Courtesy In Argument

vigour and ability as we may possess , bnt it would never occur to ns to abuse our opponents . We may question the validity of their arguments , but not the propriety of their motives . This is work which we cheerfully abandon to thoso who delight in manifesting to tho world what Masonry

is not . We do not think that we and others are any the worse for differing with ono another , or for upholding , when necessary , the opinions we entertain . We do not think it our duty to obtrude thoso opinions on others , whether they like it or not . Wo avoid plunging into

matters controversial as much as possible ; but if they cannot be avoided , if even minor and comparatively unimportant differences will inevitably arise , there is no reason why they should not be conducted in a manner befitting gentlemen and Masons . We aro aware theso remarks will

read somewhat like a sermon , but we have frequent experience of the bitterness of spirit which is imported into discussions between brethren ; a bitterness which is out of place , seeing that it at once puts an end to fair discussion , and Avhich is especially objectionable iu those who

bind themselves most solemnly to speak well of a brother , or , if that cannot be clone with propriety , to observe silence . Whenever an opportunity presents itself , we make it our business to tone down the asperities which some delight to interchange , and wo fancy we have done this successfully

on more than ono occasion . We take pride in hearing brethren enunciate , ore rotunda , tho beautiful precepts of Freemasonry , but wo carry ourselves with head still more erect when wo find brethren practise what they preach . There are many beautiful theories in this world , but their

undoubtedly fair proportions are spoiled for want of practice . So fares it with Masonry . There are many Craftsmen whose enunciation of the true Masonic principles it is a pleasure to listen to , but there is a terrible want of

harmony between their thoory and their practice ; and among the most notorious offenders in this respect are those brethren who begin by arguing with , and end by abusing , each other ,

Forewarned—Forearmed.

FOREWARNED—FOREARMED .

" / i OT your Calendar for next year , Sir ? " blandly vJT enquired the smiling Tyler , as we passed a table on which lay a pile of natty Pocket-books , by the entrance of the Lodge . Ever desirous of swelling tho modest gains of the Brother who for many years has guarded our

portals with fidelity and zeal , we incontinently handed out two shillings in return for one of his little volumes . Hugging our satisfaction at being now an conrant of all Masonic movements , able to furnish information to country

visitors , and provided with a vade mccmn of fraternal utility for our own jaunts in the Provinces , we shortly afterwards , whilst our worthy Secretary was reading the minutes , glanced into our new pxirchase .

Looking , first , at the list of Grand Officers , we noted , with satisfaction , the appearance of " Our Right Hand Man , " as Assistant Grand Secretary , and passed on to

the Eepresentatives of Foreign Grand Lodges . In the first ten names of these we noticed , with surprise , four palpable mistakes , and were then stopped by finding the name of our dear old friend Bro . Shuttle worth—who died

peacefully at Berne some fivo years since—figuring aa an immortal " Representative . " " What ' s this ? " thought we ; " unaccountable neglect at our Grand Secretary ' s office , — something wrong in the editorship of this Calendar ! " and we turned wonderingly to the title page .

Instead of the well-known title of Freemasons' Calendar and Poclcet-Boolc , " published by command of the Grand Master , " the purchase of which—as its proceeds go to the Charity Fund—had in previous years always solaced us with the notion that we were giving a trifling help to a

good cause , we read " Cosmopolitan " Masonic Calendar , and a long string of qualifications as a " Comprehensive Masonic Book of reference . " Well ! our first insight was not encouraging , but we had got something worth having at any rate , and we pocketed our purchase , not altogether dissatisfied .

Next morning , we determined to look more at leisure at this comprehensive though unfamiliar guide , and we give the result , after having verified it at the Grand Secretary ' s office and with many brethren . On the first page of the Diary , beginning with 1 st January 1878 , we found four-

Forewarned—Forearmed.

teen mistakes * as to meetings in the London district ; on the second page , twenty-two ; on tho third , fifteen ; and then , disheartened as to tho utility of the Diary , we passed to the lists of Grand Officers . Besides numerous small errors and omissions we found wrong names of the

District Grand Masters of Bengal , Madras , China , New South Wales , Bahamas , Newfoundland , Prince Edward ' s Island and Sumatra . The last does not exist , nor has there been any Lodge whatever in the island for many a long year ; the penultimate two , together with British

Columbia , which is also down , have independent Grand Lodges , and their District Grand Masters ceased altogether several years ago . Our District Grand Masters of Japan ,

Griqualand , Northern China and South East Africa , are entirely ignored by this erratic handbook ; perhaps , in order to balance those who are inserted unduly—thus securing quantity if not quality .

Passing to the Lists of Lodges , and comparing it with our Grand Secretary ' s List , wo counted up to one hundred errors , and left the task unfinished . Skipping a few pages , we found " Provincial Grand Superintendents ( of the Royal Arch ) , and here Ave fared little better than with the

Provincial Grand Masters , for besides various names long since resigned or deceased , wo found a total omission of the Provinces of Berks and Bucks , Hertfordshire , Lincolnshire , Cornwall , Derbyshire , Kent , Cumberland and

Westmoreland , Suffolk and tho Punjab . Oh ! most comprehensive Masonic Calendar , what havo those excellent Grand Superintendents done to be found unworthy of thy cosmopolitan regard ?

Up to this point it was evident that we had been veering on the wrong tack for the success of our investigation , so we turned again to that cosmopolitan chart—the title-page . Further study thereof disclosed the existence of matter relating to various foreign countries ; in fact , " full

particulars of every Grand Masonic body throughout the globe . " So ! the Editor ' s sight may be adapted only to long distances : we may have been disappointed in the accuracy of what more immediately concerns us ; but land us in foreign parts , and , aided by our cosmopolitan friend , we

shall display an intimacy with local Masonic affairs calculated to astonish the natives ! Still we could not help feeling just a little diffident in this pleasing anticipation , and took the trouble to call upon a foreign Brother of higher Masonic rank and attainments than our humble selves .

He read partly the foreign Grand Lodges , and said , " This is not correct , and betrays negligence . The Grand Countries' Lodge of Germany must be copied from an old list . Others the same . The Grand Lodge of Santo Domingo may be right : they have given more than a page

to it ; also the Grand Orient of Spain , " which takes more than three ; " but I believe neither of these important bodies is recognised by the Grand Lodge of England , for good and sufficient reason . British Columbia , Canada , New Bmnswick , Nova Scotia , Quehec , and others are classed among the

United States of America ( page 192 ) , a politico-geographical error which can hardly be gratifying to loyal Colonies of the British Crown . The Supreme Grand Council of the Valley of New Zealand , which figures here between Egypt and the Netherlands , I do not know what to make of . I was

unaware of the existence of this foreign country , and thought it was under the Masonic authority of England . " Oh ! Brother Tyler ! Brother Tyler ! Expecting mental pahdum , did we take thy bread , and find it was a— " Cosmopolitan ? " Retain , in welcome , thy trifling emolument ; we

begrudge it not ; may no spectral pocket-books disturb thy peaceful slumbers , nor perplex thine unwary brain ! This inestimable book may he an unerring guide to the Foreign Grand Lodges of Santo Domingo , Spain , and New Zealand Valley—can our brethren in the Colony tell us about this last , or is it possibly some submerged tract of a