Masonic Literature.

lectors , and as the forerunner of a later and larger one seems to point , let us trust , to Masonic studies and literary interest . The other is Vol . I . of a Masonic Archaeological Library , which contains the Book of Constitu'ions of 1723 , and the Wilson MS . The work is beautifully printed ,

and is a fitting commencement of a useful Masonic archaeological library . la America , where Masonic archreology has more votaries than in Great Britain , these works will , we know , meet with much sympathy and approval as steps in a

right direction , and we hope that we may see in them , as the Editor of Vol I . of the Masonic Archaeology Library states in his preface , " auspiciuni melioris ccvi , " the promise that is of " that good time coming , " of which Mackay writes , alike for men and for Masons .

Provincial Educational Associations.

PROVINCIAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS .

We publish tlscwherea scheme , originating in West Yorkshire , for the formation of a local benevolent effort , somewhat on the system of the Lancashire and Cheshire Associations , to asssist the education of indigent children of Freemasons in that province . A somewhat

similar society , with similar aims , also exists at Leeds . We are glad to note and announce these proposals , because though they do not go as far as we could wish , they yet are good as far as they do go . In our opinion the time has come when the provinces should seek to have what the French

call " Succursales , " or subsidiary institutions , to our great central Educational Charities . There can be no possible reason why one system of education , even the same bouks , might not be used among all the Educational Institution * , and as they would al ! lead up to the gnat central

Schools , a qualifying examination mi ght will be added to the election by subscribers as at present . Supposing , for instance , that West York shire had a preliminary school of its own , its children who go to the central Schools might be there from 12 to 15 , and 12 to 16 , respectively , and the younger

provincial children would be provided for in a provincial school , and the London juveniles in a London school kept up by the London brethren alone . There arc some few obstacles in the way , no doubt , but none which mi ght not be got over by patience and perseverance . There is no

difficulty , for instance , as Dr . Morris and Miss Davis could tell our readers , in having one system of education for girls and boys all over the country , and it is just possible lhat we have in this fact the practicability of carrying out Bro . Clabon ' s

view of bursaries or scholarships . The one great hindrance in the way of Bro . Clabon ' s benevolent scheme is , that whereas the Benevolent Fund is the contribution of the whole Craft , and meant for general benevole .- ice , the proposal to alienate a portion of it to the Schools

seems to savour to some of limited and special purposes , antagonistic to its avowed object . But if there were alike provincial and metropolitan " Bursaries " this objection would be met , and much good to Masonry would accrue . Do any of us think that our

Educational Institutions with our growing order can stand where they are now , taking into consideration our applications for admission and the wear and tear of life r Any such idea is in our opinion a mistake . We must , while the sun shines , look out for increased wants and

accumulated claims , and having " put our hands to the plough , " let us not " look back " or " weary by the way , " but resolutel y set ourselves to the work of carrying on , developing , and perfecting Institutions so honourable to our Order , so blessed for the young , and so hel pful to humanity .

The London Masonic Charity Association.

THE LONDON MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION .

We have reason to believe that at the last Sections this much needed association has done good service to many poor candidates . The recent flection has been a very difficult one to contest , for various reasons , and is probably an omen of

what each suceeedingjelection must be . Indeed , > ri this fact alone is an apology to be found , if apology be needed with any , for the formation

The London Masonic Charity Association.

of an organization so friendly to our great Charities , and so helpful to poor candidates . We await the official report , which will go into details , and probably touch both on the " modus operandi " and the serious difficulties which arise from a keen and earnest competition for the benefits , many and great , of our admirable Institutions . We understand that at the next

meeting of . the Committee several new members will b-i proposed .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ W *; elo wot hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spiv-it of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary lim its—free discussion . !

ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE . To Ike Editor of Ihe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As 1 did not write for "An Outsider , " who is not a member of the Ancient anil Accepted Site , I do not see why he-should trouble himself about my tone ; nevertheless , I have no special fault to find with his views , unless it

be lhat they arc . « i igularly onesided for a disinterested person . My views of Masoniy are , to say the least , as impaitial as his own . I have no wish to say anything that may annoy " An Outsider , " but I do not see how he can complain , if a society which has so little respect for the opinion of others occasionally receives a little in exchange of its own Billingsgate commodity .

