Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

PAGE M ASONIC HISTORIANS , No . i . — Bro . Findel 13 ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS ... 13

POETRYStrike for the Just and True 13 ANCIENT AND MODERN MYSTERIES . 14 ANNUAL PROVINCIAL FESTIVAL AT GLASGOW 14 THE

CRAFT—, Metropolitan 15 Provincial 16 Scotland 17 ORDERS OF

CHIVALRYProvincial ... ... ... ... ... ... . 17 BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS 18 MASONIC RITES iS

MULTUM IN PARVO 19 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCEAn "Si 2 th Anniversary" 20 A Re-echo 20 OPENING OF A NEW MARK MASTERS' LODGE AT

SLEAFORD 20 THE J EWELS OF THE LODGE 20 A MASONIC PRAYER 20

OUR EXCHANGES •... 21 GRAND MASONIC BALL AT PRESCOT 21 THE MANCHESTER FREEMASONS' CLUH 21 THE ROSICRUCIAN : A TALE OF COLOGNE ... 22 MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT WEEK 21

Masonic Historians.—No. I.

MASONIC HISTORIANS . —No . I .

Bro . FINDEL . BY WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN .

( Continued from page 1 . ) The author of the " History of Freemasonry" ( Bro . Findel ) devotes much space to the " Introduction , " and favours his

readers with a really excellent sketch of Freemasonry as a valuable social and moral Institution , which has faithfully fulfilled its mission by inclining " its members to love and charity , to moral courage and fortitude ,

to truth and the conscientious discharge of known duties ; and has comforted the afflicted , brought back the erring to the path of virtue , dried the tears of widows and orphans , and become the parent of many an

institution for benevolent purposes . " Up to the commencement of the present century few but Germans wrote intelligently on the origin of the Fraternity , and among the foremost to whose researches we are much

indebted , Lessing , Herder , hitchc , Krausc , Scydel , and Fcsslcr are enumerated . Bro . Findel quotes the following eloquent panegyric on Freemasons with approval , but we fear lodges generally fall short of so

grand and lofty an ideal , for how many of us can truly say that "To present a life passed according to the dictates of reason and godliness is regarded by each member as a study , an art , and therefore engages each

one to strive to perfect himself in some particular . A noble emulation prevails in the Fraternity , and the desire to offer something which may in some degree be worthy of such an assembly , incites each one faithfully

and assiduousl y to appropriate to himself whatever seems to be marked out for him in his particular sphere . The more ready the members are to communicate their

thoughts to each other , the more perfect will be their fellowship . No one member has his knowled ge from himself alone , he is at the same time a participator in the knowledge of others . " ( Schericlmacher . )

Could but this conception be realised in part , Freemasonry would be more entitled than ever to our regard , for it would then be pal pable that our aim is to diffuse truth

Masonic Historians.—No. I.

beauty and goodness around us , and to further the welfare of mankind in obedience to God ' s laws , and with no selfish ends in view . To promote the hig hest aims of the Craft Bro . Findel ' s work stands by the side of

the great Masonic works of the Rev . Dr . George Oliver , and breathes throughout a devotion and enthusiasm for the grand principles of the Fraternity , and at the same time contains such a mass of interesting

information , and is so accurate and trustworthy respecting the Ancient and Modern History of Freemasonry , that we p lace it on the hi ghest step towards Masonic historical perfection yet attained by any Mason .

Bro . Findel well observes that genuine Masonry has to deal with man as man , and by making its followers good men , it necessarily trains them to be good members of

the religious communities to which they belong . The hostile attitude ' assumed by the Roman Catholic and other churches towards

Freemasonry ( whereverithas not been abandoned ) is not , nor ever will be , a proof of the mischievous tendency of this institution , but only of unfounded misrepresentations and inventions , and above all , ignorance of its real

nature and influence . Freemasonry is neutral ground for all politicalopinions and religious creeds , and within its Fraternity all political and religious controversies , which so greatly embitter life and set mankind at variance , are happily avoided .

