The Catholic Persecution Of Freemasonry.

THE CATHOLIC PERSECUTION OF FREEMASONRY .

A few months ago we had to take notice of the intolerant conduct of Romish priests towards Masons . Bro . Bo « an , a member of Lodge Unity , 54 . 7 , E . C , West Maitland , departed this life , and the Romish Bishop of West Maitland refused to bury him as he was a Mason , in

consequence of which the remains of our dearly beloved brother were interred in a Protestant place of sepulture . The family of our brother has been very sorely tried by the intolerance t , f the Romish Church . The brethren of Lodge Unity , 547 , E . C , West Maitland , have now erected a monument to the memory of truir brother . The monument has been raised at the sile cost of the

members eif Lodge Unity , who contnbuteel apart from the lodge funds . The total cost is £ 40 . The following are the inscriptions : — On front face— " This monument is erected by the brethren of the Maitland Lodge of Unity , No . 547 , F . C ., to the memory of Bro . John Joseph Bogan , whr departed this life on the 23 rd day of December , A . D . 1878 , aged

33 years . All glory to God Most High . " On right hand face— " The 4 th verse of the 23 rd Psalm , ' Yea , though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death , I will fear no evil ; for Thou art with me ; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me . ' "

On left hand face— " The 13 th veise ofthe 12 th chapter , of Ecclcsiastef , ' Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter : Fear God , and keep His commandments ; for this is the whole duty of man . '" On rear face" Hie jacet

" Johannes Joscphus B igan , " Lapicida Maitland , " Qui obit 23 rd December , 5878 , " Anno a-tatis , 33 . "Juillocoetu nostris Lodge of Unity , Maitland , Ne . w South Walis , Numeri sij , 14 Januarii , A . L . 5872 , habito

frater in primo grand occullre scientia ; . " Latomofum vel artis rcdificatoria inauguratus est necnon debit , tempore ad secundum et turn denique ad tertinia gradum admissus est .

"Deo Summo Gloriam Pate . " From the Maitland Mercury we extract"MASONIC MONUMENT . —vVe notice that Mr . Thomas Browne , monumental sculptor , of High-street , West Mait . land , has just completed an admirab ^ -proportioned obelisk , in Ravensfield stone , to the order of the brethren of the Maitland Masonic Lodge of Unity , No . 547 E . C .

, The obelisk is to be erected in the Church of England butial ground at Campbell ' s Hill , over the grave of Mr . Joseph Bogan , who was a member of that lodge , and-was , we believe , a native of West Maitland . " Mr . Btigau was so highly esteemed by his Masonic brethren that they determined to mark his resting place by some suitable monument , and ive think that the one

under notice was very happily chosen . " The obelisk—consisting of the shaft and base—rests upon a stone pedestal designed to show three steps . The base bears on its front face an apposite inscription setting forth the name , age , ami date of the death of him who lies beneath ; also the name of the lodge ; on the right and left hand faces are quotations from the twenty-third

Psalm and the twelfth chapter of Ecclesiastes respectively ; and the rear face bears an inscription in Latin of special significance to the Craft , announcing , as it does , the date of the deceased ' s admission into , and his subsequent progress in the ancient and Royal art . " The shaft is ornamented on its front face by a square and compass within a circle ( the two former being gilded )

and by a five-pointed star , also gilded ; and on the other faces a square and compass arc shown , without the circle and the gilding . These ornaments are boldly cut in relief , and contrast well with the pleasing plainness of the shaft and pedestal . " The memento is highly creditable to the brotherhood , and it is evident that whilst Maitland possesses such stone , and numbers amongst her townsmen the artist , her

citizens need not go beyond her boundaries for the silent ornaments of the Necropolis . " Son e idea of the amount of work on the monument may be formed when we state that there are more than seven hundred letters on the stone , the whole of which have been very neatly executed , and reflects credit on Mr . Browne's studio . Height of obelisk , including shaft , base , and pedestal—9 feet . The sculptor is a member of the Cratt . " —Australian Freemason .

