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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 .

“The Freemason: 1878-07-06, Page 8” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 29 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fvl/issues/fvl_06071878/page/8/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
CONTENTS. Article 1
Untitled Article 1
REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGS. Article 1
PROVINCIAL GRAND MARK LODGE OF MIDDLESEX AND SURREY. Article 2
Multum in Parbo, or Masonic Notes and Queries. Article 2
CONSECRATION OF THE CHAUCER CHAPTER, No. 1540. Article 3
Obituary. Article 3
ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS. Article 4
BRO. HEDGES'S COMMITTEE. Article 4
Masonic and General Tidings. Article 4
MASONIC SERVICES IN BELFAST. Article 5
Reviews. Article 5
NOTES ON ART, &c. Article 5
Untitled Ad 6
Untitled Ad 6
Answers to Correspondents. Article 6
Births ,Marriages and Deaths. Article 6
Untitled Article 6
THE CLOSE OF THE LONDON MASONIC SEASON. Article 6
MASONIC MEMORIALS. Article 6
THE CHAUCER CHAPTER. Article 6
THE SECRETARIAL ELECTION, JULY, II, 1878. Article 6
WOMAN'S WORK. Article 6
THE LATE QUEEN OF SPAIN. Article 7
BRO. McINTYRE'S OPINION. Article 7
Original Correspondence. Article 7
METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS Article 10
CHESHIRE. MASONIC MEETINGS IN WEST LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE. Article 10
Untitled Ad 10
Untitled Ad 10
Untitled Ad 10
Untitled Ad 10
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

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 .

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