A Complaint From Our Soidier Brethren.

decision of the Commander-in-Chief , or of the Major General-Commanding in Plymouth , which if arrived at by one or the other , in deferencs to the Queen ' s Regulations , no soldier and no

Freemason , will seek to impugn or to arraign . But as we understand our correspondent , the "Soldier Freemason , " the Major-General ' s real objection was this , and in this we quite agree

with him , thatthe non-commissioned officers were utterly ignored , that if they appeared at all . they must appear out of uniform , —to use a classical expression—in " mufti . " We therefore deeply

regret , that our soldier brethren were excluded from the procession , though why they were so , we do not yet quite clearly comprehend ! Perhaps some authoritative explanations may

clear up the obscurity in which the matter is at present involved , and till then , let us assure our soldier brethren , that we are but expressing the universal feeling of

the Order , when we say that we must trul y grieve to think , that , any untoward mistake or hasty conclusion , ( if such be the true cause of the error , ) should have prevented so loyal and so

worthy a body of men , from joining as faithful Craftsmen ( soldiersthough they be ) in the public expression of their fraternal attachment , and their

devoted allegiance , to their and our Royal Brother the Prince of Wales , in the famous meeting of the United Provincial Grand Lodges of Devon and Cornwall . Since we wrote the

above , we have received Bro . W . J . Hughan ' s letter , which seems clearly to show , that the decision and regulation were purely Alasonic .

Like Bro . Hughan , we know of no such binding law of Masonic costume , whatever the custom may be .

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[ We do not liolil ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of tlie opinions expressed by our correspondents , Inn we visb , in a spirit of fair play to all / to permit—within cetiaiu necessary limits—free discussion . —Eu . J

BOGUS DECORATIONS . Mr . Editor , The JPestminsler Gazelle hits out fiercely at what is absurdly called by Freemasons , that should know better , the " higher " grades , and I for one deem it no business of Craft Masons , to couch the lance in defence

of the " vain and ignorant farceurs , that undermine the dignity of the Order , and are very properly ignored by you , Sir , and all true and accepted Masons . As an old liberal Freemason , I have no thanks to render your editorial pen for the apologetic

strain in which you speak of the principles of the Order , believing that it must tend to bring the English into contempt with their continental brethren , and lead them to suppose that we have no aspirations above number one , or that we are altogether oblivious of the fundamental

principles of the Craft , inculcated throughout our formula in our lodges . You tell the outside world that the great motto of Freemasons is " Glory to God , and good will to man . " This is true , but you seem to keep back , or hold in " mental reservation , "

that Glory to God and goodness to man , can only be realized by and through the glorious principles of our Order , now blazoned all the world over- in the more expressive and direct terms of "Liberty , Equality , Fraternity . " You say

that no state need fear anything from the true principles of Freemasomy ; this may be also accepted , if states were wise enough to ttceive them , but what of priest-ridden Spain ? Freemasons of free countries can allord to be lovnl i . ntl

obedient to the State they are under , and indeed it is somewhat notorious that English Freemasons , as a bodv , belong to the old Tory school ,

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and that the liberty-loving princi ples of Freemasonry have no vitality amongst them . With many of our continental brethren it is very different , and with all due deference to your view of Freemasonry , Air . Editor , any citizen of the world without politics cannot uphold the

principles of the Craft , and is , in fact , a nonentity . I am willing to admit that a large proportion of English Freemasons , especially amongst those of the " hig her" grades , glory in the " abomination of desolation , " more than the

life-giving principles of Freemasonry , but because we have no longer a necessity to exercise our politics secretly , and in brotherly confidence , let us not deny or turn our countenance away from the principles of our Order , and our struggling brethren abroad .

A LlllRRAL CRUTSMAN . [ We print the above letter , as we have received it , on the principle of full and free discussion , with all its faults of grammar , and its somewhat startling statements . We think it will be a matter of great surprise to our brethren to learn

of their supposed political "animus , " and we believe that they will be equally astounded to hear that " Liberty , Equality , and Fraternity , " instead of " Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , " are the actual and implied teaching of Freemasonry . But , as we have said above , we are not

responsible for the sentiments of the writer , who thinks well to term himself " A Liberal Craftsman " ( as if every other brother was illiberal ) , and we alike repudiate his views , as we protest against his assertion ? . We have thought it only our duty to the Craft to say this much—En . ]

To lite Editor of tlie Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The remarks in your leading article of the 15 th inst ., on the language adopted towards our ancient and honourable fraternity , by the West minster Gazette , are very much to the point and

richly deserved . Of course , no true Mason , whether he has taken the so called exalted and Christian degrees or not , will care one straw for any amount of abuse lavished on us by the Ultramontane organs . And those amongst us , and 1 am thankful to say , they are not a few ,

wdio fall under the ban ot the IFestminsler Gazelle on other grounds know exactl y how to estimate such expressions of hostility . I very strongly suspect that they are prompted by such a conscious weakness of our opponents' case , as suggests the abuse of the plantilFs attorney as the most " pragmatic " course to be pursued .

