Original Correspondence.

contemporary , which published my letter on the 24 th July , 1875 , as you will see by the enclosed printed slip , which I have sent to many brethren both at home and abroad . I scarcely feel sure that I agree with you when you say that it is a description of certain Hermetic grades ; I consider the language to refer to the Royal Arch degree in A lchemical iaruon , at the same time I feel assured , from much

undoubted evidence , that all degrees above the three first originated in the Hermetic knowledge of certain Speculative Freemasons , and if this is also your meaning , I am at one with you . My only object in writing to you is to do full justice to other brethren in their prior knowledge of the existence of this valuable work , and I feel sure that the well-known candour of your able editor will excuse my

taking up your space with this exp lanation . I always find that Bro . Hughan is ready to give credit where it is due , but I find also that there are a many who palm off the discoveries of others as their own . 1 remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , J YARKER . Manchester , Oct . 7 th , JS 76 .

To Ihe Editor of the Freemason Dear Sir and Brother , —

My friend , Commander C . Scott , " R . N ., J . P . ( 1 * . Prov . G . W . of Devon , & c , & c . ) has fraternally reminded me of a fact I had lost sight of , and which you evidently also have done in your appreciative notice of the reprint of the introduction to " Long Livers " of 1722 , by Eugenius Philalethes , the whole of which is to be found in

the current number cf the " Masonic Magazine . " The first allusion to this scarce and curious work is to be found in Bro . Yarker ' s "Speculative Freemasonry , " and , it appears , Bro . Matthew Cooke had then a copy of the work , which he intended to reprint . Copies of this strange little book of 1712 are to be found in the private libraries of Bros . Carson , of Cincinnati ; Bower , of Keokuk ; Irwin ,

of Bristol ; and others , and in the Masonic libraries of Pennsylvania ( Philadelphia ) , and Sheffield ( Yorkshire ) , and probably some others . Its pecular Masonic value , however , apparently has been quite overlooked from its issue until the present decade of lhis century . WILLIAM J AMES HL ' OIIAN . Truro , 10 th Oct ., 1876 .

ULTRAMONTANE VIOLENCE . To Ihe Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me to say a few words in refutation of an attack made upon you by "A P . M . of 30 Years' Standing " in your last . You have no reader , ! believe , more assiduous than myself , and therefore none more conversant witli

the line of argument you have consistency adopted about this subject at issue , whence I feel sufficiently presumptuous to add a line even to your own editorial note . You have long observed the intolerant attitude of Ultramontanisni towards Freemasonry -, you have further observed that this attitude has been professedly based upon charges known to bc false ; you have therefore set yourself

to defend Freemasonry by proving these charges to be groundless , and at the same time by drawing attention to the reckless manner in which such charges are made , not only upon Freemasonry , but upon every other system that Ultramontanisni supposes itself opposed to ; you have also drawn attention to the numerous acts of persecution ( notably those in Minorca ) of which Ultramontanism has been

guilty , in order to show what would be the character of its dealings , if only its power were equal to its will , with Freemasonry as a system and Freemasons as individuals . But in all this defence of yours not one word has there been of counter attack or even of vengeful reprisal , still less of any disapproval of the Roman Catholic religion , nothing more than a simple refutation of slander , and slander of

such a nature that if left unanswered the outside world would have been fully justified in regarding the Ultramontane condemnation of Freemasonry as righteous and urgently called for . Such being the case , P . M . ' s letter declares your refutation to be wrong , and therefore ( if lie has well considered his subject , and I will not insult him by imagining that he

would make such a charge without due forethought ) , leaves him only a choice of one of these positions : either supposing that Ultramontanism has wrongfully slandered and abused Freemasonry , then he would have it that it is the duty of every Freemason to bear the reproach without any attempt at refuting it , and so leave the outside world suppose us really the " leprosy of heresy" that

Ultramontanism pronounces us to be ; or , supposing that Ultramontanism has not wrongfully slandered and abused Freemasonry , then he acknowledges at once that Ultramontanism is right , and that we are therefore all that it describes us .

