Masonic Reprints Of Quatuor Coronati, No. 2076.

reproduce the " Defence of Masonry " and " Euclid's Letter " in the volume under consideration . But I would beg Bro , Hughan and our readers and subscribers to remember that when Ave commenced the present volume of our " Reprints " we were a young society , under ioo strong , and before its issue we numbered

nearl y 700 . With the accession of members , and with the lapse of time—nearly 18 months—our views as to future volumes and their contents changed , and yet we were powerless to alter what was already done . We scarcely contemplated reprinting Anderson , and we certainly never hoped to be able to produce such a

Commentary as that of Bro . Gould ' s . It would not be difficult for me to explain the circumstances that meet with Bro . Hughan ' s disapproval ; but it would take up too much of your space , and the above hints will probabl y suffice for anyone who chooses to reflect .

Bro . Hughan also suggests that a reprint of the Cooke MS . is unnecessary , as Spencer ' s edition , " fairly well done , " is still in print . Our second volume will contain a . fac simile of the Cooke MS ., and when he sees it , I think Bro . Hughan will admit that Spencer ' s is far from " fairl y well clone . "

It would be almost presumptuous for me to state that I agree with every word of Bro . Hughan ' s praise of Bro . Gould ' s Commentary . I would merely enforce the truth of his observation that for a whole year Bro . Gould has devoted himself exclusively to the study of the MS . and to preparing the Commentary , to the almost entire

exclusion of social pleasures , and to the absolute exclusion of more profitable occupation . Most authors would expect some financial recompense after 12 months of toil ; Bro . Gould has given his without a thought of reward , except the honour of our lodge , and the approval and instruction of the Craft at large .

Surely the English-speaking Craft will remember that of four great works , our brother has given them three without one penny of payment to himself , and the remaining one , his History of Freemasonry , without any lasting profit . Let them bear this astonishing sacrifice in mind , and show their appreciation

by liberal subscriptions to the Gould Testimonial , which must now soon close . As a member of the Gould Testimonial Committee , I have no hesitation in thus publicly appealing to their sense of justice and admiration for a gifted brother , who has generously

devoted his time and talents for years past to their service . To have charged an author ' s fee for those works would have rendered their publication impossible ; the whole Craft has benefited by his generosity , let it now wipe out the debt .

Bro . Hughan would have preferred the digressions worked into the running text of the Commentary . This is a matter of opinion . The Regius MS . presents several problems for elucidation—its structure , its history , its geography , & c . —and Gould has treated each of these separately . The MS . is an example of

early English poetry . To a learned antiquary this statement would suffice ; the ordinary reader requires to know how early English verse took its origin , and how it was handed down from generation to generation , in order to form an idea of the genesis of this particular example . Gould , writing for the general reader , has elected to treat English verse and versifiers as a

separate entity , thereby keeping his comments on the text of the Poem free from extraneous , but cognate , matter , making of it , in fact , a self-contained essay . And in like manner for the other points . A most interesting point , for which a similar treatment is promised at some future date , is the important question of the

" Assembly . " This will require to be considered both legally and historically , and will possibly revolutionise many of our ideas . I think , therefore , that instead of asking Bro . Gould to recast his

present instalment , all possible pressure should be put upon him to furnish us , with the least possible delay , with the remainder of the conclusions his studies have forced upon him in respect to points of the poem not yet commented on .

The opinion that Gould ' s announcement that " the Regius MS . points to the existence of a symbolical or speculative Masonry" as early as 1390 is " startling and novel" is fully justified , and all the more so as coming from Bro . Gould . That he , of all writers , should feel impelled , after due studyto

, deliberatel y make such an assertion , without even a saving qualification , is indeed startling . If we consider what must have been the strength of his convictions , before he could induce his pen to frame words so pregnant and so subversive of his former views , we shah not lightly reject his conclusions , but anxiously and

painfully weigh his arguments before pronouncing on so important a statement . Bro . Hughan is evidently shocked , but , like a true student and . candid critic , foresees the possibility of having to re-model his " preconceived views , " and therefore holds his judgment in suspense . G . W . SPETH .

