What Does It Mean ?

has departed from the acknowledgment of Cosmopolitan Freemasonry , which in some shape or other has ever been made belief in T-G . A . O . T . U . Under the special circumstances of the case in France , the practical result of this violent change , is to pave the way for the admission of non-believers in God—and

that we hold to be a great mistake for French Freemasons , as well as a ggr ievous wrong to Cosmopolitan Freemasonry . But having said this we stop here to-day , and we think we shall be conforming to the wishes of our readers , when for the present at any rate , we close this untoward discussion in our pages .

A Few Words To Our Kind Correspondents.

A FEW WORDS TO OUR KIND CORRESPONDENTS .

Some little disappointment having been expressed by not a few old friends of ours , at the non-appearance of lodge reports in our hebdomadal impression , we beg to c-11 their attention to one or two little facts in connection with that subject . First of all we wish to point

out that such delay is sometimes unavoidable owing to press of matter . No one but those who have to deal with it , can well realise or tell , what is the difficulty ofthe case often in this respect . At special periods of the year , lodge reports become " few and far between . " But

every now and then , as now and for s ome time to come , the demands on our weekly space , are often quite overpowering . Our general rule , and the fairest we believe for all , is according to the old adage " first come first served , " and we print reports as we receive them in order of time . Of

course there is in this , as in everything else here , no rule without an exception , and some lodge reports , from special circumstances , or general importance every now and then appear to claim at our hands a preference , alike for the welfare ofthe Craft and the information ofthe brethren .

But we must ask those good friends of ours , who are sometimes dissappointed at the non-appearance of their lodge meetings to make those allowances which a fraternal feeling might suggest , or the actual facts ofthe case may fairly demand . And then in the next place ,

some of our ready and agreeable correspondents are a little oblivious of ' * times and seasons , " of the data we announce , of the information we give . We do not profess owing to the exigencies of printing arrangements , to accept for the current week , reports after twelve o ' clock on

Wednesdays , but we often receive reports on Thursday morning , yes , and on Thursday evening , with a request for their appearance , when it is utterly impossible for us to comply with such applications . To use a technical term we " machine " at two o ' clock on Thursdays , and therefore

reports and advertisements must equally be in our hands at by twelve o ' clock on Wednesdays . That we may occasionally print special reports and pressing information is no doubt true , but we are not dealing now with abnormal reports and the like ; we are treating upon what is the

normal and necessary arrangements of every newspaper . The Freemason loses somewhat by its appearance on Friday morning , though its subscribers gain greatly , and it is this early appearance which necessitates our wonted arrangments , and seems sometimes to make us a little

behind hand in the reports ot lodge meetings . We should then urge on all our ready willing friends and correspondents to send us their reports early in the week . We feel bound here to express our heartfelt thanks to those many warmhearted brethren of ours , who so zealously help and earnestly support the Freemason , by

reports , which are often marked by happy condensation , and much felicity of expression . We trust that they will add to our sense of "favours received , "b y the continuance of "favours to come , " and we thank then by anticipation for their valuable communications , and their always welcome contributions .

Cleopatra's Needle.

CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE .

We congratulate our esteemed Bro . Erasnus Wilson , as well as Mr . John Dixon , C . E ., on the safe arrival of this interesting obelisk , after all the perils of the " stormy main . " We shall a'lude more fully to the subject in our next . .

The Grand Orient Of France.

THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE .

We publish with pleasure the letter of our worthy and distinguished Bro . Thsvenot . Bro . Lakeman probably only meant that 78 lodges ( the minority ) had protested by their vote against —in his and our opinion— a most

unwise vote on the part of the French Grand Orient . " Pace " our esteemed Bro . Thevenot , we fear that the modification introduced into French Freemasonry is only too well interpreted and understood by all Freemasons in Great Britain , just as it is in Canada and America .

A la Gloire du Grand Architecte de l'Univers , GRAND ORIENT DE FRANCE , Supreme Conseil pour la France et les Possessions Frangaises , O . de Paris ce 17 Janvier , 1878 . A . M . George Kenning , Proprietaire-Directeur du journal " The Freemason , " a Londres . Monsieur et Tres cher Frere ,

On lit dans votre estimable journal "The Freemason , " No . 461 , du 5 Janvier , 1 & 78 , ii la page 10 et a l ' article " Freemasonry in Scotland , " la mention suivante : "Bro . Lakeman said that between seventy and

eighty French Lodges had protested against the change , and he submitted that Mother Kilwinning Lodge ought to do all in their power to support these lodges in the stand they were making for the right . "

C ' est pour moi un devoir , Monsieur et Tres cher Frere , de vous fairc remarqtier que la citation du Bro . Lakeman ne repose sur auctm fondement veridique , et que rien ne la justifie . Le F . Lakeman est tombe dans I ' erreur la plus complete en annoncant au sein de la mere

Loge de Kilwinningque 78 loges avaient protests contre le vote qui a modifie l ' article ter de la Constitution du Grand Orient de France . Pas uneseule loge en France n ' a protest- contre ce vote , et pas uneseule loge , ii la suite de ce vote , ne s ' est separe du Grand Orient de France .

J ' aflirme ces deux fatts devant la Maconnerie universelle , et je mets un defi le Bro . Lakeman ou tout autre frtire de citer le nom d ' une loge ou d ' un Macon qui se soit detache du Grand Orient de France par suite du vote dont il s ' agit .

