Christianity And Freemasonry.

written by gentlemen who have held high offices in the craft . Instead of straightforward answers as to the advantages which a Catholic would gain by becoming a Freemason we are treated with vague generalities . Mr . Horsley says : — " It does not profess to be Christian , yet it never can be anti-Christian . Further dogma we leave to the priests and ministers of religion outside . We assert none , but neither do we controvert any . " Is this the language of a member of the Church of England ? Is this the attitude of mind which is produced by Freemasonry ?

If so , the reply to " Offemad s ' question must be evident to every Churohman . It is certainly not advisable that anyone holding Catholic principles should join a secret society which is elastic enough to include " men of all olasses , nations , races , colours , and creeds , " as Mr . Horsley says Freemasony is . If it includes , as is admitted , Jews , Mussulmans , Unitarians ,

Buddhists , etc ., I cannot see how any man having faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ could feel comfortable in such society , for it would seem from the admissions of your correspondents that Freemasonry professes indifference , if not contempt , for dogma of any kind . This fact probably explains why Freemasons commonly avoid to mention the name of " God , " preferring to speak only of " the Great Architect of the Universe , " whom , apparently , they wish to distinguish from the Almighty God whom all Christians adore .

I am amazed at the statement of " Atticus " that he believes in "the immense services which the craft has rendered to the church in former days , of which so many glorious monuments survive , not the least being Winchester Cathedral , which enshrines the ashes of two of our most illustrious brethren —viz ., William of Wykeham and Peter de Rupibus . " This , like the other childish fables which Freemasons are in the habit of putting forth , has long beon ridiculed by all historical scholars , as well as by intelligent members of

the craft . ' Let me refer " Atticus " for his information to the " History of Freemasonry , " recently written by Mr . Gould , a high officer of Grand Lodge , and dedicated , by permission , to H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , the Grand Master of Grand Lodge in England . Mr . Gould states emphatically that the craft possesses no documents older than 1717 , when the first Lodge was established at Masons' Hall , in London . " Atticus " would confer a great favour on the public if he could show any evidence , either direct or collateral , that Freemasonry was ever heard of before that date .

A cause must be bad , indeed , if it requires to be supported by false statements and suggestions . A . J . D .

SIR , —Will you kindly allow me space for a line or two in reply to " Architect's" remarks on my last . The traditions of our Order not only claim relationship to the Guild referred to , but shows it to have existed many centuries anterior to the period when it devoted itself to the work of churoh building . From the time of the Renaissance the craft lingered on in obscurity , though never entirely extinguished , until the present Constitution was formed under Sir Christopher Wren , and the various Lodges under it

applied themselves as speculative Masons to the construction of moral temples—though tho craft has not entirely abandoned its practical cooperative character , as anyone may observe when the brethren are called upon to aid in laying the foundation-stone of a church , or other important public edifice : such was notoriously the case when our Royal Grand Master performed work of that nature at Truro . Of our speculative duties a good

general idea may be obtained by the perusal of our late Brother Longfellow ' s poem , entitled "The Builders . " I may add that what I have learned as above stated has been confirmed by my observation of certain monuments and other details in some ancient cathedrals and churches both at home and abroad . As to the payment of fees , that is by no means the only condition of admission , as a ballot and examinations are both required . ATTICUS .

Entertainment Notes.

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES .

Gaiety . —Two talented and highly esteemed Brothers have contributed a successful " domestic musical play " for the patrons of this lively little house . It is called " My Girl , " and is written by Bro . James T . Tanner , the music being composed by Bro . F . Osmond Carr . The plot , though exceedingly interesting , is subservient to the handsome and charmingly dressed damsels who sing and dance by the hour together , the clever topical songs with innumerable encores , and the vivacious acting of the leading

