"Crux" On The Lodge Of Glasgow St. John.

as " Crux" quotes at page 30 , the words "the supporters of Bro . Baird urged that being an architect by profession he was therefore in a better position and better qualified for the chair than Bro . Buchan , who Avas a master tradesman ; also that Bro . Baird was the richer of the two , " it contains that which is

-contrary to fact . Tliis circumstance may neither impair nor enhance the A'alue of" Crux ' s " subsequent moralizing ? . But let me state Avhat occurred . Allusion teas made to the fact that Bro . Baird was an architect , but not on that ground as occupying a hiher position than Bro . Buchan ; but on the ground

g that it u-. auld he more in keeping with tlie distinctive character of the lodge to have one connected with the huihling profession in the chair . From old Bro . Dick , who was Master of the lodge 60 years ago—and Avho , I regret to say , died the other day—till the appointment of Bro . Bairdall the MastersAvith the

ex-, , ception of four , have been either builders or architects ; and at this moment the members for the most part are connected Avith the building craft . You see , then , there was some propriety in calling attention to the fact that Bro . Baird was an architect . With

regard to the other part of the report , that "Bro . Baird was the richer of the two , " it is simply untrue , no one being so ridiculous as to hazard such an offensive remark . I am bound , in justice , to add that a supporter of Bro . Baird did , in the course of his remarks , harp a little on Bro . Baird ' s social position ;

but he did not speak of it as superior to Bro . Buchan ' s ¦{ though , doubtless , he implied it ) , and the only result of that brother ' s indiscreet allusion to position Avas to evoke a rejoinder from another brother to the effect that pounds , shillings , and pence seemed to be the test of fitness for office . Now this solitary

instance of reference to social position , at a meeting where there would be upwards 100 members present , has become thoroughly distorted—wilfully distorted —and a report sent you containing a false reason for attacking the entire lodge , Avhich in consideration of the character and intelligence of her membersthere is

, none more respected in the province ; and a lodge which had the reputation , in an eminent degree , of maintaining and fostering the spirit of brotherly love , a lodge Avhere perfect unity and harmony prevailed , till an element of discord- —a man of meagre acquirements and insatiable ambition—was introduced .

But why refer to position or wealth ? There are many members of St . John ' s Lodge AVIIO occupy a higher social jiosition and are more Avealthy than Bro . Baird . The fact is , the subject of position or Avealth never entered the heads of the members because the

inequality of the candidates in evert / other respect was so great and glaring . Why , the moment you saw the two candidates , the superiority of Bro . Baird Was manifest ; and , when they spoke , further comparison Avas useless . The members distinctly saw that all that Bro . Baird required Avas the opportunity of discharging the duties of the chair , and accordingly

they gave him that opportunity . If it Avere not that this communication is already far too prolix , I should have added a few words on behalf of Bro . Slack ( who I fondl y hope has not seen the severe , and , in some cases , scurillous , letters which have appeared against him ) and to have shown that he is not chargeable with the crime of Avriting the Prince of Wales , and that the bitter attacks which

"Crux" On The Lodge Of Glasgow St. John.

have been made on him have been wholly misdirected . This you may on an early day kindly permit me to do . Meantime , I am—Yours fraternally , JAIIES ANDEBSOIT , ( A Member of St . John ' s ) . Glasgow , ISth Jan ., 1809 .

The True Religion Of Freemasonry.

THE TRUE RELIGION OF FREEMASONRY .

10 THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —Being one of those whose lot is cast upon the waters , it has been my good fortune to have visited the Masonic lodges of nearly all the countries Avhere Freemasonry exists , and to have joined hands in a fraternal grip , with brethren of almost every nation under the suneverywhere

meet-, ing Avith that fraternal regard those Avho are distant from hearth and home can so keenly appreciate . It therefore deeply grieves me that any attempt should be made to introduce sectarianism into our

pure and simple faith , and this regret is heightened by the reflection that the charity , ancl good will to all men now pervading the Order , must give place to the bitter hatred and malice , ever attendant upon relig ious feuds . In a lodge lately visited by me in the East , there were assembled 27 individualsof nine distinct

na-, tionalities and five auti pathetic creeds ; yet these apparently antagonistic elements tvere all firmly united by the pleasing bond of fraternal love and their mutual faith in the Omnipotence of the Great Architect of the Universe . Where on the face of the earth could have been

been found a more beautiful and attractive sight than this body of men , Avho , sinking all religious , political , and social differences , had met under the banners of our Order to practise the sacred duties Masonry so strongly inculcates ? Let us change the scene and imagine these brethren ( many of them holding high social positions ) pitted against each other in the deadly strife which AA'ould inevitably arise upon the introduction of sectarianism

into their lodges , is it not a mournful change those misguided brethren would Avork , Avho wish to engraft Christianity on the simple and universal faith of Freemasonry . One of the most important landmarks of our Order is Relig ious Toleration . Men of every nation and reliious denomination are equally eligible for

g admission to the fraternity , Atheists alone being excluded . In consequence of the dangerous tendency of the tenets of Atheism , the holder Avhereof ( by denying the existence of a Superior Power as his Creator and Judge ) is devoid of the salutary fear of a futureand

, Avhose oath could necessarily be no stronger than his word , every candidate for our mysteries , previous to passing through any of the ceremonies of initiation , is required to make a solemn declaration of that simple and universal faith—the belief in the existence of a God—which is the reliion of true Freemasonryand

g , this is the first , last , and only occasion in all our ceremonies , Avhere relig ious tenets are called into question . Every member of the Craft is perfectly free to