Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

PAGE . To OUR BRETIIKEN OF THE MASONIC PRESS IN AMERICA 73 ROYAL ARCH MASONRY 74 HISTORY OF THE ORDER OP KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS 75 AN ESSAY 75 POETRY . 75

THE CRAFT—Metropolitan , Provincial aud Ireland ... 76 THE ROYAL ARCH—Metropolitan 76 GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS 76 & 77 BIRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS 78 ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 78

ENDYMIOX THE SLEEPER 78 NOTES BY A NOVICE ... 78 MASONIC ORPHAN BOYS' SCHOOL , DUBLIN 78 SPECIMENS FROM A MASONIC QUARIIV 70 NOTES AND QUERIES 79 PAPERS ON

MASONRYNo . XIX . — Masonry in its Pure Expression ... 79 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCEThe Literary Fund 80 Why do the Heathen Rage ? 80 Freemasonry off the Plumb at Glasgow ... 80 Indiscriminate Almsgiving & Masonic Imposters 80

Freemasonry rcrsvs Masonry ... ... ... 80 Uniformity of llitual 81 Ineligibility of Bastards as Freemasons ... 81 PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF SOUTH WALES ... 82 MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT WEEK 82 ADVEIITISK . MENTS 82 S 3 & 84

To Our Brethren Of The Masonic Press In America.

TO OUR BRETHREN OF THE MASONIC PRESS IN AMERICA .

TF there bc one incident moro than another - * - which has gladdened our heart and stimulated our spirit in the editorial work of THE FUEEMASON , it has been the kindl y sympathy and encouraging praise of our Transatlantic

brethren , especiall y our co labourers in literature , who aro not onl y our brethren of tlie " mystic tie , but of tho mighty pen . The growth of the Masonic press in the United States is aluminous index of the intellectual progress ofthe American

Freemasons , and wo aro simply uttering a wellknown fact in stating that some of the most talented brethren in tho great Republic arc to be found enrolled in the Masonic editorial corps . By

these eminent men our journal has been received in the most flattering manner , and , although conscious of our many shortcomings and defects , wo cannot refrain from thus publicly acknowled ging their courtesy .

We have now before us The Masonic Monthly for Jul y , published at I loston , Massachusetts , in which the editor , Brother Samuel Evans , reciprocates our expressions of good will , and cordiall y recommend * Tirr : FREEMASON to his subscriber * . This magazine , as we have stated before , is most

To Our Brethren Of The Masonic Press In America.

admirably conducted , and advocates the true interests of the Craft . Our namesake , The Freemason , of St . Louis , Mo ., is edited by the R , W . Bro . George Frank Gouley , Grand Sec . ofthe Grand Bodies of the

State . Bro . Gouley , in the number for July , pens a splendid essay , entitled "Equality an Ideal of Masonry , " an extract from which we quote as an example of pure Masonic philosophy : — " Wealth gives no man preference in Masonry . It

is in bruins , und soul , and heart , the great workshops of the divine inspiration , that the fraternity look for its preference . So in the world to come , man can carry none of the habiliments of earthly distinction or rank ov wealth . He goes into that world spiritualty ,

as lie cninc into this mortally . Ho brought here the germ of soul , ho leaves us with that , soul elevated , developed and purified , fit to enter into the superior world , accordingly as he may have improved the opportunities given him . As each candidate comes

equal and is regarded equal in the lodge according to his acquirements , so shall each soul enter the Celestial Lodge above , prepared for the exercise of its then boundless powers for love and joy , according to the will of the Great author and Giver of our existence . "

Bro . Gouley then does us the honour to say : — " We cannot close this essay without recommending to our readers the following beautiful editorial from THE FREEMASON of London , in its issue of lath of

May last . It is so full of thought , and enjoins an important lesson in so well-chosen words , that , we hope all will read it ;" and reprints our article on " The Paths of Virtue and Science . "

We unfortunately diner with Bro . Gouley upon certain questions , but if honesty of purpose , strenuous zeal , and consummate ability ever merited praise , assuredly our Right Worship ful confrere is entitled to a foremost p lace in the Masonic Legion of Honour .

The Most Worship ful Brother Robert JJ . Holmes , Jlasonic editor ofthe New York Dispatch , a weekly journal of enormous circulation , has also won a corner in our heart by his fraternal encomiums . To speak in Bro . Holmes' praise

would bc truly a work of supererogation , although to us a labour of love . The Grand Lodge of New York has never had a better Grand Master than our worthy brother , to whom , in spirit—would it were in reality—we cordially extend the hand of

friendship . It is a treat to read the columns under Bro . Holmes' charge , for none can better cull such a rich bouquet of Masonic intelligence for

the edification of Masonic readers , arrayed m all the charms of mellifluous diction , and breathing the freshness and the fragrance of deep orig inal thought .

To Our Brethren Of The Masonic Press In America.

M . W . Bro . Holmes , having been recently elected an Honorary Fellow of the London

Literary Union , reproduces the proceedings at its last meeting , including an address delivered by the President , Bro . lt . Wentworth Little , on " Literature in Relation to Fame , " and then

remarks : — '' The foregoing is from the London ( England ) FUEEMASON , one ofthe most ably conducted periodicals in that realm . I should be very ungrateful if I did not feel highly flattered by the conferring ol the

degree above referred to—an honor unsought by me , and of which I had no knowledge until I had read the foregoing notice . This is the second time in my journalistic life that a similar recognition of my liberal efforts—I sav nothing of merits—has been kindly

tendered me , the degree of LL . D . having been conferred upon me some years ago , in view , principally , of my connection with the New York Dispatch , on the staff of which I have been lor 12 years and upwards . Titles amount to but little in themselves , but they

become valuable when they are—as in the instances referred to—the cheering evidences that a man ' s labors are deemed to be of value . I look upon them , also ,

as highly complimentary to the Dig ] atcli , and feel as much pride in view of * that feature as I do in the personal honor conferred . " We can assure Bro . Holmes on behalf of the

London Literary Union , of which we are ourselves a member , that the Society fully estimates the distinction of bearing upon its roll of honor the name of such a true and trusty Mason as himself .

There is also our esteemed brother J . Fletcher Brennan , editor of the American Freemason published at Cincinnati , Ohio . He is veril y a free and fearless spirit , ready to demolish , with the catapult of his honest wrath , every sham that shelters itself behind the impregnable

fortress of Craft Masonry . No quarter to the Ever Wise and Perfect Princes of - Memphis or elcswherc , is his battle-cry . No bowing of the knee to Baal , no passing through the fire ot Moloch to the unclean things that darken

with their bat-like wings the heaven of Freemasonry ; evil sectarian birds of prey , that would fain swallow up the peaceful dove of universal fraternity . Bro . Brennan will have none of them , and devotes the powers of his vigorous

intellect to the advancement of what he considers " pure ancient Freemasonry . " For the present we must pause ; but in conclusion let us assure our American friends that they are heartily welcome to quote from our pages as often and as

copiously as they please ; we shall bc happy to return the compliment , and also to exchange with any American Masonic paper not at present on our list . Union is strength , and we may thus derive mutual benefit . Since writing the foregoing we have received