Contents.

CONTENTS .

EDITORIAL : F REEMASONRY—A FACTOR IN EUROPEAN POLITICS .. .. .. .. .. Front page How TO HAVE A GOOD LODGE .. .. .. 188 "T HE OLD MASONIANS" .. .. .. 18 S THE MASONIC POET ' S CORNER .. .. .. .. 189 NOTIFICATIONS .. .. .. .. .. 189

OUR TRESTLE BOARD .. .. .. .. 1 S 9 REVIEAV .. .. .. .. .. .. 190 ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .. .. 190 STOUR VALLEY LODGE . NO . 1224 , INSTALLATION MEETING 190 EVENINGS ABROAD .. .. .. .. .. 191 OUR CITY ARTICLE .. .. .. .. .. 191

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANSWERS .. .. .. 192 REPORTS OF LODGE AND CHAPTER MEETINGS .. 192 & 193 METROPOLITAN LODGE , < fcc , MEETINGS FOR PRESENT WEEK 193 PROVINCIAL LODOE MEETINGS FORTHCOAIING .. 194 & 195 METROPOLITAN LODGES OF INSTRUCTION FORTHCOAIING- 19 G ADVERTISEMENTS .. Front cover . 18 ( 5 , 197 , 198 , 199 , 200

Freemasonry- A Factor In European Politics.

Freemasonry- A Factor in European Politics .

N the occasion of the German Emperor ' s recent visit to Eome Signor Adriano Lemmi , Grand Orient of the Masonic Lodges , issued a circular AA hich . a

contemporary informs us , was couched in the " usual vituperative style of such documents . " It is asserted that therein the

Pope is stigmatised as a " ridiculous pretender , " and "a knife planted in the heart of Italy , " and concludes thus " Let us persevere , brethren , in our work of redemption .

Let the Masonic idea continue to be like the ether , which penetrates everywhere , and in which all moves and has its

being . Let us scatter abroad and cultivate the seeds of our doctrine . The old world is dissolving ; Avhat matter ' ? from its ruins rises another neAver and fairer . Let us Avork

armed at the temple of humanity , and comfort ourselves Avith the thought that the most formidable enemy is already overthrown ' ; that no force of reaction avails to arrest

progress , and the day is approaching Avhen all nations Avill compose a single family of freemen , equals and brothers ,

and perfecting themselves in the school of mutual love , will give laws and auspices to the reign of human happiness . "

It is neither our province nor Avish to analyse the thoughts or actions of any of our foreign brethren or their lodges . Whether the hidden machinery available for

action is used by the leaders of the craft in Italy , or else-Avhere , for political purposes , AVC do not inquire . Suffice it for us English Freemasons , AVIIO are forbidden to introduce

either religious dogmas or political theories , to stand aloof from all such practices . Indirectly , hoAveA'er , the . Avhole Order is attacked by language such as is used in an English

Freemasonry- A Factor In European Politics.

newspaper , a copy of which HOAV lies before us , in reference to the craft abroad , and of which the following example may suffice to SIIOAV its tenor : —¦

" The Grand Orient of Italy , the head of the blasphemous hierarchy of freethinkers and infidels , holds in his impious grasp the representative of divine authority on earth , the

embodiment of that teaching power which was the last bequest to the Church from its founder . " We only shall give in reference hereto , however , an extract from the work of a world-renoAvned orator and statesman in reference to

some of the speeches of Pio Nono . " But AVIIO , may it be asked , are these ' impious , ' whose breath has the stench of a putrid sepulchre ? The answer is more easy than

agreeable . They are simply the Liberals of Italy . This is the favourite word for them , and a phrase almost exclusively indeed appropriated to their use . One passage in particular

fixes the meaning beyond doubt . The Holy Father says , ' In Eome not only is it attempted to diffuse impiety all around , but men even dare to teach heresy , and to spread

unbelief . ' NOAV , as impiety proper is the last and worst result of heresy or unbelief , it is strange at first sight to find it placed on a loAver grade in the scale of sins . But

when Ave remember that in these volumes it simply means Italian liberalism , the natural order of things is perfectly restored . "

With the tenets and teachings of our lodges the outside Avorld has nothing to do ; it must accept as a guarantee of their rectitude the fact that in our ranks royalty and

nobility take prominent parts . Our acts of charity , patent to all , speak for themselves . Our members may belong to any religious sect they please , provided

they acknowledge the great prime cause , the God of Abraham , Isaac , and Jacob ; toleration in matters ethical is one of the landmarks of our Order , but is toleration

extended upwards ? By one powerful religious body , no ! There has been , and it appears likely ever to be , a great gulf betAveen the Roman Catholic party and our

body ; why this should have been so Ave knoAV not , nor do AVC stop to enquire . Time after time fanatical attempts have been made to repress , if not utterly extinguish , the

Order ; but those have all met the same fate—defeat . So it Avill ever be ; but " the Masonic idea AA'ill continue to be like the ether Avhich penetrates everywhere . " In these days ,

when multifarious agencies are at Avork all OA'er the world for the avoAved purpose of civilization and enlightenment , it is a significant fact that Freemasonry treads A'ery closely

on their heels , " working , " -as Signor Lemmi appears to say , " armed at the temple of humanity . " To the thinker , and there are many such in the ranks of our opponents , this must be a significant fact . "No force . of . " reaction