Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

penetralia too hastily or rashly , the influence of its revelations would be unfelt , and the spirituality of its solemnities unheeded by the unprepared mind of the thoughtless aspirant . But to him unto whom is vouchsafed the ' divine afflatus '—to him who not only feels the desire to

know , but possesses courage to overcome the difficulties that beset his path—to him I say , Persevere ! And although at first thy course may lie through barren fields and unprofitable herbage , soon shalt thou arrive at richer pastures and diviner fruits . Let no misgivings haunt thy

soul , but press onward * bear with thee , like the memorable phylactery of the ancients , an unshaken trust in that great and glorious Name , which is associated with the mystery of our regeneration ; bear with thee to the shrine of truth the tribute of an humble heart and a

purified perception . From the dross of sensual life eliminate the gold of intellectual existence ; and from the countless systems of human learning extract the atoms of true and heavenly wisdom . Above all , as faith is the foundation of our hope , examine closely the book of nature , and find therein the clearest evidence of the

teachings contained in the unerring Book of God . Inspired by such noble aims , and directed by such majestic impulses , thy passage through the labyrinth of life shall be a march of triumph , when , unlike the Caesars of old , the captives in thy train shall be vanquished ignorance and sin , and the laurels on thy brow shall be the unfading wreath of immortality and joy !"

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

——?—The Editor is not responsible for thc opinions expressed hy Correspondents . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , —On Saturday night , iSth inst ., there was a meeting of the lodges in the

Aberdeen province , called by circular and advertisement by order ofthe P . G . M ., anent the report of committee for a proposed new Masonic Hall . From 60 to 70 brethren were present , and the lodge was opened in due form in the First Degree ; the R . W . P . G . M ., Dr . Beveridge , in the chair . I was very much surprised to see on this occasion , in open

lodge , that there were not over a dozen aprons worn by the brethren , including all thc oflice bearers ? Is this a common practice in England , or in other parts of Scotland ? I always thought that in open lodge every brother , without exception , had to be clothed . Was I wrong ? or is this a loose way of working ? Yours fraternally , LANDMARK .

( To the Editor of Thc Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Can you or some of your readers , who may be experienced in such matters , inform me of the proper Masonic course to pursue towards a Treasurer who , after repeated requests by the VV . M ., refuses or neglects to pay thc

Lodge Bills , or render an account of the way he has disposed of the year's funds that have been entrusted to him for such purpose ? A reply through your valuable paper will greatly oblige , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , A COUNTRY P . M .

MASONIC RELIEF COMMITTEE . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —You were kind enough to insert a notice of the formation of thc Leeds Relief Committee . As a proof of the usefulness of such a Committee , and as a warning to thc charitably

disposed brethren , allow mc to call attention to the first case that came before us . I may state that we are in weekly communication with similar Societies , and will also be glad to hear from any one interested in the subject . A foreigner , named L . G ., applied to our Almoner

for relief , and on looking over the Manchester report , found he had received there 45 s . He was given 7 s . 6 d ., and told to meet thc Committee on Friday . Next day another report arrived from Manchester stating L . G . and a companion had been found out to be gross impostors . Singularly the Liverpool report also warned us of them , they

having found them out . The Committee , of course , refused the application of L . G ., and it was amusing how rapidly he disappeared on finding we had heard of him from other towns . This shows , at once , the advantage of tlie Committee , for had this man gone to the W . M . 's of all the lodges in the town , he would no doubt have

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been well , though unworthily , relieved . As it is very clear that L . G . and his companion are going about the country , I hope your readers will be on their guard . I am , dear Sir and Brother ,

Yours fraternally , J . PARKER CROSSBY , M . D ., Hon Sec .

Masonic HaU , Leeds , Feb . 18 , 1 S 71 .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —It must be very gratifying to all true lovers of our ancient mysteries to find there has been , of late years , a wonderful advance of the science and practice of Freemasonry . Frequently do the Masonie journals chronicle the consecration of a

new lodge or chapter ; but pleasing as such announcements are , they lack the interest that such events as laying of a foundation-stone , or the dedication of a building to be used solely for Masonic purposes , can give . Such occurrences as the latter show a healthy state of Masonic being , and also

that the brethren have sufficient faith in the cause to contribute some part of their substance towards its support , lt further exhibits a commendable desire forindependenceand freedom from hotel control . With such recommendations the possesssion of a purely Masonic building is an acquisition of

which the brethren of any locality may justly be proud , and on which they are to be congratulated . Most of our important towns have their Masonic Temple or Freemasons' Hall , and with such examples before us as Glasgow , which is to have " a noble Freemasons' Hall , worthy of the name and city . "

Bristol , Birmingham , Halifax , and others , that I could name , will it be believed that here , in this town of Liverpool , the second town in the United Kingdom , the commercial metropolis of England—I may almost say , the world—in a town with the large number of nearly 40 Masonic bodies , we have

not . by any means , a hall " worthy of the name and city . " True we have a Masonic Temple , such as it is , and well it is for the credit of the Craft that this " Temple " hides its diminished head in a thirdrate street , down a long reach of dingy gardens , and considerably below the level of thc road .

