Masonic Notes.

and attracted a numerous attendance of representatives of the business in vvhich Bro . McLeod for a number of years was connected . This tribute to Bro . McLeod is the more marked , in that it comes alike from friends and former competitors in business . * * *

We have been favoured with a letter b y Bro . Walter Hill , of the Lodge " L'Amour de la Verite , " Orient of Wellington , N . Z . It is too long for publication , but there are some points in it vvhich appear to require from us some notice .

* * * At the outset of his remarks he takes exception to our statement in a former article in reference to the establishment in New Zealand of a French lodge , that " Masonry follows the flag . " He considers this is

contrary to one of the fundamental principles of Freemasonry , namely , that it is essentially non-political . But our statement was never intended to be applied in a political sense , nor , in our humble opinion , does it appear to us reasonable to apply to it such an

interpretation . We meant no more than that the Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom have supreme authorit y throughout the British dominion , except in Canada and sundry of the Australasian colonies , to whom they have conceded Masonic autonomy , as the Sovereign long

since has conceded political autonomy . Similarly vve consider the Grand Orient of France is supreme in France and its colonies and possessions , but vve consider it a violation of the unwritten law of Masonry , and of Masonic comity , when the Masonic authorit y

which is supreme in some foreign State charters a lodge in British territory , just as vve should consider it equally a violation of the same unwritten law and

comity if one of the Grand Lodges of the United Kingdom set up a lodge of Masons , say in French , Italian , or German territory . * * *

The fact that that there are English lodges in Turkey , Egypt . China , and Japan does not , as our correspondent seems to think , destroy the validit y of our argument . In all these States there are British and other communities , whose residence is sanctioned by the

supreme political authorities of these States . These communities retain all their habits and customs , live in separate quarters , and have judicial courts of their own . These States , therefore , are not a case in point , for we neither claim nor exercise anything like supreme

authority over the Masonic lodges established therein . New Zealand , however , is a British Colony , peopled bv English , Irish , and Scotch emigrants . Hitherto there has been exercised here , as in other British Colonies what is known as '' concurrent jurisdiction" by the

Grand Lodges of England , Ireland , and Scotland , but the authority has not been considered less supreme because it vvas thus exercised by them conjointl y . A few years ago , the ( British ) Grand Lod ge of Manitoba set up a lodge at Gibraltar , where we have a District

Grand Lodge . Our Grand Lodge protested , and the chjurer was withdrawn . Subsequentl y , the Grand Chapter of Canada chartered two or three chapters in Melbourne , and our Grand Chapter protested ; but as Victoria is no longer under the authority of our Grand Lodge , the case no longer concerns us .

* * * Of course , as regards the lodge now working in Wellington under the Grand Orient of France , our suggestion that its members should be expelled from English Masonry , of necessity , applies only to those

who are English Masons , and the reason why we made this suggestion must be obvious . Our correspondent must know that vvhen the Grand Orient of France struck out of its Book of Constitutions the law requiring all Masons of its obedience to have some

relig ious faith , our Grand Lodge formally protested against this violation of any of the great princi ples on which Freemasonry was founded , and that it resolved to admit no French Mason into its lodges unless he declared his belief in a Supreme Being . Therefore

those who took steps to obtain the warrant for this lodge must have done so with the full knowled ge of these circumstances , and with the knowledge that

in doing so , they were deliberately setting themselves in opposition to the unanimousl y decided will of our Grand Lodge . Certainly such conduct merits expulsion .

As regards our correspondent ' s remarks relative to the establishment of the so-called Grand Lod ge of New Zealand , we have nothing to say further than that they corroborate the opinions vve have received from

other correspondents , and to which vve have seen expression given in several of our exchanges . We should like to have given the letter publicity on this account , as well as generally , but , as we have said , it would trench too seriously upon our space .

Correspondence.

Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for 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 . ]

ROYAL ARCH COLLARS IN CRAFT LODGES . To the Editor of the "Freemason , " Dear Sir and Brother , I thank " P . Z . " for his letter in your last issue , and agree with him that the members of Grand Chapter were quite justified in refusing to decide what collars should or should not be worn in Craft lodges : of course

onl y Grand Lodge has the power to do so . Has , then , any companion any authority to say that the Royal Arch Regulations prohibit the use of tricolour collars in Craft lodges ? ( Rules 94 and 95 were proposed in addition to , and not in lieu of , the rejected Rule 97 , as " P . Z . " suggests . )

The Book of Constitutions , Rule 28 9 , gives permission for all Royal Arch jewels to be worn in Craft lodges . Can any brother tell me how a present officer of Grand or Provincial Grand Chapter is to wear his jewel of office unless it is attached to the tricolour collar made purposely to carry it ?

For the information of " one ot the companions present , " mentioned by " P . Z ., " I may state that in several provinces with vvhich I am acquainted it has been the custom for 20 years or more to wear the tricolour collar in Craft lodges , and I do not think any W . M . would be justified in stopping it unless the Constitutions authorise him . —Yours fraternally , P . P . G . J . December 15 th .

Reviews

REVIEWS

NUMBERS ; THEIR OCCULT POWERS AND MYSTIC VIRTUES . By Dr . W . WYNN WEST - COTT , M . B ., P . M ., P . Z ., F . T . S ., and Sec-Gen . to the Rosicrucian Society . Theosophical Publishing Society , 7 , Duke-street , Adelphi , London .

This work is of very great interest to Freemasons , whose secrets and symbolisms are many times referred to . The author is a well-known brother , P . M . of nearly all Masonic Orders , and is the present J . W . of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge , before vvhich he read a lecture on " Freemasonry Illuminated by the Kabbalah . "

This volume contains chapters on the folk lore , traditions , and peculiarities of each of the prime numbers 1 to 10 , and curious notes on some higher numbers . The writings of the mediaeval Latin authors on astrology and magic seem to have been laid under contribution , as well as those of Jewish Rabbis and Eastern sages .

A full description of the School of Pythagoras and the mathematical notions of his pupils is included , and forms a very instructive chapter . But it is in the Kabbalistic portion lhat our brother chiefly displays his erudition , revelling in the mysteries of Gematria and

other forms of manipulating numbers and letters , peculiar to the theosophy of the Jewish Rabbis . The volume concludes with a chapter on the numbers referred to in the Apocalypse . We can cordially recommend every brother who has a turn for the occult side of nature to make a study of this book of numbers .

PIXIE AND THE HILLHOUSE FARM . By Mrs . GERARD FORD . Illustrated by J AMES CADENHEAD and FLORENCE M . COOPER . London •C . Gilbert Ellis and Co ., 11 , Clement ' s Inn ; Simpkin and Co ., Stationers' Hall Court , E . C ., 1890 . These two stories from the pen of Mrs . Gerard Ford widow of that most amiable and excellent brother the

late Bro . Gerard Ford , P . G . D ., D . P . G . M . Sussex , are as pretty of their kind as any vve remember to have read . " Pixie , " the shortest of the stories , is written for young children , or vve should say vvas written for them some years since , when Bro . Ford was living , while the longer and more ambitious tale , entitled " Hillhouse

Farm , " is for children of a larger growth . In both , however , is to be noted the same kindly and sympathetic feeling , vvhich is so conspicuous a feature of the short prefatory poem , and which inclines us to hope that Mrs . Ford , having published these most acceptable evidences of her skill to please both the little folk and

their seniors , vvill give to the public other stories of a similar character , or at all events breathing a kindred spirit . The illustrations are quaintly conceived , and harmonise well with the stories ; they are simple , but there is a good deal of nature in them . In short , the volume is just the kind of gift-book for this season of the year .

IMPRESSIONS OF A FIRST TOUR ROUND THE WORLD IN 188 3 AND 1 S 84 . By J EHANGER H . KOTHARI . London , 1889 . Bro . Kothari tells us in his brief preface that it was at the earnest solicitations of his friends he vvas induced

to put in print , for private circulation only , the impression he formed of the various countries he visited during his tour round the world in 1883 and 1884 , and he adds that it was not without considerable misgivings that he acceded to their request . He need not , how

