Original Correspondence.

desire to join the Committee , and so apprise me or the honorary Secretary , I am confident the wish will be respected . I am , faithfully and fraternally , yours , JOHN B . MONCKTON , Chairman of Committee . Queen Anne ' s Mansion , S . W ., 3 rd May , 1 SS 1 .

FRENCH FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have just received the Freemason of the 30 th ult ., and , in response to your invitation , I hasten to write you to request you kindly to publish , on behalf of the

French branch of the family of Freemasons , our repudiation of such base Jesuitical calumnies as those which tend to make believe that we approve | of murder , under any form whatever . Our most advanced Radical brothers ( and , believe me , we have some very advanced gentlemen amongst us here ) heard with horror * the news of the

assassination of the late Czar . It is difficult to write on such a matter , far more so than it would be to explain in lodge , suffice it to say , that when at the next meeting of our lodge I translate your paragraph , I am convinced that our brothers will feel heartily grateful to you for the opportunity of repudiating such vile assertions . Unfortunately ,

we have many enemies in France , and principally amongst the Roman Catholic clergy—probably they assume that since the suppression of the words G . A . O . T . U . as a sine qua non in Freemasonry , the clergy imagine that there are but Freethinkers here . Allow me to state that last Thursday evening we initiated an Englishman amongst us ,

and I was happy to see two other English gentlemen on the platform next to me . We are , it appears , all but excommunicated by our English brethren . Is this liberal ? At a future time I intend to exert my strength to raise this stone from hanging around our necks , and then , through the medium of the Freemason , 1 trust to do a great deal to

reunite in the bonds of fraternity the Freemasons of the two most enlightened countries of the world . Since you mention the proposed combination of all Freemasons in France , permit me to say a few words on this subject . Personally , I am a member of the G . Loge Symbolique Ecossaise , otherwise termed the Dissident Lodire

so called because Jwe left the Grand Orient to establish a self-ruling government . Whilst . ' under the supremacy of the Grand Orient our liberty was very constrained . I firmly hope the time is not far distant when the " fusion " will be complete , and which will include you—our British brethren —with it . Already our Masonic Orphanages are

amalgamating , and wc visit at one another's lodges very freely . This is a step in the right direction ; no opposing bodies in Freemasonry can ever have sectional differences sufficiently strong enough to overthrow a good intent founded upon the undaunted perseverance of hardworkers in the interests of Masonry , especially when some of the workers ,

including the writer , are Englishmen . Unfortunately we are " very poor , very different to our English brothers ; we have a heavy load of responsibility in keeping up our orphan asylums and our widows' home . I do not like to beg , but , by virtue of my being an Englishman , if any of your readers will favour us with some

donations on behalf of the poor parentless children , they will really be doing a grand act of Masonic charity , and my countrymen are so large-hearted that 1 am confident my appeal on behalf of the ' . ' poor orphans ] will meet with a hearty response . Cheques can be sent either to me at address , as below , or to the lodge as follows :

I Au Ven . Pichenot , I La Ligne Droitc , ! 20 , Rue Richer , Paris . 1 Enclosed is circular of our gathering . Pardon the length j of my communication , and I have the honour to remain , I dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally ,

JOSEPH LAMBERT . ! 10 , Cite Trevise , Paris , i Mays , 1881 . ¦ P . S . —You would also perhaps not object to receive donaions for this charitable object . [ We publish this letter on two grounds ; first , on the

principle of courtesy to a foreign brother , and secondly , as an appeal to charity . But we feel bound to say that we neither approve of the proceedings of the G . Orient of France or of the "Dissident G . Lodge . " Is our brother correct in saying he left the G . Orient ? Surely the G . L . Symbolique left the Rite Ecossais . —ED . F . M . J

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " fear Sir and Brother , — I find the question raised by your " Perplexed Subscriber " in last Saturday ' s issue of the Freemason is

reall y an important one , and one that is not easily answered I find . Will you , therefore , as desired , enlighten your r . eaders generally , and particularly myself , who , as a young Mason , am always ready to receive instruction . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , WALTER POTTER .