Perhaps our worshipful brother will kindly inform us upon which horn of this dilemma he would find the more comfortable seat ; as for me , I prefer , Sir , to second your refutation of all such slanders , and so rest clear , not in our own eyes only , but in those of all the world . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , faithfully and fraternally yours , A MORE MODERN P . M .

Consecration Of The Rose Lodge, No. 1622.

CONSECRATION OF THE ROSE LODGE , No . 1622 .

On Saturday last , the 7 th inst ., the consecration of the Rose Lodge ( 1622 ) was celebrated at the Surrey Masonic Hall , Camberwell New-road , when a large number of the members ofthe Craft assembled to do honour to the

occasion . Our V . W . Bro . John Hervey , P . G . D ., G . Sec ., was the officer appointed by the Grand Master to perform the ceremony , in which he was assisted by Bro . H . G . "Buss , Prov . G . J . W . Middlesex , and Bro . James Terry , Prov . G . D . C . Herts . Among those present were Bros . T . E . Webb , 503 ; F . Cozens , 907 ; Vockins , 1429 ;

Consecration Of The Rose Lodge, No. 1622.

R . Challoner , 117 S ; W . 11 . Ramsay , 1539 ; G . S . Edwards , 975 ; Hobr . Vorsy , 1329 ; Kitson , 54 S ; C . Sims , 155 8 ; W . W . Mason , 1185 ; Charles Denton , 169 ; S " . P . Harvey , 1530 ; K - H . " Bayley , H . Bartlett , 147 -, W . VI . Lee , 1524 ; M . S . Larlham , t . S 5 <) -, Hodges , 795 ; Webster , 174 ; Chaplin Henry , 201 ; A . R . Cranch , 1216 ; J . Harris , 657 ; J . A . Lyon , 162 ;

Godfrey , 1261 ; J . Claus , 1539 ; Thompson , 1158 ; W C . Canton , 1475 ; Gammon , 795 ; D . A . Ashford , 1441 ; G . T . Carter , Stephens , Dobson , Palmer , Cockett , J . N . Kirby , J . Gornar , Alfred Allwurth , J . A . Btirgan , A . W . W . Stead , W . W . Pritchett , W . C . Thue , G . P . Collar , and E . C . Massey ( " Freemason" ) . The brethren having been marshalled in due order by

Bro . Buss , who acted as Director of Ceremonies , entered the lodge-room in procession , and Bro . Hervey , the Presiding Officer , took the chair , and appointed his Wardens pro tem ., after which the lodge was opened in due form in the three degrees . Bro . J . Hervey then addressed the lodge as follows : — Brethren , you are all perfectly well aware of the object we

have in view in meeting here to-day—namely , to add another link to the chain—another lodge to the long roll of lodges under the English Grand Lodge . I am sure that it is a matter of great gratification to all round this room , as it is to the Craft in general that we find lodges increasing and multiplying ; and we hope and believe that the materials of which they are composed are not only

increasing in number , but also improving in quality . Brethren , without such improvement I should be sorry to see the members of the Craft multiplying as they are now doing , because we must all desire that with increasing numbers there may also be found an improvement in the standard of education among Masons . I do not mean of position in life , because I do not think it necessary to be in

a high position to be either a good man or a good Mason . We all of us ought to have one desire in view—to do our duty in the station that it has pleased God to call us to . If wc do that , if we follow the precepts handed down in the Craft , worldly position does not matter , we are worthy of being made Masons ; but if a man does not apply to his ordinary domestic life something of the precepts which he

hears in his lodge , those precepts are thrown away , and 1 do not think that that mar is altogether a worthy member of the Craft . Brethren , I have sa often dilated , when I have had an opportunity of pointing it out , upon the necessity or caution , that I will not on thc present occasion again impress upon your minds those ideas that arc ever uppermost in mine . I will only say that unless a man is

