Original Correspondence.

Masonry , and they exercise their proper influence in a brother's heart , they will induce him not only to tolerate and regard with respect the convictions of his brethren , though he be separated from them on even vital points of religion , but he will with

equanimity hear them speak of their convictions upon the sacred subject which deeply concerns them all . Your able and interesting article has encouraged me to look forward to the time when "brotherly love" and "truth" shall unite us all , and make us truly one body in the Craft .

WILLIAM CARPENTER . MASONIC CREDULITY .

( To the Editor of Thc Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your issue of January 22 nd , a brother asserted that he had an old tobacco-box dated 1670 , with engraved emblems , as he implied , of that date , applying to Mark , and Royal Arch Masonry . In January 29 th , I expressed

my disbelief in the truth of his statements , considering the writer was mistaken , but wishing for more light , and suggesting a plan , whereby such might be got ; but To I all is now darkness , and silence as of the tomb ! No fraternal response is heard , and I am left to infer that Bro . Sweete has

either discovered his mistake and is therefore soured , or that his practical joke is carried far enough as it is . Anyway , until I do receive " more light , " and good light too , I shall look upon this tobacco-box affair as another Masonic imposition . Bro . Yarker , however , as I perceive from "Notes

and Queries" of January 29 th , 1870 , with all the full-fledged credulity of an Entered Apprentice , has swallowed this 1670 tobacco-box , "Mark Master " and " Royal Arch " emblems included ! all at once . Now I must protest emphatically against this simplicity . First weigh the statement before you quote

it ; if it stand fire , all right , but if not , away with it . Royal Arch Masonry is considerably less than a century and a half old , yet Bro . Yarker is quite ready to bolt pretended Royal Arch emblems two centuries old 1 The idea is so ridiculous that I must be excused for laughing at it . I am , yours fraternally , LEO .

"A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION . " ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) You kindly refer to me in your excellent article by the above title , respecting Freemasonry and Christianity , when the former was an operative institution . I am decidedly of the opinion , as you

say , that Christianity was thc pivot upon which ancient operative Masonry turned , and that this is easily explained by the fact that thc greatest patrons of architectural art in the middle ages were priests of thc Christian Church . If evidence were wanting to confirm thc statements in

the interesting article alluded to , I could afford plenty , but I presume the fact will not be doubted that Freemasonry was under the protection of Christianity before the revival of A . D . 1717 . The old charges , laws , and records still preserved from thc fourteenth century to the last , abundantly prove the truth of your remarks , and go far to

establish the position that what Freemasonry has gained in universality since the revival , it has lost as a religious institution , by the substitution of morality or natural religion in lieu of Christianity . Sectarian influences could not co-exist with the universal aspirations of the Order , and hence we now united on the single basis of Faith in God , and a belief in future rewards and punishments .

W . J . HUGHAN . AN APPEAL .

( To thc Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —May I beg a few lines space , in order to bring before the notice of the Craft a case which , I feel sure , will meet with their warmest sympathy . Brother David Bingham Daly , whose death

has already been noticed in your columns , was born in 1825 , and was called to the bar in 1846 . Alone and unassisted , after a gallant uphill struggle extending over more than twenty years , his untiring industry had begun to win its way , and during the last four years of his life he , for the first time ,

enjoyed comparative prosperity . In December , 1868 , he was attacked with pleurisy and for nearly five months was utterly disabled from professional work . At the end of that time , though physically unequal to the task , he forced himself to resume his duties . During his illness

his wife had nursed him unceasingly . The strain upon her physical powers , superadded to the past anxiety of years , and a still keener anxiety as to the future , proved too much for her mental strength . As he recovered , her mind gave way , and after

endeavouring for two months to treat her at her own home , it was found absolutely necessary to remove her to Bethlehem Hospital , where she still remains hopelessly insane . With such a grief ever present to his mind , and with his frame enfeebled by the long illness from

Original Correspondence.

