Ar00200

IN a recent article in the " Month for July occurs the following paragraph , a summing up ofthe entire subject as a " gravamen " against Freemasonry , alike serious and overwhelming from a Roman Catholic point of view . Listen , good brother readers of the Freemason all the world over , peaceable , loyal , moral , decently living , respectable Freemasons : " In other words Freemasonry in England will bring about , is bringing about even now ,

lawlessness , naturalism , atheism , godless education , corrupt morality , disregard of the sanctity of marriage , sedition , revolution , socialism , communism . " We can scarcely trust our senses , or credit our eyes . "What ? the loyal , charitable , reputable , religious Order of Freemasons to be described in such terms by a polished Roman Catholic writer in a libellous and wellwritten Roman Catholic serial ! Is the writer in his right senses ? or has

he forgotten altogether the " abstract importance of Truth ? " How can anyone dare thus to calumniate that great Order in which are to be found members of our Royal Family , Peers and Statesmen , Clergymen and Legislators , Writers and Artists , all the learned professions , constituting an organisation notoriously the most loyal of bodies , and in no way open to the charges in any sense or bearing of this most ill-informed writer ? We can

realize the astonishment and laughter with which such allegations will be hailed by our brethren , and we can only hope to see a Roman Catholic apology for accusations against our peaceful , useful , and charitable Fraternity equally unjust , ridiculous , and notoriously unfounded . It is truly-a sad reflection that , even in an otherwise-able article , such is the hopeless haze which fanaticism and intolerance throw over the views and feelings at men , that we have a notoriously factitious charge , utterly unworthy and

preposterous , brought against a reputable and charitable sodality , which no other writer of common intelligence or fairness could be found , we believe , to . advance or propound . If the credulity of mankind is a sad sight and a pitiable history , what shall we say of its intolerance and fanaticism ? If the former has caused much personal sorrow , and paved the way for much individual , suffering , the latter has filled the nations and ages of the world wilh strife , confusion , hatred , and even blood .

* * WE call attention to an advertisement elsewhere relative to the Masonic soiree and exhibition at Worcester , August / th , 1884 . We trust that it . will be a great success , and that our brethren will respond warmly to the appeal of our esteemed Bro . GEO . TAYLOR . The exhibition is to be opened

for a week . It follows , we are reminded , the first held at York , and many who sent books , & c , to York have promised their collections for the Worcester gathering . Bro . W . J . HUGHAN will specially prepare a catalogue , with notes . Not only will the exhibition remain open a week , but during the time papers will be read and lectures given on exhibits and kindred subjects .

# * # WE hope that we shall not be deemed intrusive if we say a word again on a " vexed subject , " which has often come before us . We hear from time to time of the " rights of women " in the abstract ; but sure we are there are some Masonically which , it appears to us , are n 6 t sufficiently regarded by us . It always appears to us that those lodges and brethren are most wise and

farseeing which seek to include their ladies in their annual gatherings and recreation meetings . We have often said it , and we repeat it , that this reasonable and seasonable . admixture of ladies with our recreation meetings especially will be productive of good to Freemasonry , in more ways than one . There is a touch of selfishness and of sybaritism often among us " lords of the creation , ' . ' which the finer and purer presence of our fair sisters ,

we believe , will do much to lessen , to alleviate , and remove . We know as a fact that when lodges and brethren have tried the plan , they have always found benefit from the change , and we invite our friends at this . season to give the matter a fair and full consideration . . Many lodges now take their " sisters " with them to their annual Masonic gatherings , and

dances , and agreeable picnics , and we feel sure that none who do so will repent them of this little variation in their programme , as the presence ' of some of the " fairest specimens of creation , " always kind , considerate , and unselfish , will lend not only " enchantment to the view , " but confer pleasantness and contentment ' to the assembly , and animation and brightness to the

scene . " . . * * * * WE call attention to another review of the Roman Catholic " Month " elsewhere , by which it would seem as if , despite more civil language and a more courteous tone , the * old " fiery spirit " of Rome was still " to the fore "

in truth ; that still , as ever , the one unchanging bent and declaration of Rome , " qua Rome , " was against the now happily universally received dictum of Toleration . The arguments employed by the Reviewer are indeed worthy of the attention of Freemasons , and show to what length acrimony and injustice will lead even educated men .

