Bro. Findel And Bro. Morris.

¦ of the literary gingerbread-work with which the institution has been so fantastically tricked out by wellmeaning , but weak-minded brethren ; who has boldly confronted those terrible fellows with the tremendous titles—those " Knights , " "Chevaliers , " "Princes , " "Sovereigns , " and other individuals of that ilk , who hold their secret cabals in the " Valley of New York " (?) latitude 42 deg . 40 m ., or elsewhere . " Let us then welcome the contribution of the

industrious German to the literature of Freemasonry , for his honest endeavour to clear away the rubbish and reveal the glittering jewels of Masonry in their pristine brilliancy . Surely an institution which contains inherently so much of the good and the true and beautiful , which , in its severe simplicity , speaks to best and hihest which wi

our g feelings , pes away J the tears from so many eyes , which pours the balm of compassion into so many bleeding hearts , which teaches so many sublime lessons , and leads the want dering soul heavenwards , needs not the vain claims of antiquity , nor the puerile ornamentation of the pedanor the trifler . "

The Boston " Masonic Monthly " ( February , 1868 ) , remarks : — " It is but seldom that we have the opportunity to r peruse a book on Masonic History which produces iu us so much general satisfaction as has the work before us . While confessing that we cannot help

thinking that the work of translation might have ¦ been better done than it has been done , we are pleased i ; o be able to say that to the Masonic reader there is no extant work which will better repay an attentive perusal than Findel ' s History . " And the ( London ) Freemasons' Magazine 1868

, , "Nos . 3 & 6 , says : — "We cannot speak too highly of its merits . We can conscientiously recommend not merely the perusal , but the study of this work to everyone of our renders . A new world is produced before his eye . " That my work in the first edition is not and

cannot be free from some errors and defects , I must concede . The task was too difficult , and the labour too great , to make the work perfect at once . I hope the second edition will prove more correct and more complete . That I "disrespect" the regulations of some American Grand Lodges is trueI am sorry to

, -say , so far as they are unmasonic , irrational , and -opposed to the true welfare of the Craft ; but I am the first to respect them when in accordance with the spirit , the traditional laws , and when they are to the benefit of the Fraternity .

It is wholly untrue when Bro . Morris asserts , — "' He ( i . e ., I ) ignores all the time-honoured traditions of tbe Craft ; rejects the Holy Writings as part of the furniture of the lodge ; changes the O . B . to a mere pledge of honour , and abandons all the ground , for which the wise aud good men , " & c . I don't ignore the traditions of the Craft , as my

work proves ; but I can only acknowledge them as traditions , not as historical facts . I don ' t reject the Holy Writings as part of the furniture of the lodge , ; as everybody knows in Germany , but , seeing that the Grand Orient of France—not a clandestine Grand Lodge—has put on the altar the Book of Constitutions for the Bible , I must for many grounds ¦ concede that it would , perhaps , be better for an association of good men of all creeds to put on the

Bro. Findel And Bro. Morris.

altar a collection of moral truths and precepts of the Holy Writings of all creeds ( Bible , Koran , Vedas , Zendavesta , & c . ) I don ' t change the O . B ., but I have already found out the charge at my initiation to be a reform of some German Grand Lodges . Bro . Morris will allow me to say that an oath has its legal scruples ( reflexions ) in a secret societyand that the

, O . B . is tasteless and more fit for sailors than for Freemasons . To put aside the O . B ., which has even no historical right , as its present form was not usually the same at all times , is , in my opinion , a wise and good reform of our German Grand Lodges , and is worthy of imitation .

Relative to the American negro-lodges , it is without doubt that there are some in America with a quite lawful warrant from Grand Lodge of England , as I have proved in my work . And the two lodges at New York , warranted by the Grand Lodge of Hamburg , " Bro . Findel's favourites , " they may be

clandestine in the eyes of American brethren , but they are everywhere acknowledged as perfect and regular lodges , like the Q zur aufg . Morgenrothe at Frankfort under the Grand Lodge of England . The so-called right of jurisdiction , taken from political affairs , and not at all founded on the Universal

Masonic law , is an American prejudice , unmasonic , and quite absurd and ignominious in a Fraternity . In the Craft , every regular and good working lodge , composed of true brethren , must be welcome to every brother aud to every Masonic body when warranted by any acknowledged Grand Lodge .

To finish , I declare that I am not inclined to answer further attacks of Bro . Morris . I desire to give a most loyal opposition to all prejudices , fables , and unsupported pretensions . I fight for the glory of the Craft , for pure , genuine Freemasonry ; and my banner bears the inscription— " Meliora praesumo I " Yours fraternally , J . G . FINDEL .

King William The Lion's Charter.

KING WILLIAM THE LION'S CHARTER .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PHBEMASOlfS' MAGAZIHB AltO 1 IA 30 NIC MIBEOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —I have delayed a communication on this subject , as I am wishful to consult one of the greatest authorities on early and mediasval charters existing . He is , however , too ill to give me his valuable opinion , and I can only venture to put

forward my own . I believe that the Charter is a confirmation of an existing " fraternity " engaged in constructing the fabric , with a license to collect money for the purpose . The King would not confirm any Monastic fraternity , at least such fraternity required no

confirmation at his hands . But an operative brotherhood established by Bishop Joceline , would require Royal authority , in order to send out its collectors with the authority of a Royal brief . With due submission , to Bro . OnealHaye , the terms of the Latin could not be satisfied with merely an authority to

collect money . I am certainly of opinion that the Charter may be quoted as proof of the existence of an operative fraternity founded by Bishop Joceline in the construction and repair of the Cathedral . Yours fraternally , A MASONIC STUDENT .