The Grand Lodge Of Rome, And Bro. J. C. Parkinson, P.G.D.

Jesus Christ are incredible , its ambition is to see men fall down in adoration before it , to obtain which adoration it promises everything . It has promised Rome , and it has there obtained a temple , and now it is adored there by those who refuse to believe in thc Great Architect of

Nature , who bend the knee before Satan , and represent it as a spirit ascending to heaven . But it is precisely in heaven that our hopes reside , and thence will come to us the victory" Where Michael ,

His vengeance wreaked upon the rebel proud . * La Francmaconnerie dans sa ve ' ritable signification , par . Ed . Eckert , tome . II ., page ' 275 . tEnciclica di Pio Nono O-ui pluribus del 9 th N ovembre , 1846 . JDe Camille , Storia della Setta Anticristiana , vol . If . page 3 8 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . ]

A POINT OF LAW . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In reading the paragraph , " A Point of Law , " in your last issue , it reminded me of the accompanying copy of a charter that was sent by order of His Grace Henry Duke of Beaufort , Grand Master , in April , 1 760 , to every

lodge under the immediate government of the G . M ., together with two printed notes , one implying an assent , and the other a dissent , in order to have one of them signed by the Master and Wardens , and witnessed by the Secretary . In consequence of such proceedings there were sent to the G . Sec . the approbation of one hundred and sixtyeight lodges , and the disapprobation of only forty-three .

Is the enclosed charter the bill that was brought into Parliament in 1771 , by the Hon . Charles Dillon , Deputy G . Master , but on the second reading of the bill , Mr . Onslow opposed it , when thc Hon . C . Dillon moved to postpone the consideration of it . Was it ever brought afterwards before Parliament , as Mr . Dillon moved to postpone the consideration of it sine die . Yours fraternally , R . W . O . J'COPV OF THE CHARTER OF INCORPORATION OF FREE

AND ACCEPTED MASONS . " George the Third , by the Grace of God , of Great Britain , France , and Ireland , King , Defender of the Faith , to all to whom these presents shall come , greeting , whereas the society of Free and Accepted Masons have for ages held frequent meetings within this realm , and have ever demeaned themselves with dutv and lovaltv to us and our

predecessors , with reverence and obedience to the laws , and kindness and goodwill to their fellow-subjects : And whereas , the said society appears to have been originally instituted for humane and beneficent purposes , and have distributed from time to time to all without distinction , who have had the single claim of wretchedness , sums to a great amount , collected by voluntary contribution among

themselves . And whereas , our entirely beloved , & c , & c , & c . Members of thc society of Free and Accepted Masons , under the Constitution of England , in behalf of themselves and many others of the said society , by their petition humbly presented to us , have most humbly besought us to grant our most gracious letters patent to incorporate the said society , and make them a body politic and

corporate for ever . Now know ye , that we out of our princely regard to a body of men , associated for such laudable purposes , willing to manifest to thc world our entire approbation of their past conduct , and desirous to enable them to answer more effectually the humane ends of their Institution , of our especial grace , certain knowledge , and mere motion ,

have ordained , given , and granted , and by these presents for us , our heirs , and successors , do ordain , give , and grant , that for the future there shall be a perpetual society , which shall be called by the name of the Society ol Free and Accepted AJasons of England . And we do hereby declare , that thc said society , shall ' consist of Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , Grand Wardens , Past Grand

Officers , Provincial Grand Masters , Grand Treasurer , Grand Secretary , Grand Sword Bearer , twelve Stewards , and of the Masters and Wardens of the several subordinate lodges , who , together with those already numerated , compose the Grand Lodge , who , by the name of the Society of Free and Accepted Masons of England , shall forever hereafter be a body politic and corporate in deed and in

law , and that , by the same name , they and their successors shall have perpetual succession ; and that they and their successors , by that name , shall and may forever hereafter be enabled , and rendered capable , and have power ( notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmain ) to purchase , have , take , acquire , receive , possess , enjoy , and hold to them and their successors , manors , messuages , lands , rents ,

tenements , goods , and chattels , annuities , and hereditaments , of whatsoever nature or kind , in free and perpetuity , or for terms of life or years , or . otherwise . And we hereby give and grant unto the said society and their successors , by the name aforesaid , our special license , full power , and lawful authority , to hold and enjoy lands and hereditaments which may hereafter be devised , granted , or sold to

the said society ; and also , to purchase , hold , receive , and possess , in Mortmain , in perpetuity or otherwise , to , or fot the use of , or in trust for them and their successors , for the use and benefit of the said corporation , from any person or persons , bodies politic or corporate , their heirs and successors respectively , such manors , lands , tenements , rents , hereditaments , as they shall think fit to purchase , 01

