Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . All Letters must bear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of Rood faith . Wo cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

THE PAPACY , THE CRAFT , AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAK SIK AND BBOTHKK , —It seems to me that Sir Charles Dilke does not understand the fundamental principles of Freemasonry , or he would not plead thafc " the Roman Catholic Chnrch might allow her members , at all events in Great Britain , to become Freemasons . "

tor my own part , i wonld vigorously ballot against the admission f n any one , king or peasant , to tlie privileges of Freemasonry if I knew that ho bad had to obtain another man ' s permission to join the Craft . It' a candidate does not present himself of his own free will and accord he is not a fit person to be made a Maion .

I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , HAUKY NASH , P . M . 211 4 Cromwell Grove , West Kensington Park , W . 3 rd April 1892 .

" POPE , FRIENDLY SOCIETIES , AND MASONS . " To the Editor of the Speaker . Sir , —Will you allow me to say , and will Sir Charles Dilke excase my saying , that his letter in your last issue betrays some confusion of thought on certain points raised in my reply to his article ? Aud may I add that he uses tho terms " secret societies " aud " friendly societies " as if they were convertible , and that tho facta do not at

all justify him in so doing F I am not aware that the secret societies of Italy—the Carbonari any more than the Mala Vita—have any claim to be called " friendl y societies , " as the terra is generally understood in thia conntry . Nor can Good Templars properly be classed as members cf a friendly society . Theirs is a temperance organisation , confer , I believe ,

none of the benefits that are ordinarily associated with the idea of a friendly society . Masonry is in a similar position . I must again repeat emphatically that " Catholics in Great Britain can and do join the Foresters and Oddfellows without let or hindrance . " In Iruland several of the societies are very strong , and Catholics compose the majority of many Lodges . That " some

Roman Catholics are members , as stated by Sir Charles Dilke , gives an entirely erroneous impression of thefactu , and tho reference iu " his Catholic friend , " who is a Freemason , though ho knows he ia thereby incurring tho censuro of tbe Chnrch , tends to increase the inaccuracy of the idea conveyed . I think I may safely douy that Sir Charles Dilke has a " Roman Catholic friend who is a Freemason , "

for if he is a Mason he is not a Catholic . He may call himself one , but tho name is not tho thiug . A Catholic who becomes a Mason is ipso facto excommunicate , I believe . At any rate , he would not be allowed to receive the Sacraments of tho Church—to communicate visibly with his fellow Catholics—unless he expressly severed his connection with Masonry .

Sir Charles says it is " difficult for ordinary Roman Catholics to understand what is the shade of difference" that rejects Good Templars and Masons and accepts Foresters and Oddfellows . He supplies me with a fairly specious answer when he ^ ays , in regard to Masonry , that I " am not a Mason and am unacquainted with the facts . " How , then , might I ask , can he assert that ' •an nrdinnrv

Roman Catholic has any difficulty in discerning between Templarism , Masonry , and Forestry ? But this would bo a mere quibble . Catholics can gain knowledge of such matters in two ways . Suppose a Catholic , uninstructed in regard to the Good Templars , were to join that body , he wonld soon find himself out of harmony

with the members . The tone * of Good Templarism would be foreign to his ideal . It is impossible to have oven tho bare outline of religions ceremonies without having a colouring also of the underlying creed . A Catholic makes the sign of the Cros * before and after prayer ; a uon-Catholic does net . In a thousand ways the points of difference will come out . But , apart from knowledge

gained in this way , Catholics accept tho guidance of the Church ; they trust to hor " mat incts , her knowledge and wisdom ; they know that not for trivial reasons does she absolutely forbid this or discountenance that . In regard to Australia I cannot admit that " we have the distinct fact " that Forestry there is exactly what it is here . Do local

conditions , the character of tho men who control the affairs of tho eociety , and its unwritten code , which may differ in different places , not suggest to Sir Charles that there may be vital variations between English and Australian Forestry . No doubt good grounds could bo given by Cardinal Moran for his prohibition , if he has issued such prohibition . What does Sir Charles mean by the Catholic Benefit Society being

one of " the affiliated orders" ? This is a friendly society for which the Catholic Church has no more responsibility than has tho Kupliah Government for the " British Empire Assurance Company , " < r " Soap Company , " or the " United Kingdom Alliance . " Tho society is recognised under the Friendly Societies Acts , and its rules and regulations have the sanction of ; che Registrar of Friendly Societies . The quotation from its prospective ia doubtless accurate , aud iu it

Correspondence.

there is nothing objectionable . But the society is in no way " affiliated " to the Church . Sir Charles ' s statement as to tho recognition of God by the English Freemasons ia satisfactory , but ho did not touch npon my query aa to whether , in u Christian country , a society , such as tbe Masonio body , can completely ignore in ic 3 semi-religious rites the Christian

dispensation while being quite compatible with membership of Christian Churches ? The n-cotsution of God is common to Mahommoi ' lan , Jew , and Christian ; but tbe latter will find wanting in Masonry any sign , token , or evidence that there is a revelation amplifying and fulfilling the Mosaic law . And if French Masons are repudiated by English Masons because they ignore God in their

rites , how can Christians participate with those who ignore Christ ? As Sir Charles Dilke inferentially justifies the repudiation of Atheisti , is it logical to demand that , the Catholic Church , which is but a creation of man if not Christ ' s woik , shnll allow her members to communicate , as it were , with those who ignore her Founder ? . Again , the Church forbids the taking of any unnecessary oath .

