Original Correspondence.

perativc obligation of being ready at all times to defend , with personal prowess , the assailed brotherhood , which is poetically illustrated in a part of our'Masonic tradition by the equipments of the builders of the second Temple , we shall further understand , how it was that not only the maimed and the impotent , but their fair sisters also , were not considered qualified to- contribute the requisite strength

to a necessarily militant community . Now we have cur mythical postulate of an age to discern the character of the fraternity into which he seeks admission , in a condition of life in which he can exercise his free will , anil qualified to be regarded as responsible for the consequences of its expression and attendant obligation , and of a bodily vigour that will render him presumably

a useful member of a society which cannot afford to extend its privileges to any but those cf ability to preserve , and if need be , to defend them . Satisfied on all these points , the ntxt thing required is an assurance of his intelligent recognition of his new and self-imposed duties . What form would that recognition probably be made to

take ? Now , again , to revert to the language of the law , there are duties , or , as jurists call them , obligations due to society , with and without a sanction . Enquireis may profitably consult Paley ' s Ethics as to this , but the knowledge is very trite . I am almost ashamed to expatiate on the distinction . An obligation without a sanction is , as everybody

knows , that general moral duly , the breach of which will not entail a forfeit exacted by society from the delinquent . Thus the sins of lying and incontinence ( with the qualifications to which I will immediately refer ) entail only moral opprobrium . They are obligations without a sanction . But if a man or woman so lies that he or she inflicts that injury upon his or her fellow creature which the law

regards as within its remedial function by vindication , e . g . if he or she obtains goods by false pretences , cr tells a lie with the solemn formality entailed by an oath or affirmation legally administered , or if he commit the sin of fornication in such a manner as to entail injury by violence , the law attaches a sanction , and liability to punishment at the hands of the state is incurred . * The . ' . ssumed

community of the early illuminati conceived the necessity of such a sanction to be inflicted by the hands of the members of their society on a defaulting member , anel therefore the guarantee of fidelity presumably exacted from a candidate necessarily expressed a penalty , the nature of which I reserve for consideration in my concluding dissertation , although I fear I cannot promise the patient reader that most elcsirable consummation in my next

communication . I am dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully , S . P ., P . M . No . noj , 14 Q 1 .

CHARITY VOTING REFORM . To the Editor of the "Freemason " Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me to call attention to the injustice unwittingly done to the Charity Voting Reform Association , by your leading article last week . By some peculiar misapprehension you were attacking ,

not our " last official report , " but a leaelcr of the Times , which appeared about a month ago . " We do not , " to use the press phrase , hold ourselves responsible for Times or other articles . So I will only add that , while on the whole , wc approve of the article in question , and certainly of its tone , wc do not subscribe , as an association , to some of tile broael assertions which it puts forth . I am , dear Sir and Brother , fraternally yours ,

K . J . SIMPSON . [ The mistake , as Bro . Simpson well puts it , was quite unwillingly made . The remarks came in pamphlet form , and we assumed , too hastily , that it was an official report . We have written to the Secretary . ]

Bro . Faulkner Leigh will give a concert on the evening of Thursday , 23 rd May , at St . James ' s Hall , in aid of the three Royal Masonic Institutions . Patrons , H . R . H . l !» - Duke of Connaught , and the Right Hon . Lorel Skelmersdale , H . W . D . G . M . of England . Artistes : Miss

Annie Sinclair , Madame Patey , Bro . Faulkner Leigh , and Messrs . Maybrick and Thurley Beale . Conductors : Sir Julius Benedict and Hcrr Ganz . Tickets can be hael of the Secretaries of the Institutions , Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , Lincoln ' s Inn .

Consecration Of St. Mary's Chapter, No. 63.

CONSECRATION OF ST . MARY'S CHAPTER , No . 63 .

A chapter attached to St . Mary ' s Lodge , No . 6 3 , now 140 years olel at least , was consecrated on Thursday , the 2 nd inst ., at the Slar and Garter Hotel , Kew Bridge . The ceremony was to have been pcrformeel by Comp . John Hcrvey , G . S . E ., but his health on that day was so

indifferent that he was unable to attend . Comp . Thos . Fenn , P . G . S . B ., however , who had been set down for Second Principal on the occasion , took the chair of First Principal ; Comp . Col . Burelett , that of Second Principal ; and Comp . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . P . S ., that of Third Principal . Comp . George Kelly was S . E ., and H . G . Buss , D . C . The other companions present were Comps .

