The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

from the rules by which all thc other Dublin lodges are bound to make certain returns , pav certain fees , ancl submit their candidates for the approval of the Board of Charity ,

and Inspection before they can be initiated . As far as the money portion of thc exemption is concerned , I believe the funds of the order do not suffer , as the usage of Grand Master ' s lodge is

to pay in a sum equivalent to what would be the fees , if any other lodge were in question . This sum is given in as a donation , not as a matter of dues to the order .

To find the origin of those special privileges , we have to look back in the history of the order in Ireland . We cannot trace its annals here , further back than the year 17 , 3 0 , when the first

Irish Grand Lodge was established in Dublin , and Lord Kingston , who one year previously had been made Grand Master of England , was elected to the same position overthe Irish Freemasons .

Matters went on smoothl y' for some years , till after the death of Viscount Allen , the Grand Master , in 1 745 , when great difficulty was experienced iu endeavouring to get brethren of standing and title to preside over the Fraternity .

In 1 749 the Grand Master , LordKingsborough , the Past Grand Master , Wyvill , and several other brethren of distinction , met in a Iodge , and as a reward for their efforts to revive and consolidate

Freemasonry , received the name of " the Grand Master ' s Lodge , " and the privileges since appended to that particular body . The ori gin of their privileges is clearl y shewn , the only question is

should those privileges he made , so to speak , hereditary , and should a principle opposed to the rudiments of Freemasonry- be continued in thc working of the Craft . The effect has been , and

is to create jealousy and disunion in the order , to raise up in its midst an aristocratic element , totall y opposed to the ideas of whicii Freemasonry

is the embodiment , to create class distinctions in the jilace where they should have no footing , and to give a practical denial to the boast of the order , thai its members " meet on the level . ' '

Somewhat analogous distinctions were conferred , under the English Constitution , on thc English "Grand Stewards' Leidge , " in the year i / . jj , : md 1 need not dwell on the bickerings and

dissensions winch those distinctions subscqiienth gave rise to . The only privileges now retained b y that body , I am instructed , are the ri ght ol not being numbered , and of being placed , in the

books of Grand Lodge , eSrc , atthe head of al other lodges , and r .-iiiking arcorelmglv . There is oneelement in the eonstitutioiiof Grand Stewards Lodge , distinguishing it completely from 0111

Grand Masters' Lodge . It is constituted as a Master Mason ' s Lodge , anil consequentl y has no power of making , passing , or raising Masons . " Now there can be no objection to liie ( irand

Master s Lodge retaining its name-, i-. i .-. oid 01 " a number , and taking die precedence over oilier lodges . Some lodge must stand lirst on die list , and as there is alread y a No . 1 I . oehe , it

would be difficult to adjust tlie question of precedence in any other way . Bul if the integrity of . Alasonic princijiles is to be maintained , il

our much vaunted platform oi equably is to hi a reality anel not a sham , if we would exclude , from our futur , dissension and discord , arising from a posith e nurturing of the aristocratic , ele-

The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

ment in our midst , all the other privileges of Grand Master ' s Lodge must be either surrendered or swept away . Granted , as they orig inall y were , as a reward for special Masonic services , their

continuance now is not onl y unmasonic , but injurious . The members of Grand Master ' s Lodge are not now pre-eminentl y distinguished , as such , for Masonic zeal or Masonic ability , and

the conferring on a mere novice , who , by virtue of his social position or connections , is considered suitable to them as a member , and who lias not been submitted to the scrutiny to which all the

other Dublin candidates have to be subjected , of distinctions superior to those possessed h y any but tbe Grand Officers , is subversive of the principles of the Order , and opposed to its best

interests . It is not the first time that tins question has been agitated ; it has long been felt that the distinctions conferred on this particular lodge are

unmasonic antl unjust to other lodges , but on former occasions expediency carried thc day , and princi p le was left , as often happens , in the back srround . Now however we are about to settle our

Constitutions for , I hope , some considerable tame , to come and consequently now is thc time to correct existing abuses . If the members of Grand Master ' s Lodge would but look at the subject

from a proper Masonic . standpoint , they ought to he the first to propose to follow the example of our Most Worshi pful Grand Alaster , who , in the proposed new laws , seems to have waived and

surrendered certain privileges , secured to bun under tbe Constitution at jiresent existing . Such a course of conduct on their part would entitle them to the respect and esteem of all their

brethren , but if on the contrary , they cling to those old privileges , merely because they are old , and ignore their inconsistency with the progressive sjiirit of the age , which tells on Freemasonry , as

on all other organisations . If they , the members of a " subordinate lodge , "' insist on privileges that distinguish them from all other subordinate lodges , and places them , so to speak , on a

pedestal above those -whom the } - profess to " meet on the level , " it rests wilh the Craft at large to decide , whether those privileges shall or shal . l not be continued , ( irand Lodge conferred

them , and undoubtedl y Grand Lodge can , if it so wills , rescind them . J find that the fact is not generall y known , that , in the Royal Arch Degree , a Warrant was obtained for a " Grand

