Original Correspondence.

are so considered virtually during the ceremony , and Master Masons , when being made Mark Masters . I have never seen , neither do I know , of any record which proves the Mark Man was in early days conferred on any but Fellow Crafts , and we know that the Mark Master ' s Degree was not communicated to any below the Third

Degree . We see , then , how the Mark Degree is called a portion of the Second Degree , whereas it means but the Mark Man , ami never the Mark Master . Here is our hand , Bro . Hill , with our best wishes . Fraternally yours , WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . Truro , 16 th Jan ., 1 S 73 .

SCOTTISH MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To the Editor if the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have read Bro . Harriott ' s letter on the above subject with interest , and fully sympathise with his remarks . I think it very strange that while in Scotland the work of our lodges is wrought , with a . few

exceptions , as efficiently as in any of our sister countries , and while we are as enthusiastic as any about thc beauty and sublimity of our principles , that yet our practice is so very different . We may shut our eyes to thc fact as we like , but Scottish Masons and Scotch Masonry occupy a most unenviable position at thc present moment . Neither in our own actions , nor in our works of charity do we practice

what we preach , and thus we give the neutral world far too much ground to point at us the finger of scorn , and to libel us with a name I should not like to see even printed of us in an English magazine . There is something radically wrong in Scotland , and I fear that Bro . Harriott's scheme , however estimable , and however praiseworthy , is but lopping off the uttermost branches of the evil . We must have

something to strike at the root . Masonry in Scotland is far too cheap , and the customs of Masonry in Scotland are far too convivial ( not to use a stronger term ) . Having stated these facts , a moment ' s thought will show that we have amongst us many who should never have been Masons , and we actually put beyond our pale the very men who already possess all the

natural qualifications for becoming good Masons in every sense of the word . These men will not join us . They judge us by our works . So long as Masonry in Scotland occupies its present position , any popular charitable scheme will convert our Ioilj-es into benefit societies , and anyone having the necessary fee , will join us for the benefits they may derive , as they would the Oddfellows , or any other kindred society . The

status of Masonry must be raised , and this thc Grand Lodge need not find so difficult a task . We have no need of new laws , we only want those we have stringently carried out . I do not wish to go into details , these arc well enough known here , but there is work for earnest men , and I fear thc ground requires some tilling before the seeds of charity will spring up as they ought to do . I am , Fraternally Yours , J .

BRO . BINCKES . To the Editor if the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — When I penned my very mild " expostulation " with the manner of your remarks on myself in your recent article on Grand Lodge , 1 little imagined 1 was risking the painful prominence to which you have elevated mc in your last issue .

I feel disposed to ask space for a few words in reply , though , recognizing thc enormous advantage enjoyed by the occupant of the editorial chair , I almost question the policy , or the utility of doing so , especially when I have , as in the present instance , to combat views so authoritatively expounded as those in your article referred to . 'lhere are others , besides members of the

Roman ^ Church , who support the dogma of ' * infallibility , " with whom argument is lost , and whom it is perfectly hopeless to attempt to convince ; and some of these I have unfortunately met with In Freemasonry . They are cf those who hold that there is a charmed circle , within which everything is proper , fitting , and orthodox , outside of which there is little or nothing worthy of attention or

regard . 1 hey are fond of maintaining that for a man to fill a given position which , hy thc many , is regarded as useful and honourable , is , m ipso , a bar to that preferment which it is the laudable ambition of everyone to attain to . They maintain that in the public discussion of questions in which certain men must , of necessity , be deeply interested , and in the details connected with which they have a large

practical experience , those men ought to observe perfect silence , and to abstain from statements ot facts which might be the means of guiding the judgment , and determining the votes , of those who have to give a decision . They refuse to see the difference between a fervid , sentimental appeal on behalf of one particular cause as contrasted with another , and thc <| uiet exposition of

