Le Monde Maconnique And The Freemasons' Magazine.

as useful as it should be , but if so the fault rests more with the brethren than with us—ninety hundredths of them knowing but little and caring still less for Masonic literature , or , in fact , anything passing beyond the limits of then' own lodges .

Next , we have a piece of news , viz ., that Bro . Warren has ceased all connection with the MAGAZINE , which is now conducted by Bro . Matthew Cooke , " the enemy of foreign Masonry . " A rereference to the first page of the MAGAZINE would have been sufficient to contradict the first

statement , and all Bro . Cooke's writings will disprove the second . We never asserted , as our Paris brother seems to imagine , that we should reserve to ourselves the right of treating * of " prohibited things" under

the cover of unsigned and anonymous correspondence , though we did say , if we might not describe certain transactions in reports , we would do so in leading articles , and for which we would hold ourselves fully responsible to Masonic or other tribunals .

We certainly did congratulate the Craft on the success which had attended the various festivals on behalf of the Masonic Charities , but Ave deny that we put the charity of the brethren to the credit of the presidents of those festivals , though

it would be useless to deny that the name of some popular—yes , we may add—noble brother , as the forthcoming chairman for any given charity does go some way in adding to the list of Stewards , and thereby to the subscriptions subsequently

announced . But in making this admission we do not say that we approve the system , but it is the habit of Englishmen , both in and out of Masonry , to bow to rank and talent , the more especially where both are combined , as they doubtless are , in the

person of the Deputy Grand Master , to Avhom special allusion is made . Our contemporary then informs us that the brethren will "seek in vain" in the articles of the MAGAZINE , " for a trace of a serious study

treated of in the lodges of an interesting philosophical question discussed at the meetings of a society Avhich natters itself it works for the progress , moral well-being , and intellectuality of humanity . " And here Ave plead guilty to the

charge . No such discussions do appear in the MAGAZINE as taking place in our lodges , and why ? For the simple reason that nothing beyond forms and ceremonies , which somewhat pall by their constant repetition , are ever enacted in our lodges , a

circumstance to which we have often called attention , in their hope that some lodge would set the example of having regular scientific or literary lectures on points of interest to the Craft , if not on their regular meeting nights , at least on off

nights , as is the practice in a few of the best conducted lodges in Scotland . We are not going here to discuss the question of " Universal Freemasonry , " it being sufficient for us to know that toleration is the ground

work on which the English Craft is founded , and whilst we maintain that position , we still have the highest respect for the high grades . As to Bro . Cooke ' s belief in " fatality , " or any other doctrine , we shall leave him , to answer for

himself , assuring our contemporary , however , that we are not prepared to sacrifice either our Masonic Charities , or the principles upon which English Freemasonry is based , for the French definition of " liberty , equality , and fraternity . " We subjoin the article from Le Monde

Maconnique : — " Our London contemporary , the FREEMASONS ' MAGAZINE , publishes , according to custom , an address to its readers , at the end of the first six months of this year , and this address points out markedly , once more , how this publication is

conducted . " The two pages which it devotes to this address do not contain a single word on Universal Masonry out of England , and if ever a motto was justified it is that which appears at the head of the MAGAZINE' AudiVideTace' but it ought to

, , , , apply only to the symbols and mysteries of the Order in the interior of its temples , and not to the intellectual movement of Masonry in all parts of the globe . " If Are criticise the MAGAZINE afresh , it is to edify our readers and our English brethrenwho ,

, as we well know , see with regret that Masonry does not possess a more earnest organ in England . " The MAGAZINE , as we have been told , is no longer directed by Bro . Warren , its old proprietor , it is Bro . Matthew Cooke who has become the almost sole editor . This Bro . Cooke is the enemy

of foreign Masonry , the friend of the system of the high grades , and his object is to make our Order simply a chapel-of-ease for the Anglican Protestant Church .

" The high aristocratic dignitaries at the head of the Order in England are naturally not opposed to these doctrines , but the brethren in general value this organ of Freemasonry little , and read it still less , because it only very rarely gives them interesting articles or communications .

' - ' ¦ Here is a specimen of the summary article on Masonry in the first six months of 1864 : — ' Before we refer to the Masonic doings of the past six