Original Correspondence.

upon the throne of France , found Macdonald acting Grand Master . He was , in 1832 , succeeded by Alexis de la Borde , who , in 1842 , requesting his dismissal , was succeeded by De la Casas , as Deputy G . M . In 1848 , the second Republic being proclaimed , Bcrtrand was found

to be Grand Master , he having been elected the year previous . In 1850 , Berrille was elected in Bertram ' s stead ; but , in 1851 , the coup d ' etat caused the Grand Orient to close all the lodges for the time being , to suppress political agitation therein . In 1852 , Lucien Murat , the nephew of

Louis Napoleon , was invited to the Grand Mastership . Being waited upon , he assured the deputation that he must first secure the consent of his uncle , which being given , he was elected . His supercilious and arbitrary conduct estranged him , causing grave difficulties , and , to arrange matters ,

Marshal C . Magnan was , in 1862 , by decree 01 the Emperor , ordered to take Murat ' s position . Some three years subsequently , Magnan prevailed on the Emperor to allow to the Grand Orient the privilege of electing its Grand Master , and this being granted he resigned , but to be

elected shortly before his death , m 1 S 65 , after which , on the 9 th of June of that year , General Mellinet was elected . I will now clcse this brief eventful history of a century , by adding that , having been re-elected yearly until 1 S 70 , General Mellinet resigned , and ,

for the first time within one hundred years , a civilian , Babaud Laribiere , was elected , with the distinct understanding on his part that within the following year the members of the Fraternity at large should determine , and so instruct their delegates , on continuing or discontinuing

thereafter the Grand Mastership , and its discontinuance has been the result , to give place to a more republican form of government . Is it not plain to the reader of the foregoing that , whatever it may be in other countries , the Grand Mastership in France has been more or

less—generally more than less—for one hundred years controlled by the existing political power ? And how much better , allow me to ask , would the Freemasons of England have acted under one hundred years of such rule , or variety of rules , as has been the fortune of France ? It is

very easy to point to the extraordinary manner , so filmed alike for peace and conservatism , Freemasonry in England presents ; but why should it not ? What political commotion has occurred , resulting in the wreck of thrones or setting up of republics , within its living history ? The

reigns of the Georges and their . successors to the present time have , for Englishmen , been continued peace in England . Only foreign wars , which but unite Englishmen , have occurred during those years within which France has been convulsed by revolution after revolution . How

would it have been , who c : m say , if such convulsions of the social fabric of English society had taken place as those which that of France has experienced ? 1 think there would be other stories to tell to-day of even English , the most conservative of all Masonry . Let us , not being

tempted , decide how we would act under temptation ; and would it not be well to think of this , ere we hasten to condemn our brethren of the Grand Orient ? For diem , the Grand Mastership has been a machine that is worked by that power which rules France for the time being . Is it not

reasonable that they should desire to rid themselves of that machine when opportunity enabled , and thus prevent the administrative functions ol that machine being again exercised in manner to render them but " slaves of the lamp " ? From present appearances , a great deal of the

Republicanism of France is to be found within its lodges of Freemasons , yet France no more at this time than previously will permanently establish a Republic . So long as the people are educated , as they are , solely by the clergy , and that clergy so predominatingly Roman Catholic , the government of France will not be a Republic .

None know this better than the wise men of the Grand Orient ; and hence , is it not natural that they should reorganize that body in manner not again to afford opportunity for any possible form of government or ruler to oppress or entangle them in its machinations through the agency of their Grand Master ?

Original Correspondence.

In this case , strange as it may appear and paradoxical , a body may prove quite as useful and effective , and much more independent , without a head .

I am . fraternally yours , J . FLETCHER BRENNAN . Cincinnati , Ohio , Dec . iS , 1871 .

Burns And Freemasonry.

BURNS AND FREEMASONRY .

