A Clerical Attack On Freemasonry.

they join in prayers which " are not offered in the name of J ESUS our Lord / ' And so , also , with the other charges alleged against us—if they are true , then all our reverend brethren must be faithless in their duty as ministers of religion . There is , indeed , no way of escape for the Rev . Canon from this particular

difficulty in which he has placed himself , namely , that the members of a Society which is worthy of censure must themselves be censurable . His first objection to Freemasonry is that " it forms , without fear of persecution , and deliberately a Secret Society , " while it is a matter of common knowledge that

those who join this secret body do so deliberately , of their own free will and accord , and from a preconceived opinion in its favour . Therefore , these clergymen who have committed what , in the estimation of Canon KNOW LES is the sin of becoming Freemasons , have clone so with their eyes open , with a full sense

of enormity of the sin they were deliberately proposing to commit . We wonder what those clergymen who are the Canon ' s superiors or equals in rank will think of this assumption of his of a superior or special knowledge about Freemasonry , which is by no means justified by any special experience he , as a

non-Mason , can ever have acquired of its principles and practice . We wonder also what the present and future theological students of St . Bees will think of Canon KNOWLES ' S charges against Freemasonry , when , having taken Holy Orders , they find themsemselves shoulder to shoulder with reverend ministers who are

not only members but rulers in the Craft . But it is time we addressed ourselves to the particular objections which Canon KNOW LES has raised against Freemasonry . The first of these is on the ground that " it forms , without fear of persecution , and deliberately a Secret Society . " We allow

the correctness of this statement as set forth in these general terms , but it is necessary to point out that the secrecy we observe concerns only our various modes of recognition , and the various forms and ceremonies we observe in our lodges ; but there is nothing secret about the principles which govern us in our

relations to the civil and religious powers , and any one who is curious to know what those principles are , as well as what our system of organisation and government is like , may easily , and forthe trifling sum of eighteen pence , obtain the necessary information from our published Book of Constitutions . There , at all

events , he will find that whatever our detractors may choose to assert , a true Mason is neither " a stupid atheist nor an irreligious libertine , " and that when a man is desirous of being admitted into the Order , it is an indispensable condition that he should " believe in the glorious architect of heaven and earth , and practise

the sacred duties of morality . " He will learn also , as regards the relations of our Society towards the civil power , that " a mason is a peaceable subject to the civil powers ; " that he " is never to be concerned in plots and conspiracies against the peace and welfare of the nation , " and that he '' is cheerfully to

conform to every lawful authority . " Thus , there is no secret as to the principles of Freemasonry , which are clearly and explicitly set fcrth in our book of laws , while what is kept sacred from the outer world concerns , as we have said , our various modes of recognition , the symbolism we employ , and the manner in which

we carry out our various duties in the lodge . But even these are secrets which may lawfully be kept , seeing they contain nothing contrary to any man ' s sense of religion and morals , or that will prevent him rendering due obedience to the laws of his country . Canon KNOWLES ' S second objection is as follows : that

"Professing antiquity and connection with ancient Craft guilds , it cannot show its continuity throughout the 16 th century , and can produce no records that , without divulging secrets , go to prove such continuity . " In replying to this , we labour under very serious disadvantages . In the lirst place , it is difficult , if not impossible ,

to establish a proposition which is supported mainly by tradition ; and in the next , it is equally difficult , if not more impossible , to compress the arguments in favour of such a proposition within the space of one or two articles . We therefore content ourselves with pointing out that the records of the present Lodge of

Edinburgh , No . i on the roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , date from the close of the 16 th century ; that Volume I . of these records contains a copy of the celebrated Schaw Statutes , ordained at Edinburgh the 28 th December , 159 8 , the first "Item " of which provides " that they obserue and keip all the

gude ordinanceis sett doun of befoir concernyng the priviligeis of thair Craft be thair predicessors of gude memorie ; " and that these records establish ( 1 ) that the present Lodge of Edinburgh was a Craft 01 * operative lodge at the time the said Statutes were promulgated ; and ( 2 ) that the said Statutes clearly prove

that previous codes of "gude ordinanceis had been framed for the lodges by the " predicessors of gude memorie " of the Craftsmen of that date . Again , there are the manuscript Constitutions

