The Proposed Masonic Library At Sheffield.

nd we hail such a movement heartily and warmly- So far all seems to be most successful , -nd cheering alike for the present andwith ahappy augury for the future . " Sheffield blades" to use a Yorkshire term , generally succeed in what they heartily undertake , and we have no doubt ,

that our good brethren there , from what we remember of them , and many kind friends we had once among them—good Masons one and aU . will demonstrate to others that the old Masonic fire still burns among them clear and strong . We commend , then most sincerely the

scheme itself to the attention of our Order , and to the active support of those who will be so materially and Masonically benefitted by it . For of this one thing we may all be certain , Freemasonry has now assumed an intellectual position , which must be one of advance , and of active

study . The days of apathy , indifference , levity , unconcern , all are gone , and in their stead we have to deal with the demands of a young , an ardent , an enquiring generation . It has been too long assumed that Freemasonry has no literature , whereas Freemasonry has a most

extensive literature , and far too many of our older school , good Masons though they were , contented themselves , so to say . with the framework of Masonry , without seeking to master the spiritual teaching and the living soul within . Hence we always gladly welcome any effort which is made

to emerge from the somewhat dull and monotonous level of mere lodge routine , and to incite to study , and to offer a premium to a Masonic and laudable desire for information and instruction on all that appertains to the archa-ology and literature of Freemasonry .

It is a great reproach to us in England that we have so few lodge libraries . Let us trust that this will soon be among tire shortcomings of the past , and will be atoned for by the efforts of the present generation of Freemasons . The Sheffield brethren have most wisely resolved to remedy

this want , and to remove this blot in our Masonic system , by setting on foot a library open to all the lodges in that great and important town . We have looked over the provisional catalogue , and a very good one it is . Indeed to most of our brethren Masonic bibliography is an unknown

country , and few are aware that Kloss ' s list of Masonic works , thirty years and more ago , wonderful as it is , is far from complete , and yet that it contains nearly < 5 ooo works on Freemasonry and cognate subjects . Now , we must not expect too much at first from such a

meritorious effort , nor shut our eyes to its attendant difficulties . Many prejudices have to be overcome , and many mistaken views changed , before we shall see anything like a general taste for Masonic literature amongst us . But for a first attempt , for a new scheme , the present proposal

is a most successful one , and deserves the recognition and support of all who value Freemasonry _ for what it is , and who can find , whether in its history , or its symbolism , or its didactic expositions , much alike to improve the mind , to gratify the sympathies , to interest the

intellect , and to warm the heart ! We think , that ° J o . S . B . Ellis and his associate Secretary and his co-workers in this judicious movement , deserve the commendation of all who wish well to the cultivation of intellectual studies and Masonic literature in our good and friendly Order .

The Triumph Of Intolerance.

THE TRIUMPH OF INTOLERANCE .

Just now intolerance is very vivacious , and is too often , alas ! triumphant for the moment , so jar , indeed , as this world deems it to be a "lumph . We have read , not without emotion , l ° ever sacred cause of true reliionan

n M g , ncident which has lately taken place at Halifax , '" Yorkshire , and which appeared in the pages oi our last impression . It seems that Permanent Sergeant Nagle , of the 2 nd West Yorkshire icomanry Cavalry , a fine regimentand

com-, manded by our gallant and esteemed Bro . Sir H LjarjKBart ' ' RG M ^ West Yorkshire , has Mely . d « d atrHalifax . beinga Roman Catholic . He was buried , after military honours , in the cemetery L er Gear >'> Roman Catholic priestwho

, , r ^ c fted m the cha P el ! t is alIe ged that " de-;„ tl r -f . freemason , but in order to die in the faith of . the Ionian Catholic Church he Aad . previous to , has death , renounced his connec-

The Triumph Of Intolerance.

tion with Freemasonry . " We feel sure th at all our brethren will read this announcement with equal surprise and pain , not to say indignat ion . But the first question that occurs to us all is , is the statement true r The recorded cise s of death-bed renunciation are always doubtful , and ,

as we know , very frequently invented for the occasion ! Remembering the Chatham case , we hesitate a good deal at receiving the exact accuracy of this somewhat startling announcement . But assuming it to be a fact , what a mournful commentary ic is on the

very relig ion we all of us in common profess . We say nothing here of the principle of insubordination here set up before the rest of the regiment of yeomanry , the '" ' imperium in imperio , " the oblique censure thus cast on the commanding- officer and all others who are Freemasons .

