Original Correspondence.

myth . Listen to his words . "Taking the supernatural in its length and breadth , such . as it has exhibited itself on thc broad stage of the world for well nigh two thousand years , and viewing it in its integrity , we can compare it with the paganism as fruit can be compared with fruit , He used the expression " supernaturalism , " and not Christi anity , because the former word possessed a wider signifi

cance than the latter , and included societies of men who though they reject the Christian system , " still believed in ' a Supreme Being , tbe Ruler and Rewarder of Mankind . " We Lave never perused in our controversal reading so painful a passage , and one which , coming from a Roman Catholic Archbishop , is alike as astounding as it is alarming . What Cardinal Wiseman would have thought oi

such an inaccurate position , what Cardinal Manning would say of such an uncritical assertion , how J . H . Newman would regard such an illogical conclusion , we hardly like to think or to say . We have never positively stumbled upon a passage so fraught with error , unreality , and pure materialistic infidelity . Why , we have in this deliberate expression of a Roman Catholic Archbishop the

consolidation , so to speak , of all the theories of rationalism , of scepticism , of the " morale independente , " and of simple infidelity for the special edification of the " fideles , " of the " Freemasons , " and ofthe world at large . To assert that " supernaturalism " in its breadth and length is only of 2000 years life , and succeeded to paganism as " fruit to fruit , " is so absurd , so perverse , so unhistorical , so

irreligious a statement , that it positively " takes away our breath " and " knocks us , " as the American said , " into a vacuum . " Has the Archbishop ever heard of the Old Testament History ? Has he ever read his Bible ? Does he know anything or nothing of the "Theodidaktoi , " of the supernatural , of the Patriarchal , of the Mosaical , ofjthe Regal , of the prophetical history of the Jewish people ?

He appears to believe that paganism existed without supernaturalism , and that supernaturalism succeeded to paganism as an " ism , " and that the history of supernaturalism is to be limited to 2000 years . These are very startling propositions and will be highly gratifying , no doubt , to the " Propaganda Fidei . " We have always understood that all religious writers agreed

in this , that paganism is a deflection from supernaturalism , not a successor to it—that supernaturalism began with the creation of thc world , and marked the history ot our race positively until the coming of Christ , and that in one sense it has never ended , but still at any rate spiritually exists amongst men . But to make paganism an independent and self existing system

not a perversion of the mind and sympathies of men , to consider it as in historical order , as a precursor to supernaturalism , and to ignore all supernaturalism until Christianity was established is to our humble intelligence almost as unbelieving and untrue a proposition as ever was submitted to man ' s finite capacities by any of those brilliant but baneful writers , who , by their sceptical essays have too

often sapped the sacred faith of thousands of immortal beings . We cannot conceal our alarm at such teaching , emanating from a Roman Catholic Archbishop , and in our consternation and indignation , can really only pity the writer as being , to use a young man ' s phrase , " off his nut "—though whit that actually and scientifically imports , we arc not quite prepared to say . In full

agreement with the unsoundness and the absurdity of the Archbishop ' s whole theory , its mischievous tendencies , and its unhistorical character , we may as well leave his foolish attack on our Order to meet the fate it merits—contempt . For such is the lot of all unhistorical falsity , that even by the nemesis of an outraged "consensus " of thought , taste , and historical reality , it sooner or later inevitably has to

confront thc universal condemnation of thc wise , the true , the good , of all creeds and of all religions . Freemasonry has as much to do with materialism as Roman Catholicism or another religionism , and that any man , much lessa mitred Archbishop , can have discovered such a " mare ' s nest , " and have gravely propounded it at a public meeting at Sydney , as the Irishman said , " beats Banagher . "

We need not overburden our crowded pages , or tire our readers' paliencc by dilating any more on words so rash , so unwise , and so untrue in themselves , the more so as wc have every reason to believe and to know that this senseless crusade of an ill-read , intolerant , and irritable faction of the Church of Rome against our peaceful and loyal and religious Order , will not only rather subserve our past interests , but will as certainly be

condemned by the high-minded and sound-thinking of the Roman Catholics themselves . To suppose that such sublimated nonsense , such Pagan arguments , such " bottled moonshine , " as Carlyle has it , could affect in any way the Masonic body , or even harmonize with the average Roman Catholic mind , is both an insult to truth and tn common sense , to . every feeling of religion , to every condition of belief even , in the world .