If , however , as the except nn to this salutary role , oaths are permitted iu order that useful organisations ' , givinK distinct and clearl y specified advantages to tl oil- members , and promoting thrift and co-operative effort , may exist , amon <; Catholics , it is surely evident that a very slight dilFerenc * indeed between two societies may make

one lawful and the other unlawful ? Let me add what Pius IX . is said to have once remarked to a non - Catholic who was praising the noble exterior of St . Peter's— "Ah my son , to understand the full beauty of the Church , it haa to be seen from the inside . " Things that , to those of intellect and under * standing outside the Church , seem hard , marvellous , inconsistent ,

and repellent , are as plain as the proverbial pikestaff to " ordinary Catholics . Yours faithfully , C . DIAMOND . 27 G Strand , W . C .

Dublin Masonic School Centenary Bazaar.

DUBLIN MASONIC SCHOOL CENTENARY BAZAAR .

A CONCERT and Couversnzione in aid of the Masonic Female Orphan School and Centenary Bazaar was given on the 30 th ultimo , by Lodge 25 ( I . G . ) , in the Masonio Hall , Moltsworlh Street . Tho gathering was at once large aud distinguished , and the hall presented quite a brilliant scone , for all tho brethren wore Masonic costume . The Right Worshipful the Deputy Grand Master , Brother R . \\\ Skekletou , arrived a few minutes after 8 o'clock , and waa

greeted with tho customary salute . The programme of musio was an exceedingly good oue , although it was feared earlier in the evening that it would bo shorn of one of its chief features by the absence of Uerr Werner ; br . t ho was enabled to appear in the second part . Tbtf programme vi as opened with an organ solo by Brother Sir Robert Stewart , " Fifth Organ Concerto" ( Handel ) , thi ; g . aml music of

which , oxcel'i" -i ! y r .. i dered , was well appreciated by the audience . Then follov . nl ii quaitttte , "Tho Stars aro with tho Voyager " ( Tunstall ) , sung with much expression and most tnuefully by Mr * . Alexander Williams , Miss Alex Eisner , and Bros . D'Alton and Kelly . A very acceptable contribution WHS Bro . Charles Jo / . o ' s song , " Non I' Ver" ( Tito Mattel ) . Mits Armstrong was loudly applauded

for her siugiiiu of " Angus M'Donald " ( Roecbel ) . Sho gave to it a spirited rendeing and a justness of interpretation whioh was most commendable . A pretty rendering of "Tho Gift" ( Behrond ) , a sweet and tender song , was given by Mrs . Alexander Williams . Bro . W . Armstrong sang " My Queen" ( Blumenthal ) , and received an encore ; in his response , "Sho woro a wreath of rosea , " he

was exceedingly good . Brother Charles Kelly sang splendidly , his song , "The Golden Guineas" ( S . Adams ) , a rollicking ballad with a rollicking air , which admirably suited his voice . Miss Alex Eisner has seldom been heard in better voice than she was on this occasion , when sho contributed Hutchinson ' s " My Bairuies , " for whioh she was encored . Miss Amy Craig and Bro . Melfort D'Alton also sang

pleasingly . Horr Werner played two violin selections ( a ) Adagio , from Spohr ' s 9 th concerto , and ( 6 ) Mazurka ( Isaye ) , with his usual brilliancy . The "Romania" ( Suhr ) , a ' cello solo , was played by Bro . Dr . Tichborne with much acceptance . This piece is ono which testa tho capacity of the instrument to a very great extent , but it was effectively dealt with . Tho only other instrumental music was

the organ solo by Sir Robert Stewart ( a ) "Andante in B Major " ( Mendelssohn ) , nnd ( b ) " 1 ' olonaise" ( Kuffner ) , which , while in grant contrast to Handel ' s solid and harmonious music , was appreciated perhapa in that it was so different . An unexpected treat was afforded bv Miss do Groot , who recited one of Bret Harte ' s Western

poems , in tho course of which she gave a few bars in imitation of a woodland songaUT , which stamps her as a hifjleuse of some merit . Tho visitors were hospitably entertained at a conversazione afterwards , and wero given tho privilege of inspecting the handsome rooms of the hall .

Bro . Alderman H . D . Davies was on Monday , 28 th ult ., unanimously elected Worshipful Master of tha Bishopsgate Lodge , No . 23 yt > , in succession to 'ho first Master Bro . G . N . -1011113011 P . G . S . The Alderman r > piv-ciits the Lodge ns Steward of tho Koyal Masonic Beuevoleut Institution for the Agod , and tho Royal Masonio Institution for Girls . Bro . Deputy Dudswell was re-elected Tieaaimr .

Hor . r . OH ' . iv ' s OI . VT . . VT . iNn I ' ILIS . —Counsel for the Delicate . —Those to whom seasons ot ' eliamreable temperatures are protracted period * of trial should seek the earli' -st opportunity of removing all obstacles to < ro'id health This i-i «> lii \ j _; Ointment , presefvingiy rubbed npiri tlio skin , is tlio most reliable reini'd ' v- lor overconiiiuc all diseases o tlio tlinut and chest . Ouinsey , relaxed

tou . Mls . sore thruai , swollen glands , ordinary catarrh , and bronchitis , usually nrevniliiu ? at this season , may be arresiod as soon sn discovered , and every rymptom b : n : ished by Holloway ' s simple and elective treatment . This Ointment and I ' ilis are highly commended for tho facility with which thoy compicr inlhieri / . a ; they allay in au incredibly short time the distressing fever aud ttsasmg cough .