Weekly Summary.

from the impending famine in the Presidency of Bengal , amounted , in round numbers , far towards gg $ , ooo , though the subscription only began a few days ago . That sum , is exclusive of about £ 700 , notified to the Lord Mayor on Saturday evening as the beginning of a

subscription set on foot on the Stock Exchange , and which will be continued from day to day . The donations received by the Lord Mayor on Saturday included , among others , one from Helmuth Schwarze , £ 105 ; Mr . Robert Loder , /" ioo ; Messrs . Whitbread aud Co ., £ 100 ; Mr .

W . H . Lowe , £ 50 ; Mr . R . J . Bagshawe , £ 50 ; Mr . D . H . Macfarlane , £ 50 ; Count Michael de Souza , £ 40 Sir William de Capel Brook , £ . 2 \; and Delta , £ 2 $ . A meeting of the Relief Fund Committee was held on the 17 th inst ., at three o ' clock , at the Mansion-house ,

under the presidency of the Lord Mayor . It seems very doubtful whether there will be an Easter Monday Review of the Volunteers this year , owing to the difficulty of transit by tlie railway companies . The following resolution was unanimously carried at the meeting of Volunteer Commanding Officers . The Marquis

of Westminster moved , — " That the Secretary of State for War be requested to forward the earnest expression of the Commanding Officers' hope to Her Majesty that she will be graciously p leased to review the Metropolitan Volunteers in the course of the coming season . " This was seconded by Lord Truro and carried unanimously .

Abroad there is positively nothing to chronicle , except that the Emperor of Austria has gone to visit the Emperor of Russia , and though some papers attach political significance to the interview , we believe that it is one of simple personal friendship and regard .

In Spain , General Moriones seems to be embarking and disembarking , marching and countermarching continually , but , nothing as yet appears decisive one way or the other . It will be a very curious fact , if the Carlists fail again before Bilbao .

We have to record the deaths of Dr . Strauss , the leader of the modern German Rationalistic school , and of Monsieur Michelet , the French historian , of the Honble . Jenico Preston , of Sir Edwin F- Scudamore Stanhope , of Sir Francis Stapleton , of Sir Francis

Pettit Smith , inventor of the Screw Propeller , of Mr . SamuelStone , ( Stone ' s Justice ' s Manual ) , of Mr . John Pye , the father of landscape engraving , of Mr . John Christian Schetzky , Marine Painter , of Admirals Thomas Bullock and

Carter , of Lieut .-General French , and of an artillery veteran , Captain Michael Tweedit . We have also to mention the departure from amongst us of Robert Brett , well known in tke medical profession , and as a good man and true , in his time and generation .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

FREEMASONRY AND THE ROMAN CHURCH .

( To thc Editor of the Freemason . ) Dear Sir and Brother , — In common with all thinking Masons of my acquaintance , I am delighted to see that you have taken up the cudgels on behalf of our Order against the scandalous imputations ofthe

Tablet . Those who are acquainted with that journal , however , and with the princi ples which it is its especial province to support , will not be surprised to find it descend to misrepresentation when such a course is necessary for the purpose of soiling the fair fame of our Order , against

which it can allege nothing worse than that it is based upon the three great foundation stones of brotherl y love , relief and truth . In the eyes of the Masters of the Tall el these three great principles , recognised alike by modem thinkers and the members of our Older , form in

themselves a combination which , did they dare , they would willingly stigmatise as the "abomination of desolation . " But in these days of modern light and progress such a step would be hi ghly impolitic , anil a resort is therefore had to " lying fables , " a course of proceeding to which the

Original Correspondence.

Tablet is no stranger . The reason of the enmity ixisting between the Ultramontane party and he Masonic body , is to be looked for , not on the iurface , but throughout their entire system , fhe Ultramontanes hold the same tenets precisely as those who have under the guise of

elig ion and holding commissions from the Vatican , tortured , slain , and persecuted their : ountless myriads of fellow men ever since the issumption of temporal power on the part ofthe ' opes . They are and have ever been the active nemies of light and progress , and truth is to

hem as the name of the evil one . Masonry , on he other hand , opens its arms of charity to all , rrespective of creed , only insisting upon its ; ardinal points ; its objects are the pursuit of ight or knowledge and it aims at truth . Is it lifficult to see that two systems so diametrically

) pposed can ever flourish together , or even * o-exist harmoniously . Nevertheless , true to its ancient landmarks , Masonry takes its onward irresistible course , regardless of and unafFected by alike the commendations of friends and the slanders of foes .

We , in England , have not experienced what sur brethren in Germany are now undergoinglot opposition from a powerful religious party , md it becomes a question whether in their case , . he provocations of the Ultramontanes may not have arrived at such a pass as to call for

something more than passive resistance . Practically , Freemasonry is constantly affording a passive resistance to all apostles of persecution and error , but if the brethren under her banner have discovered that special circumstances have arisen whereby their interests and principles are

gravely threatened , surely it becomes them to stand firm in defence of their Order , and , if necessary , offer even a threatening front to those who would deprive them of their rights and privileges . I fear I have trespassed almost too largely upon your space , but the question seems to me

to be one ofthe highest importance , and viewing , as we do , thc activity of the Ultramontanes in this country at the present time , it is impossible to foresee the period that may elapse before we shall be called upon to take part in the great struggle , in which even now our brethren in Germany and Italy are engaged .