James Glaisher , Ernest Emil Wcndt , George Brooke , J . A . Ruckcr , Magnus Ohren , W . Mann , C . C . Dumas , Frank Pearce , the Rev . P . M . Holden , Marcellus Higgs , Theodore Distin , J . Large , G . T . Carter , W . Ackland , George Mickley , Frank Pearce , J . H . Wall . J . Peeke Richards , H . Martin , R . H . Evans , E . Randell , F . W . Natusch , Montague Gossct , W . H . Smallpeice , J . H . Paul , J . Richards ,

R . Risdon , Benj . Hinchcliff , F . H . Rooke , H . Massey ( Freemason ) , and Charles B . Payne . After the formal opening of the chapter and the admission of companions below the rank of Installed Principals , Comp . Fenn , addressing the brethren , said that they were assembled to constitute and consecrate , a new chapter . He was sure it must be a subject of deep regret to them , as

it was to him , that their excellent and worthy Comp . John Hervey shoulel be too unwell to occupy the M . E Z . chair . The day before Comp . Hervey was unusually well . He had been unwell for a long time ; but he was so unusually well the day before that he thought he would be able to be present . He was , however , so unwell now , so seriously ill , indeed , that his doctor would not permit him to come

to this consecration . He ( Comp . Fenn ) could not address the companions as Comp . Hervey usually did on these occasions , because he felt in that position he could not so with such words of authority as Comp . Hcrvey did , from the high position he held , which gave to his words great force . Comp . Woodford , however , had consented to address the companions very shortly , and he was sure the companions would be glad to listen to that reverend

companion . The ceremony then proceeded , and Comp . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford delivered the following oration : — M . E . and Companions , —As it is only last Monday , the 2 ilth , that I delivereel one oration on Royal Arch Masonry , I am somewhat afraid lest I should appear to be both intrusive and wearisome in this , my second appearance in

so very short a peuod of time . But I know that 1 may rely on your forbearance and friendly criticism to make allowance for any obvious defects or unavoielable tedium , and I therefore , without further preface , at once address myself to my proper and present duty . And as I think it may do us gooe' on this most interesting occasion , the inauguration of a new chapter , to listen to a few didactical

expositions of the teaching of this Sublime Degree , and of our duty as Royal Arch Companions , I propose to confine myself to such an humble effort this afternoon . I , for one , am glad to see Royal Arch Masonry increasing anel extending amongst us , and I know of no portion of our mystic ritual better deserving the attention of the studious , the thoughtful , the reverent . But when I set myself to

my task I found that it was not so easy to put together what seemed new and appropriate ; for though appropriate , it was not new , and some of it though new might not appear to all equally appropriate . I , therefore-, took another step . I summoned to my aid some good old teachers of the past , familiar friends and faces in my Masonic library , and I have prepared a little lot of Masonic mosaic work , which ,

I hope and believe , is alike consistent and yet clearly brought out , and will commend itself to the expert Masters of the Royal Art amongst us , as it may , I hope , improve and edify the youngest Royal Arch Mason now present . I need not now dilate on the excellencies of the Royal Arch Grade , its many beauties or its sublimcr lore ; but wc may well remember , it appears to me , M . E . Sir , that

it forms the culmination of our whole Masonic system . It is the apex of that beautifully constructed pyramid which rests on the broad basis of Craft Masonry in the Entered Apprentice Degree . And here I pause for a moment tn rcminel my hearers how very wonderful after all is the position and preservation of the Masonic Order , to which it is our privilege to belong in the world . As an " Ancient

Brother , " as he termed himself , though under the Grand Lodge of England , writing in 1820 , said—and said so eloquently—" wc trace the footsteps of Masonry in the most distant ages , the most differing nations of the world . Wc find it among the first and most celebrated citizens of the East , we deduce it regularly from the first astronomers on the plains of Chaldee , we observe it , among the wise and

mystic kings and priests of Egypt , the sages of Greece , the philosophers of Rome , and even the rude and Gothic builders of a dark and degenerate age , whose vast temples still remain among us . In no civilized age has Masonry been neglected . The most illustrious characterskings , princes , and nobles , sages and legislators , authors and artists—have thought it their glory to protect and

honour it . And , therefore , we arc happy to think , that for the dignity and promotion of the science lodges and chapters are o pened in every quarter of the globe . For it has been remarked , that in whatsoever else men may dispute anel elisagrcc , yet they are all unanimous to respect and support a singularly amiable institution , which

annihilates all parties , conciliates all private opinions , and renders those who by their Almighty Father were made one flesh , to be also of one heart and mind , bounei , firmly bound , together by that indissoluble tic , "the love of their God anel the love of their kind . " Though , perhaps , we must fairly admit that there is in this high culogium of Masonry a little of hvperbole , perhaps , yet I trust we may

Consecration Of St. Mary's Chapter, No. 63.

safely and fairly contend that it is in its main outline essentially true . Belonging then to so useful , to so kindly a brotherhood , what are the abstract doctrines we profess ? what the concrete acts we perform ? I will leave out this afternoon the second head , as leading us into too wide a subject for our little time , and simply confine myself to our professed teaching as Masons , and above all Royal

