Cricket.

CRICKET .

Thoug h some of ns ate old , and lame , ancl gouty ¦ md gray-headed now , we have not altogether forgotten the days of our youth . The fine weather which prevailed last week drew together that wonderful assembly at " Lord ' s Cricket ground , " to witness the annual contest between

Eton and Harrow . In our Masonic Order we have not only many old " Public School boys , " but also a large number of " athletes , " who rejoice to take part in that thoroughly English and manly game . Even under the broiling sun 0 f Friday and Saturday the two elevens shewed

no lack of that bodily activity and that zealous endurance which are such distinguishing characteristics of our English youth . And so should it be . It will be a very bad day for us all when our youth throw off that love of active habits , outdoor pursuits , that intense appreciation of the

skilful , the trying , and the hazardous which serves so much to strengthen and develops the finer traits ofthe English character . How many a p leasant English lad fresh from Eton , or Harrow , or Winchester , and other of our great scholastic centres , has led up the dangerous breach

or nobly headed the "forlorn hope . " Many a good college oar ( ask the Bishop of Lichfield ) has developed into the earnest missionary , and the benefactor of humanity aud civilization . From anything like the mere idle ' - ' dilettante , " theindifferent " swell , " the uninterested "flaneur "

about town , the selfish and heartless sybarite , let us hope and trust that a good Providence will long preserve onr young men . With some faults , they are after all , very difficult to beat ; and in all that requires calm courage or gallant endeavour , the impulse of a hero , or the readv

resource ofthe intelligent and devoted , we still will proudly back them against all comers . We say this in no spirit of boasting , but we b . lieve what we say . O . ice put on their " mettle , " once thrown on their own resources , once compelled to give up the idleness of the " faineant , "

and the Epicureanism of " swelldom , " the affectation of fashion , they still are , and prove themselves to be , " chips of the old block , " of that good sound breed which has given to our country its prestige , and to England its high name among the nations of the

world . Now we are among those who regret much that Winchester , Harrow , and Eton cannot meet for a week ' s cricket in the metropolis , and form an agreeable gathering for past and present schoolboys , as well as the cricketing world . The withdrawal of Winchester has told badly

on its cricketing powers and fame , and nothing can well be more painful to all old Wykehamists , some who recall other days of victory , and famous batsmen and famous bowlers . Indeed , we never could well see why Winchester boys were not likely to behave themselves as well

as other boys , or why they of all others were to be placed under such a "ban . " Surely it might be pleaded "defendit numerus ? " surely , if the consent of parents could be obtained , the authorities have practically really but little to do with the matter . We are aware that Winchester

boys do not always come from the most affluent classes , but that is a matter surely for the College Cricket Club , and many old Wykehamists would gladly , for the love of the old " Domus Dei , " contribute to the needful expenses , and many a W ykehamist in London would offer a " Dulce uomum" for the week to those who would

tamtam the reputation of their famous school . We heartily sympathize with all " cricketers , " and wish them all a good innings and admiring circle of friendly critics , male and female .

Peace Or War.

PEACE OR WAR .

Since we last wrote the Secretary of State for foreign Affairs has made a most important St r p ment as t 0 " non-interference " on the part ot England . He has also stated that Sir Henry Wliot does not altogether credit that fearful etail

of horrors which has been given in both ot our contemporaries , the "Times" and the JJail y News . " That war , and especially a civil Wa [ i entails "horrors " we know •that cruelties ° terrible trials are its inevitable accompaniments we also are fully aware But let us hope

Peace Or War.

for thc sake of humanity , in the interests and progress of a common civilization , that these fearful outrages on Bulgarian women especially are the '" mirage , " so to say , of some excited correspondent . Lord Derb y fears that it is hopeless to try to arrest the " dogs of war " in their

uncontrollable fury , but promises non-interference in and localization of , the struggle . Is there no solution possible which would put a close at once to this internecine strife and restore security to the homestead and safety to an innocent pouplation—offer peace , instead of bloodshed , rapine , and brutality to these suffering lands ?

