The Muggeridge Testimonial.

Muggeridge may have many years of health and happiness before him , while all will agree that no testimonial has been better deserved . We wish him , in his family circle and in his declining years , all the good and all the happiness which , in the kindly Providence of T . G . A . O . T . U ., are permitted to gild the evening hours of mortality .

The Centenary Of Voltaire.

THE CENTENARY OF VOLTAIRE .

We cannot affect to have much sympathy with the centenary of Voltaire , and as Freemasons we utterly object to have his name associated with that of our honoured and honourable , our loyal and religiously-minded Fraternity . It is true that Voltaire , quite in his old age , we believe

even the actual year of his decease , was admitted a Mason in " Les Neuf Stxurs , " at Paris , and there was a subsequent ceremony , we believe , equally profane and foolish , termed the " Apotheose de Voltaire . " And though we do not ourselves hold that Voltaire was inadmissible

to Freemasonry , in that he certainly was not an Atheist , yet we are not among those who , admitting his great powers , admire either the principles he avowed , or the teaching he elaborated . Voltaire was in all probability a sentimental Deist , with a touch of the " Morale

Independante , " but what strikes us most in Voltaire is his hardness , his unsympathetic views , —his contempt of all , which as men we most regard , and his morbid opinions as regards religion in general , and the people in particular . His is a State of mind not uncommon , and which makes

many who reject all distinctive views in everything that relates to the authority of Revelation , or the sympathies of human nature , yet profess cold and callous opinions on all that relates to the progress of civilization , and the welfare of the great mass of human

kind ! No one can peruse his writings without wl & hing him to possess , despite his high intellectual gifts , more of the " milk of humankindness " and the '' flow of natural sympathy . " Monsignor Dupanloup , Bishop of Orleans , ever ready to " improve the occasion , " ( we do not blame him

for this ) , has made the centenary the subject of one of his philippics . The correspondent for the Times at Paris gives us a good precis of it , and we think it well to reproduce it for the benefit of our readers . Bishop Dupanloup having objected to the centenary from a purel y

Roman Catholic point of view , with which we have nothing to do , then goes on to say : — " we are no longer , thank God , in the 18 th century , and its deplorable levity is not ours . Whatever the reproaches merited b y our time , one justice must be paid it , the moral sense has grown up

the public conscience has manifested itself . " He next shows how Voltaire and Rousseau treated each other ; but as the latter is , after all , to be excluded from the celebration , these literary amenities may be passed over . Monsignor Dupanloup then cites the criticisms on Voltaire of " unimpeachable judges , "

beginning with Marat and Mirabeau , including Madame de Stael , Beranger , Renan , Taine , Ste . Beuvc , Louis Blanc , and Lamartine , and winding up with Victor Hugo ' s poem in " Les Rayons et les Ombres . " Of this work , of the date of 1840 , Monsignor Dupanloup , does not mention which two lines may be quoted as a sample" Voltaire alors rcgnait , ce singe tie genie

"Chez l'homine en mission par le enable envoye . " The pamphlet lastly shows by ample citations that Voltaire was the very opposite of a Democrat ; that he toadied nobles , princes , kings , and kings' mistresses and thathc poured unmeasured scorn on the working class , declaring them

unworthy ot education , but requiring , like cattle , a goad and a yoke . Were a living writer , urges Monsignor Dupanloup , "to express such sentiments , he would be stigmatized as he deserved ; and the contemplated festival in honour of this scorner and insulter of the people is an outrageous offence to the people whom the

municipality represents . " And the correspondent adds , " while the Centenary Committee propose to issue a popular selection from Voltaire ' s writings , believing that " when there is a ' Voltaire' in every house the churches will be emptied , their opponents have published a collection of passages from his correspondence with Frederick the Great , in which he ridicules and denounces his

The Centenary Of Voltaire.

