Specialty Lodges.

nothing in the Book of Constitutions to prevent a lodcre stating in its bye laws , "this lodge shall be compose d of military men , or naval officers , or merchants , or clergymen , & c , " and there is , as far as we are aware , no legal difficulty in the wa ,. . Such a proceeding is clearly within the

provisions of the Book of Constitutions . Then it is asserted that special lodges tend to the formation of a caste in Freemasonry . There is no doubt something to be said on this head , thoug h we apprehend that the objection is based more on sentiment than anything else , and we

must not close our eyes to a grave truth , that one of the present and prevailing evils of Freemasonry is an indiscriminate admission of members . We have always held , and always shall hold , that the lodge is [ a family of brethren , and that we have no right to admit into it those

whom we do not , and cannot invite into our own family circles . It is idle forany one to say that by such a proceeding we exclude many good and honest men from Freemasonry , because though it be true that they cannot procure admission in a particular lodge , there are plenty

of other lodges open to them , where , too , they will be well received . We cannot then agree with the objection of some good brethren to speciality lodges , we think , on the contrary , that they ' represent the feeling of the Order , happily a growing one , against indiscriminate admission ,

and the desire to make the lodge still more a privilege and not a right . For it must be remembered that into half of our lodge life the Book of Constitutions does not enter at all , we mean its social phasis . The lodge work , etc , is under the provisions of the Book of

Constitutions , and all duly qualified Masons , on a proper voucher , have a rig ht to admission to the work . But with the social circle the Book of Constitutions does not profess to deal , as that is purely a private arrangement of the lodge , and no brother can claim admission to refreshment unless invited

by the lodge . Hence then it becomes most important , if the lodge gatherings are to be agreeable ancl edifying , that they be composed of congenial elements and sympathetic minds , and in thus somewhat limiting the area of lodge admissibility ,

we are inclined to think th at we a ; e but meeting a need ofthe hour , and not in any way infringing upon the laws and customs of the Order . On the contrary we hold that special lodges , under careful supervision , are worthy of the approval and con ( idence of the Craft .

The Discretion Of The Press.

THE DISCRETION OF THE PRESS .

One of the hardest duties , and perhaps the greatest responsibilities of journalism consists in the decision what , and what not to publish . This is true of all editorial labours , and most especially is it the fact as regards the Masonic Press , as curiously enough , in nothing do we as

Masons all fail so much as in the amenities of polite btter writing . If we were to print all the letters we receive , as we receive them , our Masonic literature would simply be unreadable , unworth y the title of Masopic journalism , and a lasting burlesque as well as a discredit on

every profession of Masonry , often by the way , louldly made and glibly enounced . In Freemasonry , as we hold , the greatest discretion is required in the paragraphs which fill our columns , for we often see articles and letters which , in our humble opinion , ought not

properly to appear at all , which do no good to F ' reemasonry , and serve only to attract the scorn of the critical and the contempt of the anti-Masonic . Happily , the Freemason , thanks to our publisher and careful editing , has maintained at home and abroad the

highest character in this respect , as its weekly issues evince , and read alike by Masons and non-Masons , it strives sedulously to keep the goloen mean between the dryness of abstract disquisitions and the sensationalism of the niorbid tastes of the hour . And above

a ' ' ) it holds itself clear from personality . Of course , often , in the heat of discussion and with the"currente calamo , " ofthe ready writer , appear those little excrescences , which mark all human controversies , whether as represented by the use of violent assertion or the ornamentation

The Discretion Of The Press.

