Mr. Charles Bradlaugh.

stopped to inquire , you would have well known and easily ascertained that it would be simply p hysically impossible for an irregular Masonic Lodo'e to meet in the Boston Masonic . Temple . " jylr . Bradlaugh was some time ago admitted into the Hig h Cross Lodge , Tottenham , and the

Freemason remarks thereupon . — " We must all of us greatly deplore the laxity manifested by that lodge . He is a person of known Atheistical op inions , made in a spurious political lodge , mixed up with revolutionary proclivities , admitted into a respectable English Lodge . . . .

We hope that the members of the High Cross Lodge can give some satisfactory explanation of a most anomalous and unprecedented proceeding . '' Mr . Bradlaugh says— " With your questions to the Tottenham High Cross Lodge I have little or no concern ; but tell me how it is that the

very Grand Lodge of England itself could have issued its solemn certificate , duly signed and countersigned , vouching me to be a regular Freemason , if there is , or could be , any doubt on the matter ? Is the system of issuing Masonic certificates by the Grand Lodge of

England so loose that it may possibly solemnly vouch one who is not a Mason ? For several years I held this certificate ; I returned it of my own motion , but only when a Grand Master was elected to whom I can never pretend to pay Masonic allegiance . " This is a very pretty

quarrel as it stands , among Freemasons , who , we understood , never quarrelled—at least , openly . There are two points in it—one of fact , as to whether Mr . Bradlaugh was or was not made a Mason ; and one of principle , as to whether theological or political belief has anything to do with

the admission of a person to the ranks of Masonry . On the first point , the advantage seems to lie powerfully with Mr . Bradlaughwho , by the way , was a member of the Loge des Philadelphes in the honourable company of Louis Blanc and Garibaldi . As to the second

point , we are not competent to judge . Mr . Bradlaugh states that he was an avowed Atheist before he was made a Mason . If , however , it be true , as the Freemason seems to imply , that a religious [ declaration is required in England in order to become a Mason , and that Freemasonry

takes cognisance of political opinion also , the Pope will be gratified as well as surprised to learn that the Freemasons , like himself , are fighting for religion and established order . As the point has been raised , it is worth while to have it settled . Some persons , though believers

in religion , might object to become Masons through a religious test , and others , who would confer honour on Masonry , would be excluded by that test on the Continent ; and we can hardly see the use of maintaining it in England , for foreign Masons , infidels in religion , coming to reside in

England , would wish to become affiliated members of English lodges , and could not very graciously be refused . If , however , there is now any religious test required by foreign Masonic lodges , then Masonry can hardly be making great progress amongst the educated classes of France

Italy , and North Germany , where unbelief is so common . Perhaps some one well acquainted with English and foreign Masonry will clear up these points—always supposing the dread ' secret ' would not thereby divulged . " The case then thus stands . Mr . Charles

Bradlaugh was originally received in the '' Philadelphes , " as far as we are concerned , an illegal and unmasonic Order , and was received , in 1862 , into the " Perseverante Amitie , " a lodge , Mr . Bradlaugh states , under the French Grand Orient , and through which he received a formal French

certificate , signed by Marshal Magnan , then Grand Master . Thus , according to Mr . Bradlaugh , he had a legitimate French certificate , but weventure to repeat suchacceptance by the French lodge , even though it be regular , by no means condoned the offence of having been professedly

received as an initiate in an unwarranted body , openly disavowed alike by the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Orient of France . Upon this certificate Mr . Bradlaugh presented himself to the High Cross Lodge , and , without entering

> nto questions personal to Mr . Bradlaugh , we think the High Cross Lodge may plead , as a justification , that they received him on a lawful certificate . The High Cross Lodge then apparentl y obtained a certificate from the Grand

Mr. Charles Bradlaugh.

Secretary , on the payment of the usual fee , on the registration of Mr . Bradlaugh as a Master Mason under the English Constitution . It was no part clearly , of the Grand Secretary ' s duty to inquire into Mr . Bradlaugh ' s antecedents . The High Cross Lodge had received him , and were alone

responsible for his admission into our English Order . We originally contended that Mr . Bradlaugh was not a legally made Freemason , and we assert so still . His reception in France by no means did away with his vicious admission , and as far as we are concerned in England , he is an

irregularly made Mason . Mr . Bradlaugh quite misunderstands what we said about the American lodges . We nowhere implied in the sli ghtest degree that we considered them in any way "illegitimate , " but as Mr . Bradlaugh had no English certificate we did not understand how he was

admitted . It appears that he was accepted on his French certificate . That is all very well , as regards the Grand Orient of France , though we do not profess to understand how they can accept as a French Freemason a person originally admitted into-the Philadelphes . That is , however ,

a question for them to settle . For us the rpatter is plain . Mr . Bradlaugh is not a properly made Freemason . We will only add , that " La Perseverante Amitie " is not found on the official list of 1874 , though it may have existed in 1862 . With regard to our contemporary ' s remarks , we

will say this : We have nothing to do with politics , and we require no political test whatever , but we have a right to say , and we do say , according to our well-known " standing order , " that a man is " obliged by his tenets to ohey the moral law , and if he rightly understand the art , he will never be a stupid atheist nor an

irreligious libertine . ' We have nothing to do wilh foreign brethren or foreign notions , but according to our English system , no atheist can be received in our lodges . By this proper rule , if we know anything of English Freemasons , we feel sure that our brethren will sternly and _ unanimously abide .

Vale.

VALE .

