Christianity And Freemasonry.

"Sir ,. —Having acquired very decided opinions on this matter , I have been interested to note ihe replies of so-called 'Misons' to the letter of 'OfTeiriad . ' All the replies , excepting one ( . vhich entirely deprecates the discussion of the matter , and in so doing is consistent with the principles of Freemasonry ) , justify Freemasonry to the support of Christianity , by pointing to the amount of charitable woik done , and to the principles of morality inculcated . Conceded that a large balance of the funds , after working expenses are paid , are given away to

support Charities ; and conceded that the published books of the 'Craft' do teach Theism and stilted morality—surely these are no reasons why a Christian should join a society which embraces men of all creeds—Jews , Turks , infidels , and heretics—and be bound to them in such close bonds of fellowship and brotherhood as the constitutions demand . To a Christian 'Christ is all , and in all . '

His morality , his rule of life , must dale from the precepts and example of Christ . His Icllowship is in the Church of Christ ; his talents , his means ot doing good—¦ should all be devoted to the service of Christ and His Church . What , then , can we have to do with a Society which teaches a morality based simply on a belief in God and the immortality of the soul ? ' What part hath he that believeth with an infidel V '

'' Mr . Horsley says , ' None but those who share the ignorance of the Pope and " Offeiriad " will refuse its aid to morality and laith . ' " What morality ' : What faith ? The Christian knows no other faith than Christ crucified , and no morality than that which emanates from Him . Looking at Freemasonry in this light , I do not consider it ' harmless . ' I conMdcr it usurps in many cases the place which the Church should occupy , and so is harmful . The ritual and quasi-religious character of the lodge meetings tend to stienethen this view .

" A further objection I offer to a Catholic presenting himself for initiation is , that he is kept in ignorance beforehand of the profession which he will be required to make , and so may unawares be forced to take a solemn oath ' not to divulge certain childish ' secrets , ' and that , too , amidst such farcical surroundings as to make the mention of the Holy Name a profanation . I fear I have already trespassed too far on your valuable space , but should , in conclusion , like to remind 1

' Atticus , who identifies his Society with the ancient trade Guild of Masons , that he has nothing in common with the noble band of men who built our cathedrals , except the nomenclature . They were Catholics , not Theists only ; they learnt their craft by patient years of manual labour , and were not made Masons in a few weeks by the payment of a fee ; they knew the practical use of the tools which their degenerate successors degrade into playthings to teach an absurd symbolism .

" AHCIUTUCT . "Sir , —May 1 venture to add my testimony , as a Mason of 36 years' standing , to that of the Rev . J . W . Horsley and others as lo ' the perfect compatibility of British Masonry with the teaching , not alone of the Church of England , but also of all pure and undefiled religion . The Christian virtue of Charity is beautifully set forth in Masonic ritual , and is exemplified daily in the loving and unselfish actions of true and loyal British Masons . Though with no time now

for attendance at lodges , and though 1 have never myself had occasion to require Masonic aid in any part of the world , I have known almost innumerable instances in which aid of all kinds has been freely bestowed , where discomfort and suffering must otherwise have been endured . Other Christian virtues are so inculcated as to warrant the assertion that a good Mason must be a truly religious man . As a lay-member ol the Church of England , I do not hesitate to add that Mr . Horsley and his colleagues are doing an excellent work for the Church in their efforts towards a gathering of Freemasons at the Church Congresses .

"NORMAN KEKK , M . D . " I , Hamilton-terrace , Regent ' s-park , " London , N . W ., August 24 th . "

A Visit To Calcutta.

A VISIT TO CALCUTTA .

It occurred that not long since I had occasion to be in Calcutta , and like Mr . Micawber at Canterbury , I thought it rash to be in Calcutta without in some measure at any rate learning what was going on in the Masonic world of Calcutta . Accordingly , through the kind offices of a friendly brother , I received a list ot meetings and invitations to attend them , which bid fair to engross every evening in the month and even more had I the ( acuity of being in more than one place at the same time .

There can be no doubt that a visit to a fresh province is bound to suggest new ideis , and perhaps the most firmly impressed idea which 1 have carried away is the system of a central Freemason ' s hall , vested in the District Grand Lodge , to which all lodges meeting in Calcutta duly pay rent , hire of furniture , glass , crockery , music , and other items .