Yours fraternally , T . B . WHYTEHEAD , 1338 , E . C . Feb . 14 th , 1874 .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , It is to be sincerely hoped that the W . M . of the lodge to which our late brother , Colour Sergeant J . W . Johnstone , was a member , will take a prompt step to lay the

above case before Grand Lodge , not only to vindicate tlie memory of our late brother , it will also be a soothing balm to his relatives to know that although denied by his Church the last rites of the departed , we , as Freemasons , and free men of England , will not allow the dogmas

of the Pope to trample on our freedom as Englishmen . There are many Roman Catholic non-commissioned officers in the army , that are Freemasons , and if the above be allowed to pass unchecked , where will it end ? And further steps should be taken bv the brethren at

Chatham to see that the case is reported H . R . H . the Commander-in-Chief , who is the soldiers ' friend , who will see justice done . Mr . Cuffe , being an Army Chaplain , receives his pay from the State , and as such his duty is to teach and

inculcate thc principles of brotherl y love , kindness , and charity to his fellow men . By his act he has shewn that he does not possess these attributes , he should be turned out of the airoy with disgrace , being utterly unfitted for the position of a Chaplain . Yours fraternally , J LESN , P . M . 1331 .

MASONIC RELICS . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In answer to the letter in your issue the 14 th inst . from " An Enquiring Mason " I beg to say that I refer to the body meeting in Glasgow who call themselves Melrose St . [ ohn ' s

Original Correspondence.

No . 1 . They profess to work under the authority of the old lodge meeting in Melrose , which I believe never had any distinctive number , as they never acknowledged tlie authority of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . Your other Correspondent , Thomas Stratford

asks if I have manliness enough about me to give my name , when he , as well as the active brothers in all the Masonic Orders in Glasgow , know very well the person whose initials are G . W . W . ; this was also shown by his calling at my place of business wishing to see me about the letter , before his last communication was sent

to you . He states that my assertions are utterly false , but omits to state a single point in which I depart from truth . In my former letter I made three assertions .

1 st . That the ledge of which he signed himself the R . W . M . was an unrecognised body . 2 nd . That the Provincial Grand Lodge had issued circulars cautioning the brethren against having anything to do with them . 3 rd . that the Melrose St . John ' s Lodge had

by advertisement invited visitors to come to their Lodge . The assertions refer to printed documents , and are therefore easily susceptible of proof . In reference to the first , tlie Lodge Glasgow 441 , of which he also signs himself a member in his

letter , published in yours of the 7 th inst ., met on the 10 th inst ., specially summoned to consider his case . Bro . Stratford was present , and by the unanimous vote of the lodge he was expelled for having violated his Masonic obligation b y joining a bod y calling itself the Melrose St .

John ' s Lodge No . 1 , and also for acting as its R . W . M . This I think fully justifies my observations , and though after that decision I cannot meet Mr . J . Stratford to discuss Masonic subjects either in your pages or elsewhere , still , in

justice to myself I could not allow his letter , published before that decision was given , to go unanswered , or lay under the charge of having published statements that I knew to be utterl y false . Yours fraternally ,

G . W . W . QUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES FOR FREEMASONRY .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — As a good deal of cotrcspondence has arisen in regard to the irregular initiation of a candidate into the mysteries of Freemasonry , perhaps it will be well that you allow the letters

that have appeared within a short time in the Falkirk district newspapers to appear in your columns . When anything else that arises it would be more regular to correspond through a recognised organ of the Craft . " I have seen in your paper of the 15 th inst .,

a letter signed "B . J ., " on the qualification of candidates for admission to the rights and privileges of Freemasonry , with especial reference to the right ofthe deaf and dumb to be admitted . It appears that some Masonic lodge , within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Stirlingshire , lias admitted a deaf and dumb candidate . I am

sorry to think this is the case—that any Lodge in Scotland has so forgotten and contravened the essential rules of the Masonic Order . It is well , however , that the conduct of the lodge which has done so has been brought under review of the Provincial Grand Lodge . I have

no doubt as to the decision to which the Provincial Grand Lodge must come . The laws of Freemasonry are so clear and explicit on the point that only one decision is possible . The lodge which admitted a deaf and dumb candidate must be found to have done wrong . What

censure ought to follow on any of the parties concerned—whether such as your correspondent " B . J . " suggests , or somewhat milder—I know not . Without having the whole circumstances before me , I would not venture to express an opinion on this

point . But I have no hesitation in saying that the initiation of a deaf and dumb man as a Freemason is null and void , and that al' concerned in it are censurable . As " B . J . " well puts it , the laws of Freemasonry require that all within the Lodge should be ashlar and not rubble , and the