fellow-countrymen . " As we before observed , we do not profess to take any interest in the Voltaire Centenary , either as Freemasons or citizens of the world , but we think it well to remind our readers here , thafc Voltaire ' s views , however objectionable in many respects as they undoubtedly

are , ( and do not let us be blinded by hts intellectual powers to say or think differently ) , are yet the " outcome " of an intellectual reaction agains the dogmata of an infallible Roman Catholic regime . Voltaire and the Encyclopaedists , Mirabeau and Robespierre , were Roman Catholics

before they were Revolutionists against man , and sceptics against God , and many of them were brought np by the Jesuits . We must therefore be just while we criticize , and truthful while we condemn . The really destructive principles which Ultramontanism avows ,

proclaims noisily everywhere to-day with unceasing zeal , and unsparing vehemence , are a stumbling-block to many minds , and constitute in OUT humble opinion the " raison d ' etre " of much of the rationalism and infidelity of the present hour . We do not affect in any measure

to chime in with the morbid and mournful spirit which characterizes Voltaire ' s writing , we , " au contraire , " reject " e . x imo cordo" his lachrymose and degraded Deism ; but yet , on the other hand , we cannot be insensible to the true explanation , probably , of the matter , for it still is the fact , let them gainsay it who will , that the assumptions and

excesses of Ultramontane dogmatis m and infalible authority constitute a perpetual antagonism to all intellectual developement , to all the efforts of reverent criticism , to the claims of scientific induction and logical consequence , and to the progress of peaceful , tolerant , and reasonable religion among all the nations of the world .

Presentation To Mrs, Monckton.

PRESENTATION TO MRS , MONCKTON .

As will be seen elsewhere , a very handsome coloured photograph of Mrs . Monckton , the amiable and talented wife of our esteemed brother the President of the Board of General Purposes , was presented last week , by Bros . Col . Creaton , Head , and P . de L . Long , on

behalf of the united Committees of the Boys' and Girls' Schools . Some time back , as will be remembered by our readers , Mrs . Monckton , with a distinguished company of amateurs , gave some very animated and admirable performances ,

and presented kindly to the Girls and Boys' Schools as the result of such agreeable histrionic efforts , 100 guineas to each of those Institutions . The brethren generally will approve the action of the United Committee , as represented by three such well known and excellent brethren of our Order .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We dt > nat hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving et" the * "opinions expressed hy our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —Eo . l

THE "BAUHUTTE" AND ENGLISH FREEMASONRY . To tic Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir antl Brother , — As a reader of the Bui ' ihutte , I for one deeply deplore the attitude antl animus displayed by Bro . Findel as regards English Masonry . It is clearly , to use a common expression , a " twist , " that he has taken , alike

perverse and unreasonable , antl must render his wortls henceforth if persevered in , ( for which I am very sorry ) , utterly valueless to Anglo-Saxon Masons . The present " craze " is so unlike my old friend , the Baiihutlc , that I can only say " Oh what a change is here . " For some time past it has been clear to me , that Bro , Findel is representing his own idiosyncrasies , rather than thc calmer views of German Masons generally . Yours truly , ALT-MAURER .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Let me congratulate thc governing body and Bro . Hedges , the zealous acting Secretary , on the success

of their last Festival . £ 8500 is a good return , and if , as you say , it will be increased to £ 9000 before the year is out , Bro . Hedges deserves much credit for his labour and exertions . I hope that the Stewards will be able to hand over a little " douceur " to him for his untiring labours . Yours fraternally , AN OLD STEWARD .

Progress Of Freemasonry In The Provinces.

PROGRESS OF FREEMASONRY IN THE PROVINCES .

To the Editor 0 } the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am very glad that my communication has educed the very able and satisfactory reply from Bro . Henry

Smith , the zealous Prov . G . S . of West Yorkshire . Our difference is a minimum . My estimate of 88 represents the actual increase at the close of 1877 as compared with 1876 , while his statistics undoubtedly prove that that estimate is actually correct , though based upon an erroneous appreciation of the figures . The true state of the case then is , that while there has been an increase of 310 ,

there have been 58 deaths and 16 4 resignations , leaving the net increase on the twelve months of 88 , there being on December 3 ist , ^ , 15 3 members of the Yorkshire lodges . There is one question 1 would ask the worthy Prov . G . Secretary , are the 310 new members initiates , or all joining members from West Yorkshire or other provinces ? I am , yours fraternally , STATIST .