Les paroles du F . Lakeman comme les divers articles public par les journaux Maconniques de la Grande Bretagne , concernant le vote ^ de notre dernicre assembled generate prouvent surabondamment aux esprits suriuex et sans parte prisies que la modification apportce par le

Grand Orient de France a sa constitution n ' est pas compris et qu ' elle est surtout fort mal interpretee . Je vous serai tors reconnaissant , Monsieur et Tres cher frere , de vouloir bien insurer cette

lettre dans un des prochains numeros de votre estimable journal . Agreez , Monsieur et ties cher frere , 1 ' assurance de mes sentiments fraternels les plus distingucs , LeChefdu Secretariat , THEVENOT .

( T RANSLATION . ) Sir and very dear Brother , — One reads in your admirable journal the Freemason , No , 4 61 , January - ; , 1878 , at p : ige 10 , under the article " Freemasonry in Scotland , " the following passage -.

—" Bro . Lakeman said that between . seventy and eighty French lodges had protested against the change , aud he submitted that Mother Kilwinning Lodge ought to do all in their power to support these lodges in the stand they were making for the right . ' '

It is , sir , my duty to remark to you that the citation of Bro . Lakeman does not rest on any truthful foundation , and that nothing justifies it . Bro . Lakeman has fallen into the most complete mistake , in announcing in the Mother Lodge of Kilwinning that 78 lodges had

protested against the vote which has modified Article 1 of the Constitution of the Grand Orient of France . Not one lodge in France has protested against this vote , and not one lodge in consequence of this vote has separated itself from the Grand Orient of France . I affirm these two facts

The Grand Orient Of France.

before universal Freemasonry , and I defy Bro Lakeman and every other brother to cite the name of a lodge or of a Freemason who has separated from the Grand Orient of France in con sequence of the vote to which reference is made The words of Bro . Lakeman , like the different

articles published b y the Masonic journals of Great Britain concerning the vote of our last General Assembly , superabundantl y prove to serious and unprejudiced minds that the modifications introduced by the Grand Orient of France into its Constitution is not understood , and is very badly interpreted .

I shall be very grateful to you , Sir and very dear Brother , if you will be so good as to insert this letter in the next number of your estimable journal . Accept , Sir , the assurances of my very distinguished and fraternal sentiments , The Chief of the Secretariat , THEVENOT .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do net hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the ; opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in 1 spirit of fair play to all , to permit—v . ihin certain necessary imits—free discussion . —ED . 1

OUR MASONIC CHARITIES , ELECTIONS , Arc . To Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Neither hard " leaders " nor anonymous " old S-. cwards" will prevent me speaking the plain unvarnished truth , in season and out of season , especially when that truth has reference to our Charities , which ought to have an

interest for every assembly of Masons ; nor shall any vested interest of any kind ever prevent me speaking my mind upon this subject on any occasion . I neither consider myself a " Pope " nor an " infallible " authority , but I am old enough to know the meaning of J usticc and Mercy . These hard personal hits have often fallen to the lot of men who have sought to remedy known

and admitted abuses , and I must expect them too . 1 must take exception to the statement that I sai . i there was "jobbery" in " all" our charities . I said , and say again , that there is more or less jobbery in all those charities tint elect by vote , and p-rmit canvassing and polling days . It is notorious that this is the case , but men don't like the

odium of mentioning it in public much less bringing cases to light . Indeed this latter operation is a most difficult as well as a painful one . But the fact is well knowndozens of our brethren have in my hearing deplored it . What does your own " warning " of late mean but this , that men come into Masonry for mercenary motives , that is , amongst thc rest , to get the benefit of our charities ?

But I contend it i . s not so much at the ballot as at thc entrance to the charities that you are to put a stop to this jobber ' s march . And yet , though you have good reason to believe in the existence of this evil leaven working in thc Craft , and warn us against it , you would probably find it difficult to prove it by facts . The work of sham charges and onimisiions went en

many years before the case of a Manchester 'irm lately threw light on it . In my humble opinion the thing to l . deplored is r ..: t my speaking the plain truth on this matter , and stating it at thc time and place I did , but thc inconvenience of having Secretaries present at every banquet who feci it a duty to consider our charities perfect , and to take offence

when any exception is taken to any course of action eif which they do not approve . Nothing I said , need have caused a single shillinito have been withheld from the charities , and I feel sure , neither Bros . Terry nor Lillie would have so regarded it . Be assured , dear Sir and Brother , the " hobby " I am ruling to death will win the race in the long run , but will

have to face many a wide ditch along which th ; stream of conventional benevolence flows noisily , and many . 1 thorny fence which boldand bare-faced ja _ b : ry has created without let or hindrance . I venture to assert I have nude no mistake—hav .

notlung to withdraw—and shall continue to uphoM " the high moral line " in relation to admission into Charities so long as I hold my present tl _ fiui : i . jn of true charity , air ! acl on old Shakespeare ' s well-knov . 'ii charge "Be jist a-.- . 1 fear not . " Yours fraternally ,

II . J . SIMPS :,: ; . [ We publish with pleas-ire our worthy I ' . G . Ch .-iplai'iV letter , though we cannot admit either the facts he asserts , or assent to the charges hc bring ; forward against our charities . We feci fjuite sure that he is riling his hob ! y lo death . —En . ]

To Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The time appears lo have arrived for us ta unit , in protesting against the remarks of the V . W . Bro . R . J . Simpson , MA ., P . G . C , and a few ethers , as ta , OK "jobbery" in connection with our Masoaic charities , an !

their objections to the present system of " elections ; " and so I heartily join with you , as the Editor of the Frcemas ,.:, and with my fellow correspondents in stadng , once for all , that we are not to be meddled wilh as some appear to think , and be tol J what to do with our own properties and institutions , unless it can be proved that our Committees