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LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION . —OCTOBER ELECTIONS , 1880 . I —The Committee have selected the following Candidates , and request the Votes of the London Brethren on their behalf : — ] Boys . GIRLS . * No . 27 , Gee , A . A . No . 21 , Evans , E . * „ 31 , Frost , J . B . „ 44 , Morgan , E . G . „ S , Fellows , A . „ 46 , Delafons , E . J . * „ 17 , Hobbs , R . N . „ 39 , Smith , E . S . „ 45 , Wilkinson , J . E . * Last Applications . „ 8 , Oberdoerffer , F . M . J . „ 40 , Gough , M . M . Proxies to be sent to Bro . A . TISLEY , Hon . Secretary , L . M . C . A ., No . 1 , Clifford ' s Inn , Fleet-street , London , E . C . t

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AN APPEAL TO THE CRAFT . BRO . VOIGT V . BROS . CARR , TREVOR , AND LAKING . This very un-Masonic Action was tried at Leeds on the 10 th August last , before Mr . Justice Bowen and a common jury , for libel alleged to be contained in a circular ( issued according to regulation ) by the W . M . ( Bro . Carr ) and the Secretary ( Bro . Laking ) , two of the Defendants , to the members of Lodge Alexandra , No . 1511 , Hornsea , which embodied a motion by the other Defendant ( Bro . Trevor ) for the exclusion from the lodge of the Plaintiff ( Bro . Voigt ) —see reports of the trial in the Times of August 12 th and the Freemason of August 21 st last . On the 9 th February , 1877 , a few days after his exclusion , the Plaintiff served the Defendants with notice of this action , without any remonstrance -. oith them or the Lodge , or appeal of any sort to higher Masonic authority . But in consequence of the order made a few months later by Mr . Justice Field , before whom his demurrer was heard in the Queen ' s Bench , that the case " should stand over to go before the Grand Master , " the Plaintiff appealed to his Provincial Grand Master , Lord Zetland , who declined to interfere with the sentence of exclusion passed against him by the Lodge . He did not , however , withdraw the legal proceedings he had instituted against the Defendants , and ultimately obtained a verdict with " One Farthing " damages . Seeing that this Action has been brought in open defiance of all Masonic principles and law , 1 earnestly appeal to the Fraternity at large , to assist me in defraying the very heavy costs of the defence , which fall chiefly on me , and will amount to £ 150 at the least ; and which I am quite unable to bear without . Jtheir fraternal and liberal help . TUDOR TREVOR , Royal Cumberland Lodge , No . 41 , New Temple Preceptory , No . 117 , P . M ., P . Z ., P . E . C , 30 , & c , & c . t 20 , Highgate , Kendal , 6 th September , 1880 .

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NOTICE . ST . LUKES LODGE OF INSTRUCTION , White Hart Hotel , King's Road , Chelsea , ear Sloane Square Station , S . W . The brethren will take notice that the annual meeting will take place on Friday , the ist of October . 1 SS 0 , for the election of Secretary , Treasurer , Auditor , and other business . BRO . J . ARDEN , P . M ., Preceptor , W . M .

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TO OUR READERS . THE FREEMASON' Is published every Friday morning , price 3 d ., and contains the fullest and latest information relating to Kreemasonry in every degree . Subscriptions , including Postage : — United Kingdom . C ^ g » n « . '" M ^ A * . £ a > ia 13 s . 15 s . 6 d . 17 s . 6 d . Remittances may be made in Stamps , but Post Office Orders or Cheques are preferred , the former parable to GEOROE KENXIKR , Chief Office , London , the latter crossed London Joint Stock Hank .

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TO ADVERTISERS . THE FREEMASON has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe . In it the 0 inci . 1 l Reports of tin : Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland arc published with thc special sanction of thc respective Grand Masters , and it contains a complete record of Masonic work in this country , our Indian Empire , and the Colonies . The vast accession to the ranks of the Order during the past few years , and the increasing interest manifested in its doings , has given the Freemason a position and influence which few journals can lay claim to , and the proprietor can assert with confidence that announcements appearing in its columns challenge the attention of a very large and influential body of readers . Advertisements for thc current week ' s issue are received up to Si ** o ' clock on Wednesday evening .

