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Government , monarchial or Republican , autocratic or democratic , will allow a society lo claim the privileges and position of a " secret society , " discuss . affairs of social importance or matters of contemporary controversy , whether religious or secular , has always « seemed to us the height of folly , ignorance , and blindness . We only hope that the French Freemasons will be " timely wise , " and " retrace their steps , " and refuse to be led by ill-omened advisers into a " morass " from which there will be no extrication for them .

# * * WE call attention to the proceedings at the consecration of the Lodge ot King Solomon , which we print elsewhere , as they will have much interest for many of our readers . The Temperance question has risen to such prominence of late years that it was pretty certain sooner or later to touch Freemasonry . It has done so , and our readers can read another proof of its progress , and Bro . Dr . RICHARDSON ' S defence of the movement and its

objects . The question of Temperance , like many other subject matters today of thought and discussion , has a right to a fair hearing , especially in an order like ours , which professes to admire the too often forgotten virtues of fairness , impartiality , justice , and light . Dr . J OHNSON liked to say that the highest praise you could award to any one was being a " Fair Man , " and Freemasons are always bound , whether they agree or disagree , to listen to reasonable suggestions in a spirit of courtesy and impartiality , and judge with fairness and decide with consideration .

* * WE understand that Bro . Sir H . EDWARDS , Bart ., has resigned the office of Prov . Grand Master for West Yorkshire . The rulership of that most important province is no light affair , and its zealous and energetic brethren may fairly expect a thoroughly distinguished and hard-working head . We know of no province which has in various ways done so much for Freemasonry , has been so united , happy , and devoted , so well governed , and so fruitful in Masonic results .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday evening , in the Temple . The Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro Grand Master , presided , and among the other Present and Past Grand Officers who attended were-Bros . Lord Cremorne , G . S . W . ; Dr . Cox , as G . J . W . '; Dr . John Robbins , G . Chap , j Horace 13 . Marshall , G . Treas . ; F . A . Philbrick , G . Reg . ; Sir J . B . Monckton , Pres .

Board Gen . Purposes ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec . ; Dr . Wendt , G . S . Ger . Cor . ; Baron de Ferrieres , G . S . D . ; Fred . Davison , G . S . D . ; E . Letchworth , G . J . D . ; Lieut .-Col . Taylor , G . Std . Br . ; Horace Jones , G . Supt . Wks . ; Sir Albert Woods ( Garter ) , G . D . C . ; Griffiths Smith , as G . D . C ; W . Stephens , G . Purst . ; H . Garrod , Asst . G . Purst . ; H . Buss , Asst . G . Sec ; J . H . Matthews , G . Std . Br . ; John Havers , P . G . W . ; H . D . Sandeman , P . D . G . M . Bengal ; Rev . Ambrose Hall , P . G . C . ; H . A .

Pickard , P . G . C . ; C . W . Arnold , P . G . C . ; T . Cochrane , P . G . C . ; H . G . Morse , P . G . C . ; C . W . Spencer Stanhope , P . G . C . ; J . Studholme Brownrigg , P . G . C . ; Col . Creaton , P . G . Treas . j | as . Glaisher , P . G . D . ; R . Grey , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; C . W . Hutton , P . G . D . j W . A . F . Powell , P . G . D . ; John Sampson Peirce , P . G . D . ; Col . H . Somerville-Burncy , P . G . D . ; Brackstone Baker , P . G . D . ; T . H . Devonshire , P . G . D . ; T . Fenn , P . G . D .:

J . H . Scott , P . G . D . ; Peter de Lande Long , P . G . D . ; Ralph Gooding , P . G . D . ; " Robert F . Gould , P . G . D . ; Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Charles A . Murton , P . G . D . ; Frank Green , P . G . D . ; H . Maudsley , P . G . D . ; Jabez Hogg , P . G . D . ; H . K . Gumbleton , P . G . D . ; Henry J . Dumas , P . G . D . ; Charles Hutton Gregory , P . G . D . ; j . E . Saunders , P . G . D . ; Magnus Ohren , P . G . A . D . C ; Raymond H . Thrupp , P . D . A . D . C ; Thomas Dolling Bolton , P . D . G . D . C . ; Jas . Lewis-Thomas

