj . I am , yours fraternally , BYE-LAW .

Original Correspondence.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . "

Dear Sir and Brother , — The three great London Masonic Charities are justly held in esteem by all Freemasons , and are liberally supported by them , and it is desirable that all should feel satisfied the funds of each Institution are applied to the

best purpose and in the most economical manner . . Doubtless every one , whilst wishful to help a brother in time of need , would like to be assured this object is obtained without extravagance or unnecessary expenditure . In this year ' s report of the Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , lately issued , I cannot but notice the considerable

expenditure there detailed . The accounts are divided into two heads—the " Male Fund " and " Female Fund "—so that separately they do not appear so formidable as when taken together , but by the enclosed memorandum you will notice : — Secretary and his assistants appear to receive nearly £ 1000 a year . Printing , Advertising , and Postage amount

to over £ 550 . Something relative to Stewards nearly £ 100 , and an item for " repairs and furniture , & c , tec , " no less a sum than £ 828 14 s . Truly , this latter , with its " et cetera , et cetera , " appears a very large item . In looking over such an account as this , where expenses of this nature , without including rent , taxes , medicine

and uther similar charges , amount to considerably over £ 2500 per annum , I cannot but imagine it is a large outlay for an institution , which , it should be remembered , is not a business establishment , but merely a charitable one , having mainly to rely on annual subscriptions and donations for its support , and which has little cauital invested .

I have no wish to speak disrespectfully of the management or officers , and am only desirous of being satisfied that everything is conducted on the most economical principles . The accounts of the Boys'School and Girls'School , I will , with your permission , reserve for further consideration , and must apologise for trespassing so much on your space in the present instance . Yours faithfully ,

A LIFE GOVERNOR OF THE THREE Liverpool , ist July , 1878 . INSTITUTIONS .

MALE FUND . FEMALE t'UNU . Salary of Secretary and Clerk £ 290 o o 290 o o Collecting Commission 93 17 6 104 5 9 Messenger 500 1 ; o o Assistance in Office 1188 11 8 8 Provincial Expenses of Secretary 59 16 11 59 16 10 Warden , Gatekeeper , and

Gardener ... , 64 o o Repairs and Furniture , & c . ... 414 0 11 414 7 o Stationery , Printing , tec 129 4 11 125 7 9 Advertisements 19 18 3 19 18 3 Postages , including expenses of election 138 2 o 130 9 2 Petty expenses 10 18 7 io 18 8 Entertainment of Stewards and

Annuitants 28 9 2 28 9 2 Votes of thanks to Stewards ... 19 10 6 19 10 6 Gratuity to Secretary and Collector 30 00 30 o o Secretary , for Petty Cash .,. 25 o o 25 o o £ ' 339 ' 3 5 £ i 274 " 9

Total £ it > t 4 S 2 [ Wc do not think that any fair comjilaint can bc made of the official expenses . —En . ]

THE WORLD'S FAVOUR FOR FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As I have received some friendly communications 011 my last letter under this heading , and I am anxious not to bc at all misconceived or misconstrued by

any of your readers in what I have ventured to put forward , conscientiously and believingly , 1 crave your kind permission to supplement my letter with a few explanatory remarks to-day . 1 . I maybe asked what is , after all , the teaching of Craft Masonry ? My answer to this is simply this . Basing

all its assertions on that Divine foim of words , the " Lord's Prayer , " it avows belief in the Fatherhood of Guil and the Brotherhood of Man , " in their widest sense , their fullest application . Freemasonry proclaims a recognition of God , the Great Creator and Preserver of the world and of man , the immortality uf the soul , the resurrection id

aU mankind . lt also avows a true and holy molality based upon Goo ' s own moral law , and the sanction and witness of His woid , the Bible . Now some contend that in so doing it does not go far enough , others loudly aver their opinion that it goes too far . But English Craft Masonry seems to me to be in the

" via media , and avoiding hyper-dogmatism and hypcrtoleratiou , to hold out to all its alumni alike a reasonable faith and a goodly morality , in which all who believe in God can share . It is in this acceptation that all can act together for the welfare and alleviation of our suffering humanity . English Masonry also begins and ends all its meetings

with prayer , and it teaches nothing as moral duty which is not based upon the inspired message of the Most High . Unlike other bodies it asserts no human philosophy nor dubious theories , and dubs them Masonry . But as a religious and yet philanthropic order it proffers toils members the true and wholesome morality of Divine Authority . And if some , as I said before , desire something more definite and dogmatic than this , they must find it in the

Original Correspondence.

Christian Grades , orif there beinthis morethan enough for some minds , they must take up the views of the French Grand Orient , and discard all idea of religion from Freemasonry . And thus to them Freemasonry will soon become a fraternity based upon human morality alone , an d assuming a very doubtful position , a very questionable attitude among men .