To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

OBSERVER . —Under consideration . We think he missed the point of the remarks alluded to .

BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . "Jewish Chronicle , " "Temperance Journal , " "Keystone , " "Sunday Times , " "Citizen , " "Broad Arrow , " "' Masonic Record of Western India , " "Proceedings of the Grand Lodge ( S . C . ) of India , " " Boletin Oficial , " " Proceedings of the Grand Commandery of Pennsylvania , " "The Daily Inter-Ocean , Chicago , " "Chicago Journal , " " Boletin Oficial del Gr . Or . De Espana , " " La Chaine d'Union , " "The Croydon Guardian , " "Allen's Indian Mail , " "The Boys' Newspaper , " "The Hebrew Leader , " " Masonic Advocate . "

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NOTICE . The Cosmopolitan Masonic Diary and Pocket Book for 1881 is preparing for publication on the ist of November . To ensure accuracy a form for filling up has been sent to every lodge , and those

Secretaries who have not yet made their returns will greatl y oblige the Publisher by do'ing so at their earliest possible convenience . The Freemason Office , 198 , Fleet-street .

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THE FREEMASON . SATURDAY , SEPT . 18 , 18 S 0 .

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WE liope that Bro . TUDOR TREVOR ' S appeal will find favour with the Craft . We had ventured to think that the discussion relating to an unpleasant affair had better cease in our columns , as our brethren and readers one and all naturally repudiate

the continuation of references to a state of feeling , and to proceedings utterly subversive of all Masonic princi p les , and antagonistic to all true Masonic practice . But , yielding to appeals from

others , we have , as will be seen elsewhere , allowed two other letters to appear in our columns , and , therefore , practically re-opened the discussion , as is fair to both sides . We repeat we hope Bro . TREVOR will be aided in his struggle .

* * * WE quite agree with our esteemed and able Bro . W . K . R . BEDFORD , whose voice we hear and whose pen we trace too unfrequently , that Lieut .-Col . BUTLER ' S recent uncalled for attack " on all

" Freemasons " had better be forgotten , and left to its own refutation by the course of events and the practice of our Order . We agree with Bro , BEDFORD that he has shown both ignorance and

inconsideration in a marked degree , and like our good brother the P . G . C . we ask ourselves " how " such an article has found a place in ' Good " 'Words' ?"

* * IT is a curious subject per se , and a point which deserves " noting " by all Masonic students , this sudden demand for books on Astro , logy , Alchemy , and Hermeticism . It has been

quite clear to us , as to others , for some time , that so far we really know nothing of the true history of Hermeticism , and much less of its effect on and relation to the Masonic guilds , and our own revival in 1717 .

* * HE is not a judicious critic or a safe guide who ignores the difficulty of our whole Masonic history of continuation , progress , and developement . Can we go back further than 1717 safely ? ask some .

Can we work on ourselves to the Operative Guilds ? enquire others . What is the relationship of Hermeticism to Freemasonry , and vice versa ? demands a third school . How far is Freemasonry a perpetuation of primieval truth , as shadowed

forth in thc " mysteries , " and explained in Christianity ? This is the Johannite view , so called . We confess that just now we are ourselves in a good deal of " doubt " on the subject . There is for us a great " Crux , " not yet solvable or solved .

We do not merely mean as regards what are commonly called the " Hig h-Grades , " for most of them seem to have an easily ascertainable date ; but we do ask the question as regards Hermeticism proper , from which Rosicrucianism took

its rise , and which seems to have been known to our older brethren in some form at the Revival . The more modern theory , which we have ourselves

advocated—warmly too—has tended to reduce every thing to a guild-preservation theory . Can it be sustained ? It is because we are hesitating ourselves that we mention the subject , and invite

disour pages . * * * WE have some queries asked us elsewhere , which we have dul y answered according to " our lights . "

We think it is clear , according to the Book of Constitutions , that , in the absolute or temporary absence of thc W . M ., the Senior or Junior Warden , as the case may be , can summon the lodge to meet for " work , " but , when assembled , the I . P . M .

