The Grand Lodge Of The Three Globes, Berlin.

and that of her daughter lodges . The government also bestowed upon her the powers and privileges of a corporation . New difficulties , however , loomed up , by the withdrawal from Berlin of the National Grand

Master , Duke Frederic Augustus , and the change in the Masonic A'ieivs of Bro . Wallner , in 1797 . A conference Avas called of the four daughter lodges at Berlin , ancl it - * vas concluded to reinstitufce a directory which should govern in the name

of the mother lodge . The same directory also constituted the Orient , whose duty it is also to keep the system free from all ioreign admixtures . All resolutions adopted by the mother lodge , as well as the election of Masters by the daughter

lodges , had to be approved by this directory . Both the Grand Master ancl his Deputy were shorn of all their power . The directory acts in the name ¦ and place of the mother lodge , but has to receive the assent of the mother lodge to anything for

¦ which the latter may become liable . On the other hand , the directory became responsible to the -State , for all resolutions adoptee ) by the National Mother Lodge , aud it was therefore necessary , that all regulations of the National Mother Lodge should receive the approval of the directory .

The Lodge Royal York divided herself into four lodges , in 1798 , and with other daughter lodges which she had previously chartered , formed a Grand Lodge , under the name of Grand Lodge of Freemasons lloyal York zur Freundschaft .

The National Grand Lodge of Germany at Berlin ( Swedish system ) violently opposed the new Grand Lodge , but without success . On the 20 th October , 1798 , the King issued an edict forbidding all secret societies , exempting therefrom , however ,

the then existing three Grand Lodges of Berlin , viz ., the National Mother Grand Lodge Zv , den drei Weltlcugeln , tho Grand Lodge of Germany , and that of Royal York , with their daughter lodges . Other lodges were prohibited by this edict . ( To be continued . )

Universality Of Masonry.

UNIVERSALITY OF MASONRY .

By Bro . WILLIAM ROUKSEVILLE . It astonishes a thinking man when he reflects how few things mankind have in common—how many facts are universally received . There is scarcely an idea that is everywhere held . There is no system of government that is acknowledged all over the world . There is no theory of religion

that prevails among all nations . There is scarcely a fact iu any system of religion , that is conceded to be such , by all mankind . Indeed there is only one that may be said to be universal , ancl that is the great first fact of all true theory—the

foundation stone of the Masonic Institution—the existence of a Great First Cause . Beyond this , what have Ave that in any sense can be called universal ? That is , in fact , the only universal idea among the nations of the earth . And because it is universal ,

theologians have been accustomed to deduce therefrom , an argument for the existence of an overruling power , ivhich is not easil y refuted . Sai-age , barbarous , civilized , and enlightened nations harmonise on this point alone—that there

exists a Supreme and ever-living Ruler and Governor of the Universe , and in nothing else . And as in ideas , so it is in institutions ; there is but one universal—but one that is everywhere known and honoured . No system of religion can

claim that pre-eminence . No reformer has yet established a work so perfect that it commands the attention , respect , and adoption of all people .

Confucius , Brahma , Boodha , Mahomet , Christ , have each established their different systems of religion in the countries where they could directly assert their influence , but none arc vnivorsal ; not one can claim it is the great , leading , and

triumphant system that swallows up the rest . With the truth , or relative value of these systems , we have nothing to do at present . We only desire to impress upon the mind of the reader that not one of the great religious reformers of the world

have succeeded in making- their system universal ; that none has yet been found that possessed the inherent strength and adaptability to the human intellect and human wants , to commend it to the

acceptance of the nations of the Avorld . This may , or may not , be an argument in favour of these societies , according to the stand-point from Avhich Ave view it , but no one will dispute the fact . But Masonry is an exception—an

astonishingexception to this otherwise unvarying rule . Masonry is universal . We find it in the most enlightened and refined nations on the globe—France , Germany , England , and the United States . We also find it among the most barbarous and

savage—New Zealand , the Fiji Islands , and the American Indians . It has been very practically said that " the drumbeat of the British empire follows the sun in his diurnal progress around the globe . " We may say ivith equal truth , that there