P . G . A . D . C ; Edgar Bowyer , P . G . Std . Br . ; Col . James Peters , P . G . Swd . Br . ; George Lambert , P . G . Swd . Br . ; C Greenwood , P . G . Swd . Br . ; James Brett , P . G . Purst . ; C A . Cottebrune , P . G . Purst . ; T . Cubitt , P . G . Purst . ; L . F . Littell , P . G . Purst . ; Ockenden , Tattershall , J . L . Mather , Capt . Nicols , N . B . Headon , J . Willing , E . C . Mather , James Terry , T . Hamer , G . Hudson , T . C . Walls , G . P . Festa , S . B . Wilson , XV . Lake , T . Hastings Miller , Fredk . Binckes , Dodd , J . Mason , H . A . Dubois , Edmands

George Kenning , F . R . W . Hedges , H . Venn , C Hammerton , XV . M . Stiles , W . J . Spratling , G . J . Dawson , C . F . Matier , E . F . Storr , H . Wright , H . Dehane , Lemon , Pendlebury , and Lee . After Grand Lodge had bcen opened , Bro . G . P . BRITTEN called the Grand Master ' s attention to the circumstance that printed papers had bcen distributed as on former occasions , when he also called attention to it ,

directing brethren how to vote for members of the Board of General Purposes , which he thought was contrary to good taste and altogether improper . It was obvious to all that some one had to pay for thc printing , and hc would like to be informed whether the papers were in any way issued by the authority of the Board of General Purposes , or paid for by the Board or out of any Masonic fund .

Sir J B . MONCKTON said this was thc last time hc should have to address Grand Lodge as President of the Board , but he had said on former occasions , and said now , that the Board of General Purposes had nothing to do with it , and he knew nothing about it beyond the fact that they did not pay for it , and did not know who did .

Bro . J AMES STEVENS , as one of the candidates , also complained , and considered himself prejudiced by these canvassing papers . The Earl of CARNARVON said Sir John Monckton who , for the last time was present as President of the Board of General Purposes , had told the brethren that the papers was not issued b y the authority or with sanction of the Board . It seemed to him ( the Earl of Carnarvon ) a paper which in fact derived authority from no known person , and though it might be possible to prevent it , he was free to say he did not approve of it . Beyond that he

though it was quite possible that after the expressions of opinion some change might take place in the proceedings , and that was all he had to say on this subject . The balloting papers were then distributed , and the election of members of the Board of General Purposes proceeded with . The Scrutineers of votes were chosen , and Bro . Robert Grey , P . G . D ., was appointed Chairman . The minules of the Quarterly Communication of the 5 th March , the

minutes of the Special Grand Lodge of the 24 th April , the minutes of the Grand Festival of the 30 th April , and the minutes of the Special Grand Lodge at Peterborough of the 7 th ' May were read and confirmed . The GRAND SECRETARY reported that he had received letters from the Oueen ,-the Prince of Wales , and the Duchess of Albany , in reply to the

votes of condolence on the death of the Duke of Albany passed on the 24 th April . These letters having been read , the Earl of CARNARVON moved , and Bro . H . D . SANDEMAN , P . Dist . G . M . of Bengal , seconded , that they be entered on the minutes . The motion was carried .

United Grand Lodge.

The Earl oi CARNARVON rose and said : Before wc proceed to the next business which stands on the agenda paper , I have a communication of an important character to make from thc Grand Master . I could have wished that this communication were entered on the agenda paper , it would have been more in due form that it should be so : but whatever blame attaches to

any delay in furnishing the resolution , I have to move attaches to myself . Brethren , everyone here present has probably seen an encyclical letter of the Pope which appeared in many public prints , with reference to Freemasonry in general . I believe it would nol be our duty if , on this the first and earliest occasion we meet after thc publication of that encyclical , we were to separate without some notice of it . I have felt it my duty from this chair lo propose

to you the course which I think it is wise and dignified for us" to take . It is a duty which none of us can covet , but which , like many other duties , we are sometimes bound to accept , and I hope that in the few words which I shall say this evening on this question I shall only speak in that measured language of respect which is due to thc head of the Roman Catholic Church . " . All the more do 1 say this and feci it that I respect him not merely as the

