The Closing Year.

inanity , and seek to show ourselves before our brethren and the world , Freemasons , indeed , as well in all humble sincerity , as in pretension and pompous assertion .

Christmas Among The Poor

CHRISTMAS AMONG THE POOR

We rejoice to note how wisely and how liberally Christmas is now observed in our metropolitan workhouses , and how very much is done so seasonably and so well to lighten the burden of penury and to cheer the spirits of the friendless . Each year , as it passes , serves to

manifest how much philanthropy can do , when rightly directed and judiciously employed , to mitigate the trials and tedium of suffering humanity , and we , as Freemasons , are especiallypleased when we read of such kindly sympathy manifested towards that large class , our

English poor . We need not worry ourselves to-day with any of the recondite views which exist as regards the poor laws and their administration , their dark and their sunny side , but we can all feel great gratification at the thought that so much has been done at the festive and

holy season of Christmas to afford a day ' s gratification to a very large and helpless portion of Her Majesty ' s subjects . We congratulate all concerned in the undoubted success of these benevolent and p leasant labours , altogether in accord with the memories and sympathies of the Christmas season .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do net hold ourselves responsible lor , or even as approving of ih _ opinions expressed by our correspond-ius , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessarv limits—free discussion . —ED . 1

THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND AND THE GRAND ORIENT OF FltANCF . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir .-mil Brother , — Each Freema--on , I think , is obliged to work for the true benefit of the Craft , even if he must be aware , that his intentions will be misunderstood . This semis to he

the case with my letter , published in the Freemason , page 542 , which had no other purpose than to be a brotherly warning for my dear English brethren not to vote in Grand Li'dge ag-.-iin . st ihe Grand Oiit . it of France , without having studied t e whole question thoroughly , free , from passion and prejudice , and not to take any hasty action in dissolving thc fraternal bonds whieh have till

now united both Grand Lodges . My highly esteemed friend and Iiro . the Editor of the Freemason has , 1 may suppose , misunderstood the intention of my letter , which , because written in a foreign language , necessarily must be imperfect in form and thought , for he has in his critique of my Utter ( p , 34 8 ) only reviewed some weak parts , without taking into

consideration the very substance , the only principal point of it , i . e ., what I have said of ihe true meaning of the vote of the Grand Orient of France . 1 am not so weak as to hold up my interpretation of sec . 31 of the Old Charges . It may be" unreasonable and childish , " and that ofthe Editor be light . Well , I accept it , and I say with him— " No one ' ought to he to stupid as

to be an Atheist , and if he is so stupid , he ought not to be a Frcrmason . " But may I ask , whether the Grand Orient of France has done anything contrary to this interpretation ? 1 cannot find it so . The Craft says " no one ought to be so stupid as to be an Atheist , and if he is , he ought not to be a Freemason , " but thc Craft has , it a candidate knocks on the door for initiation , only to enquire after his moral mind

and character , not after his faith and convictions , whatever they may be—after his doings , not after his meanings ( opinions ) , a'ter his conscious heart , not after his erroneous head . It is the duty of the Craft to enquire , whether the candi-. ' . atc is a free and honest , a virtue us and truth-loving man of good report , but ihe Cralt never can and will bean inquisitional jury on his convictions . The Mas . mic love bears all , tolerates all , | aut it does not approve all .

Freemasoiny rejects Atheism as a false theory , but it cannot rej . ct thc Atheist , ihe bearer of an error . Vou yourself have said , that Freemasonry has " the purpose of humanitarian sympathy , relief and good will , " that it isa cosmopolitan and uniting institution , which forbids every debate on religious topics . Has the Craft at any time promulgated , what is an Atheist ! I know well , tbat there

are men of high intellectual force anti of cultivated mind , who profess to be Atheists . But are they indeed ? 1 think , in quite the same manner , as there are many who profess to be Christians , without being so . Allow me , to say once more , the lodge is no inquisitorial jury , and Freemasons are no Popes . I am sorry if I have s-id more than is necessary on Atheists and Atheism , the more so as the vote nf the Grand Ori , nt

dc France has nothing at all to do with the Atheistical question . Perlups all brothers would much easier come to a common understanding if the bad word " Atheist , " —for many people as bad . 'is the word " Freemason " for the Kotnan Catholic clergy—would not have been used in the discussion 011 the French vole , which is only a profession for liberty of conscience , not a vote against any religious faith . In this French vote I can see nothing which

Original Correspondence.

leads to the destruction of true Freemasonry . But if the Grand Lodge nf England should tike a passionate vote •• igainst the Grand Orient de France , like the blinded Grand Lo- ' ge of Ireland , thru this would result in most dep ' oiahle consequences in th _ destruction of the Ciait . Ti > prevent such a destruction 1 have written against "cruel agitation , " which o ly can sow the seeds of

di . card , hatred , and contempt towards we-11-mcai-mg , good and true brethren . Let us love one another , avoid all discussions on religious topics and uphold the Cosmopolitan character of Fr . emisonry , which is in noway altered by the vote of the Grand Orient de France . Believe me , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , J . G FINDEL .

