The Masonic Miiror,

• but he thought *! t better that the important question to which the worthy Brethren had referred should become the subject of a separate motion . Bro . Aria then seconded the motion as it originally stood . Bro . Havers : M . W . Sir , — During the whole of my experience , I never addressed Grand Lodge with deeper emotions than at present , for I never listened to such observations in Grand Lodge with respect to any existing religious system . It is a new thing ; in my experience to hear reproaches uttered in Grand Lodge

against any system of religion . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) We are taught to view the errors of mankind with compassion , and to strive , by the purity of our own conductj to demonstrate our superior- excellences . ( Applause . ) No matter what his object , if any Brother is permitted in such terms to rate the professors of another religion—that which is applicable to one is applicable to all ^ -if you rate Romanism , why not Judaism , Methodism ) and the Scotch Kirk ? ( Loud cheers and laughter . ) It is contrary to our laws , both in letter and in spirit , and opposed to the traditions of our Order . ( Applause . ) I do hope , therefore , that such

expressions will be confined within the walls of Grand Lodge ( hear , hear ); for I am perfectly convinced that they were uttered without thought and without consideration . ( Hear , hear , and laughter . ) Should they be taken as breathing the spirit of our Order , we shall have cut away one of our foundations ; and I am sure that I shal 1 carry with me the hearts and feelings of all when I say that , as Masons , we must not , on any account , vilify the religion of any one of our Brethren . ( Lond and protracted applause . ) I entirely agree , however , with the noble Brother who has moved this resolution , in deploring the intolerance of any

religion which can refuse its consolations to members of our Society . ( Hear , hear . ) We know , and we are proud to acknowledge , that we interfere with no man ' s religion or politics . ( Loud cheers . ) I am treading now on delicate and dangerous ground ( hear ) , but if you will give me your indulgence I shall be able to show you not only that this motion cannot be carried out , but that the plan proposed is utterly inadequate to accomplish the objects desired , viz . the condemnation and diminution of persecution . ( Hear . ) The means by which this object is proposed

to be accomplished are , that the Board of General Purposes should draw up a statement of the principles of Freemasonry . What power has the Board of General Purposes to draw up such a statement , and what statement can they draw up superior to " the Charge " which already exists ? ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) Is there anything which the Board of General Purposes knows which every Freemason does not know ? ( Applause . ) Then , what do you propose to do with this statement ? Certain Brethren complain that they are persecuted for being

Freemasons . What do you propose to do with this statement ? Are you going to send it to the persecutors ? No ! You are going to send it to the victims of the persecution . ( Hear , hear . ) You are going to send it to the Masters of those foreign Lodges , that they may read it when and where they think fit . Do you suppose that they want to be instructed in the fundamental principles of our Order ? The priests are the persecutors , and they are only carrying out their orders . I have taken some pains to inquire into this subject , and the result has been that I

have found , from persons of the Roman Catholic persuasion in this country , that there are many Komish priests who approve of our principles , but they have no discretionary power to offer the rites of their church to those who are Freemasons , because every man who is a Mason , is de f acto excommunicated . [ Lord Carnarvon was here understood to intimate that he was aware of that fact . ] The noble Lord says he is aware of that fact ; and , being aware of it , I can only express my surprise that he should have made such a motion as that which has now been

placed upon our books . We should not remonstrate with individual priests , but with the Pope himself . ( Hear , hear , and laughter . ) We ought to get some Brother to represent the matter who has some interest with him . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) The remarks of the Brother , who seconded the resolution , have great force , and should he bring forward his resolution , I shall be happy to support it ; but there we take a totally opposite line : we are remonstrating with members of our own Order for violating one of the fundamental principles of our Order , and yielding to religious prejudices . The same thing is complained of by our Jewish Brethren as by our Boman Catholic Brethren . Eeference is made in