Roman Pontiff , but as a statesman who succeeding to a great post—a great political post—in critical times , has shown his statesmanship with ability and I think discretion . Now , the letter to which 1 have to call your attention is a very long one ; it contains a variety of topics , and it would occupy far too much time if I were to attempt either to read it or to summarise it . It commences , by making a certain exception in favour of individuals . A certain

portion again of it is devoted to what I may call Italian politics and to the relations of the Papal Court to other foreign . Powers , with which , of course , this Grand Lodge has nothing to do . And a part again is devoted to a consideration of that which . we must all condemn' in literature , in morals , in practice in the present day . Having so far disposed of those , points on ' which no issue need be raised , 1 now approach those topics which intimately

concern us—and I think this encyclical falls into these two great errors—in the first place it confounds all Masonic bodies in all parts of the world in a common and sweeping charge of condemnation , and it next proceeds to confound all those Masonic bodies with infidels or , as it terms them , " naturalists in religion , " and the revolutionists and anarchists in politics . Now , I hold here a copy of this encyclical , and I observe that it imputes ,

amongst other things , these charges to the whole Masonic body without discrimination and without qualification . It charges us with treating matri- mony in the lightest possible spirit , and regarding it as no bond or tie * , it accuses us of separating education from religion and morals ; and it charges us with a dissemination of . vice and vicious principles for the purpose of corrupting thc morals of thc young ; and lastly it imputes

to us all those monstrous charges which are included under thc titles of sedition , revolution , socialism , and communism . ( Laughter . ) Now , brethren , it is perhaps right that I should , for thc purpose of substantiating what I say , read a very few words from this encyclical . It says that we hold that matrimony belongs to thc class of business engagements , that it can be broken off at thc will of those who contracted it and by right ;

that in the educating and teaching of children wc exclude thc ministers of the Church from the supervision and instruction of them , and that in moral instruction nothing is to be brought in which is to bind man to God by the great and holy sanction of religion . It says we treat as idle fables the redemption of the human race , heavenly grace , thc sacraments , and tho attaining of felicity in Heaven ; that wc claim our right to say that there is

a God , or to say that there is no God ; that we maintain that the masses of the people , by every art and design , are to be saturated with an unlimited licence to vice , for , this being secured , they will be in thc power of the sect to attempt anything and everything at its bidding ; and , lastly , it adds that our ultimate end is to aim to overthrow that discipline and social order which Christianity has founded , and to erect

upon its throne a new one after its own principles and foundations of disorder . Now , brethren , it is my duty , and I hold it to be the duty of Grand Lodge this night , on the first occasion which has becn givcn to it to protest against these unfounded charges , and in protesting to affirm w ' ith all the force and all the solemnity we can bring to bear that they are founded upon a complete and total misapprehension of Freemasonry . Brethren , I

am not here to-night to defend all Masonic bodies m all parts of the world . As we desire to stand perfectly clear ourselves , so let us not take any ground that is not absolutely correct . I grieve to'think that there arc some Masonic bodies that have laid themselves open to many of the charges which this encyclical letter contains ; but , on the other hand , I fearlessly deny that there has been anything , directly or indirectly , by word or by deed , that can

sully the fair fame either of this Grand Lodge ' or any lodge under its rule . Brethren , if I desired to appeal for evidence on this subject , where should I turn ? I should point to you our rules , our ancient charges , our Book of Constitutions , one and all breathing a spirit of religion and of obedience to the law . I hope I might go further , and , taking thc Masonic bodies of England as a whole , I might point to our different lodges and to our members

and say that in life , in morals , they are not unworthy of their great professions , and , lastly , I should turn to that long line of illustrious rulers who have governed this Craft , whose pictures till last year , before this hall was consumed by fire , hung on those walls , and , above all , to our present Grand Master himself , and I would ask any one , any fair and impartial bystander , whether it was conceivable that an Order founded I say upon these laws ,

governed by'these traditions , ruled by these rulers , could ever be open to the monstrous charges which I have just now read . If , indeed . any further illustration were needed of what I have now said I would remind you of two comparatively recent facts . Four years ago I think it was this Grand Lodge , without one single dissenting voice , having taken into consideration , in thc calmest and most solemn manner , the course of action which had been

pursued by a large portion of French lodges , who erased from their title-deeds and charters the affirmation of the immortality of the soul and the belief in a Supreme God—I say this Grand Lodge having taken that into its calm consideration , then resolved , without one dissenting voice , without one hand being held up against it , to break off , painful as it might be , all communion with the French lodges . That was the first evidence in recent times

to which I would appeal ; and I might now turn to one event so recent that it has been illustrated in the minutes which we have heard read this evening —an occasion in which I took a part , and in which many here present took a part—I mean the laying of the corner-stone of a tower of Peterborough Cathedral . When any one who was present on that memorable scene

recalls how thc bishop and clergy , stood arrayed in their places , how the volunteer citizens , the defenders of order and social right , stood marshalled in long lines , how men of every class and every profession , men to whom - religion and social order might be deemed to have been the dearest object of their hearts—when I say we remember that those men