Freemasonry In Constantinople.

FREEMASONRY IN CONSTANTINOPLE .

The following is the address delivered by the late R . W . Bro . J . P . Brown , Dis . Grand Master , at the Annual Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Turkey , held on the 18 th ult ., in the Masonic Temple , Pera : —

Brethren of the District Grand Lodge . On the occasion of our present Communication , I had not designed to address you on any particular subject concerning the District Grand Lodge . 1 am , however , very happy to be able to state

that all of the lodges withm its jurisdiction have prospered since our last semi-annual meeting , and that each one , in its particular sphere , has fully responded to the purposes in view on its foundation . Their members have considerably increased

in number ; their means of doing good and benefiting suffering humanity have been extended ; and the principles which form the basis of our widelyspread Fraternity have been carried out by them in a laudable manner .

I take this occasion to thank the lodges and each one of their officers and members for the very prompt manner in which they responded to my fraternal suggestions during the prevalence of the cholera in some portions of the capital , and

for their efforts , m connection with lodges ot other jurisdictions established here , to benefit our fellow-creatures ; and , also , to express my profound acknowledgments for the assistance which they have so kindly rendered me in thc

performance of my duties . I have felt it my duty , on each and all of thc occasions which have brought us together , to impress upon the brethren of all the lodges within the jurisdiction of this District Grand Lodge , the

necessity of individual examples of conduct in thc exercise of those moral and social virtues which recommend us as Freemasons to the respect and consideration of the outer world . In this view , I would , also , add that the lodges cannot be toe

careful in the acceptance of individuals desirous of joining our Fraternity . Simple curiosity and even , perhaps , worse motives induce some applicants to solicit admission amongst us . Whenever immoral or dishonest men are known to have

been received mum / Masonic lodges , the fact does us all much harm in the eyes of the public , among whom ignorance and prejudice still exist regarding the real principles of our Order . I need not more than add that neither Freemason ry

nor any other institution existing for good purposes can improve , reform , or perfect men who do not sincerely intend to become acquainted with and conform to its princi ples . I have heard with much regret and pain that one or two

individuals have , without taking the trouble to learn the real character and objects of Freemasonry , been so lost to probity and self-respect as to express themselves in an unbecoming manner of a fraternal association to which they had ,

unfortunately , been admitted . Wc are all fully aware that we may not solicit any one to become one of us , and that no one is required to remain a member of a lodge after he has been received into it . No one , however , can cease to be

regarded by us as a brother until b y his conduct he shall have rendered himself unworthy of that cherished name . Our " mysteries "•—if I may indeed , so call them—are all intimatel y connected with the cause of humanity and the promotion of

its welfare ; and as such , certainly , if the initiate investigates their signification , merits his respect and , confidence . Whenever these and our princip les are not properly appreciated by him , no arrester evidence is needed to establish the fact

that humanity and the welfare of his fellow - men have no place in his heart . Speaking from my own personal experience , whenever I have been requested to explain thc history and the great principles of Freemasonry in all parts

ol the globe , where religion , morality , and virtue exist , I have been able to remove misapprehensions and have even been thanked by my hearers , who admitted their existing prejudices against them . My constant assurances that these have

no connection whatever with the individual religious or political sentiments of any onethat they strongly inculcate feelings of loyalty and patriotism , and the exercise of all the moral and social virtues of life , and , especially , of

Freemasonry In Constantinople.

human benevolence , have been received with favour ; and I cannot too warmly call upon all of my brethren to sustain my declaration by their own conduct and language . By such a course , we cannot fail to carry conviction into the minds of even the most prejudiced and

misinformed , and render the word '" brother ' sacred among men of all faiths and positions . To use our own Masonic language , we shall thus efface the rough angles of that human architecture of which Man is himself thc loftiest and the noblest , and by uniting mankind in a

common fraternity obey the commands of the great Architect of the Universe and the Creator of all mankind . Without presuming to possess any legal or reli gious authority , I yet believe that it is my duty , at all times and under all circumstances to appeal to the hearts of my brethen , in behalf

of the principles of our Order , namely , those or fraternal harmony and charity , together with a sincere desire to correct the conflicting passions of human nature . The formation of a permanent Central Committee for good and benevolent purposes , of all

the various lodges in this city , has been a source of much satisfaction to mc , inasmuch as it will extend and increase the sphere of our usefulness . I feel very sensibly the honour conferred upon me by my selection to preside over it , and , with the assistance of the bretliren composing it , shall be most happy to promote all its proper

and legal purposes . Permit me , again , to invite your attention , and , through you that of all thc lodges represented here , to the formation of a Lodge of In truction , authorised b y the special favour of the M . W . Grand Master- of England , the Marquis of Ripon .

The American Knights Templar.

THE AMERICAN KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

It will be remenulered that last summer an excursion party of Masonic Knights Templar from Pennsylvania , U . S . A ., visited Europe , and had a lengthened and most agreeable tour over not

Britain alone , but the leading cities of the Continent . Among other places visited by them was Glasgow , and during their stay there they had pleasant and fraternal converse with the Girvan Encampment of the same order . Soon after their

return to America they resolved to transmit , through Sir Knight A . M . Rambo , editor of the JFeelth / Coitruiri , Columbia , Pa ., an address to the Girvan brethren , expressing the gratification they had received from their reception at the hands of

the former , and lrom their trip to the Old \\ orld generally . That address was dul y drawn up and forwarded to Glasgow , but irom sonic cause it never reached the brother to whom it was addressed , and was returned to America .

