"The Religion Of Freemasonry,"*

actual and obligatory foundations of the Society , the continuity and identity 0 f the Institution cannot be permanently and uniformly preserved . Bro . Whymper evidently favours separate Jewish , Parsee , Hindoo , and jYlahommedan Lodges , but would such a plan really meet his objections to the present regime ? He emphatically states that " It is impossible for any man , no matter what his former religion may have been , to become a Fellow-Craft Mason in English Masonry and refuse to accept both the Old

and the New Testaments . " How , then , would those distinctive combinations provide for such a contingency ? If we cannot do with these religionists in our Lodges , I do not see how we can do without them—i . e ., in separate Lodges . We meet on the Level or not at all , and therefore , if we cannot as votaries of various Faiths become members together in Lodge , and thus illustrate the " Brotherhood of Man , " better far to refrain from all attempts at Universality , and revert to an exclusively Christian Constitution , as in the olden time .

I am anxious to look at the question in all its aspects , and do not mention difficulties because of any fondness of them , but simply to suggest that if a return to the old system is to be recommended , and primarily because it prevailed prior to the inauguration of Grand Lodges , it is well we should understand what is involved in such a course .

At all events , it seems to me that we are at the present time observing the old rule of 1723 , in promoting the " Religion in -which all men agree , leaving their particular opinions to themselves , " as well as respecting some of the usages and customs of our Grand Lodge . Besides which , by thus extending the scope of our Ancient and Honourable Society , we are adding immensely to its beneficial influence and practical usefulness , especially abroad .

Holding this view , and bearing in mind the esteemed Brethren who hold and advocate otherwise , I am prepared to accept the opinion and advice of the reverend Brother , the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., P . G . Chap ., who maintained that " the Christian School arid the Universal School can

coexist in Freemasonry . Though their views are necessarily antagonistic , yet they need not be made the subject of contention ; they can be held in peace and consideration , and all fraternal goodwill . Indeed , we think , upon the whole , that Freemasonry has , curiousl y enough , a two-fold teaching in this respect . "

According to Bro . Whymper s convictions , the spread of the Craft in India amongst Parsees . Hindoos , and Mahommedans calls for serious consideration , and increasingly so when brethren of each of those faiths become sufficiently numerous to support lodges composed mainly of members of their own persuasion .

Should difficulties arise in consequence , we may yet have to try the ingenious suggestion of chartering lodges for each particular faith , subject to the rights of mutual visitation ; but I confess to the feeling that , should ever such be deemed requisite , an element of religious distinction and classification will be of necessity introduced , which will considerably modify or weaken the unsectarian character of the Institution .

Clearly , then , this important subject deserves—in fact , demands—our earnest attention and careful consideration , and our hearty thanks are due to Bro , Whymper for having so fraternally introduced the matter to our notice in the following pages . WM . JAMES HUGHAN . Torquay , September 15 th , 1888 .

Notes On The Ceremony Of Installation.

NOTES ON THE CEREMONY OF INSTALLATION .

BY BRO . H . SADLER . ( Continuedfrom page 666 ) . John Bott , J . G . D ., was initiated in the Corner Stone Lodge on the 9 th of January , 1804 , and presided several years as its Master , in which capacity he was a frequent visitor at the Lodge of Promulgation . He served the office of Grand Steward in 1807 , and was a liberal contributor to the Masonic Charities . His biographer says of him * . " Our lamented brother possessed a most amiable and intelligent disposition , ever ready to communicate instruction to his brethren . "

Edward vV . Cleere appears to have been appointed on account of his Mastership of the Grand Stewards' Lodge , at that time considered the standard authority on Masonic ritual and ceremonies . He was not of an age as a Mason to have attended either the Lodge of Promulgation or the Lodge of Reconciliation , having only been initiated in 1816 . He served as Grand Steward in 1820 , and was elected a member of the Board of General Purposes in . 1821 and 1823 .