Hardly a week passes over our heads but we have to deplore the loss of some well-known brother of our Order . It may be , that the last time we saw him in lodge he seemed as strong and as genial as ever . No one could be more hearty in the cause of Freemasonry , no one could

more contribute to the social happiness of the evening . And yet here is the inevitable obituary and he is not ! He has passed away from home and friends , and kith and kin , from the office he filled so well , from the duties he discharged so faithfully , from the society he graced so much .

And sometimes the pain of the intelligence is augmented by the suddenness of the event . Some unexpected illness , some dreadful accident , some unforseen calamity , hurries away from us all , from time , from friends , from duty , from the lodge , some most worthy confrere , some faithful

and zealous member of many years . At that time memory asserts its power , and it rushes with us on its pinions of magic swiftness , to other days and other scenes , to ancient meetings and good Masonic work . Then we , who are now old , and grey , and gouty , were full of zeal and

energy . Pleasant were our meetings then , " O socii et so dales , " and flourishing was that good old lodge of which we were the indigenous or the affiliated members . And he whom we mourn to-day , perhaps , was then in our very midst , most active with the active , earnest with

his work , and foremost in all Masonic labours . Peace to him . He has passed away from earthly toil , and weakness , and suffering , and imperfection , to that " rest which remaineth , " one day to be admitted , let us hope , by his Grand Master ' s goodness , into that everlasting lodge , where the World ' s Great Architect lives and reigns for

ever . We shall all feel how true , is this simple description of the hebdomadal thoughts of many of us , who see recorded in tho pages of the Freemason the names of old friends and fellow workers , as they pass away from us , from time , and home , and lodge j and though as Masons we fully believe that ,

"We shall watch for the gleam of the flapping sail , We shall hear the boat as it gains the strand ,

Vale.

We shall hail the approach of the boatman pale , To bear us o ' er to the better land , " yet , still human like , and mortal like , we often dsplore that we can no more have , "The touch of a vanished hand ,

And the sound of a voice that ' s still . " In Freemasonry it often happens that we meet " most worthy men and good Masons , not of high social position , not of a great name or greater wealth , yet with them we consort on terms of

Masonic equality in the lodge , and to us Freemasons it matters not whether they be high or humble , rich or poor ; they are our brethren , and warmly do we regret their loss , and sincerely do we respect their memories .

Important.—The Installation.

IMPORTANT . —THE INSTALLATION .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Every member of the Craft will , I am sure , give those on whom devolves the duty of planning the arrangements for the approaching grand ceremony credit for an earnest desire that the future , as well as the past , shall be

an agreeable and a pleasant memory . As a small , but not unimportant element for securing this happy result , let me beg of you to remind the brethren who attend the festival , particularly those from the provinces , to distinguish between the hall and the tavern department of our magnificent building in Great Queen-street . In the hall they will find every convenience for clothing , and for the security

of their property , and an active and zealous body of Tylers to provide for their comfort . After clothing in the hall they may pass leisurely to the banquetting-room of the tavern , and when the business of the evening is over ; they may retire with equal composure and ease to the ' tyled apartment in which they have left their impedimenta , whereas thc tavern must necessarily be bustling and

occupied with its own affairs , and there is always the possibility of confusion . I have known such an occurrence to arise , and I have heard reproaches directed against a presumed want of proper administration . ; But attention to the suggestion I have now made will prevent any repetition of a like inconvenience , and will protect the management from

misunderstanding . I need hardly say that it is the earnest wish of the Grand Stewards that the arrangements of the banquet shall be , in every sense , complete and harmonious . I am , dear Sir and Brother , THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF GRAND STEWARDS .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

( . We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of tlio opinions expressed by our correspondents , but wc wish , In a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain accessary limits—free discussion . —Eu . l

THE INSTALLATION OF THE M . W . G . M . To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I fear from what I can learn as to the uncertainty in the minds of many of the present and past officers of lodges in the provinces ( especially the old Past Masters ) that there will be ( notwithstanding the plain instructions

of Grand Lodge ) great confusion and misapprehension as to the blue collar and pendent jewels necessary to be worn by all members of Grand Lodge . Some brethren too , with provincial or past provincial clothing , will , I fear , appear in that clothing minus the ordinary blue collar and silver jewel of the office in ordinary lodge , by virtue of which alone they are members of the Grand Lodge .

Some old Past Masters who have no blue collar or Past Master ' s pendent and silver jewel of their own , will , I expect appear in their old Past Master ' s apron only . Again , several old lodges in the provinces have very old jewels , and not according to the present regulations of Grand Lodge . I lence , if the stewards are strict , many of the brethren

will not be admitted to the ceremony of the aSth , and would thus lose their journey to London . To obviate so dire a disaster to any of our more obtuse brethren they should be enabled to purchase collars and jewels on the spot { i . e . at the Albert Hall ) . This could be done by your establishing for the morning , a sort of stalls in the vestibules , cither for the sale of collars and pendent

silver jewels , or the loan of them . If the latter , the borrower to deposit with you a sum of money sufficient to guarantee the safe return of the borrowed articles . The pendent silver jewels will be simply the four regulation ones , viz ., W . M ., P . M ., S . W ., and J . W . Apologising for thus troubling you , I am , dear Sir and Brother , RICHARD H . HOLMES , P . G . S ., Northumberland .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Some of us poor benighted " provincials " are still somewhat puzzled as to how we should " appear " on the 28 th . lam a Past G . Reg . of a province , and W . M .

of a lodge—what clothing must I wear ? I enclose my card . Yours fraternally , ' BETA . [ Our good brother really should read the official directions and regulations—and not put them into the wast « paper basket—ED . ]