Original Correspondence.

Now as some of us would like to take these degrees , which would cost us ^ 20 or ^ 30 under the A . and A . Rite , as they are to be had so cheap , and as we are anxious to have the real thing , would you or some other brother oblige by stating in your next number who is this pupil of Mark Bedarride ? Yours fraternally ,

RED CROSS OF ROME AND CONSTANTINE .

[ We have no authority to publish the name of the brother , but he is a 33 ° A . and A . Rite . Further correspondence on the subject , unless to substantiate previous statements , can do no good , and we hope the whole question will soon be set at rest . — ED . F ]

The Case Of Charlotte Jackson.

THE CASE OF CHARLOTTE JACKSON .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , —Will you allow me to draw the attention of the Craft to the case of Charlotte J ackson , •« . candidate for the benefits of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . This is her fourth application , and from want of

influential Masonic friends , she is likely to have to make four more before she is successful , unless more support is given that she has hitherto received . I have personally investigated the case , and can assure you that she is utterly without the means of support . In all human probability she will not

require our aid very long ; but if she could obtain the annuity , it would enable her to pass her few remaining days in comfort , and as she is the only one on the list who has had to make four applications , I do earnestly hope the Craft will vote in sufficient

numbers to ensure her success . I shall be very happy to receive proxies on hei behalf . I am Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally ,

JESSE OWENS 40 , Vorley-road , Junction-road , Upper Holloway , N .

Proxy Commissions To Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

PROXY COMMISSIONS TO GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The article by a " Past Master , " in your impression of the 15 th , bearing on the subject of Proxy Commissions in the Grand Lodge of Scotland , is fraught with the most vital importance to Scottish Freemasonry . The evils arising from votes by proxy are almost too numerous to be dealt with in a single letter , and the brethren in this neighbourhood are glad the subject has been taken up with such ability , and in a quarter having so much influence as yourself . The brethren of the Province of Forfar—desirous

no doubt to be present at Grand Lodge Communications during the presidency of their own Grand Master , whom they so much admire—have been gradually throwing off the yoke and bondage of this feudal vassalage of the Grand Lodge , and appearing , as their duty is , in their own interests , which I

may add , has brought down the holy indignation of the paid officials of Grand Lodge and their boon companions . On a recent occasion , representatives from several lodges in this Province appeared in the Secretary ' s Chamber of Grand Lodge and tendered their fees ,

according to the printed form , more than the prescribed time prior to the opening of Grand Lodge ; but an absurd technicality was thrown in their way , and the fees of three lodges were refused . A fourth , havingKJJfc ^ LJ ^ fees about six weeks previously , desirousa ^^^ Br privilege of voting , was informed

they had no voce . 1 he Master , remonstrating , said if fees were the key to a vote , these had been in the Grand Secretary ' s possession for some time , when , on turning up the books , no entry of the money had taken place , and in order , I suppose , to save criminal proceedings , the Grand Secretary , Grand Clerk , and

Grand Assistant Secretary , clubbed the amount amongst them , and handed it back to the head of the deputation , in presence of a dozen others , who arc prepared to substantiate what I write , and the impudent slang given those deputations could not be believed even were it my misfortune to repeat it

here , which I shall respect you , sir , by not doing . I hope lodges in distant parts of the country shall think well before they dispose of their birthright in the manner so commonly followed , but rather consider whether it would not be better not to vote than have their vote given adversely to the interests of the Craft .

Railway companies arc now very liberal where a special trip is desired for such purpose as being present at a public Board , and every lodge should endeavour to send at least one member to every meeting of Grand Lodge , and following the legal plan laid down in Past Master ' s article , the security of honest voting would be much increased . I believe the Province of Glasgow are fully alive

Proxy Commissions To Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

to the importance of self-representation also , and are doing much to rid us of the grievance of Proxy Commissions . Let us all unite in the same , and purity must prevail . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , ROY .

QUALIFICATION FOR THE MARK CHAIR . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am glad to find that my former letter has been the means of directing attention to this subject , and that—with the exception of your esteemed contributor Bro .

Hughan—all your correspondents express themselves favourably towards the proposed change . If , indeed , it be true that a dispensation is granted as a "matter of course , " it necessarily modifies my objections , but I still think it advisable to do away with any such restriction .

Bro . Hughan says the result would be that tne dignity and honour of the Mark Chair would be less valued . I take exactly the opposite view , believing that the Mark Degree is quite good enough to stand on its own merits , and that any brother who took the pains to work through the

various offices to the chair , and was then honoured by being elected to that office , would be quite as careful of the dignity and honour of the degree which first recognised his merits , as if he had already passed the chair in the Craft . The Mark is an independent degree , but I wish

to see it made thoroughly so , by the members choosing the brother to preside over them , who by his industry and skill has qualified himself for the office , without reference to the offices which he may or may not have held in the Craft . Yours fraternally , A CRAFT P . M . '

When Was Not The Bible Used ?

WHEN WAS NOT THE BIBLE USED ?