Mr . "William Andrews , F . R . H . S ., is paid a well-deserved compliment in P'C Western Figaro , a witty paper , which publishes a brief sketch of his literary career , and also prints his portrait . Mr . Andrews is a frequent contributor to the best of our magazines , anil the Academy

speaks of his historical writings as being " interesting and valuable . " Mr . Andrews is the editor of an interesting Publication , entitled The Hu . ll Miscellany . It is a very entertaining and well-arranged little work , which is exceed'ngly popular in the chief towns on the banks of the

Hum-^ r , and nothing different to this could be expected from the careful and well-informed member of the literary family to whom he have pleasure to refer . —limdjord Chronicle "ml iMail , August 14 th , 1879 . ^ MASONIC SONGS . —A selection of Masonic ' ¦ pngs , set to popular airs , written bv Bro . E . P . Philnnfa .

•11 ' . R . G . S ., is now ready , forming a handsome volume , oumt in c | oth | wit [] gilt e ( I gcFj ^ sen ( . post { f (; e ftom ^ ice o tin * i > . p . on receipt of ( .. tamps or post-office order Ta 'ue s . 2 d . —ADVT .

Funeral Of The Late Bro. John Ireland.

FUNERAL OF THE LATE BRO . JOHN IRELAND .

On Wednesday , the 20 th inst ., we noticed the demise of the late Bro . John Ireland , a gentleman well-known and highly esteemed and respected not only as -a citizen of Belfast , but also in his private dealings , whe trier socially or commercially . The exalted position which the deceased

gentleman occupied in connection with the ancient Order of " Free and Accepted Masons , " and the great fame which he had acquired as a devout and expert exponent of its mysterious rites and ceremonies , are already well-known in the northern provinces of Ireland , and no better or higher public testimony of the great estimation in which he had always been held by his brethren of the " mystic tie " could

possibly be manifested than that of the large attendance of the members of the Craft at the funeral obsequies ot their late brother , which took place on Thursday , the 21 st inst . His was certainly the largest and m-, > st respectable Masonic funeral , as far as we know , which has ever been chronicled in the North of Ireland . At an early hour in the morning the brethren assembled in the Freemasons' Hall ,

Arthursquare , where arrangements were made for the order of procession to be observed by the brethren . The idea of a public Masonic procession or demonstration of a marked character was at first mooted , but the members of the Craft who had charge of the funeral arrangements having deemed it prudent and expedient to refrain from any too prominent public display on the occasion , it was resolved

that the brethren , instead of appearing in the full insignia of the Order , should simply wear mourning badges , by which they should distinguish themselves Irom those who were outside the pale of the Masonic Institution . These badges , which were crape arm-bands , where provided and distributee ! to the brethren by the members of Lodge No . 59 , of which the deceased was a member .

The funeral was arranged to take place at ten o ' clock in the forenoon , and punctually to time the corte ' ge moved from the deceased's residence , the coffin being torn by Past Masters of Lodge 59 , for a distance of some hundreds of yards , the order of the procession , as arranged by the Masonic funeral committee , being as follows : — The hearse , drawn bv four horses , containing a

handsomely mounted oak coffin , in which were the remains of the deceased , covered by three handsome wreaths of immortelles , the inscription on the coffin being , "John Ireland , aged fifty-five years . " Immediately after the hearse came the relatives of the deceased , and in lear of them the members of the Masonic fraternity , in the following order : — No . 8 Chapter of Prince Masons , to which deceased

belonged , represented by Bros . John ; . M Gee , 28 , P . S . of P . G . H . C . ; Thomas Valentine-, f . P ., y > . P . S . of P . O . R . C . ; Wakefield II . Dixon , P . S . of P . G . R . C .-, Thomas Cordukes , P . G . R . C . ; Henry M . Girdwood , P . G . R . C . ; Charles R . Atkinson , P . G . R . C ; Wm . V . Plunkett , P . G . R . C . ; Henry Murney , M . D ., J . P ., 30 , P . S . of P . G . R . C . ; John Oulton , P . G . R . C . ; P . G . H . C . ; and the members of Chapter No . 6

Prince Masons present were—C . J . Kinahan , P . G . R . C . ; C , Johnston , P . G . R . C . Next followed the Symbolic Lodge , No . 59 , St . Alfred ' s , of which the deceased was a member ; members of this lodge in addition to their mourning badges wearing white gloves . The following is the list of the members of this lodge who attended at the funeral : Bros . A . S . MacGowan ,

W . M ., P . M ., P . K ., II K . T . ; Robert Carrey , S . W ., H . K . T . ; William M . Bullock , J . W ., P . M ., H . K . T . ; W . C . Todd , S . P . M ., P . K ., H . K . T . j Robett Metcalfe , l . G . } Wm . M . Clarke , P . M ., P . K . ; John M'Cormick , P . M ., P . K . ; Henry M'Cashen , P . M . ; Edward Allworthy , I . P . M ., P . K . ; Henry Mutton , P . M . ; Samuel Douglas , P . M . ; Alexander Parker , P . M ., H . K . T . ; James Young , P . M . -, John M'Clure , P . M .

