Freemasonry And The Press.

FREEMASONRY AND THE PRESS .

IN October 1789 the Grand Lodge of Ireland passed a regulation which is still in force , " That no Masonic transaction be inserted in a newspaper by a brother without permission from the Grand Lodge . " In view of much we have read in onr daily journals concerning Freemasons and

their doings , this meets with onr hearty concurrence , and we cannot too highly praise the wisdom , prudence and good sense of our Irish brethren . Masonry is a socrct institution , and the general public have nothing whatever

to do with what transpires within the precincts of the Lodge . Too much is known nowadays about our Fraternity , and it is generally pretty well understood by the profane world—be they right or wrong—that we have no secrets beyond our peculiar modes of recognition .

The newspapers frequently tell in plain terms the names of all present at a Lodge , including the candidates ; mention what degree was given , who gave it , whether it ' was well done or ill ; speak of the various sections of the work ,

the lectures , charges , & c , the calling of dues , the themes of speakers , and many other matters in such a manner as to give even the most ignorant a fair idea of what is done inside during a meeting of tbe Craft .

This is absolutely and entirely wrong , and results sometimes from the vanity of a few brethren who are always flattered to see their names and actions in print , and sometimes from the eagerness of an editor to seize upon

anything to fill up his columns . The practice cannot be too strongly condemned . Only in the pages of a Craft journal should there ever be seen the slightest reference to subjects Masonic , and then only in the most guarded terms .

What good does it do the reading public to be informed that " Worshipful Brother So-and-so conferred the degree of Fellow Craft in Lodge No . last evening , in a highly impressive style ? " or that certain well-known citizens were " raised to tho sublime degree of Master Mason ? " or that "the D . D . Grand Master visited the

Lodge and addressed the brethren in feeling terms on the principles of the Fraternity ? " Not only are our secrets to a certain extent revealed , but Masonry is made common and debased . To say the least , the viel of mystery which formerly enshrouded us is raised , and the profanes are

allowed to view us through the larger end or the telescope . All that should ever find its way into the press should be whatever the un-Masonic reporter may be able to discover for himself , and this should only be accounts of public

ceremonies , funerals , processions , corner-stone layings , and the like . Why meet in secret if we are to announce to the world at large next morning all but what we actually do , and even hint broadly at that ?—RougJi AsJilar .

Sir Robert Duff And Lord Kintore.

SIR ROBERT DUFF AND LORD KINTORE .

IT is a curious fact that the little county of Kincardine should have given Governors to two of the Australian colonies at the present moment—the Earl of Kintore to South Australia and Sir R . W . Duff to New South Wales . The two met at Sydney on 13 th July , when Sir Robert

Duff welcomed his fellow-countryman at a great Masonic festival , and when Sir Robert was installed Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales . The Earl of Kintoi * e , in his installation address , and in conveying his hearty and respectful congratulations to the W . G . M .,

said—I reflect with some pride on the fact that this is not the"first time you have given me your countenance in the discharge of Masonic duty . Your memory and mine cannot fail to look back to a spot far away , but dear to us both , where an event passed into history with the

estabment and consecration of a Provincial Grand Lodge for Kincardineshire , and when I had the extreme satisfaction of nominating you—my neighbour and life-long friendas Provincial Grand Master-Depute at the close of a lon #

term of office in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Banffshire . As wc reflect on that scene and witness this one the truth of the fact , both in regard to Freemasonry and tc other aspects of life , is brought home to us that " Ccelum non

animum mucant , qui trans mare currunt . ' Your first experience of an Australian Grand Lodge will satisfy you that ^ Scottish and Australian Masonry arc substantially ami iu all essentials identical . —Aberdeen Free Press .

Sir Robert Duff And Lord Kintore.

The St . John ' s Lodge , No . 121 , Lisburn , Ireland , suffered a severe loss on Tuesday , when the whole of its property was destroyed by fire . Happily the furniture was insnred with the Sun Company , so that our brethren will be able to replace that portion of their loss .

It is a singular coincidence that the two Chaplains appointed at the Provincial Grand Lodge of Hants and the Isle of Wight , at Basingstoke , recently , aro both connected with Alton , the Rev . F . Whyley being vicar of that town , and the Rev . Cedric E . Crowley , vicar of St . Georgo ' s , Portsea , a native of Alton . —Portsmouth Times .

A fire at Fargo , North Dakota , 7 th June , burned the Masonic Hall , the Grand Lodge Library , and Grand Secretary's office , with its contents . The Masons lost 15 , 000 dols . —insurance 7 , 000 dols . Insurance on Library

1 , 800 dols . The Library was a fine collection , supplied by

Bro . Theo . S . Parvin in the beginning . —Masonic Token

Among the girls who will seek election at the October Court of the Girls' School is Nora Floyd , whose father is incapacitated by severe illness and partial blindness from providing for his family , consisting of wife and three

children . The child is very well recommended , among those vouching for the case being Bros . George Everett Past Grand Treasurer , George Corbie , John Glass , John Corbie , A . J . Dixie , & c .

We understand that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Warwickshire ( of which Lord Leigh is the Grand Master ) intends holding its annual meeting at Coleshill this year , and will visit the Machen Lodge , held at the Swan Hotel , on

Wednesday , the 27 th inst . There will be a procession to the Parish Church for divine service , at which the P . G . Chaplain Rev . Alan Williams , will preach ; and Dr . Belcher P . G . Organist will preside at the organ .

Some time back reference was made in TrutJi , to the mischievous effects of Freemasonry in the Army , aud the subject is one which sooner or later will have to recoive the attention of the highest military authorities . A stronglyworked complaint on the subject has recently reached me

from a regiment stationed at Poona . Among the facts set out are these : A Colour-Sergeant was discovered to have embezzled over Rs . 400 from the Sergeants' Mess fund in the course of a couple of months . After being under arrest three days , he was permitted to refund tho amount ,

and dismissed with a reprimand . On the other hand , a Lance-Sergeant , for the very ordinary offence of not relieving his sentries punctually , was deprived of his stripes and placed at the bottom of the roll of Corporals . Other

similar inequalities are cited . If , as is asserted , Freemasonry is the sole reason for the discrepancy iu these punishments , Freemasonry in the Army is antagonistic to the interests both of justice and discipline . —TratJt ,.

Lord Kintore , the present Governor and Grand Master of South Australia , appears to be placed in a somewhat awkward position as regards his expected return home next year . When he accepted office some five years since , savs the Sun , it was with the understanding , so he asserts ,

that he would be free at the end of that time . Now , however , on applying home for leave to shorten his term by a few months , and sail next December instead of March , as he calculated , Lord Ripou has informed his lordship that the term of a colonial governor ' s office is six years

and , flati iringly enough , requests Lord Kintore to continue his good work . As the Governor had made all his arrangements to come home at the end of the year , and has , indeed , already sent back Lady Kintore , he has lately privately confessed that he finds himself in a somewhat

of a quandary . These little difficulties , says our contemporary , simply seem to point to the inevitable period when our colonial cousins will appoint their own Governors , who will not be quite so anxious to get away

home . If Lord Kintore has . managed the affairs of tho colony as well as ho has its Masonry we can well understand the authorities not being anxious for an early change . All the same , there are mauy Masons iu tho old country who will bo pleased to welcome his lordship on his return .