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —In Oliver ' s "Revelations of a Square , " it is stated that , instead of the Bible , old lodges in England used the Church Prayer Book . The statement is vague , and I cannot make it more precise , but I give it thus in reply to Bro . Hughan ' s question

on page 164 in his response to Bro . Norton . I I believe it is the only authority extant on the subject , if it may be deemed authority at all . So long as oaths are administered in Masonic lodges , it is superfluous to state that the Bible must be used in Christian countries , as that book which men in

authority arc disposed to regard in public as in private essential and necessary in the administration of an oath . I think before Bro . Norton advocates the removal of the Bible from the lodge , he should begin back of that , and advocate the removal of the obligation by oath in any of the forms

now in use . If men am to be obligated by extra official oaths , some other object than the Bible might equally well be used . The Free Judges , a Westphalian secret society of the last century , swore the initiate on the hilt of a sword , the right hands of obligator and obligatee resting on it , and

the brethren grouped around . Other secret societies have had different modes of administering oaths . In our courts of justice , and wherever judicial oaths are taken , the religious convictions of the obligatee are respected , and he is allowed to affirm or swear , as may be his customary way of taking

an oath . Except in Rhode Island at present , 1 have not been advised that this is permissible in a Masonic lodge in America . Masons maintain the legend of the slipper or shoe , but they reject its meaning ; and many other things have place in our forms to which some other than the original

meaning is attached , as our orthodoxy has been strong or weak , and partook much or little of the spirit of the past centuries . Prior to the present century it was proper in most Christian countries to regard a Jew as the enemy of the Christian religion , and the reason assigned that it was the Jews

who destroyed the life of the founder of that religion . As all admitted , on question , that it was necessary for the existence of the Christian religion that the life of its founder should be taken , and that He should suffer a violent death , the aptness of hating a Jew on that account did not appear so clearly to the questioner .

I hat the principal use for the Bible at the present day in a Masonic lodge is to obligate initiates upon , I think will be generally conceded . To a Christian who believes it to be the inspired word of God , its presence there has , as well , an assuring and comforting effect . For a Jew the book , even the O . T . portion alone , and were it printed in the original

Hebrew , has no such effect , as among Jews an obligation is not administered upon the O . T ., nor docs he regard its presence there as proper , but , on the contrary , making that common which he holds sacred ; while as he does not believe in the N . T . at all as a sacred book , of course it has no value for him upon the Masonic altar , no more than would any other volume of biography and letters of

When Was Not The Bible Used ?

a celebrated person . Hence it is natural that he advocate its removal , and the substitution of something inoffensive to his religious sentiments , as in American lodges the candidate is assured prior to his entry and also prior to his obligation that there is nothing in the rites of Masonry , the ceremonies , '

or obligations that will conflict with his civil , political or religious sentiments , be they what they may . I think it is in reference to this fact that Bro . Norton uses the objectionable word "cheating , " and which Bro . Hughan misconstrues . Bro . Norton regards the subsequent proceeding , after that

assurance is imparted , as a fraud practised upon the candidate , if he be a Jew , and rightly ; for if I assure a man before I obligate him , and when I have him at an advantage , that in anything I require him to do he shall not be offended in any of his convictions , and shortly afterwards he discovers causeforoffence

and I know that he will so discover it , I do certainly cheat him . Now it is evident that the assurance as given in America certainly , if not elsewhere , must be changed in the ritual , or that which offends should be removed . Of course , in reply to all this , brethren can say :

If Jews are not content to be sworn on our Bible , or listen to our disquisitions anent the two St . Johns , or regard our prayers but as offensive to their religious sentiments , they had better stay out of the lodge . All true ; but as they do not wish to stay out , but from a favourable opinion conceived

of the Masonic Institution do apply for admission and get elected , would it not be better to inform them that , as Jews , th"y will probably be offended at some of our rites and ceremonies , instead of assuring them that in thqse neither they nor any other religionists will find anything offensive to their

religious sentiments or convictions , be they what they may ? " Either this or remove the offensive explanations and forms . Why cry " Peace , peace , " when there is no peace ? Why say that Masonry in its rituals is inoffensive to any man , when such is not the fact ? Why persist in maintaining

conditions calculated to give offence , if those might equally as well be removed ? Is it not to please the majority , rather than any special value there may be in those conditions ? It is deemed offensive to not only a Jew but any man of education in religious history , to assure him that John the Baptist was a

patron of Masonry , or John the Evangelist . Well , say you , or some other orthodox Christian brother , let the men of education in religious history and the Jews stay out of the lodge , and they will not be offended . True again ; but then you say Masonry is universal , not exclusive , not sectarian , not religious

as an institution , but men of every creed and clime can enter within its portals and meet in its assembly as brethren all , with nothing to offend them admissable , and in this particular it is , as an institution of man , snigeneris . Here is a paradox—a direct contradiction , and Bro . Norton and men of his

mode of thought accuse Masonry of false pretences —of making to the ear promises which are broken to the hope . This , I think , is the manner in which he regards this matter . If Masonry , in his opinion , and as I understand his opinion , was , under the 1703 memorable resolution thenceforth to take in

all sorts and conditions of men , provided only that they be duly elected , and treat them uniformly as brethren , then it is plain we must do something more than merely assert this . We must remove from our midst all cause for offence to any man . I am , fraternally yours ,

J . FLETCHER BRENNAN , Editor of American Freemason . Cincinnati , 0 ., April 3 , 1871 . THE RED CROSS ORDER .

To the Editor of the Freemason . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have just received a communication from Dr . Partridge , M . P . S . of the Rose of Sharon Conclave , No . 19 , Birmingham , in which he states that , at a meeting held on the 20 th inst ., one of the members , named Astlcy , acting

under " inspiration " from London , falsely charged me with having " obtained possession of papers for archaeological purposes from the Earl of Zetland , and applied them to improper uses . " The simple truth being that certain documents , comprising rituals , books , and letters belonging to the Red

Cross Order when held under the Duke of Sussex , were handed over to the Earl of Bective as the head of the Red Cross Order , without any reservation whalcver , by order of the M . W . Past Grand Master . I append a copy of the Grand Secretary's certificate on the subject , which ought to be conclusive . As , however , I have recently been subjected to

various anonymous and cowardly attacks from certain quarters , I must now , very reluctantly , invoke the aid of the law in defence of my character , and upon obtaining Mr . Astlcy ' s address , my solicitor will take the necessary steps in the matter . The very fact that I am a trusted servant of Grand Lodge in the Finance Department renders it