"Thomas R . Smith , P . M . of the Lodge No . 1 , " was initiated in that lodge m 1820 ; he was elected on the Board of General Purposes in 1824 and 1825 , and again in 1828 as Master of the Grand Stewards' Lodge . In 1830 he was appointed S . G . D ., and died in 1 S 36 . Bro . Richard Percival was initiated in the Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 , on the 23 rd of January , 1822 ; he was appointed S . G . W . in 1827 , and elected Grand Treasurer in 1837

, to which office he was re-elected every year till his decease in 1851 . Thos . Cant was initiated in the Enoch Lodge , No . 11 , in 1820 , was one ofthe founders of the Emulation Lodge of Instruction in 1823 . As Master of No . 11 , he was elected on the Board of General Purposes in 1824 , and again as Master of No . 9 in 1826 , joined the Albion Lodge , No . 9 , in 1825 , and

continued a subscriber to the end , 1867 . I can find no record of his death ; perhaps some of my readers can enlighten me on this point . _ Joseph Taylor was initiated in the Lodge of Emulation , No . 22 ( now No . 21 ) in 1819 , as Master of which lodge he was elected on the Board of General Purposes in 1826 ; he was a warm supporter of the Charities , and subscribing member of this lodge till his decease in 1859 .

Thomas Moore , the next brother in rotation , who was initiated in the •^ nnce of Wales Lodge in 181 : 2 , and joined the Castle Lodge of Harmony , No . 29 ( novv No . 26 ) , in 1824 ) , passed the greater part of a long and active 'He in works of Masonic beneficence too numerous to mention in this article ; Was appointed J . G . Deacon in 1827 , and he continued a subscribing member of both these lodges , and also the Lodge of Antiquity , down to the year oi * his decease , 1845 .

Ihe December part of the "Freemasons' Quarterly Review" for that y ^ ar contains an obituary , not apparently the work of a very dear friend , in which the writer says : " Brother Moore , in addition to his acknowledged character of a scholar and a gentleman , was also distinguished tor his knowled ge of the Masonic art , not onl y in the Craft and Royal Arch , but a 'so in the other higher Degrees . " m- * . k ° " Broadfoot l have already referred to as one of the later "embers of the Lodge of Reconciliation . After a most active

Notes On The Ceremony Of Installation.

and useful Masonic career of upwards of a quarter of a century , he left London in 1835 to reside at King ' s Lynn , where he died in 1858 . I think enough has been said to evince that the brethren who composed this Board of Installed Masters were carefully , as well as impartially , selected ; indeed , it seems to me that a more truly representative body could not at

that period have been nominated . Had a Board of this description been appointed some years later , no doubt it would have been differently constituted , probably much larger , and provincial brethren called on to assist ; but in those days country Masons scarcely ever attended Grand Lodge , for obvious reasons , and were seldom heard of outside their own provinces .

I am not in a position to speak with certainty as to the actual modus operandi ot this Board , for up to now I have not been fortunate enough to meet with a record of its proceedings . If minutes were kept they were , doubtless , of the briefest description , and may have been forwarded to the Grand Master along with Bro . Meyrick's papers . The available documents , however , leave very little to be desired in the way of direct evidence , as they include the draft of the warrant in the handwriting of W . H . White , several

sheets of paper containing the signatures of all the Masters and Past Masters who attended the three meetings , and a ; paper endorsed by Bro . White — " 1828 . Draft Report from Board of Installed Masters to the M . W . Grand Master . " The body of this document is apparently in the handwriting of Bro . Meyrick , and is as follows : "To , His R . H . Prince Augustus Frederick , Duke of Sussex , Earl of Inverness , & c , & c , & c , M . W . G . M . of the Most Ancient & Honorable Society of Free & Accepted Masons of England .

" In pursuance of the Warrant under the Sign Manual of your R . H . ' s bearing date the 6 th day of February , A . L . 5827 , stating that it had been represented to your R . H . s that from the want of immediate source for information and instruction there existed some diversity of practice in the Installation of Masters of Lodges , and that it was important that all Rites and Ceremonies in the Craft should be conducted with unilormity and

correctness , and with a view therefore to produce such uniformity your R . H . s thought proper to appoint and did accordingly nominate and appoint us the undersigned to constitute a Lodge or Board of Installed Masters authorising and requiring us to hold Meetings for the purpose ot communicating instruction in such Rites and Ceremonies , giving Notice thereof to the Masters

of the several Lodges enjoining thair attendance , as well as the attendance of their several Past Masters at such Meetings ; and whereby the said Lodge or Board of Installed Masters were empowered to instal into Office all such Masters of Lodges as might not theretofore have been regularly installed , and who should require the same .

