New Masonic Hall And Club At Kidderminster.

taken up by about sixty of the principal residents in the town and neighbourhood , and no doubt as soon as the scheme is properly understood , and all its features realised , the remaining shares will bo qnickly appropriated . Bro . George Taylor P . M . and Treas . 377 ,

P . S . G . D . Worcestershire , the Secretary , is exerting his utmost energies to make the affair a complete success , and having a considerable knowledge of tho amount of energy that very able and indefatigable goutleman throws into any work ho undertakes , we cannot but eatertain the brightest auguries of the future of this institution . —San .

Knights Templars And The Doctrine Of The Trinity.

KNIGHTS TEMPLARS AND THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY .

FROM THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY FOR AUGUST

IN a late number of the Repository we referred to the action taken by the Grand Priory of Canada , requiring all visiting Knights from the United States to affirm their belief in the doctrine of the Trinity , as a condition of being allowed to visit any of the Templar organizations in Canada , and expressed our opinion that the establishment of such a test was both unwise and inexpedient . In the June number of

the Canadian Craftsman our article is responded to by the Grand Prior of Canada ; and this reply to our brief comments appears in the present issue of the Repository . It seems that we were mistaken in assuming that the action noticed was taken on the recommendation of the Grand Prior . The official announcement cf the test decided upon stated that it was "

recommended by the Grand Council , " and we naturally inferred that the Grand Prior concurred in the recommendation . But this was not tbe fact . On the contrary , the Grand Prior believes that the legislation on this point was too hasty and requires revision . He says , substantially , that if the Templar organization in the United States is to be recognized by the British Order , it follows that those who are in good standing in the

Order at home should bo recognized and fellowshipped when abroad , without being required to submit to any special test unknown to the organization in which they hold membership . But , although the Grand Prior expresses an opiuion that the requisitions imposed by the Grand Priory can hardly be defended as either courteous or just , he puts forward other statements bearing upon tho matter which open a mnch wider field of discussion . Indeed , if we correctly interpret his words

the Grand Prior favors more stringent legislation on this point so that there shall be no recognition of the Templar Order in tho United States . He says : " What might have beeu done by tbe Grand Priory was to declare that the Order in the United States is not a Templar Order with which we can maintain communication , having discarded its most essential characteristic . " Reading these strong words we conid bnt rccal those occasions when the Grand Prior and other

distinguished knights from Canada have been attendants npon the sessions of the Grand Encampment of the United States , formally commissioned to be the bearers of fraternal greetings from the Grand Priory of Cinsula to the governing Templar organization of th « United States . At Baltimore iu 1871 , at Cleveland in 1877 , did our Canadian friends realize that they were recognizing a Templar organization

which had "discarded its most essential characteristic I " In the article copied from the Craftsman tho Grand Prior leaves ns in no doubt as to the importance he attaches to the doctrine of the Triuity . Ho says : " It is as necessary for a Templar to believe in tbe Trinity as it is for a Craft Mason to believe in God ; " and then , to be consistent in his conclusion , he goes on to affirm that the

Templar Order always has been a "Trinitarian Association , " and that it ceases to bo a Templar Order , although it may continue to boar the name , ju 3 t as soon as it admits members who do not subscribe to the doctrino in question . We join issue with both of these statements . Admit the necessity of a belief in the Trinity—admit that tho dogma is of necessity apart

of tho system of modern Templarism—we still deny that it holds an equal rank with faith in God , without which faith we know there can be no true Masonic law or life . It may bo desirable , even essentia ] , to believe in three persons in the God-head , but to reject such a doctrine , still holding fast to faith in a personal God , and in a Divine Lord the Saviour of men , surely i 3 not quite as bad as atheism itself . Doctrines and beliefs are of relative value , and however great stress may

be laid upon the dogma of the Trinity it is not the one underlying and vital principle of religion that belief in God is . Let it be granted that the doctrine ought to have place in the Templar system , or that it has been improperly eliminated therefrom , we should still hold that there was solid Christian ground for the system to rest upon ; aud that it was not wounded to death by questioning the validity of this dogma as Masonry must bo whenever and wherever it comes to atheistical denials .

But what proof is there that the Templar Order is and always has been a " Trinitarian Association ? " It is well known that the Institution of Christian Knighthood as it exists to-day is connected with the times of the Crnsades and the Soldiers of the Temple by only legendary tics and associations . There is no historic continuity . The present Order is of comparatively modern origin ; and it was uot

intended by those who fashioned the system and breathed into it the breath of life that it should partake of all the features which belonged to the ancient monastic and chivalric Orders . Some of the aims and characteristics , and more of the spirit , we trust , of those olden organizations have found their way into the Templarism of our time . But many changes aud modifications have been made—departures from the original ritual and ceremony—and there is little nso of citing

the beliefs of the middle ages as the absolute law of faith that now exists . In tbe article we are reviewing the doctrine of the Trinity is designated as the principal landmark of Tetnphu-ism , whereas , if we use the term in that technical sense which makes it the synonym of truths and principles that always have been known and accepted among Masons , there are no landmarks in Templar Order . There are first principles and original foundations , of course , but

Knights Templars And The Doctrine Of The Trinity.

