Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar.

COSMOPOLITAN MASONIC CALENDAR .

W . Masters and Secretaries are earnestly requested to forward to the publisher , at the Offices , 198 , Fleet-street , E . G ., particulars of the place , days , and months of meeting of their respective lodges , chapters , and other Masonic bodies , for insertion in the issue of the Calendar for 1877 .

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IMPORTANT NOTICE ,

COLONIAL and FOREIGN S UBSCRIBERS are informed that acknowledgments of remittances received are published in the first number of every month .

It is very necessary for our readers to advise its of all money orders thev remit , more especially those from the United States of America ¦ and India ; otherwise we cannot tell where to credit them .

To Our Readers.

TO OUR READERS .

The Freemason is a sixteen-page weekly newspaper , price 2 d . It is published every Friday morning , and contains the most important , interesting , and useful infor-.. -.. ation relating to Freemasonry in every degree . Annual subscription in the United Kingdom , Post free , 10 / - P . O . O . ' s to be made payable at the chief office , Loudon .

To Advertisers.

TO ADVERTISERS .

The Freemason has a large circulation in all parts of t he Globe , its advantages as an advertising medium can hercfore scarcely- be overrated . For terms , position , "fcc , apply to GEORGE KKNNINO , 198 , Fleet-st .

Answers To Correspondents.

Answers to Correspondents .

All Communications , Advertisements , & c , intended for inr-ertion in the Number of thc following Saturday , must reach the Office not later man 12 o ' clock on Wednesday morning . We do not undertake to return rejected communications . The following stand over : —Cestrian Lodge , Chester , 42 ;; Lodgeof Li'his , Warrington , 148 ; Caledonian of

Unity j Koyal Arch Chapter , 73 ; Prov . G . Lodge of Somersetshire ; Renfrtwshire East Piov . G . Lodge ; St . Andrew , Royal Arch , No . 321 . BOOKS 8-c , RECEIVED : — "Masonic Eclectic ; " "The Chosen People of Israel and England j" " La Chaine d'Uni . n ; " ••Ca _ sell *_ P 0 pul . 1 t Educator ; " " The Philadelphia Keystone ; " " New York Square . "

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

[ The charge is 2 s . 6 d for announcements , not exceed ing four lines , under this heading . ]

BIRTHS . B 1 . A nos . —On the 22 nd inst ., at Vcadens-road , New YVands . worth , the wife of C . E . Bladon , of a daughter . B-B TT . —On the 24 th inst ., at Villa-road , Brixton , the wife of E . W . Burtt , of a son . BUHT . —On the 22 nd inst ., at The Hatch , Redhill , Surrey , the wife of Mr . T . W . Burt , of a son .

CHARLTON . —On the 22 nd inst ., at Lime-tree-villas , the wife of T . Charlton , prematurely , of a daughter . CORBETT . —On Ihe 22 nd inst ., at Berne , the Hon . Mrs . Corbett , of a son . MF . LI . OR . —On the 201 I 1 inst ., at Otteihead , Honiton , thc wife of A . Mellor , Esq , of a daughter . MONEY . —On the 25 th inst ., at Suinmerficld , Weybridge , the wife of tbe Rev . G . E . Money , of a son .

MARKIAGES . HARDING—SCOTT . —On thc 21 st inst ., at St . John's , Cheltenham , John Harding , of Rockfield , Monmouthshire , to Caroline Mary , daughter of the late H . E . Scott , C . E . LOWNDES—CHESTER . —On the inth inst ., at the parish

church , Chicheley , Charles W . Selby Lowndes , Capt . 03 rd Highlanders , to Fanny Maria , daughter of Col . C . M . Chester . MASSA—DIXON . —On the 23 rd inst ., at Neuchatcl , Switzerland , Bro . Thomas Massa ( P . M . 59 ) , of Plaistow , Essex , to Emily Jane , daughter of the late J . Dixon .