¦ —the Cooke and other MSS . —which are still extant , and on which , or some of which , the Constitutions of our present Society were framed by Anderson in the earlier days of last century . But the question is too large to be argued , as we have

A Clerical Attack On Freemasonry.

said , in the space of one or two short articles ; nor after all does it strike us as being a point of the first importance as to whether the antiquity of Freemasonry is as great as is claimed for it . At

all events , we must refer our reverend assailant to the works of our Bro . GOULD , who is the great living authority on the history of Freemasonry , and far weightier than the Masonic historians who have preceded him .

The third and fourth of Canon KNOWLES ' S objections are as follow : ( 3 ) " In theory , and partly in practice ( in spite of the respectability of its English members ) , it is one with foreign societies , which are honeycombed with infidelity and socialism ;"

( 4 ) " The prayers of its formularies are un-Christian—i . e ., not offered in the name of J ESUS , our Lord . " Having regard , however , to the length to which our remarks have already run , we purpose reserving what it is our intention to say in reply to these statements for another article .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Oxfordshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF OXFORDSHIRE .

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A MASONIC HALL . On Wednesday , the 30 th ult ., the annual Provincial Grand Lodge of Oxford , shire was held in the pretty little town of Henley-on-Thames , and the proceedings were marked by an event of special interest , the Earl of Jersey , P . G . W ., Prov . Grand Master , having consented to lay the foundation stone of a Masonic Hall , to be erected by the brethren of the Thames Lodge , No . 18 95 , on a suitable site in the Reading-road , within a short distance of the Great Western Railway Station , generously presented b y Bro . Mackenzie .

The brethren attended in good numbers from different parts of the province , and for their convenience the G . W . R . Company slipped a carriage from one of their fast up-trains at Twyford junction . The Prov . G . Lodge was opened at 2 o ' clock , at the Town Hall , by Lord Jersey , assisted b y Bros . Reginald Bird , M . A ., P . G . D ., Deputy Prov . G . M . ; the Rev . H . Sayers , Prov . G . Chap . ; Herman Hodge , M . P . ; W . Lewis Morgan , Prov . G . Sec . ; and other Prov . G . Officers .

The roll of lodges having been called , and the minutes of the last Provincial Grand Lodge confirmed , the brethren formed into procession , and walked through the Market-place and Duke-street to the site in the Reading-road , where a large concourse of persons had assembled , the weather being extremely fine . The W . Master of the Thames Lodge , Bro . E . Carlisle , presented a silver trowel , suitably inscribed , to the Provincial Grand Master , who proceeded to lay the stone .

At the conclusion of the ceremony , which was carried out with full Masonic rites , the procession re-formed , and the brethren returned to the Town Hall , when the Provincial Grand Lodge business was at once resumed , and the Provincial Grand Master appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year . The Provincial Grand Lodge having been closed , the brethren adjourned to the Red Lion Hotel , where a banquet was served , and the usual- Masonic toasts were honoured .

Consecration Of The Bushey Hall Lodge, No. 2323.

CONSECRATION OF THE BUSHEY HALL LODGE , No . 2323 .

The Bushey Hall Lodge , No . 2323—the 18 th on the roll of the Province of Hertfordshire—was successfully consecrated and constituted on Saturday , the 2 nd instant , at the Hall , Bushey , in the presence of a large and thoroughly representative gathering of Masons . This lodge promises to speedily take a leading position in the province , starting as it does under the most favourable auspices . The Hall , Bushey , which is situated in the midst of extensive and beautiful grounds , forms a capital home for a lodge , and the founders are to be

congratulated on having secured this spacious building in which to conduct their Masonic duties . The lodge , moreover , has the advantage of commencing its career in an exceedingly satisfactory financial condition , owing to the munificent generosity of the S . W . designate , Bro . las . H . Renton , who presented the whole of the beautiful

furniture and fittings , including a handsome lodge banner , bearing an excellent representation of Bushey Hall . The consecration ceremony was performed by Bro . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., Prov . Grand Master of Hertfordshire , assisted by Bro . G . E . Lake , Deputy Prov . G . Master ; the Prov . G . Wardens ; Bros . Rev . Wm . Ouennell , Prov . G . Chan ., acting Chaplain ; Chas . Bullock , Prov . G . Sec ;

