Modern Writers Upon Freemasonry.—I.

renewal , of his severe satire in the London Magazine , in 1824 , both of which have been noticed in these pages . Let us now rather reverse the order of things , and take first for our consideration ( as being of the greatest interest ) Dr . Oliver ' s last work , only , in fact , a few weeks old , the "Institutes of Masonic Jurisprudence ; being an Exemplification of the English Book of

Constitutions , methodically digested un der ; appropriate Heads ; together with a Summary View of the Laws and Principles of the Royal Arch . " A commentary on the Book of Constitutions is really an idea by no means to be despised ; and we therefore propose to examine most carefully the several heads oi that nov / 2 iroposecl as the text book for the guidance ofthe Craft in this respect . We are sorry to begin by finding faultbut trust we shall not be

, thought querulous or uncharitable for doing so . Dr . Oliver tells us that his work is intended to be " an exemplification of the English Book of Constitutions . " We must therefore at once take an exception to his division into the three principal heads of " Blue , Purple , and Red Lodges , " as being a division in no way recognized , or even alluded to in the Book of Constitutionsthough to some extent common

, in America , Scotland , and Ireland , where Craft Masonry is generally designated simply as " Blue Masonry , " and higher degrees , including the Royal Arch , as " Red Masonry . " We do not mean by this , in the least to find fault with our American and foreign brethren—if they

like to adopt these titles , there can be no objection to their doing so ; but as Dr . Oliver professed to write on the English Constitutions , we should have preferred the usual English divisions of Craft Lodge , Grand Lodge , Provincial Grand Loelge , and Eoyal Arch Chapter . . Dr . Oliver says that he cannot expect that his lucubrations will be allowed to pass without an adverse remark , ancl we are sure , thereforethat he will give us credit for criticizing his work inthe

, . spirit indicated in his preface . Ancl we really cannot accept this division into blue , purple , and red Lodges , as at all in accordance ivith the spirit of the Constitutions . Blue is perhaps the most strictly correct of the three , inasmuch as it is the prevailing colour of Craft Masonry , but in the Grand Lodge , and Provincial Grand Lodges , is purple ( especially in tho former ) the prevailing colour 1 Are not all

the Worshipful Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens , all over England and the colonies , members of Grand Lodge ? And at the meetings of that body , it appears to us that a far greater number of brethren are to be found wearing the plain blue of a Master Mason , than the distinctive badge of a Grand or Provincial Grand Officer . Red also , it should be rememberedis a not unimportant colour in both Grand

, and Provincial Grand Lodges ; and our readers should bear in mind , that in one Lodge , the Grand Stewards ' , red is not only the prevailing , but the only colour , aprons , gauntlets , and all decorations whatsoever , even to officers' collars , being uniformly red . We must also object to the title "Red Lodge , " as applied to the Royal Arch Degree—to "Red , " because the colours , purple aud white , are both important in their