Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS . 05 A Masonic Friendly Society 51 ( 1 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution 516 Provincial Grand Lodge of Worcestershire 51 ft Masonic L tcraturc 516 The Masonic Demonstration at the Preston Guild 51 S Ireland 51 S Recognition of Masonic Service 519 The Seat of War in F . jiypt 5 in Overrated 519

CORRESPONnENCEPa > t Masters' Collars 520 Who ' s Who ? ; . 20 Frrata and Punctuation 520 Conferrinc ; of Degrees 520 lira . Dr . Gaul 520 Al Moghrch Al Aksa 520 The Revision of the Hook of Constitutions = 20 The Book of Constitutions 520

CoRur . si'OxnF . xcr . ( Continued)—i Status of P . M . 's ; 2 0 A Correction j 2 r Crown Windfalls 52 , Reviews 52 , ! Masonic Notes and Queries 522 [ RE P ' IRTS OF MASONIC MEF . TIXUSj Craft Masonry $ 22 Instruction 523 I Royal Arch J 23 Mark Masonry 523 Lavhnr the Corner Stone of a Masonic

J emple , Nassau , liahamas 523 i Masonry Invincible 524 The Theatres 52 = ; I Music 525 \ Science and Art 52 . > ¦ . Masonic and General Tidintts ; 20 I Lodge Meetings for Next Week iii .

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ALL our readers will be rejoiced to hear of the great success of our gallant army at Tel-EI-Kebir ; and , while they congratulate the victors , will sympathize with those who have lost loved and irreplaceable friends . IN answer to letters elsewhere , we bee to say that the names of the Officers

of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba , who informed the Editor of the Freemason that the Charter to " Al Mogreb Al Aksa" had been withdrawn , and Bro . PATTERSON ' S commission cancelled , are Bros . WM . G . SCOTT , Deputy Grand Master , and President Board of General Purposes ; ALFRKII

PEARSON , Senior Grand Warden . The above information was copied from a letter addressed to the above brethren by the M . VV . Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba . It will thus be seen that some of our brethren at Gibraltar and Tangiers arc still in " a haze . "

BY a paragraph elsewhere , Bro . Inspector FOULGER , after a faithful service of forty years , has received from the officers and men of his division , —the First , or Moor-lane , —a testimonial , as proof of the regard of his comrades

and the esteem of the force . Bro . FOULGER has long been known as a most zealous and skilful worker in Masonry , and few brethren have perhaps done more in their time for the improvement and instruction of the brethren . We wish him many years of peaceful retirement .

* * OUR readers will be pleased to note that our Royal brother , the Duke of ALBANY , is now materially better , and has started in the Lively for a steam voyage to Scotland , where he is bound , to pay a visit , with his illustrious consort , to Her M AJESTY at Balmoral .

* * WE trust that we have heard the last of the crude and hasty attempts to bring about an increase in the Provincial system in the Metropolis . Abstractedly , a good deal may be said " pro and con , " but we very much doubt

whether the London brethren generally have ever realized what such a change would really impart for themselves and their lodges . Anyhow , the question must be left where the Constitutions place it , in the hands of our responsible and supreme authority ; and any endeavour to forestall the decision of the

GRAND M ASTER , or to evince undue eagerness , for some defined or undefined purpose , can only throw the consideration of the question ( if such should ever be entered into by competent authority ) back for years . The

memorandum of the PRO GRAND MASTER places the question on exactly the right ground , and from his dictum there is practically no appeal , and on it there could be , as the Presiding Officer well said , no argument .

* * A VERY important question of order might have arisen had Bro . BUDDEN ' S resolutions not become " dropped motions" through a little mistake . It is very doubtful , we say it deferentially , whether anyone of his three motions was in

order . He proposed to move them , be it remembered , on the confirmation of the minutes . But we apprehend , we say it subject to rectification , that strictly speaking , the only question as before Grand Lodge under such

circumstances is the confirmation or non-confirmation of the minutes . Confirmation of the minutes includes two parts : ( i )> the verif . cation of the minutes of the last communication , that they are correctly entered ; and ( 2 ) , the

