Most Unsound Masonic Teaching.

faculty which elevates and ennobles human nature to so hi gh a degree , aud to watch , with a most jealous care , over the most precious and fragile instrument of our labour—our Reason . "

Such is the speech , and , as our readers will see , a very disagreeable speech it is , to look at it from our reverent Masonic point of view . Our American contemporary says of it , "The specially noticeable feature of this oration

JS its rank atheism . It discards the Great Architect of the Universe and faith , and for its god sets up reason . It proclaims the desirability of seeking ideas and of being devoted to thought , but ignores the fountain of wisdom , the source of true ideas and correct thought . It

proclaims that there is room in this field for all ¦ who study the great questions concerning the origin and destiny of man , but denies his origin and destiny , that from God he came , and unto God he is to return . It puts away from the work of the Craft the Great Architect : accounts

His wisdom , skill , and designs of no use or consequence , and without compass , rudder , captain , or pilot , launches boldly out on the seas of materialism and nihilism . It prates of honest investi gation of truth ; and yet shuts from its vision the author of truth—the being who is its

Master , and without whom truth cannot exist , for He is truth , and only in , and by , and through Him , can it bs revealed and discerned . " And we feel , as we write with the speeches before us to-day , not only how true are our contemporary ' s words , but how repugnant to the

whole teaching of Freemasonry are such avowals and assertions . And here is the great danger which permeates and environs French Freemasonry . Once let Anglo-Saxon Freemasons believe firmly that henceforth such teaching is to be paramount in Masonic addresses in France

and Belgium , there will be nothing left for our honest Craft but utter repudiation of sentiments and theories against which Freemasonry offers a solemn protest , and to which its entire teaching is in open opposition . As in all movements which loosen either the influence of religion ot

weaken the links of order , at first often the specious clap-trap and insidious proposition ensnare the unwary and mislead the unreflecting , until at last the Igulf opens out before them when they least expect it , when retreat is impossible , when they have "burnt their boats and their bridges , " and

fear overpowers vacillation , and presumption ill asters timidity . And thus the result is very different from the proposed beginning ; reality , alas , widely antagonistic to anticipation . We cannot , as honest English Freemasons , too solemnly protest against such unsound , unwise ,

and insane teaching , or too affectionately warn our foreign brethren against the dangers of their course , and the inevitable end of all such unjustifiable infidelity , To substiteite the Goddess of Reason for T . G . A . O . T . U . is in itself , despite its utter childishness , not onlv a crime and

a misdemeanour of the deepest dye , but it is practically high treason to the great and reverent , the universal , and beneficent declarations of true Cosmopolitan Freemasonry .

The Girls' School.

THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

We understand that some negotiations are on foot with respect to the purchase of some adjoining property . We feel sure that such a purchase will be for the best interests of the School , both for its safety in respect of building and for the health and convenience of the inmates . We hope to hear that the arrangements will be speedily complated .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or eeen approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of lair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

TRURO CATHEDRAL AND THE FREEMASONS . [ The following , which has been addressed to our contemporary the IFesiern Morning News , will be of interest to many of our readers . ] Sir , —

under the head of " Cornish Facts and Notions , " 1 see a statement made by a Truro correspondent , 1 trust not a Mason , in to-day ' s issue of your valuable paper , to the effect that the reason my motion at last Provincial Grand Lodge relative to the Freemasons assisting in the

Original Correspondence.

erection of Truro Cathedral was withdrawn , was , that I was not a Cornishman of eminence ; and that in order to ensure success in carrying- such a motion we must get our Provincial Grand Master , the Earl of St . Germans , or any Cornish Mason of eminence to bring it forward . It is true , sir , I am not eminent , nor yet a Cornishman ( more ' s the pity ) , but I will yield to none in zeal for the

Order to which I am proud to belong , and as Masonry is universal , and cosmopolitan , and not provincial , I am loth to believe that Cnrnishmen are so narrow minded , especially amongst the Masonic frate-rnity , that they will refuse to support an effort , no matter how excellent in itself , simply because it is not suggested or initiated by a Cornishman of eminence . Let me also say that your

correspondent is wrong in thinking I am wedded entirely to the scheme of putting in a window in the new edifice , or that the proposition for a Committee to collect subscriptions was withdrawn altogether at the last meeting . 1 distinctly gave notice that I should bring forward the question at the next and subsequent Provincial Grand Lodges until the proposition was carried , and if I am

spared I intend so to do . If the Freemasons of Gloucester could give a reredos to their cathedral , for which they paid £ 1300 , restore the west front of Bath Abbey at a cost of some £ 3000 , and only lately restore the 13 th Century - Chapel in Tewkesbury Abbey ( all honour to them !) , I ventur * to hope that the Masons of Cornwall will take to themselves a lesson in the noble text , " Go and do thou

likewise . The Masons of Biistol restored the Lady Chapel at St . Mary Redcliffe Church , at their own charge , and helped in the restoration or re-building of the nave of their cathedral . The Masons of Durham have put a beautiful stained glass window , in memory of their Provincial Grand Master , in their catheelral . The Masons of Brecon are

going to defray the cost of the Bishop ' s Throne in their cathedral , and I see no reason why the Freemasons of Devon and Cornwall should not copy so noble an example , although the idea has been first suggested by so humble an individual as myself . I shall be only too proud to withdraw my motion at next Provincial Grand Lodge when I find any noble lord , or other Masonic luminary , ready to take it up in my

place . Should a subscription list be open for the Masons of Cornwall and Devon , I for one , though only a poor civil servant , will gladly put my name down for £ 50 in five annual payments of £ 10 each . Will 500 out of the 1700 Masons in Cornwall do the same , or will fifty ? Apologising for trespassing on your valuable space , I remain , yours fraternally , - EMRA HOLMES , Collector H . M . Customs .

