The Opening Of The Masonic Hall At Philadelphia.

the thoughtful mind of the unity of our great Masonic system , and the active power of its o-reat principles of Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth .

But besides this , we feel that we m . England are . bound ever to hold out the warm hand of fellowship and the genuine welcome of true Freemasonry to our brethren and the lodges in

America . For not only may we claim American as the child of English Freemasonry , and therefore we all ought to feel the deepest interest in its progress

and prosperity , but the American Masons , as it seems to ns have deserved indeed well of the Masonic Fraternity at large , for they have surmounted great difficulties and dangers , they have

lived down open persecution , they have adhered faithfully to the principles of Freemasonry , and now they jhave their reward in the peaceful ye rapid expansion of their Order , throughout their

great country . Few of us there are , we think , in respect of the United States , who do not often echo the words of that anonymous poet , who sang so well and so truly : —

Land of the Pilgrim Fathers , the refuge of the free . With what forgiving tenderness our hearts have

beat tor thee The ancient feuds were banished , and the battlefields o ' ergrown And thy heroes to our history were 2 S precious as our oivn .

Thy sons and ours have walked abreast as kinsfolks and as friends . As men who seek the same high goal and choose the same pure ends .

Thy sons and ours we thought shouid teach the ¦ world to hold in awe , The cloudless face of liberty , the level gaze of law .

And hence with this record fresh before us of Pennsylvanian Masonic enterprise , and with an appreciation of the zeal and energy and

earnestness of our American brethren , we are glad to be permitted to day to offer them , in all heartfelt sincerity , the assurance of our warm congratulations and of our fraternal goodwill .

Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar.

COSMOPOLITAN MASONIC CALENDAR .

We wish to draw the attention of our numerous readers to the advertisement of the Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar , Diary , and Pocket-book for 1874 .

Among the many valuable additions made in the issue for the coming year , we may mention that the London meetings of every degree appear in the memorandum space of each day ,

the country lodges in towns , alphabetically arranged . The Charge and Entered Apprentice ' s Song

as also been added . We feel assured that this year ' s issue will prove of far greater value than any of its predecessors .

The editor of the " Bauhiitte " has founded at Florence an establishment for the sale of German and'English books . We have much pleasure in introducing the same to the notice of our many

readers who may visit the fair city , feeling assured that they will meet with every attention from those in charge . The address is—Messrs . Flor and Findel , German and Foreign Booksellers , 24 , Lung Arno Acciajoli ,

The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

THE FUTURE OF FREEMASONRY IN IRELAND .

SIXTH ARTICLE . ( Continued from page , 3 . 39 . ) THE HIGH GRADES . The change in the Constitution of the Templar Order , lately completed , will tend to modify considerably the relations existing

between Craft Masonry and the High Grades in this country , and until time has tested the new arrangements , it is almost a matter of speculation to what extent the modification may reach . The new Order , with its sounding title , and absurdly incongruous costume , patronised as it

is by Royalty , and commanded by the Heir Apparent , may attain to a lustre , before which the scintillations of " Sovereign Princes , " " Grand Inspectors , " yea even of " Holy Emperors" shall wax dim , or it may continue to be here , what it has hitherto been , a kind of

stepping stone to those " ineffable" degrees , which the rank and file of Masonry , however worthy as men and as Masons , may hope to reach , but not to pass , the good things beyond being reserved for the chosen few who come up to the required standard of fitness , appointed by the happy monopolists above .

Our business just now is simply to see in what way the influence of the " High Grades" has been brought to bear on our proposed new constitutions , the final settlement of which has been fixed for the ensuing month of November . . There are just two laws to which it is

necessary to direct the attention of our brethren , so that they may be prepared to expunge or modify , if they think it fit so to do—statutes that if passed as they stand , are intended to protect , and perpetuate a state of things that has been , and if continued must always be , most

injurious to the true interests of'Freemasonry . Proposed rule 30 reads thus : — " The Grand Lodge strictly prohibits as unlawful , all asemblies of Freemasons in Ireland , under any title whatever , purporting to be Masonic , not held by virtue of a warrant or

Constitution from the Grand Lodge , or from one of the other Masonic Grand bodies , recognised by , and acting in Masonic union with it . Any brother being a member of any lodge on the Registry of Ireland , or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge , who shall

take part in such unlawful assembly , or shall join or become a member of any body or society purporting to be Masonic , and not in connection with or sanctioned by the Grand Lodge or other Masonic grand body recognised by it , shall be liable to suspension , or such other penalty as Grand Lodge may think fit . "