these do not take on the character of landmarks ; and if they did , we should still venture to doubt whether the doctrine of the Trinity is included iu the list of clearly expressed fundamentals . The dogma in question may have been indicated by the ritualistic teaching of the Templar societies instituted in Europo during the middle or latter part of the last century , and yet never have attained the dignity of a

landmark . It is exceedingly problematical what the Templar system was as formulated by Ramsey or by Baron Von Hund ; and altogether too much obscurity gathers about the early history of the present Templar Order to admit the showing that any special dogma originally held a pre-eminent place . About tho beginning of the present century Templarism received

fresh impetus both in Europe and America . Iu this country , at the hands of Webb aud others , it took form , shape , character , aud entered upon a vigorous life . Then was formulated a ritual which in substance has been adhered to for nearly throe quarters of a century . That system of Masonic Templarism rests npon the Christian religion and the practice of the Christian virtues . As every Mason must believe

in God , so every Knight Templar must believe in our Lord and Savionr Jesus Christ . Immanuel is the one great watchword of the Order , and the cross is the sign that sets forth all so significantly the nature of that faith and the works of truth and Christian love to which every Knight Templar is most sacredly pledged . Bat he is not bound to accept the dogma of the Trinity . It is enough that he accepts the

Divine authority of Christ—that he seek to walk in the footsteps of the crucified and risen One , showing forth tbe Christ spirit in word and deed . This would seem to give him standing as a " true Tern , plar" and entitle him to recognition as such , the opinion of the Canadian Brother to the contrary notwithstanding . But he cannot understand why the United States Templar Body is not distinctively

and avowedly Trinitarian . He says the whole ritual tends that way , while the crucifixion and asceusion scenes , together with tho anthem sang , inculcate the doctrine . Well , we accept the ritual—we join with devout thought and quickened spiritual feeliugsinall the solemn ceremonies of the Order ; aud , if this is all tbat is required , we think that the

Unitarian and the Trinitarian Christiau may kneel side by side iu the asylum , and before < he empty sepulchre , as wo have often seen tbem thus kneel , and together prosecute the work of Masonic Templarism . Filled aud led by tho spirit of their common Lord we can but think that each of these Brethren will accord to the other the name of a true Templar , and that thus being faithful thoy may both hope to merit at last the glad welcome , well done , good and faithful servants . "

Christ Church, Southwark.

CHRIST CHURCH , SOUTHWARK .

A Musical and Elocutionary Entertainment fcjok place at the Parochial Schools , Holland-street , B ' ackfriars , on Monday evening , 3 rd November . T . c Entertainment wis given in aid of the New Vestries' Fund , and was ably conducted by Bro . Usher Back . Tho most successful pieces of th-j evening w-jro ' Tho Pied Piper of llanielin , " and " The Elo -tion of a B-jadle , " by Mr . W . T . Copu ; an I

" Nothing to Wear , and ' •I remember , " by Bro . C . Greenwood jun . Uro . W . \ V . Morgau gave one of-his Popular Svlootiotw , and Mr . A . U , U ' adc gave a careful rendering of " The Execution of Alontrosc . " Tbe Vocalists were represented by Miss Parker , Miss Rnttic , Miss T . Huttie ; Messrs . F . C . iston , H . E . Vickers . Crow , and Bro . Alfred Green . Miss T . Battie was rcry happy in Balfe ' s ever popular

"I dreamt I dwelt in Marble Halls ; " Miss Parker , who bus a rich and powerful voice , sang " Tho Storm , " and " Looking Back , " mnch to tho satisfaction of tho audience . Tho duet " Starboard Watch , " was effectively given by Messrs . Vickers and Crow , tho latter gentleman was-a-fad-applauded for "Sweethearts . " Bro . Alfred Green contributed "Hybrids , tbe Cretan . " Altogether , the Entertainment was most satisfactory .

The installation meeting of the Trinity College Lodge , No . 1765 , was hold on Thursday at tho Trinity College , Woymouth-stroet , VV . The brethren afterwards dined together at the Criterion . Bro . Rev . J . Robbins D . D . P . M . 1635 P . G . Chap . Middx ., is the new W . M . A full report will appear in our next .

The installation meeting of the 3 fetropo ! t ' tan Chapter , No . 1507 , was held ou Thursday , at Audertoci ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . Comp . J . It . Stacey was installed M . E . Z ., Comp . W . J . Ferguson H ., and W . M . Stiles J . A report of the meeting will appear next week .

Bro . Dr . J . J . Pope will , on the 11-th inst ., give hi 3 celebrated and popular Lecture ou Sanitary Science , entitled " Number One—His Very Good Health , " by special request of Lord Northbrook , at Micheldever , in Hampshire . Bro . Stanton ( Sydney ) . —Your letter of August was lost in the post , only the outside wrapper reached us .

Tho current number of Messrs . Groombridgo and Sons " Greenhouse favourites" is do voted to particulars of the Erica . As usual the number contains two coloured illustrations , the one representing the geranium , tbe other the clematis . In each the artistic execution is well up to the standard of the plates which have preceded these .

HOLLOIVAY ' S OIJTTMKST ANi > I ' ir , r , s . —Old Sore .- -, Wounds , ami Ulcers . —Tho readiness , with which . Holloway ' s unguent removes all obstructions in the circa--In tiou of the vessels anil lymphatics , explains their irresistible influence hi heuling oii . l sores , had wounds , and indolent ulcors . To insure the desired offocr , the skin surrounding the ( lisenscrl part should bo fomented , dried , and immediately

well rubbed with the Ointment . This will give purity to the foul blood , and strength to the weakened nerves , the only conditions necessary fur the cure of nil those ulcerations which reuder life almost intolerable . No sooner is this Ointment ' s protective powers exerted , than the destructive process ceases , nml the constructive business begins—new healthy growth appears to till up the lately painful excavated pit .