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takes the chair , in his absence the Senior P . M ., and if no P . M . of the lodge be present the Senior or Junior Warden , as the case may be . In the absence of all of these official members , the lodge cannot be opened . The language of the Book of Constitutions is precise and special , and demands

close attention , for in these two cases it reverses the order of " precedence" and authority . In summoning the lodge the I . P . M . can only act in the absence of both Senior and Junior Wardens , and the Past Masters , according to seniority , after the I . P . M and the two Wardens , and if all these

" officialties" are absent the lodge cannot even be summoned . As regards work when assembled , the order is exactly the reverse . The I . P . M ., " vistute " officii , " takes the chair , in his absence the senior P . M ., and in the absence of a P . M . of the lodge , the Senior or Junior Warden " rules " the

lodge . But no one but an Installed Master can take the " chair " of the lodge , and , therefore , the Book of Constitutions uses the special words , ( when speaking of the words ) , " shall rule the lodge , " instead of the words " take the chair , " wiicn speaking of the I . P . M . and the P . M . 's . Whether a

Warden " ruling " the lodge can ask a P . M . 01 another lodge to take thc chair , ( as has sometimes taken place ) , is to us a matter of grave doubt . What we have now stated is , as far as we know , both the " law " and the " practice " on the subject .

# # THERE is a sort of hazy notion afloat that we are to go back to Oriental mysteries , and Egyptian discoveries have certainly strengthened that view . Mr . EASTWICK , in his new and great work—the " Kaisarnamah-i-Hind "—seems to allude by

implication to this question of the " mystic Caves , " where he says" Many a portal carved was there , Rich with figures weird and quaint , Mocking fiend and musing saint . But within are chambers rare ,

And not Guido s self could paint Groups of female forms more fair , With soft eyes and golden hair . " # # # * # # " Flowers like those of Paradise , White , red , and ethereal blue , Deck the walls with dazzling hue .

Hidden 'tis from human eyes , Who those wondrous tablets drew . Mystery of mysteries , That may Reason ' s self surprise . Two thousand years have faded from the view , But failed to teach mankind the art their fathers knew . "

We , therefore , think that the time has come when , in our pages , the wh » le position of Masonic history may fairly be discussed , as we believe that we may all gain profit by reading thc opinions of those best qualified to instruct and enlig hten their brethren . VVe shall be willing to publish all views , premising

—and we beg our brethren to note this statement —that no letters or communications will be admitted into our peaceful pages which overpass the limits of a purel y antiquarian and historical discussion , or at all impinge on that personal tone and temper which too often discredit all Masonic corresoondence .

* * THE W . M . of 336 , Bro . J . G . STEWARD , complains that he was ill treated Masonically by a lodge , if we remember rightly , in Liverpool , which refused to examine him as a visitor because he had no certificate , and declined to admit him into the

lodge room . Bro . STEWARD seems to think that the possession of a certificate is not a " sine qua " non" by the Book of Constitutions , and we admit that it is not mentioned there . But a circular of Grand Lodge was issued some years back recommending to Masters of Lodges to ask

for a certificate from visitors . And under this circular of Grand Lodge , the lodge complained of , with all deference to and good feeling for Bro . STEWARD , behaved , we think , quite properly , though the decision may have pressed hardly upon him personally . Bro . STEWARD bases his claim to admission on what , we think , is a

misreading and misunderstanding of the Book of Constitutions . He says he can claim " examina" tion , " and then the examining brother is bound to " vouch" for him , and he is then and must be " well vouched for . " Thus he makes " vouch" ing " a consequence of " examination . " But is