Some years ago the brethren , being wishful to free themselves from extraneous control , purchased the building and freehold ofthe present Temple as a nucleus for a suitable hall when time and circumstances would permit the collection of funds ; meanwhile to fit the building for its new purpose , it was

altered and enlarged till it became a sort of patchwork puzzle . As this house contains but one lodge room ( and that on the ground floor ) a good deal of ingenuity has been expended in making the engagements ofthe different Masonic bodies who use the hall dovetail into one another ; add to this ,

that the other rooms , one of which is occasionally extemporized into a lodge room , arc small , inconvenient , and totally inadequate to their purpose , you may naturally be surprised that amongst the number , wealth , and social position ofthe Fraternity here , such a disreputable state of things should be allowed to continue .

Two years ago we were congratulating ourselves on a speedy relief from our difficulties ; a Building and other Committees had long had the business in hand ; an elaborate and comprehensive set of plans were prepared by a well-known architect , a P . M . of one of the most influential lodges in the

town and a gentleman thoroughly qualified , both by professional and Masonic knowledge to conduct the work . Estimates and quantities were drawn out , funds to a large amount promised , a bazaar arranged to be held in St . George ' s Hall , and in fact all was going on swimmingly ; the plans were

highly approved , and the cost , under £ 7000 , thought very reasonable . But alas ! that it should be said , jealousy was allowed to creep into the Councils ; a certain lot of junior members of the Committee thought possibly their ideas were not received with thc 'deference they imagined was their due , but

whatever the cause they managed to pack the next meeting , and , in a very short space of time , completely upset all the previous business . To say thc least , this was very shabby treatment of the older brethren , men who had been Masons longer than some of the discontented ones had been in existence . So much for what can be done by a clique .

With the exception of issuing a report as to what they proposed carrying out , which was a marvel of indifferent grammar and vagueness of detail , this " select" Committee has done nothing , and we are now in precisely the same condition as before , with thc exception that then there was a chance of the settlement of this important question , now there seems to be none .

" In the multitude of counsellors there is safety ;" still it remains a fact " that too many cooks spoil the broth . " The multitude , while comparatively united , promised a speedy settlement , split up into factions they only spoiled and wasted the opportunity . At the present , the state of Masonic accomoda-

Original Correspondence.

tion in this town is a scandal and a disgrace to the Craft , and in this respect we have certainly become a bye-word to our neighbours . Many there are amongst us ' who deeply feel that this is the case , but who would still gladly unite to further the good cause , if all would consent to forego jealousies

and cliqueism , and so work with that love and harmony which should at all times characterize Freemasons . " That such a desirable consummation may be attained is very earnestly to be hoped for , and meanwhile I beg leave to remain , Yours very fraternally , T . DEACON .

TYRANNY ON TRIAL . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Our zealous Bro . Delfraisse gave us something very good last week ; but , alas ! it was too good for the practices of the age . We may cite King William for trial , and

even pronounce against the red-handed monster the most severe judgment ; but it is well-known among the Fraternity that the executive power falls far short of what would be done by the legislative . Freemasonry , like the Established Church of the present day , is not practical enough to grapple with

things as they are—it must be content to rail at a distance . It is merely a speculative thing , holding up to view a sublime system of morality ; but boasting no grand conclave of living exemplars who attain to such a lofty standard . Nor can the system vaunt a power or privilege to hurl the full

penalties of broken vows against dastardly delinquents , whether king or subject . In short , Freemasonry is a pretty picture , beheld by a multitude of spectators , of whom Freemasons themselves are the nearest . Grand Lodge pays almost unconditional court to princes ; and while that is the case ,

it will naturally wink at their doings . The more noble-minded , then , must dream out the lovely dream of Freemasonry themselves , and becontented to pity those whom its beauteous emblems cannot reach , finding the needed consolation in their hearts ' most solemn call . Yours , & c , A . CUTHBERTSON .

Masonic Festlvittes.

MASONIC FESTLVITTES .

OLD CONCORD BALL . It is our pleasure to record the 31 st annual ball of the above lodge , which took place on Wednesday , 15 th inst ., at the Freemasons ' Tavern , Great Queen-street . With some regret we observe the event as occurring too late for our last week ' s publication , the more especially do

we feel disappointment as we have the happiness to notice it as the most successful and brilliant that has as yet transpired in connection witli the Old Concord Lodge . Our pleasure and satisfaction is undoubtedly increased when we contemplate the laudable object of its energy and

enterprise , and thus associate it with its ostensible purpose , which is to aid and assist such benevolent and charitable institutions as may at this present most deservedly claim our consideration and support . The magnificent and appropriatel y arranged suite of rooms were opened for the

occasion , and a truly distinguished company assembled . Opening merrily and cheerfully , with a select and well-organised band , under the control of Bro . Marriott , the dancing commenced at nine o ' clock . The programme , although excellently

defined , could not possibly do justice to the execution and the music , which was of the most select and popular order . The first part of the entertainment having been thus far successfull y attained , an intimation that supper was waiting drew the distinguished company to their seats ,

and where a well arranged and sumptuous repast was provided . Then came the customary loyal toasts , after which Bro . Emmens , P . M ., who was received with great applause , proposed the health of the Chairman ( Bro . Holland ) , and in doing

so , said he was sure the Chairman and Stewards were proud to see such a large and brilliant ) company present , and continued by referring to the object for which recreation , pleasure , and unity had been combined in perspective of the most laudable and praiseworthy result .

The Chairman then proposed in a brief , but highly amusing- * speech , the health of " The Ladies , " which was responded to by Bro . Dottridge , Hon . Sec , who , upon rising , was greeted with loud and prolonged cheers , after thanking