gentlemen . A touch of pathos runs through the play , but a Gaiety piece cannot be taken seriously , and so it sparkles along like a bumper of champagne until the fall of the curtain . Miss Ellaline Terriss enacts the heroine May , with all her accustomed verve and sprightliness , and Miss Katie Seymour fairly bewilders us with twinkling feet . Mr . C . Ryley is a dignified Vicar , Mr . Louis Bradfield sings well and looks the part of Theo , and Mr . W . H . Rawlins is admirable as the Financier , Von Fontein . A very droll performance is given by Bro . John Le Hay as the Jewish bucket-shop

keeper , who poses in his advertisements as a Scotchman . Messrs . Paul Arthur , Fred Kaye , Leslie Holland , and a bevy of beautiful girls fill the numerous other characters , so that altogether the new piece fairly sustains the reputation of the house . That business is satisfactory is proved by the balance sheet recently issued , the profits for the year amounting to £ 20 , 840 15 s 3 d . This enables the Directors to pay off a large portion of the mortgage , and declare a dividend of 15 per cent . —a result of good management .

Lyric . —We are pleased to hear that , in answer to many requests , Bro . Wilson Barrett has decided to issue a book of his excellent piece " The sign of the Cross , " which will be before the public before long , and will no doubt be as generally commended as the dramatic production has been . THE talented children of Bro . George Rackstraw P . M . of the Lodge of

Freedom , assisted by several friends , will give a performance of Shakespeare ' s fairy comedy " A Midsummer Night ' s Dream" at tho new Public Hall , Gravesend , on Wednesday , 30 fch inst . An excellent orchestra has been engaged , and the choruses will be sung by children who are being specially trained . The proceeds of tho entertainment will be devoted to the Restoration Eund of the old Parish Church at Gravesend .

BRO . CHARLES MORTON , the popular manager of the Palace Theatre , has been very ill of late , but has now been able to resume duty . Miss Lottie Collins has returned to this house , with new songs , which have caught on considerably . BRO . SIR HENRY IRVING announces the production of " Cymbeline " at the L yceum Thoatre , on Tuesday , 22 nd inst .

Reports Of Meetings.

REPORTS OF MEETINGS .

We shall be pleased to receive particulars of Masonic meetings for insertion in our columns , and where desired will endeavour to send a representative to report Lodge or other proceedings . GRAFT : METROPOLITAN " .

UPTON LODGE , No . 1227 . THURSDAY witnessed the completion of one of the most successful years in the history of this Lodge , and the commencement of a new one which gives every promise of adding to its reputation and extending its usefulness . The meeting was held at the Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpool Street Station , and was attended by some fifty Brethren , among whom

were several visitors , who were entertained in the hearty manner for which the members of this Lodge have already acquired a wide reputation , and were afforded a Masonic treat in Lodgo , the work of Bro . Jeffery W . M . being such as to afford enjoyment to all who appreciate a perfect rendering of our ritual and ceremonies .

Bro . E . M . Jeffery , the Master of the past year , was supported by Bros . G . A . Peters S . W . W . M .-elect , H . Hyde J . W ., C . Gieseke P . M . Treas ., O . J . Free P . M . Sec , W . A . Bray S . D ., H . B . Brown J . D ., W . H . W . Sherwin as Organist , H . J . Rowberry Steward , John Stroud , C . Sohmidt and Edwin Hill Past Masters , several other members of the Lodge , and the

following Visitors : —D . J . Witte 1327 , J . Jervis I . G . 1425 , W . H . Turner 2291 , J . W . Isaac 79 , J . A . H . Mailer 1867 , E . Andrew i 602 , W . W . Morgan 177 , C . G . Musgrave 1598 , W . Ferris 1901 , T . W . Fisher P . M . 192 , J . Corthine I . G . 1668 , R . Beswick I . P . M . 11 , H . Stallard P . M . 1613 , G . Norris 79 , H . 0 . Cultriss 217 , T . Robinson 2396 , A . Clark P . M . 1668 , and others .

