Honour To Whom Honour Is Due.

which recalls Bro . Lieut .-Col . Pilsworth's many Masonic merits and untimely loss , to remember the true-hearted of our brethren who depart from us , and to offer , however feebly , a few words of affectionate remembrance to virtues great and many , to worth true and real ,

to a p leasant friendship whose earthly links are severed , and to a fraternal sympathy which begun in time , let us believe , like all good things is destined to flourish yet once again , and bloom all radiantly in that better eternity which awaits us all .

The Monde Maconnique And Ourselves.

THE MONDE MACONNIQUE AND OURSELVES .

We note that in our contemporary , an answer we made has been misunderstood as regards the admission of illegitimates . We were asked , as we understood the question , what was the rule , not the policy . We stated that in the operative guilds all the candidates

must be the children of honest parentage , and that our rule , as S peculative Masons , was to the same effect , and anything that has been since put forward , proves the correctness of our views of the Common Law of Masonry on the subject . Indeed there can be no doubt upon it , as all the

exceptions quoted prove the rule . As regards the policy , that is another question , and a wider one , but we are inclined to agree with Bro . Hug han that where the candidate is himself a hig hly respectable person , we may well accept him now . We note also that at page 6 $ our

worthy Bro . Caubet prints a note from W . M . Esq . ( sic ) , dated Wellington , New Zealand , March 3 rd , 1877 , in which that brother tells Bro . Caubet that " plusiers de ses freres de nationaliteAnglaise repandues de toutes les parties , du monde , se rejouissentcomme moi de l '

enterprise du Grand Orient of France , ' that is , the suppression of belief in God , & c . We had previously received a letter from the same brother , which we declined to print , as we thought it neither wise or true , or sound in view , but we believe that the writer no doubt honestly entertains the opinion ,

he puts forward , though we think them most mistaken . He declares many English brethren that approve of the revolution proposed . We know of none who do so , and we fear that in his case , as in others , it is "distance" that" lends enchantment" to his view .

Is It True?

IS IT TRUE ?

We have been lately reading a very remarkable work , "A Glimpse cf the Great Secret Society ' ' ( Macintosh , 1873 , 4 th Edit . ) , and have come upon the passage which we now proceed to give . Our brethren will read the charge thus officially made against the whole Order of

Freemasons , everywhere , by the present aged and benevolent Pontiff with tbe regret and astonishment that we did , and will be prepared , we fancy , as we do , not only indignantly to protest against

it , but to ask publicly as hefore our cosmopolitan Order , nay , before all men , is it true ? " In fact , we cannot conceal from you , venerable brother , that our grief and astonishment

were very great , when we heard that you had presided at the obsequies of Marshal Magnan , Grand Master of the Order of Freemasons , and gave the solemnabsolution when the Masonic insi gnia were placed on the funeral canopy , and

tue members of that condemned sect , decorated with the same insignia , were ranged around it . In the letter which you addressed to us on the Jst of last August , you assure us that these insignia had not been seen by you , nor by your ler

' gy j that , in one word , they were unknown to you in any manner ; but you knew very well , venerable brother , that the dead man had during "le had the misfortune to be at the head of that proscribed sectvulgarlcalled by the name of

, y " ? Grand Orient , ' " and , consequently , you might have easily foreseen that the members of "jat sect would assist at his funeral ; and that ney would take care to make a parade of their nsignla

. you ought therefore , in your religious 1 usition , to have maturely weighed these coti-¦ uerations , and to have been on your guard on ca « H CtS' 0 n ° f this funeraI > in order « " > t tohave a « n „ : u y 0 Ur P resence and co-operation the oE t and P rofou « id grief which all true thohcs have felt on this occasion . You can-

Is It True?

