An Attack On Freemasons.

AN ATTACK ON FREEMASONS .

••TpEEEMASONEY is the synagogue of Satan . " So says a Jj French priest who has written a book on this fascinating subject , a book which has received the approval of the Pope . To some of us the Papal hatred of the Freemasons seems to classify his Holiness amongst those degenerates who , according

to Max Nordau , are possessed by fixed ideas to the exclusion of common sense . It is believed at the Vatican that the chief aim of Freemasonry is the deilication of Satan , and there are strange legends , propagated by cardinals and other simpletons , of the profane orgies of " Lodges . " The average Freemason is an

excellent citizen , who pays the charges of his Lodge cheerfully , wears an apron on ceremonial occasions , eats a number of professional dinners , and helps his fellows to the best of his ability . He has never heard of the " synagogue of Satan , " and he will be greatly astonished to learn , on the authority of M .

Huysmans , that there is a dissident group of Freemasons , headed by a Miss Diana Vaughan , who are engaged in a blasphemous agitation against the only true Church . Miss Diana Vaughan has published a treatise which—so M . Huysmans says in the "Figaro "—is a glorification of the most shocking

impiety . We do not know what Miss Vaughan or any other woman has to do with Freemasonry ; but M . Huysmans suspects her of conniving at the outrages which are committed in French

churches Probably the average Freemason is not interested in these matters , but we can promise him a fund of entertainment in the " synagogue of Satan . "— " Sussex Daily News . "

To the " Sussex Daily News . " SIR , —Your interesting and sympathetic leading articlo on the above subject in this day ' s issue must be very gratifying to every true Freemason . I venture to suggest that the onslaught made on our Order might be explained by the fact that several detestable organisations on the continent have

adopted the name of Masonic ; and that one of these , by its impiety and extravagances , has evoked the anger of tho priest , who , unable to discriminate between the false and the true , has designated Freomasonry as the " synagogue of Satan . " Just as the Church has been caricatured ancl misrepresented by

the sects , so too has Freemasonry been discredited by men who , for vile ends , have arrogated to themselves the name of an Order which , in our country at least , has ever been the ally of Christianity , morality , and loyalty . Yours , & c ,

JOHN KINGSTON , R . N ., Past Provincial Grand Chaplain for Dorset , late Editor of the " Freemasons' Magazine . ' 65 Upper Westbourne Villas , Hove , 18 th June .

It having been decided , at the last meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Staffordshire to nominate Bro . W . H . Bailey ( London Manager Messrs . Bass , Eatcliff and Gretton , Limited ) , in December next , for the Treasurership of the Grand Lodge of

England , the Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire the Earl of Dartmouth has consented to act as chairman of Bro . Bailey ' s Committee in the event of a contest arising , says the " Morning Advertiser . "

Time and again the Provincial Grand Master of Glasgow has spoken in no unmeasured terms against the pernicious habit prevalent at some meetings of having so-called harmony after the Lodge has been closed . Such a form of entertainment , however

its practice may be advocated among a certain clats , has in point of fact nothing to recommend it . Its indulgence is wrong to start with , and it prolongs unnecessarily the absence of the members from their homes . These remarks are suggested by a

conversation I had with a Past Master the other day , who had been so accustomed to the practice in his own Lodge before and after he passed the chair that it had never struck him as being

objectionable . I know that all right-thinking brethren need the matter but mentioned to be thought of and reformed . — " The Mallet , " in " Glasgow Evening News . "

Allied Degrees.

ALLIED DEGREES .

ON Monday , 10 th inst ., the installation meeting of the W . M . Sewell Council Allied Masonic Degrees was held in the Masonic Hall , Maryport . Council was duly opened by Bro . E . B . Penrice W . M ., supported by his Officers . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed , when the

chair was taken by Bro . Jnmes Gardiner P . M . P . G . D . of England , as Installing Master , to whom Bro . Thos . Atkinson W . M .-elect was presented by Bro . Penrice , and duly installed into the chair of S . L . the M . in a very abl * manner . The Officers were appointed ancl invested for the ensuing year .

Masonic Reminiscences.