Masonic Ceremony At Redhill.

MASONIC CEREMONY AT REDHILL .

VISIT OF THE M . W . G ^ M ., H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES On Wednesday afternoon the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Redhill , where his Royal . Highness performed the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the chapel forming part of the block of new buildingsnow approaching completion—of the Royal Asylum of St . Anne ' s Society . Their Royal Highnesses , who were accompanied by the Princesses Louise , Victoria , and Maud of Wales , and attended by Lord and Lady Suffield , Sir Dighton Probyn , and Col . A . Ellis , travelled from London by a special

. train , and on their arrival at Redhill were received by the Mayor and Corporation of Reigate , who presented an address . They were then conducted to the Royal pavilion by the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of the county , and the President , Treasurer , and other members of the Cdmmittee of the Royal Asylum of St . Anne ' s . " * As it was intended to Jay the foundation-stone with Masonic ceremonial , a Provincial Grand Lodgeof Surrey was summoned , and held under thepresidency of the Prov . G . Master , V . W . Bro . General Brownrigg .

The Princess of Wales and her . daughters were first conducted to their seats on the dais , in a pavilion erected on the site of the chapel , ' and shortly afterwards his Royal Highness , as Grand Master , attended by his officers ,

arrived . The procession was formed in the following order : —Assistant Grand Pursuivant ( Bio , Garrod ); Grand Pursuivant ( Bro . Stephens ); Grand Organist ( Bro . E . M . Lott ) ; Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies ( Bro . Griffiths Smith ; Grand Director of Ceremonies ( Bro . Sir Albert Woods ); the Grand Officers bearing the cornucopia and ewers with wine and oil , ( Bros . C . Martyn , P . G . C ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; and E . Bowyer ,

Masonic Ceremony At Redhill.

P . G . Std . Br . ); the Grand Superintendent of Works , ( Bro . Horace Jones ) bearing the inscribed plate for the foundation-stone ; - the Grand Secretary for German Correspondence ( Bro . Dr . Wendt ); the Grand Secretary ( Bro . Col . Shadwell H . Gierke ); President of the Board of General Purposes- ( Bro . T . Fenn ) , carrying the mallet ; the Grand Registrar ( Bro . P .. H . Philbrick ); Grand Treasurer ( Bro . Col . Creaton ) , bearing the phial containing the coins

to be deposited in the stone ; the Junior . Grand Warden ( Bro . the Lord Mayor ) , with the plumb rule ; the Senior Grand Warden ( Bro . Lord Cremome ) , with the level ; the Junior Grand Deacon ( Bro . E . Letchworth ) ; the Grand Chaplain ( Bro . Canon Tristram ); the Deputy Grand Master ' ( Bro . theEarl of Lathom ); the Pro Grand Master ( represented by Bro . Lord Suffield ); the Grand Standard Bearer and Sword Bearers ; the Most

Worshipful the Grand Master ( H . R . H . the Princeof Wales ) ; the Senior Grand Deacons ( Bros . Baron De Ferrieres and Davison ); and the Grand Tyler ( Bro . Sadler ) . The whole assemblage , on his Royal Highness ascending the dais , rose and stood throughout the ceremonial . The Princess and her daughters stood on the left of the Prince , and among those present , in addition to the Officers of Grand Lodge , were the Archbishop of

Canterbury , the Bishop of Rochester , Mr . Sheriff Cowan and the Lady Mayoress , the Mayor of Croydon , the Mayor o . f Guildford , Lord and Lady Monson , Lady Henry Somerset , the Earl and Countess of Lovelace , Sir . Edward and Lady Watkin , Mr . H . Edwards , M . P ., the . Archdeacon of Surrey , Sir Sydney and Lady Waterlow , General Sir R . Wilbraham , Sir Trevor Lawrence , Sir Valentine Fleming , Sir Geo . Macleay , and Mr . Grantham ,