DEHHETT ' ILLUSTRATED PEERAGE , BARONETAGE , AND KNIGHTAGE . Dean & Son , 160 A , Fleet-street , London . The edition for 1877 is now before us , and we must say it maintains the reputation which it has for so long a period annually enjoyed . It contains much information respecting the immediate family connections of the Peers and Baronets , and is under their direct personal revision

and correction . It professes to supply more details than any other book concerning the Naval , Military , and Civil Services , not only of tbe heads of families , but also of the younger branches . It is the only work that furnishes the addresses of younger adult children , and of the widows oi Peers , Baronets , and Knights . Surnames and inferior

titles appear alphabetically arranged in the body of the work , thus greatly facilitating reference . The volume is corrected to the 15 th ult ., and upon minute examination ! we find the work extremely useful , reflecting very great credit on the editor , whose labour in the compilation of such a work must have been very great . ¦ - --y , ' , ^ Ia

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do use against us originate from members of our society , and members of spurious and so-called Masonic lodges . And here again wc can answer our enemies . Have they not dissenters ? Once we find such to be the case we naturally expel such men , just as our enemies expel such men from within their society . A point worthy of consideration presents itself . Ought

we not to devise some better plan and system of discovering and putting down such spurious lodges and members ? I know , I am sorry to say , from positive experience , that the main principles of " materialism " such as I have described are the leading point and basis of many so-called Masonic lodges . To satisfy myself , I have purposely visited some , and found them such . On one occasion I spoke up ,

and denonnced the whole proceedings , and admonished those weak and misled young men that I saw around me , with what eventual effect I do not know . In public I have heard individuals holding duly certified certificates of English lodges avow their " non belief " in the " Infinite " or thc immortality of the soul , and the Seat of Judgment for our actions in this world . Ay ,

more , such men I have known to persecute and injure others who , though not Masons , declared their firm belief in God . Now , there is no need for me to demonstrate that we Masons do not admit or recognise such principles , and that we profess quite the reverse ; our deeds , our daily actions in our contact with our fellow men , speak volumes in our

favour , but we must not forget this great point , that we cannot be too cautious and scrupulous in selecting and accepting members , and when we are assailed let us pass in silence and charity all that is being said , and continue with more energy and faith , thc noble work which we are called upon to perform . " Materialism , " such as the majority of the present

generation understands it , what is it ? All foundation of " society , " bases itself on the recognition of some kind of " Head , " just so as all kind of religion selects some kind of " Supreme Being . '' Materialism does away , as I said before , with even this ; everybody claims , and the right is conceded to him , to act , think , and do unto his fellow-man as best suits his worldly purposes , and act dishonestly with

impunity ; this is your materialism from a worldly point of view , and goes to the root of all honest and square principles , and the world , such as it is this day , fed by a certain class of greedy authors , quite unscrupulous of truth , degenerate and encourage with their writings this risin g , or , rather falling , generation . Let us look back to history , the Romans and Greeks , and

let us see what progress we have made . ' 1 hey are called barbarians , but what would they call us if they had a voice ? I shall close my argument , if such it can be called at all , and give you again due credit for thc manner you have handled this subject . It is very delicate ground to tread upon indeed , let us avoid it as much as possible ; but

by all means do all in our power , one and all , still earnestly to work in casting from us all those who degenerate from our sacred principles ; they are but an insect , which silently endeavours to pierce the bark , but never shall find quarters or reach the root . We are strong all over thc world , and there is no lack of good active brethren ; let those who undertake this work

be but strongly supported by actions from others , and success cannot fail , indeed , it is out of thc question . Yours fraternally , R . DE VERVEGA . [ We endeavoured to give a careful and correct description of what materialism is , what it is understood to be , strictly speaking . We did not enter into the mere popular understanding of it , though practically there is little difference between our correspondent and ourselves . —Ei > . ]

THE EXCLUSION OF THE HEBREWS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As a Hebrew I was pleased to see that you have spiritedly advocated the injustice of exclusion of Jews from certain German lodges in your leader of the ioth . You state that " a distinguished lodge at Birmingham

has taken official cognisance of the subject , " thereby leading your readers to presume that that is the only lodge that has done so ; and , as ether lodges have done likewise , I have no doubt that , in your next impression , you will rectify this error . The Lodge of Israel , No . 1502 , at Liverpool , of which I have the honour to be the presiding officer , passed a resolution similar to that passed in Birmingham .

It was proposed very eloquently by Bro . the Rev . H . D . Marks , S . D ., seconded by Bro . Tueski , supported by many influential brethren , and unanimously carried on our last regular meeting in January . A similar resolution was passed by the Lodge of Israel , London ; Lodge of Joppa , London ; and the Montefiore Lodge , London . These arc the so-called Jewish lodges , but I am given to understand that several other lodges in

this country , which are not so-called Jewish , have passed similar resolutions . I communicate this to you , knowing that you will , in justice to those who have taken an interest in this affair , rectify thc error . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , MAURICE HART , W . M . Lodge of Israel , 1502 .

