Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

TAGE T HE FUTURE OF FREEMASONRY IN IRELAND ... 767 " A B ODY WITHOUT A HEAD " 767 JUBILEE OF THE CELTIC LODGE , EDINBURGH , No . 291 76 S , 769 , & 770 GRAND MASONIC BANQUET AT ALEXANDRIA ,

DUMBARTONSHIRE 770 & 771 B IRTHS , MARRIAGES , AND DEATHS 772 ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS 772 II . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES 772 LIBERTY V . LICENCE 773 & 774 O

BITUARYBro . William Voting , P . G , S . lJ . 774 Bro . Tabcz Tepper ... ... ... ... 774 Bro . John Oslens Stamp 774 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCEThe Purple in the Provinces 774 & 775 Testimonial to the Right Hon . the Earl of

Zetland 775 Peace ! Peace ! 775 PRESENTATION TO BRO . DR . LORY MARSH 775 & 776 PRESENTATION TO BRO . J FRENCH 776 THE CRAFTMetropolitan ... ... ... ... ... 776

Provincial 776 & 777 ROYAL ARCHMetropolitan ... ... ... ... ... 777 Provincial ... ... ... ... ... 777 ORDERS OF

CHIVALRYRed Cross of Constantine 777 Knights Templar ... ... ... ... 777 CONSECRATION OF A MARE LODGE QS . C . ) AT MARYPORT 477 MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT WEEK ... 77 S & 779 ADVERTISEMENTS 765 , 766 , 779 , & 780

The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

THE FUTURE OF FREEMASONRY IN IRELAND .

We hope that the attention of the Masonic authorities in Ireland will be directed to the series of articles now being written in THE FREEMASON by the zealous Mason , Brother

Joseph H . Woodworth , P . M . No . 245 . The fact is , the writer ( although he may not know it ) is correctly interpreting the

thoughts and desires of a large proportion of the intelligent and respectable members of the Fraternity in the " Emerald Isle , " and therefore his views should be all the

more carefully considered . We have repeatedly received communications from Irish brethren of known ability and much local influence , containing

substantially many of the suggestions and reflections propounded by Bro . Woodworth , and without fear of contradiction we say , emphatically , that the time has come for

the Grand Lodge to welcome the advice of its friends who represent the country , as much as those who belong more especially to the city of Dublin and neighbourhood .

We feel quite certain that a hearty and generous policy would bear plenty of good fruit , and secure a more thorough and affectionate support from the members scattered

over the country than is now manifested . Bro . Woodworth remarks that "' the apathy of the Past Masters of the various lodges

is the principal difficulty with which those who would gladly help to inaugurate a better state of affairs than now exists have

to contend . Unfortunately , there is a rule which debars all P . M . ' s from membership of the Grand Lodge who do not obtain a Past Master ' s certificate , for which a fee of

live shillings is exigible . We do not believe in such a qualification for membership at all , and consider every P . M ., Masonically a

member of the Grand Lodge under which he served his term of office , so long as he subscribes to a lodge under that constitu-

The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

tion . This law we consider a stumbling-block to many ; not because of the mere fee , which is small , but from the unmasonic principle displayed in requiring what cannot be levied on Masonic prounds .

We also believe the law which enables brethren to be members of the Grand Lodge , with power to vote on all questions in Grand Lodge , without subscribing to any

lodge , is most unmasonic , and prejudicial to every right principle or method of representation . It seems absurd , Masonically , to think that a brother who so forgets his

obligations as a Craftsman , to refuse payment of a small annual subscription to a Craft lodge , can actually , by payment of a certain snm per annum to Grand Lodge ,

secure all the privileges of membership that subscribing members to lodges enjoy , so far as respects their connection with Grand Lodge ! This is the custom , however , under

the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and we believe the members will best conserve the prosperity of that body in the future by repealing such a law .

We wish every success to the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and have for years worked privately to assist several of its members in promoting " pure and ancient

Freemasonry" in that beautiful and naturally highly-favoured land ; and all we write for now is in response to our esteemed Brother Wood worth's invitation , and to state ( what ,

after all , is generally known ) , that English brethren rejoice when their brethren in Ireland rejoice , and arc ready always to advise , sustain , and aid them , whenever in need of such . W . J . IIUGIIAN .

"A Body Without A Head."

