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the Masonic sect " which at the present moment was determining the whole course of human things ; it was that which at the present moment entered into

politics , and guided them , " and a lot more of such absurd nonsense . Fancy us quiet , inoffensive Masons having the whole course of human things to

determine ! and iancy us being the guiding spirits ol politics at a time when Mr . W . E . Gladstone is reported to have said " he knew nothing about the Society called Freemasons ! " It seems incredible ,

and yet we hear on good authority that these are actual facts . We begin to think we are somebody ; are even a power in the land ; and may some day rise to a position of importance ; for with such power in

the hands of the Masonic Order it seems possible that one of its most enthusiatic supporters might oventfully be found a snug little berth in which to Like a more active share in " determining the whole course - _ - * a •»•1 •* 1 •I •It 11 1 1 lie

of human things ana guiding pontics than nas hitherto found himself capable of doing amid the hard work of journalism .

Our contemporary , Truth , is once more taking up the cudgels against Freemasonry , and charges its members in the Army with practices wholly opposed

to the principles oi the Order , and certainly subversive of that discipline which is so essential among assertions not iounuea

the troops . mn are always on fact , and it would probably turn out that this latest complaint is a myth , an imaginary grievance

established in the hope ol excusing some delinquent , or the outcome of that spirit of jealousy which is so rife in the forces . For the sake of Freemasonry we hope

the subject will soon receive the attention at the hands of the highest military authorities which our contemporary considers it requires , and we venture to think the result of a proper inquiry would be to

clear the Masonic Order from the slur cast upon it by the charges contained in the communication referred to by our contemporary , whose remarks we

publish in another part of this issue . In another column we give an extract from the RougJi Ashlar on the subject of " Freemasonry and the Press , " in which a resolution of the G . L . of Ireland , passed in October 1789 , and prohibiting the publication of Masonic transactions in general newspapers , is referred to . The same or a similar edict is in force elsewhere , but we think our Irish brethren enjoy the distinction of more zealously acting up to it than the brethren of any other jurisdiction . We cannot see , however , that the Order reaps any advantage in that country in consequence . Other parts of the article we extract are also worthy of attention .

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 69.

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 69 .

By BRO . CHAS . F . F OKSHAW , LL . D . — : o : — TRUE MASONRY .

True Masons have no blind fanatic zoai Their search for Light is always modified ; And moderation always did reveal The Purest Principles on every side .

Upright and Just and Trne we aye should ho j Humble and Meek—Kesigned to God ' s goodwill , Remembering ever onr Fraternity , Is Blest and Hallowed by His presence still . Faithful to Masonry , means Faith in God ,

No higher aspect could we hear disclose ; For when the Bpirit rises from the sod To find a bourne that mortal never knows—We know it wings its uphold flight above , To Boundless , Unexplored Expanse of Love . Winder House , Bradford , 4 th September 1893 .

The Theatres. &C.

THE THEATRES . & c .

To-night ( Saturday ) , at 8 * 45 , will be produced at the Court for the first time in Londo 1 , a three-act farce , being an English version of the groat Parisian success , " Champignol Malgro lui , " entitled " The Other Fellow , " by Mr . Fred Horner . The following ladies aid

gentlemen will appear : —Messrs . Charles Groves , C . H . Brookfield , Weedon Grossmith , Wilfrid Draycott , H . De Linge , W . Wyes , Compton Coutts , R . Nainby , Charles Burleigh , Seymour Hicks , Sydney Warden , E . Bertram , & c . ; Misses Pattie Brown , Ellalino Terriss , M'Intosb , Aida Jcnoure .

Mr . George Edwardes announces that to-night ( Saturday ) , at eight , will be produced at the Gaiety , Andran ' s charming comic opera , " La Mascotte , " English adaptation by H . B . Farnie and K . Beece .

Among those who are in the caste are the following : —Miss Florence St . John , Miss Phyllis Broughton , Miss Katie Seymour , Mr . Wallace Brownlow , Mr . Cbarlea Conyers , Mr . George Mudie , and Mr . Robert Pateman .

