Masonry Abroad.

MASONRY ABROAD .

TO THE EDITOR 01 THE EEEEUASONS' MAGAZINE AND JIASONIO MIEROIi . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Knowing that you are ready and willing to uphold the ancient landmarks of the Order , allow me to lay before you a few facts for the information of the Craft in general . Two American gentlemen went to Flushing , and being anxious to become Freemasonsthey spoke to the

, consul there , who belonged to the fraternity . He promised to take steps to carry out their views . After a few days he wrote saying , he had made arrangements and they were to attend at his house on Friday , 10 th June . They went there , and paid £ 11 each . The practice is to charge a sum for each degreebut here

, they paid the whole . They then went to the lodge , and were initiated without any preparation whatever . On the Sunday following ( they being sailors ) the ship was ordered to sea . As soon as the consul heard of this , he sent M . M . certificates onboard to the candidates , with a letter ( authorisation ) , in Dutch , to the

brethren ( there were five ) ou board , to give the candidates the second and third degrees . This they refused to do , because it was unconstitutional . ' The following is a translated copy of the authorisation : — "Flushing , 12 th June , 1864 . " H . Z . V ., W . K . S . —The Lodge 1 'Aster de 1 'Orient has the honour to request M . L . A . and the other brethren on board to have the goodness to communicate to Bros . L . L . and of degrees

of Craft and Master , and afterwards hand them the accompanying diploma of Master Masons . In case your vessel should hereafter come here , then the lodge is ready to confer upon them this degree in due form . We take a brotherly leave of M . L . A . and the other brethren , and the two children of the work-place , and call down upon you a hearty farewell . The 0 . B . TJ .

remains , recommends , and believe us to be A . IT . 1 , 9 , 2 , 3 , + 3 . " The lodge above named , " Secretary . "

The gentlemen of course , for want of knowing better , expected the completion of their degrees , and upon the explanation of the brethren on hoard , wrote to Flushing stating all the facts . A copy of this was not kept , but the reply was as follows : —

" 0 . ' . of Flushing , 3 rd July , 1 S 64 . " Bro . ¦ -, —We received your letter of the 27 th June , and regret very much we have not the pleasure of seeing you back again . AVe are surprised that you and Bro . have not yet been enabled to obtain the degrees of Craftsmen and Mastersand

, make yourself known as such . We wrote to Bro . and invited the other brethren to acquaint you with the second and third degrees , and install you in the name of the G . E . of the Netherlands , and in the name of this lodge , even though it must be done in this case in a simple manner . With the confident

hope that the brethren would most kindly perforin our wishes , we gave to Bro . the diplomas ( certificates ) drawn in due form to make yourself known as Master Freemasons in all lodges in " all parts of the world . We express our ardent wish that this affair shall he concluded in a most satisfactory manner , and that the brethren will make no objection in acting according to our wish . If not , we ahould

Masonry Abroad.

require the return of the di p lomas and the authorisation , in order to justify ourselves to the G . E . of the Netherlands , but fear that the occasion for sending them back will not easily be found . We beg you to acquaint the brethren with the contents of this letter , and present them our compliments . To you all we wish blessings , and prosperity , wisdom , force , and beauty , and in your after life success in your enterprises , and may your fatherland ere long enjoy the blessing of peace , aud regain its old state of prosperity .

" We remain m the name of the lodge . "L'ASTER DE L'ORIENT , " Secretary . " " 11 th July . "Bro . —Your letter of the 3 rd inst . has been

, received , and the brethren on board informed of its contents . They unanimously agree that it is irregular and impracticable to confer the 2 nd and 3 rd degree in the manner you suggest , and that the diplomas are useless to us . I therefore respectfully request you to transmit to Bro . and myself the certificate of

the 1 st degree , together with the remainder of the money . The di p lomas will be forwarded to your address immediately upon the receipt of the certificates . Hopiug to receive an early repby , and thanking you and your lodge for your kindness to Bro . and myself , & c . " . "

"Flushing , July 21 st , 1864 . " Bro . , —Having received your letter of the 11 th July , we inform you that when sending back the two diplomas and the authorisation , you may at the same time draw a bill of exchange for £ 11 . We shall then immediately send you the diplomas of the

1 st degree . The honour of the lodge we represent does not permit us to act in any other way . " Receive our fraternal salute , " Iu the name of the work-place , "L'ASTER DE L'ORIENT . "

After whicli the documents were forwarded through the Consul with a draft for £ 11 , or £ 5 10 s . each . Such a transaction could never have occurred under our Constitution as initiates to be in possession of the certificate of a M . M . ; and I am of opinion that the sooner some step is taken to prevent a recurrence of such an evil the better ; but while such lasts it

behoves every brother to be careful who he admits into his lodge . I am , Sir , yours obediently , A . PRATT , P . M . 22 and 382 .

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REAL POW . EE . —AA ' ealth , ive are told , is power ; talent is power , and knowledge is power . But there is a mightier force in the world than either of these—a power whicli wealth is not rich enough to purchase , nor genius subtle enough to refute , nor knowledge wise enough to overreach , nor authority imposing enough to silence . They all tremble in its presence . It is truth—the really most potent element of social or individual

life . Though tossed upon the billows of popular commotion , or cast into the seven-fold furnace of persecution , or trampled into the dust by the iron heel of power , truth is the one indestructible thing in this world that loses in no conflict , suffers from no misusage and abuse , and maintains its vitality and completeness alter every assault .