But , Sir ; such wholesale and reckless vilif ying may perhaps alarm and mislead some amongst us who , being as yet young Alasons , have had no opportunity of testing the value or sounding the true depth of our Alasonic principles . It may too Startle our wives and daughters , and other relations and non-AIasonie friends , who are only too apt to take for granted whatever they read in print .

Let me , therefore , temperately and candidlv state the case as it stands between the Roman Catholic authorities and ourselves . We admit of course , that it is within the power of any society , religious or otherwise , to make regulations for the conduct and guidance of its own members .

We do not therefore assert that the Roman Church , or any other religious community , has no right to put us under a ban or forbid her members joining our Society , but we do say this , —that seeing we are what we are , that we have enlisted under our banners , not only Princes of

the Blood Royal , but others of every degree , clergy in great numbers , and commoners of every respectable grade in society , each of them being men interested in maintaining peace and order , seeing this , we have a right to ask whv we should be condemned , and not plead our cause

if necessary , before our fellow countrymen , and answer as well as we can the charge brought against us . For here is the position of affairs . The Roman Church has thought fit to forbid any of her faithful sons having any participation in our

society . And many of the Roman Catholic laity ask "why . " We know hundreds of our Protestant brethren wdio are zealous Masons , and have been so for years , who wilfully neglect none of their civil , religious or domestic duties . They tell us that to fear God and honour the

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Queen , and to do unto all men as we would they should do unto us , is stamped upon the very forefront of all Masonic obligation . Why , then may we not be permitted to join with them in

what is at least a harmless society , and go hand in hand " with them , as far as our duty to the church will permit , in promoting the peace and good order of society , and inculcating the practice of every moral and social virtue ?

Now the Christian way of answering such a very natural question v / ouldbe , to point out calml j and temperately whatever objections may be urged against Freemasonry , as , for instance , the mischievous tendencies of secret societies

generally , and then to show that these mischievous tendencies pervade the working of English Freemasonry , and , lastly , to prove that there are evils of principle or detail in the Craft which render it an unfit society for good Roman Catholics to be associated with .

This , Sir , would be the Christian mode of reply , and if there be any substance in these charges , not only Roman Catholics , but others also , would do well to pause before joining or con-, tinuing to work with the Alasonic body . But no ! Modern Rome does not reason . She travesties the old saying '' Roma locuta est , causa

hnita est , ' and instead of giving her sons and the world at large the children ' s bread of reason and demonstration , she flings at them the stone ' ., of cursing and excommunication . And what is the result ? One of the best Masons and truest Catholics I ever knew , fell under the ban of his church in this matler . Ffe

bore a name well known in Grand Lodge , and honoured wherever it was known , and I believe if ever a man was faithful and true , it was the brother and friend of whom I am now speaking . Catholic to the backbone , and Mason to the core , he failed to recognize any just or lawful

impediment to his joining the two characters in his own person , and other Masons , knowing the justice of our cause and the futile nature of the charges brought against 11 ? , came to the very natural conclusion that the layman was right , and the

ecclesiastical authorities wrongheaded and tyrannical . Thus the Roman Church lost the respect she might have won , embittered her enemies , and alienated , to a certain extent , one of her most devoted sons .

I feel , Sir , that I have already trespassed at too great length on your space and patience , but if you will bear with me I will endeavour , on another occasion , to reply to their objections to our Order , honestly felt and honestly expressed ,

in many quarters , which claim at your hands , every respect and attention . I am , Sir and Brother , Yours most fraternally , P . PROV . G . CHAPLAIN , OXON . CllAl'LMN AND HON . SEC . 4 89 .

Grand Masonic Gathering At Plymouth.

GRAND MASONIC GATHERING AT PLYMOUTH .

To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , I feel quite sure that you rejoiced most heartily on reading the report of our assembly at Plymouth on the 14 th inst ., and your very kind notice of our proceedings will , doubtless ,

be perused by a large and appreciative body 01 subscribers to The Freemason . I am sorry , however , that you have again drawn attention to the fact of the meeting being termed the " United Grand Lodges of Devon and Cornwall , " as the omission of " Provincial" was an unfortunate

oversight , it having been ordered by the Committee that the prefix " Prov . " or " Provincial " should be inserted in every instance where the " Provincial Grand Lodges" were mentioned . If you will again consult the programme , you will find that the " Prov . " ( or Provincial ) is only

omitted once , whereas it is inserted many times . Of course , you are quite correct as to its being an assembly of the " United Provinces of Devon and Cornwall , " and not of the " Grand Lodges , and had the error not occurred in the title pag < - '>

I do not suppose you would have castigated us because of the omission . As it is , we must submit to the punishment , but happily have a little wherewith to soften the stroke , in seeing thnt you , as the Editor , head the article in questio " ' Grand Masonic Gathering , " whereas we pre'