The True Mission Of Freemasonry.

aims , how noble its end . Thus raised above the passing interests of the day , we see at once how real , after all , is the true mission of Freemasonry , and in what it indeed consists . Not in angry

strife or uncharitable debate , not in the prolix utterances , or mournful " outcome , " of censoriousness or detraction , not in the perpetuation of angry feelings or hostile camps , but in the

peaceful avowal of an universal sympathy , and the glad belief of a universal brotherhood . Here then , we venture to think , is the true mission of Freemasonry , and those who , like us , thus make

Freemasonry mean the both practical developement of charity and mercy and sympathy , who believe that othenvise Freemasonry sinks into an aggregation of useless ornamentation , or

garish show , they will ever hail that happy and onward movement in our honoured English Craft , which has of late years placed Freemasonry in its true position before our fellow citizens , has

promoted so greatly the true cause of Masonic liberality and benevolence , has conferred countless blessings on young and old , the happy recipients of the generous and sympathetic alms of

our fraternity , and is a lasting proof , if proof be needed , that we in England , at any rate , as faithful brethren of our good old Order , thoroughly understand , and practically carry out the true mission of Freemasonry in the world .

Mr. Cluff's Legacy.

MR . CLUFF'S LEGACY .

A Mr . Cluff , who was not , we believe , a member of our Order , has in his will , left the sum of s £ 3 , 500 to the Boys' School , and a similar sum to the Girls' School , in all ^ 7 000 ,

for the purposes of what appear to be a perpetual scholarship or scholarships . We say " appear to be" for we confess , that , though we have read over the terms of the bequest more than

once , there seems to us alike a little ambiguity as to the real meaning of the testator , and some little difficulty , too , as regards a literal compliance with the terms of the bequest . We quite agree

with those brethren , who have referred the matter to the Grand Master , and to the opinion of the Grand Registrar , and we are inclined to think , that as Bro . Peacock suggests , under the

provisions of the " Trustee Relief Act , " will be found the best solution of the whole question , as well as of the legal and technical difficulty . Some

brethren seem to be afraid , that , by the mere acceptance of the bequest , the schools become at once amenable to the interference of the

Chanty Commission . But such an objection would apply to any endowment at all , and if it hold good as regards our schools , " caeteris paribus , " it would hold good of all other schools in

the country which have any funded capital . Because though it may be said , that the funded capital of the Girls' School , for instance , is but the saving of annual expenditure , yet both our

schools have had legacies left them from time to time , and though too it may be alleged , that ours are not foundation schools , yet the argument cannot be pushed too far , and we are inclined to

think , that whatever may be the position of our schools , especially the Girls' School , in the respect of funded capital , if before Mr . Clufl ' s legacy , they were not brought under the operation of the Charity Commission , they are not now . With-

Mr. Cluff's Legacy.

out the Act before us , we cannot of course lay down , what exemptions are allowed , and under which head our Masonic Schools may range themselves , but our impression is , we confess ,

though we may be mistaken , that all institutions in this country , which have been founded , with the charitable design of educating others whom poverty or misfortune has afflicted or reduced ,

and those above all which have received legacies for the purpose , and have the benefit of a funded capital , are brought within the scope of the act . We ha ^ e heard it : said , that , there is a limit as

regards the amount of capital , but that we believe to be an entire misconception of the Act . But even should this be so , should the legacy of well-meaning Mr . ClurF bring our two schools

under the notice of the Charity Commission , either as eleemosynary or educational institutions , we do not see that much harm will be done . Sure we are of this , that no institutions will

stand a severer scrutiny , or bear a more searching examination . They are admirably conducted , and as the Chaiity Commission has nothing to do with the appropriation of the yearly

subscriptions , but at the most could only take cognizance of the appropriation of the funded capital , the amount of possible interference is reduced to a minimum , and need not at all alarm worth y

brethren like Bro . Browse , or the many friends of both institutions , who may not have any desire to see the present excellent management and arrangement of our schools in any way

interfered with . We hope , that , some means will be discovered , under the able advice of our Grand Registrar , by which the Boys' School and the Girls' School may avail themselves of the charitable bequest of Mr . duff .

