From The Sublime To The Ridiculous.

accustomed , and rightly , in the world , to-day , to ascribe to a potent Sp irit of ill all those tendencies to slander , falsehood , treachery , dissimula tion , the lying lips and the evil deeds , whether of persecution or wrong , which disgrace the annals and blacken the records of humanity . We

protest once again against that absurd and childish virulence of Ultramontanism which seeks everywhere to represent Freemasonry as in a league against religion and Roman Catholicism . In some Roman Catholic countries the rampant bio-otry of the Roman Catholic Church , has

thrown Freemasonry by the almost necessity of opposition into the ranks of extreme politicians and " libre penseurs , " but this is an abnormal and local position of Freemasonry , and is in truth neither normal nor cosmopolitan ' . Freemasonry , we cannot too often repeat , has

n . ithing to do with politics and religion , except that it is a professedly religious Ortkr , 3 nd properly it neither meddles with the one , nor antagonizes the other . We do not deny that in some jurisdictions Freemasonry suffers accordingly , but once for all , we repudiate as truly

Masonic any teaching or any acts which tend to make Freemasonry appear connected with the horrors of revolution , or hostile to this or that relig ious body . To represent Freemasonry as a great anti-religious , revolutionary society , ( ignoring the loyal and religious principle of Anglo-Saxon

Freemasons , who utterly repudiate such theories " ex imo corde " ) is only worthy of a Jesuit accuser , or some Ultramontane scribe , whose zeal outruns his discretion , whose ignorance is only equalled by his mendacity . The charges of irreligion , atheism , revolution , though ihey might impress the

credulous , or affect the unthinking , will have no weight with the conscientious or the considerate , and we should not notice these ravings of imbecility or this froth of malignant invective , ( which ever you like ) did we not believe that on the principle " fling enough dirt , and some of it

will stick , " there might be possibly some gullible individuals and some weak brethren who might be led to credit the accusation that Freemasonry has really something to do with Communists and Illuminati , whose principles it openlv disavows , and whose proceedings it

utterly condemns . On the old adage " noscitur a sociis , " we beg to congratulate the Ultramontrane party on its new ally , and we can only suppose that with his magnificent principles of teaching and action , this noisy faction hopes to succeed in that senseless warfare it teems to be

waging just now against all that is most reli gious , all that is most tolerant , all that is most beneficial to society , in this world of ours . But in such a campaign this new ally may prove the most dangerous of friends , for the very moment of apparent victory is often , in the good Providence of God , the prelude to hopeless and utter defeat .

The Right Of Visiting.

THE RIGHT OF VISITING .

We have been asked by a worthy brother , who signs himself , modestly , " P . M ., " what is our opinion as to the case of the admission of a visitor , with whom Bro . A is on unfriendly terms , and leaves his own lodge in consequence of the admission of Bro . B . In our humble

ppinion , Bro . B has no right to intrude himself into Bro . A ' s lodge , not being on friendly terms with Bro . A , as such an act necessitates Bro . A ' s retirement from his own lodge , where he is " dans son droit , " and where Bro . B is only by

sufferance . It were better that some eft ' irt sho uld he made by a fraternal mediator to close up the breach between two worthy brothers , but if fiat is impossible , Bro , B . should keep away , and the W . M . may fairly protect the right of Bro . A to remain in his own lodge .

Labour And Refreshment.

LABOUR AND REFRESHMENT .

In the case against the detectives at Bow-street , Br o . Williams , the Secretary of Lodge 177 , in cross-examination by Bro . Besley , for Inspector * aimer , who it seems is S . W . of Lodge 177 , stated that : — " There was usually a very short !" " val between the closing of the lodge and the banquet , for the members were generally anxious to get awav from the business of the

Labour And Refreshment.

lodge to the refreshments . ' ( Loud laughter . ) Now for fear that this amusing view of matters should be accepted as the natural condition of our benevolent brotherhood , we beg to state that though refreshment is agreeable to the inner man , and the laborious Freemason , this anxiety

on the part of our brethren to exchange refreshment for labour is somewhat exaggerated by our good Bro . Williams . We do not deny that many of our members like a good dinner , and are proficients , Ai , in the " Knife and Fork Degree , " but , aftsr all , they are not different from

other people in this respect j and this we may fairly assert , that in many lodges " refreshment " only follows " labour , " as a necessary and befitting corollary . The alleged love of Freemasons for refreshment is a good joke , and one they are able to laugh at heartily themselves .

