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© antrats . PAGE . Oar Hindu Brethren—By Pietus 181 The Lodge of Glasgow St . John—By Bro . AV . P . Buchan 182 Masonic Jottings—No . 9 18 ' 1 Guild of Masons at Faversham Abbey 185 Masonic Notes and Queries 186 Correspondence 188

Music and Words for use in a Lodge of Mark Master Masons ( 2 nd portion ) 190 , 191 Masonic Mems 192 United Grand Lodge 192 CBAPT LODGE MEETINGS : — Metropolitan 194 Provincial 195 South Australia 197

Royal Arch 197 Mark Masonry 197 Ancient and Accepted Rite 197 Presentation of an Address to Bro . the Rev . R . J . Simpson 198 Britannic Lodge Centeneray 198 Grand Masonic Ball 199 List of Lodge , Ac , Meetings for ensuing week 200 To Correspondents , 200

Our Hindu Brethren.

OUR HINDU BRETHREN .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MARCH 5 , 1870 .

By PlCTUS . Ereemasonry is a " system of morality , veiled ia allegory , and illustrated by symbols ; " it is not a religion . Our friend " & ., " at page 162 , does not seem to be aware of this , and appears to be

utterly unable to draw the necessary distinction between the two ; permit me therefore to quote for his benefit the opening charge from the old Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England , as published in 1723 .

I . Concerning God and Religion . " A Mason is oblig'd , by his tenure , to obey the moral laAV aud if he rightly understands the art , he will never be a stupid Atheist , nor an irreligious libertine . But though in ancient times

Masons AVere charged in every country to be of the religion of that country or nation , whatever it was , yet J t > s noAV thought more expedient only to obh ' ge tiieca to that religion in which all men agree , leaving their particular opinions to

themselves ; that is to be good men and , true , or men of honou . and honesty , by whatever denominations or persuasions they may be distinguish .-d ; whereby Masonry becomes the center of union , and the means of conciliating true friendship among persons that must have remained at a perpetual distance /'

So say the Constitutions of the Mother Grand Lodge of the World , and Ave heartily agree with them . They are entirely divested of all " bigotry , superstition , and idolatry / ' while they breathe a noble spirit of broad humanity and charitable

Our Hindu Brethren.

toleration . Freemasonry may thus bring within its pale the good and honourable Hindu as well as the good and honourable Christian , yea more , by doing- so it may thereby be the means , in God ' s providence , of assisting to advance the march of

civilisation , to break down the barriers Avhich AVC uld separate nation from nation , and bring on that time when love shall reign supreme through all the earth , when war shall for ever cease , and the knowledge of the Great Architect of the

Universe be spread from pole to pole . The Hindu may Avell ask—do you look upon me because the sun has looked upon me ? Why should I be debarred admission into a society which professes to be entirely un-sectarian and cosmopolitan in its views and ideas , and in Avhich

all religious as well as political discussions are eschewed , simply because I have been born in the land , and brought up in the religion , of my fathers ? If yoti find me honourable and honest in my commercial dealings , Avhy should I be

supposed to be likely to be less so in my social ? Certainly if , although a Hindu , I prove a good citizen , au honourable merchant , and an honest man , and also revere the sanctity of an oath , there is , according- to your OAvn constitutions ,

nothingto debar me from being also a good , honourable , and honest Freemason . If you Avish a man to love and esteem you , you must SIIOAV at least respect to him ; but if you despise and persecute him the natural result Avould likely be dislike and anything but esteem for you .

The foregoing remarks refer especially to Craft , or Universal Masonry , Avhich is comprised , and entirely complete , in the three degrees of Apprentice , Fellow-craft , and Master Mason , and into which Fraternity any good and honourable Hindu

is as much entitled to admission as an honourable Christian , and I trust the Grand Master referred to at page 162 also thinks so . I trust he escheAVs all narrow , bigoted , and intolerant ideas , and remembers the broad principle of our common

humanity . Bigotry , intolerance , and persecution have long disgraced the annals of Christianity in Europe , let us hope these blots -will not disgrace the annals of Freemasonry in India . There are searchings after the Infinite to be found amongst

the Hindus as Avell as elsewhere , e . g . we- find them saying—' Who knoAvs exactly , am ] who shall iu this world declare , whence and why this , creation took place' ? The gods are subsequent to the production of this world , then AV ' can know