The Saints John In Masonry.

the supprcssio veri ? " I reply , the sugge . dio falsi and the supprcssio veri combined ; and more " dangerous" still , the miserable man who , while pharisaically deprecating the . former , does not scruple to practise both . To say that a statement is only partly true and

not to furnish proof of the fact—not to show in what it is untrue , or what material part of the truth has been concealed—is an old trick , which your readers , 1 doubt not , will appreciate at its true value , and which , therefore , I need not waste time in exposing . The pamphlet states that the S . C . are a

selfelected body , holding exclusively under their own control large funds that properly belong to the subscribing chapters . The circular says nothing in reply . The pamphlet charges the S . C . with an arbitrary and unconstitutional usurpation of powers and privileges that are inherent in aud properly

appertain to the heads and other representatives of the several chapters . The circular says nothing in reply . The pamphlet charges the S . C . with gross discourtesy in that they having appointed a day and hour for paying " an official state visit" to the Antiquity Chapter , not only did not keep their

appointment , but they never sent any explanation ol , or apology for , their absence . Hear what the circular says in reply : — " On that date ( viz ., the 24 th of November , thedate appointedby themselves ) accordingly , four members of the 33 , appointed to represent the ] S . C , arrived in Bath from different parts of

England , and naturally expected to receive intimation from the M . W . S . of the Antiquity Chapter of the time and place appointed for the meeting . " " The 23 rd , and up to 4 p . m . on the 24 th November passed without any intimation being sent to the members of the S . C . of any place or time having

been appointed for the meeting of the Antiquity Chapter , although the M . W . S . was fully aware that these brethren were in Bath , and of the address where they were to be found ; and although he was called on personally by one of them ( after previous intimation ) , as well as reminded of the intended visit

by private letters ; nor was any explanation subsequently given why such uncourteous treatment was shown , not alone to gentlemen who , at great personal inconvenience and private expense , had come from considerable distances to perform their duty , but also to the Governing Body of the Order

that they were deputed to represent . " I would stop here , fearing I may occupy too much of your space ; but the next little morsel is too delicious to be omitted . " This contempt of authority being reported to the next special meeting of the S . C . " and ( as above stated ) no explanation or apology having in the

interim been offered by thc Antiquity Chapter , the S . C . was reluctantly compelled to suspend this offending chapter . " Surely an enemy hath written this ! Is it the whole truth ? Is it even partly true ? Let us see . " On that date" ( the 24 th ) " four members , & c , arrived in Bath . " On the 23 rd

I saw Bro . Philips in the entrance passage of thc Masonic Hall in . conversation with the M . W . S . of the Antiquity , by whom , I am informed , he was told that that was to be the place of meeting . ( It is the place at which all Masonic meetings are Held . ) Again , on the 23 rd Bro . Vigne , Bro . Philips , and

others—who , I suppose , were their colleagues of the S . C . —were present at a meeting of the SS . Peter and Paul Chapter (/ also was present ) when a note from Bro . Wilton , of the Antiquity Chapter , to the M . W . S . of the SS . Peter and Paul Chapter was read . The note requested that

the decorations , & c , might be permitted to remain for the use ofthe Antiquity Chaplet ou the following day . A motion was made " that the request be complied with , " when Bro . Viir / ie distinctly stated that "the S . C . did not intend to visit the Antiquity . " Need I add more ? " What can be more dangerous

than the supprcssio veri ? " Out of thine own mouth do I condemn thee ; and I defy thee to deny the truth or cogency of these facts . Again , the S . C . is self-convicted of gross injustice . They admit , they even seem to take credit for , the fact ( very near the beginning of their circular )

that " they have hitherto maintained silence" in reference to " the causes which led to thc suspension of thc chapter . " On the 24 th of last November the chapter was condemned unheard ; and , until now , it has vainly endeavoured to ascertain the cause . Even now it knows not on what evidence

the charges are made , and their frivolity is such as , if capable of proof , would scarcely justify remonstranccorreproof ; and yet these righteous judges did not scruple to publish the names of all the brethren of the Antiquity , as persons not worthy to associate with their fellows . They now admit that tlieir

judgment was not preceded by any investigation ; that they have hitherto concealed thc evidence on which they pretend to have acted ; and as this is the substance of my charge against them , I will leave them to the judgment of all honest and impartial brethren of our Order .

Yours faithfully and fraternally , EDMD . WHITE , P . P . S . G . W . Somerset , P . M ., P . Z ., P . E . C , & c Victoria Villa , Bathcaston , Bath , March 11 , 1871

The Fair Sex And Adoptive Masonry.

THE FAIR SEX AND ADOPTIVE MASONRY .

¦ § v ARTICLE III . It will , doubtless , be admitted by the majority of the readers of this journal that the address , given in its entirety in these columns , has been framed by the founders with some skill , the principles of the Institution being expounded

in an unconstrained , agreeable and intelligible manner . It may be justly said that the aphorism of the great bard , " words sweetly placed and modestly directed , " is very applicable to the general tenor of the lecture , as delivered by the

officer conducting the ceremonies of the society . As the discourse necessarily occupies much space , I deem it advisable to reserve , for a future communication , my comment upon certain bearings of the exposition . It runs thus : —

"LADIES , —We meet and welcome you here for a double purpose . First , that we may inform you as to your true relationship to the Masonic Fraternity , and thus remove any prejudices that you may have entertained againstus ; and second , to confer upon you the beautiful , instructive and

useful degrees of the Order of the Eastern Star . Every one present knows that Freemasons set a great value upon their mysteries . They put themselves to much trouble and expense to attend their lodges , and they prove , by their words and actions , that Masonry is implanted

in their affections . It must be plain enough to every wife and daughter ancl sister of a Mason , that there is something in Masonry , known only to the brethren , which is very delightful and precious to them . This oftentimes provokes the question , ' Of what use is