"A BODY WITHOUT A HEAD . "

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) I am thoroughly in agreement with you in deploring and condemning the introduction of political questions into French lodges ; and although I also regret that the

Freemasons of rranee have abolished the venerated office and title of Grand Master , yet it appears to me the strictures in your editorial of Dec . 2 , respecting the latter event , are loo severe . The " Grand Orient

dc r ranee , on 6 th Sept ., 1871 , it is true , " abolit la Grand jNlaitri . se , " but . surely , under the peculiar position of Freemasonry in France , you are scarcely warranted in characterising this event as " monstrous , "

and that the " result of their violation of our most cherished landmarks will be excommunication from the Craft universal . " I do not come forward as the apologist of the Grand Orient of France , but simply

to suggest that , after all is said and done , a more reasonable explanation maybe found than the one propounded in your article , and I do so , moreover , because THE FREEMASON has so large a circulation abroad ,

as well as in this country ; and its leading articles , especially , arc so generally reliable and conclusive , that , in the main , many Masons will accent the editor ' s views

without inquiry , and having found that able brother so correct in the past , they will receive his opinions at the present time without further question or examination .

I have had the pleasure of corresponding for several years with the " Chef du Secretariat , " Bro , Thcvenot , and have received

"A Body Without A Head."

from him the " Bulletins regularly for some time . From this source , and otherwise , it has always struck me that there are many Masons in France of great promise and ability ; but the political struggles of

that country are the main cause of their having such little influence on the mass of brethren . When I mention political struggles , it should be remembered that Marshal Mao-nan was appointed Grand Master ,

zuithottt ' thc consent of the Grand Oricnt , by Decret of the Emperor—a brother!—on the nth January , 1862 , and was subsequently elected by the Grand Orient 20 th May , 1864 ! ! ! Of course , Bro . Marshal Magnan ' s devotion

to the Order subsequently , does not in any way justify this Dc ' crct , which forced a Grand Master on the Order . General Mellinct was elected Grand Master gth June , 1865 , but would not have been had the

Emperor been unfavourable . Bro . Babaud-Laribiere , advocate , was chosen Grand Master 10 th June , 1870 , after a sharp struggle , and although the officcwas abolished on the 6 th September of this year , that same

distinguished brother zcas elected President of the " Grand Orient de France ' , ' clearly showing that it was not the wish of the brethren to disturb the previous happy relationship existing between the Grand Master and the Craft in France .

May we not then suppose it is the wish of our French brethren to avoid in the future any Grand Master being thrust on them as heretofore , and to secure such immunity from imperial interference they have abolished the office of Grand Master

altogether ? The abolition , however , is more nominal than real , as the " President " is , to all intents and purposes , a Grand Master , just as much as the "President " was of the " old lodge at York , " England ,

before A . D . 1725 . If the change secures the end desired , may we not , after all , partially commend the brethren , and whilst regretting the change ( and even condemning it , as I do most positively ) , should we not

rather turn our expose to the treatment which has produced the evil in question ? The law , now , is as follows : The " General Assembly" is composed of—1 . The presidents , or delegates , of all lodges under the French Constitution . 2 . The Council

of tlic Order . The Assembly has the power of nominating the President of the Grand Orient of France , and the other officers are nominated by the Council of the Order .

The latter body is composed of thirty-three members , elected by the Assembly for the term of three years . It is declared that " Le Conseil administre les affaires de

l'Ordre et rend compte annucllemcnt dc scs actes a rAsscmblee Generale . ... II propose lc projet de budget ct le soumet a l'Assemblee , " & c , & c . In short , the " Conseil " corresponds with the " Board of

General Purposes " under the Grand Lodge of England , and is thoroughly representative of the Fraternity in France . I may state that the French Masons have had but few Grand Masters , only eleven from A I ) . 172 = ; to A . D . 1870 !

Let us hope that , under the new regime , the principles of the Craft will be remembered and observed ; and allow mc to conclude my remarks with the words which so appropriately terminate the leading article

under consideration : "The objects of the Masonic Institution arc not to be achieved by descending into the arena of political strife , and as the reputation of our Order is at stake , every true Mason will watch with anxietv the future course of the

Brotherhood m r ranee . WILLIAM J AMES 11 I . GIIA . \ . Truro , C 0 nr . vaH . 4 th Dec ., 1871 .