Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar.

COSMOPOLITAN MASONIC CALENDAR .

"W . Masters and Secretaries are earnestly requested to forward to the publisher , at the Offices , 198 , Fleet-street , E . G ., particulars of the place , days , and months of meeting of their respective lodges , chapters , and other Masonic bodies , for insertion in the issue of the Calendar for 1877 .

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IMPORTANT NOTICE .

COLONIAL and FORBIGN SUBSCRIBERS are informed that acknowledgments of remittances received are published in the first number of every month .

It is very necessary for our readers to advise ns of all money orders they remit , more especially those from the United States of America and India j otherwise we cannot tell where to credit them .

NEW POSTAL RATES . Owing to a reduction in the Postal Rates , the publisher is now enabled to send the " Freemason " to the following parts abroad for One Year for Twelve Shillings ( payable in

advance ) : —Africa , Australia , Bombay , Canada , Cape of Good Hope , Ceylon , China , Constantinople , Demerara , France , Germany , Gibraltar , Jamaica , Malta , Newfoundland , New South Wales , New Zealand , Suez , Trinidad , United States of America . & c .

To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

The Freemason is a sixteen-page weekly newspaper , price 2 d . It is published every Friday morning , and contains the most important , interesting , and useful information relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Annual subscription in the United Kingdom , Post free , 10 / - P . O . O . ' s to be made payable at the chief office , London .

To Advertisers.

TO ADVERTISERS .

The Freemason has a large circulation in all parts of the Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can . therefore scarcely be overrated . For terms , position , & c , apply to GBORGB KENNING , 198 , Fleet-st .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

All Communications , Advertisements , & c , intended for insertion in the Number of the following Saturday , must reach the Office not later man 12 o ' clock on Wednesday morning . We do not undertake to return rejected communications . Will Bro . C . Van Dalen , of Beilin , kindly forward his address to the Editor .

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

[ The charge is 25 . 6 d for announcements , not exceeding four lines , under this heading . ]

BIRTHS . ASHTON . —On the 17 th inst ., at 142 , Hemingford-road , Barnsbury Park , N ., the wife of Robert Ashton , of a son . BINNEY . —On the 16 th inst ., at Hamilton-road , the wife of J . R . Binney , Esq ., of a son . FRY . —On the 18 th inst ., at Woodburn , Darlington , the wife of T . Fry . Esq .. of a daughter .

GRANT . —On the 16 th inst ., at the Hall , Headcorn , Kent , the wife of J . H . Grant , Esq ., of a son . HARRIS . —On the 17 th inst ., at Long Parish House , Hants , the wife of H . Harris , of twin daughters . SAMPSON . —On the 15 th inst ., at Blenheim-crescent , Kensington Park , the wife of R . Sampson , of a son . SMITH . —On the 18 th inst ., at Avenue-road , Regent's Park , the wife of C . Smith , Esq ., jun ., of a son .

MARRIAGES . BROOPEN—RUDOARD . —On the 1 Sth inst ., at Holy Trinity , Bridlington Quay , Thomas Skilbeck , son of the late K . Brogden , of Tockwith , near York , Esq ., to Margaret , widow of the late , ] . R . Rudgard , Esq . Donn— -ANDERSON . —On the irjth ult ., at the Cathedral , Bombay , Charles A . Dodd , Captain Bengal Staff Corps , to Marsraretta , daughter of A . Anderson . Eso ..

M . D ., C . B . DRAY—COOK . —On the 19 th inst ., at the parish church , Eynesford , by the Rev . Wm . Brewer , Thomas , second son of William Dray , Esq ., of Farningham , Kent , to Amy , youngest daughter of Samuel Cook , Esq ., of The Priory , Eynesford , Kent .

DEATHS . ALOIS . —On the 30 th ult ., at Isleworth , Emily Arabella Brome , widow of C . J . B . Aldis , Esq . AVELING . —On the 2 nd inst ., at St . Catharine's , Canada , in his 31 st year , William Arthur , third son of the Rev . Dr . Aveling .

LAMD . —On the 17 th inst ., at Baddow-road , Chelmsford , Stephana Lamb , aged Co . LAMBTON . —On the 16 th inst ., at Linsdowne-place , Brighton , Hedworth Lambton , Esq ., aged 70 . MAITLAND . —On the 14 th inst ., at Mount Wise , Devonport , Frances Lome Mary , wife of Major J . H . Maitland , R . E .

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The Freemason , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 2 , 3 , 1876 .

A Modern Lady Freemason.

A MODERN LADY FREEMASON .

A curious case has occurred in Hungary , where a Countess Hiidick has been received as a Freemason in an Hungarian Lodge , under the Grand Orient of Hungary . She is described as " a highly educated lady , and well versed in Masonic literature " especially . Having studied

Masonic history and ritualism , " she applied for initiation ; " we are further told she was "balloted for and regularly initiated . " On the fact coming to the knowledge of the Grand Orient of Hungary it " declared the initiation null and void ' on the ground that a woman was " incapable of

being a Freemason . " So the case stands at present ; but a question has arisen , whether , as she has been actually initiated , she can be refused admission into a Freemasons' Lodge . When we consider the case carefully , two main points present themselves , namely , the

theoretical and the practical side of the question . Theoretically , we apprehend the act of the lodge and of the members was ipso facto illegal , no woman being capable of admission properly , and the rules and laws of Freemasonry only contemplating and dealing with men . But a question comes in here , almost necessarily—has the

