Masonic Egotism.

since Freemasonry has bound us all with its golden links of love Divine , and has knitted us close , amid every contingency of earthly life , to our brethren of the light throughout the world .

Coloured Lodges In The United States.

COLOURED LODGES IN THE UNITED STATES .

Some good and worthy brethren of ours in America seem to think that we have somewhere pronounced a decided opinion in respect of this confessedly difficult question . But we have not done so . We have carefully avoided from our editorial " cathedra , " laying down the Jaw on

the subject , good , bad , or indifferent . The subject has been , we believe , touched upon , and a distinct opinion has been expressed there anent , by some writers and bodies in Germany ; but in England , so far , we have said nothing , and certainly not in the " Freemason , " on the grave points at issue .

We have , indeed , as all Englishmen naturally would , welcomed all coloured Freemasons who were received as bona-fide freemen , as we do not think that there is any distinction of colour in Freemasonry . But with respect to the position taken up by coloured Freemasons in the United

States—as we note , they say because they cannot obtain admittance into white lodges—we have never advanced any views of our own , for this reason , that they are , owing to the peculiar question of " colour , " somewhat hazy on the subject . The position of the coloured Freemasons is , we

understand on unimpeachable authority , this . " There is no doubt that the Prince Hall Lodge was lawfully warranted , but owing to failure to meet for a number of years and making returns , and paying the dues to Grand Lodge , it certainly ceased to exist , and became , to all intents and

purposes , a dead lodge "—as the lawyers say , a " caput mortuum "—inthebody of Masonry . " It was not possible therefore for a number of the members of this defunct lodge , years afterwards , to reorganize , without any authority whatever , and assumethemselves the powers of a Grand Lodge ,

and grant warrants to institute new lodges and form Grand Lodges . " In the State of Pennsylvania it appears that there are two rival Grand Lodges . On this statement of facts , it is quite clear to us , that any lodges meeting under a warrant from the defunct Prince Hall Lodge are

irregular lodges , according to the unfailing laws of Freemasonry , as not only are they acting " ultra vires , " but the inception of their proceedings being radically wrong and illegal , all their subsequent acts are vitiated by their original wrongdoing . Their old warrant only gave them power

to initiate , pass and raise profanes , and affiliate brother Masons ; but it could not grant to them , and did not grant to them , the power to offer a delegated authority to others to do these special Masonic acts . The warrant being dormant could only be revived properly through the action of

the Grand Lodge , tlie original grantor , and the grantee could not , without rehabilitating itself with Grand Lodge , by payment of overdue fees , & c ., come into Masonic life again at all . Under these circumstances , notwithstanding the

expressed views of some brethren in Germany and elsewhere , we have no doubt then , that , as the Spanish say , " to speak Masonically , " the Prince Hall Lodge was an irregular and clandestine gathering of Masons , and had neither , legally , Masonic status or Masonic authority . All Masons

made under its warrants are not and cannot be considered as" true and lawful Freemasons , " or admitted " in a lodge just , perfect , and regular . " But here comes in a grave question . Admitted , as we do admit most fully , that the regular Grand Lodges have all Masonic law and equity

on their side , there are a large number of coloured Freemasons in the United States . What are you to do with them ? There is no doubt the course ° f non-recognition , except upon submission , but we fear the controversy now is too embittered for that . There is an axiom very common ° f old , which often applies practically to this and

other like cases to-day , " fieri non debet factum valet . " For let us look at the whole matter fairly and fully . Are the legular white Grand Lodges and regular private lodges ever likely to welcome •he coloured Masons under any circumstances ? . " - ^ ey are , then there is not and cannot be the sll ghtest excuse for the proceedings of the

Coloured Lodges In The United States.

coloured Masons . But if not , what are the coloured Masons to do ? We do not see any abstract objection to coloured Masons meeting as such , supposing they can obtain legal warrants , as we are inclined to think that such an arrangement would be best for both sides . The only

end of the controversy , as it appears to us , or escape from the dilemma , is for the coloured lodges to apply for warrants to the lawful Grand Lodges , and then , if they like , to form State coloured Grand Lodges of their own ; these lodges meeting driginally on regular warrants granted by the proper authorities . As it is , we are entirely

with the Grand Lodges of the various American States , as we feel bound to say that the position of the coloured lodges in America , which hold warrants from self-constituted bodies , is neither in accordance with well-known Masonic law , nor can it be defended , except senti maritally , on anygrounds of true Freemasonry .

Another Masonic Persecution.

ANOTHER MASONIC PERSECUTION .

Bro ^ Caubet gives in the "Monde Maconnique " for September-October a short statement to the effect that 14 Freemasons at Porto Rico have been condemned to imprisonment , simply because they were Freemasons , members of the Masonic family . Three of these unfortunate

brethren have been sentenced to four years' im - prisonment , eleven to two years of the same penalty . Bro . Caubet adds , " We shall publish the text of the judgment in our next , " which we shall also duly place before our readers . If the fact be a fact , can nothing be done for them ?

Dwellings For Artizans.

DWELLINGS FOR ARTIZANS .

