A Masonic Love Of Law Courts.

the case , we cannot , as it seems to us , quite fairly blame a member of the legal profession , ( Freemason though he be ) , who has to deal , as many have , with a self-willed and pig-headed client . We are using general terms and not adverting to this particular case . But having

said this , we cannot but express our sincere regret , that Freemasons should resort to the law courts at all to settle petty differences and Masonic complaints , when they could so easily invoke the principles of Masonic arbitration , and arrange any temporary disputes and suppositious

grievances on the broad principles of Masonic forbearance , kindliness , brotherly love , and good w ill . As regards the alleged ritual , it would be clearly worthless , per se , and ought never to have been made a bone of contention between two brethren . At the same time , in this free

country the law courts . are open to all classes of Her Majesty ' s subjects , and we must not even allow our love of Masonry and its regulations to supersede the higher claims of the law of our native land . We say this by way of caution , lest , like our Ultramontane friends , in their zeal

for what they consider the superior authority of the spiritual power over the temporal , we should even make so great a blunder , as to assume for one moment , that the law of the land and the authority of the crown were not in all temporary matters undoubtedly supreme , alike in respect of all Masonic customs and all Masonic regulations .

Did You Ever?

DID YOU EVER ?

We take an extract from our grave and influential and highly artistic contemporary , the Graphic , which we think is likely to create no little sensation in all circles and all classes of our readers , whether old or young , aristocratic or plebeian , male or female , grave or gay . Indeed ,

it is not too much to say that if this statement is to be depended on , and is not to be relegated to the mythical region of transatlantic sea serpents and talkative mermaids , " mit nodings on , " a revolution is on the eve of accomplishment in all

departments of creation , of artistic excellence , and of human philosophy , whieh never was contemplated , whether by the erudition of Tyndall , the researches of Lyell , the assumptions of Professor Huxley , or the discoveries of anatomical Owen . Let our readers one and all

carefully peruse the following cutting , which we trust they will " think over" ( though all don ' t like thinking just now ) , carefully and seriously . It is one of the most striking and interesting , and indeed marvellous , we have ever been privileged to make to our numerous

and highly respectable patrons •— " ' The Blue Light Bath Mania across the Atlantic appears to be on the increase , and General Pleasanton , of Philadelphia , having succeeded in raising gigantic pumpkins under cerulean frames , found that little pigs similarly treated developed into monster

porkers , that a young calf rapidly became a splendid bull , while a small baby speedily became the admiration of its friends on blue glass being fitted to the nursery windows . Moreover by the same agency a bald-headed dame recovered her flowing tresses . " Another

correspondent adds that : — " The azure rays are even said to cure consumption , chronic diarrhoea , dyspepsia , delirium tremens , liver complaint , domestic differences and pernicious habits , or a talkative wife , an erratic husband , and even a too demonstrative mother-in-law . "

We feel sure that when our numerous kind friends in all parts of the known world peruse this striking extract from that very agreeable illustrated paper , the Graphic , they will be struck , as we were struck , we may . add , " all of a heap " With the intense and overwhelming importance

of the announcement , clearly and considerately pwde . In fact we hardly ever remember , mour long experience , any such an announcement ° n sound and safe authority , which held out so Wuch hope to those who are oppressed with an overwhelming sense , both of the cares of

existence , the disappointments of life , the troubles ° ' the family and the flesh . To be told to Pdieve , to feel assured , to realize , that by the intervention of blue glass , simple blue glass , * e shall behold all our fairest hopes and -barest aspirations fulfilled , the germ become

Did You Ever?

