The Landmarks Of Masonry.

he realised them ; also untiring in his praiseworthy researches . It has long , however , been felt by students , that it constitutes a grave drawback in his remarkable work , that he

gives us so few references , and we all must feel , we who have traversed in part or in whole the " debateable land " he so unweariedly measured out , that it always must be a matter of expert regret , that he has not in many cases been more cautious in his statements , more reticent in his opinions .

If he excels Bro . Doctor Oliver , as we may fairly admit he does , in his marshalling of facts and his critical use of authorities , it is more than doubtful if he be in any respects equal to the good old Doctor in his knowledge and application of Masonic law .

Mackey , therefore , lucid and able as he is , cannot be deemed to be infallible , and his codification of the Landmarks , though interesting and ingenious , cannot be accepted , ( outside America ) , as of determinate or binding

authority in any respect . Indeed , it is very difficult to say , despite modern amplifications of the words , what Anderson originally meant by the term " Old Landmarks , " for he was the first Masonic writer to use it , in 1723 , as

reproducing and commenting on the Charges , & c , of 1722 . In all probability , however , much as his terminology has been extended , he only then meant , what we may fairly term to-day , certain distinctive conditions of Freemasonry

proper , which constitute the difference and severance between Freemasons and the popular world not Freemasons ; and then , further , it is still more difficult for any of us to

say what a supreme and sovereign Grand Lodge can or cannot do , even as regards these so-called Landmarks ; what changes it may or may not effect ; what alteration in this or that it may or may not ordain .

Certain it is that since Anderson penned these words in 1723 several changes , alterations , additions , subtractions have been duly made by the Grand Lodge of England , in G . Lodge assembled , and in what we should certainly

suppose Anderson included in his term " Landmarks " in 1723 . The question of the well-known Hiram Lodge in America at this moment is a case in point . This Lodge complains that what it deems to be

a "landmark " has been altered by the Grand Lodge The Grand Lodge affirms its right and power to do so and calls on the Hiram Lodge to obey its alteration Hiram Lodge refuses obedience , on the ground of a " land

mark" being unalterable . We do not quite see clearly yet whether the Lodge denies any power by Grand Lodge of alteration at all , but only we fancy that such alteration must take place , if it takes place , by unanimous consent of

Lodges under that Grand Lodge . Bro . Brennan ' s argument that because Mackey , on his sole " ipse dixit , " places certain tokens and necessities of modern Lodge life and usage outside the Revival of 1717 , and the laws and

regulations thence emanating , first actually promulgated in any form publicly in 1723 , therefore all Lodges outside the 1722-23 rules are illegal , seems to us , we humbly confess , to be so far-fetched and involved , as to be practically a pure " reductio ad absurdum . "

Indeed , if anything , the argument , if it can be called an argument at all , if in fact any superstructure can be raised on Mackey's words , is really and truly , as we say , " the other way on . " The Lodge at Philadelphia in 1730 , or

earlier , was just as legal as the Grand Lodge of Tork in 1704 , as the Grand Lodge of England in 1717 , as the Lodge of Antiquity , which has no warrant , and apparently never had one .

Of all the amusing arguments , alleged or fictitious , which this vexed question of Philadelphian Freemasonry has educed , this to us is the most original , as it is the most

absurd . We can hardly suppose that Bro . Brennan is in earnest in using it , and we therefore are inclined to believe that he means it as a good joke , as good honest Masonic chaff for us in this " worn out" old country .