There can be no reasonable objection to the first clause of this proposed law , which , with some slight verbal alterations , is identical with one of the existing rules , but the second clause is entirely new and has evidently been inspired by a desire to bring the power of Grand Lodge

to bear for the protection of the monopoly of certain high degrees , which in its character as governing body of Craft Masonry , it has nothing to do with , and of which in fact , in such capacity , it officially knows nothing . It is not necessary now to narrate the history of what is known here as " The Manchester

Movement' Some of these days if I have time , and ^ feel so disposed , I may have something to say on that subject , and if all the facts of the case were fairly stated , probably many brethren , who are very imperfectly informed in the matter , might see reason for changing their

views . At present we have to consider the bearing of the proposed new law on the Order generally , although there can be little doubt that the movement to which I have alluded gave birth to the objectionable clause in the proposed new law . Let it be clearly understood that the omission of the words "in Ireland" after society ,

is not accidental . Their insertion has been suggested in the proper quarter , and has been deliberately rejected . As the proposed addition to the existing law stands , it is a most unwarrantable attack on the individual liberty of the members of our Order . It is quite right , having regard to the position of Freemasonry in Ireland , and to the various sur-

The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

rounding circumstances , that Grand Lodge should take every precaution to guard against the introduction of societies purporting to be Masonic , but not under its jurisdiction , or that of any governing body with which it is allied ,

But by what right would it attempt to interfere with its members joining any society , in England or Scotland for example , sanctioned by the laws of the land , and friendly to Freemasonry . For instance : —

Probably the oldest and most respectable representative of the "high grades " willjbe found in " The Royal Order of Scotland . " A call to membership of that Order would justly be considered a high honour to receive . But as " The Royal Order " is not , I believe either "in

connection with or sanctioned by the Grand Lodge or other Masonic Grand body recognised by it , " it follows that any member on the Irish Registry accepting such houour , would , if this law be passed , " be liable to suspension or such other penalty as Grand Lodge may think fit . "

The sameremark of course applies to the English " Order of Rome and Constantine . " It is not however applicable to " The Rosicrucian Society of England " as they preface their rules by the statement " The Society of Brethren of the Rosy Cross , is totally independent , being established

on its own basis , and as a body is not otherwise connected with the Masonic Order , than by having its members selected from that Fraternity . " " Kn passant" I would commend this statement to the attention of the heads of the " New United

Orders . " Altering tha title , it would admirably suit their position , and would honestly define it . If Grand Lodge should think it right to pass the proposed new law in its entirety and unlimited as to locality , I belive the result will be most mischievous Practically , I am inclined to think it will bu inoperative , and therefore weakening

to the general authority of Grand * Lodge . It is one thing to submit to laws as to the mere expediency of which we may differ . It is another thing to obey those whose inherent injustice makes it almost a duty to disregard them . The other rule to which I call attention is No .

' JJ" Any brother expelled , suspended , or restored by the Grand Royal Arch Chapter , the Grand Priory of High Knights Templar , the Grand

Chapter of Prince Masons of Ireland , or the Supreme Council of the 3 , 3 rd Degree for Ireland , shall on the case being officially communicated to the Grand Lodge of Ireland , be expelled , suspended , or restored , as the case may be , without any further enquiry or investigation . "

I still maintain the view I long since stated , that strictly speaking both of the last named above Orders are unrecognized , and Consequently illegal , but waving that point we have to consider is it for the advantage of Craft Masonry , that the Grand Lodge should be compelled , without enquiry to suspend or expel a member , at the bidding of the so-called " High Degrees ?"

I cannot , I think , do better than quote the statements of one who is justly regarded as a very high authority in Masonry , and who cannot be considered as otherwise than friendly to the * ' High Grades , " holding as he does their highest honours .

Bro . Albert G . Mackey , in his " Text Book of Masonic Jurisprudence , " in dealing with the subject of " Expulsion , " rules thus , ( page 538 , et seq . ) " An important question remains to be discussed , which refers not only to the penalty of

expulsion , but also to that of suspension . Does suspension < sr expulsion from a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons , a Council of Royal and Select Masters , or an Encampment of Knights Templar , carry with it , as a necessary consequence , suspension or expulsion from Symbolic

Masonry ? To this question , reason and the general usages of the Order lead me unhesitatingly to reply that it does njt . The converse of the proposition is , however , true , and suspension or expulsion from a Symbolic lodge is necessarily suspension or expulsion from all the higher bodies . " The principle upon which this doctrine is based is a very plain one . If the axe be applied