the perfect creature , and a marvellous growth overpass the slow process of sedater nature , is , indeed , a state of things more befitting the researches of the Hermetics , and the experiments of the searchers after the Philosopher ' s Stone , than anything within the experience of us and

ours , poor , dull , sober , plodding mortals ! Just think of the possibilities enumerated , almost too cheering to credit , and almost too extraordinary to accept . That the little porker might become a full grown pig , though striking , is not absolutely incredible in itself , as the growth of pigs

is , as all who tend them know , very sudden , and often very exceptional ; or that the young calf should all at once develope into a fine bull , is no doubt a very great and much to be desiderated change , as all our bucolic readers will at once admit , the propriety of which we

are not prepared to deny . But still we do not feel more than wonder at such statements , though remarkable . But to realize that the small baby becomes a big one in a little space , and a bald-headed lady recovers her flowing tresses and capillary attractions at the same time , is a

matter for most serious consideration , and when we undefstand , moreover , that under the influence of these blue rays , ( not merely a cerulean sky ) , we can find a cure for consumption , chronic diarrhoea , dyspepsia , jaundice , liver complaint , and the like , domestic differences , pernicious

habits , a talkative wife , an erratic husband , and an interfering mother-in-law , we can only hope that such things are really so , and we begin to believe that the " good time coming , " which has been so long approaching , is now close at hand . Well , we have passed through many trials

and disappointments ourselves , we have outlived heartaches very many , and crosses not a few , we have had to encounter the mortal lot of all our race , Freemasons though we be , but we feel with Heinrich Heine in his wellknown words , " Herz mein herz sei nicht

beklommen , " so well translated in " Flowers from Fatherland on English Soil : " " Heart , rny heart , be not thou troubled . Bear thy lot , though sad Jt be , For what winter takes from thee , Spring shall give thee back redoubled . " Yes , we repeat , if there be truth in words , if the

announcement of the blue rays , ( not blue devils ) , ba a fact , there is still hope for us all alike , whether lonely wanderers , or with a noisy and increasing family , whether grave or timid married men , or free and easy bachelors , whether readers of the Freemason , or howling fanatics who rail at Masons and Masonry .

Quite Unnecessary.

QUITE UNNECESSARY .

Prince Louis Napoleon and the ex-Empress Eugenie have , through Cardinal Bonaparte , sent assurances to the Pope that the Prince , during his recent visit to Rome , was not made a Freemason , as has been affirmed .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of cheopinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . 3

THE COMMEMORATIVE LIFEBOAT . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I was greatly pleased to find a letter from "Lucretius" in the columns of your excellent journal a few days ago , asking that a lifeboat should be placed at

Scilly , one of the most destructive coasts in Great Britain , and where on an average it appears that between forty and fifty lives , and one hundred thousand pounds worth of property are annually lost . I cannot believe that the columns of any journal can be consecrated to a nobler duty than the advocacy of the whole of " Lucretius's " scheme , which I suppose includes Mr . Festing ' s ( Control

Office ) ingenious telegraph-buoy . I hope the Royal National Lifeboat Institution will not forget the terrible lis : of wrecks which the Board of Trade have supplied to " Lucretius . " I enclose my card , and am , yours faithfully and fraternally , TEBAII .

STAMPED RECEIPTS FOR MEMBERS' SUBSCRIPTIONS TO LODGES . To Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — This question was mooted in the Freemason a . lew t weeks since , but although some discussion ensued , no definite conclusion ( so far as I am aware ) was arrived at . It

Original Correspondence.

was , I believe , asserted that the opinion of the stamp office authorities had been asked in some unofficial manner as to whether or not the receipt for lodge subscriptions should or should bear a penny stamp to render it valid , and we were told ( as might be expected ) that such receipts must be stamped . I for one must candidly confess that I am not at all convinced that this offhand opinion is correct ,

and I feel perfectly satisfied the subject has not been duly considered in all its bearings . Of course everybody knows that a receipt for money in payment for value received should bear a penny stamp , and that the receiver of the money must pay for the stamp ; but everybody does not know that there are cases in which such stamps are not required . I shall cite some of these exemptions , and shall

then endeavour to show that lodge subscriptions are on all fours with such cases , and therefore that lodge receipts need not be stamped . Building societies' receipts for the monthly subscriptions are exempt from stamp duty , and the reason for such exemption evidently is , that the receiver of the money derives no benefit therefrom , and that he simply acts as a convenient depositary for the money

