Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

[ Announcements of Births , Marriages , and Deaths relating to the Craft , or their families , will be inserted , free of charge , if properly authenticated . ] DEATH . BUZZAKD . —On the 15 th inst . ( after giving birth to twins ) , Catherine wife of Bro . Thomas Hardy Buzzard , Junior Warden of the John of Gaunt Lodge , No . 523 , Leicester , in the 35 th year of her age .

Books Received.

BOOKS RECEIVED .

" Monograms , " by Bro . D . G . Bern . " Austria , " Oiotha . " Latomia , " Leipzig .

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All communications for THE FREEMASON should be written legibly , on one side ofthe paper only , and , if intended for insertion in the current number must be received not later thau 10 o ' clock a . m . on Thursdays , unless in very special cases . The name and address of every writer must be sent to us in confidence .

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Report of Lodge of Econony , No . 76 , Winchester , shall appear in full next week .

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€ \ t JreeiM ^ it , SATURDAY , MAY 29 , 1869 .

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THB FB . BEU- . SO-J is published on Saturday Mornings in time for the early trains . The price of TUB FBBBMA . SOX is Twopence per week ; qnarterly subscription ( including postage ) 3 s . 3 d . Annual Subscription , 12 s . Subscriptions payable in advance-All communications , letters , & c , to be addressed to tlie EDITOB , 3 & 4 , Little Britain , 1 G . CJ . The Editor will pay careful attention to all MSS . entrusted to him , but cannot undertake to return thom unless accompanied by postage stamps .

The Unity Of Freemasonry.

THE UNITY OF FREEMASONRY .

" MAN S task here below , the destiny of every individual man , " says the philosophic Carlyle , " is to be in turns apprentice and workman ; or , say rather , scholar , teacher , discoverer . " Accepting this interpretation of the mission of

humanity as one which defines to a remarkable oxtent the Irigentis labor of Freemasonry , it may be well to consider the basis upon which we work , aud the tendency of Masonic teachings , both in their relations to reli gion and to civil government .

In reviewing the fundamental princi ples of our Order , we find , from thc ancient charges , that Freemasonry is termed " the centre of union between good men and true . " Unity is , therefore , one of the pillars of the Craft—unity of

purpose and unity of deed , and , aided by this power of cohesion , Freemasonry has successfull y resisted the storms and shocks of ages . But to secure unity , men must be content to sink their own peculiar idiocyncracics for the

common good ; they must be prepared to immolate , upon the altar of Masonic universality , their own pet fancies which tend to circumscribe tho boundless domains of ancient Freemasonry . We regret , however , to observe that this

wholesome rule is frequently disregarded . On the ono hand we find brethren endeavouring to limit tho circle of Masonic usefulness to followers of the Christian doctrine , which is about as reasonable as to forbid the light of day to

shine upon unbelievers . According to those theorists , all who enter the temple must pass a satisfactory examination in tho abracadabra of theology before they can bo permitted to practise our peculiar system of

morality . With these notions wc havo no sympathy . The tie which binds our Order together is not a religious bond ; within our halls the just and true , of every creed and clime , receive a joyful welcome , and all bow together at the

shrine of one Almi ghty Father . This is Freemasonry as it exists amongst the English-speaking peoples of tho earth , and as thus practised it

is a source of strength to the nations , and an honour to the age in which we live . But , on thc other hand , wo remark with sorrow that certain brethren on tho Continent are striving to blot

The Unity Of Freemasonry.