not be ignorant that Masonic societies , and all other associations ofthe same iniquitous character , have been condemned by the Roman Pontiffs , our predecessors , and by ourself ; that even severe penalties have been enacted against them . These impious sects , having different

denominations , are , in fact , all linked together by their mutual complicity in the most criminal designs , all being inflamed with the most intense hatred of our holy religion and the Apostolic See , and are endeavouring by the dissemination of pestilential books , and in many other ways , by perverse

manoeuvres and by every kind of devilish artifice , to corrupt all over the world both morality and belief , and to destroy all honest , true , and just opinion ; to spread throughout the universe these monstrous opinions ; to conceal and propagate the most detestable vices , and every conceivable

rascality ; to shake the power of all legitimate authority , and to compass thefoverthrow , if it were possible , of the Catholic Church , and of civil society , and to drive God Himself out of heaven . " The paragraph is taken from a letter of the Pope to the murdered Archbishop of Paris , Darboy , and is dated Rome ,

October 26 , 186 5 . That such a charge is not true in any sense , we can most conscientiously aver as before the great tribunal of public opinion , and we think that there are countless Roman Catholics who , if they could venture speak , would testify to the absurdity of such allegations , and the untruthfulness of such an accusation .

The Grand Orient Of France And The Grande Loge Central .

THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE AND THE GRANDE LOGE CENTRAL .

It seems that these two bodies are now again at variance , and an exchange of notes , marked by somewhat of acerbity , is going on between the distinguished brethren , St . Jean and Cremieus . Into the merits of the case we do not profess to enter , as we are not competent to do

so , in our opinion , it being to a great extent , moreover , a purely French question , but , no doubt , much may be'said on both sides . But so long ss the Grand Orient continues to be mixed up with the High Grades , with which it has

nothing to do , and of which it ought to know nothing , all ° these ' tracasseries " are sure to arise . In our humble opinion , if Craft Masonry were entirely under the Grand Orient , and if the High Grades were all under control of the Grande Loge , we should find an end for all these ceaseless

disputes . Whatever may have been done in years past , we never can concede to the Rite , Ecossais the right to open symbolic lodges at all , neither , we believe , would it wish or seek to do so , if the anomaly was not perpetuated in France of a Craft Grand Orient , having something to do with the High Grades . We know , as French

Masonic history tells us , that this is a sore point with the Grand Orient of France , but we speak in all kindness when we say to them , " disembarrass yourselves of the High Grades as soon as you can , leave them to the Grande Loge Centrale , and the Grand Orient will gain in every way , and put an end for ever to burning questions and useless controversies . "

The Anniversary Festival Of The Boys' School.

THE ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

The festival which took place at the Alexandra Palace on Wednesday , the 27 th inst ., has been a great success , and has resulted in a return of ^ 13 , 248 17 s . 6 d . with nineteen lists to come in . We shall call attention to the subject fully in our next .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

£ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , OT even as approving of _ he opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , t „ a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED . 1

CHARU'Y LOTTERIES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have read with much interest the proceedings of Bro . Constable , and the large amount thus procured by him for our charities . But as for some time I have

felt some doubts about these proceedings , Masonically , I venture to ventilate the question in your friendly collumns to-day . I trust that I may be more fortunate than some of your correspondents apparently are , and that my very few and friendly , and Masonically-actuated words ( pardon so

Original Correspondence.

Johnsonian an expression ) will not be deemed in any way personal , or lead to a controversy based on personal feelings or personal considerations . It is curious enough that we seemingly never touch anything Masonic , without invoking or developing personal acrimony , a sad commentary on the inconsistency of human nature , and may I not say , too , on the hollowness of Masonic profession .

I . The first remark I have to make , then , is this—that say what you will , disagree with me [ as you may , such a course of action , however popular , encourages a spirit of gambling among Freemasons . The brother who puts in his shilling hopes to get the equivalent of £ 10 , two hundred times in excess of his original outlay , and I , for one , though I may be called a prig or a

