A Woman On Freemasonry.

A WOMAN ON FREEMASONRY .

DAULBY HALL , Liverpool , was crowded by an audience , composed mainly of Freemasons , and including many ladies , assembled to hear a lecbure by Mrs . Emma Hardinge Bribten on " Freemasonry : Its origin , spiribual meaning , and mystery , " under the auspices of the Liverpool Society of Spiritualists , on bhe 3 rd insb . Capbain MacNab , a prominent member of bhe Crafb , was vobed bo bhe chair .

Prefacing her remarks by a solemn declaration that she had not received her knowledge from any Freemason or any human being , the lecturer devofced her attention mainly to a description of the formulas , watchwords , & c , of the various degrees of Freemasonry , regarding the solemnity and sacredness of which her language was decidedly sarcastic . A very patient hearing

was accorded , on the whole , bufc some of fche statements were received with considerable hilarity , and one gentleman present created some , inberrupbion by sbabing that the whole of the lecturer ' s story had been published in a 50 cents pamphlet in New York . This drew from the lecturer another solemn declaration bhat she had received no knowledge of the matber

from any human being or any kind of writing ; and one reason for this was , she said , bhe Freemasons were taught not to instruct an old man in his dotage , a young man in his non-age , an atheist , a religious libertine , a madman , an aphrodite , a woman , or a fool . Proceeding , she asserted that Freemasonry was part of the solar worship of Egypt , and not of bhe religion of Christianity . This was an age of reform , and it was time

that the absurdities of a sacred society should cease , and that the Word of God should be betber understood in the light oi the definition of Christ of " who is your neighbour , " and His one commandment , bo love one another . The Chairman , in moving a vote of thanks bo Mrs . Bribben for her inberesting lecbure , said that Freemasons were always open to criticism , and that he had heard that night a great deal he had not heard before .

Mrs . Britten , in replying , said that if the statements she had made that night were denied , she would call on a number of Freemasons to arbibrate upon them , and state whether they were false or true . — " Liverpool Courier . " THE following letter appeared in the " Liverpool Post" in reference to this matter , which appears to provide another example of the interfering spirit of the age in regard to the Masonic Brotherhood :

SIR , —Beferring to your description of Mrs . Britten ' s lecture at Daulby Hall in to-day ' s" Daily Post , " it may prevent misunderstanding if you permit me to explain the circumstances under which I appeared as chairman . ¦ ¦ , Mrs . Britten had announced a lecture on " Freemasonry , its Origin , Spiritual Meaning , and Mystery , " a handbill of which I enclose . She and

her advisers deemed it wise to have a Freemason in the chair , and on my name being proposed and seconded in the meeting , I consented to act , fully believing that I was to preside at a lecture on the subject as set forth in the above title , instead of which the audience were treated to a rather offensive , and , I may say , ludicrous travesty of the different ceremonials in the Craft as set forth in some spurious works published in America , after which the orator winged her way into a realm of platitudes , where the customary high

sounding phrases were much in evidence . The subject matter of the title was completely ignored , and many earnest students of things ancient were sent away disappointed . However , as I said , we as Freemasons always welcome fair criticism , which this was not , and it speaks volumes for Mrs . Britten's audience that they rested so quietly after paying to hear what they imagined was to be an intellectual inquiry into their ancient mysteries being obliged to listen , which they did with dignified contempt , to a vulgar misrepresentation of their innocent ceremonies .

Yours & c , J . MACNAB . Liverpool , W . 4 th March 1896 .

Masonic Sonnets, No. 113.

Masonic Sonnets , No . 113 .

By BRO . CHAS . F . FOESHAW , LL . D ., 2417 , 1242 , 295 ( B . C . ) , 761 , 24 ( S . C ) .

• R EL 1 EF . MAYBE your Brother asks not food or alms , Maybe his raiment is exceeding fine ; Maybe his home knows comforts choice , and charms Which never entered that abode of thine . But still his breast may throb with vague

alarms—And then , O Brother of the Mystic Sign , Thine is the task to speak the word that calms , Thine is the voice to bid him ne ' er repine . Not wealth and splendour giveth peace of mind Mayhap your sympathy is all he craves ; Then soothe his fears with loving voice and kind

And slay the fiends that haunt him and enslaves . So will compassion chase away his grief And thus you aid him when he needs Relief . Winder House , Bradford , 3 rd March 1896 .

Marriage Of Bro. J. M. Crone.

MARRIAGE OF BRO . J . M . CRONE .

BRO . JOHN MANN CRONE , an Officer of the Architect Lodge , No . 1375 , was recently married under very favourable auspices . Brother Crone , who springs from a noted Liverpool family , is agent and representative of the firm of Jas . Helme and Co ., Halton Mills , Lancaster . ' He is a popular man in Cot-. onopolis , and a well-known personality in that exclusively mercantile coterie described as the Manchester trade . The lady of his choice was Miss Cora Sheard , youngest daughter of the late Frank Sheard , Esq ., of

the firm of Griffin and Sheard , Printers , & c , Ashton-under-Lyne , and the nuptials , by special request , were celebrated at the Parish Church , in the above town , by Bro . the Rev . J . W . Challenor , A . K . O ., Provincial Grand Chaplain East Lancashire , Rector of Christ Church , Moss Side , Manchester . The bridegroom marked the important occasion by inviting all the workmen belonging to the Ashton firm ( with which the hride is somewhat connected ) , to a substantial dinner provided at the Wheat Sheaf Hotel , under the direction of Bro . A . D . Rayner , upwards of twenty-five sitting down to the same .

The newly-married couple , who had decided to spend their honeymoon in Scotland , wer *; already en route for Edinburgh , the bridegroom being represented at the Ashton festivities by Bro . W . Dyson Fryer P . M . 1375 , . & friend of nearly twenty-five years standing , and Mr . William Sheard , brotherin-law . Mr . George Sands , the foreman at the works , proposed in suitable terms the health of ' Mr . and Mrs Crone , " the same being most enthusiastically received . During the evening a telegram was despatched to the Royal Hotel , Edinburgh , conveying hearty congratulations to the bride and bridegroom .

The wedding presents , which numbered over 100 , were in many cases of a very costly description , the Ashton workmen contributing a magnificent glass and silver epergne . That from the Brethren of the Architect Lodge ( who were described on the printed card as "fellow members " ) consisted of a large case of cutlery , and the letter which preceded the gift Was couched in that characteristically happy and felicitous vein which we might reasonably have expected from the Secretary of the Architect Lodge ( Bro .

Henry Nail P . M . Provincial Grand Treasurer "Vyest Lancashire ) . After a few necessiry explanations as to the genesis of the gift Bro . Nail added : — " On behalf of myself and the' other friends for whom I am acting , I wish you every happiness in the world in the step you are taking . A gQpd c wife is God's last and best gift to man . May yours be a good one even among the best , and may your joint future lives know nothing of sorrow 1 " in whioh sentiments we heartily concur .

Masonic Amateur Dramatic Society.

MASONIC AMATEUR DRAMATIC SOCIETY .

THERE was a large and fashionable attendance on the 4 th , at the Surrey Street Music Hall , Sheffield , when an entertainment was given by the Masonic Amateur Dramatic Society . The performance was full of the spirit and energy which usually characterises the efforts of the Masons , says the " Sheffield Independent , " and proved quite as enjoyable and successful as those previously given .

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