Correspondence.

Correspondence .

Wc do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents , ] but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limitsfree discussion . I

IS FREEMASONRY A RELIGION ? To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Most Masons who regularly attend lodges of instruction will agree with Bro . Lovell's suggestion that such lodges would do splendid work for the Craft if they paid more attention to the symbolical meaning of our beautiful ritual , and less to a " parrot-like imitation of the ceremonial . "

I trust his letter may be brought under the notice of most Preceptors , and be duly pondered by them . Laxity in this connection is a danger to the best interests of our grand old Institution . —Yours fraternally , P . M .

QUALIFICATION OF PAST PRINCIPALS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you kindly inform me if a companion who has ceased to be a subscribing member of a chapter for about xo years , although he passed the chair of M . E . Z . several times , can be a member of Grand Chapter , or can he become a Grand Officer of Grand Chapter .

Rule 2 , in Royal Arch Regulations , is not very clear on that point , it only says : " as a Past First Principal , it does mention H . or J . " I should also like the opinion of some old P . M . E . Z . Thanking you in anticpation . —Yours fraternally , AN OLD P . M . E . Z .

THE DANGER FROM WITHIN . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , The Brotherhood of Freemasonry—this ancient Institution so essential to human welfare—appears to be at present imperilled by serious dangers which

will try it more severely than the constantly renewed attacks of its opponents from . without . A clear insight into the nature of Freemasonry will be as requisite as a cool treatment of existing differences , if the threatening peril of division of the Brotherhood is to be avoided , and thorough unity in spirit , laws , and fundamental convictions established .

If anything can rouse the conscience , insure wise moderation , and prevent passion and fanatic persistence in individual opinions within the Grand Lodges , it should be the conviction that all the regrettable differences in laws , rites , and opinions are the result of a long historical evolution . If this development has produced an unsound and anomalous condition of things , all Grand Lodges are to be held responsible , conjointly , and all are answerable for their share in it .

Therefore , it would be unjust to put the blame on one or the other Grand Lodge in particular , or to insist on one ' s own infallibility . And nothing is to be hoped from attempting to solve pending questions by forced means , which might not unlikely make matters worse . The present state of things is owing to the fact that no common law was laid down to secure unity when the Order of Freemasons was called into existence ,

and the several Grand Lodges were established . It is true that the first Grand Lodge of England was based on inviolable principles , which were to form a ' universal law ; but these were not laid down in clear , precise terms , and never insisted upon when new lodges or Grand Lodges were established . Thus from the beginning free scope was given to individual ideas , and , for want of a common

basis and strictly-defined laws , the Grand Lodges were left too much to themselves . Who can wonder at so many and serious divergencies arising , even on fundamental points , especially in the case of American lodges , where quite unessential matters and subjective individual prejudices have been raised to the rank of landmarks .

This splitting up has been considerably favoured by the ignorance of brothers , lay brothers , and Grand Lodges in reference to the history , rites , and Masonic laws and in no less degree by the influences of public opinion which in France and elsewhere assumed the direct negative , owing to the growth of Radicalism , or as in England , America , and partly in Germany took too much account of religious professions and dogmatic prejudices .

In this way we have arrived at a point where danger threatens the Brotherhood—which should be universal and strong like an unbreakable chain—into hostile camps and burst the unison of the Craft . Apart from less important questions , such as the American despotism on total abstinence , the questions as to the Bible —( thc Bible is not on the Altar of the Grand Lodges in Hungary , France , Belgium , Italy , Mexico , perhaps also in the

Netherlands , Argentina , & c , and some German lodges)—and religious belief have been put on the order of the day . These , if not treated with calm consideration , tolerance , and in a conciliatory spirit are apt to arouse religious passions and fanaticism and make an end to the highest aspirations of the Craft , viz ., liberty of thought , tolerance , and brotherly love .