Original Correspondence.

shall be given , granted , devised , or conveyed to them by deed , or otherwise , not exceeding the yearly value of Over and above charges and reprizes , so far as they are not restrained , by law ; and also , tosell , grant , demise , exchange , and dispose of any of the same manors , messuages , lands , and tenements , | whereof or wherein they shall have an estate of inheritance for life or lives , or years as

aforesaid . And we further grant , that the said society and their successors , by the name aforesaid , may and shall by the said name of the Society of Free and Accepted Masons of England , be able to sue and to be sued , plead and be impleaded , answer and be answered unto , defend and be defended , in all courts and pleas whatsoever , of us , our heirs and successors , before any of our judges and justices ,

and other officers of us , our heirs and successors , in all and singular actions , suits , plaints , causes , matters , demands , and things whatsoever , and to act and to do in all matters and things relating to the said corporation in as ample a manner and form as any other , our liege subjects being persons able and capable in the law , or any other body politic or corporate , in this of our kingdom of Great

Britain , called England , lawfully may , or can act or do ; and that the said corporation for ever shall , and may have , and use a common seal , for the cause and business of them and their successors , and that it shall and may be lawful for them and their successors , to change , break , alter , and make new the said seal from time to time as they shall think fit . And we do hereby give and grant unto the said

society a coat of arms , that is to say , and for the better execution of this our grant , we do nominate , constitute , and appoint our right trusty and dearly beloved cousin and councillor , Henry , Duke of Beaufort , to be First Grand Master , our trusty and well beloved the Honourable Charles Dillon to be the First Deputy Grand Master , each of them respectively to be and continue in their several and respective

offices of Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , & c , & c , & c , until the Feast of St . John the Evangelist , which shall happen next after the expiration of one year from the day of the date of these presents , and from thence until other fit and able persons be chosen into the said offices in their respective rooms . Provided always , that all the persons so appointed , or hereafter to be appointed , members of the

Grand Lodge , shall , in all things , aid , advise , and assist in conducting the business , and in all matters relating to the regulations and government of the said society of Free and Accepted Masons of England . And we do give and grant unto the said Grand Master , or his dcputy , his or their successor or successors , for the time being , full power and authority , by virtue of these our letters patent , to issue

warrants for the constituting of subordinate lodges ; and thc said lodges warranted as aforesaid , shall be , and they are hereby declared to be , legal and regular . And furthermore , wc give and grant to the said society that they shall and may hold meetings of themselves , for the better management of their funds , and the application of them to proper purposes , and the transaction of all other business

relating to the society , when , and as often as it shall be necessary in any place within the City of London , or ten miles thereof . And it shall be lawful for the said society from time to time , to nominate and chusc once in every year , one fit and able person to be Grand Master , and one other to be Grand Treasurer of the said society : thc other officers to be appointed in thc manner and form heretofore

established by thc long and uninterrupted usage of the society to continue severally until the Feast of St . John the Evangelist next , after thc expiration of one year from the time of their respective elections or appointments ( if they shall so long live , or not be removed for some just or reasonable cause ) , and from thence till another be chosen . And in case the Grand Master , Deputy

Grand Master , tic , tic , tic , or any of them shall die , secede , or be removed from any of the said offices respectively , then and in such case it shall be lawful to choose or appoint ( according to ancient usage ) a fit and able person to fill up such office as shall become vacant . And the person or persons so chosen or appointed shall continue to thc expiration o [ the year for which their

predecessor in such office had | bcen chosen or appointed . And if it shall happen that thc election ot the Grand Master , and Grand Treasurer , and appointment of the other Grand Oflicers , cannot be perfected on the Feast of St . John the Evangelist , we do hereby grant that the Grand Master may lawfully assign or appoint any other day as near as may be after the Feast

of St . John thc KvangelUt , for the perfecting such election or elections , which shall always be in thc manner and form heretofore observed by the said society , and for the nomination and appointment of such officers as by the ancient usage of the said society are not elective , and so from day to day till thc said elections and appointments shall be completed . And we further give and grant to the said

society , that the Grand Master , Deputy Grand Master , and constituent members of the Grand Lodge for the time being , shall and may , from time to time , assemble together in such convenient place in London , or within ten miles thereof , as thc Grand Master or Deputy Grand Master ( by the Grand Master ' s authority ) shall appoint by summons or other notice , which he is by these

presents empowered and required timely to issue for that purpose to all th < - said members ; and that they being so met shall have full power to make , constitute , and ordain such statutes , bye-laws , and ordinances as shall appear to them to be good , and necessary , and expedient for the government , order , and regulation of the said society , and every member thereof : which statutes , bye-laws , and

ordinances , not being repugnant to the laws of this realm , shall and may be effectually observed and kept ; and lo do all other things concerning the government , estate , and revenues of the said society . Provided , nevertheless , and our will is , that no bye-law , statute , or ordinance , so to be made by this corporation , shall be binding upon the said society , until the same shall have been read over and

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approved of by the majority of the society assembled together for that purpose . In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent . Witness ourself , at Westminster .