My lelter , I mu 3 t remind your correspondent , was written in view of one signed " Maitland , " which appeared in jour impression of the 28 th ult . I recognise the hand as that of a gentleman of good education and position , who was introduced to me by one of the Sovereign Grand Inspector Generals of the Ancient and Accepted Rite for Canada . In the aforesaid letter he writes that the

Maitiand brethren " were railed ' prosliiuters of Masonry , ' and de tiers of the powers th * t be , 'traffickers in degrees . ' . . . . l'erj-. iry was plainly intimated , and swindling , if not worse , hinted at . " Now , whoever was the author ol such a vile afa k is of very little consiiiaencc , because I elu not wish to make such unpleasmt matt rsa personal affiir apart fro 11 the Rite , and in this I think I act more

Masonically than if I sought out and attacked the individual , lt is enough f . < r me that the Ancient and Accepted Rite has no authority outsiele ils own numbers . Such language is , therefore , a mad conceit , and "An Outsider " is quite intelligent enough to see my comparison without my attempting lo point it out more clearly , which would only add in his eyes to my offence . It is enough to know

that the brethren attacked are quite as honourable as those who attack , and that is saying but little . As " An Outsider" is not a member of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , 1 do not see how he is competent to 'liscu-s the question of the legality of the English Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , and 1 think the Canadian discussion of the subject is in good hands .

As it can only be resolved favourably to his views by showing that neither oaths or laws or anything else are binding , it woulel be impossible to consider it without implications . Moreover , I elo not sec any good in a discussion between a brother who can know nothing with ceitainty about the question , and one who ( whilst his own opinions are respected ) cares nothing about it .

As to An Outsider s gratuitous and partial attack upon that " ridiculous Rite of Memphis" ( his words ) , by which ( in view of the opening part of his letter ) I am sure that he can mean no offence , I will answer him by a little of candid and open information , by which doubtless I shall bring upon the members the wrath of every man of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , to be followed elsewhere by

special acts of annoyance . As man is purified by suffering , the Rite will be purged by annoyance . The first 20 degrees of the " ridiculous Rite of Memphis " are a selection of the 33 ceremonies ot the Ancient and Accepted Rite , but deprived of their erroneous history , and with its titles of Sovereign Princes , Princes , Pontiffs , tec , reduced to simple kni ghthood ; its next ten ceremonies are schools for

the consideration of the ancient reli gions , and deducing therefrom the doctrine of immortality of the human soul and the fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man , the same being applied to the first Three Degices of Masonry . If " An Ojtsider "can find anything ridiculous in this I regret his position , for he had better have never been born . One title to which objection may be taken is " Prince

Mason , " which is the Thirty-second Degree , and presiding officer of the chapters , senates , and council , but the English brethren did not consider themselves entitled to make a change in the general nomenclature . There is a good and proper feeling in "An Outsidei's " letter , for which I thank him , and I regret that he has destroyed it s value b y the tone ejf a partisan . MEMPHIS .

THE HOLMESDALE LODGE . To the Editor of the " Freemawn . " Dear Sir , ---The graphic and interesting report of the installation meciing at the Pump Room , on Wednesday , the 19 th ult . ( in your paper of the 22 nd nit . ) , must have been highly gratifying , not only to the Crafi , but to the outside

world . As regards their meciing room , I have had ihc pleasure of seeing it , and can endorse the description given , thai is , as far as my uninitiated eyes can foini an opinion . The writer of the article referred to has felicitously and elaborately described the furniture and fittings . Passing from the robing room into the lodge , one can but be impressed with the cbasteness ? . nd beauty eif all its acces-

Original Correspondence.

sories ; every detail , I assume , that is distributed throughout the lodge has a sign , or emblem , cf the cardinal virtues . The after dinner speeches , at the Calverley Hotel , by the brethren of the Craft enli ghtens us to a certain extent of the deeply-rooted current of pure feeling that underlies anil pervades the fraternity of Freemasonry . Those of

the P . M . ' s show us that the duties , although arduous , arc labours of love , its attainment of very high honour , and the culminating point of human felicity . Few of us of the outside world ( as one of the P . M . 's with the bright hues cf inspiration anel the colours of reality designated those out of the pale of the brotherhood ) but have been in different degrees associated with the brethren , and have

