Freemasonry In Hungary.

ship of 2800 brethren , under its banner ; and ( hat the Grand Lodge and its private lodges were heart and soul devoted to that princip le of Freemasonry , which is so briefly and yet so fully expressed by the single word—Charity . Later in the same article

we gave particulars of an account , taken from the Ohio Report on Foreign Correspondence for the year 18 97 , ° f tne dedication of a new Masonic Hall in Buda-Pesth during the previous year . At the close of the ceremony , as described in the narrative to which

we were indebted for our information , we were told that the altar was furnished , at the Grand Master ' s command , with the following " emblems , " namely : The Book of Constitutions , the Level , and the Square and Compasses , and , in common with our Brother

Reporter of Ohio , we expressed surprise at the omission from the list of the Volume of the Sacred Law , more especially as more than once in the course of the proceedings the name of the Great Architect of the Universe was invoked . Since then we

have been favoured with a lengthy communication by a brother who is thoroughly well qualified to enlighten us on the subject of Hungarian Masonry , and who has very courteously left it to

our discretion to make such use of his paper as we think desirable . The article , as we have said , is a long one , but the following appear to be the principal facts to which our brother is desirous that we should give publicity .

Firstly , he tells us , that in the year 1886 , the present Symbolic Grand Lodge of Hungary was founded by the union of the St . John's Grand Lodge , with the Grand Orient . The former —whose mother lodg-e Concord in the Mother land was founded

in 1808 , by brethren of whom the majority had been made in Germany—worked the Craft Degrees only , and prominent among its Laws and Regulations were the Old Charges , a belief in the G . A . O . T . U ., and the immortality of the soul

being required of all who presented themselves as candidates for admission to Masonry under its auspices . The V . of the S . L . was likewise present in this Grand Lodge and its private lodges . The Grand Orient of Hungary , whose mother lodge ,

" Matthias Corvinus , " was founded by the Grand Orient of France in 1868 , and remained for some time under its banner , was deeply imbued with the spirit of French Masonry , and even

after it had made itself independent of the latter , was greatly influenced by its principles . As in the case of the Grand Orient of France , in those days , that of Hungary , included in its Book of Constitutions a belief in the G . A . O . T . U . After the

union of the St . John ' s Grand Lodge and Grand Orient of Hungary into the present Symbolic Grand Lodge , the task of framing tl e Constitutions of the new body was entrusted to a brother—a prominent member of the Grand Orient , who was a

professed Atheist—and the Article requiring belief in the G . A . O . T . U . was omitted from the Book of Constitutions—just as in 18 77 it had been expunged from the Constitutions of the Grand Orient of France—and one substituted for it enjoining " absolute freedom of conscience . " The result is that Atheism is

no obstacle to a man becoming a Freemason in one of the lodges of the Symbolic Grand Lodge of Hungary , and there are many who have invariably declared themselves to be Atheists who are members of the Order . Tims , though the expression G . A . O . T . U .

is in constant use in the Hungarian ritual , it is . 1 mere formula , having no distinct meaning such as we attach to it , and according to the views of the person using it , it may be taken to apply to a material world , a Supreme Being in our Sense , or anything else . Hence the Volume of the Sacred Law has been banished

from the lodges , and this explains why it was not included among the " emblems " that were placed on the altar in obedience to the Grand Master ' s command at the dedication ceremony quoted from the Ohio Foreign Correspondence for 1 S 97 .

There is much else of interest 111 our correspondent s article , but the above is the most important , and it appears to us that assuming the facts are as stated by our brother—and we have said he is a thoroughly competent informant and on one occasion

wae , he tells us , '' deprived of the word lor venturing to assert in open lodge "that the belief in T . G . A . O . T . U . was a landmark of the Order "—it is about time some inquiry was made as to

the principles laid down in the Hungarian Book of Constitutions , with a view to reconsidering , if necessary , the position we occupy towards the Symbolic Grand Lodge of Hungary .

Consecration Of The Justinian Lodge , No. 2694.

CONSECRATION OF THE JUSTINIAN LODGE , No . 2694 .

The above lodge—founded by some members of the Solicitors' Managing Clerks' Association , and having for its supporters the Chancery Bar Lod gewas consecrated at the Inns of Court Hotel , Lincoln ' s Inn Fields , on Thursday , the 31 st ult .

The Consfcrating Officer , Bro . E . Letchworth , G . Sec , was assisted by Bros . R . Horton Smith , Q . C , D . G . Reg ., as S . W . ; J . Strachan , Q . C ., P . D . G . Reg ., as J . W . ; the Ven . Archdeacon Stevens , P . G . C ., as Chap . Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C . ; T . H . Gardiner , P . A . G . D . C , as I . G . ; and H . Sadler , G . Tyler .

The founders of the new lodge are Bros . C . Swinfen liady , Q . C , P . M . 2 i , S . W . 2456 , P . D . G . Reg ., & c . ; W . W . Snelling , P . M . 1541 , & c . ; C . W . Scott , H . Colley , P . M . 1571 , 22 S ; T . Bishop , W . M . 1366 ; W . Bri ggs , 1366 ; R . Colsell , J . F . Sweet , J . C . Escott , E . J . Allen , J . Redgrove , and F , J . Street .

The visitors included—Bros . Judge Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg . ; T . T . Bucknil ) , Q . C , M . P ., P . D . G . Reg . ; W . E . M . Tomlinson , M . P ., P . G . D . ; VV . B . Coltman , P . M . 6 , 2456 , 3 tc . ; las !

