Peace Or. War.

of rushing into the field , when they were able to obtain by quiet negociation all the real good that victory could have brought us . Of victory indeed , every nation is confident before the cwnrrl is drawn : and this mutual confidence

produces that wantonness of bloodshed that has so often disolated the world . But it is evident , that of contradictory opinions one must be wrong ; and the history of mankind does not want examples that may teach caution to the daring , and moderation to the proud . "

Letter Of Bro. Caubet To The Editor Of The "Freemason."

LETTER OF BRO . CAUBET TO THE EDITOR OF THE "FREEMASON . "

TRANSLATED FROM THE "M ONDE MACONNKJUE" OCTOBER . Very dear Brother , — .. You have had a thousand-fold reason for considering the assertions of the " Globe" newspaper

calumnious . There never have existed under the obedience of the Grand Orient of France lodges belonging partly to Freemasonry and partly to Carbonarism . The Masonic work and the work of the Carbonari have no resemblance in any manner . The first is a work of peace and fraternity among honest men of all beliefs . The second has been a special work of combat against

a political party . The Grand Orient has no authority , and never has had any , but over Masonry . Carbonarism had to direct it , a Vente Supreme ( Supreme Vente ) , completely alien in all things from Masonic authority . Never have the French lodges thought of substituting any sort of parody on the civil marriage , the only legal

one in r ranee . The opinion of the immense majority of Masons would have protested against such a proceeding , and the Grand Orient would never have authorised it . Mr . A . Naquet certainly wrote in i 86 g , a volume in which he lauded extremely Free Love . This book had for a title , Religion , Propriete , Famielle , and not as the

" Globe" says , " La Famille et L'Etat social . " I am ignorant if Mr . Naquet has changed his opinion . I am much disposed to believe it ; but I do know this , that in his book he has made no allusion to Masonry , and especially to the pretended Masonic marriages of which the " Globe " speaks .

This matter of [ the marriages is evidently a bad joke of the editor of that journal , or the reproduction of one of those " contes bleus , " given forth by certain Ultramontane Roman Catholic writers , whose speciality is to calumniate our grand Institution . Accept , dear brother , the assurance of my fraternal sentiments . CAUBET .

A Point Of Law.

A POINT OF LAW .

Many Freemasons of eminence , probably alarmed at the late extraordinary spread of the craft , have left no opportunity unmissed of earnestly advising and imploring the founders of lodges which they have been called upon to consecrate , to be particular to the utmost ilegree in investigating the characters of the candidates

proposed for admission into the Order . That this advice is required , and that it is high time that Grand Lodge should interfere in a manner strong enough to prevent the occurrence of another scandal of a similar nature , must be evident to the mind of every one who peruses the report of a case tried at the Westminster County Court , on Thursday , the ioth inst ., before Mr Judge Baylcy : —

"The Hervey Lodge of Freemasons , No . 1260 , versus Fielder . " The plantiffs sued the defendant , a gentleman residing at 10 , Torriano Avenue , Camden Town , to recover the sum of £ 15 , under somewhat peculiar circumstances . —Mr Stone , counsel for the plantiffs , said the claim was for ten guineas initiation fees and five guineas subscription . —At this stage of the case the

learned judge said that as the Freemasons were not a body corporate they could not sue , and that Freemasons in point of law were a nonentity . —Mr . Stone , on the other hand , said that , on reference to " Pollock ' s Law of Contracts , " p . 775 , all clubs could recover if by law established . —The Judge : In that case you assume to sue as a corporation . —Mr Stone : No ; 1 assure your honour

that , by the fifth order of the New County Courts Act , and on the eighth rule , all persons connected with any society arc each and severally liable to sue . —The Judge : But here no person is named . —Mr . Stone then asked the learned judge to amend the particulars , and allow Mr King ' s ( the Secretary of the lodge ) name to be substituted on the part of the plantiffs , and quoted the

case of " Ruget v . Bishop , " Law Reports , 7 , ? . ? , where a similar case was decided in his favour ; and again stated that Pollock on Contracts supported him at page 19 ;; , where one of many parties who had an interest in a club or society were individually entitled to sue . If his honour were adverse to him on this point perhaps leave would be given to appeal . —The J udge : You have no

right to appeal , as the case cannot be supported , as no individual person was mentioned in the plaint . —Mr . Stone : But the text-books I have quoted arc in opposition to your honour ' s views . —The Judge : I say you cannot support the claim , and I am not bound by Mr . Pollock ' s text-books or any others . I shall , therefore , nonsuit the plantiffs and allow costs . —Judgment for the defendant with costs . — " Sunday Times . "