DEATHS . CDUET . —On the 20 th inst ., at 2 , Clarence-road , Croydon , Ivo Leo Anthony Cobet , aged 44 , late of the firm of Hofman , Schedk , and Co ., Vinr-itreet , Minories . BENNETT . —On the 23 rd inst ., John Leighton YVade Bennett , Esq ., of Woodmancote-place , aged 74 . DL-TTON . —On the 23 rd inst ., at Cheshunt , Herts , in his 42 nd year , Joseph Fitzpatrick Dutton , Esq .

LAWRENCE . —On the 23 rd inst ., at George-street , Edinburgh , George Alfred Lawrence , Esq . LEACH . —On the 19 th inst ., at Ramsgate , Rose , wife of Edwyn Evans Leach , of Laurel Brook , Perry-hill , Lower Sydenham . RAARSBERC ; . —On the 12 th inst ., at the residence of Bro W . II . Edwards , 3 , Falmouth-road , London , Bro . Sophus Raarsbrrg , of St . Nicholas Lodge , No . 93 , and St . George's Royal Arch Chapter , No . 21 , Scotch Constitution .

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TheFreemason, SATURDAY , SEPTEMBKR 30 , 1876 .

Papal Utterances.

PAPAL UTTERANCES .

The good old Pope seems very hard put to it for something to say to the pious who flock to him at Rome in sympathy and devotion . We need , therefore , make allowance for many of his epea pterocnta , for little acerbities of utterance , and pathetic outpouring ofthe " vials of

wrath , " for denunciations which are meaningless , and prophecies which do not turn out to be true . No doubt tbe kindly and facetious old gentleman is rather "hard-up , " to use a profane expression , just now , both for a grievance and " gravamen . " He is not in any way

uncomfortable , his captivity is a myth . He is , as the French say , " bien loge , bien nourri , " iu the finest palace in the world , and when he becomes morbid and melancholy , and thinks himself peculiarly ill-used , he has nothing to do but to step into that glorious building , in which

truehearted piety might indeed find a home , and religion might exercise its soothing influence over the complaints of the oppressed , or the sufferings of the sorrowing . But the good old man prefers , not to " wash his dirty linen at home , " but to take all the world into open council with him ,

as he unfolds to them the sad recital of his wrongs and injuries , of his annoyances and worries , of his " hard lines , " of his diminished dignity . It is impossible , of course , to hide from any one that a great change has come over the Eternal City in many ways . Without

going into the old question of the pontifical sovereignty , ( about which a great deal on pure grounds of political consideration may be said , doubtless , on both sides of the question ) , we . all must feel that it is not , perhaps , unnatural for one who has been the actual earthly ruler , to feel

a little chagrined that he is no longer No . 1 , in " Roma la Santa , " and that practically he has to pay obedience to the Supreme Civil Power . Hence this " kicking against the pricks , " this resistance to a " fait accompli , " to the inevitable march of affairs , to the altered circumstances of

the age , and of human opinion . After all , in his Sp iritual Sovereignty , the Pope is but reverting to the earlier , and some may think the purer and happier days , ofthe Roman Primacy . Though some may deem that the Chief Bishop of Rome should be independent of all earthly power

or sovereign , so to say supreme " suo jure , " yet he must be a very careless reader of history who is not also aware that it is this very theory of earthly supremacy which has encouraged the worst pretensions and led to the most detestable acts of the see of Rome . And looking at the

question relig iously , it seems very doubtful , per se , whether such can be a true or befitting condition at any time , of the Church of Him who said , " my kingdom is not of this world . " The admixture of the spiritual and civil power in the Pope of Rome has often been gravely arraigned ,

and solemnly condemned . Perhaps , few ever except on the ground of the good old rule , " Stare super via antiquas , " would wish to see the existence amongst us of a spiritual and temporal power combined . The teaching of the day , and the sympathies of us all , point rather to

temporal things for temporal rulers , to spiritual things tor spiritual rulers , ar . d the subordination of all persons , lay or clerical , to the supreme ruling power of the State , in all matters that are of earthly politics , of social arrangement , and of normal regulation . While , then ,

we do not altogether condemn Pio Nono for his " larmoyante " tone , as regards his own position , and that of his communion , we cannot say that we either much pity him or sympathize with him . On the contrary , we

think that he shows , in his constant attacks on the tendencies of the age , a want of self control , a lack of moral dignity , and an ignorance of what the progress of society and the necessities of the hour imperatively demand . His best " role " would be , as the French would say , in our hum-

