Original Correspondence.

they arc animated " ( Eckert , Die Tragc der Staatl . Aucrk , p 12 , Leipzig , 182 ;) . Lastly , in the address of the Grand Orient of Italy to the Prince of Wales , it is said : " Italian Masonry , therefore , rejoices at this new lustre shed upon our world-wide institution , and sincerely prays that between the two Masonic communities maybe drawn ever more closely those fraternal ties , " & c .

Your third correspondent , Mr Gant , informs us that though " he has very little knowledge of foreign Freemasonry , " he believes that , even as regards that , " there is not one word of truth in my discourse , ami it is a wicked and gross libel . " I think that he should acquire at least some far more extensive acquaintance with a matter before he pronounces an opinion upon it , w . th-a

piofession at the same time that he has very little knowledge of it . If he will take the trouble to read the" Monde-Maconnique , " the "Globe"the " Freemasons" Journal , the " Chain d'Union , '" the accredited organs of these associations , he will find that 1 have stated only what they candidly profess . If lie spurns Barruel , Eckert , and Haller , there is a Scotch Protestant , Robison , the President

of the Royal Society of Edinburgh , who , though a Freemason , wrote his work to prove that there was a " Secret Association , in Germany , France , & c ., for the destruction of all religion , and overturning all the governments of Europe , and that its emmissaries were busy among ourselves . " If Barruel and Robison are not modern enough for him , Eckert and Haller , who wrote about secret

societies in Germany and Switzerland , arc certainly contemporaries , if , shutting his eyts to facts , Ire says that all these distinguished writers are obscure , he canm . t say so of Dupanloup , who is one U the most public men in Ihe world , and one of the most brilliant rcholars and writers of the present day . And , say what lie will , it has been a notorious fact before mankind , this quarter of a

century , that the Carbonari , and their chief , Mazzini , suborned assassins ; that , as we learn from " Figaro , " immediately after the murder of two French generals , and on the eve of the burning of the city , ten thousand Freemasons of the Grand Orient of Paris declared that " the Commune was the modern Temple of Solomon ; " and that if , in America , since 1 S 26 , people have not been

allowed to be assassinated under the sentence of tribunals of secret societies , the public feeling there and its indignation were too apparent to permit such crimes . This must have been very deeply impressed on the mind ol Lord Beaconsfield when he declared that it was the secret societies , through Scivia , that had declared war against Turkey ; that they were so powerful that no statesman could ignore them , and that , at any moment , they c . uild

bring about not only assassination , but wen a massacre . Finally , as long as there are fifty thousand Catholics in the British army , ever at the post of danger in defence of their country ami their Queen , I need not trouble about the statement of your first correspondent , that" my Church does not inculcate a ready obedience to the laws of our country . " They are at least as loyal as he has proved himself to be .

1 am , Sir , your obedient servant , Jons Fov . To the Editor of the " Hastings Observer . " Sir , —I am unwilling to trespass on your valuable space at this period of the year , but for the information of " A Non-Mason " and others who may take an interest in the subject , 1 trust you will allow me to notice briefly Father Foy ' s second lecture . The Reverend Father has

evidently been leading all he could find on the subject of seciet societies , and being , I pcrsume , a disciple of Maynooth , where , as a worthy Catholic bishop once told me , " they teach neither logic nor manners , " he has evolved from the depths of his inner consciousness an ideal Freemason about as much like the original as a , member of the Ancient Order of Foresters is to a Bashi-Baz > uk . In

fact , to hold Freemasons responsible for the crimes of Italian Carbonari is just precisely as logical as it would be to hold a turbancd vendor of Turkey rhubarb responsible for the Bulgarian atrocities . Father Foy asks triumphantly why Bishop Dupanlnup ' s exposure of Freemasonry has never been refuted , and I tell him , for the same reason that Mr . Whalley ' s denunciations of the

