Grand Lodge Of New Brunswick.

thren would desire , the returns will show that there is a healthy increase ; and that there are no discordant elements at work to disturb the harmony that should be the great characteristic of all Masonic bodies . The Grand Master or the Board has not been called upon to settle

any important disputes between lodges or members , and we can all heartily exclaim " how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity . " When advice has been asked by lodges or brethren on any question it has been freel y

g iven , through the Grand Secretary ; but I have made no decisions of particular importance to the Craft generally . In one case , where an enquiry was made as to whether a brother could hold office in a lodge of which he was not a member , an answer was returned in the negative

for although there is no constitutional enactment on the subject , it would seem to be opposed to common sense to allow a brother to be an officer where he was not a member ; and the absence of any regulation might be taken as a proof that no regulation was thought to be

necessary . Of course , the case of a Tyler , who is a serving brother , and whose duties are entirely dilfeient from those of any other officer , is entirely exceptional , custom as well as necessity permitting one brother to serve many lodges . In another case , the Grand Secretary

advised a lodge that it was contrary to sound Masonic policy to initiate in 1875 , without a fresh ballot , a person who had been accepted in 1871 . The reasons aie obvious . In that number of years many persons might be initiated into the lodge who would not be willing to

receive the candidate , whilst , in the four years , his own character and habits mi ght unfortunatel y have undergone changes which would unfit him to be made a Mason . Every lodge by its byelaws ought to provide that a candidate neglecting to come foiward within a reasonable

period after his election , should have his election set aside . A lodge asked whether it could rent its lodge-room to another society . Of course , with the control of the property of private lodges the Grand Master has no power , or even desire , to interfere ; but the enquiring

lodge was ; . 'Jvised tu ^ t -W ^ Bts ! n 9 | HM *««^ SfejH would be best served by reserving its lodge room for its own exclusive use . I am aware that in some places throughout the country lodges cannot help a commonienancy with other societies , in places where Masonic halls have been

erected by the joint action of , the lodge and the community the lodge room is used for various purposes . It should be the aim of every lodge , however , to secure as soon as possible its own room for its own exclusive use . A lodge enquired whether objection would be taken to its

holding a " Masonic Gift Enterprise " in aid of its Hall fund . The Grand Secretary fraternall y advised the lodge to abandon the idea , as the whole feeling and spirit of the Craft is against undertakings of this kind—and they have been positively condemned by many Grand

Lodges . The advice was at once acted upon in the most commendable spirit by the lodge—a circumstance that I note with pleasure , for the burden entailed upon it by the fine hall it is erecting is very great , and the " Gift Enterprise" seemed a very easy way of financing .

A lodge was also advised that a native of this province , who has resided many years in California , and returns on a short visit to his friends , is to be regarded as a sojourner merely . At the last session of Grand Lodge a resolution was adopted making the production of a

Grand Lodge certificate a pre-requisite for examination , from brothers hailing from another jurisdiction , desirous to be received as visitors into lodges iu this province . I invite Grand Lod ge to a further and fuller consideration of this subject . If it is desirable to continue this regulation it should be made a constitutional

enactment ; and it appears to me that if continued it should be made to apply to brothers hailing from lodges in our own province , as well as to those coming fiom other jurisdictions .

The European practice is to insist upon the Production of a Grand Lodge certificate , as a proof that the applicant has been made a Mason > n a regular lodge . On this continent the production of the certificate is not generally required ,

Grand Lodge Of New Brunswick.

though it is in some p laces . However , the brethren have now had several months' experience of the practice , and they ought to be able to say whether its continuance is or is not desirable . The Constitution of Grand Lodge provides for

the existence of a Charity Fund , to be-styled the " Fund of Benevolence , " for the relief of poor and distressed brethren , or the widows and orphans of deceased brethren in good standing , upon the request of Grand Lodge . Up to the present time this fund exists only in name , and I earnestly urge upon Grand Lodge to consider

whether some practical steps cannot be taken towards the creation of the fund . If we begin in ever so humble a manner something even then will be achieved . Out of the surplus now on hand at least 200 dols . might be funded and placed at interest for this purpose . I sincerely believe that a fund created for such a laudable

object will rapidly grow , and will commend itself to the warm consideration of charitable and w ^ ll-disposed brothers ; but until a commencement is made by Grand Lodge the " donations" contemplated by the Constitution are not likely to be received from individuals . The

establishment of the fund itself is a duty the performance of which we ought no longer to postpone . In Fredericton , last winter , Solomon ' s Lodge and St . Andrew ' s Lodge united in the formation of a Lodge of Instruction , principally upon the

model of " Emulation Lodge of Instruction , " held in St . John by the Grand Secretary , and which proved of great benefit to the Craft here . The lodge at Fredericton worked very satisfactorily . St . George ' s Lodge , No . 60 , recently gave its permission to a cumber of its members

resident in Pennfieldtoholda Lodgeof Instruction in the Temperance Hall at that place ; but I have asked the lodge not to act upon its resolution until your opinion is given upon the subject . It appears to me that a very important principle

is involved . With the desire of the brothers at Pennfield to receive Masonic instruction we must all heartily sympathise ; but we must consider the effect of allowing a Lodge of Instruction to be worked elsewhtre than in the village