circumstances which affect a genera ! cause 111 which all are interested . In some assemblies the first is justifiable and often necessary , in others thc second is always desirable . But to leave generalities , let me address myself to one or two points in your article—for to follow you through all would be impossible—consistently with a rcgartl to your space , your readers' patience , and my own time . 1 . I

never attempted to controvert the proposition " that in such a discussion the brethren and the Grantl Lodge are perfectly competent to decide such an important question on an independent report like that of Bro . Clabon ' s . " 1 recognize Bro . Clabon ' s generous desire to place at thc disposal of our Educational Institutions just those means they so

much feel the want of—the funds out of which provision may be made for promoting the career ot Boys and Girls after they have left the Schools . I know the great differences of opinion with reference to the modus operandi suggested by Bro . Clabon , and in the Grand Lodge I was anxious simply to move a reference of the entire question as to how these funds might legitimately be provided , or sonic more

Original Correspondence.

exieuled suppcrt given to the Schools by the Grand Lodge , and to quote a few fac s an . l figures in submitting my motion , leaving the Grantl Lodge , of course , to arrive at a conclusion . 2 . Yon ask " Will it be in the interests of tlie Charities to accept a grant from the Grand Lodge ?" Surety this question is propounded in ignorance that all our Institutions do receive a grant from the Grand Lodge .

The principle of the grant is therefore conceded , and on what grounds can it be contended that it is out of place to tliscuss the amount of such grant , and the source from which it shall be made , or for those who are responsible in the main for the production of thc funds requisite for the efficient maintenance of our charities to assist in such discussion by placing the members of Grand Lodge in

possession of thc fullest information in their power ? 3 . Begging pardon for presuming so far , I did , and do , perceive that your " objection was not to Bro . Binckes qua Bro . Binckes , but to Bro . Secretary Binckes , " and here is the gist of the whole matter ; had I not held the office I have thc honour to fill , my attempt to adtlress Grand Lodge would have probably passed unnoticed , but the

unsuccessful attempt made by I he Secretary " was too good a peg on which to hang a homily to be left unused , anil so we have been favoured with your lucubrations on " the proper discharge of the duties of the " Secretariat . " To the conclusions you arrive at , I still unhesitatingly demur , antl in my demurrer I am not without confidence in being joined by a " very large number of brethren , alike Metropolitan and Provincial . "

But the subject grows , anil I am warned that I have already exceeded the limits I prescribed fen * myself . At another time , anil iu another place , more may be said or written on a question with regard to which we are at variance . Let mc assure you that you have not in auy way " disturbed my wonted equanimity , " and that t hope ,

with yourself , however freely or unreservedly I may express my views and opinions in your columns , or elsewhere , I may not allow myself to be betrayed into personalities , which injure a good case , antl irretrievably condemn a weak one . I am , Sir antl Brother , yours fraternally , Fiii'DEiiicK BINCKES .

London , 12 th January , 1873 .

THE UNITED ORDERS . To the Editor if the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have learned from an unofficial source that the body calling itself " Thc Order of the Temple anil the Order of St . John of Jerusalem " has taken the trouble to expel me from it . I think that it would have shown more

wisdom if it had been careful to previously ascertain whether it hail jurisdiction in my case , and more fairness if it had heard both sides . I am well aware of the personal animosity against me of two or three members of the " Council of the Great Prior . " Since , however , fairplay does not apparently enter into the composition of this modem chivalry , it only remains for me to appeal to the

Freemason for a hearing . I state then , without a doubt , that this " Order of the Temple and Order of St . John of Jerusalem , " as it calls itself , is not a Masonic body . Amongst my reasons for such belief are the following : — ist . Its Names . —The Order of the Temple teas not a Masonic body . The Order of St . John of Jerusalem is not

a Masonic body . The Order of the Temple was utterly destroyed some 500 years ago . The Order of St . John of Jerusalem exists still in several parts of Europe , but it has given no authority whatever to the United Orders to usurp its name or jurisdiction . It is clear , then , that if the new body is properly called , it is not Masonic—and that if it is wrongly called , the sooner it ceases to sail under false

colours the more respectable it will be * . 2 nd . Its Composition and Organisation . —( Great Crosses , Priors , Arch-Chancellors , Preceptors , Priories , Preceptories , Convents-General , Aides-de-camp . )—It is hardly necessary to remind Masons that none of these are Masonic titles . What then are they ? simply a jumble of media-vat and modern , chivalric and conventual , monastic and military .