Mr . Sims Eeeves will make his first appearance on Monday next , 11 th inst ., at Farley Sinkins' Promenade Concerts at Covent Garden , and sing "The Bay of Biscay , " and "Come into the Garden , Maud . " On Wednesday , the 20 th inst ., at eight , the first performance of

Henry Arthur Jones' new play , " The Tempter , " will be performed at the Haymarket . Mr . Tree will be supported by ; the following . *—Messrs . Fred Terry , Holraan Clark , Fuller Mellish . A . H . Eevelle , F . Everill , G . W . Anson , Charles Allan , Baldie , Wyatt , Paton , Cowis ; and Miss Julia Neilson , Mrs . Tree , Mrs . E . H . Brooke , Miss Irene Vanbrngb .

The opening night of the Autumn season at Daly ' s has been fixed for Tuesday , tho 19 th inst ., with the favourite ecoentric comedy , entitled " Dollars and Sense . " Miss Ada Beban , Mrs . Gilbert , Mr . James Lewis , Mr . George Clarke , Mr . Arthur Bourchier , are in the caBte .

" Dollars and Sense " will be acted for twelve evenings only , and on two matinees , and will be followed by tbe production , on Tuesday , 3 rd Ootober , of " The Foresters , " by the late Lord Tennyson , music by Sir Arthur Sullivan .

A new pantomimic ballet in two acts and four tableaux , called " Scaramouche , " will be introduced at the Palace on Monday next . It is written by M . Maurice Lefevre and M . Ilouri Vnagneuee , with music by M . Andie Mesaager and M . Georges Street . The dancea have been arranged by Signor Carlo Coppi . It will be produced under tbe direction of Sir Augustus Harris .

Mr . Horace Sedger has in active preparation at the Lyric a new burlesque opera , written by George It . Sims and Cecil Baleigh , and composed by Ivan Caryll . It will be produced at the end of the present month .

Bro . Buret JNo . 15 G 3 , late chef at the Freemasons Tavern , Great Queen Street , haa returned to his former position at the renowned Kcttner ' s Restaurant , Church Street , Soho Square , where his services and genial disposition will be again appreciated .

We hear that Bro . Dr . Chas . Forshaw , of Bradford , is a candidate for election as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London . Among the Fellows of the Society who have signed the doctor ' s certificate of recommendation which is now suapended at Burlington House are the

following : —Bros . J . W . Davis , J . P ., F . L . S ., late Mayor of Halifax ; Dr . R . A . Douglas Litbgow , LL . D ., M . D ., F . R . S . of London , author of " The Life and Works of John Critchley Prince , & c . ; " Edward Bell , M . A ., of the firm of George Bell and Sons , Covent Garden ; Henry Jenner , of

the British Museum ; A . D . H . Leadman , L . R . C . P ., L . R . C . S ., author of "The Battles of Yorkshire ; " Walter Rowley , M . I . C . E ., F . G . S . ; James Croston , J . P ., author of " The History of Cheshire ; " G . C . Yates , F . R . S . L ., S . W . Kershaw , M . A ., Librarian to the Archbishop of Canterbury ;

E . Pearson Peterson , of Bradford ; William Kelly , F . R . H . S . Past Prov . Grand Master Leicestershire and Rutland ; A . G . Browning , of Spencer Lodge , Wandsworth Common ; H . J . Reid , F . R . S . L ., a well-known London author , and W . G . Fretton , of Coventry . Bro . Dr . Forshaw bases his claims

to election as F . S . A . on the fact that he has written nearly two thousand biographies of literary Yorkshireraon , a work which has involved much antiquarian research . We aro

sure our readers will join us in the wish this old-timo Society will elect Bro . Forshaw a Fellow—for many of them to use Bro . Browning ' s words , " will welcome so good a Mason among the . Fellows of tho Society . "