A : MMJS ^ ra ^ P-gi ^ itself is held , and in a different plac &^ gT meeting from the lodge room , away , perhapfj | . from the control of the Master . If a lodgeVmay authorize such a Lodge of Instruction in one place , may it not authorise a similar lodge

in another ; and what limit is thereupon its powers in this respect ? I ask your serious consideration of this important matter . ' A complaint was received from Alley Lodge , No . — , to the effect that Lewey Island Lodge of Princeton , Maine , had refused to examine or

receive in any way as a visitor Bro . , of that lodge . It did not appear , however , that Lewey Island Lodge declined to receive as visitors all of the members of Alley Lodge . The objection appears to have been made simply to an individual brother , and recognizing as I

do the ri ght of a lodge to refuse admission to a visitor who may be objectionable , I did not deem it advisable to interfere . Of course , it is our duty to secure for our subordinate lodges , from the Masonic powers with which we are in amity , every right to which they are entitled ;

and whilst it is sometimes difficult to prevent differences among lodges of different jurisdictions whose territory is contiguous , yet our relations with the Grand Lodge of Maine are of the most satisfactory kind , and we can rely on its best efforts in aid of our own to promote peace and harmony .

In conclusion , I have to thank the various officers of Grand Lodge and the Board of General Purposes , and many members of the Craft , of every station and rank , for the advice or assistance rendered me , as I have asked it , in the discharge of my official duties . The

courtesy and kindness shown towards me personall y 1 gratefull y appreciate . Whilst the cheerfulness with which assistance has been rendered me has not only lightened my own labours , and made the performance of them very pleasant , it

has also shown to me what must be equall y pleasing to you all , the deep and hearty interest that is felt by so many of our brothers in the welfare of this ancient and honourable fraternity .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"The History and Antiquities of Freemasonry . " Bro . G . J . FORT , Putnam , Philadelphia . —Sampson , Low , Son , and Marston London . ' We welcome this and all other like contributions to Masonic history and archaeology . The

history is well got up , and most carefull y put together , and reflects the greatest credit on the industry and research of the author . The novelty of his treatment of an "oft-told tale" consists in this , that Bro . Fort takes back Freemasonry practically to the Scandinavian mysteries ,

and also seems to think that it is of Byzantine origin , with a Judaic colouring , and came into Lombardy , via Venice , soon after that the Roman Empire became Christian . As we understand his work , he accepts the operative basis as one side of the true history of the Order , and

takes Bro . Findel ' s view of a 12 th century creation , ignoring any question of the Roman guilds j but he also subjoins a theory of an occult side to the teachings of Freemasonry , a counterpart of which is found in the Scandinavian and other mysteries .

Among other peculiarities of his theory is that which looks upon the Locke MS ., as it is called , as authentic , upon " internal " evidence too . Now this we do not profess to understand . The whole history ofthe so-called MS . is so full of suspicion that it is impossible to accept the

statements respecting it . This is an English formulary , said to have been re-translated from a German pamphlet , which professes to have been published at Frankfort in 1748 . But no one has ever yet seen the German pamphlet , nor the English MS . of which it was an alleged translation .

About 1756 this so-called MS . appeared in the " Gentleman ' s Magazine , " as a translation from the German , or , rather , a translation of a German book translated originally fromjthe English . Who was the author of this ingenious mystification nowhere appears , probably one of that Rosicrucian fraternity , then very busy and restless .

From its internal evidence alone it has long been given up by all English students of MSS . Its archaisms are- not the archaisms of Henry VI ., and are evidently , it is said , archaisms for a purpose . We regret that Bro . Fort should , in the face of all critical studies in this country ,

boldly announce that from " internal evidence " he accepts the document . All , we think , that can be said of it possibly is this , that it represents an old Masonic catechism , of some sort , but garbled and added to , and greatly expanded , by the " fraus pia" of some ingenious mystifier . As an evidence of any value we must reject it

utterly . Bro . Fort , we see , placts Pius VII . in 1738 , an anachronism which may be a typographical error , and we might take exception to one or two statements , or , rather , perhaps deductions , drawn from a mistaken view of the force of certain evidence . But it is useless our going over the same ground again , as our views are well known . Bro . Fort seems to think that it is

now pretty clear that the Anglo-Saxon guild system is not a perpetuation of the Roman one , but if he accepts , as we do , the Anglo-Saxon guild system as the precursor of the mediaeval guilds , so , to be consistent , he must go back to the Roman and pre-Christian guilds for the

origin of the Anglo-Saxon guilds . But though we do not agree with all Bro . Fort ' s views , we have read his work with much pleasure , and can conscientiously commend it to all Masonic students . Bro . Fortwrites clearly and agreeably , and jf he does not always convince , at any rate

he always pleases . His book cannot have been put together without much of thought , care , and study , and we are glad to note that in the United States so many valuable works are now appearing , all tending to prove that there is much literary activity amongst our intelligent brethren in America . w . ¦__ .

HOLLOWAY ' S PI LLS A . VD OINTMENT . —The seeds of disease arc often unconsciously sown by some neglect of those precautions which are so necessary in this changeable climate of ours . The earlier symptoms of deranged health are often neglected , anil hence another great source of after consequences ot' a serious charater arises . Amongst the precautions , most necessary at the change of season , is that of attention to the clothing , and to the advert of any cough or throat disorder , which should at once be treated by these remedies , which will quickl y remove all chance of their taking hold of the system and producing consumptive symptoms . A few doses of these Pills tire the best remedy for all hepatic and dyspeptic symptoms . —ADVT ,