paid in by the depositor , who at some time or other will receive it back again in some shape or other . To expect the receiver of the money to pay out of his own pocket any sum , however small , because he performs the friendly act of becoming the temporary depositary of the investors ' or depositors' loose cash is about as reasonable a thing as when the Irish labourer having borrowed a bricklayer ' s

hod of a friend , and having accidently broken it , sent it back to his friend to get it mended because he wanted to borrow it again . Now I look upon annual subscriptions to lodges in much the same light as I do monthly payments of depositors and investors in building societies . The Treasurer or Secretary to the lodge does not receive the subscriptions for his own behoof or advantage . He

has no interest in any amount paid in , nor has any one else than the member himself , if he chooses to avail himself of it . If he does not care to make use of the money for his own personal wants ( that being the purpose for which it was deposited ) , it is disposed of in some other way to which he has previously given his consent . To render the matter clearer I will assume ' that the members

of a lodge have mutually agreed to meet for labour and instruction , say four times a year , and that they find it necessary after labour to have some refreshment . The cost of this is found to be , say , 15 s . per head ; instead , however , of paying this amount every time they meet the brethren arrange to pay for the four meetings in a lump sum of , say , £ 3 . -js ., the extra 3 s . being supposed to suffice for

postage and printing . Now it cannot be denied that the brother who deposits with the Treasurer or Secretary of the lodge the aforesaid sum of £ 3 3 s . does it in anticipation of the expenses he may incur at the quarterly meetings . It is therefore his money which is available for such purposes , and if he does not use it he quietly resigns it and allows it to be diverted to other uses . I argue , therefore ,

that inasmuch as the Treasurer is merely the temporary depositary of the brother's money , which is to be applied to certain special objects for such brother ' s personal benefit , the Treasurer cannot be called upon to pay for a stamped receipt . If 1 were not afraid of occupying too much of your valuable space I could enter at much greater length into this

important subject , which requires to be thoroughly and exhaustively discussed and settled one way or the other without loss of time , as if the Stamp Office authorities are right in the offhand opinion they have given , then all the lodges in the United Kingdom are daily running the risk of very heavy penalties , which can be recovered by a very summary process . It should be widely known that

whenever a receiver of money above £ 2 gives a receipt without a penny stamp thereon he incurs a penalty of £ 10 , one half of which goes to the informer . If you will kindly give me space , on a future occasion I will endearour to point out what course should be adopted to bring this matter to a settlement . I am , yours fraternally , W . M . No . 7 66 .

FREEMASONRY IN VANCOUVER'S ISLAND . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — A movement is going on here which is of great importance in placing Masonry on a far better footing , namely , the amalgamation of the four lodges in Victoria

into two . To my mind , as an English Mason , they have a plan of paying the Secretaries '; of lodges here which is to mo most objectionable , as all monies , after paying the ordinary expenses of a lodge , should be devoted to Masonic purposes . I never knew a lodge at home where such a plan existed . As a member of Lodge Sincerity , No . 1813 , Stonehouse , Devon , I do not know of its existence , and I

shall be obliged if you can inform me whether it is the custom in any English lodges to pay their Secretaries . Your opinion on this point may assist me in my endeavour to turn the flow of funds into what I conceive to be their proper channel . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , MATTHEW COATES , Staff Surgeon , Royal Navy , W . M . Victoria Lodge , No . 1 , B . C .

MASONIC QUERIES . To the Editor of Ihe " Freemason . " Dear Sir , and Brother , — In your issue of the 31 st ult ., you report the consecration of a new lodge at Camberwell , and state that

the W . M ., who was then installed , appointed to office and invested a joining brother as Treasurer . In other words , the W . M . nominated and appointed to a somewhat important position a brother who at the time could have had no connection whatever with the lodge . Before any joining brother can become a member of a regular lodge