Robert Anderson , P . M . ; Hugh Hamilton , David Allen , Chas . Cotton , Wm . Campbell , John Sefton , Wm . Easdale , James Young , jun ., Alex . Robb , J . Jackson , D . Allen , Jan . After the brethren of Lodge No . 59 followed the other members of the Craft present , forming three deep in processional order . Among those present we observed Bros . Rev . W . C .

M'Cullagh , 154 , P . G . C ; Henry J . Hill , in , P . G . L . I . ; W . H . Ward , 154 , Preceptor of Lagan Valley Encampment of H . K . T . ; Geo . A . Keid , 83 , P . G . S . VV . ; William Rankin , 272 , P . G . J . W . ; William Anderson , 9 8 , P . G . S . D . ; Wm . Adair , 51 , P . G . J . D . ; John Orr , 195 , P . G . I . G . ; W . J . Owens , John Overend , John Collins , Samuel AbernUhy , W . Erskine , William Young , M . Corken , Henry Campbtll ,

D . Gray , Thomas Uraithwaite , H . 11 . Bottomley , A . J , Cowan , John Coulter , John G . Shaw , John Milliken , John Ball , James M'Cormick , William Finlay , Robert Vance , Thomas Cooper , Hamilton Anderson , J . Gelston , D . Moor , John M'Cutcheon , Joseph Holland , Chas . Lilley , James Hazlctt , James Scott , James Allen , Dixon Shanks , Hugh Rankin , Henry Joy , M'Cracken , James

Hogg , William Woods , Thumas Fisher , William Moran , Edward Moran , T . Alderdice , W . Alderdice , J . Immrie , George Gaukrodger , J . M . Lindsay , William Seeds , John Smyth , Matthew Shaw , Thomas Nesbitt , W . J . Hainey , A , Smyth , John Boyd , Alex . White , John Freeman , James Wilson , John Woods , William M'Dade , James Anderson , Robert Savage , William Beattie , W . J . Williamson , Robert

Humphrey , Professor Brown , HenryJMurray , W . J . Fennell , George Kidney , VS . ; David Dunlop , James Frazer , CE . j J . Aicken , W . Aicken , Thomas Simpson , R . J . Hilton , John M'Kibben , James M'Coiinell , Fred Wilson , John G . Robinson , W . J . Hill , C . C . Wheeler , William Orr , Washington Orr , John Ward , Thos .

M . Coleman , D . M'Afee , O'Connell Shaw , John M'Connell , Robert Mathew .- - , John Oldham , Johnston Rogers , William M'Cormick , 106 , P . H . K . T , ; Samuel Gordon , William Trelford , Wilson M'Cullough , John Boyd , John Wright , John Orr , James Fitchie , J . Roberts , John Adrain , Wm . Rankin , John Hanna , John Dickson , John Harrison , George G , Henderson , Edward Glanccy ,

Funeral Of The Late Bro. John Ireland.

R . T . Wilson , Robert Alex . Hill , — Curry , - — Bodel , Hugh Doey , Louis Ryans , John Bennett , James Ciiristie , Robert Campbell , Robert Mathews , W . G . MiUigan , H . M'Cloy , William Brown , W . Nixon , Thos . Bunting , W . J . Beattie , Thomas M'Candlis , Alex . Hatton , W . J . Luke . f . Carson ,

James Morrow , Robert Gibson , Edward M'Fee , D . Duff , J . Crothcrs , R . M'Henry , J . M'Donald , Alex . Crawford , Wm . Duff , E . Priestly , Robert Beattie , Thomas H . Dickson , Rev . Mr . Beattie , Hugh Ross , Alex . Wdusjh , Daniel M'Peake .