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Albert Pike.

ALBERT PIKE .

Bro . Albert Pike , whose name is a household word to tlie Masonic Fraternity , has had a varied and eventful career . \[ was born in Boston , Mass ., Dec . 29 , 1807 , entered Harvard College at the age of 16 years , and left there after pursuing brief course to enter upon the vocation of a teacher . In t { ji

he went to St . Louis , and the year following joined a company f hunters and trappers bound for the head waters of the R . e (] River . Separating himself from the main party , he and fon r others travelled 500 miles on foot to Fort Smith , Ark . A few years later he entered upon the practice of law in Little Rod ;

Ark ., and became proprietor of a paper published at that place , At the breaking out of the Mexican War , he entered the army as a volunteer , and served with honour in the position he held , Afterwards , he returned to the practice of his profession , and to the pursuits of a literary character . During the Civil War he

stood with the South , and held a commission as General in the Confederate army . After the war ended , he took up his residence in Memphis , Tenn ., and for a time edited The Appeal , of that

city . He then removed to Washington , D . C ., where he has since resided , giving much of his time and thought to the administration of Masonic affairs , and the study of oriental mysteries and symbolism .

Bro . Pike has prominence among the Craft because of the position which he has held for more than a quarter of a century as the head of the Scottish Rite in the Southern jurisdiction , and likewise by the numerous contributions of his pen , explaining important features in the system of Freemasonry , and enforcincr

its lessons . He has always shown an efficient zeal in the advancement of Masonic interests , and well deserves the honours that have been accorded him b y appreciative brethren . The literary ability of this venerable Craftsman is freel y conceded b y

all who have knowledge of his writings . His style is simple , straightforward , and attractive , marked by a rich vein of imagination and poetic sensibility . Some of the poems of Bro . Pike are most charming in their tender thought and graceful expression , —Freemasons' Repository .

Masonry's Work.

MASONRY'S WORK .

Freemasonry has al ways been and is always willing to show its interest in all that pertains to human welfare and to throw its influence upon the side of truth and virtue . It is a secret society , but it is much more . Its noble principles and good deeds are known and read of all men . But any man who will read what is

printed for the public eye , any man who will observe the course of life among men , may , in our records and from our actions , which are open to the world , draw material for the formation of an opinion that is favourable to our Order . The . inner working of an institution of learning is practically a profound secret to

those who have never had experience within its walls . But the man who is ignorant of the method knows how to appreciate the result which appears in the life of those to whom the method is familiar . Any man of proper mental powers can learn how to walk the hidden paths of wisdom . So any man of uprig ht

character and noble purpose may learn the secret process through which Freemasonry preserves its existence and does its work in the world . Secrecy is not the end of Masonry . The world at large may rest assured that with the darkest shadow of

mystery which appertains to this institution there exists not the least element of anything which would bring injury to the purest mind to which it mi ght be revealed . Every social fellowship has the right to state the terms of its membershi p which shall be accepted by those who are identified with it .

The great end in view among Masons , as may be plainly seen , is social enjoyment and practical beneficence among brethren who are bound together in the application to life of certain noble principles which lie at the foundation of all human welfare . A " attempt is here made to put in practice within a limited circle a certain type of life which no man can afford to neglect .

Masonry is no usurper of the rights and privileges of the Church . It does not aspire to be the perfect embodiment of the religious life of humanity . There are limitations to its fellowship , which it recognises to be inconsistent with any attempt to embody the reli gious sentiment in its fullest development . ^'

however , it is not the sun shining in the perfect day of m s reli gious life , we may at least compare its influence to that of th e refulgent moon which throws no other li ght over the earth than that which is first derived from the sun itself , and then reflected

in glory and beauty over the scene of human life . Freemasonry reflects many of the choicest rays of the Sun of Ri g hteousness and throws a gentle light over the night of man ' s sorrows . ^°, while our beloved Order does not seek to cover the whole grou ' "