MASONIC QUERIES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In reply to " Past Prov . Grand Steward , " he has only to refer to pages si and 52 of Book of Constitutions ,

and he will see these words : — " But when out of office they are no longer members or entitled to wear crimson aprons and collars or jewels , nor arc Provincial Grand Stewards entitled to wear crimson aprons or collars out of their own province . "

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If brethren would only take the trouble to read the Book of Constitutions . " it would save them the necessity of troubling you with many ridiculous queries . Yours fraternally , ANOTHER P . PHOV . GRAND STEWARD .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — A brother created F . C . is appointed I . G . the same lodge meeting ; is this in accord with the rules of the Craft ? Yours fraternally , RATHER DOUBTFUL . [ We think not . —ED . ]

To ihe Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I cannot introduce myself as one of the " learned and thoughtful brethren" to whom " W . M . C . N . " appeals , and , possibly , 1 may only share the pity expressed for " A . T ., " when I say that I have no recollection of any reference to the lau in the ceremonies of Craft Masonry .

When I was passed , nearly twenty years since , the W . M . informed me that Masonry was " a progressive science ; " and in the next degree he explained the loss of the genuine secrets of the M . M ., and made me acquainted with certain substituted signs and tokens to serve until time or circumstances should restore the genuine . Can it be possible that the ornament of a W . M . ' s

apron is neither " a grand blunder " nor " a swan turned into a goose , " nor " a bungle of the compositor , " but simply and advisedly a level ( pr a . perpendicular upon a horizontal line ) as part of the substituted symbols ? This theory need not clash with that of " W . M . C . N . " as to the genuine symbol being the tau , but would tend to prove that he has made A GRAND DISCOVERY .

MASONIC ANECDOTE OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In your number of Feb . ioth you give a " Masonic Anecdote of the late King of Prussia . " Allow me to draw attention , in order not to mislead your readers , to the fact that the circumstances therein mentioned do

not apply to Frederick William IV ., the late King of Prussia , but to Frederick the Great . He was initiated into the Craft , in the way you mention , at Brunswick , by a deputation of thc Hamburg Lodge" Absolom , " during the night of Aug . 14 th , 1738 , and his companion , Count von Wartensleben , immediately after him . The ceremony began at midnight and lasted till about four o ' clock in thc morning , ( sec Bro . Findel's " Geichichte des Frermaurerei , "

P . 384 ) - The work " Memoirs of the Freemasons of Naples , " from which your extract seems to have been taken , and which appeared in the Freemasons' Magazine and Masonic Mirror of March iCth , 1861 , p . 202 , erroneously gives the name of Frederick William II ., the son of Frederick the Great .

I may further add that Frederick William III ., father of the late King of Prussia and of thc Emperor William I ., was not at all adverse to our Royal art . Our illustrious brother , the Emperor of Germany , when he submitted to his father his desire to enter into our Fraternity , was told that " he might without fear embrace Freemasonry , for the Freemasons had always given him proofs of their

fidelity , attachment , and obedience , " This was related by the Emperor himself , in reply to an address upon the occasion of thc twenty-fifth anniversary of his initiation at Berlin , May 22 nd , 1865 . Fraternally yours , C . KUPFERSCIIMIDT . Secretary of the German Lodge of Instruction , Pilgrim , No . 238 .

Reviews.

Reviews .

HIDDEN SPRINGS . —By Archbishop Vaughan , Sydney . By the kindness of Bro . Macmuldrow , Prov . Grand Pursuivant of West Lancashire , we have been favoured with this very remarkable address . We congratulate the Archbishop in the first instance on the non-existence , at any rate , the inactivity of that amiable , enlightened , and genial body , the Holy Inquisition , or he would assuredly ,

Archbishop as he is , have been burnt as an arch heretic at an " auto de fe" at Sydney . Nothing could possibly have saved him . The proofs of his " heretical pravitatis " are so strong , and wc may add , so daring , that though we bave no liking for Inquisitors , and not much sympathy for the Inquisition , under any circumstances , we perhaps might be not surprised at' the emotion of those reverend

gentlemen , on reading such dreadful opinions as have been publicly put forward by so eminent a dignitary of tbe Church of Rome . He in fact out-Colenso's Colenso , and completely surpasses Mr . Voysey . He simply gives up entirely the Old Testament . This pamphlet , put into the hands of [ a savage " ignorant of the rudiments

of the Christian Faith , " as poor Robert Wilberforce * once said of a prelate of the Church , would make him suppose that Christianity succeeded to paganism , naturally , historically , as a question of time and fact , and that the whole of the supernatural history of the Jewish people in God ' s word , from the creation to the advent of the Saviour , was a