of hostile vituperation ! For personality is not merely confined to the person , it may be concealed in the sarcasm , as well as expressed by invective . We are glad , then , to remind our readers to-day , alike how cautious and how careful are the columns of the Freemason , and how

we unceasingly watch against some great evils , attendant often on the press , the license of individual utterance ^ the tendency to deliberate personality , and the craving for an idle sensationalism , as regards scandals and untoward occurrences . Many discreditable scenes in lodge

life , many outpourings of Masonic scandal , ( for some Masons are very scandalous often ) , should never receive the benefit of the printer ' s preserving type , but should be relegated , ( where all worthless things should go to ) , to the oblivion and contempt of us all . The Freemason only

sets before its many readers that which it deems consonant with the dignity of the Craft and likely to advance the " prestige " of the Order , as well as the peace and prosperity , the honour and concord of "our brethren all . " There is one point to which however , we shall deem it our duty to call the attention of our

brethren al length next week , namely , anonymous letters , evidently written for the purpose of personal annoyance , which we should have thought no true Mason would ever put his hand to . But in this , as in all other things , profession and practice are very different matters . We shall recur to this subject we repeat next week .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do net hold ourselves responsible Tor , or even as approving of theopinions expressed by ourcorrespondenls , birt we * wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain ncce-ssary limits—free discussion . —Er > . l

THE INSTALLATION ENGRAVING . To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Since my letter appeared in the Freemason last week I have had the plate graved and examined here by Messrs . McQueen , and one of the most eminent engravers in London , and we find that the portraiture is most

successful indeed , and tbat the plate now only requires a little extra " toning , " which will take about six weeks to accomplish , and which is now being proceeded with without a day ' s delay . Yours fraternally , E . J . MAHTV . [ We have seen the plate to which Bro . Marty calls attention , and can quite confirm tlie opinion of the " experts "

whom he mentions . The engraving promises to be a great success , and any little additional delay in the delivery will be compensated to the subscriber by its greater artistic finish and perfection . Bro . Harty will be glad to show the " proof" to auy brother who likes to call at 213 , Regent-street . —En ] .

THG GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE . To the Editor oj the "Freemason . " Dear Bro . Kenning , — As I ventured to point out last week , another event has supervened , as I thought it probably would , which has rendered the position of the Grand Orient of France , already of doubtful legality , still more

questionable and unsa'isfactory . tor the Grand Orient , by a large maj irity , has determined to erase from the Book of Constitutions , the mention of " Be-lief in God , " and to substitute for it , ( almost as if in pitiless irony ) , " la solidarite ' humaine . " This phrase , of dubious parentage , and objectionable antecedents , may have a magnificent meaning for foreign Freemasoris , but to say the truth , in all

politeness to them , it sounds to English cars as something most unmeaning , if not utter rubbish . Thus at the present moment , the official representation of French Masonic principles rests on apolitical cry , and an admitted negation of God , for toleration ' s sake . Can the force of bathos further go ? People often talk of the " credulite des incredules , " but

what can we say of that "intolerance du tolerantisme " which ,-mocking the sacred principle of toleration , strikes out from the French Masonic Constitutions the name of God on such a plea ? As history always repeats itself , so we see day by day how Ultramontanism and hyper-scepticism meet on the same one ground , namely , that of dogmatic defiance of

thc convictions and conscience of others . No more foolish act , no more perverse proceeding has ever taken place than that recent agitation in French Freemasonry which has culminated in the last deplorable vote of a noisy , and unreasoning , and intolerant majority in the French Grand Oiient . The whole proceeding is in fact nothing more

than a crowning , so to say , of that ill-omened edifice , which the late Bro . Massol attempted to rear so carefully , so violently , and so defiantly , and which has nothing in common with true Freemasonry , in that it is only a reflex of the worst principles of the darkest days France has ever seen , a substitution of the most childish and illogical

Original Correspondence.

of human philosophies for the sacred truth of inspired teaching . It is in fact an open separation of French Freemasonry from religion , and tbe declaration of a " morale independante " as against the better and older Frencn teaching of morality , based on the recognition of God , and issuing from the law of God !