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

I We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even _ s approving DC 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 . ]

THE LAST QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF GRAND LODGE . ( 7 b the Editor of Ihe Freemason . ) Dear Sir and Brother . — Pray let me assure "W . T . " that by my little innocent- " provincial" jest I did not mean for a moment to " sneer " at the provincial element of the Craft . I plead

guilty to a poor joke , but not to a bad spirit . 1 must still adhere to my view , that to meet in a building or to vote money to that building may , and does in this case , involve questions not of m- ^ re expediency , but of principle . I am also still of opinion that the records of Grand Lodge " happily testify that we have at times gone out of the

beaten track " in making our grants . But this , like every other digression , must have a reasonable limitation , and this I humbly but fairly consider , Bro . Havers passed . To withdraw my motion and yet to press my amendment I hold to be perfectly consistent . Thc former was a definite proposal , and one which , from its peculiar nature , should have been unanimously carried ; the latter was

indefinite , and was quite of a kind to be decided by a majority . The little flourish of reli g ious zeal and indignation at the close of " W . T . ' s " letter is rather too vague to be replied to , particularly as I hope we may be able to prove we make no " empty " boast of doing that which " costs us nothing . " I am afraid all thc ingenious special pleading of the

' •Prov . Grand Officer" will not convince many of us that the " national " character of the Church of England so entirely extrudes the idea-of its being a " particular religious body" as to justify a g . ant by the Grand Lodge of England for the reconstruction and adornment of two of its churches . Our being gool subjects and patriots is quite another

thing , and tnese , I hope , we miy be without unnecessarily raising a cry , neither frivolous nor vexatious , and justly calculated to raise a prejudice against the " particular religious budy " so often alluded to , and to deviate from those broad and distinct lines of Freemasonry , which are at once one of its characteristic features and its only pathway of safety amongst our many " unhappy divisions . "

I am , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , R . J . Si MI - SON . P . S . —As to your remark in the leading article of last week , that I seem to " stand alone , " I would say with Hamlet , " 1 min'l not seems . " 1 am content to know I have whole lodges with me . It is , however , very natural on every ground that your correspondence should m . inly come from members of the minority in the late division

in Grand Lodge . [ A note of caution is needed . Our good brother is going a little beyond our Masonic limits in bringing in the Church of England at all . As Freemasons we have nothing to do with her " unhappy divisions , " and know nothing about them . Bro . Havers' argument rested mote upon the fact of these Churches being connected with Freemasonry than qua churches ^ or even churches of the Church of England . —ED . ]

( To the Editor if Ihe Freemason . ) Dear Sir and Brother , — Thc vindicat ' un of myself is a matter of so little importance , that I would not ask you again to inscribe my name upon your pages in reference to the controversy with Bro . Havers , did I not consider that the principles involved in the discussion are far more important than my

own feelings * . Meantime I can calmly let imputations of " ignorance , " " absurdity , " and the like pass by , for I have learned enough to know how little can be known , and in this sense am painfully conscious of my own ignorance . You strongly condemn the denominational character ol the discussion on Bro . Havers ' s motion . I can quite

appreciate your condemnation of ir , for it was the weak point of the motion itself , and it was mainly objectionable on that ground . It is , however , remarkable that orthodox denominationalists consider that they may enunciate anything without violating any one ' s liberties or hurting any one ' s feelings , whereas the heterodox dcno .-ninationalist is "ignorant , " " indecent , " and monstrous if he ventures to

question anj thing . The pride of infallibility is not confined to one sect . With regard to the letter of Bro . Havers , let me point out that he had given notice of his motion , and carefully considered his arguments before he came into Grand Lodge , and , therefore , he came there certainly with a " foregone conclusion . " The brethren listened to his arguments very fairly , and he had advanced a long way in

Original Correspondence.

his speech before cries of " No , no , were raised to dispel his "foregone conclusion . " In the sense of prejudging him the brethren did not decide without hearing him . I conclude by advising Bro . Havers , as he advises me , " to avoid every topic of religious discussion " in

connection with Masonry . His motion raised a denominational issue , and he , himself , in his speech stated and anticipated the denominational objection ; lei him understand that the assertion of his orthodoxy may be the violation of a brother's heterodoxy , and that my reli gious liberty is as pre . cinu > to me as his tct himself .