one whom you know as a good man , who carries out the ordinary duties of life worthily , I hold that you ought not to introduce him into your lodge . Any one whom we would not introduce to our own families we should hesitate to introduce into our lodges . If a man is one whom you can with confidence introduce to your family , then he is a proper person to be made a Mason . I

have also impressed another thing very much upon the Craft lately , and that is a very objectionable course that is often taken in a lodge by a disappointed member , of blackballing every memb . r who is presented for candidature . I cannot stigmatise such a course sufficiently . A man who will do such an act is covertly staining the character of another , of whom he probably knows

nothing , merely to vent his own spleen . Worshipful Master designate , I hope that no such course will be taken in your lodge , and I hope loo , that if it is , no step will be left untried to rid the Craft of such an objectionable character . I will not detain you longer , as vvc have a lengthy ceremony to go through , upon such points as these . As to the nature of a Freemasons' lodge Bro . Terry will

probably have something to say . I will only add that 1 came here to-day to consecrate this lodge with great pleasure . 1 have consecrated a great many in my time , and I can say that I scarcely know of one that I have consecrated that has not prospered , and I trust that the Rose Lodge , No . 1622 , will not bean exception to the number . Bro . Terry , as Chaplain , delivered the opening prayer .

at the conclusion of which thc acting Secretary , Bro . J . A . Burgan , addressing the Presiding Officer , informed him that certain brethren had petitioned Grand Lodge to grant a warrant for a lodge to be called the Rose Lodge , and that the M . W . Grand Master had been graciously pleased to grant them such warrant , and he requested the presiding officer in accordance with the warrant to form

and consecrate the new lodge . The presiding officer replied , directing that the brethren who had signed the petition should be placed in order on either side of the covered lodge board . This having been accomplished by the Director of Ceremonies , the acting Secretary was called upon to read both the petition and the warrant of constitution , which he did . The presiding

officer then inquired of the brethren whether they approved of the officers named in the petition and warrant , which thty answered in the affirmative in due Masonic form . Bro . Terry then as Chaplain delivered an oration on the nature of Freemasonry and upon thc formation and functions of Masonic lodges . This masterly composition was delivered in so able a manner by Bro . Terry that

those present could not fail to be deeply impressed by it . At the conclusion of this address the Anthem ( 133 rd Psalm ) was sung by the professional brethren present , Bro . G . T . Carter , Bro . Chaplin Henry , and Bro . Symons , under the direction of Bro . F . Cozens , who presided at the harmonium . The first nnrtion nf the dedication oraver was then

repeated by the presiding officer , followed by the invocation , after which the scripture lesson appointed for the occasion was read by Bro . Terry , and after the singing of a hymn the lodge board was uncovered , and the presiding officer , assisted by the Wardens pro . tem ., proceeded to consecrate the lodge with the emblems oi plenty , happiness and unity , the choir singing the while When once of old in Israel , Our early brethren wrought with toil ,

Consecration Of The Rose Lodge, No. 1622.

Jehovah ' s blessing on them fell ; In showers of corn , and wine and oil . When there a shrine to Him alone They built , with worship , sin to foil ; On threshold and on corner-stone , They poured out corn , and wine and oil .

And we have come , fraternal bands , With joy , and pride , and prosperous spoil ; To honour him by votive hands , With streams of corn , and wine and oil . The Presiding Officer then dedicated the lodge , and delivered the second portion of the dedicatioa prayer , and the ceremony concluded with the Vesper hymn , " Guide

me , oh thou Great Jehovah . " The Presiding Officer then constituted the lodge , which was afterwards resumed to the Second Degree . Bro . David Rose , P . M . 73 , W . M . designate , was then vouched for and presented by Bro . Buss for installation , and a Board of Installed Masters having been formed he was presented and installed into the chair of K . S ., and

proclaimed and saluted in due form . The W . M . then in . vested his two principal officers as designated in the warrant , viz ., Bros . James Garnar , J . D . 975 , as S . W . ; Alfred Allworth , W . M . 1261 , as J . W . It was proposed and seconded that Bro . T . E . Webb be theTreasurer of the lodge , which was carried unanimously , and Bro . Webb was thereupon invested by the W . M ., who

then proceeded to appoint and invest his assistant officers as follows : —Bros . J . A . Burgan , Secretary ; W . C . Thue , S . D . ; A . W . Stead , J . D . ; "W . * W . Pritchett , Prov . Grand Org . Herts , I . G . ; G . P . Collar , D . C . ; W . Hamlyn , W . S . ; and Bro . Church having been elected by a show of hands , was summoned and invested as Tyler of the lodge .

