What Is Freemasonry ?

WHAT IS FREEMASONRY ?

BY BRO . E . NAVARRE . P . M . In consequence of the repeated attacks of which Freemasonry is continually the object , we think it necessary to present a few observations which , although far from being new , cannot nevertheless be too often repeated . i

What is Freemasonry , « n ^ what « it < = nhjont- > In its essence Freemasonry is nothing less than the practice of virtue and good breeding works fraternity and the love of well doing . As such it presents itself from its origin , although it may have experienced changes in its modification ,

organization , or government , required by the wants of the times , it has never deviated from those noble principles which make the richness of its science , and which render it eternally invincible . To every man who desires to know , It says , knock and it shall be opened unto thee , ask and it shall be given unto thee , seek and

thou shalt find . How many men of the world who have come under its influence have been thankful for the great benefits they have obtained ; how many ignorant or unjust have seen themselves , to their great astonishment , become brothers virtuous , if not learned , the consequence of the principles of lig ht and truth which have been inculcated ?

In our temples thc profane axiom , " Mondus vult decipit ergo decipiatur , " ( The world wants to be cheated then let us cheat it ) , is altogether unknown , and the whole truth is one of its most brilliant lights . Concord and friendship are held in the highest veneration , and as a father piticth his children , so Freemasonry cherishes its children . It has the same anxious

solicitude for all its offspring , whether princes , nobles , merchants , or artisans , and it never recognises the slightest difference in them , whether English , French , Americans or Greeks , Russians , or Spaniards , or Prussians , the same path is open to all , for it is only by work that

the fruit is gathered . But fco be recipients of those generous gifts , there are duties which we must perform ( we cannot shrink from ) , but which , nevertheless , arc easy to fulfil to a man of noble and generous heart animated with sentiments of well doing , of beauty , and of truth . We will consider for a moment this

essentially capital point , because it constitutes precisely the strength of our Great Family , and causes at the same time the vain attack of the piejudiced , the falsehood , hypocrisy , ignorance , or wickedness of societies of men which will fall the day when the principles of Light and

Truth shall prevail . In our temples the " Bond of Unity , ' which animates us , obliges us to contract express obligations from which we dare not deviate , without running the danger of a terrible chastisement , which will meet us at every point , by the means of the fifteen millions

of children possessed by Freemasonry on the face of the earth . It may be understood by that alone how much the Freemason is urged to meditation before committing an action which may bj one fell stroke , cause his destruction . On the other side we see every clav the

profane thoughtless commit a wrong action as easy as he would commit a right . Nothing binds him , nothing attracts him . He feels himself alone , and hence , careless of his actions , hence , our strength . By the means of a sign , by a word , everywhere a brother is found , a friend who can

console yon ancl succour ) ou , love you . Without constraint , without affectation , you can tell your all , you can confide in him , and nothing will ever transpire ; you can receive without shame the help lie oilers you , because in "Freemasonry , " the left hand knoweth not what the right hand doeth . In fact , never in this wicked

world a society practices better these beautiful maxims of the philosopher "par excellence " —Christ—Love , succour and honour one another — " Do unto others as you would they should clo unto you "—Peace andconcord , union and friendship , fraternity and solidity ( unity ) , among all . Such is Freemasonry .

To receive all men with indulgence who are willing , instruct them if they know not , correct them if imperfect , give them to understand if they are ignorant of thc art of well-doing , of beauty , aud of truth , the respect we owe to each other

What Is Freemasonry ?

the protection of the weak against the strong , of the widow and orphan , the love of brethren the consolation of the afflicted , the tolerance of all high aspirations when based upon honest sentiments . Freemasonry , as we have already said , numbers about fifteen millions of children upon the earth , all capable of understanding each

other . Who knows but that one dav i * *"' **« J- *« --tkot gl-o _ t F . __ i _ . il _ u long sought for by the learned , " an universal language . " Oh , profane world ! tell us is there in thy bosom a group of men who understand to such perfection the love of well-doing , of justice , and fraternity .