In this building are the offices of Bro . II . M . Rustomji , D . G . Secretary , together with a wonderful collection of records all clearly indexed , which enable the student to find out the Masonic career of any brother at a glance , and by reference to another small book find the summ ' ons convening the meeting . Many of these records are yet unbound , others bound line the numerous shelves . While Bro . Rustomji , who takes a delight in his various registration schemes , rapidly shows

the astonished visitor how such a brother was initiated so many years ago , here he shows the original summons , passed after a lapse of some years ( summons again ) and finally recently raised . The Masonic Historian of Bengal has much ma t erial to work upon ; and under Bro . Rustomji's guidance , I had the pleasure of viewing the various cuiiodtics of which the District Grand Lodge of Bengal has a lirc . e number . The four corners of the dining-rcom contain busts of Bros . Birch ( D . D .

< i . iVI . i 8 . | y ) lilaguire , a remarkable Mason , who held the chair of Star in the Fast for 10 consecutive years , viz ., 1831—1841 , after being Master of the same lodge from 1812—iSi . S and 1820—1826 , in all 17 years of Mastershi p in one lodge , Bro . Grant , the Apothecary General , and Bro . Burlton . All these four brethren whose busts form such an ornament to the room , held the office of Master in their respective lodges for at least three years . The walls of the rooms are embellished

with handsome three-quarter length portraits in oils , notably Bro Sandeman , who was the last Provincial and the first District Grand Master of Bengal , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the M . W . G . M ., by H . S . Marks , which cost no less a sum than ^ 200 , John Blessington Roberts , a most interesting brother , whose signature as District Grand Tyler may be seen in the Dist . G . Tyler ' s book in 1848 , and who rose to be Dist . G . Master in 1 S 75 .

This picture is perhaps as striking as any . It represents Bro , Roberts as a tall , somewhat florid man with remarkably line features and long white whiskers of the then prevailing Dundreary type . tieneral Ramsay and Bro . Huff , Bro . Locke , the eminent Masonic Controversialist , and Bro . Prinsep , the present D . G . M ., with Bro . P . C . Datt , his Deputy , complete , with one exception , the portraits in this room . This one notable exception is' a portrait of Warren Hastings , who was appointed as Lord Patron of Freemasonry in Bengal in 1813 , which position he

A Visit To Calcutta.

continued to hold until iS 22 , when a farewell Masonic address was presented to him . The portrait is comparatively small , and represents the Earl in military uniform , the face clean shaven and hair powdered . These two circumstances render the heavy black eyebrows , beautifully arched , and the somewhat prominent nose all the more noticeable . The apron in this portrait is remarkable on account of its small size and segmental flap . There are also several p-ints in this room well worthy of notice , particularly an engraving by Bartolozzi from

Stothards picture of the Masonic Girls ' . School Festival , published by Jeffries in 1 S 02 . The bulk of the figures in this print are portraits , two Turkish Ambassadors being prominent in the loreground , though no clue is given as to their being Masons or not . Another print , probably dating from the time of Hogarth re . presents a Masonic procession in London , a notable feature being a cart-load of indigent Masons ; want of time and failing light prevented a closer examination of this print . In the waiting room outside the dining room are two old masters

one representing Faith , Hope , and Charity on thiee panels and another the Angel Gabriel , the last being the gift of a former D . G . M . From the waiting room opens out the D . G . M . 's room , which can be used by him as an office , most comfortably furnished . In this room is kept the celebrated True Friendshi p bowl . This bowl is one of the most cherished possessions of that lodge , and it is quite probable that Warren Hastings has in times gone by taken a glass of punch from its capacious depths . Now , the days of punch being over , it rests in

state on a plinth of ebony and silver engraved with the roll of the various Masters who have at times held office in the lodge . The bowl , according to an inscrip . tion on the inner rim , was " presented to the W . M ., Wardens , and Brethren of Lodge True Friendship , Bengal , No . 1 ( note the old system of numbering ) , as a mark of esteem by their Brother Hugh Adams . " Another inscription on the lower rim of the bowl records the fact , "This bowl made by Syng Ching , China Merchant , Canton , A . D . 1813 . " The face of the bowl presents four distinct devices :

1 . A scroll bearing the words " Fide , spe et charitate , " beneath which the " all-seeing eye " above the sun which rises from behind the V . S . L . open at II , Chron . iii , to the right of this the moveable jewels , to the left the three lights , in the centre the five-pointed star , charged with G . The whole enclosed by the two pillars surmounted by globes , above which the moon and seven stars . 2 . The compasses open on a sector at 90 ° enclosing the sun in splendour , The whole enclosed in inscription "Lodge True Friendship , Bengal , No . 1 , G . L . E . No . 315 . " In this the number on the roll of the Grand Lodgeof England also