Leipzig , 17 th December , 1877 . [ We publish Bro . Findel's letter , as we like him to speak fur himself , but we cannot agree with his arg .-ments or accept his facts . He forgets much that has taken place which has ope ; cd our eyes , and slartled us 1111 a little . The exclusion of the Bidle , followed by the erasure of belli f in God , is to us a proof that it is , as indeed

it is admitted to be , for the relief of tender consciences , those whom our Constitutions term " stupid Atheists , " those who " live without God in the world , " iin . d are " Atheoi . " There is and can be no intolerance in acknowled ging T . G . A . O . T . U ., and we in I'ngland will never consort with those who reject this needful and cosmopolitan " formula . " of Ma-onic belief . Wticthcr this

profession is in its right place or not in the French Constitutions is another question , but that is not now raised by the " destructive party " in the Grand Orient of France . I n England , Bro . Findel may rest assured , there is but one opinion of the folly anti the wickedness of the act , as well as the injury accruing to Freemasonry , and of the handle given to our bitter foes . —En . ]

FREEMASONRY IN JAMAICA—A NEW THEORY . 7 b IheJSdilor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As thc transactions of the Craft in any part of the world cannot be otherwise than intc re-sting to thc entire Masonic body , permit me to report , for the henefit of your renders , _ new theory that has recently been broached in

this country by a learned brothei ; and , as it has found favour with a great many , I doubt not that it will altiact the attention ot all the Masonic scholars of the Continent . On the evening of the 15 th of October last , I attended a Lodge of Instruction attached to the Glenlyon Lodge , of Kingston , Jamaica ( to whieh I was spee-ially invited ) to hear a lecture on thc " Inner Mysteries of Free-. nr _ . onty , ' '

to be delivered by Bro . Herman John Burger , a Masouic student of more than thirty years . From the brother's well-known literary ability , a great Masonic treat was generally expected , and the brethren mustered in great force , there being present on the occasion no less than fifteen Past Masters of the several lodges in the city , and altogether between 140 and ico Master Mas-ins—for the

lecture was delivered in ihe lodge opened on tne centre . The- lecture was what is called "extempore , " that is te > say , Bio . Burger refe-rieel to no book nor MS , bul for over two hours and a quarter spoke fluently and kept us spell-bound with his pleasing oratory . But now to the subject . Bro . Burger took for his text " Freemasonry is a piculiar

system of morality , " anil proceeded to show that morality is a branch of philosophy wbich is divided into natural philosophy or physics " , moral philosophy or ethics , and spiritual p hilosophy or metaphysics . Then he explained what natural philosophy comprehends , what moral , and what spiritual ; and thereupon proceeded to show that the Entered Apprentice's Degree is a lesson in natural

philosophy , the Fellow Crak's a lesson in moral philosophy ; anti the Master Mason ' s a lesson iu spiritual philosophy . Tn meet certain objectie-ns that might be urged agains ' . this theory , Brother Burger explained that the First Degree taught morality only in the charge , which is not always delivered , therefore not an essential part of thc

degree ; and argueel that although wc have hither .- accepted the Second Degree as having for its peculiar objects of search the liidilcu mysteries of niture anil science , nevertheless he conte nded that as late as 1 750 , the liberal arts and sciences formed part of an earlier teaching . But I should be doing Bro . Burger an injustice were 1 not to state that although he declares that tlie Fie st Degree is a

lesson in Philosophy , hc went ou to stile that the three branches of pbilos pay are interwoven with each degree , only that tine branch is always more prominent in the degree that belongs especially lo it . After this Bro . Burger proccedcel to discuss , the Egyptian theory of Le Noir , the Sun worship theory of Carlilc , the Sabeism theory of Fellows , the religious theory of Preston , and the Christian theory of Dr . Oliver , and

showed how each , in the search alter the key of the plan of Freemasonry , missed it . He next allueled to the loss which the Craft sustained in 1720 by the valuable MSS ., particularly of one by Bro . Nicholas Stone , and he entered on the consideration of the subj . ct , his opinion being that the MS . referred to ditl not contain a ritual , because it is not to be supposed that the scrupulous brethren who burnt it could have for one moment

entertained thc belief that the Grand Lodge would have published such in thc Book of Constitutions ; next that the-MS . could not have been a code of rules , regulations or charges , because no hum coulel have bcfall-n thc daft by its publication ; but if the e \ IS . was a treatise or lecture like his , that esta dished the fact that l- ' reemasoary is

based on philosophy , it could well hc understood how the biethren—tho . e scrupulous br . tlucndreaded lest the Gr . iiul Lodge might have in tbe-ir zeal published it a ad laid the Cra . lt open thereby to the odium llieologicum of the age ; for philosophy was synonymous with infidel ; as Bro . Burger stated even so late as the days of Voltaire , the word philosophy was used