The Criminal Class.

THE CRIMINAL CLASS .

We do not propose to go into the whole of this vast question to-day , but only to allude to that large class of " gentlemen of the road " who supply live on the plunder of their fellowcitizens . We do not deal now with the petty robber or burglar of low degree , who is a " cracksman "

of more or less celebrity . Such interesting individuals will always exist , where masses ot men do congregate , since the love of idleness and enjoying the " usufruct " of other men ' s labours , and profits and property seem to be an hereditary taste of humanity . But we are all concerned

with those who , well educated , and of genteel appearance , with the manners of good society , and frequenting the gatherings of their fellowmen , are those who plan and carry out the great robberies which require adroitness , tact , and skill , and are so serious to the community ,

startling us alike b y their audacity and their success . The arrest of two of the robbers of the French railway van , and a large sum of bonds , has recently taken place , under circumstances most gratifying to us all alike as citizens of the great metropolis . Much has been hastily sa'H

of late of the inefficiency of the police , but the arrest of Mr . Martin and Mr . Carr reflect much credit upon all concerned . Indeed , it is not possible to read the evidence of Detective-officer Outram without a predominant feeling of amusement and gratification . The arrest was most skilfully

and quietly performed , and the exclamation of Mr . Carr when the officer declares himself to be an officer— " What r "—is as melodramatic as it is striking . As one of our contemporaries observes , it was a " tableau vivant , " when poor Mr . Carr , who thought he had safely bagged a

cool " Thou , finds himself in the hands of Detective Outram , to be arraigned before that worthy magistrate Sir Robert Carden , and open to the amiable and affecting remarks of Mr . George Lewis . Chief-Inspector Trappington says , " It was very neatly done , Sir , and we

think a good deal of it at the office . ' And so do we . Indeed , such is the way , we hope , in which all thos'i who prey on the public may eventually be arrested in their evil courses . There are many great rogues going , and many outrageous criminals , yes , skilled criminals at large , especially those who plan these great

robberies , and find the means of disposing of the booty —in com mot parlance , " Fences . "—whether high or humble , great or small . To all such , we beg to call the attention of the detective force , and we hope to hear of many more as successful and creditable proceedings as the recent capture of Mr . Carr , by Detective Outram , both by the City and Scotland Yard Police .

MASONIC SONGS . — A selection of Masonic Songs set to popular airs , written by Bro . E . P . Philpots , M . D ., F . R . G . S ., is now ready , forming a handsome volume , bound in cloth , with gilt edges , 3 s . Sent post free from the office of this paper on receipt of stamps or post-office order value 3 s . 2 d . —A DVT . Constitutions of the Ancient Fraternity of

Free and Accepted Masons , containing the Charges , Regulations , E . A . Song , & c . A copy should be in the possession of every brother . It may be obtained for 2 s . at the office of the Freemason , or will be sent post free to any part of the United Kingdom on receipt of twenty-five penny stamps . Address , Publisher , 19 8 , Fleet-street , London . —ADVT ,

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do net hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving odheopinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play t o all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . 1