" Now we the said Board of Installed Masters humbly make known to your R . H . s that we have held several meetings at stated periods to consult on and arrange the best means for carrying into effect the directions contained in your R . H . ' s Warrant , and having agreed upon the Ceremonies vvhich vve conceived should take place upon the Installation of all Masters of Lodges , the same were respectfully submitted to your R . H . s for

approbation and which your R . H . s was graciously pleased to signify , whereupon we proceeded to convene public meetings at Freemasons' Hall of the Masters and Past Masters of all Lodges within the London District on the 17 th the 22 nd and the 28 th days of December ( 1827 ) and with each Notice convening such Meetings we transmitted a copy of the said Warrant and we are happy to be enabled to report to your R . H . s that such Meetings were numerously attended and that all the Forms and Ceremonies of Installation

as settled and agreed upon by us and which had previously been honoured by your R . H . ' s approbation were fully communicated and practised and we also proceeded to Install into Office all such Masters of Lodges as had not been before regularly Installed and who required the same , when all the Brethren present at such Meetings expressed themselves highly satisfied with the Ceremonies and explanations which were then afforded them and truly grateful for your R . H . ' s kind and condescending attention to the interests of the Craft upon the occasion .

" In concluding our Report we beg to state that we have been duly impressed with the importance of the Trust delegated to us by your R . H . s and fully sensible of the Honour conferred upon us individually in being nominated to the Office and we humbly hope that the result of our labours vvill meet with your R . H . ' s approbation and prove beneficial to the Fraternity at large . "

The following are the names and lodges of those who signed the attendance sheets at the different meetings of the "Board of Installation ; " doubtless many of them will be recognised by older Masons than myself as Craftsmen of mark and merit , who have been mainly instrumental in transmitting to us the rites and ceremonies which they then witnessed and adopted .

I give the names according to the register number of the lodges represented , and shall afterwards direct attention to the Masonic services of some few of the brethren who attended .

Visitors . Old No . Name of Lodge . Present No . Remarks . Wm . Sandys , W . M . ,., 1 Grand Masters ... 1 * Edward Harper , P . M . ... 1 „ „ ... 1 G . S . 1813-39 , 00 . 1854 R . F . Meslayer , P . M . ... 1 „ „ ... 1 J . G . D . 1815 , Ob . ' 41 . ( 2 ) M . Gunston , W . M . ... 3 Fidelity 3 In Reg . 1845 . J . Wheeler , P . M 3 „ 3 Ob . 1844 .

J . B . Simpson , P . M . ... 4 Royal Somerset House 4 Henry Rogers , P . M . ... 5 St . Geo . & Corner Stone 5 Ob . 1 S 35 . W . Ballard , W . M . ... 5 S f G . Taylor , W . M S British S ( 2 ) C . Robson , W . M . ... 9 Albion 9 Robert Lemon , P . M . ... 10 Westminster and

Keystone 10 J . G . D , 1 S 30 , Ob . ' 35 . J . O'Brien , W . M . ... 11 Enoch 11 ( 2 ) G . Hall , P . M it „ u 2 * Wm . Grey , W . M . ... 12 Fortitude and Old Cumberland 12 * J . W . Shorman , P . M . ... 12 „ „ ... 12

* Wm . FeldwicU , W . M . ... 19 Royal Athelstan ... 19 2 C . Geary , P . M 19 „ „ ... 19 Ob . 1880 . 2 S . C . Norris . W . M . ... 22 Emulation 21 S . G . D , 1839 , Ob . ' 57 . F . W . Bossy , P . M . ... 22 „ 21 S . G . D . 1836 , Ob . ' 58 . * 2 C . Meyer , P . M 25 Globe 23 Ob . 1833 . and 409 R . York of Perseverance 7

2 W . H . Fenn , P . M . ... 25 Globe 23 Ob . 1857 . Robert Burton , W . M . ... 27 Robert Bums 25 3 John Fortune , P . M . ... 27 „ „ 25 Ob . 1852 . B . Elam , W . M 34 Old King ' s Arms ,., 28 Wm . Madox , W . M . ... 35 St . Alban's 29

H . L . Robins , P . M . ... 35 „ 29 Charles Chappie , P . M . ... 39 Castle ( extinct ) Charles Lawrence , P . M .,.. 39 „ in Reg . to 1844 J . Bowring , P . M 61 Strong Man 4 ? J . Purdy , W . M 61 „ 45 H . C . Wharton , W . M . „ . 62 Old Union 46