DAYLIGHT reflected in dark rooms . Gas superseded n day time . Health , comfort , and economy promoted by adopting Chappuis' Patent Daylight Reflectors . — Manufactory , 69 , Fleet-street , London .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain accessary limits—free discussion . —ED . ]

FEMALE FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir , — Once again I trespass on your valuable space , but this time in self defence , and to let " A Freemason ' s Wife " know that , whatever her doubts may be upon the subject , I am a woman , if one by myself , as she

suggests . I expected to find many Masons' wives against me , knowing from experience the feeling existing upon the subject , but I trust some will be of my opinion . Your correspondent appears to think it such a remarkable occurrence that my husband and self can converse freely upon Masonic matters when he is bound by such awful oaths . This idea is simply absurd , as there are so many

interesting subjects connected with Masonry—even the matter contained in your weekly journal is always food for conversation and argument—that she need wonder no longer on that score . She then admits the lodge is no place for modest women ( how about immodest ones ?)—this is not saying much for the Countess Hiidick . However , my idea is this—let Freemasons' wives give over fretting and fuming for knowledge unattainable , and worrying their

husbands in the matter , and rest contented . This would , I think , bring more real happiness between them than an enlightenment as to the mysteries of the Order , even were it possible . I could say much more , but feel now I ought to apologise for occupying your time upon such a controversy . Before concluding , however , I must acknowledge being gratified with your editorial remarks , agreeing with my views upon the above subject , and trust others were the

same . Believe me , dear Sir ; faithfully yours , A FREEMASON ' S WIFE .

ULTRAMONTANISM . 7 b the Editor if the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Pray give me space to draw the attention of our brethren to the subjoined extract from the " Times " of Thursday week : — " R ELIGIOUS SCANIIAI .. —A Roman Catholic scandal has

occurred in Nottingham . A married lady worshipping at the Cathedral , unknown to her husband , consulted Bishop Bagshaw the other day as to the spiritual condition of a girl of 14 who lived with her . The girl having stated that her parents were Protestants , the Bishop said there was no hope for salvation without the pale of the Catholic Church , and he could not even allow her to leave that day without

the bestowal of a baptismal blessing , and through fear she submitted . In reply to the husband's remonstrance , the Bishop contends that duty to the Church overrides duty to parents and husbands . " Far be it from me , if even you were to permit me to take such a course , to say one word either for or against Roman Catholicism , or indeed , any other religious belief or system

whatever ; but I must point out that this over-riding of all authority , human and Divine , this severing of the holiest of all ties , dear alike to God and man , is the action of those who calumniate us , slander us , revile us , excommunicate us , deprive us of the rites of sepulture , desecrate our very graves , and find no worthier epithets to bestow upon our

inoffensive peaccfulness than " putrid , on our charity than " leprosy of heresy . " I remain , dear Sir and Brother , faithfully and fraternally yours , FAIR PI . AV . [ We think that the correspondence on Ultramontanism had better now cease . —En . ]

FATHER FOY ON FREEMASONRY . The following correspondence relative to Father Foy ' s address appeared in the " Hastings Observer , " October 21 st : — Sir , —In his lecture on Secret Societies reported in your last issue , Father Foy brandishes his spiritual shillelagh with great vigour about the heads of Freemasons . 1 trust

he will accept my assurance that in his account of the frightful oath which he says is enforced on every free and accepted Mason , he has either been hoaxed , or has sought for his authority in the pages of a " penny dreadful" or one of the sham publications which innocent countrymen purchase in the delusion that they contain the secrets of Freemasonry . Father Foy must have a most high

imagination if he believes that sensible men , in these days of police and sanitary inspectors , could talk of hanging bodies like the scarecrows magnified by distorted vision into Turkish impalements . I would also assure Father Foy that Masonry , unlike his own creed , inculcates a ready obedience to the laws of whatever country it may be practised in , and as an instance of its worth from a religious

point of view , may mention that 1 have presided over a lodge where a high-taste Brahmin and a Mussulman joined with Catholics and Protestants regularly in praying to their common Father , " O , Lord , who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth ; pour into our hearts that most cxcellent ' gift of charity , the

bond of peace and of all virtues , without which whosoever is counted dead before Thee , " a prayer which , both in word and spirit , I would recommend Father Foy to add to his daily devotions . Yours obediently , A FREEMASON , St . Leonards Club , 17 th October , 1876 .