Reviews

ever , have allowed these to cause him any anxiety . It is true he has not aspired to the more important role of author , nor does he hold himself up as a traveller of experience , whose judgment on men and things is of great value . What he has written is a diary in which he has carefully noted down in a genial , and at

the same time rather matter-of fact , style , the impressions he formed of the cities and towns he visited , the habits and customs of those with whom he mingled from day to day , and the sights he was every now and then permitted to see . He has made no attempt at fine writing ; he does not offer himself as a

trustworthy authority on English , French , American , or other characteristics . All he does is to describe in a quiet , chatty , and , as we have said , genial fashion the sights vvhich seemed most attractive , and which , therefore , he thinks others of his countrymen would gladly see . For this reason , perhaps , his book is the most

entertaining , while it covers a good deal of ground , most European countries , with the United States of North America , Canada , China , Japan , and Northern India having been in turn visited , and receiving , therefore , their due share of attention in these pages . The book

has this further advantage—that it may betaken up and read at odd times , when a person is at a loss for some bright and pleasant reading , in order to make an unoccupied half-hour or hour pass agreeably . We shall look forward with pleasure and " without misgiving " for the account of Bro . Kothari ' s next tour .

ADVENTURES ON THE ICE . By JOHN TILLOTSON . A new Edition . London : John Hogg , 13 , Paternoster-row . As usual , Bro . John Hogg has taken the opportunity of publishing sundry books , either new altogether or new editions of works which have already made their

mark , that are likely to prove acceptable as gift books at this festive season of Christmas . Foremost amongst these is the volume entitled " Adventures on the Ice , " which has already proved so attractive that Bro . Hogg has deemed it worthy of republication in a new and enlarged edition . The book is divided into chapters ,

each of vvhich covers an important period in Arctic discovery . Thus , Chapter I ., " From John Cabot to Thomas Hudson" covers the period from 1497 to 1612 ; and Chapter II ., "From Thomas Hudson to John Ross , " from 1612 to 1818 . Chapter III ., which is entirel y taken up with the experiences of Captain

Penny , the veteran whaler , whose name vvill always be honourably associated with the search after Sir John Franklin , will be found deeply interesting ; and so likewise vvill the two Chapters X . and XL , in which are described the last voyage of Sir John Franklin , and the various expeditions undertaken to discover his fate .

There are several good illustrations , one of which , representing a portrait of Captain Penny , makes a capital frontispiece . The volume is printed and bound in cloth in that excellent style for which Bro . Hogg is known , and we imagine it vvill be a great favourite with the youngsters .

WATCHERS FOR THE DAWN . By Mrs . W . R . LLOYD . New Edition , with Illustrations by J AMES GIBSON . Same Publisher . Under this title Mrs . Lloyd has grouped together a number of sketches of personages who have played a leading part , either directly or indirectly , in connection with the promulgation of Christianity . Thus , under

the appropriate title of " The Lamp in the Cell , vve are introduced to the venerable Bede , the scholar and historian , to whom vve are so deeply indebted for his services to literature amid the darkness which prevailed both in his day and forcenturies afterwards . Albert Diirer and Lucas Cranach are described as " the Artists of the Reformation ; " in " the Cobbler-Poet of Nuremberg "

we make the acquaintance of Hans Sachs , the Meister Singer , and another worthy in the person of Olympia Morata is presented to us under the title of " the Tenth Muse . " All the sketches are well written , and the book is an instructive one and well illustrated , besides being interesting from the well known character of the personages portrayed .,.

THE FORTUNES OF RUBY , PEARL , AND DIAMOND . By FRANCES ARMSTRONG . Same Publisher . Those who are on the look out for a book of fairy tales , the interest in which is well sustained throughout and which has the further merit of being furnished

with sundry excellent illustrations will find what they are in search of in this pretty little book , which certainly has enhanced the fame of its fair authoress . Young children are certain to take kindly to it , as the tone in which it is written is most sympathetic . LITTLE KING I . By LOUISA EMILY DOBIEE . Same Publisher .

UNDER THE WALNUT TREE : Stories told by the Birds . By FRANCES ARMSTRONG . Same Publisher . Or , perchance they will find " Little King I ., " or " Under the Walnut Tree , " better to their taste * The latter is by the authoress who has so well sketched the

fortunes of Ruby and her companions , but " Little King I . " is from the pen of Louisa E . Dobiee , who has employed it very deftly in her little volume , and will mightily please her youthful readers . We can strongly recommend these various story books for the young .