Their being hazily connected in a iiie * ani , l could understand ; but their being in one system , anil solemnly played at as such by a number of men who have arrived at years of discretion , is beyond my comprehension . Such a jumble requires one to " make believe very much " indeed . Now the system of tlie Masonic hotly known as "the Masonic Order of the Temple , " a respectable hotly , pretending to be just what it

was , anil no more , was , at the time of its fall , two years igo , a throughly Masonic system—a system uiitlcr which one or two men in London could not , as is the case in "the Order of thc Temple" so called , either use the other members , with or against their wills , as mere puppets , or crush a single member who dared , as 1 dare , to form my own opinion and stick to it .

3 rd . Its Acts . —The act which called the Order of the Temple and the Order of St . John of Jerusalem ( as it calls itself ) into existence two years ago , was the destruction of the Masonic Order of the Temple . How this was managed I need not here repeat . All Masons who know the facts arc no doubt sufficiently ashamed of the transactions of that time . What has it done since it burst upon the

astonished view of sensible men of the world , of students of history , of Masons ? Where is it in our Masonicchaiities ? Nowhere . What has it done ? Nothing , but display a pitiable ignorance as to matters connected with tbe real Orders of the Temple , anil of St . John of Jerusalem . Nothing , but dress itself up in white mantles and " make believe very much . " Atruly useful hotly , and comparing well

indeed with the Masonic bodies ! 4 th ( and for the present last , though not least ) . —The opinion of one of its high officials , which in a letter addressed to me , describes this " Order" as being not Masonic , but " only with a Masonic qualification , " and also as being " spurious , and ad imitationem . " Now , as a Mason , I deny the power , and thc right to

Original Correspondence.

assume such power , of any body , not being a Masonic body , to interfere with Masons in Masonic affairs , and f unhesitatingly assert that my Masonic obligation as a Masonic Templar cannot impose upon mc allegiance , as such , to any hotly which is not Masonic ; certainly not to one which did not exist at thc time of my taking such obligation ; and although the body to which I took allegiance is , for the

moment , powerless , no person has po wer to absolve me from allegiance to it so long as I choose to hold to that a'Lgiance . Whentherefore the self-made "Knights" summoned me to appear on the 26 th Nov . last , before their council ( not a Masonic body ) in order to make before others officially , explanations regarding a matter in which Masonic obligations was concerned , I treated their summons , as they

might have expected , with the contemptuous silence due to an impertinence . The " brotherhood of gentlemen " seems to have lost its temper at this natural result of its arrogance , and it commenced a correspondence , of which , however , it left me to pay the postage . As a further natural consequence of its own conduct , I declined to open its letters . As a punishment upon me for natural results of its own

conduct , this body of " Knights , " ( neither Masonic nor unmasonic ) , has held me up to execration . What was said at the meeting which expelled me , I don't know . When or where the meeting took place even , I don ' t know . But it is a itcw thing to me , as an Englishman , to be condemned , not only unheard , but also in my absence , antl it unquestionably reflects more itiscreelit upon the contlemuers

than upon the condemned . I cannot believe that any body cm last long when conducted on such unfair , one-sided principles as these . When the Masonic Order of the Temple springs once more into life , as I hope and trust that sooner or later it will do , I am ready to come before it as a Masonic body , if asked to do so , and to go thoroughly into any matter