PRINTERS' MISTAKES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — , ' sometimes see ludicrous errors made in all our Public papers , without any exception , and even the Free-

Original Correspondence.

mason is not exempt from them . As a consolation to fellow-sufferers I forward Miss Fanny Fudge ' s lines to her cousin Kitty , complaining of the misdoings of those " dreadful printers , " which will both amuse and edify : But 'tis dreadful to think what provoking mistakes ,

The vile country press in one's prosody makes , For you know , dear—I may without vanity , hint—Though an angel should write , 'tis devils must print ; And you can't think what havnc these demons sometimes Choose to make of one ' s sense , and , what's worse , of one's rhymes .

But a week or two since , in my " Ode upon Spring , " Which I meant to have made a most beautiful thing ; When I talk'd of the "dewdrops from freshly-blown roses , " The nasty things made it from " frcshly-blown noses ;"

And once , when , to please my cross aunt , I had tried To commemorate some saint of her clique who'd just died j Having said he had "tak'n up in heaven his position , " They made it , he'd " taken up to heaven his physician . " I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , ANTI-ERROR .

Reviews.

Reviews .

REPORT-OF THE CENTENARY FESTIVAL OF ST . HILDA'S LODGE , No . 240 . By Bro . J . H . THOMPSON , S . D . J . Roddam , 1 , East-place , South Shields . 1 SS 0 . This is a very neat and clear little " resume " of the history of the well-known St . Hilda ' s Lodge . It is just a hundred years old—being founded in 17 S 0 . There is in its

history nothing very eventful or peculiarly abmormal , but having just completed its " century " we are glad to note its history . In former days it had much intercourse , and was visited , with good Masons like Lord Durham , Sir Cuthbcrt Sharp , Sir Hedworth Williamson , and Bro . John Fawcett , iand we ourselves can recall a very pleasant

meeting in 1 S 46 , or 1 S 47 , ° f the Provincial Grand Lodge at South Shields , though , alas , many arc missing of all ranks who then made up that cheery and goodly company . How time flies , and how Masons like other men quit this sublunary scene , leaving the good old lodge still to remind other and younger brethren of happy days , of innocent sociality , and faithful work .

THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN OXFORDSHIRE . By BRO . E . L . HAWKINS . VV . E . Bowden , 59 , High-street , Oxford .

A MEMOIR OF THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD . Reprinted by permission from the Times . Longmans , Green , and Co . It is impossible for us , for many potent reasons , which wc need not further advert to fully , to review this interesting little " brochure , " reprinted from the Times . All wc can

fairl y and properly do is to note its existence , and to add that it is both a well written essay and an interesting compilation . It is too general to please some , perhaps ; too much on the surface , and slurs ever easily and contentedly details and facts which have an abiding ' interest for many readers , but as Masonic reviewers , such little " blots , " if they be "blots , " after all , are praiseworthy rather than blameworthy in our eyes .

INSTRUCTIONS PHILOSOPHIOUES SUR LA FRANCMACONNERIE . Par B " ro . FLEUUV . Brussels : Henry Kistemachers , 29 , Rue Royale , 1 SS 1 . These " Philosophic Instructions" are interesting to receive and to read , but they do not in various ways very much enlighten or attract English Freemasons , and for this reason . The lessons we teach are " moral" not "

philoso-, phical , " and "practical , " rather than " abstract . " Abroad the tendency is to ignore moral teaching , especially as based on the Bible , and to put forward an humanitarian philosophy simply , which , if fascinating in words , seems to us visionary in its " outcome , " and has no solid foundation of any kind to rest upon and no safe assurance to offer to the enquiring and agitated mind of man . No

doubt a good deal may always be said from the side of socalled " natural revelation . " English Freemasonry bases all its symbolical teaching and its moral injunctions on the revealed word and will of God , and though French writers have found fault with what they term this "fanaticism " and ' [ inconsistency" of English Freemasonry , yet , in truth , it is its pride and boast , nay , the essential condition

