Recollections Of The Lodge Of Freemasons At Thornhill.

to whom the right of appointment may fall by annual ballot . The lodge ' s acquisition of its OAVH hall led to an investment in crystal and stoneware , and there were purchased and given in charge of the

stewards " thirty-six dram-glasses , five jugs , and a boAvl , a water-can , boiler , kettle , and tAvo spoons , " besides sundry other vessels—the stock being from time to time replenished as occasion required . The minutes are silent as to the amount of liquor

consumed by the lodge : that this must haA r e been moderate indeed , may be inferred from the fact that teetotallers attending the balls , etc ., were charged only sixpence less than Avas exacted from their less scrupulous brethren .

Proposed Masonic School For India.

PROPOSED MASONIC SCHOOL FOR INDIA .

In our last issue AA'e brought before our readers the excellent scheme which has been set on foot by our brethren in India , to provide education for the sons of deceased and decayed Masons , Avho have served in that country . Whilst according-,

on the Avhole , our hearty approval to the propositions that have been put forth by the Umballa Lodge , for carrying that philanthropic scheme into effect , there is one point on AA'hich we Avould venture to offer a few remai-ks .

The third proposition , it maybe m tne recollection of our readers , runs thus , " As it may not be possible to at once start the scheme in its entirety , that the money , at [ first subscribed , be placed in the hands of a committee to use to the best advantage in furthering the desired end , immediately

placing as many children as they can at either the Bishop ' s School , Simla , if Protestants , or the Soman Catholic Collage , if Catholics . " The portion of the above paragraph Avhich Ave have italicised is certain—if Ave understand the

feelingof theMasonicbody—to cause heartburnings and misunderstandings calculated seriously to imperil the success of the scheme . It is only a few months since a bull excommunicating our Order has been issued by the head of the Roman

Catholic Church . We have been unsparingly , and in no equivocal terms , consigned to the pains and penalties that excommunication involves . The abortive Avrath of the Pope may indeed affect us but slightly ; still it is not the fault of the Bishop of Rome that our Order survives and prospers . But it may be said , let tis be magnani-

Proposed Masonic School For India.

mous ; let us be forgiving ; let us return good for evil ; let us treat Rome as if she never attempted to crush us . Undoubtedly , forgiveness of injuries is inculcated on us by the volume of the Sacred LaAV , and far be it from us , in any Avise , to

contravene its teachings . Still there must be a practical limit to forbearance . Is the quiet and peaceable citizen—who in returning to his fireside ,, or going about his honest avocations , is met by the cowardly garotter AA'I IO strives to deprive him

of life—to pet and favour the Avould-be assassin ; and to place , forsooth , iu his custody the helpless child of a deceased brother ? Freemasonry , as an honest citizen , was performing her duties of " brotherly love , relief , and truth , " Avhen she felt

on her neck the A indictive but powerless fingers of the Pope ; and noAV indeed she is to intrust to his guardianship the little ones of her fold ! Forbid it common sense ! Forbid it true Christian

charity ! What ! is the young LeAvis to be given up to those AYIIO will , Avho must , if they follow blindly the dictates of the Pope , inculcate upon him that the very Society that maintains him , the Society

of Avhich his father Avas a member , is a pernicious confederacy worthy of -being erased from the earth ? No true Mason Avill , Ave are persuaded , subscribe to such a result as this .

We Avrifce warmly , but Ave believe not too Avarmly . We Avish God speed to every effort intended to provide for the children of our brethren . We are convinced , hoAvever , that no good Avill ever be effected by pandering to Rome ,

and Ave Avould therefore request our brethren seriously to re-consider this offensive paragraph , to stand by their principles , and not to entrust the teachin g of our LeAvises to a Church the head of Avhich has striven to do us foul

injury , and that might tend to alienate the the affections of these little ones from the very Order that nurtures and sustains them . Let usresolve that Ave shall not lend our influence or support , directly or indirectly , to any system that

Avill not maintain the volume of the Sacred LaAV , as the sole rule of faith and practice . This surely is expected from us , as English Freemasons . Any other course must , Ave feel assured , be fraught , in the present position of affairs , Avith innumerable perils , difficulties , and' inconsistencies .

Ar00302

To attempt voluntarily that which must be productive of . evil rather than good , is madness and folly .