The Dean Of York On Freemasonry.

the differences remain unhealed , not really for the sake of the matter at issue , but because of the animosity which neither will surrender , I venture to think that herein lies the crucial problem of the present day . The very facility for combinations for the maintenance of supposed rights , or the remedy of supposed wrongs , tends to create little factions , not the less , but the more bitter , because they are little ,

rind activity and independence inaugurate a constant discourse which mars the very peace of society , and the comfort and enjoyment of life , and we want some alteration sometimes which shall prevent our country degenerating into a mere nation of Ishmalites , and with every man's hand against ever ) ' man , and I feel that Freemasonry is qualified to supply this invaluable solvent .

Will it do so ? Well , that depends upon what Freemasonry is , and that upon what each lodge is , and that upon what each member thereof is . It is of no use to waste time in mere generalities , or , like some Masonic Pope , to speak Oi'bi et Urbi , and " Charity begins at home ; " but let the Charity be real , and it will not only begin at home , but develope its influence like the stone cast into the pool , in every widening yet concentric circles .

Let Masonic Charity begin at home , in the inner chamber of its house , the lodge , and with the key-note struck there , let the banqueting chamber be maintained in harmony , then the life outside will follow in its true gradation of personal life , home life , social life , business life , political life , in fine , the whole being of man . And if each lodge will thus endeavour to acquire and maintain a high standard according

to the true Masonic ideal ,. the progress may be slow , but it will be genuine . No doubt there are abuses which cause one good to be evil spoken of , which make Masonicship at the least unprofitable , and hinder many really desirable men from joining the Craft . The old leaven which did so much to tarnish its reputation , is not altogether extinct , and such are the infirmities of humanity that it is always ready to reassert itself . It is useless to parade

high aims and intentions if Masonic gatherings are mere excuses for self indulgence , and unless there are real practical efforts made by each to acquire and practice the high principles of morality and conduct which he extols here , the mere recognition , therefore , will rather debase and harden than elevate the daily life . On the other hand , the frequent association and fellowship , with other high aims and genuine purposes , will brace the

moral system , prove a very tonic to the human nature , and find a man back to his business life , social life , domestic life , stronger in will and purpose , and tone , than he was before , and the weakest brother will feel constrained to make vigorous efforts to overcome his propensities , and if the confirmed evil done finds that the Freemason ' s lodge no longer associates him with kindred spirits , and furnishes opportunities for excess , he will depart from such uncongenial society , and rid the Craft of a plague-spot and a reproach .

Forgive me if I have over-stepped the limits of your indulgence and forbearance . I believe that there is a great opportunity before our Craft . I seem to see that the busy world is needing that which our organisation has the capacity to supply . I venture to recognise the hand of the Great Architect in the wonderful progress and prosperity which has attended our Craft during the last half century . I cannot believe that such has been vouchsafed without a purpose , and I sincerely desire that each member may recognise and appreciate it , and do what in him lies to make it a reality and a power for good , not only to our Craft , but to our FatherlanB .

Royal And Select Masters Of England And Wales.

ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS OF ENGLAND AND WALES .

A meeting of the Grand Council was held at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen-street , W . C ., on the 9 th inst . The Most III . Comp . the Earl of Fusion , Grand Master , presided . Grand Council having been opened , the GRAND RECORDER read the minutes , which were confirmed . A report of the progress of the Cryptic Kite was next received , showing that 29 certificates had been issued during the past year , making a total of 592 registered members . The reportwhich deeply deplored the loss of Sir Francis Burdett and Saml . Rawsonwas adopted , and ordered to be entered on the minutes .