Wc think the absurd statement or fancy that the Craft is an enemy to " pure and undefiled religion , " receives its best answer by pointing to the many distinguished ornaments of Christianity who are to be

found active in our ranks , and its nonsectarian character is certainly beyond a doubt notwithstanding the preponderance of the Christian element . Masonry has never ,

and can never be , prostituted to the purposes of a mere party , the promotion of political aims , or opposition to religion . Whenever brethren seek to lower the

principles of the Craft , by using their membership in the society for their own aggrandizement , for party politics , reli gious differences , or social strifes , they cease to be Masons . "Thehistory of Freemasonry—long

veiled in mystery , interwoven with legends , purposely distorted by misrepresentationshas , through the profound and conscientious

researches of some few solitary and unprejudiced brethren , acquired of late years a sure foundation upon scientific principles . " It will thus be seen that Bro . Findel is

not in sympathy with those who seek to veto the study of Masonic history , or with those who would like their feeble cries to drown the results of free enquiries into

the origin of the society , concerning which , even to this very day , the most confused , ridiculous and discordant opinions prevail , utterly opposed to facts of history .

After noticing some of the strange views of the generality of our historians , and especially those propounded by the Chevalier Ramsay and Dr . James Anderson , Bro . Findel refers with a justifiable pride to

writers like Krausc and Fcsslcr , who have done so much to place Freemasonry on a sound historical basis , and from whose labours , with other well-known authors and enlightened brethren , the persuasion that

the Craft originated in the Building Fraternities of the middle ages has gained ground and become doubly confirmed and strengthened . Wc cannot agree with Bro . Findel in his remark that "Since Preston

wrote , nothing has been done in England towards the investigation of the history of Freemasonry , " for apart from much of a fragmentary nature , which has been collected

Masonic Historians.—No. I.

during this century , and which has proved a valuable aid to Masonic historians , surely the labours of the Rev . Dr . George Oliver

have resulted in placing him above either Preston or Hutchinson of the last ceutury , and entitled him to be ranked as the Prince of English Masonic authors . ( To be continued ) .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of the Boys' School met on Saturday last , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Benj . MALLAM took the chair . After the reading and confirmation of former minutes , the names of three of the candidates

which appear on the list for election in April next were withdrawn , the number still seeking admission to the school being fifty-nine . Bro . RAYNHAM W . STEWART gave notice that at the next Quarterly General Court , on

the 17 th mst , of the Institution , he should bring forward the following motion : — " That no child shall be eligible in future unless the father shall be or have been a life governor , or have been a subscribing member

to the institution to the extent of five guineas . The committee then adjourned . There were present Bros . J . Udall , Raynham W . Stewart , Benj . Head , Major J . Creaton , S . B . Wilson , W . Young , John Symonds , Jesse

Turner , W . H . Warr , J . G . Chancellor , J . W . Dosell , H . Browse , F . Adlard , Geo . Cox , J . R . Sheen , S . Rosenthal , Fredk . J . Cronin , L . Ruf , R . Spencer , F . B . Lemaitre , H . Empson , and F . Binckes ( Secretary ) .

Strike For The Just And True.

STRIKE FOR THE JUST AND TRUE .

BV HRO . F . B . M 1 CHELL . Strike for the just and true , Though with the weak and few , Not with the sabre , the sword , or the dart , Helmet , shield , coat of mail ; All are but weak and frail . Truth like a light ' ning flash pierces the heart .

What though the cannon roar , Drenching the field with gore ; Love is the power will govern the world : Strike with thy sympathy , Thought that is pure and free Laughs at the thunders that despots have hurl'd .

Falsehood shall fade and die , Falsehood shall shrivell'd lie , Scorched by the radiance that darts from the truth ; Truth shall mount up on high , Eagle-like pierce the sky ,

Ever renewing her beauty and youth . Cold is expediency , Virtue is heavenly , She drinks the nectar that scraphims quaff , What though the world may rail , Let not thy courage fail Earth ' s frowns and favours arc light as its chaff .

Fickle as Fancy ' s child , 13 y every toy beguil'd . Heaven gives justice , and mercy , and love ; Hut earth's li Hosanna cry , " Changes to " Crucify , " " Well done yc righteous , " comes down from above .

( lod is the Holy one , Strive that His will be done , Vain arc the malice and craft of the foe ; Onward the truth must run ; On like the radiant sun . Vainly the storm-clouds arc mustcr'd below .

Up o ' er the mountain path ; Up spite of scoff and wrath . Virtue must labour , though Vice sit supine ; Up where the orb of clay , Darts its refulgent ray . Vice is seductive , but Truth is Divine .

See ! at the pearly gate Angels of glory wait ! ISeck ' ning the spirits that strive for the true ; Mark where the golden crown Flashes resplendence down ! Heaven is open , and waiting for you I Truro , Cornwall .