Burns , beyond question , derived considerable advantages from Masonry . It is evident from the statements which he has placed on record , that it contributed greatly to his happiness in admitting him into close

and intimate fellowship with the wise , intelligent , and social , and furnishing him with opportunities for enjoying the " feast of reason and the flow of soul" in the most rational and ennobling manner . It

presented him , also , with one of the best fields that he could find for the improvement of his mind and the display of his talents . In the Mason ' s Lodge , merit and worth are sure to be appreciated , and to meet with

approbation and respect . When the young and humble ploughman of Lochlca joined the Lodge of Tarbolton , he was still in a great measure unnoticed and unknown ; but no sooner did he receive the stamp of

Freemasonry , than he took his place . ; with Sir John Whitcford of Ballochmyle , James Dalrymple of Orangeficld , Sheriff Wallace of Ayr , Gavin Hamilton , writer , Mauchinc ; John Ballantinc , Provost of Ayr ; Professor

Dugald Stewart , of Catrinc ; Dr . John Mackenzie , of Mauchline ; William Parker , of Kilmarnock ; and a whole host of Ayrshire worthies , high and low . By coming in contact with these men . his manners were

refined , his intellectual energies stimulated , and his merits acknowledged and applauded . Nay , Wood , the tailor ; Mason , the publican ; Wilson , the schoolmaster ; Humphrey , the " noisy polemic ; " and all the

meaner brethren , seem very soon to have discovered his high intellectual qualities , for they were not long in raising him to the

second highest office in the lodge—an office that caused him , on ordinary occasions , to occupy the Master ' s chair , and perform the work of initiation . In the school of the

lodge , he must , in n great measure , have acquired that coolness of demeanor , that dignity of deportment , that fluency and propriety of expression , and acquaintance with philosophy and humanity , which so

astounded and electrified the sages and nobles of Edinburgh , and made his advent in the capital one of the most remarkable incidents in literary history . Instead of a clownish , bashful , ignorant rustic , the most

learned and exalted citizens found that he was able and ready to take his place by their side , and that , in everything in which intellect was concerned , he was in some respects their equal , and , in others , greatly their superior .

Burns was principally indebted to Freemasonry for any gleam of prosperity that shone on his early pilgrimage . It was the Freemasons of Ayrshire who invited him to their tables ; who furnished him with advice

who read his productions into fame ; and purchased and circulated the Kilmarnock editions of his poems . It was by the advice of his brother Mason , John Ballantinc , of Ayr , to whom he inscribed his poem entitled

" The Brigs of Ayr , '' that he repaired to Edinburgh , and not as is generally said , by the letter of Dr . Blacklock to the Rev . George Laurie , of London , which says not one word of coming to Edinburgh ; but merely suggests the desirableness of pub-

Burns And Freemasonry.

lishing a second edition of his peotns . His brother , Gilbert , expressly states that , when Mr . Ballantinc heard that the poet was prevented from publishing a second edition , from the want of money to pay for the

paper , he " generously offered to accommodate Robert with what money he might need for the purpose ( £ 27 ); but advised him to go to Edinburgh as the fittest place for publishing . " When Burns , acting on this

advice , set out for Edinburgh , he had not , as he himself states , a single letter of introduction in his pocket , and we would be quite at a loss to know how he was able to form so sudden an acquaintance with the nobility

and literati of the Scottish capital , were we not assured , on good authority , that he owed this , in a great measure , to his appearance among his Masonic brethren . It was they who introduced him into the best circles of

society ; who put money in his purse to supply his wants ; who procured subscribers for the new edition of his poems ; who formed his companions in his tours ; who were his chief epistolary correspondents ;

who gave him accommodation in their houses ; who obtained his appointment in the Excise ; and who last of all , put him in possession of a farm—the chief object of his desire . As Masons , wc are proud that Robert Burns was enrolled in the ranks of

our Order , and while wc should strive to avoid the " thoughtless follies that laid him low and stained his name , " wc should at

the same time endeavour to imitate his ardent zeal , hisopen and generous disposition , and his manly and lofty independence . — Hunters Lectures on Freemasonry .

Poetry.

Poetry .

... , ^ - OYER AND OVER AGAIN .

Over and over again , Xo matter which way I turn , I always find in the Book of Life Some lesson I have to learn .

I must take my turn at the mill , I must grind out the golden grain , I must work at my task with a resolute will , Over and over again .

We cannot measure the need Of even the tiniest flower , Nor check the flow of the golden sands That run through , a single hour ,

But the morning dews must fall , And the sun and the summer rain Must do their part and perform it all Over and over again .

Over and over again The brook through the meadow flows , And over and over again The ponderous wheel still goes .

Once will not suffice , Though doing be not in vain ; And a blessing , failing us once or twice , May come if we try again .

The path that has once been trod Is never so rough to the feet ; And the lesson we once have learned Is never so hard to repeat .

Though sorrowful tears may fall , And the heart to its depth be driven With storm and tempest , we need them all To render us meet for heaven .