Alaster s Chapter , and 111 the Order ol High Knights Templar , one for a " ( irand Commander ' s Encampment , " to which warrants all the privileges enjoyed in Craft Alasonry by

" Tne ( .-rand Alaster ' s Lodge " are attached : the members , for instance , not being subject to the approval of the Koyal Arch Committee of Inspection , nor to the ballot in ( irand Conclave ,

which all oilier candidates for the degree of Knight Templar have to submit lo . Whatever ¦ ¦ how of reason the members of Grand Master ' s Loelge have- for their jirivileges , based as they

undoubtedl y are , on a vote of ( irand Loelgi for special svr \ ices to Masonry by the ori ginal lodge , no such reason can be urged fen either the " Grand Master ' s Chajiter , '' or the

* Grand Commander ' s Encampment ; ' and it thc Grand Loelge shoultl in us wisdom remove those privileges , or if , which 1 fear is very unlikely , "Grand Alasters Loelge" should think Jit to

The Future Of Freemasonry In Ireland.

surrender them , it is a question for tbe members of those other degrees , how far thc exceptional privileges of those brethren could be permitted to continue .

JOSEPH H . WOODWORTH , P . AI . Commercial Lodge , No . 245 . Dublin , April 15 th , 1872 .

The Representation Of The Grand Mark Lodge Of England In American Chapters.

THE REPRESENTATION OF THE GRAND MARK LODGE OF ENGLAND IN AMERICAN CHAPTERS .

Tlie following introduction and foot notes are by Bro . T . S . Tisdall , p , f , the talented Editor of the Alasonic department of Powerofs Democrat , New York , and the letter is by our well-known

and valued contributor to the Freemason , Bro . W . J . Hughan . It refers especiall y to the representation of the

Mark Grand Lodge in American Grand Chapters , and will be read with great interest b y the many who are anxious to see the action of the

Grand Chapters ofPennsylvania and Iowa , followed by all the Grand Chapters in the United States . We may state Bro . Hughan denies that even the Alark Alasters , degree was g iven to a Fellow-Craft , although he admits the " Alark Alan "

was . I ' m-: AIARK . DEC REM REPRESENTATION . —LET TER or BRO . HUGHAN , OF ENGLAND . Ou the 17 th of February last we made some

remarks relative to the recognition of the Grand Mark Lodge of England , and affiliation with it by representation of the Grand Chapter of Iowa . We expressed our doubts as to the possibility of

a bod y of hi g her degree , as is a Grand Chapter , affiliating with one of inferior grade , upon equal terms , as is a Grand Murk Lodge . The Grand

Chapters 111 America are merel y legislative and appellate bodies . They are not workshops where degrees are conferred . Every matter brought before them for lesrislation must emanate from a

Subordinate Chapter , or a member of one ; for a G . Chajiter is composed solely of R . A . Chapters , and Comjianions of the hig hest grade conferred in such bodies . We have no objection at all to

the Murk Masters- ol" England being recognised and fraternised with by the Alark Masters of America ; on the contrary , we should rejoice it it .

The troublous question is , how is it to be done under the Present American organisation ? Desirous of arriving at a solution of the subject , we jiresent our readers with a letter of date ,

Alarch 6 th , from Bro . W . J . Hughan , of Truro , England , who has devoted much time , and successfully , to the study of oltl Alasonic manuscrijits and ancient history of the Craft . Wc should like to have from some of our American

Companions suggestions as to meeting 111 a jirojicr manner the desires of" our English brethren / ¦ ¦ . ]¦ : ) hi <> . Ti .-. pw . L , , ;¦;'' , —

" From what I have seen of your able management ol " the Alasonic Department of Piiiiieriii / s Demneral , there will be no need for me to apologise in troubling you with a few remarks

relative tei tlie- ( irand Chajitcr 01 Iowa antl Grand Mark Lodge of England , ' about which you wrote February 17 i . i 1 , 1 S 72 . The-fact that we may eliilvr slig htl y will not alter your desire to hear the English view of the subject , raid 1 fee ] sure