I do not think it worth while to take any notice now of the report of the " Commission , " presided over by Bro . Desmons , for this reason , that it betrays from first to last , not only an " arriere pensej " but a " parti pris . " It is in fact a laboured apology to gild the pill for the swallow of the moderate minority . Historically , it may be true that the verbiage of the special clause is not very ancient ,

but the truth it contains is one which French Freemasonry has always proclaimed in oae form or another , though now officially to be proclaimed no more . Neither do t allude to the point whether the Book of Constitutions is the best place for such a declaration , being simply a code of legislation . Had the reformers simply placed the formula , as with

us , among the credenda et recipienda et bene notanda , " nj one in England would have objected . Bat such was not the course ofthe " movement party , " and the significance of the erasure is not misunderstood in France , neither can it be misunderstood by any who are acquainted with the state of parties in French Freemasonry , or the real " dessus des cartes . " It is an act for which no

explanation is possible , and for which no apology is available . It is in my opinion , the absolute degradation of French Freemasonry to the level of a political faction , and an anti-religious coterie . For the only effect of this last " extravagance " will be to shock all religious and reverent Freemasons , in France and out of France , and to raise more than one inconvenient and burning question which

it will be difficult for the Grand Orient to answer or to tranquillize . So far it is but fair to the Grand Orient to rem ark tha it has always kept itself separate from the perverse proceedings of lodges , or the absurd " dicta " of individuals . Up to the present time the Grand Orient has also repudiated all movements or teachings connected with

political associations , though it has allowed discussions on many subjects , in my opinion , alike unfitting and unreasonable , which have nothing to do with Freemasonry , and can only tend to create a bad impression , whether as regards French Freemasons , or the common sense , or the utility and work of French Freemasonry . But in all its official acts the Grand Orient has repudiated

political and religious controversy . But what will the State say now ? What can Freemasons say now ? It is a secret society , remember , and as such is bound to abstain from all political sympathies . But following the advice of an extreme party , well known for its . strong political and anti-religious views , it bases its principles on a political cry , and the assertion of religious

nihilism , so that even Atheists , as well as any one else , can be admitted into the Order . It is therefore inevitable that , sooner or later , serious questions will arise with the authorities in France , who are not likely to permit a secret socrety , with such an unmistakeable bias , and with such on open profession of baneful principles , to meet and discuss affairs of State , much less pass political resolutions .

And besides this there comes in another very serious consideration . The lodges in France and Belgium seem to be bent on forming a " propagandism " of opinions on matters of state and the truths of religion , which are most distasteful to large masses of b reemasons , apart from all Masonic teaching which will be at once repudiated

by all Anglo-Saxon Freemasons . For them this last act severs all possible " fraternization , " as the Grand Orient of France , by its recent decrees , has struck a blow at everything , which , as Freemasons , they are bid to uphold , or taught to revere . 1 will conclude my remarks next week . Yours fraternally . MASKKLYNE .

THE PAST MASTER'S JEWEL . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I read ( Freemason Vol . 10 , p . 342 ) the remarks of "A Member" in reference to the presentation , as of course of a Past Master ' s jewel to ^ each outgoing . W . M ., ( I will not call it appropriation to themselves ) , and heaitily

wish thc Bo < -k of Constitutions contained some such law as this . " No jewel other than of silver or of silver and enamel shall be worn as a mark of having served any ofiice in lodge by a brother under the rank of an I . M . nor even then if from want of knowledge on his part he shall not have himself performed all the woik ( including that of installing his successor ) that shall have fallen to his lot

during his first year of office as W . M . " I have no care now to wear my jewel . It looks pretty , but what of that ? it is no mark of work done , and consequently no credit to me , although I have done work . The Volunteer is proud of all his badges , and rightly so , and with reason , as each tells its own tale , either of a prize won or of efficiency , this latter by being now , and all honour to them , so

common , has lost not one iota of its value , but is thereby the greater means of inducing all to attain the right to wear it . Would our jewel were as common among us and as honourable to the wearer . With regard to his letter generally , I must admit I think , it were better it had never been written , much more printed and published .

Lodges may adopt a remedy thus : —let every Past Master's Jewel presented to a brother who installed his first successor have on the ribbon the letters cr monogram in metal I . S . and let every brother who has installed his first successor and wears a Past Master ' s Jewel have them added to his ribbon , or only the letter I . if he has instilled a W . M . other than his first successor . If leading lodges and brethren would only adopt this it would soon be the