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I confirmation or rejection of certain votes , which by the provisions of the Book of Constitutions require direct and distinct confirmation . But on a motion for non-confirmation , it is clear , we apprehend , that no new matter can be brought forward , and that a / 1 the mover of the vote of non-confimation can legally do is to non-confirm a special portion of the minutes , —all he cannot

non-confirm . It has been said that on a motion for non-confirmation you can introduce a motion dealing with a portion of the minutes , as the lawyers say , "in pari materia , " that is to say of a like nature ; but even on this point , though it boasts , we believe , high support , we are ourselves not quite clear . It seems to us that it is most needful jealously to watch over the use

ot the non-confirming power ; as while on the one it might , no doubt , be abused by loo great a straining of the right of Grand Lodge , limited and directed by the Book of Constitutions , so , on thcother hand , it is most essential for the progress and free discussion , the old habits and liberties of Grand Lodge , that such , the prerogative of Grand Lodge , should be judiciously

used , while it is sedulously upheld . Bro . BUDDEN ' S proposal , can well be discussed as " subtantive motions , " though we believe that he will exercise a wise discretion if he withdraws them from the agenda paper . Grand Lodge has been very liberal Iately , and such large grants would raise other questions which , we venture to think , had better remain in abeyance .

WE congratulate our anthorites on the very wise concession to public opinion " more Latomico , " in allowing copies of their Revised Constitution to be sold for a small price to all members of Grand Lod ge , and in sending a copy to every W . M . It is pleasant for us all to realize and remember what a desire there is at head quarters to consider the wishes of the brethren

in every reasonable particular , and above all to make all matters of discipline and difficulty as smooth and simple as well may be with ancient precedent , constitutional law , and the best interest of the Order . Very few of us ever realize the work that is done for the Craft day by day at Freemasons' Hall . English Freemasonry is now a very great body , the grcatest'in the world , —

greatest in numbers , wealth and influence , —and the machinery to keep so prosperous an organization in working order requires constant attention , and anxious care . We think that all will bear witness , and agree with us , that never at any time did brethren receive more attention and consideration

than at present at our great central office ; and the really admirable manner in which the vast and increasing business at Freemasons' Hall is carried on year by year deserves , as we feel sure it will receive , alike the appreciation and admiration and the grateful recognition of our entire Craft .

* * * THE position of Masonic archxology is now a very interesting one . Criticism and correctness have taken theplaceof unverified assertions and uncollated quotations , and we have to welcome a scientific history of Freemasonry , by Bro . R . F . GOULD , based on careful research , and marked b y

scrupulous references . It is impossible to read this last remarkable contribution to Masonic history and archaeology , distinguished as it is by originality and novely , lucid statement , and apposite authorities combined , without feeling that a new era has dawned for Masonic students for the literati , and for the illiterati of Freemasonry . If we were to judge by many signs and

competent experience ourselves , the present time is not a very healthy one or good one for Masonic literature in general or particular . Freemasons are too prosperous , or too busy , or too unconcerned to stud y what does not immediately concern them or personally interest them , and the great majority of our Order content themselves with a laudable attention to ritual ,

and a devoted and absorbing interest in a menu . For them , what matier the mysteries of the Collegia or the quaint traditions of the Campagnonage V To them Hermeticsm , as to its adepts , is a sealed book , and the memories of ANDERSON , PRESTON , HUTCHINSON , OLIVER , THORV , CLAVEL , SPENCER , KLOSS , nay even the august

names of FINDEL , HUGHAN , D . M . LYON , FORT , GOULD , MASONIC STUDENT , and many more , are only shadows . " Stat nominis umbra , " as with the great J UNIUS of old . They come to the lodge after work in the office or cares at home , for a little labour and a certain amount of refreshment . And they do not go disappointed away . Pleasant

reminiscences survive of agreeable coteries and harmonious assemblies , and amid that wreathed haze which floats so often over the Masonic innermost circle are forgotten the lucubrations of the sage and the fads of the foolish , those addresses which charm and those histories which startle , while they

find a compensation for their oblivion of Masonic literary aspirations in that pleasantness of the social circle , or that perfection of the ritual , or that activity of charity which endue Freemasonry in their eyes with all that is venerable in age , and all that is praiseworthy in outcome .