James Terry , P . G . S . B ., Prov . G . D . C . ; and other Prov . Grand Officers . The founders who were present are Bros . Thos . Fenn , Pres . Bd . Gen . Purps . ; C . E . Keyser , P . M ., P . P . J . G . W ., W . M . designate ; Jas . H . Renton , S . W . designate ; Wakeford May , J . W . designate ; C . E . Birch , P . M . ; R . J . Banning , P . M . ; E . W . Jaquet , E . de B . Barnett , and Fred Romer .

Among the large number of visitors present were Bros . F . A . Philbrick , Q . C , G . Reg . ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec ; F . Knyvett , P . G . D . ; A . Prudames , J . W . 504 ; S . Rowland Timson , S . W . 504 ; E . Thornton , P . M . 708 ; J . Brittain , P . M . 1385 ; W . Symons , 1223 ; P . Deedes , P . M . 1479 ; T . Kent , P . M . 1479 i W . Sampson , J . D . 14 ; J . H . Birch , P . M . 1223 ; Geo . Young , P . M . 1757 j £ R-. W ..,. 1 W Anr , . I „„ Pi , rrf . H PM IA-IC \ ¦ I T Mvprs I P . M . T J / 70 : T . o .

Carter , 403 ; T . J . Villiers , I . P . M . 404 ; J . E . Dawson , P . Dep . Prov . G . ft ¦ , P . G . S . B . ; W . H . Dipstale , P . P . G . Stwd . ; R . C . Mayhew ; Jno . Stedman , S . W . 1705 ; W . T . Graves , P . M . 1984 ; C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ; W . H . Ry lands , W . M . 210 ; C . N . Bullock , Prov . G . Sec ; M . Slaughter , P . M . 404 ; R . Barham , W . M . 256 ; Thurley Beale , 207 ; W . Venn , 404 ; ' L . Patterson , P . A . G . P . I w " Lomas , I . G . 2216 ; S . Goodchild , J . W . 1984 ; R . Townsend , P . P . G . S . B . * 9 & 4 ,

S . Heaton , P . M . 404 ; T . C . Grant , P . M . 38 ; P . W . Taylor , P . M . 4 ° 9 ; J- "' Rogers , P . M . 1984 ; F . S . Long , W . M . 2098 ; Thos Wright , P . G . Ty ler ; VV . c-Gompertz , P . M . 3 60 ; W . G . Dingle , 509 ; C . Wallington , S . W . 25 6 ; H . ' Shirley , P . M . 1491 ; H . T . Brett , 404 ; C . B . Cooper , P . M . 449 ; F- ^ "' P . M . 404 ; T . G . Robinson , W . M . 504 ; C . S . Ayres , S . D . 404 ; J . W . KoDin-, -in-i •A Wilmnt- mi- and W . W . Lee . I 8 Q 7 .

The Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers entered the lodge r 00 . ^ procession , when the Provincial Grand Master assumed the chair , and a PP t | ] e his officers pro tem . The lodge . having been opened in the Three Degrees , hymn , " Hail I Eternal , by whose aid , " was heartily sung by all present . g The PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER , addressing the brethren , said ' ^ : ng nwpmhlprl nn fli p nrp . sfin' nnnnsinn for the nuroose of consecrating and ae ' *>

a new lodge . He had much p leasure in attending to perform that cer t 0 which he should commence by calling upon the Provincial Grand ^ f ; nto state the wishes of the brethren and the proceedings taken to carry ti effect . . officers This having been done , the petition and warrant were read , ana named therein approved b y the petitioners .