Table Of Contents.

TABLE OF CONTENTS .

PAGE MASONIC CURIOSITIES—V . 603 PAST MASTERS 603 & 604 FREEMASONRY AND POLITICS 604 PROV . GRAND LODGE OF NORFOLK ... 604 & 605 THE

CRAFTMetropolitan 605 & 606 Provincial 606 & 60 J INSTRUCTION ' .. 607 RED CROSS OF ROME AND CONSTANTINE ... 607 THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE 608 MULTUM IN PARVO 6 oQ

LODGE OF BENEVOLENCE 609 ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS ... 609 OBITUARYBro . John TJdall , P . J . G . D ... 610 Bro . Dr . John Staples Keddell ~ . 610 & 611 ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE — The Status of D . Prov . G . Masters ... ... 611

The Purple v . West Lancashire 611 MASONIC MISCELLANEA 611 CONSECRATION OF EMBLEMATIC LODGE , No . 1321 611 SCOTLAND .. 612 CANADA 612 EGYPT ... 612 SOUTH AFRICA 612 MASONIC MEETINGS FOR NEXT WIDER 613

Masonic Curiosities.--V.

MASONIC CURIOSITIES .--V .

BY BRO . WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN . P . M . 131 , Prov . Grand Secretary Cornwall , &* c . It is unfortunate that we know so little of Ireland , Masonically . We have been indebted to Bro . Commander Charles Scott , Jt . lY ., for records and information

concerning the Craft in the " Emerald Isle , " and have to thank him once more for copies of the following documents , which are of interest , and are but little known now , although comparatively modern : — To the Right Honorable and Honorable the Lords

Spiritual and Temporal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament Assembled , The Humble Petition of the undersigned Members of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Ireland ,

HUMBLY SHEWETH—That an Act having passed the Legislature in the last sessions of Parliament for the suppression of societies connected together by a secret bond of union , the Freemasons of Ireland . everprompt to obey the Laws of theircountry , immediately decided upon a suspension of their

meetings until an appeal could be made to the Imperial Parliament on their behalf . That notwithstanding they might have continued to meet without the possibilities of incurring the penalties the law ; yet as they were of opinion that a full opportunity

was not afforded to parliament to appreciate their principles and their conduct , they have preferred to avail themselves of the opportunity of addressing the Legislature of the country on the object of their Society .

That the Freemasons have from time

immemorial existed as a Charitable , benevolent , and peaceable institution , disclaiming all religious or political differences , and by their fundamental principles they are prohibited from even the consideration of such subjects . That the Freemasons of the British Empire have

had the honor to have enrolled amongst their members his most Gracious Majesty , and , we believe , all the male branches of his august family ; together with so many of the Nobility and of the Magistracy in general as becomes an ample guarantee not only for the purity of their principles , but for the general conduct of the Society hereafter .

That those principles were so fully felt and acknowledged by the Legislature when passing the English act of the 39 th of his late majesty King George the 3 rd for the prevention of illegal societies , that the Freemasons of Great Britain are particularly exempted from the provisions of that act , and certain regulations arc therein established for their conduct .

The Freemasons of Ireland therefore , not yielding to any class of his Majesty ' s subjects in loyalty to the Throne or inobedienceto the laws of the Realm , most respectfully entreat your Honorable House that they may be exempted from the provisions of the Act of last sessions of parliament respecting secret societies in Ireland , and placed in a similar situation with the Freemasons of Great Britain .

Dublin December , 1823 . Sir and Brother—Herewith you have copy of petitionwhich it is intended to have presented to the meeting of Parliament .

Masonic Curiosities.--V.

It has been suggested that petitions from each district , praying relief , but expressed in different modes , may obtain more attention particularly if presented by the member of Parliament for such Town or County . If that proceeding meets your Idea have , one

prepared , as soon as possible and signed by the Masons in your Neighbourhood , if not you will please get strips of parchment with the above affixed to be signed and sent to me to be attached to the petition sent from Dublin .

Your obedient servant , WILL . T . GRAHAM , D . G . S . N . B . —No seal to be affixed . The strips of parchment to be ten inches wide , the signatures in three columns , and two such copies of the signatures will be necessary for the Lords and Commons .

Grand Lodge of Emergency . Dublin , Nov . 10 th , 1831 . It was moved and seconded " That the Ancient rights and privileges of the Order , as far as respects public processions , be restored , " which , after an ample discussion , was earned in the affirmative .

By order , C J . FOWLER , D . G . Sec . Sir and Brother , —The Grand Lodge having considered that the time is now arrived when the prohibition against processions is no longer so essentially necessary , as it appeared to them to

have been heretofore , and finding the lodges m the country so universally consider the removal of the restriction as likely to be advantageous to the Order , they have therefore rescinded the prohibition . In communicating this pleasing intelligence , I cannot avoid expressing my most anxious hopes

that the lodges in your neighbourhood will see the necessity of redoubled vigilance and strictness on their part that there may not be any ground for censure against them either forpermittingparty tunes to be played , wearing party emblems , joining with any other societies in procession , or being involved

in quarrels and disputes , offences against Masonry for which no lenity can be expected , by which conduct the respected name of Freemasonry may be brought into disrepute , and your friends in the Grand Lodge considered as having supported a measure rather injurious than beneficial to the Order .