Papal Utterances.

ble opinion , to " make the best of a bad bargain ' not to " cry over spilt milk , " or combat the unavci lable and the irrevocable . but while maintain . ! ingjtirmly his own principles of dogma and duty to s * ek to tighten up the bonds of disci pline and strengthen the outworks of his own Church

The Church of Rome must always have a great influence , necessarily alike on the destinies of nations , and the progress of the world , and if her influence , could be exercised for the peace and welfare of the human race , it seems a "thousand pities , " and even a cruel unkindness , to pervert it

to increase the contests , and deepen the amnios ities of mankind . One of the good old Pope ' s bugbears just now is the Masonic Order . This seems to be his " bete noir" and as he is the centre of the Romish system , all the " lunse minores" take their cue from him .

Nothing is too bad or too wicked to lay to the charge of this " pernicious sect , " these " children of Antichrist . " Now , these are hard words , and foolish words , and untrue word * , utterly undeserved by the Freemasons , and we regret to see them form the staple of the daily

invectives of the benevolent Pontiff , or making up the jeremiades of cardinals , and the normal utterances of Roman Catholic dignitaries everywhere . According to them the Freemasons are at the bottom of all the opposition to the Church of Rome just now . This is au absurd invention

of the Roman Curia , and a gross blunder ; no grosser was ever committed , amid those many which often make the thinking doubt alike the astuteness and intelligence with which it has been generally credited . Freemasonry cares

nothing and knows nothing about the Papacy or Roman Catholicism per se , except when they attack the principles , or impinge on the circle in which freemasonry habitually moves and acts . Indeed if the Church of Rome would leave the

Freemasons alone , and cease to denounce thom , and arraign them , and excommunicate them , Freemasons would take no further notice of Roman Catholicism or Ultramontanism . It is only because the Roman Catholic authorities lose no opportunity just now of assailing the

character , and impugning the motives of Freemasons , their words and acts , their principles , and their professions , that Freemasonry seems to be thrown into active collision with the Church ot Rome . Romish teaching is not ours , certainly ; but with that we have nothing to do . We do ask , however ,

as we have a right to ask , for liberty of thought and action , the sanctity of the conscientious opinion , toleration , charity , peace and justice . The good old Pope is not responsible , let us hope and believe , for all the nonsense which the

Roman Curia puts into his mouth . But then what comes of his persona ! infallibility ? Having pointed out these facts for the appreciation of our readers , as we are bound to do , we are glad to add that the benevolent Pontiff himself is still in excellent health and extreme vivacity .

Spiritualism.

SPIRITUALISM .

We are deeply sorry to note that this absurd monomania is again venturing to obtrude itself on public attention , and to claim even the commentaries of scientificists , and the approval of learned professors of something or other . In oui humble opinion no greater audacity of

charlatanism was ever publicly put forth for the deception or debasement of mankind . It constitutes in itself a burlesque on ail the laws of evidence , a parody on all the " outcome " of right reason , and is , we venture to conceive , an insult alike to the intelligence of the age , and the general

progress of general or scientific education amongst us . In some recent correspondence which has appeared in our pages , it is clear to ns , desp ite the grave averments of those who evidently are very easy of belief , and very much disposed to be partizans , that the position of Dr . Lankester and Mr . Donkin is unshaken . The

manifestations they behold can only bs produced someiio " by " legerdemain , " by skilful mani pulations ot one kind or another . How they are perform *" matters nothing in the argument , neither does > really concern us to know ; it is sufficient for " thatthey are "illusions" ofthe senses , and certainly utterly unworthy of the name of" sp iritualism , too ridiculous to be ir » any way connected with to-