Correspondence.

wanting in this direction ; but fortunately , on the other hand , many thinking brethren coincided with me in my aspirations , and they begin to see that the intellectual stagnation complained of ought to be counteracted . But I must say this : the narrowmindedness Avith which some individual brethren continue to oppose every appeal for a reformin

con-, formity Avith the spirit of the age , is unpardonable , for , notwithstanding their attachment to and predilection for traditional rituals , Freemasonry is undergoing radical changes in its forms from day to day . Thus , e . y ., the oath tells us that anything relating to Masonry " you shall nei'er put iu writingdirectlor

, y indirectly ; you shall keep all ftom woman or child , ¦ stock or stone , " & c . ; and still the constitutions may be bought in booksellers' shops ; Masonic signs aud emblems are displayed in shop windows to attract customers , and on en \ elopes , in printed letters of invitation—nay , in publications such as the

FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE itself , which may be read by any one , things Masonic are publicly treated of , written , printed , engraved , & c . Is there not much inconsistency in all this ? The ancient oath is contrary to all education and refinement , and Avas drawn up only for persons of very little instruction .

Our Confederation is a community of all good men , who meet without any regard to nationality , creed , or social standing , merely as children of the same human family ; therefore , everything that is in contradiction to a universal human spirit ( allyemeinmensclilielier Geist ) ought to be discarded from our proceedings . Row , I was present , at one occasion , Avhen a non-Protestant W . M . was required at his installation to

kiss the open Bible , and I must say such compulsion is calculated to call forth a strong ill-feeling , aud is an open aggression on the religious belief of the individual member ; for , Avhy should au Ottoman be compelled to kiss the New Testament ? If so , the lodges AA'Ould become Associations for Protestant Proselytism . Would it not be far moi * e just and

more in keeping with our doctrines to do away with the opening and kissing of the Bible , but merely lay it on the table , closed , as a symbol of religious faith , along Avith the square and compasses , as is usual in most lodges of Germany ? In French , Italian , and ¦ other lodges the General Regulations of the Order

are laid on the table , in lieu of the Bible ; Avould it not be worth while to examine this question ? Surely , you as a Protestant would not think of such a thing as kissing the Koran , Avithout the application of outward force ( Wqffenzwany ) , aud would evidently consider such compulsion to be i ' n glaring contradiction

to the principle of liberty of conscience ; and I . should think the same justice is clue to other creeds , . for , if once Ave commence iu the lodges to give the Bible a title of favour , as compared to the Koran , we cease to belong to the one religion in Avhich all yood men agree , and become a religious sect . These

sentiments I uttered repeatedly in coiwersatiou Avith "English brethren , and the ill-feeling they produced on the hearers is utterly unintelligible to me as a German . Furthermore , I am of opinion that no promotion to any degree should take place Avithout the previous hearing by the candidate of the lecture on the symbolics of the respective degree , and his having shown in an examination meeting , either iu writing or hy word of mouth , that he is fully possessed of that

Correspondence.

knowledge which alone should entitle him to be ad-A'anced to the next degree ; and every brother , on being initiated , should have a little manual , such as the pamphlet " Adhuc Stat , " or any other , handed to him for study , for there are but feAV brethren' Avho are acquainted Avith the history of our Fraternity . BesidesI am opposed to the system of payment of fees

, incidental to promotion . On joining the Order , the candidate should be subjected to an initiation fee of , say £ o or £ 10 , once for all ; but promotion should be considered as an honour , to be awarded to brethren by the functionaries of the lodge . By this , emulation and assiduity would also be fostered ; the payment of

the annual subscription alone should he made compulsory subsequent to the initiation . Lastly , I Avould suggest to render all signs , watch-Avords , and grips uniform in all countries ; for it requires a more than common strength of memory to remember those usual amongst brethren iu the various

parts of the globe . I submit these A'arious suggestions to your kind consideration and impartial examination , and subscribe myself , Yours fraternally , A GERMAN MASON IN TURKEY . Constantinople , March , 1866 .

The Glamorgan Lodge.

THE GLAMORGAN LODGE .

Referring to the letter which appeared from our correspondent "Anti-Tout" in our issue of the 7 th inst ., the folloAving postscript was received by us from him too late for insertion until this week's number : — " P . S . —In proof of the gross absurdity of regarding

the second , or moeh trial , as an adjournment of the first , I find from analysis of the signature book that with a total attendance of 35 members ( besides the Master and the persecutes ) , 15 attended both lodges , whilst 20 attended only one . "

Ar01103

A MOONLESS Mosul . —The month of February , 1866 was marked in the astronomical calender as the month which had no fillJ moon . January had two full moons , and March had two , but February had none . Of course this peculiar conjecture of periods that makes the full moon show her face but a few hours before the month conies in , and again a few hours after the month goes out , is a rare thing in nature . It has not occurred since tho creation of the worldunless that be placed back

, some myriads of years ; hut it will not occur again , according to the computation of astronomers , for two millions and a half of years . MASOXIC LAAV . —The rules which are laid down for the regulation of our conduct as Masons are embraced in the term Masonic law . These rules are either written or unwritten ; they are either general or local . Some are of universal obligation

and some are not . The former govern the Craft wheresoever dispersed ; the latter govern only iu particular territories , districts , or lodges ; but no local law or rule can be passed which is repugnant to the univeisalor common law of Masonry . The moral law is a universal law , and is the foundation of Masonic ethics . Dictated by God Himself , it is of superior obligation . It is binding over all the globeat all timesand in all lodges .

, , None of the laws of the Order are of any validity if they conflict with it ; and such of them that are valid derive all their force and all their authority , mediately or immediately , from this original . IT is not what people gain , but what they save , that makes them rich .