Jesuits or Dr . Cumming ' s diatribes against Ptpery areleft unnoticed by respectable Calholics . F ' recmasorrry is infinitely older than Popery , and can afford to laugh at the puny efforts of an army of Dupanloups or Foys to put it down . Si . Peter ' s was built by Freemasons , as certain emblems and marks illegible to Father Foy show to the initiated ; and when the Seven Hills are levelled and

the ground ploughed over by the Roman agriculturists ol the future , Freemasons in all probability will be there to set . Father Foy forgets himself in raising an Irish howl against an Order of which in England our future King is Ihe honoured head , and the insult to its members of classing them in the same categoty with ruffianly conspirators

and Communists would be more characteristic of a denizen of Colncy Hatch than a priest of a Christian Church . If Freemasons are as black as Father Foy paints them , he should remember that there is a lodge in Hastings , and he may run the risk of becoming a victim to Unit sanguinary ferocity , like the misguided Yankee he

mentions . Yours obediently , A FIII-EMASON

To the Editor of the " Hastings Observer . " Sir , —I have read with much amusement Mr . John Foy ' s lectures upon " Secret Societies , " so ably reported in your paper ; but I have not seen any reference to one secret organization which , beyond doubt , has caused much disorder , rebellion , misery , revolution , and

bloodshedding . 1 allude , Sir , to the Jesuits . How is it that Mr . Foy has not mentioned them ? Is he a member of the order ? and will he kindly give us some information as to their secret machinations . ' If not , you will hear again from Yours very truly , A VERY OUU FEI . I . OW .

Consecration Of The Earl Of Carnarvon Lodge, No. 1642.

CONSECRATION OF THE EARL OF CARNARVON LODGE , No . 1642 .

Last Saturday afternoon this new lodge was consecrated by Bro . John Hervey , Grand Secretary , at Ladbroke Hall , Notting Hill . The lodge has been established for the convenience of the brethren residing in Notiing Hill and Kensinsrton , and is the only one in that neighbourhood .

It was promoted by members of the vestry of St . Mary Abbotts , many of whom are enrolled now as members . The place of meeting is a desirable building , and affords ample accommodation for large gatherings . On the occasion of the consecration , the hall was admirably fitted up for the lodge purposes , and every endeavour appeared to have been exercised to render the brethren comfortable

in their new home . At the opening of the lodge Bro . Hervey occupied the W . M . chair , having the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , P . G . C ., on his right , and the Rev . P . M . Holden , Prov . G . C . Middlesex ' on his left . Bro . Joseph Smith , P . G . P ., acted as S . W . ; Bro . John Boyd , P . G . P ., as J . W . ; Bro . W Stephens , as I . G . ; Bro . James Terry , Prov . G . C . Herts ,

as D . C . ; and Bro . Joseph Pushman , as Secretary . The other brethren present were Bros . W . J . Murlis , G . Penn , S . H . Parkhouse , W . Gordon , M . P ., F . C . Clench , Rev . Charles Darby Re-ade , F . Delevanti , E . M . Lander , S . Smout , S . Smout , jun ., It . Schofield , F . W Moore , Deputy District Grand Master Argentine Republic ; Locock Webb , Q . C ., 4 , P . G . D . ; J no . Jordan ,

P . M . 4 ; W . Buttgenbach , r 2 ; John Coutts , P . M . 27 , P . G . P . ; Chas . U . Payne , P . M . 27 , G . T . ; E . W . Thompson , 5 ;; John Bingemiinn , P . M . 5 S '> I'hos . J . Scrutton , 87 ; 'i \ Kirke , P . M . i . ||; W . Handover , P . M . 144 j Talbot Chorer , 14 ^; J is . G . Brockman , 150 ; G . Davis , l . G . I 167 ; M . Levy , P . M . 188 ; Win . Cunningham Glen , uiS , P . G . S . and P . G . S . D . ; K . P . Albert , 439

G . P . ; S . Pardoe , P . M . ; i 1 ; W . J . Russell , P . M . 511 ; G . A . Williams , 511 ; J . II . Taylor , 511 ; W . W . Wheeler , 511 ; H . Masse y , P . M . 619 ( " Freemason" ) II . Morrill , 704 ; G . F . Hill , 733 , E . Arrowsmith , 73 . 1 , "»•J . Hurrfress , 733 ; Thomas Fisher , 733 ; John T . Woodstock , P . M . 749 , T . H . Squires , 780 ; John Thompson , I ' . M . S 34 ; J . II . Webb , 834 ; Thus . Kingstor ,

