Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 29 S History o £ the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys { Cimtimrctl ) 396 CORRESPONDENCEThe Hughan Testimonial .- ; 299 Lodgeand Chapter Furniture 299 The Quehec Difficulty 299 Reviews 300

Notes and Queries 300 The Present Position of Masonic Archeology 300 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 300 Royal Masonic Institution for Boys ....:.... 300 Consecration of the Anerley Chapter , No . 1397 • 3 °° The Pope ' s Encyclical Letter— " De Secta Massonum " { Continued ) : 301

Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire 301 Australia 3 ° * New Zealand .. -.. : 302 RETORTS OF MASONIC MEETINOS - ^ - Craft Masonry 302 Instruction 3 ° 2 Roial Arch . 303

Mark Masonry 303 Scotland . ' 30 J The Canadian and Quebec Questions ...... 303 Obituary . ' .. 3 ° 3 Masonic and General Tidings 304 The Theatres 3 ° 4 The Patteiunakers' Company 304 Lodge Meetings for Next Week ... Page 3 Cover .

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THE ' speech of-the PRO GRAND MASTER at the last Quarterly Communication deserv es the careful attention of all thoughtful Freemasons . It is most truly , lo the point , effective in utterance , and eloquent in enunciation of thc real principles of Freemasonry and of the actual position of affairs . The PRO GRAND MASTER carefully avoids saying that there is

no ground whatever for the recent Papal allocution , but what he does say is , that the allocution sins against justice , right , and truth , in that it confounds' in one severe , unreasoning , intolerant , and unmeaning censure , the vast majority of Freemasons who utterly repudiate the dangerous and perverse principles avowed by a contemptible

minority . The Church of Rome , true to its policy of always claiming to be " semper eadem , " as too often in its past annals , which are not pleasant to read , ignores the distant in the near , argues from a general to a particular , and assumes because it can complain subjectively of certain insignificant bodies , antagonistic or extern to its own jurisdiction , that it has a

right objectively to assert the same of all others universally and indiscriminately , and hence its new and gross blunder to-day . It covers in its sleeping censure and absolute condemnation to-day equally the loyal and religiously-minded members of the Anglo-Saxon fraternity , admittedly more than the half of all existent Freemasonry , and those erratic

jurisdictions which in Roman" Catholic countries have come into controversy with the " Parti Prctre , " and in the full swing of heated altercations have involved themselves in deplorable struggles on social and political and even quasi religious questions . Hence the admirable force and depth and meaning of Lord CARNARVON ' S well-chosen words . He points out with

great force and lucidi . ty the true view of things , and the real facts of thc case , and most properly calls attention to this reality , that with the aberrations and follies of special jurisdictions the Grand Lodge of . England has nothing whatever to do , nor Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry , but has notably protested , and entirely severed itself from any proceedings which tend to forget the old

Cosmopolitan landmarks of the Order , or in any way to lose sight of thc abiding principles of true Freemasonry , everywhere and under all circumstances , namely , Loyalty , Charity , Reverence , Legality , Brotherly Kindness , and Truth . * * WE congratulate the Order on having as its PRO GRAND MASTER one who

so tempers energy with discretion , one who is not only a cultured Freemason , but a most impartial ruler of Grand Lodge , one who can speak with so much eloquence , and decide with such evident appreciation of - a constitutional regime , one who stands so high in the opinion of the public and has won for himself the attachment , respect , and confidence of Grand Lodge .

• • • # IT may be a fair question whether by our present mode of election we gain the best possible Board of General Purposes . The election always seems to us to be both hurried and confused , turning principally on personal feeling and special interests , and there is no doubt that there is a good deal of

private canvassing which is prejudicial to the interests of probably the best candidates , and derogatory to the dignity of Grand Lodge . But here we confess is our " ¦ Crux . " It is always easy to find fault , but very difficult to suggest a remedy . We rather therefore invite a friendly discussion on the subject , than seek to put forth anything dogmatic or declaratory on our own

part . It seems to us that-one amendment should-be a larger infusion of thc Provincial element . The Board of General Purposes is the most important Board we have ; a seat on it is a great honour , and we will add a greater privilege ; aiid we ought to seo on it the best men attainable , marked , by clear knowledge of the Book of Constitutions and thoroughly zealous Freemasons and men of business habits . . Thc Board of General Purposes is a

judicial as well as an executive body , and we therefore , like all good Freemasons , desire it to be a thoroughly fair representative Board . # * # BRO . J AMES-STEVENS raised a question as to certain recommendatory circulars in respect of the election of the Board of General Purposes . As Bro . J AMES STEVENS is elected , we do not think he suffered in any way , as hc at