Freemasonry to the ladies ? ' As it separates man and wife to some extent , by giving the man certain secrets and duties which the wife cannot share , the ladies sometimes take umbrage against Masonry , and even become its enemies , and oppose it violently as something contrary to

the laws of God and man . A little knowledge , however , of the real nature and purposes of Masonry will remove all this , if there is any of it existing in the mind of any lady present . Masons love and cherish their society above all others , because it is designed to , and does , make

them better , wiser , and happier men . Better , for it teaches morality , virtue , temperance , economy , charity , and justice to all men . Wiser , for it imparts knowledge to them that is weighty , solemn , and important ; knowledge that has been handed down to them from age to age

for nearly three thousand years . Happier , for it makes them acquainted with , and puts them in social connection with , the purest and best men in every section of tlie country . Is it any wonder , then , ladies , that Masons love Masonry ? If a Mason is assailed in character , every other

Mason is , or should be , prompt to defend him , if innocent . If he is attacked in person , he finds defenders . If he is distressed for means , poor and in want , having been reduced by misfortune , his brethren share their abundance with him . If , travelling in a foreign land , he falls

sick , or in distress , though all around him may be strangers , the Masons are no strangers to him . They are brothers , and will be as kind to him as though they had known him all his life . If he dies , the Fraternity will bear his body to its last resting-place , and drop an honest tear to his

memory . But now it is necessary that we should show you why ladies , too , should love Masonry , and should be , as many of them are , its warmest friends and defenders . I will answer the question that is often asked , ' Of what use is Masonry to the female sex ? ' Ladies , you are

connected with Masonry by ties fiir more intimate and tender than you are aware of , or than I can even inform you of . The widow and orphan daughter of a Master Mason takes the p lace of the husband and father in the affections and good deeds of the lodge . If their character

is unjustly assailed , the brethren are in duty bound to defend them . If they are in want , distressed for the necessities of life , the brethren will divide their means with them . If travelling at a distance from home , they find themselves sick and in want among strangers , they have but

The Fair Sex And Adoptive Masonry.

to make themselves known as the widow and orphan daughter of a worthy Master Mason , and , lo ! the hand of relief is stretched out toward them ! the voice of sympathy is heard to cheer them ! they are no longer strangers , but friends , dear friends * and thus they are'

constrained to bless our Society , whose kind deeds are not confined to the narrow limits of home . Ladies , I draw no fancy sketch , I speak of what has happened , of what is happening every day . The widow has been provided with a home , her children educated , and reared up to honourable

stations , her own heart cheered and comforted by the blessed influences of Masonry . These , then , ladies , are the reasons why we think you should be the mostdevoted friends that Masonry possesses . To you are given all the advantages of the Society , its shield of protection , its hand

of relief , and its voice of sympathy , while we do not require of you any of the labour or expense of sustaining it . The only Masonic privilege denied to you is that of visiting the lodge , and this would be of no advantage to you , even if it were possible to grant it : but it would awaken

the voice of scandal against you from a censorious world , and thus produce far more pain to your kind and amiable hearts than it could possibly afford you pleasure . Females cannot be made Masons . This is a rule that has been handed down with the other rules of Masonry

for thousands of years . Each Mason present pledged himself before he was admitted into the lodge that he would never allow any of the ancient rules of Masonry to be changed , and this is one of them . Therefore we cannot invite you to visit our lodges . But , as I have said , we can ,

and do , and will share with you in all the solid privileges and benefits of Masonry , and thus practically unite you with us in this great , this glorious , tin ' s heavenly work of doing good . The only objection that can be advanced against what I have said is this : How is a lady ,

travelling among strangers , and finding herseif in want of friends , to make herself known as the wife , widow , sister , or daughter of a Master Mason ? Unless she has something more than her mere word to offer , those to whom she applies will be slow to believe her statements .

The country is full of impostors , women as well as men . Almost every charitable person has been imposed upon , not once only , but many times . The lady , therefore , who has the relationship to Masonry that you possess , needs , in such a case , some particular means of recognition

some means of making herself known to Master Masons , which no other person can understand some method , perfect , modest and proper , easily practised and easily understood . Is there anything of the sort ? I imagine you asking me . Are there any means long-tried ancl proved ,

which a lady can learn , and by due practice remember , so that , if suddenly called upon , she can put it into use with confidence that it will prove effectual ? I answer , there is just such a method , and one principal object of this meeting is to teach you that method . The Order is

called the Eastern Star . It has signs and passwords , and means of recognition , which have been tried in a thousand instances , and proved to be exactly what a lady needs in the cases I have mentioned . The signs which are for a lady ' s use are easily learned and remembered .

The passwords which Masons use in answer to the signs are equally so . The other means of recognition , by tlie aid of the signet , are not easily forgotten , and the whole system is available for practical use at all times when required . And there is one great merit in the Order of the

Eastern Star , which , if there were no other , would render it worthy of your favour it is pure , graceful and religious . It gives the history of that heroic daughter of Jepthah , doomed to die for her father's sake . It tells us of Ruth , the harvest-gleaner in the field of Boaz , who forsook all tilings to dwell among the people of God . ( To be continued . )

THE " Blackheath" Lodge , No . 1320 , will be consecrated on Wednesday , May 3 rd , at the Crown Tavern , Blackheath village , by Bro . H . Muggeridge , P . M .