Sir , —As one perfectly unbiassed with regard to the subject on which the Rev . Mr . Foy is now lecturing , and with a view solely of gaining information , I have read

Original Correspondence.

the discourse chronicled in your last week ' s number , and am obliged to confess my complete disappointment therewith . The real question in my humble opinion appears to be this , " What is the relation between the Society known in England ' as Freemasons , and those on the Continent to which Mr . Foy attributes such' atrocities ? ' " ( that isI

, believe , the popular word just at present . ) Mr . Foy has said a great deal that has been said a thousand times before , perhaps not less forcibly than he has himself just said it ; but with regard to what appears , in my humble opinion , at least to be the point on which information would be valuable , he has told us nothing , and I would therefore venture respectfully to suggest , that , unless this

omission be supplied in the forthcoming lectures , it is more than possible , not only that they will be totally innoxious , so far as Masonry is concerned , but that like a celebrated personage of ancient times , he may find that he has ¦ ' altogether blessed " where he intended to curse . I am , Sir , your obedient Servant , St . Lconards-on-Sea . A NOK-MASOK .

Sir , —Having read in your paper of the 14 th inst . the address on ' Secret Societies" delivered by the Rev . Mr . Foy in the Roman Catholic Church of St . Thomas in your town , I beg to state , as an English Mason , that , so far as it was intended to apply to English Masonry , the discourse does not contain one word of truth , but , on the contrary , is a gross and wicked libel . I have very little knowledge

of foreign Masonry , but I believe the same observation would equally apply to it . I am , Sir , yours obediently , J CASTLE GANT . Reigate , Oct . 17 , 1876 . P . S —I hope some members of the Craft at Hastings and St . Leonards will defend it against such a vile attack .

PROTESTANTISM IN SPAIN . [ The following appeared in the " Times " of Monday . We do not know to what Masonic procession Sir George Bowyer alludes . —ED . ] Sir , —I regret the course taken in Spain on the tilh Article of the Constitution ( if what wc are told is correct ) , for intolerance , or even the appearance of intolerance and

bigotry , is much co be deprecated on principle , as well as dangerous to religion and to public security . It is well that the English Government should give friendly and respectful advice on this subject . But some such action would be both becoming and useful elsewhere . I meah in Italy . In Spain the dissenters from the national religion are

not only a small minority , but a mere fraction , and some deference to the predominant opinions of the country may be expected from them . Italy is a Roman Catholic country , and the vast majority of the people are , or profess themselves , Roman Catholics . Yet the Roman Catholics of Italy arc restricted in the same manner as the Protestants in Spain from any manifestation of their religion outside

the churches . Thus , though religious processions are a national and historical institution in Italy , no public processions arc allowed except those of the Freemasons and Liberi Pensatori . And a law is announced to take the property of all religious societies and associations , and another to compel all children to receive not only an education without religion , but what is called a " Progressist

education , " which is irreligious . " It is also worth while to point out that the other day a " Church Congress" at Bologna , presided over by the Cardinal Archbishop and the Duke Salviati , and including five Bishops and many laymen of high rank , and held in a church , was broken up by the Prefect because the police and the authorities allowed a mob to make ' a riot , a subscription having been collected to pay the rioters .

1 may be asked how it is that in Italy the majority allow themselves to be domineered over by the minority . There are three answers to this question : —ist , the military discipline of the army ; 2 nd , the secret societies ; and 3 rd , the fact that Italy is inhabited , not by Englishmen , but by Italians . Requesting the publication of this letter , I remain , your obedient servant , GEORGE BOWVER .

CHARITY ORGANISATION . The following letter has appeared in the " Times " : —¦ SIR , —Having seen in a recent paper a paragrap h headed " Shocking Death fiom Starvation , " I have been induced to address you and make known the following facts : —About eight months ago myself and son , who is twenty years of age , arrived in London . At that time we

were tolerably well off as to money , & c . From that time to the present we have been most indefatigable in endeavouring to procure employment in fair copying or anything else next to menial , but have failed to succeed . Our last shilling being expended , and we being at the time in arrears for lodging and washing , we received notice to leave . Being compelled to do so , we had to

wander the streets for two nights in succession . My son being in a very delicate state of health , is now considerably worse , owing , I have no doubt , to exposure and want of food . I am advanced in years and very feeble . Some eight or ten days ago , when going down St . James ' s-strect I saw on the door of No . 21 a brass plate , on which are the following words : — " Metropolitan Visiting and Rebel Fund , first floor . " I went upstairs and had an interview

with a gentleman who appeared highly respectable . My son waited my return in the street . I briefly stated our sad case , and that we had not tasted food of any description since the previous morning ( this was three o ' clock i « the afternoon ) . My statement was true , to which »' appeared to listen attentively . His reply was that n relief could be obtained there , that the only relief pven was by the clergy , and they visited the persons on whom