The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEM . We remind the brethren that the Festival of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and then- Widows is approaching , ancl that now is the time to send in their names as Stewards . They will have a capital Chairman in Bro . Havers , G . W .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

DE GEEV AUD RIPON LODGE ( NO . 1107 ) . —This happy little lodge held its last meeting for the season at Bro . Ashmole ' s , the Angel Hotel , Great Ilforcl , on Monday , the 27 th ult ., under the ahle presidency of its founder and first W . M ., Bro . Captain A . H . King . The business before the meeting consisted in initiating Lieut . E . S . Burnett , U . S . A ., which was most ably performed by the W . M . The election of W . M . and Treasurer

for the ensuing year took place , and the unanimous choice of the brethren Ml on Bro . Lieut . De Cetto , the S . W ., as W . M ., and the re-election of Bro . Captain E . Ihbetson as Treasurer . All business heing concluded , the brethren proceeded to banquet , where kindness , good fellowship , and the other Masonic virtues prevailed , rendering all present happy and delighted . The brethren dispersed at their usual early hour .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

CHANNEL ISLES . JERSEV . —Lodge La Cesaree ( JTo . 860 ) . —At the regular monthly meeting held in the Masonic rooms on Thursday , October 30 fch , the lodge was opened in the first degree hy Bro . John Durell , W . M ., assisted by his AVardens , Bros . Philip Le Sueur and Clement Le Sueur , -upwards of fifty of the members being present . The minutes of the last meeting having been read ancl

confirmed , the ballot was taken for Messrs . Alexander Muller and Joseph Levy Hanan , after ample testimony had heen warmly given hy several brethren as to their honour ancl character , which in the latter case was confirmed hy numerous authentic certificates . In both instances the result was declared unanimous in their favour . A petition for relief from a , distressed brother was met hy a vote of a donation of £ 5 . Three candidates then offered themselves for the second degree , Bros .

F . N . Girauclofc , John Manger , and — Gihaut , Lieutenant in the 73 rd Regiment of the English Army , and member of the Royal Alfred Lodge ( So . 1179 ) . The lodge being opened in the second degree , they were duly passed as Fellow Crafts . The loclge having been resumed in the first degree , Messrs . Midler ancl Hanan were introduced , and initiated into the mysteries ancl privileges of Order , after which they expressed their desire to become subscribing members of the loclge . The W . M . was complimented

hy the brethren on the ability wifch which he had conducted the ceremonies . A letter from Bro . Rondeaux was read , but tho lodge , considering itself incompetent to deal with the question to which it referred , declined the consideration of it . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren retired to tho banqucttingroona for refreshment ancl an hour ' s social intercourse . A translation of the letter of Bro . Rondeaux , the author of the address which appeared on page 261 of THE MAGAZINE , is , with his

permission , appended , since it involves a question which rarely arises and of no great importance in itself , excepting inasmuch as it shows a defect or want of explicitness in the Boole of Constitutions . It is unnecessary to relate tbe circumstances , which are sufficiently explained in the letter . It can scarcely be doubted , that if the views of the esteemed brother who wrote it do not infringe on the letter of the law , they are not in harmony with its spirit . Perhaps the Editor may be induced to express his ideas on the matter .

" Worshipful Sir ancl Brother , —I have pleasure in returning to you the Booh of Constitutions you kindly lent me . I have not found anything therein relating to foreign Masons . With regard to the jewels , you will find the law in the chapter on regalia , page 107 . The first paragraph refers to the clothing and insignia , the second to tho jewels . But that is written hy

the Grand Lodge for Masons who are members thereof , ancl for those who are initiated in lodges under its jurisdiction . There is not a word in the general statutes concerning foreign visitors , which may be interpreted as an indication that the Grand Loclge desires to allow to private lodges perfect latitude in . regard to them . Tradition ancl general custom must be our guide in such a matter . You know that the Orancl Orient of France is bound to the Grand Lodge of England hy the closest

ties , these two authorities having respectively representatives , the one with the other . Lodges under the Grand Orient are authorised to receive foreign Masons . The English lodges receive them in accordance with custom , thus paying homage to fraternity . Moreover , and this deserves especial notice , the representative of English Masonry at the meetings of the Grand Orient does not wear the insignia of French Masonry , ancl the same rule is observed in England bthe French representative .

y Is the question changed when a French Mason presents himself as a joining member ? I think not . He pays his fees for enrolment to the Grand Lodge , just as on initiation , but it is not the latter , but the former , which leads to a recognition of him hy the Grand Loclge , giving to this joining member all the privileges resulting from his registration . The act of the lodge which admits him does not confer upon him the title of Mason , but ives him the rihts of a Mason holding under the

Grandg g Lodge . He becomes a Mason under the Grand Loclge , but he does not cease to he a Mason under the Grand Orient . IE French Masons are received with their insignia as visitors , can they not be received as joining members with the same insignia ? This is , excuse the expression , a peurile objection . The W . M ., it is said , doesnotknowif these insignia or jewels are Masonic . If the W . M . he not a Royal Arch Mason , does he know if the jewel worn hy so many of the brethren is that of the Royal

Arch ? It may be answered , that this jewel is given and engraved at the end of the Booh of Constitutions , be it so , hut all the Masonic decorations ancl jewels of all the rites are engraved and printed in Masonic works ; ignorance or the want of information on the part of a W . M . cannot furnish ' a

reasonable motive . When I presented myself to Lodge La Cesaree two years ago for affiliation , I was obliged , in conformity with article twenty-five of the by-laws of the lodge , to produce my certificate of Rose Croix , as it is written at length in the article . * It cannot be argued , then , that Loclge La Cesaree does not know this grade , since it requires the title of those who possess it before admitting them among the number of its members . In my long Masonic career I havo met in the Grand Orient of

France brethren belonging to the Grand Lodge of England , and I am not aware that it has ever occurred to the mind of anyone to say , " Your titles are regular , but your jewels are not ; if you desire to join in our labours , clothe yourself as a French Mason . " At your last meeting , some moments after I quitted it , a member of the lodge addressed a few words to yon with a view to prevent my appearing on future occasions wearing my badge of Rose Croix . The loclge , animated by a sentiment of kind feeling , for

which I offer my thanks , went on to other business , declining to entertain the matter in my absence . I confess , Worshipful Sh * , that it is repugnant to me to take part in a debate which concerns myself alone , and it is with a view of avoiding a discussion that would occupy much of your precious time that I have thought it well to address this note to you , with a request that it may be read to the lodge . Lastly—ancl in order to express my full conviction on tho matter—if a propositionhaving for

, its object to deprive me of the insignia of my rank , should be again made , I think that Lodge La Cesaree has no alternative but to declare itself incompetent to decide , since this is a case not provided for hy the Constitutions , ancl that it will he necessary to send the question to the Grand Secretary for solution , so that it may in due course bo submitted to the Board of GeneralPnrposes and to the Grand Loclge . Pray accept , Worshiful Sir expression of fraternal regard—ROSHEATTX

p , every . , "To the WM . of Lodge La Cesaree ( I \ o . 860 ) . " [ Bro . Rondeaux is mistaken . There is no exchange of representatives between the Grand Lodge of England ancl the Grand Orient of Franco . A foreign brother joining an English lodge must obey the Constitutions of England , and cannot therefore wear the jewels ofthe high degrees in a Craft Lodge . —F » . F . M . ]