Bro. Manningham And Bro. Findel.

BRO . MANNINGHAM AND BRO . FINDEL .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —The letter of Bro . Findel is of a most unsatisfactory character . It amounts to giving us the opinion of Bro . Findel as a decision on this matter , though he does allow that some statements in the alleged letter of Bro . Manningham may

he questionable and deserve some further inquiries . It is to be apprehended that the opinion of Bro . Findel will not settle the questions that have been raised , for those who know Bro . Findel's Avritings , and the great and real value of his History of Masonry , are just those who are dubious of his critical

power . As to historical writing being at a higher pitch in Germany than in England , there are certainly some who entertain that opinion , but there are others quite as competent Avho entertain the contrary opinion , ancl who have strong grounds for distrusting the German school . At all events , Bro . Findel

is not Niebuhr , and , although Germans do with great self-complacency put themselves forward as supreme judges on English subjects , others will not be satisfied till this Manningham letter has been examined in England . Bro . Findel tells us the letter is in Manningham ' s oAvn handwritingbutAA'hen Germany

; , was deceived as to the handwriting of the Simonides Greek MSS ., it may be more readily deceived in English handwriting than those more practised in it . In the meanwhile , Bro . Findel will do well to solve some of the questions that have been raised as to the internal evidence of the documentand our

Nether-, lands brethren will also do well to communicate with England as well as Germany . The subject is essentially English , and not High Dutch . Yours fraternally , INDEPENDENT .

Bro. Manningham.

BRO . MANNINGHAM .

10 THE EDITOR OF THE BBEEMASONS * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —I must confess I am astonished that Dutch Masons have not given us a word about the important discovery of Bro . Manningham ' s letter . Surely the old ties between England and Holland are not altogether snapped asunder ?

There are Dutch correspondents in "Notes and Queries " who give valuable information ; how is it you have none in the Notes and Queries of the Freemasons' Magazine ? Yours fraternally , PHILOBATAVTJS .

Freemasonry And Christianity.

FREEMASONRY AND CHRISTIANITY .

10 TBE EDITOR OF THE " FBEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —Does it take Bro . Anthony Oneal Haye nine months to coneeiA'e an idea and bring it to maturity ? and is bis communication in last week ' s Magazine a specimen of his matured logic ? If so , I am proud to say that , as he suggests , do

I belong to different " Masonic and logic schools " to himself . Imprimis , in the school of logic to which I belong it is customary to maintain a courteous aud gentlemanly tone in conducting an argument , and not to accuse a logical opponent of want of common

sense because he holds different opinions to one's self . As I said of Bro . Haye's communication in April last , so I say of his letter of Saturday last , that " it does not contain a single logical argument against my proposition . " I will , hoAvever , duly consider ifc , and , if I find I am Avrong , may probably folloAV Bro .

Haye ' s example and reply to it in September next when everybody else has forgotten all about it , for I have not the vanity to suppose that the communications or ideas of such mere babes in Masonry as Bro . Haye and myself bave any permanent interest for your readers . Bro . Haye , as a specimen of his logic ,

propounds certain questions , Avhich he elegantly calls " nuts to crack ; " and , speaking of " nuts to crack , " it strikes me that Bro . Haye has been making trial of the process during the last nine months , and has set his teeth on edge and soured his temper . Before proceeding to notice BroHaye ' s questionsfor doing

, , which I am , as I have pointed out , in fairness entitled to nine months grace—I will for once adopt his system of logic and call his attention to a query which some time since I put either to him or some other correspondent of your Magazine , viz .: — " How can that which is in itself untrue become an

unerring standard of truth to any man ? ' ' And I will put to him the following further questions : —Is truth one of the leading features of Freemasonry ? Is Christianity truth ? Can a religion which ignores or denies Christianity be truth ? Does the fact that a Mahometan considers the Koran the unerring

standard of truth make it really so ? and the uncourteous and sneering tone of Bro . Haye ' s letter suggests the additional question—Does it follow that because , a man calls himself a Christian that he must necessarily be intolerant of all other creeds ? If Bro . Haye thinks sohe belongs to a different school of

, Christianity also to myself . I would recommend Bro . Haye before again delivering himself of a communication on " Freemasonry and Christianity , " to consider thoughtfully , and with an unprejudiced mind , what may almost be called the ding declaration of that father of modern Masonic

y literature , Dr . Oliver , who , after upwards of sixty years of Masonic research , in the preface to the last edition of the " Origin of the Boyal Arch , " writes thus : —

" I have now said enough in behalf of Masonic literature , and I turn to another subject which I consider of still greater importance , f-m bracing the present ojiportuuity because it is scarcely probable , at my advanced age , that another will occur of repeating my firm ancl unshaken conviction that Freemasonry is

a Christian institution , established by Christian men , and embracing Christian principles ; a truth which may be gathered from any of my numerous publications on the subject of Masonry . My faith in this respect commenced at my initiation , when I was only IS years of age , and has remained unshaken

through a long and eventful life , and I rejoice in the opportunity of publicly professing the same faith at the age of 85 years " Ido not deuy that its ceremonies bear a reference to the Tabernacle of Moses , and the temples erected by Solomon and Jerubbabel ; but these edifices , and the rites and observances performed Avithin their courts , were intended merely as signs and symbols to prefigure a better and more perfect dispensation ,