Foreign Freemasonry.

of insensate licence one beacon alono stood out as a warning to the perishing . True shepherd * of the Fold of Christ , tho Popes , frieiicL ' css and unUnnkcd , fearless and alone , they had withstood the Hood , despised frionds of humanity

who alone wero conscience free . They alono knew true liborty , they alotio wore saviours of society and guai-dians of the rigids of man . Votes of thanks terminated tho procjediugs . —Catholic Times .

Masonic Trials.

MASONIC TRIALS .

r | iHERE is some m ' sconception of tho meaning of the JL technical term in Masonic jurisprudence of Masonic Trials . A Freemason in good standing is amenablo to his Lodge

or any other lawfully warranted and duly constituted . Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons , within the jurisdiction of which he may havo violatod any Masonic duty imposed on him and ho voluutarily agreed to perform .

Intelligent Masons will nnderstarid that this subject cannot bo thoroughly explained in writing , or in print . It can only be orally treated . Imposed Masonic duties are those which were created by the Mason of his own free will and accord on his consent thereto , without any implied

qualification . Absolute agreement and consent sealed the compact he made wi * h Freemasonry . The terms of this compact bind each Mason to all his brethren . He cannot misunderstand these duties as they were fully expressed to him . The acts which they forbid were plainly set forth . The duties they enjoined were emphatically stated .

If the Committee of Inquiry on the application of the person applying must have been satisfied , if it properly discharged its duty , that he was of sufficient intelligence to comprehend the instruction given him on the E . A . and on his advancement from it to the M . M . then there is no

excuse . The duties therefore that every Mason is bound to perform are plainly known by him . The violation of any one of them is , in Masonry , a Masonic offence .

Take any of the dutid enjoined in the initiation , they are plainly , positively , fully , concisely , created , expressed and enjoined , and most sincerely and solemnly agreed to .

There is no possibility of evasion . This compact , as we here have to use tho phrase , is inviolable . It cannot be annulled , nor can tho Mason ever be absolved from its strict performance .

The Lodge is the only human authority that can havo cognisance of or try tho Mason who violates any one of these duties . Any violation is a Masonic offence , and a Masonic Lodge the only earthly tribunal which can administer the , law of Masonry . To try the accused by

the rules of Masonic jurisprudence , and inflict the Masonic penalty , is exclusively within the province of a Masonic Lodge . Profane tribunals can by no possibility take jurisdiction over the Mason or his offence . For whatever the

Masonic charge may be , it is limited to the violation of a duty created by Freemasonry , committed by a Freemason and can only therefore be subject to the jurisdiction of the laws , regulations and jurisprudence of Freemasonry .

If a Mason then violates a law of profane society , does any act which is prohibited by profane law , he is triable only by profane courts . A Lodge has no jurisdiction over the Mason or his crime . This distinction must never he

overlooked . To regard it is tho certain method of preventing such a conflict of authority as might give colour to an effort of profane tribunals to attempt to exercise authorit y

over Masonic offences . This never will be permitted b y the Masonic Fraternity . It was tried by the Legislature of Pennsylvania for political effect aud failed . The anti-Masonic effort to force the confession of the esoteric

teachings of Masons was met by the denial of the leading members of the Graud Lodge of Pennsylvania , that profane law was operative on the Masonic action of any member of the Society of Freemasons . A Lodge can therefore only take lawful Masonic

cognizance of a violation of a plain , positive Masonic offence , which is circumscribed within tho limits of a violated Masonic duty . If a Mason commits the crime of murder he can only be tried by the profane courts j the jurisprudence of Masonry does not make murder , a felonious killing of a human being , a violation of a Masonic duty .

Masonic Trials.

So , too , with forgery , perjury , larceny , embezzlement or obtaining property by false pretences . They are crimes against social security " and tho rights of all members of the social organism . The Masonic offence is thus one against Masonic law , duties created by that law , or tho landmarks of Masonry .

If a Mason has by acts committed against profane laws made himself a reproach to tho Masonic Fraternity , the Lodge may bring charges against him for conduct unbecoming a Mason , conduct that brings discredit on the Fraternity , and thus impairs tho confidence of the profane in Masonic teachings and weakens its just influence .

The charge thus made may be stated iu the specifications which disclose it . The record of a profane court may be evidence to prove a specification . Masonry demands that its members shall live in obedience to the law of virtue , morality and a decent respect for the opinions of mankind .

A Mason who sets all these regulations at defiance by his acts as a citizen , is unfit to continue in the association with his brethren . This , however , is to be heard ,

determined , judged and punished by the jurisprudence and principles of Freemasonry . For all this Masonic trials are instituted . Therefore Masonic trials are exclusively for Masonic offences . —Keystone .

Masonic Sonnets.—No. 77.

MASONIC SONNETS . —No . 77 .

B \ r BRO . CIUS . F . FORSIIAW , LL . D . — : o : —

WOK . BKO . HIE RI : V . JOHN ROOM , M . A ., P . P . G . O . BORN 20 TU FEBKUAKV 1820 . DIED 21 ST NOVEMBER 1893 .

Across that Valley dark and dull and drear , His loving soul has winged its earthly flight ; And now he sees fall flamed and bright and clear The hallowed beauty of The Master ' s Light . The poet and the preacher is nob

dead—His spirit dwells in Mansions of the Blest ; Like that of onoient Prote ' s ifc has " fled Into some Better Land of Joy and Best . " Then why lament and why with dolefol grief Breathe mournful numbers over Kihel ' s plain—Be not regretful—have ye not belief ?

Our Brother now 13 but reborn again . His voice is silent here , but there it sings New songs , new praise ? , to the King of King ' . Winder House , Bradford , P'J . h Norember 1893 .

A Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of England and Wales , & c , of which the Earl of Euston , 33 ° , is Grand Master , will be held at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queen Street , on Thursday , the 30 th inst ., at 5 p . m . By permission of the M . W . G . M ., all regularly registered

mombers of the Allied Degrees are invited to be present . A notice of motion has been given by Bro . John J . Green W . M . Prince Edward Council , T . I . — " That an alteration be made in the Book of Constitutions enabling any Council to commute the Annual Dues by the payment of the sum of 7 s 6 d

to Grand Council for each Member , " after which the presiding officer will proceed to appoint and invest tbe Grand Officers . After the closing of Grand Council , the Degree of Grand Tyler of King Solomon will be conferred

in fall on all Members of the Order of St . Lawrence the Martyr , who may forward their names to the Grand Secretary not Inter than 28 th November . A banquet will be provided at the Freemasons' Tavern , at seven o ' clock , at which tho Grand Master hag consented to preside .

The Duke of Connaught will on Saturday bo installed Provincial Prior of Sussex Freemasons , at the Hotel Mctropolc , Brighton . Tho ceremony will be parformed by

the Earl of Euston , Grand Sub Prior of England and Wales . Tho Duke , who is Provincial Grand Master of Sussex , will attend the meeting of the Earl of Sussex Lodge , and bo present at the banquet in tho OFeniDg .