On the motion of III . Comp . W . VINCENT , 111 Comp . R . Berridge was re-elected Grand Treasurer , for whose absence the GRAND RECORDER apologised on the ground of ill health . The GRAND MASTER appointed Lieut .-Col . A . B . Cook as Deputy Grand Master , and also made the following appointments :

HI . Comp . R . Clowes ... ... ... Prin . G . Condr . of W . ,, Rev . J . M . Vaughan ... ... } .-, , -., , . „ R . Pcakc ... ... jG . Chaplains . 1 , R . Berridge ... ... ... G . Treasurer . ,, C . F . Maticr ... ... ... G . Recorder . ,, B . R . Bryant ... ... ... G . Lecturer . „ A . R . Carter ... ... ... G . D . C . „ Col . Wyndham Hart ... ... A . G . D . C .

,, George Cooper ... ... ... G . Capt . of Guards . 11 Alfred Cooper ... ... ... G . Cond . of Council . „ Dr . E . M . Lott ... ... ... G . Org . E . E . Street ... ... ... ) 11 E . Whitaker ... ... ... [ G . Marshals . ,, W . H . B . Atkinson ... „ . ) 11 C . W . Carroll ... ... ... */ -. £ . , ., G . F . Carr ... ... 3 G . Stwds . E . J . Mills ... ... ... G . Sentinel .

I he GRAND RECORDER announced the receipt of a large number of '" ' ,. ? S ft"" non-attendance , and the council was closed . the Degree of Royal Master was then exemplified in a very impressive manner by III . Comps . B . R . Bryant , C . F . Matier , and W . Vincent . A banquet was afterwards held under the presidency of the Grand Jt ^ ' which the usual toasts were honoured . ' / he Queen and Cryptic Masonry" was first given ,

J" , l . omp . F . R . RICHARDSON , P . D . G . M ., in proposing "The Health 01 the Most Illustrious Grand Master , " said the Order had passed through nany phases and had not been so prosperous as it was now under the rule the Earl of Euston . He hoped that next year there would be many more 1 resent at the anniversary meeting , and that they would be able to make t . . ff reat Order in Masonry . All present would join in heartily drinking e health of the Grand Master , hoping that he might be long spared to rule over them . kiio 1 Ear' ° f , 'UST 0 N ' Most "'• Gl Mastcr . '" reply , said he did not w that he had done much good to the Order , except attending

Royal And Select Masters Of England And Wales.

occasionall y to business of the office and visiting one or two outside conclaves . The Order was going on slowly and surely , which was the best way to progress . If those in the different provinces would try and augment their forces and bring them up to this special meeting it would be a good thing , and induce others to join , for they had seen admirable work that night b y the G . Lecturer and others , who worked so . well . He hoped and

trusted they would be all able to continue amicably working for the prosperity of Freemasonry , and for the one great good for which every Order in Freemasonry was established—Charity . The GRAND MASTER next proposed " The Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Officers / ' and said he was certain that the Grand Officers who had honoured him b y accepting office would do good suit and service for the Order .

111 . Comps . Rev . J . M . VAUGHAN , G . Chap ., and A . R . CARTER , G . D . C , replied . The G . MASTER then said there was one companion , although a P . Dep . G . M ., had taken upon himself the office of G . Recorder , and to him the thanks of G . Council were most heartily given . He therefore proposed " 111 . Comp . Matier ' s Health , " wishing him every prosperity he could possibly wish for himself .

111 . Comp . C . F . MATIER , G . Recorder , in response , said the words of praise and of hearty and kindl y consideration could not fail to stimulate him to still further exertions for the good of the Order . He made claim to be amongst those who first introduced that Order into England , and he had been connected with it in one capacity or another ever since . He had always done

everything in his power to promote its prosperity and its increase , and was happy to think , from the success of the present meeting , over which the G . Master had so kindly and gracefully presided , that they were approaching a new era . A warrant had been granted in India , which he hoped would be the beginning of a large and important increase to the Order . " The Health of the Heads of the Order in America , Canada , and Scotland " was heartily honoured , and the proceedings terminated .

New Work On Royal Arch Masonry.

NEW WORK ON ROYAL ARCH MASONRY .