This danger seems to be the greater as deviations from the old traditions have taken place no less in England and America than in France and those Grand Orients where questions as to the Bible and religious belief have caused anxiety , uneasiness , and complaints .

And not only this , the Grand Lodges who differ on these questions do not stand on the ground of the documentary basis of Masonic laws , but more or less on subjective views , influenced on both sides by the course of thought prevalent in our days , whether this arises from misconception of scientific progress or narrow-minded religious dogmatism .

To avert this danger and pave the way for a satisfactory solution of existing differences it will be necessary to revert to the old documents and the original intentions of Freemasonry which stand far and away above the passing spirit of the times and religious prejudices , viz ., on the sound basis of the fullest freedom of conscience and tolerance . On this ground an understanding should be arrived at which offers guarantees for a strong and sound develpment of the Craft .

It ihould be mentioned here that the deviations from the old principles of Freemasonry adopted by the Grand Lodges of the Swedish system and the Grand Lodgeof the Three Globes at Berlin arc much greater and more serious than , for instance , the removal of the Bible from the altar .

A great deal , if not everything , will depend upon the Grand Lodge of England , ln order to arrive at a firm basis lor mutual exchange of views and for an understanding , it would be useful to translate into English for publication in the I ' rccmiison the following parts from Findel ' s book : "Der Freimaurer Gedauke , " ra'e 32 to 43 , together with the supplement—Fundamental Law of the Order .

Correspondence.

This publication in the Freemason would place the contents before the Masonic press and before the American Grand Lodges . In no case must the Federation go behind the original lofty and free intentions or the old documents ; it must avoid drifting into clerical channels if it means to uphold its high purpose and influence . The way marked out for us is this—from Division to . Unity , in Liberty , Tolerance , and Brotherly Love .

" Unity in essential points , Liberty in minor matters , Love under all circumstances . "—( Augustiaus ) . J . G . FINDEL . Leipzig , August .

THE RELIGION OF FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In attempting any definition of the faith that we hold , it is most essential to avoid the mistake that the old lady made when asked her ideas on religion . She replied , " by religion , I mean the Christian religion , by the Christian

religion I mean the Protestant religion , and by the Protestant religion I mean the Presbyterian religion , and no other is the Christian religion . " As Freemasons , we stand by the Bible , but are not bound to any particular man's creed , dogma , or doctrine , that he may adduce therefrom , or tied to any particular church or sect called Christian ; we are , in fact , a peculiar people , set apart as it were to maintain the Truth , and not a truth , or portion of the truth which other people hold .

There is no higher or better definition of religion than that recorded in Holy Writ , which states " that all the law and the prophets is comprised in the love of God and the love of one's neighbour . " This is quite unsectarian and cosmopolitan ; we ought to encourage nothing less . I think Bro . Lovell's ideas as to the necessity of studying the significance of our symbols is good . Could not a lodge of " Esoterics " be formed for this purpose ? I believe it would be a success if worked on original lines .

As to the origin of the word " Mason , " no one has mentioned Leigh Hunt s essay on the question . He traces it to Maison—a house—because when the Society was interdicted and "banned " by the Church , and thebrethren of the " mystic tie" were forced to meet secretly in their houses , or " maisons , " and to disguise their aim , they called themselves , or were nicknamed , " Masons . " This ,

I think , is most likely to be the real source of the name , and the trade emblems used were , of course , part of the disguise , and had no reference whatever to trade guilds or mechanical work . —Yours fraternally , T . MAY , 7 S 4-40 , Spondon-road , Tottenham .

Reviews.

Reviews .

"U SEFUL HANDBOOKS . " ( Ward , Lock , and Co ., Limited , Salisbury-square , E . G . ) . —This new Penny scries is remarkable for the valuable and abundant information , ably condensed within some 90 pages each , of closely , but clearly , p rinted matter . They include Gardening , Cookery , Toilet , Doctor , Poultry , Letter-writer , Dictionary ( most useful ) , Manners , Reckoner , Home , Landlord and Tenant ( valuable ) , Photograph y ( practical ) , Tables , and Cricket ; the last being very handy respecting the Laws as revised by the Marylebone Cricket Club , May , 1 S 94 . They are mostly dated in the present year , and are marvels at the price .