Multum In Parbo,Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

THE " SCARBOROUGH MS . " CANADA . The Masonic students of both hemispheres , and particularly those in the United States and Great Britain , will be delighted to hear that the MS . to which we directed attention some little

time since , and which Bros . Norton and Hyneman , of the United States , have been most energetic in their exertions to trace , has at last been discovered , and is now in the possession of an accomplished Mason , resident in Hamilton , viz ., Bro . J . B . Harris , Grand Secretary .

Bro . Hyneman , per Bro . Norton , kindly sent me a transcript of the MS . in question which appeared in the Mirror and Keystone ( edited by the former ) on August 22 nd , i 860 , and as reference was made therein to its beimj- dated 1 Coe , we felt quite certain that the early period

ascribed to it was an error , but alas , on enquiries being made of the Rev . J . Wilton Kerr , who owned it , he had lent it , and the brother to whom he had loaned the precious document having died , his books and papers were scattered ?

However , his friends renewed the search , and advertised right and left for the MS . and the result is that the valuable record is placed for security in the hands of the Grand Secretary of Canada .

A copy of this " old charge has been published in the Craftsman and Canadian Masonic Record for this month , and in an editorial notice we find that 1 705 is the right date of the MS . and not 1505 , the 7 having been altered to *; ancl hence the erroneous date of the sixteenth

century . The editor informs us that a microscopic examination shows a difference in the colour of the ink between that part of the figure which makes a good seven , and that part which has been added if the seven has been

transformed into live . It is a very awkward and unsymmetrical five as it stands ; remove the part supposed to be added , ancl a very good seven remains . Our excellent Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., and myself have christened this document the " Scarborough MS . " because

it was evidently transcribed for the Masons who assembled in that town , 10 th July , 170 *; , in all probability by virtue of a deputation from the OKI Lodge of York . We shall have occasion to refer to this old MS . again shortly , meanwhile we

desire to express our delight at Us discovery , and to thank Bro . George Kenning , the spirited Proprietor of the Freemason for the copy of the Craftsman announcing the fact . W . J . I-I U ( J HAN . Truro , 24 th Feb ., 1874 .

Masonic Bibliography.

MASONIC BIBLIOGRAPHY .

Mistakes will occur in the " best regulated families , " and even among that excellent ancl useful body of men , " Printers . " I have to call attention to three misprints in my last little communication , which otherwise might fairly lead

Bro . Hogg to say to me " Physician heal thyself . " liy a redundancy of type , " ' " Bremiens " is printed for " Brahmins , " and " Regnurs " for" Reymers , " in my notice of Cleland's book .

While as regards the Latin , it is clearly " canine " as it appeared in print . The ( 'notation in the work is , " Antiquos ausus recltitlere fontes . " A . F . A . WoODl'OI'D . I wish also to c ; ill attention lo a curious nnd somewhat scarce work , entitled " Rosea : Cruces

Masonic Bibliography.

Frater , " with a very long title page , which I need not transcribe . It is written by S- Mundum Christopheri F . Theosophix ac Pansophiae Amantem , and is printed in 1619 , though no

name of place is given . The work is in German , and has as the heading of the pages , " Bruder Sp ' _ - ° V and is in truth a most violent attack , on the Rosicrucian Fraternity .

In it allusion is made to another work of the writer , termed " Speck auf der Fallen , " and also to a Rosicrucian work , " Clypeum Veritatis , " which I have not seen . Perhaps Bro , Hughan has . A . F . A . WOODFORD .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

For the Week ending Friday , March , 0 , 1874 .

Th , Editor will be glad to have notice from Secretaries of Lodges and Chapters of any change in place or time of meeting .

Saturday , February 28 . Consecration of the Thames Valley Lodge , Ship Hotel , Shepperton , at 3 . 30 . Lodge 1297 West Kent , Forest Hill Hotel , Forest Hill . Red Cross Conclave No . 6 , Roman Eagle , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street .