which he had but half recovered , our unfortunate Brother bravely worked on from April to August , 186 9 . On Saturday , the 28 th of August , he came home from his work for the last time . Within twenty-four hours he was dead , having literally given up his life in his gallant struggle for home

and his little ones . Brother Daly had been a member of the Dalhousie Lodge , No . 865 , but had been compelled to discontinue his subscription previous to his death , and not having been a subscribing member to a lodge for five years , his doubly-orphaned children

( of whom he leaves five ) are not eligible foradmision to the Masonic Schools . A subscription to provide for them has been privately started among the members of thc legal profession , who have most promptly and generously responded ; the Lord Chancellor heading the list with £ 25 . A

considerable amount has been subscribed , but much necessarily remains to be done . Unless I am greatly mistaken in my estimate of the Craft , they will feel it not only a duty but a pleasure to contribute generously in aid of such a work . I shall esteem it a privilege to transmit their

subscriptions to the proper quarter , and ( with your kind permission ) acknowledge them in your columns . Let me add that I had not the honour of the private acquaintance of Brother Daly , and my appeal , therefore , is based not on personal

friendship , but simply on the facts I have stated , and my knowledge of the warm hearts and ready hands of our Masonic Brotherhood . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Faithfully and fraternally yours , ANGELO J . LEWIS . Erkskine Chambers , 36 , Lincoln ' s Inn Fields .

The Brett Testimonial Dinner.

THE BRETT TESTIMONIAL DINNER .

[ We resume the report of this meeting from our last issue . ] After the presentation Bro . LITTLE rose and said , Brethren , I have been honoured by the request to propose the next toast . I know that it

is one which you will readily anticipate , and without further preface I will bring it to your notice . It is thc health of the worthy and excellent brother who has presidec over you this evening . I have had the honour of acquaintance with our excellent Bro . Carpenter . ever since I entered

Royal Arch Masonry . I then had the pleasure of seeing him a Past Principal of my chapter ; he had at that time passed from the meridian of his life to " the sere and yellow leaf ; " but he had none the less preserved his zeal for Freemasonry , and he has not even now lost thecnergy which hepossessedin his

early career among Freemasons . But there is another aspect of that career to which I would call your attention , and which you may have perceived for yourselves in Bro . Carpenter . He is not one of those Freemasons who enter into Masonry without desiring to know all about it , both in thc Augustan

period of Freemasonry , as well as later in our own century . Our Bro . Carpenter has traced Freemasonry from thc remote and mystic ages of thc past ; he has traced it in its career , which is now historic ; he has shown you , ancl can show you the Freemasons of England , that this great

and glorious association to which we arc all bound , is one connected with thc most remote and thc greatest associations of antiquity . When we look upon him , we should be proud of him as one who has been connected so long with Freemasonry ; although wc may also

look upon him as a gladiator in thc arena of politics , as a great traveller in thc world of imagination , as a ruler of the craft , who by his erudition , his conduct and his great genius , reflects the body and spirit of Freemasonry . It is for these reasons wc are pleased to see our Bro . Carpenter

at the head of our board to-night , and as the chairman of thc committee for presenting a testimonial to Bro . Brett , extending to him , as I said , " the right hand of fellowship ;" extending to him in your name , and presenting to him that testimonial , you have been pleased to give

him , and I can only endorse the observations that have been made respecting him by your chairman . You do not require further words to enhance him in your esteem , and I therefore give you " The Health of our Brother the Chairman , Past Principal , and Past Master Carpenter .

The CHAIRMAN , —Brethren , I shall not detain you by any attempt to make a speech in returning thanks for the very kind and generous way in which you responded to the toast that was proposed by our Bro . Little . You have already shown me a great deal of indulgence and forbearance , as I knew

you would j and to this you have added the kind expression of your feeling and sympathy . I have already said that I feci exceedingly gratified in being permitted to occupy this chair this evening ; and I trust and believe that every brother present has felt thc evening as pleasureable as I myself

The Brett Testimonial Dinner.