concerning my obligation to it up to the time of my ceasing to be a member of it . In the meantime , as a student cif history , a lover of truth , a loyal subject , a Mason , and faithful to my duty as a Masonic Templar , I shall continue to regard thc substitute order as a " spurious anil at ! imitationem " hotly , recognized as " Knights" only by themselves , made " Knights " only by each other , possessing no authority in Masonic matters , and having no feeling in

common with the grand principles of freemasonry . 1 trust that in fair play to me , condemned unheard ami in my absence by the so-called " Order of the Temple and Order of St . John of Jerusalem , " you will permit me , through the medium of the Freemason , to place these , my views , before the large body of my brother Masons , whose good opinion I feel that I do not lose by suffering oppression and persecution at tlie hands of these very modern " Knights " on account of my old-fashioned fidelity to

Freemasonry . I am , faithfully yours , CHAS . J . BURGESS . P . S . —I may add that I have appealed to the Judicial Council under thc Tripartite Treaty , whose authority , I understand , "the Order of thc Temple" acknowledges ,

hut that up to this date ( 20 th Jan . ) , I am not aware of the Council having been summoned . I presume , therefore , that thc other parties to the treaty consider ( as indeed they may justly tlo ) that the treaty ceased to he in force on the disappearance of one of the parties to it , the Masonic Order of the Temple .

The Annual Grand Masonic Ball In Liverpool.

THE ANNUAL GRAND MASONIC BALL IN LIVERPOOL .

The afjth annual ball of the Masonic body in and around Liverpool , which took place at the Town Hall , Liverpool , on the 12 th inst ., again proved the most brilliant , by far the most enjoyable , and certainly thc best couelucted of the season ; anil every one of those present heartily endorsed

this opinion . As in previous years , the assembly of the brethren ot thc Mystic Tie for 1875 , was in aid of the funds of the West Lancashire Masonic Kilucation . il Institution , which , thanks to the cordial support given to it for many years hy the West Lancashire brethren , occupies a position scarcely second to any in the kingdom . In thus giving assistance to an institution which has done a noble work since ils

foundation , the Masonic hotly in this section of the province lias not only done credit to their position , but set an example which might well be followed in other provinces throughout the United Kingdom , and over all the world . The prosperity of the charily is clearly shown by the fact that there is now an invested capital of nearly £ 12 , 000 , and this sum i . s sure to be increased as years go on . There

are now 70 children on the foundation of the institution , and this number is not only likely soon to be increased , bul the committee of ways antl means feel that they are warranted in seeking to widen the benefits of the institution to those who are now actually receiving education from its funds .

With a brilliant gathering like that of Tuesday evening , and with a charity , the nobility of which commended itself to every one , the committee were perfectly right in trying to secure a distinguished patronage . And this they did , as the following list will show that the most illustrious names in Masonic circles lent the countenance of their

names to the gathering : — LADY PATHONESSES . —Right Hon . the Countess Bective , Right Hon . Lady Skelmersdale , Mrs . Gilbert Greeuall , Walton Hall ; Lady Constance Stanley , Mrs . Bousfield . PATRONS . —His Worship thc Mayor of Liverpool ; Bros . Right Hon . Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . M . England , R . W . Prov . G . M . West Lancashire ; Major Starkie , R . W . Prov .

G . M . East Lancashire , P . G . W . England , P . G . S . W . of West Lancashire ; Gilbert Greeuall , Esq ., M . P ., P . S . G . W ., England , and P . S . W . e > f West I-ancashire ; Right lion . Lord De Tabley , R . W . Prov . G . M . Cheshire-, Major G . C . Legh , Esq ., M . P ., W . D . Prov . G . M . Cheshire ; I lon . F . A . Stanley , W . D . Prov . G . M . West Lancashire ; Earl Bective , U . W . Prov . G . M . Cumberland antl Westmoreland ; W . R . Callender , Esq ., M . P ., W . D . Prov . G . M . East Lancashire ;