Manchester Lodge of Instruction ( 179 ) , Yorkshire Grey . 77 , London-strect , Fitzroy-square , at 8 ; Bro . H . Ash , Preceptor . Lily Lodge of Instruction ( 820 ) , Greyhound Hotel , Richmond , Surrey . Star Lodge of fnstruction ( 1275 ) , Marquis of Granby , New Cross-road , at 7 ; Bro . C . G . Dillcy , Preceptor .

Monday , March 2 . Lodge 2 , Fortitude and Old Cumberland , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . „ 25 , Robeit Burns , Freemasons' Hall . „ 72 , Royal Jubilee , _ Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-st . „ 83 , United Lodge of Prudence , Albion Tavern ,

Aldcrsgate-st . „ 144 , St . Luke ' s , Masons' Hall , Masons' Avenue . „ 188 , Joppa , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-st . „ 25 6 , Unions , Freemason ' s Hall . ,, 1319 , Asaph , Freemasons' Hall , Chap . 1056 , Victoria , Masons' Hall , Masons' Avenue .

Mark Lodge 139 , Panmure , Balham Hotel , Balham . Red Cross Conclave , Premier , Freemasons' Tavern , Great Queen-st . l ' rince Leopold Lodge of fnstruction ( 1445 ) , Lord Stanley Tavern , Sandringham-road , Kingsland , at 7 ; Bro . T . Austin , Preceptor .

Strong Man Lodge of fnstruction ( 45 ) , Old Jerusalem Tavern , St . John ' s-gate , Clerkenwell , at 8 j Bro . Beckett , Preceptor . Sincciity Lodge of fnstruction ( 174 ) , Railway Tavern , Fenchurch-street Station , at 7 . Camden Lodge of Instruction ( 704 ) , Adelaide Tavern ,

Haverstock-hill , at . 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Eastern Star Lodge of Instruction ( 95 ) , Royal Hotel , Milcend-road , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . E . Gottheil , Preceptor . British Oak Lodge cf Instruction , Bank ot Friendship Tavern , Mile-end , at 7 for 8 . St . James ' s Union Lodge of Instruction fi 8 o ) , Horse and

Groom 1 avcrn , Winslcy-strcct ( opposite the Pantheon ) , Oxford-street , at 8 ; Bro . J . R . Stacey , Preceptor . Wellington Lodge of fnstruction , White Swan Tavern , Deptford , at 8 ; Bro . C . G . Dilley , P . M . 115 c , Preceptor .

St . John of Wapping Lodge of fnstruction ( 1306 ) , Gun Tavern , High-street , Wapping , at 8 ; Bro . T . Mortlock , Preceptor . West Kent Lodge of Improvement ( 1297 ) , St . Saviour ' s College , Stansted-road , Forest-hill , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . H . W . Lindus , Preceptor .

Metropolitan Mark Lodge of Instruction , Coach and Horses Hotel , 313 , Strand , at 8 . Tuesday , March 3 . Colonial Board , at 3 . Ix-dge 7 , Royal York of Perseverance , Freemasons

Hall . „ 1 , Albion , Freemasons' Hall . „ 18 , Old Dundee , London Tavern , Bishopsgatc-st . ., 101 , Temple , Ship and Tuitle , Leadenhall-st „ 172 , Old Concord , Freemasons' Hall .

„ 217 , Stability , Andeiton ' s Hotel , f'lect-st . „ 255 , Harmony , Greyhound Hot' -l , Richmond . „ 7 65 , St . J . une- ' s , Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge . ,, 12 ^ 7 , Grosvenor , Caledonian Hotel , Adelphi .

,, 1259 , Duke of Edinburgh , Cape of Good Hope lav . Commercial-road East . ., 12 ( 11 , Golden Rule , Hotel Royal , Air-st ., Regent-st . „ 1298 , Royal Standard , Marquess Tavern ,

Canonbury . „ 1381 , Kennington , Surrey Tavern , Kennington Oval . 11 1383 , Friends in Council , 33 , Golden-square . 11 ' 3 'J / i Anerley , Thicket Hotel , Anerley . Chapter 1 Cy , Temperance , White Swan , Deptford , j