had opportunities of forming their estimation , and discovering the prominent features and principles cf the Order . My father , and also my son , were Masons , and I may have had exceptional privileges as one of the outside world . On reading the speech of the W . M . we see he refers to the Sacred Volume , showing us that Masonry was not a name only , but a reality ; and that there was a

kindred nature between Masonry and that old Book . I believe that members are taught on the threshold of the institution to reverence Gor * , truth omnipotent , immaculate , and eternal , that learned from Heaven , radiating from the throne e f the Most High , the prominent feature

of Freemasonry , love to God , and inculcating a veneration for religion ; friendship towards all mankind—friendship that shields from reproach , counsels against evil , and defends from aspersion ; just in all the elulies and relations of life , cemented , and embodied in Chiistian charity are their cardinal virtues .

T he brother Hudson , 111 replying to ihe toast of ' The Visitors , " in a genuine and entirely unaffected speech , must have deli ghted his hearers . His lucid , eloquent , and appropriate remarks must have found an echo in every human breast present . It must have been through the knowledge anel eloquence if such master minds of the present and past centuries , backed by the magic force of

erudition , that these profound theorbs and organisations survive to make an enduring impression on our race . The uninitiated in the mysteri s eif Freemasonry cannot fail to perceive-, if depending solely on Mr . Hudson ' s genial remarks , that there is a bond of brotherhood that binds

them together b y obligations the most sacred , and that strangers meet together as one family , and in the universal brotherhood of man , and that Masonry has survived the scorching heat , and winds of prejudice and opposition , and by the blessing of Heaven has become a majestic tree whose branches shadow the land as the waters cover the sea . SAMUEL GREEN . Tunbridgc Wells , 8 th Apiil , 1879 .

Reviews.

Reviews .

A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS ON FREEMASONRV . George Kenning , 198 , Fleet-street , E . C . This catalogue is likely to be very useful , and we are g lael to note it anil peruse it . As a first tentative effort it is manifestly limited and incomplete , but it is

suggestive of a much larger catalogue ere long , which will be helpful and useful in the hig hest degree to all Masonic students in both hemispheres , as well as for all who seek to increase their libraries , learn the value of books , and encourage the circulation and expansion of Masonic literature .

MASONIC ARCII . EOLOG 1 CAL LIBRARY . George Kenning , 19 8 , Fleet-street , E . C . Wc are pleased to be permitted in the Freemason to announce this third volume of a Masonic Archa-ological Library . /> s it may setm peihaps a little too much like self-laudation to lay much of the weik here , wc will

merely add that it is admirably printed and illustrated , and dedicated to Bro . Hughan . Many brethren may like to posse ss a copy of a now scarce work " The Constitutions of 1 723 , " and we therefore call Ihealtention of all Masonic students to the seasonable appearance ol this work .

HOW TO AVOID THE DOCTOR . By Bro . J . B . GHEENWAY , M . D . W . Nash , Tunbridge Wells . We have perused this work , which is verj pleasant reading , though , we ceiifess , with some e ' oubt , and we allude to it even wilh more " reserve . " For in its idea it is probably most Masonic and benevolent , but in its development anel application we somewhat fear that it may

prove to be anything but helpful to the " non expert . We doubt very much , for instance , whether the average run of ptnons , mothers and the like , are capable of understanding and using the medical " formulae" so kindly given , anel whether , on the other hand , they may nit " confound , " be . th by their multiplicity or by their very minuteness . We appreciate Bro . Greenway ' s " idea , " a ; .

we said before , but we are net quite sure , we confess , as . to the " practicability " of his publication . Is it not better to send for a doctor when you have need of him ? and can you do without a doctor here below ? These are questions we venture to propound for Bro . Dr . Greenway ' s serious consideration . It Mr . Oldbuek ' s view be correct , that the " Doctors live by our diseases , the lawyers by our quarrels , and the clergy by our sins , " doctors would seem

to be a necessity of this mortal state of existence . Wc remember of old time , those who habitually studied " Uuchan ' s Domestic Medieine , " anel " Uuchantcrs , " as they were called , they generally made themselves ill , anel everybody else ill , including the senErt 1 about them . Our geiod Bro . Greenway will probably ill ¦ remember that must injured chemist in "Pickwick , " at Mi .,. Bardell ' s " Breach , '' ' as Mr . Wcller , senior , used tc- say , who informed the ini-