appears . 3 . The "all-seeing eye , ' beneath which the patriarchal cross , entwined with a serpent , scroll beneath bearing words " sub cruce salus , " to the right a Maltese cross , to the left an eight-pointed star , inscribed with a cross . Two scrolls and two cross bones occupy a curious position below these emblems . 4 . A bridge of five arches spanning a stream , surmounted by a Latin cross , entwined by a serpent , flanked by two eight-pointed stars , bearing circular

medallions , that on the right the cross entwined with the serpent and the inscrip . tion " Longe inde este , " that on the left the cross with the implements of the Passion and inscription " In hoc signo vinces . " A geometrical Greek Key pattern in purple and gold adorns the outer rim , while the inside is decorated with pink and white roses on a gold ground . By comparison with the bowl in Universal Charity , formerly the property of the Carnatic Military Lodge , the Calcutta bowl would hold about thrice the amount of punch ; but the similarity

of workmanship is such as to lead one to think that they must have come from tbe hand of one and the same workman , and that possibly the idea of a lodge bowl was borrowed either by Madras from Bengal or more likely by Bengal from Madras , as the finish of the Calcutta bowl , while preserving the characteristics oi the Universal Charity bowl , is far superior and more elaborate . Among othei remarkable objects on this floor of the premises are the dining tables , which have

that polish only to be seen " on really old furniture . Many lodges have smal pieces of plate , which are produced at their meetings , a singularly happy idea being the cigar lighter of Lodge Fortitude with Humility , whose crest is that of an elephant and castle ; the cigar lighter is a replica of the crest in silver , the castle forming the receptacle for " fire , " while small wheels on the elephant ' s feet enable the whole to circulate with freedom among the brethren .

Proceeding upstairs we arrive at the vestibule to the lodge . In this it ha ; been the pious custom of the Bengal Masons to erect small tablets to departed brethren of rank and merit , and by this practice a rather fuller scop ; is permitted in the matter of symbolical ornamentation . In addition to this , it is a happilyconceived idea to perpetuate the memories of illustrious brethren in this way within the walls of that building which was ever their principal sphere of action . It was formerly customary ( till March in the present year ) to confer the 3 in a special room , painted dead black , with accessories of a very realistic kind

crossed swords , & c . The Master ' s light bearing a shade inscribed " Know thyself , " the top being cut so as to cast a star upon the ceiling of the room . I ivas fortunate enough to see what must have been the last use of this room , and also the very next night to see the old custom replaced by working which resembles that in vogue in the Madras lodges and in England : Perhaps the principal drawback to the separate room was that two Degrees were frequently being worked by one lodge simultaneously , which naturally gave rise to questions as to the warrant or the Master's light .

The lodge room itself is rather longer than the breadth would justify , lighted throughout , even to the Master ' s and Wardens' lights , with gas . The latter arc placed immediately in front of and not at the side of the pedestals , which rather obscures the principal officers while in the discharge of their ' ' spective duties . The warrant of the lodge at work is alwjys placed in front 01 his

the Master ' s pedestal , the Master himself sitting some 12 feet behind pedestal on a dais raised three steps higher than the usual dais which is occii ?' by the Past Masters ; he has thus to rise and come down these steps for ceremonies . On each side of the three chairs are columns emblematical of the W . * and Wardens standing full six feet high ; these are distinctly fine works of t " carver ' s art and lend dignity to the room .

The chairs in use are very old and curious , the oval cushion at the back being enclosed by the " endless serpent" which is gilt . , Immediately alter the entry or departure of a brother the lodge is V * L tyled , and no ceremony is proceeded with till this is done . Of the lodges whic I visited in this building , none was more impressive than the working of the natn lodge Anchor of Hope ; the smartness and regularity of the officers and tbe M ; l ?|

were indeed beyond all praise and would form a very high standard for the ""' , tion of other lodges . Not a few of the Past Masters of this lodge worr U > Cooch Behar ' s Founder ' s Jewel , which literally blazed with brilliants . Anotti curious custom obtaining in Bengal is that of remaining seated while drinking health of the newly-initiated brother and the good old custom of musical honou ^ rendered Masonicallv . one Darticularlv bein ? " HiD . heart , and hand , " "' ,.,

brother tells me must be a corruption of " Lip , heart , and hand . " . . „ nh Degree which I saw worked in this building was the R . A . Mariner , which t the Mark is exceedingly popular in Bengal ; there were over 20 members p and two candidates , one of whom proposed to open the Degree in Simla . The District Grand Lodge of Bengal has a building fund , to which each ) a certain amount is credited with a view to building a Masonic Temp le . , ¦ | y some Rs . 75 . ooo have been set apart for this purpose , but the D . G . M' ' > perhaps intends to wait until sufficient money has been raised in this way to a building worthy of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal , and hand it ° them without debt or encumbranc ; of any kind .