The route traversed by the funeral corte ' ge was Great Victoria-street , Wellington-place , Donegall-place , Castleplace , Bridge-street , Donegall-street , Crumlin-road , Agnesstreet , and Siiankhill-road , to the Shankhill Graveyard . At the gate of the latter place the processio . i halted , and the Freemasons proceeded to form two lines extending from the entrance gate to the place of interment , the

brethren standing with uncovered heads whilst the coffin , borne by members of Lodge 59 , and followed by the relatives of the deceased , passed up between them . The coffin having been lowered into its last resting place , the brethren formed a compact circle round the grave , and inside this circle stood the Rev . George Cron , the Rev . W . C . M'Cullagh , and the members of the deceased ' s

lodge . A most pathetic and appropriate service was performed by the Rev . Mr . Cron , after which the Masonic burial service was read in the most feeling and impressive maimer by Bro . the Rev . W . C . M'Cullagh , during the course of which a Masonic apron was placed upon the coffin , and each member of

deceased s lodge present deposited a sprig of acacia in the grave . The ceremony , which was one ofthe most solemn and affecting , was eventually brought to a conclusion by all the brethren assembled giving the public grandihonours of Fceecaasonry . —Belfast iVeuis Lelter , August 22 .

Public Amusements.

Public Amusements .

STRAND THEATRE . — "Madame Favart" is the attraction here , and will long continue to be so . It is , without exception , the biggest hit in London . For once , fashion patronises merit . We cannot too highly commend the singing by the various leading attistes . Miss St . John is , in the words of her old admirer in the piece , " a delicious illusion ; " Miss Violet Cameron is as charming as ever , and she is always charming . Mons . Marius , than

whom we have no bi tier comic opera comedian , is in an element he thoroughly enjoys , and Mr . Harry Cox was mver seen to better advantage than he is here as the Innkeeper . Mr . Ashley , who , it will be remember . d , played Old TuUs , in " Pink Dominoes" so well , here personates the old roue , and plays it so well and so naturally that it is difficult to believe that Mr . Ashley himself is not a rone .

IMPERIAL THEATRE . —We hive seen " H . M . S . Pinafore" at the Opera Comiijue—our readers may remember how we condemned the singing ; we have seen it in the provinces ; we have seen it in America ; btt we have never seen it so well mounted , sa well played , and , better still , so well sung , as by the comp . iny by whom it is now played at the Imperial . We understand that after

this week Pinafoie" will be produced by this company at the Olympic . We tell our readers who ha \ e been to the Opera Comique , wishing to see this most popular piece , that they must go to the Imperial this week or to the Olympic next week if they desire to be considered judges of themeiitsand demerits of this wonderful opera . To those of our readers who have not seen the piece we can

only say , if you Hke musical voices for a musical piece follow the company now going from the Imperial to the Olympic . PARK THEATRE . — "Jane Eyre , or Poor Relations , " at this house , produced for the first time on Wednesday , the 27 th ult ., must be pronounced a success . Theatrical successes , however , have their classes like railways—this

piece is a success in the third-class—it can never take a high rank either in London or the provinces , but it will serve its purpose in its three weeks' run at the Park . We can give it no more , a fortnight at the Standard or other kindred theatres , and an occasional performance in the country . " Jane Eyre " is proceeded by the old , stale , and stupid comedietta , "A Day After the Wedding , " which we should not notice at all but ior the acting of Miss

Maud Erskine , a young , beautiful , and clever little actress , who gives promise of " great things" if she only gets the opportunity . The main idea , a mainmast without a sail , is evidently taken from " Taming of the Shrew , " and the very mild reflection of Shakespeare ' s Kate , as taken by Miss Erskine , convinces us that she is quite capable of playing Shakespeare ' s original , and playing it well , too , which is not saying a little .

We regret to notice the death of Bro . William Runting , P . M . of the Belgrave Lodge , No . 749 , and W . M . ofthe Londesborough Lodge , No . 1681 . Bro . Runting was initiated into Freemasonry in the Faith Lodge , No . 141 , on the 24 th of February , 1857 . He afterwards joined the Belgrave Lodge , and became W . M . in the year , and was a subscribing member at his death . He was a founder and first S . W . of the Londesborouch Lodi / e . No . 1681 . of

which lodge at the time of his death he was W . M . Bro . Runting was well known and deservedly esteemed by many brethren , more especially by those living in the immediate vicinity of his residence , Mount-street , Grosvenorsquare . He was interred at Woking Cemetery on Monday , the ist inst ., the funeral being atteneled by , among others , Bro . Garrod , Secretary ofthe Belgrave Lodge , Bros . A . Barfield , Treasurer , Honeyball , Thommas , and Ball , of the Londesborough Lodge ,