The Lodge was regularly opened and the minutes of the last Lodge and of an emergency meeting were confirmed , after which Mr . John Bell was proposed as an initiate , duly elected , and admitted in form . Two other candidates , Bros . Hille and Noble , were raised to the third degree , and then the report of the Auditors was presented and received , the thanks of the Lodge being afterwards voted to them for their work .

The annual installation was the next ceremony , Bro . G . A . Peters being presented to the presiding Officer by Bro . C . Schmidt P . M ., and regularly placed in the chair for the ensuing year . The new Master appointed his Officers as follow : Hyde S . W ., Bray J . W ., Gieseke P . M . Treas ., Free P . M . See ., Brown S . D ., A . Butcher ( who was unfortunately absent through ill health , a fact that called for general regret on the part of the members ) J . D ., Rowberry I . G ., Schmidt P . M . D . C ., W . J . Carroll and G . Sohaerer Stewards , Bowler Tyler .

In re-investing Bro . P . M . Gieseke as Treasurer the Master expressed the hope he might be spared for many years to continue in the office of Treasurer—to the manifest advantage of the Upton Lodge , and the satisfaction of its members . Similarly , in investing Bro . Free with his collar , Bro . Peters said the Lodge was extremely fortunate in having so

praiseworthy and careful a Mason as its Secretary , a remark that was fully endorsed by the members , who are quite alive to the fact that their wishes are studied , and their Secretarial work is in good hands when entrusted to Bro . Free , who has now held the office of Secretary since 1884 , with the exception of the time he spent in the different chairs of the Lodge , over which he presided as Master in 1888 .

The Worshipful Master received the hearty congratulations of the Brethren , coupled with good wishes for the future prosperity of the Upton , and a candidate having been proposed for initiation at the next meeting the W . M . proceeded to close the Lodge , after which the company adjourned to the banquet room , where in due course the customary toasts were given .

The Loyal toasts and those in honour of the heads of the Order having been disposed of , the Immediate Past Master rose to propose that of the W . M . —a sentiment he felt to be the most important they would be called upon to consider that evening . The Upton Lodge now had a Master in the chair who would be able to perform the ceremonies as ably as any one of

those who had preceded him . He had filled the office of Secretary of the Lodge of Instruction for some years , and had therein acquired knowledge that would be of great service to him in his new post , the duties of which he would no doubt discharge as ably as he was accustomed to fulfil those in tho school attached to their Lodge .

The toast was followed by the appearance of the two infant daughters of the Worshipful Master , who gave a pianoforte duet in excellent form , and won the heartiest applause of the company , their performance , indeed , being the event of the evening ' s musical programme . The Worshipful Master first tendered his thanks for the proposition and hearty reception of the toast given in his honour . It was with the greatest of pleasure he presided over the Lodge for the first time . He had looked forward to that night for many years , and had striven to qualify himself for

the post he now had the pleasure of filling . He might say that ever since his introduction into Freemasonry he had been far from a drone in the Masonic hive , and he hoped he had learnt sufficient to enable him to conduct the affairs of the Upton Lodge in such a way as to ensure its prosperity during the year before them . He hoped to have the regular attendance and hearty support of every member of the Lodge during his term of office , as he felt that with it all would be well with them , and their prosperity would be continued .

The toast of the Immediate Past Master was next on the list , and the ' W . M ., in proposing it , said the way in which the ceremonies of the day had been performed was a great credit to the Brother who had just completed his term of Mastership—the work having really been perfect . The three addresses were particularly worthy of mention , they having been rendered in such a way as to win the approval of everyone present . Looking back on the past year it might truly be said they could not wish for a more genial Master than Bro . Jeilery had proved himself to be

during the time he had presided over the destinies of their Lodge , and this being so ho had particular pleasure in presenting him with the Past Master's jewel provided by the Lodge , and which he might say carried with it the regard and esteem of every one of its members , whose earnest wish was that Bro . Jeffery might live for many years to wear it in their midst . To still further mark their appreciation of the services of the Immediate Past Master the members bad subscribed among themselves for a ring which it was his pleasure to hand to Bro . Jeffery , for his wifo ,