THE VACAN P SECRETARYSHIP OF THE GIRLS ' SCHOOL . To the Editor 0 / ike " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Considerable interest naturally attaches to the approaching election of Secretary for the Girls'School , and

several of your readers and friends of the noble Institution in Wtst Lancashire and Cheshire , unlike " Blank , " who blundered in the epistle quoted by you last Saturday , are extremely desirous of seeing the best man win . This must be the heartfelt desire of every well-wisher of the Charity , and those of whom 1 now speak arc naturally desirous of

knowing the parties who have the power to vote in connection with the appointment . Can you , with your usual courtesy , kindly furnish the information ? In common with others , I have read the addresses , appeals , and committees of the different candidates , each of the lists having a peculiarity of its own . One candidate seems to rest his hope of success on the W . M . ' s and P . M . ' s , another

on P . G . Officers , while a third , proudly and justly boasts of a very long list of Life Governors of the Institution . While replying to the above query , would you also kindly give a number of brethren and myself an idea when the election will take place ? Yours fraternally , M . B . J . [ All Vice-Patrons , Vice-Presidents , and Life Governors . 2 . The time is not yet settled . —ED . ]

PRECEDENCE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly in your next number enlighten me on the following points J 1 . Is the Treasurer of a lodge who is a P . M . entitled to

any particular seat at the banquet , and if so , where ? 2 . Are the P . M . ' s of a lodge who are Present or Past Grand Officers entitled to sit above the other P . M . ' s atthe banquet . Yours fraternally , M . C . [ 1 . He sits among the P . M . ' s . 2 . Past Grand Officers take precedence of lodge officers . —ED . ]

AN OLD MASONIC BOOK . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In answer to " I . P . M . ( 533 ) , " in your issue of 27 th April , allow mc to state that the J . W . of our lodge has a mutilated copy ( as I believe ) of the book in question

—mutilated , as ihe title page and first five chapters are missing , the book commencing at chapter six , which has the following heading : " The state of Masonry fiom Seleucus Nicator to the death of Herod the Great . " As the book concludes with a notice of meeting of Grand Lodge on December 4 th , 1755—the date 1763 or 1764 , given by "I . P . M ,, " as thc supposed publication is probably

correct . On referring ' to date given by "I . P . M . " I extract the following : " Assembly and Feast at Mercers' Hall , on Saturday , 30 th March , 1734 , when the D . G . M . proclaimed John Lindsay , Earl oE Craufortl , G . M . of Masons , who appointed Sir Cecil Wray D . G . M .

"On February 24 th , 1735 , at a meeting of Grand Lodge the Earl of Crauford proposed as his successor the Lord Viscount Weymouth , who was forthwith saluted as G . M . elect . " " Assembly and Feast at Mercers' Hall , on April 17 th

1735 : Bro . Crauford proclaimed aloud our noble Bro . Thomas Thymic , Lord Viscount Weymouth , Grand Master of Masons , who appointed John Ward D . G . M . " If this is a copy of the book in question , " I . P . M . " must be in error as to the re-election of the Earl of Ciauford ,

who only served one year . I should have replied earlier , hut the Freemason of date April 27 th has only just fallen into my hands . I am , dear Sic and Brother , yours fraternally , J . D . 168 .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I possess an old volume described as Northwick's Freemasonry , but dedicated to the Duke of Cumberland by the Hall Committee in 1784 , and contains a History of

Freemasonry from the Flood until 1714 . From that date it gives a circumstantial account of the proceedings of G . L . until 1783 , and a list of G . M . ' s . from A .. D . 597 , adding from 1717 the Grand Officers . It publishes the full Constitutions and General Regulations of the fraternity as authorised by