The most valuable work on Royal Arch Masonry has just been issued from the press , the publisher being Bro . Richard Jackson , of Commercialstreet , Leeds , who is famous in the north for the importance and interest of the grand tomes he has published of late years . The present volume is of great value to the students ol Masonic Degrees , for it places in their hands a treatise on the subject superior to all its predecessors , one not likely to be soon equalled , and certainly in no danger of being surpassed , either as respects interest or artistic worth .

Dr . Dassigny's " Serious and Impartial Enquiry , " printed at Dublin in the year 1 744 , has been known to the Masonic world , more or less , since it was partly reprinted in Bro . Hughan's " Memorials of the Masonic Union , " 1 S 74 . As however , that volume of the Hughan Series is known only to most Craftsmen by name , and has long been out of print—copies being at a very high premium—brethren have been wishing for some time to possess an

exact and complete reproduction of this scarce and valuable work of early last century . Bro . Jackson has come forward and supplied that want in a manner wholly satisfactory , and at the small cost of half-a-guinea net per copy . The facsimile of the whole book of 80 pages is done by the photo-litho process , and is a triumph in every way . Practically , the original is to be

haa for the small outlay of a few shillings , though there have been but two copies traced in the world . One is preserved in the " Bower Collection , " owned by the Grand Lodge of Iowa , U . S . A . ( from which Bro . Hughan ' s reprint was made ) , and the other is in the famous West Yorkshire Masonic Library and Museum , from which the present facsimile has been so scrupulously and artistically made .

The Prov . G . M ., the R . W . Bro . Thomas W . Tew , J . P ., the donor of this treasure , has kindly consented to its being so reproduced , and we feel assured that this additional evidence of Bro . Tcw ' s sympathy with Masonic studies will be much appreciated by the Fraternity .

When it is remembered that there are no existing minutes of the Royal Arch Degree being worked in England prior to 1762 , and none anywhere dating before 1753 ( though there are indications that the ceremony was known in Stirling by the year 1743 ) , it will be seen that Dr . Dassigny mentioning Royal Arch Masonry as early as 1744 , and stating it was known then in London , York , and Dublin , is a matter of supreme importance in relation

to the Degree itself , and renders his " Enquiry , " now produced in full , for the first time , simply invaluable to brethren who desire reliable information as to the origin and character ol this attractive ceremony . The work is also most interesting for other reasons , not the least being because it contains the Laws of the Grand Lodge of Ireland for 1741 , which

is ten years earlier than the oldest code possessed by that Grand Lodge , and with these , side by side , are the Regulations of the Grand Lodge of England 1723-38 . The list of subscribers reprinted is an extraordinary roll , beginning as it does with the then Grand Master of Ireland , Lord Allen , the next name being our sister , "Hon . Elk . Aldworth , " and these two worthies are followed by over 400 brethren .

The songs will no doubt " suit those who like that sort of thing , " and for the period are not so objectionable as some . The list of Dublin lodges is a most important one , and full of suggestiveness to the Irish Masons , to whom aught of the year 1744 is a veritable rara avis . Last , but not least , Bro . Hughan has written an Introduction , entitled " Royal Arch Masonry , 1743—1893 , " which , though only just issued , has

already been hailed as the standard treatise on the subject . It is beyond question , the most valuable summary of the facts respecting the ceremony which have been brought to light of late years , and covers all the ground for 150 years in a most thorough and masterly manner . This portion of the volume alone will be eagerly sought after by Masonic students , and read and

re-read , as the latest contribution by one of England ' s chiefest Masonic historians , and , as respects Royal Arch Masonry , the best informed of all . No review can do justice to this comprehensive Introduction , but as the handsome volume is likely soon to be subscribed for , only 300 copies being for sale , we hope ere long to refer to it at length .

This beautiful Reproduction and able Introduction have been dedicated to Bro . William Watson , by Editor and Publisher , and a better choice under the circumstances could not have been made , for the scarce book was secured through Bro . Watson ' s enterprise , and as Honorary Librarian of the celebrated Masonic collection of West Yorkshire , our brother ' s name is known and respected far and wide .