MASONIC REMINISCENCES

BY DANIEL MCDONALD P . G . M . TI 1 HE Grand Lodge of Indiana early placed itself on record in favour of the -L Union forces in the war of 1861-5 , and spoke in no uncertain words against the " unholy rebellion , " and in favour of upholding the Constitution and the maintenance of the Union as our fathers made it . War , in its mildest form , is dreadful ! The killed and wounded in battle

are nothing as compared with the fatalities resulting from exposure , and the suffering and deprivation of the widows and orphans and those immediately dependent upon the soldier who shoulders his knapsack and gun and goes forth to battle . The immensity of the desolation and ruin wrought b y the war of the rebellion may be approximated when it is known that the pension

list of the government growing out of the late war , according to the last report , reached tho enormous number of 909 , 544 , amounting to the sum of 140 , 772 , 163 dols . paid to the beneficiaries . Add to this the number that have been pensioned since the first year cf the war to the present time that have died and been dropped for one cauie or another , and the number will bo

swelled to more than 1 , 500 , 000 persons that have been the beneficiaries of the government on account of the war to the extent of at least 1 , 800 , 000 , 000 dols . These figures represent only one side of the forces engaged in the great contest . The Confederates suffered as severly , and probably more so , than did tho Federals , but as thoy were deprived of the benefits of pensions , the extent of the suffering and disabilities will never be known .

The total number of men engaged on the Union side was 2 , 778 , 304 , and , estimating that there were as many on the Confederate side , it is safe to say that fully 5 , 000 , 000 soldiers were engaged in the great conflict . This was not all . The civil employes and bridge-builders , teamsters , engineers and

the innumerable number engaged in the manufacture of implements of war , clothing , and furnishing supplies would add millions ' more . In fact , for a period of five years , nearly the entire population oi the country were engaged in that which , either immediately or remotely , had reference to the

war . Indiana bore an important and honourable part in the war for the Union , sending into the field 193 , 363 volunteers and others , exceeding in all over 200 , 000 . The war " broke out , " as we aro accustomed to say , in April 1861 , The

first meeting of the Grand Lodge was held a month later—the latter part of May . Companies and regiments were marching hither and thither ; banda were playing , and the inspiring music of the fife and drum was heard on every hand . The delegates to the Grand Lodge became imbued with the martial spirit with which they were surrounded , and but little business of importance was transacted during the session .

In his address , Judge Downey , who was then Grand Master , devoted a considerable portion of his annual report in deploring the unfortunate condition of the country , and in pointing out the duties of Masons as members of the Fraternity , and as citizens , in the then pending conflict . At the meeting in 1860 , all was peace and quiet . " Now , " he said , " how

changed the scene I Thousands and tens of thousands of our fellow-citizens of the United States are in arms prepared for deadly cqnflict I They have abandoned the peaceful pursuits of life—their ploughs , their shops , their counting rooms , and their offices , to engage in the contest . Even the Union of the States , and the perpetuity of the National Government is threatened with destruction by one portion of the Confederacy I "

At this meeting , the committee to whom that part of the address relating to Masons in the war was referred , made a lengthy report , and offered the following resolutions , which were unanimously adopted :

" Resolved , That the Grand Lodge highly approves the patriotic course taken by our Brethron who have volunteered in the defence of the government , and should they fall in battle or disease while in the service , we pledge our assistance and sympathy to their families .

" Resolved , That those engaged in rebellion are censurable for violating their vows , and striving to destroy the best government under which Masons wero ever permitted to assemble ; and that until they return to their allegiance and are legally healed by the laws of the government they have so wrongfully abused , we will cease to regard them as true and worthy Masons .

" Resolved , That in the present un-Masonic and unholy rebellion , we , as Masons of Indiana , recognise ' The Flag of our Country' ( the Star Spangled Banner !) as the only true colour under which we should march when our government is assailed by rebellious hands I " This declaration was also at the same meeting adopted .

" We , as Masons of Indiana , say to our Brethren who have , or may enter the service in defending the Constitution and government of the United States : ' You have our approval 1 March on to glorious victory I Drive from our land the desolating hand of rebellion I But remember ; when you have subdued your foe , he is no longer such . Extend to him the God-like attributes—Mercy and Charity . ' "

At the close of this session Dr . Thomas R . Austin was elected Grand Master , and Gen . M . D . Manson Deputy . Both enlisted within a month or so , and went to the front . In a letter to the Grand Lodge in 1862 , among other things , Grand Master Austin said :

" The duties of the honourable position to which your kind preference elevated me a year ago I for a short time only discharged , for although Hove Masonry sincerely , I love my country more , and when in the hour of her peril I was called on to take a position in the army oi the Union , I left your great organisation to minister to the sick and suffering among thosp