G . Orient of Hungary taken altogether the right view of the case , and dealt with it entirel y "jure latomico" ? Much of course must depend on the laws ofthe Grand Orient itself , but we are inclined to think that a doubt may fairly arise as to the actual power of the Grand Orient to declare the initiation " null and void . " It is one

thing to condemn a W . M . and a lodge for an act of illegality per se , it is quite another thing , to declare an act , even if illegally committed , " null and void . " And especially is this the case as regards an initiation . * " Once a Mason always a Mason " is an old Masonic adage , and

we confess that we do not exactly understand how the countess ' s initiation , performed in open lodge , can be declared "null and void , " or how having been formally , ( if illegally ) , made a Mason , she can be unmade by any "ex post facto " decision . The Grand Orient of Hungary

could , we apprehend , order the initiation to be repeated , but can it declare it "null and void . " In England we sometimes repeat ceremonies on account of informalities , or technical defects , but we are not aware of any decision declaring an initiation and the like " null

and void " on any ground . In fact , we do not see how that can be said or done , ft is competent for the Grand Lodge to refuse a certificate on the ground of an improper reception , without which Countess Hiidick could not gain admission into a regular lodge , but she then continues

a " Mason unattached . " The whole blame , of course , lies on the W . M . and the lodge , as they must have known that they were acting in defiance of the unchanging Masonic law on the subject . No one could , we feel strongly , have found fault with any decision which the Grand

Orient of Hungary could have come to , as to the actual wrongdoing of the Master and brethren of the offending lodge . But there come in here further and wider questions . Is Countess Hiidick , by the decision of the Grand Orient , precluded from all Masonic membership with any lodge ?

Is ihe original wrong of this admission so great that nothing can repair it ? Does the sentence of the Grand Orient of Hungary so annul Countess Hadick ' s initiation , that she must still be considered as a profane ? On the strict letter of the law she was inadmissible for

initiation , but having been duly ( though impropeily ) initiated , what then ? Our readers will see what a nice point of Masonic jurisprudence crops up . Now , we venture to say , looking at the matter fairly , broadly , and liberally , that we are inclined to think the best course for the Grand Orient

of Hungary will be to make an exceptional case of it , to recognise the "fait accompli , " though with the distinct declaration that the act , being absolutel y illegal per se , would entail exemplary punishment on any lodge and Master so offending again , and , if need be , to enact a special law on the subject . Such a course of proceeding

A Modern Lady Freemason.

would be better , we think , than the declaration that the act is " null and void " per se , as in that case much may be advanced by Masonic casuists we apprehend , which may give rise to many and somewhat difficult questions . At the same time

this initiation of a lad y is a curious fact in itself , at the present time , aud deserves to be brought before the knowledge and attention of our many intelligent readers , and we shall be glad to hear the opinions of any of our brethren on the subject .

The Reaction.

THE REACTION .

We have been from the very first persuaded that the follies of the Ultramontanists would react upon themselves , and that they would eventuall y be condemned and disavowed by the sober-minded members of the Roman Catholic Church . This view of ours is very much

confirmed by a paragraph contained in the "Times " of Saturday last , and which is to this effect under the head of " Malta : "" Among the British residents , and especially among the military and youth of Malta , unabated indignation continues to prevail against the Roman Catholic Bishop

for excommunicating the Maltese journal " Fenice " for upholding Freemasonry . "' Surel y the excommunication of a newspaper for simply being friendly to Freemasonry is a very " strong order" indeed . We beg at once , in the name of our brotherhood , to tender to the publisher and

editor of the " Fenice " our sincere sympathy against this latest exhibition of Ultramontane folly . Some of our readers may remember how in olden days , another Roman Catholic Archbishop of Malta distinguished himself by one of the most intolerant missives ever penned

by mortal man , and how he drew down" upon himself the eloquent and indignant remarks of our good old Bro . Dr . Oliver . But that is a thing of other'days and certainly not worth reading now , except as a literary curiosity contained in that great museum and collection

ot human absurdity and rancour—the Past . Lhat in 1876 another Roman Catholic Archbishop should repeat the old stage trick and surround it with the rockets and red lights of Ultramontanic violence is not surprising , though very saddening . As we have often asked before , will not

Roman Catholics themselves try to put a stop to and stamp out this bitter and ruthless intolerance , worthy of the darkest days and the foulest crimes of the Inquisition ? What the Roman Curia can hope for by the countenance and continuance of this system of persecution

we cannot profess to understand or even to imagine . This fury of Ultramontanism , this unwise and perverse alarm , this unceasing illiberalism , and this monstrous parody on every profession of a reli gion of peace and love and reconciliation , is , we have every reason

to believe , not only looked upon with great distrust and disapproval by a large section of the Roman Catholic clergy and laity , but is also , we feel persuaded , most adverse to the relig ious claims , and most detrimental to the spiritual character of the Church of Rome itself . A great

deal of the hostility which the Romish Church conjures up against itself , is directed not against the Romish Church so much , qua the Romish Church , as against its absurd pretensions , and its unreasonable hostility , both to the peace and progress , the liberty , and the conscience of mankind !

The Boys' School.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

At this time of the year we think it well to call the attention of our readers to some educational tests which the Boys' School has passed through during the twelve months which ha *>' elapsed since Dr . Morris ' s accession to power , and which re . 1 ? " * t equal credit on . Ine teachers and the taught . We cor ^ ' . ' ululate Dr . Morris

on this undeniable proof ol careful teaching ¦«»•* scholastic progress . We are anxious to do so , as many erroneous statements have ^ been circulated on the subject , and so much party feeung has been improperly thrown into all the questions ofthe Boys' School management , that we deem >' only fair to those who seek efficiently to conduc ' this most important institution to state w "