Letter Of Bro. W. J. Hughan, Of England, To The Grand Lodge Uf Ohio.

Louis d ' ors . Ei ghteen or twenty persons of distinction have lately been created Masons , amongst whom Avas the Marshal D'Estreos , and five lodges are already established , which makes so great a noiso and gives so much offence to people ignorant of ( iieir mysteries , that 'tis expected they will shortly be suppressed as they have been in Holland . "

In the next issue of the Post the foIloAVing brief announcement is made , " The King forbids the lodges , " and of date April 2 ( 3 , 1737 , it is noted that " there are spread about at Paris copies of an apologizing letter Avrote by a Freemason . He says amongst other particulars ' that the

things imputed to the disadvantage of the Brotherhood obliges him publicly to undertake the defence . That the VIBAVS the Freemasons propose to themselves are the most pure and inoffensive , and tend only to promote such qualities in them as

may form good citizens and zealous subjects , faithful to their prince , to their country ancl their friends That the name of Freemason is far from being an insignificant title ; that the duty it prescribes to those AVIIO bear it is to

endeavour to erect temples for virtue and dungeons for vice . ' ' He adds that he is by no means afraid of violating the secret imposed on him in publishing that their

principal design is to restore to tlie earth the reign of Astrca and to revive the time of Rhea . ' He assures 'the fair that the Avhole Brotherhood is full of respect and veneration for them , but that these sentiments are not exempt from fear , and that es'sn this same fear obliges the Freemasons

to exclude their sex from their assemblies . ' He concludes in this manner : ' This exclusion ought , by no means to provoke the indignation of those AVIIO are the objects of it . To prevent such an effect , they need only recollect from Avhoni Adam received

the apple . Sad present ! Since had it not been for that fata ] apple , Adam Avould have remained the first Freemason . ' " A collection of the various attacks on Freemasoniy at home and abroad , from 1720 . to 1750 Avould prove especially

, interesting , but can not UOAV be made excepting in parts , for many have doubtless long ceased to exist , pamphlet literature being generally of very short duration . Man y of the earl y " exposures" and

manuals published in France and Germany early last century , furnish information on many points of value , ancl especially as to the general Avork in tlie lodges , and the absence of all degrees but the three first . Thenas time rolls onother degrees are

, , gradually added , and the character of the ' Third is vastly altered . But , to continue the extracts , Ave furnish a feAV more forei gn clippings .

September 13 , 1737 . —Versailles . — " The Lieutenant-General of tlie Police at Paris has published an order against the assembly of all unauthorised societies , and laid a fine upon tlie master of an ordinary for suffering a lodge of Freemasons to ho held at bis house . "

In the so called " Secrets of Masonry , by S . P ., " London 1737 , is printed the " Paris letter of January 13 , 1737 , " Avhich purports to be " the secret of the Order of Freemasons and the ceremonies observed at

the reception of members , " ancl which is reprinted in the St . James Evening Post , with the date from Paris of January 2 , 1738 O . S . Many of the particulars afforded aro most ludicrous , and doubtless intended to

amuse the brethren as Avell as the public . There is an evident intention on the part of the author to do justice to the Fraternity ; for lie makes the orator say to the candidates : "You are going to embrace a respectable Order , Avhich is more serious than yon imagine . * There is nothing in

it against the law , against religion , against the State , against the king , nor against manners . The venerable Grand Master Avill let you knoAV the rest . " The editor states that the foregoing and other particulars are taken from the Utrecht Gazette ,

and if the exposi be continued his correspondent promises not to fail in communicating all to the public . It is substantially the same as the Paris letter , and reads like a copy , Avhich it doubtless is . There are other references to Continental Freemasonry in these "Posts . "

Holland , November i , 1734 . " Besides the lodge of English Freemasons at Rotterdam , another is erected at The Hague , depending on the Grand Lodge here ( London )