Of its very life . There is , no doubt , a true Masonic philosophy , but then it is one which is permeated by the wholesome and unchanging declarations of God ' s Word , and English Freemasonry would cease to be Freemasonry if it ever let go its use ; of and reverence for that " Great Light" of the lodge , without which no English lodge can safely proceed to " work" at all . Hencethenwe have

, , to be on ourguard against foreign philosophic Freemasonry . This little book is well edited , and has an interest for the " student" who wishes to master the habits and teaching of other jurisdictions . It is a well printed " necessaire " of 79 pages , but a Masonry which knows nothing of * ' prayer" or the " Bible , " of the name of T . G . A . O . T . U ., seems to us such a mournful apostacy from the " orieinal

foundation and sacred landmarks of our Order , that it hardly appears worthy of the name of " Freemasonry" at all . We note that at the end the form is given of that mischievous foreign custom , the Masonic adoption and reception of children , called the " protectorat Maconmque . " We thank our brother and correspondent for calling our attention to the work , and hope he will not find fault with our honestly expressed opinion of it .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

RAMSAY AND JACOBITE MASONRY . I note what Bro . Clifford McCalla says in a recent number of the Keystone on these heads , quoting my words in "Kenning's Cyclopaedia , " but I admit af once that J had done a little " shecpwalking , " having accepted Ragon s and 1 'indel ' s statements in faith , without criticism or enquiry . Subsequent researches have led me to doubt the fact as a fact , and I am now pretty nearly convinced that Ramsay had as little to do with the High Grades and Jacobite Alasonry as he had with the modern Grand Lodtre .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

with Dermott , or the Royal Arch . No doubt his original oration remains , though of 1737 , not of 1740 , and in this address , able as it is , is to be found the " germ" of all knightly Masonry , and probably of the Templar movement , of the "Chapter of Clermont " and Von Hund " . The alleged patent of 1745 at Arras , by Charles Edward Stuart , is , I apprehend , whatever it was , the real beginning of Jacobite Masonry in France , though it is equally clear that

the movement begun at Paris , by Maclean , Lord Denventwater , Lord Harnouester , Maskelyne , Heguerty , and others was also a Jacobite use of Masonry . If that movement was a High Grade movement it would Confirm the language of Long Livers in 1721 , and it is just possible that we shall have to throw back the antiquity of the High Grades considerably , and so re-write that part of our

Masonic history which is now clearly no longer supportable or tenable . I am merely writing in the common interest of historical accuracy , and carefully eschew any controversy or comparison as between Craft Masonry and the High Grades , believing myself that the time has Come when we should dismiss all hasty prepossessions and prejudices , and seek to advance and uphold the ever sacred reality of historic truth . THE EDITOR OF YOUR "CYCLOPAEDIA . "

Stability Lodge Of Instruction.

STABILITY LODGE OF INSTRUCTION .

The sixty-fourth anniversary of the Stability Lodge of Instruction was commemorated on Friday evening , the 29 th ult ., at Masons' Hall Tavern , in Coleman-street . These anniversary meetings have always been interesting , and have frequently been remarkable for the very able speeches that have been delivered at them by some of the

most notable members of the Craft . The skill of Bro . Muggeridge as an instructor , and the proficiency his pupils manifested on these occasions in working the elaborated Stability form of ritual , always secured a large gathering , and ; all but young Masons can remember the crush and heat that had to be endured on these occasions , even in the large rooms of Radley ' s and Cannon-street Hotels .

lor some years , however , the advanced age of Bro . Muggeridge has caused a cessation of these anniversary Stability festivals ; and it is , we believe , only under exceptional circumstances that the meetingof Friday , the 2 pth ult ., washeld ; butitgaveus miichpleasuretoobservethat though our esteemed Bro . Muggeridge may find his strength unequal to the | efforts of former years , he appeared in

excellent health , and remarkably vigorous for a man of his age . The meeting was under the presidency of the V . W . Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., Past Grand Chaplain of England , who occupied in lodge the position of Immediate P . M ., at the left of the chair , which was , of course , occupied by the VV . Bro . Henry Mujrn-erid £ re , P . M ..

