Monthly Masonic Summary.

Monthly Masonic Summary .

OUR Royal Grand Master has made liis appearance in Grand Chapter , and has evinced bis deep interest in our Order , and his full appreciation of the headship of the English Craft , in Avhat it means and in Avhat it requires . We augur most

favourably and most Masonically alike for his constitutional rule and for the future progress of English Freemasonry . So universal has been the outburst of loyal enthusiasm evoked by the Installation of the Prince of Wales , alike in England , Scotland , and Ireland , that Ave were alike pained and startled to read some very

unmasomc remarks on the subject recently in the " Scottish Freemason's Magazine . " We felt much for the Order . in Scotland , as Ave Avere persuaded that such disloyal utterances Avere entirel y alien from the real sentiments of the Scottish

Freemasons . Our contemporary having , to use a common expression , not elegant , but very significative , " gone a mucker , " instead of attempting to apologize , proceeded to explain and even to defend . He -was a

Avise man who said , " never explain ; if you once begin to explain all ' s up Avith you . " And never Avas adage made more true , or more perfectly illustrated . The " Scottish Freemason ' s Magazine " Avent from bad to

Avorse , made confusion Averse confounded , laughed at grammar , despised common sense , repeated the original offence against good taste and fraternal feeling , and "loyalty and charity , " and added to the regret of every sound Scottish and English Freemason . We are noAv told that the " Scottish Freemason ' s Magazine" —is not . So , though

like Archdeacon Grantly , Ave think the saying humbug , Ave will repeat here to-day , once for all , and close this most unmasonic chapter in the history of Scottish literary adventure , "de mortuis nil nisi bonum . " Peace to its manes ! Beyond thisthere

, does not seem much to say about Freemasonry in general , or in particular . Freemasonry is like the fag whom , in old days , a cricket ball struck , and Avhom 8- kindly prsefect instantly consoled b y

Monthly Masonic Summary.

saying " a cricket ball never did hurt anybody . " True or untrue , the Avickets of Freemasonry are standing up very straight , and are not to be bowled either liy a lefthand twister from Cardinal Manning , or a

right-hand SIOAV from Monseigneur Ketteler , by a shooter from the Bishop of Orleans , or by a lob from Cardinal Cullen . Even Fio Nono ' s best delivery does not take effect , and there is little fear of any bowler

loAvering them now . Seriously , allocution and brief , polite expletive and angry exordium , and Ultramontane Billingsgate , come in quick succession , and the old flag of Ereemasony is

bloAvmg out clear and straight , and he will be a very bold person who ventures ' to endeavour , and a very Avonderful person Avho succeeds in his attempt to haul it

down . Loyalty and charity are emblazoned on our " bit of blue " in lett ers of gold , and like our great poet , and probably brother , William Shakespeare , Ave feel inclined to say , being very combative just

IIOAV , "Let all the Avorld ' gainst Masonry come in arms , They all shall rue , If Masonry to itself do prove but true . "

Bro . Captain Boyton has crossed successfully from France to England , and has received , as be deserved , Avell earned K-uoos . A writer in the "Times" tells us , ( as there is nothing new under the sun ) , that he

was anticipated by Dardanus Avho , at the time of the deluge of Deucalion , having his bod y Avrapt up in a dress of skin inflated as a leathern bottle , swam Avith the

aid of one paddle ( fiov-qpajs ) , from Saus to the coast of Troy , Avhere he built the town of Dardania . He caps this anecdote from prehistoric times , Avith a quotation from Lycophron .

f f * * _ : * " ) ' ' * * * * os . _< , _ 6 V p a 7 rT ( j ) VKVTZI , " OTTOW ITO / DKOS 'IcrTpievs rerpao-KeX-js , " 'Ao-Kffl povr / p-qs djj . rjjeXvrpwo-a' ; Se /^ as , " 'Pet QvixyiaTins Ke 7 r os , ( is , ev ^ aro . " V . 73-76 . A Mr . Heckethorn has published a History of Secret Societies , Avhich , hoAvever A