The Latest Abuse Of Freemasonry.

learned—to select a single instance—that the Marquis of Harfcingfcon , the leader of the Liberal Party in the House of Commons , is in the foremost rank of Masons . Ifc must follow , then , that as the Conservative principles of Messrs . Beach and Ford are embodied in Masonry , they being

Freemasons , so the Liberal principles of the Marquis of Hartingtori , he being a Freeemason , must likewise be embodied in Masonry . Therefore , to place the matter before our readers in Euclidian fashion , two sets of political principles , directly opposed to each other , are in consonance

with the principles of the same Institution . But things which are in consonance with the same thing are in consonance with each other ; therefore , Conservative principles and Liberal principles are in consonance with each other But they have long since been proved to be antagonistic ;

therefore , Liberal and Conservative principles are both in consonance with , and opposed to each other ; which is absurd . But , of course , any inqniry that would have led to this result would only have left this splenetic writer less room for the exercise of his spleen at the expense of Messrs . Beach and Ford .

We come next to the moral aspect of Freemasonry . The writer is dreadfully shocked the Lodge afc Havant should have been dedicated to " Masonry , Virtue , and Universal Benevolence , " and remarks that " it is notorious that many Masons attach more importance to their Masonry than to

all the virtues in the world . " According to our humble unenlightened Masonic notions , Masonry includes both Virtue and Universal Benevolence . Rightly , therefore , ¦ was Masonry , as being the whole , placed first in order , and then "Virtue and Universal Benevolence , " which are only

two of its constituent parts . Then , we are told " of all the shams of the Order , the assumption of Universal Benevolence is the greatest and most preposterous . " This , as being the mere expression of an opinion , need not detain ns long . The good that Freemasonry does may fairly be

set against the assumed Benevolence , which is "the greatest and most preposterous of all the shams of the Order . " Again , if people are prejudiced , we consider it would not be very difficult for them , on public grounds , to believe that "the operations of Masonry , as a secret society ,

are actually pernicious . But , unfortunately for this belief , we are not a secret society in the sense intended by this writer . We are all duly registered according to law , at least in this country , so that the government can easily learn , if it choses , who and what manner of men we are . At the

time the law was enacted against secret societies , Freemasons were specially and by name exempted from its operation . This would certainly nofc have been the case had we been a " pernicious " society . As to the statement that "the reason the Masons do not reveal their secret is no

doubt that they have none to reveal , " we confess we have heard this more than once , but it was always made by non-Masons , who were probably very angry they could not discover it . It happens , indeed , as regards this assertion , that we have our secrets , though they are not of the

dangerous character this writer may imagine . We have touched briefly upon the leading points of this viciously-written article . Were all the world as well

acquainted with Freemasonry as we Masons are , we should allow all such attacks to pass unnoticed . But a mystery attaches to us , and when we find onr Order assailed with nearly two whole columns of abuse , it is , perhaps , as well the world should know the abuse is uncalled for .

Moreover , there is a further justification in the case of this particular specimen of the abuse which is occasionall y levelled at us . It will be difficult to find its equal either in vulgarity of tone or the profundity of its ignorance .

New Rules And Regulations Proposed By Bro. Metham.

NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS PROPOSED BY BRO . METHAM .

WE cannot say we are disposed to accept , in their entirety , the suggestions which Bro . Metham offered in his address at South Molton for the better regulation of the Devonian Lodges . To certain of these no reasonable Mason would dream of taking exception . To

others , however , there are , we fancy , innumerable objections , and some of these are likely to prove unanswerable . Bro . Metham has fulfilled a most painful duty admirably . He has proclaimed publicly that certain recent matters in his province have brought , and continue to bring , a

New Rules And Regulations Proposed By Bro. Metham.

large amount of odium on tho Craft . He is naturally anxious to prevent a recurrence of them . Having , therefore , in tho first place boldly and publicly denounced the un-Masonic conduct of certain brethren , he endeavoured to indicate the likeliest means for preventing such

misconduct m the future . He therefore submitted a series of six regulations , by which it occurred to him this desirable consummation might be attained . We give them seriatim , with our reasons for agreeing or disagreeing , as the case may be , with their respective points . They aro as follow ;

1 . " The abandonment of refreshments , as a rule , after every Lodge meeting . " We take exception to this proposed rule . Oar Lodges meet but seldom , from six to twelve times in the year , rarely oftener . The bulk of the members aro men who

would either dine or sup about the hour when Lodges adjourn for refreshment . It seems to us a needlessly harsh rule that would deny the twenty or thirty members , who have attended the duties of the evening , the privilege of sitting round the same table , and enjoying a brief

fraternal intercourse over a well served dinner or supper , similar in degree and kind to what they would indulge in at their own homes . We have no very high opinion of men who cannot be trusted to share a homely meal without being guilty of some impropriety . Some there are , of course

who will make the Lodge dinner or banquet an opportunity for over-indulgence in the pleasures of the table . Those , however , we are happy to believe form only an insignificant minority among Craftsmen , and it strikes us the height of unreason that the vices of the very few should be

visited on the many . Those who cannot take Lodge refreshment without committing themselves more or less grossly are not fit to associate with other members , 01 indeed to mix in any society of men . What we object toand we hope we can enjoy the goods things of this life as

well as other folk—are the elaborate and oftentimes pretentious banquets , which by many are regarded as the be-all and end-all of Freemasonry . Against this it is we are anxious

to believe our worthy brother is raising his voice ; and in sofar as this is the case , but only to that extent , do we think refreshment after a Lodge meeting should be dispensed with .

2 . " That when refreshments are taken on special occasions they should , under no circumstances whatever , bo prolonged beyond eleven o ' clock . ^ We think this a perfectly just and reasonable proposition . We consider the brethren have a right to

refreshment after labour , not from any canting , hypocritical motive , but for reasons we have already indicated . It is allowable for a Mason to take similar refreshment from home to what he would partake of at home . Ifc is

desirable to encourage social intercourse among brethren . But while we recognise the propriety of Lodge refreshment , we see no reason why it should be prolonged to an unseasonable hour .

3 . " That no brother should be allowed to sit at table who had not attended the duties of his Lodge during the evening . " This is obviously a just rule to propose , though there are numerous instances in which ifc would as obviously be

discourteous to enforce it . For instance , the Secretaries of our Charitable Institutions have very onerous duties to perform . It is impossible they can always attend the duties of the Lodges they are invited or desire to visit . But as

applied to members of the Lodge itself , the old fashioned rule of " No Song , no Supper , " is a just one . It is the workman who stands in need of refreshment , not he who shirks his work .

4 . " That no brother who becomes insolvent should be allowed to continue a member of a Lodge , nor be admitted into any other Lodge until his debts have been paid in full . " Here , again , we must join issue with Bro . Metham .

Such a rule smacks not a little of the objectionable practice of "hitting a man when he is down . " There are , undoubtedly , many persons who make a point of incurring debt , and then wash themselves , periodically , of their

liabilities , by seeking the protection of the Court of Bankruptcy . It is impossible , of course , to condemn the conduct of such persons too severely . But the majority of insolvent persons become so most unwillingly , through no fault of their own . PeradYenture they haye suffered