The ovation having been delivered by Bro . 1 erry , the W . M . rose for the first time and made the usual inquiries , and before resuming his seat , proposed the names of three brethren as joining members . The S . W ., in response to the inquiry , proposed an initiate , the J . W . proposed four initiates and one joining member , thc J . D . proposed one initiate , the S . D . proposed one ioininsr member and two

initiates , and the Secretary proposed one initiate , a total of fourteen proposed members . The W . M .: Brethren , there is a duty that should have taken precedence of this business . I have to propose a vote of thanks to Bro . John Hervey for his kindness in comTng forward this evening to consecrate our lodge , and I beg to propose that he become an honorary member ofthe lodge ;

also that Bro . Terry and Bro . Buss be made honorary members and participate in the vote of thanks . The proposition was seconded by the S . W . and carried unanimously . Bro . Hervey : W . M . and brethren , when I say that if our exertions this evening have been gratifying to you and satisfactory to the brethren , 1 am sure it will be ample

reward for what we have done . The performance of this ceremony is in most cases a labour of love , and I am satisfied that the two brethren who stand up with me would have felt thc vote of thanks which you have been good enough to propose that we should receive would have been ample recompense for the service . As , however , you have proposed to make us honorary members , we accept it with

thanks . I do not think that we can have all the functions of full members , as suggested by our Bro . J . W ., in putting thc motion , as it is contrary to the Book of Constitution 3 , which prescribes that honorary members shall not have the privilege of voting , & c , & c . ( J . W .: I was speaking out of the fullness of my heart . ) However , sir , I am sure we are gratified if our services have been acceptable

to the brethren , and thank you for the compliment you have paid us . The lodge was then closed in due form , after which the brethren adjourned to the banqueting hall where an elegant repast was served ii la Russe . Between forty and fifty brethren sat down to dinner . After dinner the usual loyal and Masonic toasts were

proposed , and some very good singing from the musical brethren enlivened the intervals between the speeches . Bro . J , Hervey having responded for " The Grand Officers" went on to say W . Master , you have said a good deal about mc in the lodge-room , and about the brethren who assisted me in the ceremonies , and you cannot say anything more to the purpose at the banquet table .

Allow me , therefore , before I sit down to return thanks Ior the Consecrating Officers , not but the brethren will regret the loss of the speech which they would have heard from you , but they will rejoice at not seeing me get up again te speak . Bro . Hervey proceeded to make some flattering comments on the constitution of the lodge , and the efficiency of its Master , and concluded by proposing " The

Health of Bro . Rose , " and "Success to thc Rose Lodge . " Bro . Rose : Brother officers and brethren , I thank you very sincerely for the very kind manner in which Bro . Hervey has put this toast , and to you for the manner i » which you have received it . I should certainly have HUeil verv much to introduce mvself the vote of thanks to the

Consecrating Officers for the simple reason that I had reserved for the banquet table the bulk of my remarks , but we must also consider his comfort , as he has already had a great deal of exertion , and feel bound to consider his wishes as to the curtailment of this stage of the business of the evening . In thanking Bro . Hervey I echo his . . . ' .-V .,.,. tm- . V . m n . n . n .-lt . f nf tko \ c . A rt * IHlH tfllStttiat 1

shall never be found wanting in the performance of the important duties of that post which has this day beenentrusted to me . - _ ,. The toast of "The Officers of the Lodge , " 1 ' * Masonic Charitable Institutions " ( to which Bro . terry responded ) , and the Tyler ' s toast were also duly honoured , and brought to a close a highly successful meeting . .