Terry , P . G . S . B ., Sec . R . M . B . I . ; W . Martin , A . G . P . ; D . Stewart Smith , 2456 ; A . Underhill , Q . C , J . D . 2456 ; G . Harris , P . M . 5 S 6 ; G . Fisk , P . M . 209 ; \ y , B . Girling , P . M . 108 ; C . Sheppard , P . M . 1366 , & c ; H . T . Wright , P . M . 153 SJ T . H . Bolton , 2127 ; W . C . Canton , P . M . 1475 ; W . R . Barr , P . M . 1632 ; F ! J . F . Jackson , P . M . S 59 ; J . Goodman , I . P . M . 1366 ; H . E . Sanders , 917 ; F . J .

Beck , P . M . 185 ; F . Franklin Clive , W . M . 1319 ; W . Sycklemoore , P . M . 1288 ; W . H . Wheeler , S . W . 2454 ; T . Powell , 2182 ; C . Townley , 2190 ; T . R . Cass , P . M . 1320 ; W . Torrence Knight , 1541 ; E . Bradley , 1209 ; G . Briggs , 1929-W . Rogers , J . W . 1339 ; A . C . Smith , J . W . 1366 ; G . Vears , W . M . 145 ; F ! Ruthven , J . W . 754 ; F . Ellis , 1366 ; H . Steers , 1366 ; T . Taylor , S . W . 45 ; J . M . Klempner , S . W . 1632 ; A . J . Cannon , J . W . 1044 ; W . Davies , 340 ; H . Grinssdall , 2549 ; W . J . Batho , 8 , W . M . 1708 ; and others .

After the opening of the lodge , the CONSECRATING OFFICER addressed the brethren upon the object of the occasion , and Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon STEVENS , P . G . Chaplain , delivered an impressive address upon the foundation of Freemasonry and _ the great truths taught by it . The new lodge was solemnly dedicated with the usual formalities .

The Grand Secretary then installed Bro . C . Swinfen Ead y , O . C , P . D . G . R ., as W . M ., and the following officers were invested : Bros ? \ V . W . Snelling , P . M ., as S . W . ; W . Briggs , as J . W . ; C . W . Scott , as Treas . ; Hy . Colley , P . M ., as Sec . ; T . Bishop , as S . D . ; Robt . Colsell , as J . D . ; J . T . Sweet , as I . G . ; J . C . Escott , as D . C . ; Arthur Briscoe , P . P . G . Org . Surrey , & cc , as Org . ; C . J . Allen and J . Redgrove , Stwds . ; and T . J . Maidwell , Tyler .

The Consecrating Officers were accorded a hearty vote of thanks , and various propositions were received . Letters of regret for non-attendance and good wishes for the success of the lodge were read from the following brethren : Bros . Justices Romer , Gainsford Bruce , Ridley , and Kennedy , Master , W . Brims Smith , and F . O . Crump , Q . C .

' The lodge was closed and the brethren adjourned to the banquet where the usual toasts of " The Oueen and the Craft , " " H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., & C , " " " The M . W . Pro G . M ., the R . W . D . G . M ., and the rest of the Grand Officers , Present and Past , " were given by the WORSHIPFUL MASTER .

Bro . Judge PHILBRICK , Q . C , G . Reg ., in replying , said that it afforded him very much pleasure to be present to see another lodge added to the roll because it proved that not only in England and in the Colonies , but in the whole world Freemasonry was holding its own . Particularly was he gratified as a lawyer to be there in the presence of so many of his learned friends . One was often asked what was Freemasonry . It was possessed of many

virtues , but in any case it was a bond of sympathy , and this could not have been better demonstrated than when last year the M . W . Pro G . M ., Lord Lathom , met with that severe trial which was so well remembered , As to the other Grand Officers they had numerous duties to perform and , as shown during the evening , they were always prepared to do them . The impressive

address given by Bro . the Ven . Archdeacon Stevens was one not likely to be forgotten , and if taken to heart would prove that Freemasonry was founded upon something which was always welcome , viz ., a feeling of sympathy and unselfishness coupled with the desire to help others . As Grand Officers they were all pleased to be present on the memorable occasion of the launching of the Justinian Lodge to which he and they wished every

success . The W . MASTER proposed " The V . W . Bro . K . Letchworth , G . Sec . and the Consecrating Officers , " speaking in terms of high praise of the impressive manner in which the ceremony had been carried out . Bro . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , in responding , said that he felt unable to reply to the high praise bestowed upon him by the W . M . At the same time

he thanked him and wished that on an occasion such as the present he ( the W . M . ) had associated with the toast the name of one more competent to deal with it . They were all members of the same profession and he wished the lodge every success . It had given him and the other Consecrating Officers the greatest possible pleasure to be present and assist at its birth and he hoped that it would go on and prosper . On behalf of the

Consecrating Officers he tendered the warmest thanks for the toast . Bro . R . HORTON SMITH , Q . C , D . G . R ., in proposing " The Health ot the Worshipful Master , " said That it was only a few minutes ago that he had been informed of the duty he had to perform . Althoug h very short notice was given it was not an unpleasant operation to propose the health of the Worshipful Master in the present circumstances . Of late ye < lodges had been springing up limited to members of one particular

profession and the present lodge was another instance , although he was given to understand that it would not be absolutely closed to those outside tne legal profession . The Chancery Bar Lodge had taken an interest in that lodge , and as it had now come into existence with one for its Master upon whom the Oueen had been pleased to confer the honour of appointing ni one of her Counsel , he was quite sure that it would flourish under ruling . He therefore proposed the health of the first Worshipful Master the Justinian Lodge ,