W . M ., whose oflicers on the occasion were Bros . Scriven , Arnold , Sack , Anderson , Stcingraber , Arkell , and Birdseye . The following is a list of most of the brethren who attended : Bros . Henry Muggeridge , VV . M . ; J . Bagot Scriven , S . W ., P . G . Stcwd . ; Charles Arnold , J . W . ; Alfred Sack , S . D . ; Eustace Anderson , J . D . ; Louis Steingrabcr , I . G . ; Charles Arkell , Hon . " Sec ; Henry

Birdseye , D . of C . ; A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . Chap . ; J . Sampson , ' Peirce , G . D . ; E . M . J Hubbuck , P . G . Steward . ; George Kenning , P . G . D . Middlesex ; VV . Hopekirk , J . G . ; Webb , Richard Webb , King , Reddall , Hemsley , Stoncr , T . Cohu , Percy Taylor , H . L . Buck , H . Cuff , Colliver , Harper , T , Fletcher , Hubbard , Diron , W . Grellier , T . R . Earncs , E . F . Storr , L H . Weedon , VV . R . Brook , Westmore , A . C . Cope , F . W . Brainc , G . Stevvd . ; W . Birdseye , W . T . Rickwood , Richard Conder , H . Leah

, S . T . Lucas , Ernest Zwinger , Richard W . Muggeridge , C . W . Spiller , F . H . Spiller , Britain , F . D . R . Copestick , James H . Townend , S . Wood , Joseph Clever , E . C . Massey ( Freemason ) , and a number of other brethren , in all between seventy and eighty . Bro . Frederick H . Cozens , at the pianoforte . Contrary to an expectation there was no working of

Sections , but the three ceremonies were worked by Bro . Muggeridge and his Officers , and we need not say that the fullest justice was done to them . When Bro . Muggeridge had concluded his labours , the chair was assumed by the President , when votes of thanks to Bro . Muggeridge and to the brethren who had assisted him for the able manner in which the work had been done

were passed and ordered to be recorded on the minutes . The formal business of confirming the minutes of the previous meeting was then gone through , and a considerable number of brethren , having been duly proposed and seconded , were added to the roll of members of the Stability Lodge of Instruction . « . The brethren then adjourned to an upper room , where excellent

an cold collation was provided for their very necessary refreshment after the working , which was not concluded till eight o'clock . After the customary toast of' [ The Queen and the Craft " had been given and received with all loyal demonstrations , in opening the final stage of the evening's proceedings the Chairman , Bro . WOODFORD , rose and said : Brethrenthe

, second toast upon our programme is one that is always gratifying to the Chairman at a Masonic meeting , as it is to the members of our always loyal Craft , who are proud to have the heir apparent to the throne as the Grand Master of their Order . We all desire that the intimate union between the Royal Famil y and Freemasonry may be maintained . The loyalty of the Order to the House of

Brunswick has never wavered or faltered . About 100 years ago English Freemasons assured another Prince of Wales , then G . M ., that they were all loyal to the Throne at all times and under all circumstances . I allude to this now because a foolish writer has been stating , as you will see in the Freemason , that Freemasons are Nihilists , and because I am sure that you would wish it to go forth to the world that we

indignantly deny the charge , and proclaim ourselves ever loyal subjects of the Crown . Considering it , as we do , a very great privilege to have His Royal Highness at our head , I am sure you will cordially respond when I propose as 1 do now , " The Health of the M . W . Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . "

It is scarcely necessary to say that this speech was loudly cheered , and the Grand Master's health drunk with enthusiasm and strongly marked Masonic honours . The CHAIRMAN' : The third toast is peculiarly welcome to all Freemasons , the health of those who preside over and conduct the business of Grand Lodge now , and of those who have occupied those important oositions in the past—