A great deal of nonsense , as Bro . Jacob Norton once said trul y , has been written and spoken about the old " Landmarks . "

They are often used as a sort of " Bogey " to frighten naughty " children of the widow , " and to discountenance audacious student-inquirers and sceptics . There are undoubtedly " Landmarks and Landmarks "

and we quite agree with Bro . Parvin , while some are reall y old and never to be given up , there are several very modern in idea and verbiage which may at once be cheerfull y surrendered , as of no meaning , value , or reality . Mackey ' s carefully elaborated Twenty-five may be reduced

The Landmarks Of Masonry.

really or truly to under " a baker's dozen" in historical accuraoy , and there we leave the subject to-day . Before , however , Brother Brennan uses them again

dogmatically and readily to establish this or that , to point his " moral" or " adorn" his argument , he really must be so very kind as to tell ua what the " Landmarks " actually are , which he himself accepts

honestly , and Masonically believes in . Then we can join issue . But until then , the contest is one-sided , as he asserts and we deny . He proclaims an infallible authority , and that we absolutely reject . We know to-day of no official

authority or declaration to guide us safely on the subject . We can indeed gather for ourselves certain salient points , from a careful study of our Old Charges , & c , which Anderson first published in 1723 , and which appear to us to be

"Landmarks , " but with Bro . Parvin , " with the exception of a few , very few , universally recognized as such , " to which we , too , can " heartily give our assent , " we should like to have a list of those , which without controversy are

everywhere admitted to be Masonically binding , and invi olable .

The General Committee of the Royal Masonio Institution for Boys met at Freemasons' Hall , on Saturday last , Bro . J . Joyce Murray in the chair . Others present were Bros . W . Roebuck , j . L . Mather , Dr . Ramsay , F . Adlard ,

C . F . Hogard , Rev . Dr . Morris ( Head Master ) , W . Paas , H . Venn , H . Massey , Stephen Richardson , Philip Cleek , C . H . Webb , W . H . Burgess , A . E . Gladwell , A . Williams , W . A . Scurrah , R . Berridge , H . Hacker , S . H . Parkhouse , Edgar Bowyer , R . J . Taylor , W . M . Stile * , Richard Eve

G . Treas ., G . P . Gillard , G . Mickley , and F . Binckes ( Sec retary ) . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes of the August meeting , and the reading of the minutes of House Committee for information , two

candidates were placed on the list for the April 1888 election . A grant of £ 11 was made to one ex-pupil of the Institution , and the Secretary reported that he had received , through the Grand Secretary , a cheque for £ 2 , 107 ,

as the Boys School proportion of the receip s for admission to the Jubilee Celebration at the Royal Albert Hall on the 13 th June . He also reported that he had paid the sum into the bank , placing £ 1 , 650 to the credit of the

Building Fund , and £ 457 to the credit of the Snstentation Fund . The agenda paper for the Quarterly Court , on Monday , the 10 th instant , was read , and it was decided to

recommend that 12 boys instead of 11 should be elected into the School . The Secretary was directed to forward , through the Grand Secretary , a letter of thanks for the cheque for £ 2 , 107 . A vote of thanks to the Chairman of the day closed the proceedings .

The Right Worshipfnl the Provincial Grand Master of Middlesex has been pleased to confer Past Provincial rank on the undermentioned brethren , in commemoration of Her Majesty ' s Jubilee : — Bros . H . W . Eoberts P . M . 1293 ... Jnnior Warden

E . A . Hughes P . M . 1494 ... ) „ . . Colonel G B . Clark P . M . 1871 .. j S lstrar 8 J . E . Penn P . M . 778 ... ) W . H . Lee P . M . 1897 ... ... > Deacons Wm . DoddP . M . 1194 ... ... ) J . M . EuddP . M . 1579 7 TV * , r . J . Woodmason P . M . 1637 ] Directors of Ceremonies W . C . Crick P . M . 1460 " 1 . , , _ H . J . Jones P . M . 1572 ] S ^^ d Bearers

The Festival of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution , which is to take place at Southampton , on Monday , 24 th October , will be preceded by a Special Provincial Grand Lodgeat

, which the R . W . Provincial Grand Master Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P . ) has signified his intention of appointing a number of Past Provincial Grand Officers , and thus to commemoratejthe Jubilee of Her Majesty ' s reign .

A very pleasant meeting was held at the Richmond Lodge , No . 2032 , on Tuesday last . There was a full attendance of members , and neighbouring Lodges were well represented . We shall give a report of the proceedings in our next .