W . M . 8 ( 12 ; | . J . Michael , W . M . 1107 ; J . Burgess Peny , 11 . S 5 ; R . 11 . ' Pearson , P . M . 1196 ; J . E . Carpenter , P . M . 1196 ; Kolrt . Harvey , 1196 ; G . Musgrave , 1 309 ; Arthur Thomas , 1319 ; Jas . E . UambkUm , 1319-, S . wage , P . M . 142 ;; Saniucl Jones , S . W . 1425 ; D . F . Gellion , J . W . 1425 ; Thos . Craig , 1423 ; W . Grist , 1489 ; W . J . Brewster , ' 1489 ; II - W . Majcs , 1489 ; W . [] . Lea , P . M . 1324 ;

and T . Brown , 1 O 11 . Bro . Hervey then delivered an address to the brethren on the nature and objects of the meeting . Drawing attention to the fact thit the lodge had been projected by members of the vestry cf the parish in which they were assembled , he reminded the brethren that in those assemblies very frequently unseemly squabbles and di-cussions arose .

In a lodge generally , of course such exhibitions were not likely to be made , but he warned its members not to allow any diffeiencu of opinion that might exist between them in vestry to be perpetuated in their lodge . After alluding to several other Masonic objects , such as the extension of the Order , and the increasing number of lodges , lie advised the brethren to i , b .-erve caution as to Ihe admission of

initiates and joining members . He knew that it was proposed that i" llii-i lodge means were intended to be taken , which showed an increased measure of caution , and he hoped that no unworthy members would be admitted . The recent County Court case , in which the Hervey Lodge , No . 1260 , was plaintiff , next engaged Bro . Hcrvey ' s attention , and he spoke in very strong

language on the conduct reported in that case . In conclusion he said he wanted to mention one or two practical matters to the brethren , who were to be officers of the lodge about to be consecrated . The W . M . designate was a brother had all the moral advantages resulting from the practice of Freemasonry ; but he would recomto his officers that they should , if they undertook to

perform the duties of an office , prepare themselves for the efficient discharge of llioie duties . If an office was worth accepting it was worth filling properly . Officers should be punclu ; il in their altendai . ee , so that the W . M . might not be inconvenienced at any time when a ceremony was about to be perloiincd by the officers not being present . The duties should not only be performed as a duty , but

from a desire to show those who were present that they were able to perform what they had undertaken . Nothing could be more painful than to see an officer placed in a lodge , and when a candidate was introduced to the J . D . tli . it the J . D . did not know what to do with him , or to the J . W . that he did not remember what to say to him . What could be a greater disgrace to an officer , or a greater

disgust the candidate about to enter into the Order ? He ( llro . Hervey ) trusted this would not be the case in this lodirc , but that the officers to be appointed would look upon themselves as the different wheels of a great machine without which the machine could not act . If one of the wheels of a locomotive on the line close by was out of order the engine stopped dead . If a wheel of a watch had

a cog broken the watch would not go , and the officers of a lodge ought to feel that it was the same with a lodge , that it was a machine , that they were portions of the machine , that they ought to render themselves competent to carry out their duties so as to prevent any bitch . Then everything would go on right and properly , andconduce to the honour ot themselves , to the credit of the lodge in

particular , and to the well-being ot generally ( Cheers . ) Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Wc odford in delivering the oration , said : V . W . Presiding Officer and Brethren : As I have been honoured by the request of your worthy W . M . elect , to deliver the customary oration at this our Masonic ceremony of consecration , in order not lo weary you all with

Consecration Of The Earl Of Carnarvon Lodge, No. 1642.

sameness , or tile sterotyped repetition of oft-told truths I have thought it best to place a few ideas , so to say , on paper , which 1 trust will recommend themselves to the sympathy and approval of all my brethren present . First ofall , I venture to think , we may all , and should all , rejoice at this multiplication of lodges . There are those ' I am aware , who take a different view of the question ' butthink