Original Correspondence.

to s-ignify religion , as witness " the Philosophical Dictionary—and he called attention to the fact that Or . Oliver had to qualify the term philosophy fe r one of his works by nam < ng-it " The Theocratic Philosophy of Masonry . " From all 1 have gathered Bro . Burger sets up the claim of having discovered the true key of the plan tt ancient Freemasonrv . Of course I have not attempted to give more

than a rough outline nf the L-cture , and I really believe that unless stenograph y had been employed it would have been difficult to take down the words as they fell fro-u our learned Brother's lips , for I must not omit to mention that Bro . Burger has not only a fair command of language but keeps the attention quickened by the recital of most interesting tales anil quotations from Greek and

Ribbinlcal works , of which he seems to have a large stock . At thc conclusion of the lecture Bro . Dr . Thomas Allen , the General Superb-dent of the lunatic asylum of Jamaica , rose and proposed in most complimentary terms a vote of thanks to Bro , Burger for the great literary treat he had given the brethren present , stating at the same time , that although the lecture had exceeded two hours and a quarter

in delivery , nevertheless it comprehended so wide a field of observation and so great a depth of learning ( indeed the Doctor confessed that it went far beyond his depth ) , that on behalf of the brethren he felt great pleasure in thanking Bro . Burger . He proposed the thanks of the lodge for the lecture , and the vote of thanks having been dul y seconded , the usual applause followed as carried , when

Bro . Burger rose and thanked the brethn-n for their kind attention and good wishes , informing them that this was only the first of a series of the " Fundamental Philosophy of Freemasonry " that hc had promiseti the Right Worshipful Bro . Dias to deliver for the benefit of the Glenlyon Lodge . The Worshipful Bro . Bias then proposed Bro . Burger

as an honorary member of thc Glenlyon Lodge , which , having been immediately seconded , was carried unanimously , and this most instructive and interesting Lodge of Instruction was thereupon closed . ' I understand that Bro . Burger intends to submit his

theory to the Lodge of Emulation in London , with the view of obtaining an expression of opinion , to perhaps eventuate in a revision of our ritual in several particulars . Being a young Mason , of course I am not qualified to say , if this be Bro . Burger's object , whether it is possible or not ; nevertheless I think the matter is worthy of

consideration . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , A YOUNG MASTER MASON . [ We have published our worthy correspondent ' s letter , as he will see , with some needful erasures , owing to our rules on the subject . Able and eloquent , as no doubt Bro . Bergcr's lecture is , it is not , it is right to remark ,

altogether a new or original iheory , and we feci pretty sure that the Emulation Lotlge will say that they piefer " quicta non movcre . " We think that there ^ -gieat danger 111 philosophising too much in icspect of the simple system of Freemasonry , and we prefer tbe older system of exposition , & c . We thank our correspondent lor his communication . —ED . ]

APOLLO UNIVERSITY LODGE . To Ihe Editor if the " Freemason . " Dear Sir anti Brother , — As the question of membership of the University of Oxford being a " sine qua non " for admission to this lotlge is called attention to by " 357 " in your paper of 22 nd inst ., allow me to inform you that during the five years

when the Grand Registrar of England recently presided over the Province of Oxfordshire , the Bye-laws if this lodge were revised , and that , as they now stand , no one can become a member of the lodge ( except as an honorary member ) , who is not at thc time , or who has not becn , a member of the University of Oxford . Further I may

inform you , that with the exception of some of the founders of the levelg ., arid of one other brother , no non-University man has ever been a subscribing member of the lodge . Yours ftaternally , H UGH H . R IACH , P . M ., Past Secretary of 357 , and of Oxfordshire .

BRO . DESMONS OF PARIS . To the Editor oj the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can any of your readers give me an account of this French brother ? I have read his report , and despite its undoubted ability , there comes over one a sort of

uncomfortaole feeling that one has seen before similar specimens of special pleading and casuistry destructive to morality , to truth , and to relig ion . Had Pascal lived to read that too famous report , we mig ht perhaps have had another edition of the " Provincial Letters . " I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , ANTI -J ESUITISM ,

THE GERMAN QUESTION AND KNIGHT TEMPLARS . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have read with pleasure Bro . Bent ' s letter in your paper of thc 15 th , and with reference to his query as to whether if he presented himself , being a Swedish

Templar , at our encampments or preceptories he would be received , 1 can only say that I , for one , shoulil be glad to welcome him as a member of the Order , and I feci sure he woulel have no tliffi ulty in b > -co . * nitig afliaiai . il to an English preC'ptory if he tie sires to join us . Ic is quite

liue lhat the Prince of Wales was made a Knight le-inplar in Sweden ; but , if I mistake not , hc was also installed in the Faith and Fidelity Immemorial Encampment in London , and became Emineiit Commander prior to his installation as Grand Master of the United Orders of the Temple and Malta in England and Ireland . He wore ths