out from the illumined statutes of the Craft that first and grandest law , which proclaims that all Masons must believe in the " g lorious Architect of Heaven and earth . " Upon what is our morality founded , and of what worth are all our

professions of truth and virtue , if we deny the existence of a superintending Providence , to whom our actions are known , and who will reward or punish all men according to their deserts' ? Can the unity , to which we have

alluded , be maintained amongst brethren who thus ignore the Source of all union , strength , and goodness ? And let us further enquire whether they contemplate the inevitable result of their

foolish efforts , should they unhappily succeed in eliminating from the Masonic ritual all recognition of the Being of a Supreme and Overruling Power 1 We greatly fear that our French and German brethren have not counted thc cost

of victory , as , instead of enlarging the boundaries of the Masonic empire by enlisting the services of Materialists and Atheists , they will find that all orthodox Freemasons , who cling to the traditions of the Order , will regard their new

allies with abhorrence , ancl resolutely deny recognition as brethren to men who deny their God . There is as wide a gulf between rational freedom of thought and the monstrous anarchy

of Atheism , as there is between discip lined knowledge and untutored imagination . The temple of Freemasonry must not be converted into an arena for tho war of sects . It is not a

Pantheon in which every man may set up his own god and call upon all around to worship ; neither is it a forum for the discussion of political dogmas , or for dissertations on the comparative advantages of different forms of civil government .

In England , Freemasons perform their social , relig ious , and national duties , without compromising the Craft b y endeavouring to identify their own sayings or doings with the Order to which they happen to belong ; and it is this

reticence which has won for Freemasonry in England the respect and esteem of all parties in the State . It would be well if some of our continental brethren were to pursue a similar course , and , resting firmly upon the beautiful basis oi

belief in the Great Architect of the Universe , they may feel assured of the reality of the bond which now unites us—a bond which must oi necessity be weakened , if not destroyed , if they

rashly resolve to forsake the time-honoured paths of their fathers in the vain-hopo to con solidate , upon the ruins of Freemasonry , a society destitute alike of faith , hope , and charity .

Installation Meeting Of The Southern Star Lodge, No, 1158.

INSTALLATION MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN STAR LODGE , No , 1158 .

The installation meeting of this highly prosperous Lod ge , was held at the Montpeliei Tavern , Walworth , ou Tuesday , the 24 th inst ., when Bro . G . C . Clarke , S . W ., was most ably installed in the chair of K . S ., by Bro . T , JI . Pulsford , th * retiring Master , who is well known as a zealous and

efficient Mason . It was resolved to hold the summer banquet of the lodge on the last Wednesday in July , at the Greyhound Hotel , Richmond , a choice which we are satisfied the brethren will not regret , as Bro . Noyce the proprietor has won deserved renown for his excellent citcrinff . Aniomr the brethren

present , were : —Bros . 11 . Thompson , P . M ., ' the father of the lodge ; C . E . Thompson , J . W . ; J . Thomas , P . M ., 507 ; Rev . D . Shaboc , P . M ., C 54 ; Dr . Goldsbro' P . M ., 201 ; R . Wentworth Little , P . M ., 975 ; J . Stevens , P . M ., 720 ; II . Massey , S . W ., 619 , and about 40 other brethren .

WK HAVE the gratification to p lace before our readers the opinion of one of our American contemporaries with reference to THE FRF . EMASON : — Ouu KXCIIA-IOKS . —We welcome to our list the London KiiKKMASoN , No . 7 of which is now before us . It is edited with great ability , and is pregnant with local news and

matter of general interest to the Craft in all parts of the world . We have made some extracts from it . which will be found in this department . This weekly will soon give reports of Masonic doings " in every country and clime , " and it must soon become a valuable aid to the co'iiiopolitan Masonic literature of the day . —Nciv York Despatch .

Garibaldi And The Craft.

GARIBALDI AND THE CRAFT .

( To the Editor of the Freemason . ) DEAR Snt AND BROTHER , —With reference to your remarks which appeared in last week ' s FREEMASON , respecting General Garibaldi , I have much pleasure iu stating for the information of the . Brethren , that when General Garibaldi visited

England he was unanimously elected an honorary member of the Polish National Lodge , No . 534 . A day having been appointed by himself , he was waited upon at Stafford House ( the residence ofthe Duke of Sutherland ) by a deputation of the Brethren , whom he met with true brotherly aud Masonic

feeling ; he was then presented with the Commander ' s jewel of the lodge ( the White Eagle of Poland , suspended from a gold crown ) , which he received with evident pleasure aud satisfaction , aud also cordially accepted an invitation to a banquet , but unfortunately was uuable to attend .