However , it was resolved by the American brethren to make another attempt , and accordingly it was again dispatched , on 4 th ultimo , addressed this time to care of Mr Forsyth , of tiie Cobden Hotel , Argyle Street , where the Knights Templar of Columbia had put up during their stay here .

In this manner it has now come to hand , and wt have been requested to publish it , as also the reply to be forwarded from tlie Girvan Encampment . The . address is as follows : — " Office of the IFeek / : / Courant , Columbia , Pa ., Feb . 27 , 1 S 72 .

" Sir Knig ht Robert Bell , Glasgow , Scotland . —This is to thank you , and , through you , the members of tlie Girvan Eiicainpmeii ** . <¦! Knights Templar , forthe very cordial and hospitable maimer in which you welcomed us dtirin <;

our sojourn in your ancient and beautiful city last June . 1 feci also grateful for the very handsome diploma which you and thc Sir Knights were pleased to present me with . I prize it very highly as one ol' the best souvenirs of our ' crusade . ' I have had it nicely framed aud

hung up in my oflice . It will sacredly remain i : i my keeping as long as I am permitted to mingle with Templars here below , and when I pass out of life into the 'Summer Land' it will be handed down , I trust , to my children and my children ' s children as a relic of true Scottish benevolence .

Alter we lelt old Scotland , with its magnificent cities , dreamy oldcaslles , beautiful and p icturesque mountains , green valleys , and charming lakes ,

The American Knights Templar.

we went to England , and were entertained at Alton Towers b y the Earl of Shrewsbury , on the 4 th of July ; after which we proceeded to London , under the guidance of the gentlemanly anti courteous Messrs . Thomas and John M . Cook . At the hands of our noble-hearted English brethren we

received a hearty welcome and a most glorious banquet , which our Sir Kni ghts will long remember as one of the most pleasing episodes of our trip . After spending some time in London , we went to Antwerp , passed through Belgium into Germany , then Switzerland , and over the Alps ,

into sunny Italy , Venice , Florence , Rome , Naples , Pompeii , Vesuvius , with a trip on the Mediterranean " . Then back by Leghorn , Pisa , Turin , Genoa , and Mount Cenis , on to Geneva , and through France to Paris , on to London and

Liverpool , wcre wc took the splended steamship Oceanic , of the White Star Line , and reached New York the latter part of September , all well and happy . Altogether , it was one ofthe greatest and most successful excursions the world

ever witnessed . A simitar excursion should be gotten up by you for a pilgrimage to the United States . If you do conclude to come at any time , only give us warning , ar . d we will give you a welcome that will astonish the world . I speak for every one of 'he Sir Kni ghts of Allegheny

Commandery when 1 say you are remembered , and that we thank you for the manner in which you received us in Glasgow . —I am faithfully and fraternally yours , in the bonds of Christian knighthood , "A . M . RAMBO . " The following is the reply : —

' •' 220 , Castle Street , Glasgow . " To Sir Knight A . M . Rambo , " Sir , —We the Knights Templar ofthe Girvan Encampment , received your much esteemed letter with the very greatest pleasure , and with true Alasonic greeting . It also gave us

unqualified gratification to learn from the pages of the P ' recmasoii that you had till reached home , your native Jerusalem , in safety , after so long and so extraordinary a pilgrimage—a pilgrimage which will never be forgotten . It will remain a brilliant page in the book of Masonic history , and will

doubtless continue to be a distinguished and lasting memorial of what can be accomplished b y fraternal combination . It will tower and continue to unfurl its glorious banner of universal fraternal love ,-which will flutter in the breeze of ages to come , and manifest to the world that

Masomc union is significant of more than the name . It will ever lie remembered as the honourable and illustrious accepted landmark ofthe nineteenth century . Your unprecedented pilgrimage breathes a spirit of conciliation aud reconciliation which all the nations and orders oi

the earth would do well lo imitate . We trust your praiseworthy example will be followed by oth . rs ; that all ends of the earth may soon reecho the words of our poet— ' We are brethren a . ' We hail with satisfaction and d . light your warm invitation to visit vim . Should fortune

ever layout- us we will assured !*/ pitch our camp in Allegheny , where we will be made w * . Iconic not to bread and water alone , but to the hearty congratulations and hospitality ol * brothers indeed . We regret that your letter < lit ! not " each us with your first transmission . Nevertheless we feel

all thc more honoured , and , I trust , all the more grateful , for your perseverance and loving kindness in transmitting it again . We are in duo respect of the richness of your unmerited gratitude . -Believe us dear Sir Kni ghts , yours fraternally in ihe bund of Christian Kni ghthood , "ROBERT HELL ' vi . X . C . "

CITY * 01 * LONDON MASONIC * . LIF : * I > O \ T . —At the last meeting ofthe committee , the accounts of thcentertainmentgiven at the City Terminus Hotel were made up , and the addition made by it to the Life-boat Fund was found to be /" Si . H

will be remembered that the large hall at the Hotel was given for the occasion , as were also , the efficient services of Bro . W . Ganz , G . O . ; who directed , and of till the artistes ,

twentyseven in number , including the Chevalier de Kontski , v . hose grand duo , with Bro . Ganz , on two of Kirkman ' s pianofortes , kindly . lent by that firm , afforded great delight to the audience .