On the zealous and energetic conduct of the Officers I therefore rely with the utmost confidence , and I trust may not , even in a single instance , have the painful duty of presenting to the Grand Lodge complaints resulting from their recent decision .

I am , Sir and Brother , Your obedient servant , C . J . FOWLER . As the foregoing speak for themselves , no explanatory remarks are required .

The annexed begging petition is quite unique in its way , and is certainly " the most impudent of its kind " I have ever read : — Anne Ville , Cullenswood , Dublin , 8 th August , 1854 . Dear Sir and Brother , —Allow me to bring under

your kind consideration a matter personally connected with myself : — Being about to emigrate to New Zealand , I have been urged by many friends to announce to the Brotherhood my intention , as it would afford them an opportunity of testifying that fraternal love which is the holiest attribute of the Order .

I must confess I have had a strong disinclination and great repugnance to adopt this course , but I have been persuaded that being about to consign myself to what might be for a time unfriended exile , in the hope of establishing in a far off distant land a home for my large helpless family of children of

tender age , varying from twelve years to eight months , the Brotherhood would feel pleasure in lending a helping hand , more particularly when I announce to them that Brother John Fowler , the Deputy Grand Secretary , who for sixty-two years has devoted himself to Masonry , is the father of my

wife , the Grandsire of my children . Far be it from me to seek that the cold hand of charity may be held out as to one applying in the mean spirit of a mendicant ; on the contrary , I have been assured that my Brethren in bestowing their gifts will feel they are but awarding a mark of

honour—a tribute of respect . The undermentioned gentlemen have kindly consented to become recipients of the proposed fund , in trust for , Yours faithfully and fraternally , THEODORE B . VERDON .

In our next we will present a copy of a Craft certificate for A . D . 1797 , and a few other " curiosities , " so as to use the favours sent us by friends . ( To be continued ) .

Past Masters.

PAST MASTERS .

SCOTTISH v . ENGLISH . BY . BRO . CHALMERS I . PATON , Author of "Freemasonry in Relation to Civil Authority and the Family Circle . "

The Past Master of a Freemason ' s Lodge has always been regarded as entitled to high honour , as well he may , seeing that he is one whom his brethren have at some

time elected to the exalted position of Worshipful Master , as he is styled in England , and Right Worshipful Master as he is styled in Scotland , and who in both countries has , for twelve months at least

and perhaps for a much longer time , discharged the duties of that office , serving the Craft and ruling in his lodge . It is , however , a peculiarity of Scottish Freemasonry that the title of Past Master is often

conferred upon brethren who have never been elevated to the office of Right Worshipful Master in any Craft lodge . There is a degree worked in Scotland , under the sanction of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch

Chapter of Scotland , called the Past Master ' s Degree , which is in a manner somewhat similar to the installation ceremonial of the Worshipful Master of an English Lodge . This degree has been introduced by the

Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland , for the purpose of giving to brethren the title of Past Master , which is often assumed , in virtue of this alone , by those who have never been installed in the

office of Right Worshipful Master in any Craft Lodge ; and at Masonic meetings of every kind—at balls , dinners , suppers , and processions—these titular Past Masters wear the jewel appertaining to this degree , and

many honours due to it are accorded to them . But when a Scottish Right Worshipful Master having become a Past Master enters ail English lodge , although he is permitted , if he chooses , to wear the jewel

of this degree , and is treated with a respect appropriate to it , his position is far from being equal to that of the Past Master of an English lodge . He is not accepted as immediately eligible to the office of

Worshipful Master , as an English Past Master would be , but before he canbe elected to that office , must serve the Craft in the inferior offices , which although , really and not merely nominally a Past Master , he has

already filled in Scotland . One who is really a regular Past Master in virtue of having served as a Right Worshipful Master may thus be placed in a position inferior to

that which he ought to occupy , because of the favour unduly conferred upon brethren who have never been Right Worshipful Masters of any lodge at all .

No Scottish Past Master is received m England as the real Past Master of a lodge , because it is known that the dignity is conferred in Scotland upon those to whom it does not rightly belong . A Scottish Past Master

is treated with honour proper to his degree , and wears the appropriate jewel in an English lodge , but these are things comparatively unimportant whilstheis not permitted to be present at a Board of Installed

Worshipful Masters , and in no English lodge could he enjoy this privilege . Further , he is not eligible for election to the chair of an English lodge , even although he may have been an affiliated member for years ,

without first serving in some of the minor offices . A Past Master in England , so long as he continues to pay his contributions to his

lodge , is a member of the Grand Lodge of England , which is composed of the Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of lodges .