"S HILLING GUIDE BOOKS . "—( Ward , Lock , and Co ., Limited , London aud all Booksellers ) . —These popular , pictorial , and practical guides comprise many of the chief cities , towns , and tourist neighbourhoods of England , Scotland , and Ireland ( also a few for the Continent ) , and are not to be excelled for either the variety and accuracy of their information , io date ( lavishly illustrated , numerous maps and plans ) , or the able arrangement of the text and the interesting character of the contents generally . We have before us six of the series , and can speak with confidence as to their handiness ,

trustworthiness , and completeness . London is a wonderful compilation , in its 17 th edition ( 1 S 9 S ) , some 67 , 000 having been printed so far , and the latest issue contains about So illustrations from recent photographs , as well as nine long sectional maps , one for main thoroughfares , out of London , a valuable index to the sections , and a larger "District Railway Miniature" Map of London and Environs . The abundant particulars are neatly arranged and printed , the handy volume running to some 350 pages for is .- ~ Pan ' s is duly attended to in another thick volume , having a large plan of the city and

another of the environs and 40 illustrations ; Scarborough , similarly treated as respects maps , & c , includes excursions to Robin Hood's Bay , Whitby , Filey , Flamborough , and Bridlington j Oban , Fort William and the Western Highlands , is quite a literary omnibus as Iona and Staffa are carefully described besides , and there are appendices for anglers , cyclists , and golfers ; "Falmouth , the Li sard and South Cormoall ' takes in the newly constituted City of Truro ( with good views of the cathedral ); Penzance , Land's End and Scilly Isles has a large map of West Cornwall , and all of these , as with the series generally , are real pictorial and descriptive guides worthy of the high reputation so long enjoyed by this enterprising firm .

General Committee Of Grand Lodge And Board Of Benevolence.

GENERAL COMMITTEE OF GRAND LODGE AND BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

The quarterly meeting of the General Committee of Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday evening , at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street . Bro . Jams ' Henry Matthews , President of the Board of Benevolence , presided . After thc minutes of the previous meeting had been read and declared correctly recorded , the agenda for the Quarterly Communication of September 7 th were submitted to the brethren , and , after the closing of the Committee , the Board of Benevolence

was opened , Bro . j . H . Matthews presiding . There were also present Bros . D . D . Mercer , Senior Vice-President , and C . A . Cottebrune , Junior Vice-President ; Bros . William Lake , Assistant Grand Secretary , George S . Recknell , Cock , and Henry Sadler , Grand Tyler , representing the Gran " Spcn . larv ' s dnnartment _ also Bros . R . Lovtlind Loveland . Henrv Girrod , C . J . ' *•

Tijou , Walter Martin , James Ujulton , George B . Chapman , George Graveley , H . A . Tobias , A . W . Duret , H . Massey , W . Fisher , E . VV . Nightingale , Charlci Henry Stone , W . Kipps , James Kew , John R . Dobree , J . Carey , W . H . Ball , JProcter , Frank Surrey , Arthur N . Mann , Archer M . Archer , S . [ . Fletcher , Jonn Hills , W . T . Harvey , C . Heauda , J . L . Miller , E . Barlow , H . VV . Nicho son , William W . Underbill , F . Compton Stanley , 1 " . Coleman Richardson , and J . »•

Lidmaos . _ , J •»_ , « iJ Bro . HKNKV GAKROD , P . G . P ., before the business was proceeded v / iui , » he would like to mention for the information of the brethren the Clt < ; umstan ? " j the death of a very old and regular attendant at the meetings of this Board , ^ who was for some years its Senior Vice-President . He was sure all main " . ° this Board had always looked up to him with a great deal of respect , and he t ,