Arch Masons . As Geometrical Master Masons ( as we were once called ) , now admitted into the Sublime and Supreme Degree , I will say that our first great teaching is the devout recognition of the great and Triune Jehovah , the Architect and Ruler of the universe , the Divine Maker and the Saving Ruler , "Eternal Judge of _ all men . " How amiable , companions , is Ihe goodness , how amazing

the power of this world ' s Adorable Maker I Must we not indeed say unto the Most High , " How marvellous and yet how beneficent are all Thy works ? " For this great creation cf ours most remarkably demonstrates to the thinking mind , of the Royal Arch Sfason especially , the enduring characteristic of the Divine Power , and Wisdom , and Goodness , shewn forth in every portion of it , great

or small . We are caught , as in Masonry , s . i especially in this sublime grade , in these our various symbols , a more lively ] scnse of the Divine presence and nearness . " All the rolling worlds above , all the living atoms below , together with all the beings that intervene between these wide extremes , are vouchers for an ever present God . The Deity has not left Himself without witness , the marks of

His footsteps are evident in every place , and the touches of His hand distinguishable in every creation . Thy name is so high , O Thou all-supporting , all-informing Lord , and that do Thy wondrous works declares in words familiarto us all , asthe Psalmist beautifully cipress it . Thy goodness warms us in the morning sun , and refreshes us in the evening breeze , Thy glory shines in the lamp of

midnight , and smiles in the blossoms of spring . We sec a trace of Thy incomparable grandeur in the boundless extent of things , and a sketch of Thy exquisite skill , Thy handiwork , and design in even those almost evanescent sparks of life , the insect race . " Like the Poet , we all ma ? say and cheerfully say to day . " The Hand that made all these things and us is Divine . " How stupid therefore must that

mind be amid such a multitude of remembrances thronging on every side forgets God for a single moment . Grant us , O Thou Great I Am , Thou source anel support of universal existence , an enlightened eye to discern Thee in every object , and a devout heart io adore Thee on every occasion . Anil then , in the second place , the sublime laws and works of Nature ' s Great

Geometrician will naturally prompt Royal Arch Masons to make the blessed volume of His Inspired Word , which contains the reverential study anil continual guide . By the assistance of this unerring counsellor , wc shall be enabled , through God ' s assistance , as it has been very properly put , to " fill every sphere of eluty with exactness anel honour , and by uniting in the faithful discharge of all the sweet and

endearing offices of social life , we shall ever be anxious to distinguish and exalt the Order of which we are members . " But there are ceilain other great and distinguishing principles which belong to us as Royal Arch Masons , by which we may safely seek to direct our course , under God's help , through this tranistory scene , through this great wilderness the world , and to which we will now

shortly direct our attention . Faith , Hope , and Charity though belonging to our Masonic profession generally , specially ought to mark us Royal Arch Masons . An ancient authority thus discourses on this subject : " Faith is that blessed tree , which by our assiduous cultivation and the influence cf God ' s Holy Spirit bringcth forth good fruit , and leads to everlasting life . By faith we are

instructed in the true condition of our situation here , and the laws of our nature and duty are laid before us in the lullcst and clearest manner . Our understanding is led forth into a future state , all eternity is unveiled before us , and we see the great truths of light and immortality in thcclearest light . Hope is the Anchor of Prudence , on which wc may confidently rest in dependence for

safely in every honourable pursuit . It enlightens every heart with its refulgent rays , cultivates the ingenious mind , fosters its virtuous endeavours , and invigorates the completion of every laudable elesign with promptitude and perseverance . Hope is a star of the first magnitude , by which weare enabled to guide our earthly vessel through the boisterous sea and tempestuous passions

of life ; but the port once gained , hope will enable us to ride with safety at her placid moorings , and to weather out the voyage of life with pleasure , with happiness , and with comfort . The chief dogma of our Masonic profession is Charity , for it animates the hearts with that philanthropy which directs us never to permit a fellow creature in distress to pass us by until we have sought to mitigate his wants , to relieve his distress .

Happy is the companion amongst us who 'hath snwn in his heart the seeds of beneficence . ' The produce thereof will be charity and love . He assists the poor in their trouble , he rej jices in witnessing the prosperity cf all men ; he censures not his nei ghbour ; he believes not the tales of envy anil malevolence , neither docs he repeat slanders . He forgives the injuries of others . Revenge and malice have no place in his bosom , for evil he returncth not evil . He hateth not even his

enemies , but requites their injustice with friendly admonition , promotes as far as in him lies , among all men , peace and good will , unity , love and harmony . " And thus again all Royal Arch Masons will ever remember that they are called to a "faithful discharge of those duties which charity and brotherly love delight in , and should at all times be

ready to manifest the sincerity of their hearts by cheerfully administering to the wants of every fellow creature in criamity , penury , or affliction . To strew flowers in the path of misery , says another old formula , and sprinkle compassion over the ragged thorns of adversity , is not only gratifying to every enlightened mind , "but pleasing in the