One of the most beneficial , and practically useful of the many wise measures passed during the last session of Parliament was "The Artizans ' and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement Bill . " The state of the cottages and humble dwellings of our wealthy land , „ despite some notable

exceptions here and there , notwithstanding , the praiseworthy efforts of some benevolent landlords in special localities , has long been a disgrace to us as a civilized people . And no legislative enactment could therefore be more beneficial in its scope or operation , or could be to all patriotic

citizens of our favoured country , a subject of more heartfelt support and rejoicing , than a good bill for the improvement of the liomes of our labouring people ! It is , no doubt , a subject in itself surrounded with some difficulties , owing to the grave complication of vested interests ,

and the serious question of expense , but yet , as no course of parliamentary interference is more needed , so none will be in the long run more acceptable to the toiling classes of our great and busy community . We are , therefore , glad to note by the reports of the proceedings of thc

Metropolitan Board of Works , that that important and active body is directing its attention to the practical carrying out of the art . In the "Times" of Tuesday , October 6 th , we find these remarks , and which we read , as we think our readers will read them , with equal gratification

and approval . "From the report of the last meetof the Metropolitan Board of Works it appears that body has received already several requests for the exercise of the new powers the recent act has conferred . The first application made to them was about a block of buildings in the

neighbourhood of a main thoroughfare of Holborn , and immediately to the east of Gray ' s-inn-road . This region the Medical Officer ofthe Holborn District Board has pronounced to be so unhealthy and unfit for human residence as to be a proper subject for the remedial intervention of the Board

of Works . We cannot be surprised that the Board has accepted the task thus primarily assigned to thero . Those who are acquainted with the spot in question will be aware that it is one of the very worst in all London , and that as regards a great part of it we should do wisely to

get rid of it on almost any terms , and 10 put up something better in its place , if no lighter remedy can be devised for the evils of its present state . The scheme which the consulting officials of the Board of Works have recommended fits in very happily other Metropolitan improvements . Some open spaces of ground will be secured in a

Dwellings For Artizans.

crowded region which much needs them . Gray ' sinn-road will be widened , and streets and thoroughfares of a proper breadth and construction will be carried all through the parts in question , and will , we may hope , differ from the blind courts and alleys which exist there at

present in being accessible with safety to the police . The total extent of ground over which the improvements are to extend is about 10 J acres , and the cost to the Board of dealing with it will be somewhat over ^ 200 , 000 , of which rather more than half may be looked upon simply

as invested . The yearly loss on the remainder will amount to £ 3466 , which will have to be provided from the rates . By this outlay a proper site •will have been secured for buildings which it is hoped some one or other of the existing societies will erect , and the ground will be

handed over to them on terms which will permit of the further expenditure being remunerative . The attention of the Board has also been already drawn to a locality in Whitechapel , for which the requisite plans or recommendations are in course of being prepared , but are not yet

ready . We are told , too , that various other Metropolitan districts will yet remain to be somewhat similarly dealt with by the Board of Works . Some of these have been brought before their notice by the Resident Medical Officers , while with regard to others the Board

knows only that a communication is certainly to be expected . There is thus no prospect that the labours of the Board in this direction will be soon or easily concluded . Rather the work to be done will be necessarily both long and costly . The arrears are very great , and the present

generation must be prepared to pay heavily for the neglect of its more careless predecessors . " In all this we fully agree , but we cannot concur with the following remarks of the " Times : "" We could wish there was any reason to think that the improvements contemplated in Holborn

and elsewhere would be acceptable to the class for whose benefit they are intended . " 'Tis true that the "Times " describes the Holborn population as a migratory one , but we venture to express our opinion , based on long study and some acquaintance with the subject , that no

greater calumny can be devised or spread as regards the working classes , than to suppose that they are indifferent to , or opposed to the amelioration of such patent evils . The truth is that many of them are so accustomed to signs of squalor , and evidences of filth , so many live and

die in crazy tenements , and in reeking alleys , and foul cellars , that they grow dull and apathetic on the subject , and actually prefer in their shortsightedness " quieta non movere . " There also may be a class here , as elsewhere , that " classe dangereuse" of all great cities , too well known to

the police , and which feels ever the deepest interest in the pockets and properties of their neighbours , which naturally objects to light , cleanliness and respectability . But there is implanted in the artizans , as in every class of England , a love of home , and home

work , and home happiness . We never could see why working men should not , if you give them good air , good houses , and bits of garden or allotments , be as happy , and contented , and satisfied as those whom-they call their "betters . " They have an intense love of flowers , for instance some

of the most industrious and persevering of botanists are to be found notably among the working classes of Lancashire and Yorkshire ; they have a great appreciation of home , enduring attachment for their wives and children , for the most part they are thrifty and saving , despite all

irrational charges to the contrary , and that they long for often a comfortable house they can call their own , no longer surrounded by dens of vice and dirt , is , we feel sure , incontestable . No improvement can , then , be more desirable on every ground , social , moral , or religious , than that of

the dwellings of our artizan brethren . We have sighed to see in a room , 10 by 10 , the grandmother , a married son and daughter , two unmarried daughters , and two lads , to say nothing of a baby , all using this one room as a sleeping

apartment . In vain we remember saying years ago when our eyes beheld actually what our pen has now described , " in vain are the teachings of school , and the lesson of decency and morality , their normal life , by no fault of their own , is