Historical Sketch Of Masonic Events During 1864.

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF MASONIC EVENTS DURING 1864 .

LONDON , SATURDAY , MAT 13 , 1865 .

Bro . Wilhelm . Keller , of Giessen , lias lately delivered a lecture on tlie events that took place in tlie Masonic world during the year 1864 , Avhich lias been published in the last issues of the Frei-¦ maurer Zeitung . This paper gives such a clear

ancl comprehensive outline of the subject , that AA e feel justified in reproducing it in toto . It is , of course , Avell understood that Ave give Bro . Keller ' s opinions for what they are worth , and that AVO are far from endorsing all his vieAvs , Avhich ,

however moderate he may consider them , are utterly at variance with those generally adhered to , at least by all Masonic corporations of this country . GERMANY . —If anything tends to prove the

utter failure of every kind of censure in Masonic matters , it is the supervision that is exercised over Masonic periodical literature , especially in Germany . Being- left to itself ancl looked upon with a suspicious eye , rather than supported by tho

Grand Lodges , it needed , at the most , but friendly hints to keep it in those strict boundaries conducive to the interests of the Craft . For this very reason , every brother duly qualified ought to be left at liberty to publish his vieAvs and opinions , in

so far as the engagements he has assumed permit ; whereas our literature must always labour under a kind of one-sidedness if nothing but official speeches and salutations issue from the various Grand Lodge offices .

Unfortunately , the suppression of the censure on the part of many Grand Lodges Avill be altogether out of the question for a long time to come ; it is only a few months since the Hanoverian Grand Loclge drew the attention of its members to clause

134 of the statute by which no brother has a right to publish in print anything relating to Masonry , without a Avritten permission from the W . M ., and the transgressors were threatened with the application of clause 122 , by which the maintenance of

the above prescription devolves upon all members jointly ; and the Eoyal York Grand Lodge of Berlin exhorted the lodges of its province to a stricter observance of the statute , the mode of distribution of certain relief funds having been

published without previous authority . These rescripts denote an unmistakeable con . tempt for all intelligent members of the Craffc

Obsolete restrictions , invented in times of darkness , are held over them , as though they wanted a taskmaster to nrge them to the observance of their duties . The heads of all Masonic bodies may rest assured that the respectable

editors of Masonic periodical publications will never throAV their columns open to the unripe productions of incompetent persons . It is much to be regretted , too , that many Grand Lodges entertain an utterly erroneous '

vieAV of their position and their rights ivith . reference to the brotherhood , and try to impose upon the latter their own private opinions as a standard for the members' line of conduct , contraiy to all laAvs and traditions . This relates more

particularly to the letters-patent of the three Prussian Grand Lodges of the Llth of June , 1864 . In this document the Masters and officials of the lodges are requested , in language which does not admit of any misintei-prefcation , to seriously

impress upon all brethren that , in compliance with the engagements they have assumed , they are bound to side with the Government in the existing constitutional conflict , and to abstain from all indiscreet opinions on arrangements made , and

decrees issued , by the powers that be . They are thus required to become political partisans conformably to the " very highest" intentions , thus setting aside the most important and irrevocable duties that devolve upon them in their capacity of members of the Craft .

This circular was issued iraon a broad hint civon by an illustrious brother at Prenzlau , a fact which does not exculpate in the least the time-serving behaviour of these Grand Lodges . In fact , some of our princely brethren seem to

entertain the most peculiar notions on Freemasonry . Instead of looking upon it as a confederation of members enjoying equal ri ghts , and subject to equal duties , they consider it as nothing but a comfortable footstoolupon Avhich to rest their fragile

limbs . We are alluding to a recent occurrence that took place in a German State capital , Avhen a highly respectable brother , and member of the State legislature , was treated in a most improper manner , and not alloAved to retort , he being

outside the lodge . Moreovei-, to leave nobody in a doubt as to the treatment that those brethren may expect AAIIOSC .endeavours tend towards a confederation of lodges of all rites , the Grand Loclge " Za den clrei Weltkugeln" has issued a notice to its adherents