Yours fraternally , FRED . H . GILBART . I . P . M . ofthe Polish National Lodge , and one who attended the dei ^ utation .

A Caution.

A CAUTION .

( To the Editor of the Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I would caution the Craft againstHouryHerbertSouthcott ( about thirtyfive years of age , height about 5 ft . 9 in ., dark , pitted with small-pox ) , who obtained assistance by way of loan from us , to take him to Teignmouth

( where he said his wife was living ) , on his way from Loudon , where he had been an inmate of Guy ' s Hospital . lie had no certificate but his tale was most plausible and he was well up in his work , and said he was a member of the Sun Lodge at Exmouth . Subsequent inquiries showed that such a person bad been a

member of that lodge in which he had been initiated , but that he had left it in disgrace . He had also some years since lived at Teignmouth , but had committed such offences against the law while at both those places as would render it very unlikely he would ever be seen there again . Yours fraternally , W . M ., 663 .

The Ancient And Accepted Rite In India.

THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED RITE IN INDIA .

Chapter of Sovereign Princes , Rose Croix of II . R . D . M . BOMBAY . The Sovereign Princes belonging to this Chapter held a meeting on Wednesday , 21 st April last , at Cambala Hill , Bombay . Present , the Illus . Bro . the Hon . J . Gibbs , 32 " ,

P . M . W . S ., M . W . S . ; Ext . Bro . E . Tyrrell Leith , 18 ° , High Prelate ; Ext . Bro . Andrew Hay , 19 " , 1 st General ; Ext . Bro . J . Percy Leith , 18 ° , 2 nd Genl . The chapter was opened in due form . Brother J , Seager , a M . M ., was introduced , and , after having beeu duly obligated as a Serving Brother , was

appointed Outer Guard . Bros . Townley Macartney i'ilgato , Thomas Edward Taylor , and Henry Edwd . Astley , M . M . ' s , who had beeu duly proposed and seconded at the last meeting , and for whom the ballot appeared clear , having been first made Knights of the East aud West by the M . W . S ., were

introduced , and duly created und installed as Knights of the Pelican and Eagle , and Sovereign Priuces Rose Croix of II . R . D . M . The minutes of the last meeting wero then read and confirmed . There being no other business before the chapter , it was closed in due form , and the Sovereign Princes

adjourned to the banquet , which had been kindly provided for them by Ext . Bro . Percy Leith . Tho chair was filled by the M . W . S ., who gave in due course the usual loyal and Masouic toasts . A most agreeable and successful evening was spent by tlie Sovereign Princes , who afterwards separated in

peace aud harmony . —We must not close our report of this meeting without adding a few remarks . The Bombay Chapter is the first Masonic body that has ever worked any of the Ineffable Degrees in India Proper , and we therefore hail its establishment with the most sincere pleasure . We congratulate its

members on possessing in their first M . W . S . one who , from his high position in Masonry , and personal qualifications , is so eminently well fitted to fill the regal chair and to support the honour of the Ancient and Accepted Rite iu the East . The degree of Rose Croix , from its antiquity , its

splendid aud solemn ritual , ami the baauty of the truths which it inculcates , ranks deservedly hi gh among the Orders of Christian Masonry . We earnestly hope that tho impetus which has thus been given to the work of higher Masonry iu Bombay may be carried still further in the East with the happiest

results . Wc would offer , in conclusion , our warmest wishes for the welfare and success of the Bombay Chapter of Rose Croix . May it ever flourish , an honour to the Order , and may the enterprising labours of its promoters bo amply rewarded by the cordial co-operation of its future members .