The Late Bro. Dr. Oliver, D.D.

borough , Birmingham , Spalding , Melbourne , Australia , and the Hiram , Londonderry . The Rising Star , Bombay , also presented him in 1862 , " as a token of their appreciation of the literary talent he has uniformly displayed in his

publications on Freemasonry , " with a massive silver medal , on the front of which is a design representing two native Masons , one on each side of an altar , in Masonic clothing , and bearing wands-The altar has the words ou its front , of " Lodge

Rising Star , Bombay , " and also Masonic symbols . On the reverse is a portrait of the founder of the lodge , with the inscription , " Frat . insig . et dilect Jacobus Burnes , fundator . " Encircling the portrait are the words " To V . W . Bro . Oliver , from

Lodge Rising Star of Western India , Bombay , 1862 . " It was presented to the venerable and illustrious recipient by two native Masons , Bro . Manockjee Cursetjee and Bro . Dadhabhai Naorogi . He was also Past Grand Commander S . G . J . G . xxxiii degree for England and Wales ; Past D . G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Massachusets , U . S .

We add the following from the National Freemason : —It is not only literary men who , thanks to Dr . Oliver , are retained within the Craft . Religious men are also kept in it by the " beauty of holiness , " the sound , healthy tone that pervades

the whole of our worthy brother ' s writings . There is no cant , no hypocrisy in them , but there is about them the very atmosphere of that Holy Book which lies open on our altars , and which Masons are exhorted to consider the unerrinp ' O

standard of truth aud justice . Alas i how many of the brethren there are who evidence b y their lives and conversations that this exhortation falls unheeded on their ears . We believe that Masons , as a body , welcome heartily to their brotherhood

the ministers of religion . If we have any such amongst us . we are certain that it is to be attributed to Dr . Oliver , who has incontrovertibly shown that there is no antagonism between Christianity and Freemasonry ; that on the contrary , the

latter is the handmaid of the former , its truest and stamichest friend and helper , and that a good Mason must necessarily be a good man .

But important and salutary as is the influence which Dr . Oliver has produced by the labours of his pen on the Order , we believe that a great deal also of the respect and esteem in which that Order is held by the public at large is to be traced to tho same source . Such a work as the " Star in th . e East , " when put into the hands of an

uninitiated candid inquirer , has a marvellous effect We have frequently tested it . We have heard men railing against Freemasonry as silly or wicked We have lent them the above work , and almost invariably found that the perusal of it has had

the effect of converting the former enemy into a friend , and not unfrequently into a candidate for initiation . So also his "Apology for the Free and Accepted Masons" has induced the clergy , in a great many instances , to cease from them

opposition , and to open their churches to our yearly gatherings . Several other very important influences may be ascribed to Dr . Oliver ' s disinterested and , as far as substantial appreciation is , concerned , unrequited

labours . He has , however , the great satisfaction of having done much for the benefit of Masonry , and therefore for humanity ; for Masonry is the friend of humanity . He has produced veneration and respect for our Order throughout the civilised

Avorld ( Rome and its serfs always excepted ); he has implanted in the brethren a taste for literature , one of the purest and most beneficial tastes that can be indulged ; and he has , we feel convinced , done much to cherish a moral and reli gious tone in the minds of his readers . These are no slight influences for one man to exert .

They are a precious reward for services , however laborious , however unheeded and depressing . Let us thankfully avail ourselves of our brother ' s mental labours . The following is a list of his Masonic works : A Dictionary of Symbolical Masonry , Book of the

Lodge or Officers' Manual , The Symbol of Glory , The Antiquity of Freemasonry , The History of Freemasonry from 1 S 29 to 18-il , A Mirror for tho Johannite Mason , The Star in the East , The Revelations of a Square , The History of Initiation , Theocratic

Philosophy of Freemasonry , Signs and Symbols , The Historical Landmarks , two vols ., The Insignia of the Royal Arch , Masonic Jurisprudence , Institutes , & c , Treasury of Freemasonry , & c , & c . He edited The Spirit of Masonry , Illustrations of

Masonry , Masonic Manual , Candid Disquisition , and History of Masonic Persecutions . The following is a list of his general works : History and Antiquity of the Collegiate Church of Beverley , History and Antiquities of the Collegiate

Church of Wolverhampton , History of the Conventual Church of Grimsby , Monumental Antiquities of Grimsby , History of the Guild of Holy Trinity , Sleaford , Six Pastoral Addresses to the Inhabitants of Grimsby , Farewell Address to the same , Three Addresses to the Inhabitants of Wolverhampton