have . ( Hear . ) Brethren , I am obliged to you ; and I trust that we may all live long and discharge our respective duties with zeal and fidelity . ( Cheers . ) The CHAIRMAN : Brethren , I rise to propose a toast which I am sure you will very heartily respond to , namely , "The health of Bro . Buss , the Treasurer

of this Fund ; Bro . Little , the Secretary ; and Bro . Tanner and Bro . Still , Assistant Secretaries . " I really do not know him , and I would not attempt if I did not , know how to apportion the praise to these very excellent brethren . I have no doubt that they have all done

their best , and they have done a great deal . Those of you who have never attempted to get up a testimonial of this kind , do not know anything of the labour through which those who have the getting up of it have to pass , however highly respected the object of it is . These brethren have done their

work cheerfully , they have done it admirably , and they have seen the results to-night . Leaving them to settle among themselves the degree of merit to which each is entitled , I ask you to join with me in drinking their health . ( Cheers . ) Bro . LITTLE : I should be wanting in my duty to

myself , and I should be wanting in my estimation of the services of others , if I were to arrogate to myself the credit due to the reception of this toast . You all know the very many duties I have to undertake in the cause of Freemasonry , and it is entirely due to my performance of these , that I have not

taken a more active part in the arrangements of this evening . I have felt , as you all know , the greatest interest in them , but it is due to myself and thc other members of this committee to state , that thc great merit is due to our Bro . Tanner . We all concur , and while thanking the brethren , while thanking

our worthy and Worshipful Chairman for the handsome manner in which he has mentioned and you have received my name , it is but justice to Bro . Tanner to say , that he has been thc great and living spirit of this work , and to him is due the honour of making it come to a successful issue .

Bro . TANNER : Our Bro . Little seems to have imposed a very great task upon me , but I do not propose to inflict a very long speech upon you , because there are a very great many of you want to go , I have no doubt . Among the Honorary Secretaries—there were three of us—1 was selected as

having the most check and impudence ; because , brethren , if you had promised a subscription of half a guinea or a guinea , as it might be , you may depend upon it , as you are all very well aware , you never were allowed to forget it . ( " Bravo . " ) You have all come up with your subscriptions , very freely and

very forwardly . My Bro . Still is a very bashful man , very likely he will make a speech after me ; but above all , I asked him to go round with me to take the money . " Yes , " he said , " my boy , I will take the money ; you call thc names . " Now , that shows to me his motive in the matter . ( A voice : "

Mercenary . " ) However , brethren , 1 do not think I undertook a labour in my life such as I have tonight , though much , if I may call it , " a labour of love . " ( Hear . ) Because , if I may presume to say so , I have aided and supported my own immediate and personal friend , independently of Masonry , Bro .

Brett . ( Hear . ) If I were to say to you , I am unaccustomed to public speaking , it is a fact ; but still there are a few members , if they could rise up from their graves , would say , " If 1 could have prevented Bro . Tanner from speaking , perhaps I should not have been in my grave so soon . " However ,

that has been done with all sincerity and honesty ; and I , as I said just now , have been chosen for my cheek and impudence as Honorary Secretary of this testimonial . We have brought it to a very happy conclusion , and I hope , ( I do not know whether we may propose it to be annually ;)

however , I would not mind undertaking the duties at least every two years , if brethren would subscribe in the same liberal manner that you have now , to present a very handsome testimonial to Bro . Brett ; and I do not know any man more worthy of it , and if I had not believed him deserving , neither he nor

any other man would have my assistance . I shall leave our Bro . Still to make a very long speech . Bro . STILL : I think that the able tuition I get from Bro . Tanner will prevent you getting a long one . I am sorry for it , but I may say , I second Bro . Tanner in every particular . Whatever I have

done has been with the best intention , and out of the great regard I have for our Bro . Brett , who is thc Instructor at our lodge , and who knows what a dunce I am . 1 hope he will take a deal more pains with me , and that I shall prove an apt pupil and a credit to him in a few years time .

Bro . LITTLE : I have been complimented by the chairman with thc proposal of the next toast . I shall at once announce to you , that it is the Chairman of thc Committee who have had thc carrying out of this testimonial . I very much regret , as most

of you will , that our Bro . Dr . Woodman , who was elected Chairman of that Committee , is at present in Devonshire . I am quite satisfied that the exertions Dr . Woodman has made to forward , the testimonial from the first moment it was suggested