M . P . The hymn of praise having been sung by the children , and the Bishop of Rochester having offered prayer , The Archbishop of CANTERBURY , as President , then gave a brief sketch of St . Anne ' s Society , which was founded in 1702 . Its object , he said , was to receive and help , clothe and educate , children who , having been born in a superior position , found themselves destitute . The Society received

children of any nation , and up to the present time had provided in all for nearly 4000 children . It depended entirely upon voluntary contributions , and th ' e extent of its operations was such that it had been found necessary to remove from the home at Streatham to the present site , where the new schools would accommodate nearly 400 children . In conclusion the Archbishop asked his Royal Highness to lay the foundation-stone . . ( Cheers . )

The Grand Master having been conducted to the stone , took up his position there "; the vessels containing coins , wine , and oil , were deposited on ' a pedestal placed for their reception "' and the upper stone having been raised , the lower one was adjusted . The Prince , of WALES then addressed the assembl y in the following terms : —Men and brethren here assembled to behold this ceremony , —Be it

known unto you that we , being lawful Masons , true and truthful to the laws of our country , and engaged in similar dedications to rear up hand- * some buildings to be serviceable to the Society and to fear God , the Great Architect of the Universe ; we have amongst us , concealed from the eyes of all men , secrets which may ' not be revealed , and which no man has discovered , but those secrets are lawful , honourable , and not repugnant to the

laws of God or man . ( Cheers . ) They were entrusted in peace and honour ' to the Masons of ancient times , and having been faithfully transmitted to us , it is our duty to convey them unimpaired to lasting posterity . Unless our Craft were good and our calling honourable , we should not have lasted for so many centuries , nor should we have had so many illustrious brethren in our Order ready to promote our laws and further our interests . We are

assembled here to-day in the presence of all of you to erect a house for the worship and praise of the Most High , which we pray God may prosper as it seems good to Him ; and as the first duty of Masons in any undertaking is to invoke the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe * on the work , I call upon you to unite with our Grand Chaplain in praise of the Throne of Grace .

Prayer having been offered by the GRAND CHAPLAIN , The GRAND SECRETARY read aloud the inscription on the plate , and the Grand Treasurer deposited the phial containing the coins , after which the p late was placed on the lower stone . The cement having been duly spread , it was adjusted by the Grand Master with a trowel , and then the upp « r stone was lowered with three distinct stops . Having proved the just position

and form of the stone by the plum rule , level , and square , his Royal Highness struck it three times with the mallet , and afterwards strewed the corn from the cornucopia , and poured the wine and oil over the stone with the accustomed ceremonies . He next inspected the plan , and having done so , returned it to the architect with the Masonic injunction to proceed to the completion of the work in conformity therewith . Purses containing

contributions on behalf of the ouilding fund were afterwards placed on the stone , and the Bishop of Rochester having pronounced the Benediction , the ceremony terminated . On passing to the Royal Pavilion prior to returning to London , the Prince and Princess were heartily cheered . The total cost of the school buildings will be £ 38 , 000 , of which about £ 20 , 000 has been already subscribed , exclusive of about £ 3000 contributed on Wednesday .

Consecration Of The Portcullis Lodge, No. 2038, At Langport.

CONSECRATION OF THE PORTCULLIS LODGE , No . 2038 , AT LANGPORT .

There was a large gathering of the Craft at Langport on the ist inst . to lake part in the ceremony of consecrating the Portcullis Lodge , for which a warrant has recently been granted by the Grand Lodge of England . * The

brethren met at the * Town Hall at twelve , and having formed a procession in the ante-room , marched to the lodge in the usual Masonic order , Broi Nosworthy , P . P . G . Org ., who has for ' the past sixteen or seventeen years assisted in the dedication ceremonies in the Province of Somerset , playing a suitable march .

Bro . R . C . Else , D . P . G . M . and GD . of England , the Consecrating . Officer , and the Present and Past Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge , were then received in due form , and the Prov . Grand Lodge was - opened with the usual ceremony . The room in which the brethren assembled to . transact their Masonic business was admirably suited to the purpose , and a great amount of care and taste had evidently been bestowed upon the adornment of the

lodge by the local brethren . As usual on these occasions the distinctive banners of the several lodges in the province were suspended around the lodge room , ' and choice flowers , lent * by the Rev . C . M . Mules , were tastefully disposed around the pedestals and on the dais , presenting a most charming effect . The lodge appointments ( all of course new ) were in good taste , and testified by their costliness to the healthy Masonic zeal ' existing . in this new centre of the Craft .