St. Paul's Cathedral.

sion of laying the foundation stone of St . Paul ' s ; and and yet , in spite of the noble example of our Masonic brethren at Bristol , we do nothing—absolutely nothing . Is there no eminent brother who will move at the next quarterly communication that the sum of £ 500 he presented to the Dean and Chapter from the

Grand Lodge of England for the completion of the designs of our Grand Master ? In these days of utilitarianism it is to he asked , and asked pretty frequently by outsiders , What is the use of Freemasonry ? what good does it do ? It is no answer to say we feedand clothe , aud educate our

, own poor infirm and aged , for many societies with less pretensions than our own do that , and don't make half so much fuss about it as we do . One of the many objects for Avhich Masonry exists I submit should be that its professors be first and foremost in the restoration of those grand memorials

of the past—those master-pieces of the old Craftsmen which adorn our land and link us with antiquity . Tours fraternally , JE 31 ° P . M .

Past Masters.

PAST MASTERS .

[ From the Masonic Beeorcl of Western India . ' ] Dear Sir and Brother , —I observe in the proceedings of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal , held on the 21 st March lart , the E . W . the District Grand Master ' s opinion regarding Past Masters , and about which I have * a word to say .

I am sorry to say so hi gh au authority as the District Grand Master of Bengal is for once iu the wrong when he states that a Past Master ceasing to subscribe for twelve months is no longer a Past Master . ISTow , a Past Master ceasing to subscribe to a lodge for twelve months loses none of his privileges as a

Past Master excepting his seat in Grand or District Grand Lodge . Once a Fast Master ahvays a Past Master . An Irish or Scotch Past Master , if he have ruled a lodge for twelve months , although not entitled to a seat in the Grand Lodge , has all the privileges of a Past Master in our private lodges .

You will find in the Freemasons ' ' Magazine and Masonic Mirror , 7 th May , 1864 , page 276 , "A brother who has passed the chair of your lodge is a P . M . of it , though he should have resigned the lodge , and in visiting the lodge has a right to stand up with other Past Masters in acknowleding a toast . " He has not

g lost his Past rank , only his seat iu Grand Lodge . No law deprives him of more than that . Excuse me , B . W . Sir , but your decision is contrary to law . If you refer this question to the G rand Lodge you will find it so . The decision ofthe Grand Lodge regarding honorary members is correctbut the

addi-, tion of the District Grand Master of Bengal is not so . Again , if he loses his rank he must lose his privilege of election to the third chair of a chapter . He does not do so .

Faithfully aud fraternally yours , A SUBSCEIBING P . M . [ A similar decision was given by the District Grand Master of Bombay a few months ago in the case of a Past Master and honorary member of Lodge Concord , and which we at the time pointed out as illegal and arbitrary . "What the merits of the case in Bengal maybe Ave are not aware ; but the decision in the case

Past Masters.

of the Past Master m Bombay we can stigmatise as nothing more nor less than a vindictive prosecution ; for the subscription paid by the Past Master to the lodge for twelve months was returned to him , ancl the by-laws of the lodge ( after ten years ) declared by the District Master to be illegal . There is but one opinion in Bombay as to the ultimate result of this case , and the District Grand Master wisely resigned before the mandate from England arrives for him to annul his illegal and unjust decision . —ED . M . B . W . I . ~\

The Legality Of Our Lodges.

THE LEGALITY OF OUR LODGES .

TO THIS -EDITOH OF THE PI-EEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIEEOB , Dear Sir and Brother , —The Act of the 39 th Geo . III ., cap . lxxix ., for the more effectual suppression of societies established for seditious aud treasonable purposes , and for better preventing treasonable and seditious practices , contains a provision as follows : — " And whereas certain societies have heen Ions'

accustomed to be holden m this kingdom under the denomination of Lodges of Freemasons , the meetings whereof have been in great measure directed to charitable purposes ; be it therefore enacted , that nothing in this Act shall extend to the meetings of any such , society or lodge which shall before the passing of this Act have been usually holden under the said

denomination , and in conformity to the rules prevailing among the said societies of Freemasons . " Section 5 provides that " nothing in this Act shall extend to the meetings of any such society or lodge which shall " before the passing of this Act have been usually holden . "

According to this , all lodges established since the passing of this Act are illegal , unless it may be considered that they form part of the Grand Lodge of England , established previously , which construction , in my opinion , cannot fairly be supported . This exemptionmoreoveronly extends to those

, , " holden under the denomination aud in conformity with the rules prevailing among the said societies of Freemasons ; '' consequently it is clear that the meetings ofthe neAY-fangled "Orders" are illegal , and the

members thereof subject to the penalties of the Act . The second section provides , — "And be it further enacted , that from and after the passing of this Act all ancl every the said societies , and also every other society uow established or hereafter to be established the members whereof shall ,

according to the rules thereof ] , or to any provision or agreement for that purpose , be required or admitted to take any oath or engagement which shall be an unlawful oath or engagement within the intent and meaning of au Act passed iu the 37 th year of his Majesty ' s reignintituled An Act for more effectually

, preventing the administering or taking of unlaioful Oaths , or to take any oath not required or authorised by law , and every society the members whereof or any of them shall take or in any manner bind themselves hy any such oath or engagement , on becoming or in consequence of being members of such society , and

every society the members whereof shall take , subscribe , or assent to any test or declaration not required by law , or not authorised in manner hereinafter mentioned shall be deemed and taken to be unlawful combinations and confederacies . ; aud eveiy person who from and after the passing of this