THE HERVEY LODGE . To Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I was much surprised to see that a lodge has actually sued a brother for his fees in one of the County

Courts , and I do not see that the letter of the W . M . of 1260 , published in your paper of the nth Nov ., at all improves the position . Non-payment of fees for degrees is a matter so very easily settled that a case of such arrears occurring should never exist .

Let me suggest to Lodge 1260 the passing of a bye-law to this effect , that no degrees are given until thc Treasurer reports the fees are in his hands . My father in Masonry , on healing the work of the evening included any degrees , used to turn to the Treasurer and ask if all the fees were in for the degrees it was proposed to give that evening . If his reply was in the negative , he used at once to say , "That being thc case , I regret I am unable to give Bro .

the degree he is desirous of taking , it being against the bye-laws of our lodge . " The result was , that with the application for initiation , or for any higher degree , came the requisite fees ; and if that was carried out in all lodges we should hear no more of suits for Masonic fees being instituted in County Courts , to the great scandal of thc Craft in general . Yours fraternally , D . G . M . Bath , 13 th Nov ., 1876 .

THE ADMISSION OF CANDIDATES . To Ihe Editor if the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — " East Lancashire"' in your last week's issue , hits a blot in cur system of admitting members . I would name a case somewhat different , although perhaps more strikingly irregular , as it has reference to country candidates

being admitted into London lodges . A case in point : —A resident of some years standing in this town was anxious to become a Freemason , but neither the lodge meeting here , or the one at Highbridge , some six miles distant , were disposed to receive him . Well , what does he do ? Why run up to London , gets proposed , elected , and initiated into a lodge meeting at Freemasons' Hall ( the

Phoenix , I believe , ) returns home , and snaps his fingers at the Craft , and enters as a visitor a lodge that would not initiate him . Under such a system is it to be wondered at , if black sheep get within the fold ?

I think it is a subject that calls for thc interference of Grand Lodge by some law being enacted whereby the possibility of such a scandal should be rendered impossible . Yours fraternally , SOMERSET . Bridgwater , 13 th Nov . 1876 .

MASONIC CHARITY . To the Editor of the " Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , — Your repoit of thc meeting of the Royal Maso . iic Benevolent Institution in the "Freemason" ofthe nth inst ., induces me * o write to you . Masonic charity , whether real or ostentatious , is now so general and so well known that the outside world are taking unfair advantage of it .

The hand of every true Mason is ever ready to obey the generous promptings of his heart in beneficence , whether the needy case be that of a brother or of a stranger ; but St . Paul , who doubtless was a Freemason , and who loved to inculcate the true Masonic principles of fear towards God , honour to the King , love to the brotherhood , especially to those of the household of faith , and teach us that

our love must be first shown to the brotherhood . We may agree as to the beginning of the brotherhood , and differ as to the extent and the limit of it . I conceive that every one duly initiated into Masonry is our brother , and that his nearest and dearest relatives , in the person of his wife , his . child , or his dependent sister ought to be , and are thc first objects of every Mason ' s care . This puts the

wife , & c , of every non-Mason beyond the pale of Masonic charity as such . I am , therefore , pleased that the " overwhelming majority " decided to withold relief from the widow of a non-Mason , though once the widow of a Mason . By this act they have shown negatively their love of the brethren , and have told the outer world that Mason's charity is guided by justice and discretion , that they prefer not to give thc children's meat to strangers .

There is , Sir , a case similar to the above now in the enjoyment of the most valuable of our charities . The son of a deceased Mason , whose widow is again married to a non-Mason , and is in pretty good circumstances , is now receiving all the benefits that our noble institution at Wood Green affords . The second marriage of the mother was arranged before

the election of the boy , and actually took place , as I am informed , between the election and the admission of the boy to thc school . By the second marriage the boy ' s status as the orphan of a Freemason was done away with , and he became legally the son of another man not one of our fraternity . To admit him to the school without payment is to extend Masonic charity beyond its leg itimate

limits to the prejudice of some other orphan boy . The fact ought to be , and probably is , known to the House Committee and to the Charity Committee of this province . I desire that it may be more extensively known by means of your valuable paper , and shall behappy if y" * u can afford me a little space . I am , Sir , yours fraternally ) ... WEST Y ORK .