Human morality alone is , as we know , worthless , per se , either to meet the needs of man ' s nature , to point out the path of man ' s duty , or to satisfy the intensity of man ' s spiritual yearnings . For man is , despite all his weakness and aberration , as was said of old , " animali religosum , " —a religious animal . He must have some religion , ( religio ) , to bind him . close lo God , and he will even make

to himself a religion sooner than go without . Freemasonry , without being religion , is a handmaid to religion , in that it proclaims belief in God , and trust in God , as well as love to man , as its cardinal principles . Whenever , then , Masons forget this , as in France , they go astray , for as a necessary consequence of such departure

from the simple vi . 1 media of English Freemasonry they cither take up with " Positivism , " and glorify humanity , and disavow all objective divine truth , or they join the " morale independante , " and sink into " nothing-arianism , " or they flatter themselves that they show liberalitv of sentiment because they talk of " deism , " or any other "ism . "

Of all these things true Craft Freemasonry knows nothing , and with these has nothing whatever to do , and ought not to be mixed up with . But it may be said , why should not the Christian Grades form a supplement to Craft Masonry ? This is a

crux , " confessedly , for us al ) just now , and I propose in your columns next week , ( for this hot weather indisposes one for long letter .-:, and mine is already too long ) , to consider if there is any |> : » i ) it of contact between , any possibility of harmonizing the antagonistic systems of Craft and Christian Mai-nnn .

I stop therefore , litre , to-day , and am , yours fraternally , CRAFTSMAN .

THE MOTHER COUNCIL OF THE WORLD . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — " A 33 ° , " writing in the Freemason of the ist June , is as to many matters of fact , greatly mistaken . 1 send you by mail a facsimile of the Register of the Grand Lodge of Perfection of South Carolina , published

n 1802 , containing the tableau of the Supreme Council at Chai lesion ; and a cojiy of an edition of the Constitutions , in which , at pp . 182 If ., you will find the facts in regard to the establishment of the A . and A . S . Rite in South Carolina , and i > f the Supreme Council . This borty was established on the 31 st of May , 1801 , the only members named as then constituting it being

Col . Mitchell and Dr . Dalcho . As there is , according to the Constitutions , no Supreme Council without three members , we infer that the Count De Grasse and his father-in-law , Delahogue , concurred in forming it , retiring when other members were adtltil , because by the French copy of the Constitutions there was to be a Supreme Council for the French West Indies , of which De Grasse proposed to be Grand Commander and Delahogue Lieut . Grand

Commander . The members of the Supreme Council for the United States , in 1802 were Bros . Mitchell , Dalcho , De la Motta , Alexander , Bowen , De Lichen , Auld , Levy , and Moultrie . Dc ' . a Motta , De Lichen , and Levy were Hebrews , of the Hebrew faith . None of the others were . On the 21 st of February , 1802 , the Supreme Council

granted to De Grasse a patent of the 3311 ! Degree , certifying that he was a nieml cr of the Council , and Grand Commander for life of the Supreme Council in the French West Indian Island .- - . On the 3 rd of August , 1802 , the Supreme Council nt Charleston by patent made him its Grand Representative fur the West Indian Islands . De Grasse was the si ; ii of the Count De Grasse , who

commanded the French fleet sent to the assistance of the American colours in their War of Independence . In 1804 he went to Paris , and there , on the 22 nd of September , 1804 , created the Supreme Council for France . On the 29 II 1 of Docnibcr , 1804 , a large number of Masons of the Grand Orient of France ( forty and more ) , received the Fifteenth to Eighteenth Degrees uf the Ancient

and Accepted Rite from Bro . De Grasse , Grand Commander , and . signed an onil of obedience to the Supreme Council . lloi-tlier . ; dc Montaleao , Chailai ) , Bacon de la Chcvallerie , Buranl , Thory , Pyron , and the Comte de Valence , signed the same oath for the 33 ° . This was in pursuance uf a concordat made 1 » tncen the Suprctne Council if France ami the Grand Orient of France , on

the 5 U 1 of December , 1804 . The concordat was soon broken , and tlie two powers continued to exist separately , until , at the downfall of the Empire , the Supreme Council , of which Canibaceres had been Grand Commander , and Kelk-rnian , Massena , Serrurier , Lefebvre ( Duke of D .-nit / ick ) , Perignon , and other Imperial Marshals and Generals wire members , ceased to work , its

members being dispi-rsi-d . But this did not take place until after the 28 th 1 . ' October , 1814 , for on that day the Supreme Council for Fiance held a session , and addressed a communication to the Grand Orient , signed by the Comte lie Valence , Pymn , llacquet , Cliallan , the Comics AeXfi / Joiirnoi . . i ! lc , Pctif >» 'in , a » d Muraire , tlieCliev . Aigreftuille , Comtcs Le Pellilier d'Aulnay , Segur , mil Laugier-Villars ,

the Marshal-Duke of Danlzick , the Baron Frelau de Peny , Gcneial Royer , De Coly , and General Baron Des foarm . iux . —Rebold , 471 . On before the 1 Sth of August , 181 3 , for on that day , the Chev . d'Aigreville , Thory , Hacquet , the Comte Maraire , Le Pelletier d'Aulnay , and Le Barbier de Tinan , for the Supreme Council of France , replied to a circular of the Grand Orient .