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first seemed inclined to apprehend . Bro . STEVENS , in our opinion , did not go far enough in what he said . If any one circular be . objected to , all circulars ought to be equally objected to , arid no one , we feel sure , knows better than ourselves * that just now solicitations are many , whether by personal canvass , suggestive cards , private or public circulars , for the

muchcoveted , post year by year . The usage of a circular has arisen from a friendly intent , and , so to say , the " necessities of the case . " We remember the time when circulars and cards were not ; but , to ' say the truth , that was a period when great lethargy prevailed at head-quarters . In some stirring times and spicy episodes of the days of old , which some of us

remember , the circular first appeared . It did good when it first came out ; it may have outlived its use and time . We see that the PRO GRAND MASTER expressed his repeated regret at any circulars . And we should entirely agree with that distinguished brother , if we believed that now , by . mutual consent , all canvassing could be put a stop to . But we feel pretty '

sure that as long as Masonic nature , like human nature , remains the samo , as long as zealous , worthy , ambitious individuals think they are fitted forthe special post , are overlooked , are ignored , and have some prevailing private reasons for wishing and seeking to obtain so honourable a position in contemporary English Freemasonry , so long the system of circulars ,

cards , canvassing will prevail , and neither formal laws nor sumptuary regulations will be able to put a stop to the practice . For we must bear in mind that there are those who contend , —Grand Lodge having in" itself the

eventual powers of selection , —there is no harm , but rather good , in an open and honourable canvass , in careful recommendations and friendly circulars . And we must add this much , —there are undoubtedly tvso sides to the question .

* * # AVE have been requested to state , and . we do so gladly , on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Quebec that it officially sought for no legalizing powers either from the . Dominion Parliament at Ottowa or the' Provincial . Body . While we give all credence to this statement , made to us on the

highest authority , we must express our humble opinion that the Grand Lodge of Quebec is undoubtedly wrong in ignoring the importance of the whole question . It is now clearly an illicit association by the laws of the land ; and until it is legalized it can claim not tlie slightest recognition as a lawful Masonic jurisdiction from Great Britain . It has been said we are

in Kngland " slaves to legality . " Be it so . We glory in the fact , as it seems to us not onjy a very commendable profession , but a most desirable characteristic . We wish all other bodies and jurisdictions would keep as closely to precedent and to law as we do . There would be less trouble in the world . The question of the legality of the Quebec Grand Lodge as

before the Supreme Legislature of their own country will be a great " factor " in any subsequent decisions in England . So long as the Grand Lodge , of Quebec is not a legal association , neither Masonically nor socially can we have anything to do with it here . We cannot enter its lodges , nor allow its members to enter ours . We trust that the GRAND MASTER and

Bro . GRAHAM and the members of . the Quebec Grand Lodge will not lay the " flattering unction to their souls , " that they can rely on American support . They will find , we apprehend , that a "broken reed , " when once the question is thoroughly mastered by the American Freemasons . Were American Masonic writers and American Masonic authorities now to depart

from their iterated assertions oi appeals to legality for any "fad , "' or " sentiment , " or " gush , " or " pleasing perversity , " or " pure cussedness , " they would simply be forging arms for their enemies , and disavowing their own unceasing declarations . Legality , legality , legality , has been their watchword , . alike in their hours of insane persecution and their days of

deserved prosperity . Wc will never believe it of them . We feel certain that they will accept our statement as a true exposition of Masonic law and pre- ¦ cedent , duty , and right;—that no Masonic body can legally meet ' together as such which is not sanctioned by the laws of the land , and especially where such assemblages bring themselves under the provisions of a Secret Societies ' Act , properly passed , and duly published .

• . # * # _ A CANADIAN friend of ours , with whom we have been speaking in these last few days , tells us that we may expect ere long a distinct denial of the legal rights and position of the Montreal lodges , alike by the Grand Lodges of Canada and Quebec ; and that even now , not long ago the Master of a

Montreal lodge was refused admission by the Master of a lodge under the . Grand Lodge of Canada , by virtue of some private instruction or private edict from head-quarters . We do not doubt the veracity of our informant , but hope there is some little misunderstanding which may be explained . We can only hope that prudence and caution and self-restraint will guide the councils of our brethren in Canada . " Vtrbutn sat sapientibus . "