I accepted Masonry as a peculiar system of morality veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols ; " if it is to be made the vehicle of a creed it must cease to be acceptable as a universal brotherhood . lam , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , J . BAXTER LANGIEY ,

"ANOTHER PAMPHLET . " To Hie Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 notice in this week's " Freemason" another pamphlet from the pen of Bro . Tew , and , without entering into any of the disputes that have so long prevailed between our brother and the executive of the Boys' School , I feel

constrained , although reluctantly , to introduce myself into the controversy , as my name has been mentioned by him without any justification . I am classed by him amongst a clique who at present manage our institutions , and I must say with a very offensive reference , all such insinuations being entirely outside the truth—I do not say wilfully , but if Bro . Tew has trusted to others to supply liim with the

particulars I refer to , so may he have founded his whole complaints npon similar untrustworthy information , and which should have made htm hesitate before subscribing his name to a document affecting the honour of some ofhis brethren without first satisfying himself as to the facts . In the fir _ t place , it was not iu 186 9 , or at any other time , that I was nominated to serve on the House Committee of

the Boys' School . I have the pleasure of being a life governor of that excellent charity , and beyond which my ambition does not at present lead me , as I should personally object to serve on the committee of both institutions . Again , Bro . Tew infers that at a similar if not earlier period I was also nominated to serve on the House Committee of the Girls' School . The first time I was

nominated to the latter institution was in 18 74 , and , being unsuccessful , was again put in nomination in 1875 , and elected . With regard to the inference that there are some domiciled foreigners on our committee , this must apply to mc only , as mine is the only foreign name amongst those qusted by Bro . Tew in his pamphlet ; but I may inform our Bro . Tew that , although bearing a French name , my

ancestors , so far as can bs traced for many generations , are true English in blood , and for myself , having been brought up in the Blue Coat School ( a public charitable institution ) , I claim to possess some practical knowledge of the working of " English charitable institutions . " I am , dear Sir , fraternally yours , H . A . DUBOIS , luly 17 . P . M . 1316 , P . M . 142 ? , & c , _ : _ .

A MASONIC CLUB . To the Editor of the Freemason . D .-ar Sir and Brother , — I have noticed in the daily papers lately advertisenients relative to a " Masonic Club , " about to be optned in Queen Victoiia-street with a banquet at the latter end of this month . I do not see the advertisement or any other allusion to the club in your columns , at

which I am somewhat surprised . Is all right and on the square , and would you recommend it ? Yours fraternally , A P . M . AND H . K .. T . [ We cannot explain the fact , except on the principle that Freemasons like to advertise anywhere but in the " Freemason . "—Eo . 1

THE VICAR OF BRIGG AND THE FREEMASONS . By particular request we copy the following from the " Hull and Lincolnshire Times , " June 24 th , 1876 : — To THK EDITOR , DKAR SIR , —The Rev . Mr . Wylie , of Brigg , thought fit to prevent the Freemasons of Lincolnshire assembling for Divine worship in thc Anglican Church in that town .

He considered that , whether right or wrong in their peculiar views , it was undesirable for frail , erring men , as all necessarily must be , to seek thc help and guidance of that Great Being whose special servant Mr . Wylie pro ' esscs to be . Dr . Ace , a beneficed clergyman of the church , has clearly and forcibly expressed his opinion on the subject . Will you kindly allow me , as a layman , to express my

regret at thc course taken by Mr . Wylie ? Knowing something of Mr . Wylie , I am certain he acted conscientiously , and to the best of his ability . The misfortune was that he foolishly came to a hasty decision , studiously avoided any discussion on the subject , and then mistook obstinacy for firmness . As a churchman , I deeply deplore his unfortunate mistake . It is errors like this and the Owston

Ferry case that are doing Ihe Established Church of this country so much harm in the minds of all classes . "The story of my life from year to year'' brings me into close homely contact with lich and and poor , and it is with the deepest concern t hat I see the ill effects that arise from these attempts to dogmatise over everybody else on the

part of well-meaning but weak-minded members of the priesthood . It is much to be regretted that the power of the beneficed clergyman is so absolute , and that there is . no prompt practical appeal to a hi gher authority . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , As- ANGLICAN CHURCHMAN BY 1 BIRTH AND CHOICE .