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

BRO . HUUHAN ' CHALLENGE . Did I understand my able Bro . Hughan to

have laid down the proposition , as regards the three degrees , as broadl y as my Bro . Buchan states , in his last interesting letter , I should be compelled , out of pure consistency , and in what I deem the cause of Masonic truth and historical accuracy , respectfully to controvert some of my

Bro . Buchan ' s statements . But as I read Bro . Hughan ' s challenge , it by no means goes so far as Bro . Buchan seems to believe . I do not at all understand that Bro . Hughan anywhere contends , that , the three degrees did not exist before 1717 , but only , that there is , so

far , no ritual evidence of their existence before 1720 . But I do not think such a proposition need be understood as asserting , that , they did not exist , but only , that , so far , we have no ritual evidence of their distinct existence , as now . Theie may be other evidence of their existence though not actually ritual , and this

Bro . Hughan ' s argument does not exclude . If Dermott can be relied on , Dermott indeed settles the question , as an almost contemporary witness , by stating unequivocally , that , before 1717 , the " master ' s part" did exist , though he contended the " antients " had it , and the " moderns had not .

The evidence , both of minute books and of rituals , may however , be looked upon from more than one point of view . In minute books , such as the Scotch minute books , Bro . Hughan , and Bro .-Lyon , and Bro . Buchan may fairly say , we

have evidence that in Scotland all the three classes met on one common basis , and were present at all receptions . Now my explanation of the Scottish system is this , " quantum valeat . " We have evidence that the apprentices were

Multum In Parbo, Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

made often out of the lodge by the Master , and then " buikit in the lodge records . ' We have also evidence that the word " passing " was familiar to the Scoth minute books and Freemasonry , and therefore , it is just possible that , the line of demarcation being yery narrow

between the degrees , they were admitted to the higher degrees on the same occasion . It has also struck me that the old Scottish operative lodges retained a special form of making those admitted " free of the guild . " But though I admit all this may be fairly said ,

I do not think , that , because we have no mention made in the minute books , therefore , we are to assume that such degrees di d not exist at all . The Scotch lodges had an open court for their members , but that does not preclude the possibility , as our Bro . Hughan sees , with his

customary . clearness ' and accuracy , of the existence of other secrets and separate degrees . No one contends , I least of any , that the degrees existed exactly as we have them to-day , but that they did exist in some way all our documentary evidence proves , ' or else it proves

nothing at all . I am not one of those who set a great deal of store by ritual evidence , still it has its place in such a discussion as this . I have seen a ritual which professes to date from before the separation between the

ancients and the moderns , and there is no question in it of the existence of the three degrees . And though there may be no known ritual in existence ( though I should not at all be surprised if this discussion brings out some older

ritual than we at present dream of ) before 1720 , as Bro . Hughan puts it . Yet it appears to me , that as these rituals must be autidated to the legal menury as they could not be all " pious frauds" or pure invention for the first time , in the face cf the

Sloane MSS . 3329 , we I think shall see , that we cannot well limit the archaeological question to 1720 or 1717 . My own humble opinion is , we are still a little premature in coming to a conclusion on

the question , as the Scottish system , m ly be peculiar to itself , and the English system prior to 1700 has yet to be unearthed . I say nothing to day of much other evidence which might be adduced in favour of the three degrees . A . F . A . WoonroRD .

BRO . THE REV . A . F . A . WOODFORD , M . A ., P . G . C ., v . BRO . WM . PRESTON . In a few weeks I hope to look again into the Masonic career of Bro . Preston , and will then make known the result in the columns of The Freemason . The valuable letter from our esteemed Bro . Cawling ( kindly published by Bro .

Woodford ) is an evidence of the mine of wealth still left to be explored by Masonic students , and proves what may be done by a number of earnest enquirers / determined to do their best to discover old records of lodges , and other Masonic MSS ., hitherto unknown to the fraternity of to-diy . W . J . HUGHAN .

KEVIRESCO v . BRO . BULHAN . Bro . Buchan , I plainly sec , is not quite sure of me yet , but likely enough , in the long run , if we cannot sail in the same boat , we shall spin along " side by side . '' But when ? The answer shall be given as soon as possible . Meanwhile let us

all do our best to appreciate and estimate the value of the important additions made to our rapidly accumulating stock of Masonic MSS ., and lodge records . Such students of our ancient history as Bios . Woodford , Hughan , and Lyon , deserve the warm support and sympathy of the

Craft , for to them we are mainl y indebted for the important discoveries of late . I am not disposed at present to discuss the points in dispute , being anxious to see Bro . Hughan ' s challenge accepted by any competent brother who has been in the habit of stating to th ? . contrary , in order

that the truth may be elucidated . Bto . Buchan has done well to call attention to the matter , and I hope his remarks will bear fruit . Let us , however , be careful , and not require more evidence in support of our statements than the subject warrants . REYIRESCO *