Masonic Notes And Queries.

fanaticism of the times could possibly excuse , I feel happy m an opportunity of mentioning many particulars on the subject ; and of acquainting the reader , contrary to the opinion generally received , that the Order of Malta , though it regrets the motives which have occasioned its separation from the Knights of a different religion , does not refuse them a place among its members to fight against the enemies of Jesus Christ . Pope Pius the Sixthwhose virtues struck with awe even the cruel

, monsters his persecutors , was of the same opinion , and approved the association of the Russian Knights of the Greek Church with the Order of Malta . It may , indeed , be reasonably expected that such an union will be attended by the most edifying consequences . " These noble and judicious sentiments , from the pen of a member of the Catholic faith , put to flight Sir George

Bowyer's obstinate objection to open the door of the Order widely to Protestants . Another historian of the Order , John Taaffe , himself also a Catholic and a Knight-Commander of St . John , thus expresses himself on the subject of religion : — " Wars with the Turks would now be uselesss and ridiculous ; and the basis of our Order is not such warsbut utilitin

, y general , and neutrality between all Christians . At the Confession of Augsberg , a deputation of our Knights was sent to declare that all Christian religions were indifferent to ns ; and one of the latest acts at Malta was to receive both Protestant Germans and Greek Kussians into the Order as integeral members of it , we not being theologians , but soldiers . " Had the election of the " schismatic " Paul , as Grand

Master , been the act of the authorized rulers of the Order , it would only have been another instance of the flexibility of the statutes , in obedience to the emergency of the times ; and the competency of the measure would never have been questioned by ourselves , on the ground of the Pope ' s refusal to confirm the election ; but , as impartial observers of history , we hold the appointment of Paul

to the Mastership as invalidated by the fact of the election having taken place before the resignation of De Hompesch , the existing Grand Master . The Order of St . John was not created by the Pope ;

and we , as Protestants , deny his right to interfere with it . " There are men , doubtless , " writes a worthy and able member of the English Larigue , " who would take us back to the days of King John , when the Pope disposed of kingdoms ; and who , considering everything sanctified that is done by his authority , would—on the same principle that prevailed at Rome a century backwhen Cardinal York was held to be Henry IX

, ., King of England—maintain that the Catanian Council , and those claiming representation from it [ the present Eomish branch of the Order of St . John ] , constituted the only lawful Mastership of the Order of St . John ; but even admitting that the Pope adhered exclusively to that Council , and disowned the Paris Commission [ the authority that revived the English Langue ]—which does not appear , inasmuch as his Bull of the 10 th August ,

1814 , sanctioning its establishment , was never rescinded—he must indeed be a recreant Knight of the Order , ignorant of its history and glory , who would support such a doctrine . To an Englishman the principle is as clear as day , that the legitimacy in this case was inherent in the Order itself , to the utter exclusion of the Pope ; who had no more right to appoint a Master , or Lieutenant of the SovereiOrder of St . John of Jerusalem

gn , than he . has to instal a Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland ; and this great principle could not be invalidated by the fact of a few Italian Knights his own subjects , having prostrated themselves hefore him in the midst of their distress . Such a proceeding could not implicate the Order at large , and was virtually annulled and rectified by the convocation of its members at Paris in 1814 ; when the Order once more showed itself sovereign

and self-supporting , entitled to conduct its own affairs and to elect its own rulers , independently of all princes and potentates ¦ whatever . After that convocation took place , the Italian party still adhered to the Pope ; but , by doing so , unquestionably deserted the order and its principles : and , this being the case , can no more be regarded a legitimate branch of it , than the Knights of St . John in Spain and Prussia , who , like themselves , have

sought the protection of their own sovereigns , and thereby become mere state subordinates . While the Langue of England , on the other hand , being derived from the Order in its integrity , and not from the Pope , may claim to be the only legitimate

Masonic Notes And Queries.

branch of the venerable and illustrious institution now in existence : thus proving England still to be , as admitted by the gallant French Knights more than thirty years ago , * the protectress of all oppressed greatness '—and even the last asylum for the far-famed Order of St . John of Jerusalem !" In my next communication I will draw a parallel between the respective titles of legitimacy claimed by the

Roman Council and the English Langue . In the present , I think that a satisfactory response has been made to Sir George Bowyer ' s objections on the score of differences in religious faith . ANTIQUARIUS . ARK , MARK , LINK , AND ROYAL ARCH . The New York papers sometimes indulge in a little Masonic enquiry a specimen of which , relating to the Ark , Mark , Link , and Royal Arch , I enclose . —Ex . Ex ..

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed . It / Correspondents ; . PROVINCE OF EAST LANCASHIRE . TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' HAGAZIIfE AlfD MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your last week's publication is a very brief and imperfect account of the annual ! meeting of the Grand Lodge of the above provinceat

, which I was privileged to assist , and which deserved a fuller and more worthy report than appears to havereached you . On the principle of j rendering honour to > whom honour is due , I request your permission to supply one or two important omissions . The grants proposed in Grand Lodge , in addition tothose for the relief of some cases of local distress , were

fifty guineas to the Royal Freemasons' School for Female-Children , and fifty guineas to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . I was encouraged by the kindness of " the R . W . Prov . G . M ., Bro . Stephen Blair , to address a few remarks to the assembled brethren , in the course of which I thankfully acknowledged their present liberality ,, and entered into an explanation of the two schools ,-

especially urging the claims of the latter . At the banquet which followed , though at a comparatively late hour of the evening , and when the two hundred brethren who sat down were reduced in number to about sixty , another opportunity was afforded me , and my appeal was so cordially responded to , that in the course of a very few minutes 1 § 0 guineas were subscribed , and at a smalll meeting on the following day and evening 80 guineas ; additional were subscribed , and since my return I have

received 30 guineas more , with every probability of afurther large addition . This assistance spontaneously given , without organised effort , or notice , or preparation , of any kind , and in the face of the severe distress which , has for so long a period paralysed the industry of the manufacturing districts , speaks volumes in favour of the willingness of our provincial brethren to continue their

exertions in behalf our Charitable Institutions , in the welfare and prosperity of which it is now abundantly proved they feel an equal interest with the brethren ins the metropolis . The business of the Charity Committee of this province—at the deliberations of which I was invited to attend—is admirably conducted under the able

management of the president , Bro . Laurence Newall , and the vice-president , Bro . John Chadwick , from whom a most valuable report was read , more immediately referring to the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows , an institution which the untiring efforts of the first-named brother have succeeded in thoroughlcommending to the attention of the members

y of tbe province . To the same brother _ I feel myself mainly indebted for the success of my visit , and only in . a less degree to Bro . Chadwick and other brethren whose kindness , attention , and courtesy I shall ever bear in grateful remembrance . Let me avail myself of this opportunity of correcting