What has Freemasonry perpetrated , what have Freemasons , done that it and they should be made the "fulcrum" of intolerance and the sport of bigotry ? Have we not enough evidences in the world of the unchanged fanaticism of hurnanity without invoking the holy name of

religion , and the solemn moments of the deathbed to sanction and consecrate as it were the dictates of a retrograde barbarism ? When in 17 . 38 Pope Clement first launched his fiery anathema against the Order , he laid the foundation for all that hopeless intolerance and

inane violence in which the Church of Rome has thought proper ever since to indulge in respect of Freemasons and Freemasonry . Just now Roman Catholies . that is , the Ultramontane party , are in a state of " monomania" a ? regards Freemasonry . And though many Roman Catholics are in our ranks it has become for them

a matter , no doubt , of much conscientious difficulty , in face of the Bulls of their Popes now reproduced and revivified by their chief authorit ' es , and the course taken by Roman Catholic priests nearly everywhere . But it appears to us that it is idle to protest against such proceedings , deeply as we sympathize with our Roman Catholic brother Freemasons , and we have , as it

also appears to us , but one course to pursue—to express our honest indignation at such irregular proceedings , and at such unwarrantable bigotry . We have this one consolation , that in so acting Rome is so outraging the feelings of our common humanity that sooner or later there must

be a reaction , even in the minds of her most devoted children . During the last few years , animated by the spirit of Dominic , and rivalling the " animus " of Torquemada , the Roman Catholic Church has insulted the living and outraged the dead , as our own columns have

clearly shown on incontestable authority ; and at this very moment the clergy of her Church spare no efforts to ridicule , to denounce , and to insult Freemasons and Freemasonry . Be it so . We are not afraid of the issue , and we do not shrink from the struggle . On one

side are the great principles of toleration , charity , justice , and goodwill to our brethren , moral right , and liberty of conscience ; on the other hand , that unbridled fanaticism and that unhesitating animosity which encouraged the massacre of St . Bartholomew , which lighted the

fires of Smithfield , which has violated decency and disgraced humanity , and has made the name of religion a stumbling block and a scorn to the sceptic and unbeliever . It may perhaps be not generally known , but under the Bull of Clement , 1738 , on which Rome is still professedly acting , Freemasons are to be treated as stubborn heretics ,

to be summoned before the Inquisition , and handed over to the secular arm to be burnt . Such being the actual and official position ofthe Roman Curia in this deliberate persecution of Freeroasons , we will next week consider what is the moral right by which the Church of Rome professes to issue such edicts , to follow such a degrading course , both of teaching and action .

Girls' School.

GIRLS' SCHOOL .

The anniversary festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls took place on Wednesday , the roth inst ., at Freemasons' Hall , under the presidency of Bro . Sir Henry Edwards , Bart ., P . G . M . for West Yorkshire , when the goodly amount of ^ 8214 us . was announced , with twelve lists to come . We shall recur to the subject in our next .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We elo not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of theopinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , is a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . ] BRO . "LUX , " AND OFFICERS' JEWELS OF THE " YORK SYSTEM . " To tlie Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir anil Brother , —

I have been much interested in reading the letter by " Lux " respecting officers' jewels belonging to a lodge " constituted 176 5 un . ler the old York regime . " Will he kindly inform me where the lodge was held A . D . 1765 , its present number , and the title of the proper Grand Lodge which eonstituteel the lodge in question ? I shall esteem it a favour by his so doing , especially if

by " the old York system " he means the " Grand Lodge of all England , " formerly helel in thc city of York , but long ago extinct . Unless such is meant of course the title of "York system " is wrongly used , anel so I await an explanation from our Bro . " Lux , " at his convenience . WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN .

WHAT NEXT , INDEED ? To the Editor of the Freemason . New York , April 10 , 1 S 76 . Dear Sir and Brother , — I wrote you a few days since respecting an article in your issue of the 1 ith March , entitled , " What Next , Indeed ? " anil having just received the enclosed verbatim

copy of a letter which is so peculiarly applicable to the subject under discussion I venture again to trespass on your attention . Its history is as follows : —The R . W . M . of a lodge in your city lately sent me three comical photographs , representing the " Admission , " " Initiation , " and " Ordeal " of a candidate . These I sent to the fair daughter of one of the office-bearers of Montgomery Lodge , No .

bn , New York , with a note expressive of my desire to enlighten her as to thc mysteries of our Craft and of admiration of her earnest zeal in the acquirement of such knowledge . What was my astonishment on reading her reply 1 must ask you to imagine . Suffice it to say that the worst fears of Past Master Dobbin are irow fully realiseel , and

Freemasonry may now be considered as a thing of the past , In the midst of such utter elcmoralization it will be gratifying to Bro . Simmonds to know that my fair correspondent elcclares his namesake here able to " work the Third " better than any man in the Uniteel States . This eminent brother is also an office bearer in Montgomery Lodge , now for ever famous or infamous as having been thc means of destroying our ancient Craft . I am told

that , having a peculiar knack of twisting his thumb in and out of joint , he has not only betrayed this well-known sign , but elivulged our most secret words , " Tit , " " Tat , " " Toe . " The game is now up ; let us invite our fair friends to reunions where such signs and such words may frankly be stated ; their curiosity will thus be fully satisfied , and their aiel in the support of Freemasonry be gratefully given . I am , & c , ST . MARY ' CHAPEL , No . 1 .

[ COPY . ] New York . My dear Mr . Allow mc to thank you very sincerely for the pictures you sent me . But do you imagine that I did not know all about it before ? When I visited Montgomery Lodge 1 looked in every corner for the gridiron and thc

reel-hot poker with which ' the Masons are branded , although I suppose the poker is only heatcel when you work the First . IYOU seem highly interestctl in my " thirst for knowledge , " and I can appreciate your feelings . You say one word begins with an " L" and ends with an "E . " Is it Love ? There is no secret in Masonry but the peculiar mode of saying " Tit-Tat-Toe . " 1 shall put the

pictures in my album , and would consider it a great favour if you would send me your photograph . I kept my eyes open at the installation , anel saw the peculiar turn of the thumb , the nail pointing outwards and the fingers extendeel , and now I can do it as well as yourself . I know all about the "Inner Temple of Truth , " the " attentive

ear , " "instructive tongue , " and the three pillars " Beauty , " " Wisdom , " and " Strength , " and the G . A . O . T . U ,, and the " Grand Honours . " I hear that Mr . G . Simons can " work the Third " better than any other man in the United States . With kind regards for all , believe me . Yours very truly , " LILLIE . "

DISCONTINUANCE OF THE FREEMASON . To lhc Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 have perused with interest a forcible leading article in your issue of : 2 nd April , headed , " Discontinuance of the ' Freemason . '"' At thc close mention is made of the "Anglo-Saxon brotherhood . " I perceive .

Sir , at the present day , a tenelcncy in journahs m to ignore plain Saxon English , and to introduce words of Greek and Latin origin . Indeed , we seem travelling out of English altogether . Moreover , actual Latin and Greek words are thrust in continually . No doubt the majority of readers of the " Freemason " are good classical scholars . But in some cases it may not be so . 1 notice in your

leading article as above " tendencies of our excellent clientele . " What is this last word ? Is it French ? and what does it mean ? Further on , I fine ! " sub sigillo confessionis . " Again " proh pudor , " which is a Latin phrase denoting exclamation and astonishment with scorn-, it is found in several . Latin ¦ authors ; for instance , Martial X . C 8-6 . The word " opine , ! ' too , is used in ^ the article—o