A VERY DELICATE QUESTION . Dear Bro . Kenning , — I am very anxious to ventilate in your columns a question which I confess has bothered me much of late , and I know of no fitter place to do so than in the Freemason , where , thanks to your liberal policy we always enjoy the happy liberty of proper Masonic discussion , a fair field and

no favour , to all alike , high or humble . Now the question I wish to ask is this . As you will see when I put into words , it is a very delicate one in itself : " Is the Grand Orient of France a legal body , according to Masonic common law ? " What I mean is , can any Masonic body claim acknowledgement from other jurisdictions , which has not , according to all Masonic custom and law ,

and precedent , a Grand Master ? Perhaps some Masonic jurists can enlighten us on this point , on which I feel the gravest doubts , as I know of no Masonic precedent , out of France , for such a state of things , as I have always been taught and told , thata Grand lodge without a Grand Master cannot act as a Grand lodge , is powerless , and has no claim to be recognised as

a Grand Lodge by any other jurisdiction . Now I ask this question , because we are on the eve , 1 fear , of much Masonic trouble in France , and it will possibly be raised under certain contingencies in France and out of France . If the Grand Orient is not legally constituted , as I fancy it is not , according to the laws of Cosmopolitan Freemasonry , then it has na claim on anyone ' s allegiance , unless ,

indeed , it be so well advised as to revert to the legal position of a Grand lodge , and elect a Grand Master , for I apprehend that no national Grand lodge , so-called , can take up a position unknown to Cosmopolitan Freemasonry , and expect other Grand lodges to acknowledge the dilemma of its own creation . And not only this . but I question very much whether it has , " jure MasonLo , " any jurisdiction over

any Masons at all , and I am inclined to think foreign jurisdictions will bc quite justified in treating it as a non-existent body . I do not wish to claim to lay down the law , on the subject . All I am asking through the Freemason is for information and light on a very ticklish question , as I see it and understand it . But it is just possible that another

question may shortly arise , owing to certain ill-advised proceedings of a reckless section in France , which cutting away the foundation of all Freemasonry , will , as it were , make the French Grand Orient drift away from the great family of Freemasonry . Under such circumstances many very important considerations must crop up , important

to all Anglo-Saxon Freemasons , and I think it well to pave the way for a future discussion of the true position of French Freemasonry , if certain untoward attempted changes are successful , as probably they will be , which will affect its position greatly and gravely in the eyes of the Masonic world , and of a million Anglo-Saxon Freemasons .

I write this as a well-wisher to the Grand Orient of France , which I should like to see rise to the level of its high dut'es and proper position and superior to those stormy waves of revolutionary and suicidal m -vement which threaten to gulph it utterly . When your readers peruse these hasty lines , the Grand Orient of France will no doubt have decided the " burning

question " before it , for good or evil , for peace or turmoil . And then , if the result be , as has been predicted confidently , in our contemporary the Monde Maconniijue , it is inevitable that the most serious questions will be raised as tc the exact position and actual Masonic character of the Grand Orient of France . So I think it well , with your kind permission , to raise a preliminary question of no

little moment , according to my view , and I shall probably trouble you at length on the proceedings of the " Couvent , " which began on Monday , September 10 th , at Paris , I am , dear Bro . Kenning , most fraternally yours THE SHADE OK MASKEI . VNE , One of the founders of French Freemasonry .

THE DIGNITY OF OPPOSITION . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — To my sur . rise , after the vote of Grand Lodge respecting the Indian Famine , on the cth , I heard one brother inveighing against the principle of " unanimous" votes , ( he , what for courtesy sake , I will

call " arguing" ) that to let a matter pass with unanimity when the whole assembly is seen to be in favour of it is to lose a right . This brother , too , was a Past Grand Officer . It was this Past Grand Officer ' s wish , then , that when the world is aghast at the horrible famine now raging , a rich and ostensible beneficent association should be seen haggling whether it should give a half-penny or

a penny to a struggling crowd of starving fellow-creatures , who are knit to us by being subjects of the same gracious Queen , the mother of our Grand Master . The fact is , Sir , such opposition , to call a spade a spade , is desired only on the score of a pitiful ambition existing in

too many in all ranks of society to hear themselves talk . What wonder is it , then , that our Grand Lodge should be afflicted with specimens of those obstructionists ? For the comfort of the many who giieve over this public exhibition , I say that it ought to be a matter for congratulation that in our large body the light of unanimity