, I , hastily and erroneously . What does this increase really mean after all ? What does this planting in this important district of a new sapling of our great Masonic tree imply ? Surely this , that our kindly and benevolent Order commends itself alike , to the support of the thinking and the appreciation of the intelligent , and that in consequence Freemasonry is extending iis stakes

on all sides of us—north , south , cast , and west—and mak . ing new centres of light and good-will for man . Hence then , though the great and rapid advance of Freemasonry in England , as our distinguished Presiding Officer knows , is very striking indeed , and suggestive necessarily of some precautions , it may well afford pleasure and gratification to every zealous brother of our good old Craft , and for

this reason . The creation and consecration of a newlodge are not an idle ceremony on the one hand , or an unmeaning fact on the other . We do not assemble , sir , under your able superintendence , to go through , parrot like , a set of mechanical phrases . Nor docs our Masonic consecration of the new lodge represent a needless repetition of an ancient but obsolete

ritual . On the contrary , we are here to seek to give Masonic life , vigour , and duration to the new lodge , now about to be admitted to our goodly brotherhood , now about to bt inscribed on our lengthening roll , and we sincerely trust that the words we hear , and the ceremonial we take part in will not only revive pleasant associations in the memories of us ulder Masons , but will encourage our younger

brethren—whose Masonic life , so to say , is before them—to zeal , assiduity , earnestness , loyally and devotion in the labours and active working of that amiable and beneficent Order , in whose kindly companionship and true fraternity many of us , as you see , have actually grown grey . That Freemasonry docs mean something , not c-nly is clear from the " nature of the case itself , "

but is abundantly evident from recent attacks which have been made upon our great institutions , and let us ur . ite for the very principles on which as Freemasons we always greatly pride ourselves , and without which , pardon me , Sir , for saying so , ail out professions and all our paraphirnalia , our lodge gatherings and our festive array , nay , even our charitable efforts and our very " labour of love "

would be but as " sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal . " And what are those principles ? Shortly stated , they are these , rrceinasonry conies before us and appeals to our age to-day , as a religious , tolerant , peaceful , loyal , benevolent Order , proclaiming the " Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of man , " invoking the solemn and sacred right of conscientious convictions , the

sanctity of individual be-lief , deprecating controversy and detesting persecution . While on the one hand it asserts its solemn credence in the Most High , and is equally at a distance from the blind folly of the Atheist and the reckless impiety of the libertine—white it welcomes all , I say , in the name of God , the Father , Ruler , Friend of all , the True and only Potentate , the Mighty King Eternal ,

Immortal , Omnipotent , Omniscient , the Great Architect of the World and of Man , it keeps itself entirely at a distance from the conflicting claims of creeds and controversies . That is ti say , though friendly , most friendly to all religious bodies , it does not feel competent to make any profession of general or particular belief , to lay down any actual religious test for its

membership , to prescribe any other condition for its privileges beyond the acknowledgment anil belief in the Great God and Ruler of all . There has , indeed , an 1 there probably will always be a large Christian school in Masonry , and I for one hold that Freemasonry is broad and wide enough for us all , and allows within certain proper limits , a right of private judgment even in this respect .

But the teaching ot our Grand Lodge since 1813 , at any rate , has been purely Universal , and as honest men and Masons when we expatiate on the principles of our Order we are bound , as it seems to mc , always to be most particular in adhering carefully to what our o . vn regulations prescribe , and to what our own recognized formularies proclaim . And it is on this great principle , then

remember , that Freemasonry receives to-day the Hindoo , the Mahominedan , the Parsee , that we all unite ( whatever our views or tvur denominations may be outside the lodge ) inside tne lodge in the teachings of fraternal union and general benevolence , and that despite those prepossessions and parties into which social life , worldly life , political life , divide us all , and sever us all , sternly at times , from

one another here , as Freemasons we know nothing of political or religious differences , but arc one in heart ar . d feeling , in profession , one in practice , in concord and brotherly love . And who can convince us that we are wrong in so teaching , so doing ? When our detractors tell us perchance that we arc Atheists , simply because we give no prominence to the Christian , may we not reply—'

it Atheism to love our brethren , and to do untu others as we would be done by ? When the Ultramontane declares that we are a disloyal and dangerous Order , because we are condemned by the Bull of Clement , may we not say that such puerile ignorance of our great tenets is perhaps as good a commentary as any on an alleged infallibility . When some foolish person asserts that our secrecy is in itnot

self a proof of something wrong , may our rejoinder be—No society can be wrong or injurious which is specially authorised to assemblfi by the laws of our land . And Ihe day , V . W . sir , 1 make bold to say , that the legislature forbids all secret societies to meet , making no exception—that day Freemasonry in England must cither change its character or close its lodges . It may seem to som of you almost superfluous thus to vindicate the rehgiou ,