Pharisee , hypercritical or hyper-censorious , do not like charity to be mixed up with a desire of individual gain . Charity qua charity is a very noble virtue in itself , and ought neither to be depreciated or lowered , weakened or discredited in any way . All lotteries have been found to work badly for the morality of peoples and the safety of the state , inasmuch as they infuse into men ' s minds the

aspirations of cupidity , and the love of risk on chances , two very great but detrimental characteristics of human nature . 1 cannot think that we are justified in introducing these unsound and even hurtful tendencies of human weakness into our higher struggles after what is true and good in itself . I may bc wrong , but I am anxious , as the Scotchman was , to " testify " on this point for the

careful consideration of marly of my readers . II . Now it might be said , and I fancy that it will be said that the " end justifies the means , " and that though you may bc doing evil " good " may come of it , that the object of the Institutions is so excellent , per se , that it is right to help them in every way you can . Now , as I , for one , detest these Jesuit maxims which have wrought

such misery among men , I look always with suspicion on any defence which rests upon them , even in any degree . Though I give all credit to Bro . Constable for his zealous and kindly intentions . and last , not least , for his undeniable success , I cannot get over the fact that , be the movement prosperous or not , it is a tampering , nevertheless , with the stricter and safer laws of public prosperity and general duty .

Admitted that the aim of Bro . Constable be a good one , is that any reason why it should be carried out in a wrong way ? I think not , and here it is that I join issue wilh him , and I deem it proper to object to these proceedings , on Masonic grounds , and on Masonic grounds alone . As Freemasons we profess to uphold a strict if stern morality , and to avoid any act which clashes with

the laws of the land , or the revealed axioms of personal duty . How far all lotteries impinge upon the prohibition of lotteries by the law , in the spirit , at any rate , 1 leave to learned Masonic casuists and lawyers amongst us to decide . III . I shall be told , I know , that many brethren who cannot afford the £ 10 can afford the is . | and , therefore ,

that there can be no real harm in thus bending for a moment , as it were the unchanging laws of Masonry and morality in these respects . But this is just where I find fault with the arrangement . Many- who gain the prizes are well able to pay the £ 10 , so that practically , with all deference to many most worthy brethren , public charity is mixed up with individual gain , in a somewhat , hazardous juxta . position . Now I do not want to seem too querulous , or too

Draconic , I am not fond of dogmatising or laying down the law , and I can only add that I shall be most happy to read the remarks of those many able brethren who take an opposite view of the matter , as I am always open to conviction , and always amenable to fair argum int . But it is a subject , I think , which needs discussion , and demands thoughtful consideration . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fiaternally , " W . K .

MASONS' MARKS , & c . To lhe Editor ofthe " Freemason . " D _ -ar Sir and Brother , — " „ W . E . N . " deserves our thanks for the mine he is opening up in regard to Masons' Marks and Masonic Archaeology , and I agree with the greater part of his statements and deductions . I have never read Wilson ' s

" Pre-histoiic Annals , " but I will look up the book , but it must be over fifteen years ago since I first made a comparison between old English Marks and Northern Runes , and found in many cases a perfect similarity . They were used late into Christian times , because they were angularly suited for cutting with the chisel , until , in ' the end , the real meaning of the signs was lost . The caste marks of

India seem to be arbitrary signs ; to approach more to the nature of Masonic symbols than alphabetical character . 1 think it very likely , however , that the origin and basis of both Masonic symbols and caste marks are transmitted to us from early times , and the original home of our race the Aryan father land . Since I took an interest in Mark Masonry the

ceremonies have been modified , but are still , to my mind , of an objectionable character . At the period I name the teaching of the degree was that , presumably , from the building of Solomon's Temple , though marks were based on the number of lines upon which the representative of the degree placed a mark of approval ; and the fact that the old marks were letters of an obsolete alphabet

struck at the root of the whole system . The printed and written documents with which I am acquainted prove that the degree of Mark Master is of very modern date . All that we can say with safety is that in Scotland every Apprentice Mason was compelled

by Masonic law to register his mark when he was made free of his lodge , and for which registration he paid the fee of one mark , and selected any mark or any sign whatever , not used by another member of the lodge . If there is any proof of a Mark Master ' s " Mark of Approval , " I shall be glad ' to know where it can be found . The foregoing