Belle Vue , Fowey , 25 th Oct ., 1879 . T 11 Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In your last number , on page 424 , I note the paragraph commencing " A correspondent writes . " As an old Mason , initiated under the rules of the Grand Lodge of England , wherein we arc taught to consider the Bible

as our unerring guide , it is our duty to show in every possible way we can that great quality in the Book on which we base our faith . It is with this view I beg to introduce to your notice the astronomical calculations and archaeological researches of my frieml and brother Mason , Robert Greaves , which tend to confirm our belief in that sacred volume as the revealed

word of God to man , refute the ignorant , and those who ignore the belief in T . G . A . O . T . U . as the funelamental groundwork on which to base Freemasonry . \ VM . ASHLEY CLWTON , 30 ° , P . G . Constable for Cheshire ; P . E C . Grosvenor Preceptory , Chester , eVc . Birkenhead , 27 th Oct ., 1879 .

LVUGHTON CHURCH TOWER RESTORATION FUND . To the Editor nf the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am compelled to appeal to the public on behalf of the Rev . Daniel Ace , D . D . ( Vicar of Laughton-by-Gainsborough , Lincolnshire ) , who , to the surprise of everybody

who heard the evidence and the summing up of the judge , was maele personally liable at the late Lincoln Assizes for the repairs of the Church Tower of Laughton . The sum claimed by the builder ( including damages £ 600 ) was £ 889 15 s . 5 d ., which was increased by the legal charges of the plaintiff ( £ 121 ) to £ 1000 15 s . 51 I . Theseamounts were reduced by the special arbitrator appointed by the

judge who tried the case ( Henry Goddard , Esq ., diocesan architect , Lincoln ) , from £ 889 15 s . $ d . to £ 181 , only £ 2 being allowed for damages instead of £ 600 . The law charges were brought down to £ 80 from £ 121 . The sum required to meet this liability and to save Dr . Ace from absolute ruin ( including law expenses , & c , £ 138 ) is about £ 400 , of which £ 120 has already been raised . The

Rev . Dr . Ace has no private means ; he is sixty-seven years of age , and conducts three services on Sunday without assistance . The net income of the united parishes of Laughton and Wildsworth , of which he is vicar , is only £ 223 . The churches are three miles apart , which distance he has to walk , the income not being sufficient to supply him with means of conveyance . The repairs of the

church tower , for which the Doctor has been made by this decision entirely responsible , were absolutely necessary to save the fabric from destruction . As in the present state of the law church rates are not compulsory , and as the parishioners , who are farmers and farm labourers , have already contributed £ 70 , and are not in a position ( owing to the present depression in agiicu ture ) to render any fuither help , I am compelled , on oehalf

Original Correspondence.

of Dr . Ace , to appeal to the generosity of the public lo rescue an old and efficient minister of the gospel from a position of great distress and anxiety . The sheriff's officers have been put in his house ; his library and effects have been sold , and he is threatened with sequestration of his living . I am confident that a clergyman of the Church of

England will not be abandoned in his hour of need , or allowed to suffer utter pecuniary ruin through his having ( in his anxiety to preserve the ancient and venerable edifice in which he ministers ) incurred a debt not in any way for his own personal benefit , but wholly for the preservation of the House of the Lord . Contributions have already been received ( amongst

others ) from £ s . ° - The Right Hon . Rowland Winn , M . P . ... 500 Sir J . D . Astley , M . P 5 o o The Rev . J . Tcague ... ... ... ... coo

The Rev . Charles Babbington , D . D 1 1 o The Rev . C . Mackenzie , M . A ., Prebendary of St . Paul ' s ... ... ... ... ... 100 The Rev . Duncan Fraser , M . A ., Canon of Rochester ... ... ... ... ... 100 Henry Thompson , Esq ., 38 , Mincing-lane ... 2 o o

Further contributions will be thankfully received by the Vicar and Churchwardens of Laughton , Messrs . Smith , Ellis , and Co ., Bankers , Gainsboro , or by Messrs . Smith , Payne , and Smith , Lombard-street , London . Apologising for troubling you , I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , \ V . H . SAUNDERS , P . P . G . S . D . MicMx .

A CAUTION . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — By inserting the following you may save many brethren and lodges from being imposed upon . A person , calling himself Thomas Bissett , late sergeant in H . M . 72 nd Highlanders , has been endeavouring to

obtain money from brethren in Southsea and Portsmouth . He has lately been released " on license " from Woking Prison , has in his possession five certificates of character , neatly bound , evidently for begging purposes , and a certificate lately signed by me and the Secretai y of my lodge , No . 126 , S . C . Thomas Bissett , then a sergeant in the above regiment , was initiated , & c , in 1855 , in Lodge St .

Anelrew ' s , No . 126 , S . C , and the person alluded to may be Thomas Bissett ; but a brother in Southsea with whom I have had some correspondence anent him , and who , with others , examineel him , is not satisfied that he is . From correspondence I have had with Bissett (? ) , the Governor of Woking Prison , and the Southsea brother referred to , I am convinceel that brethren and lodges shoulel be thoroughly satisfied of his ( Bissett's ) integrity

and identity before assisting him . Should any brother have the opportunity of doing so , I shoulel like him to write across the face of the certificate granted by me to Bissett (?) the words " I find the bearer unworthy "—if he thinks he is . To give the history of nay correspondence with the persons abnve referred to would occupy too much of your space . I am , Sir anil Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , THOMAS SCOTT , I . P . M . 3 S 4 ; R . W . M . 126 . ( S . C . ) Kilmarnock , 27 th Oct ., 1870 .

Reviews.

Reviews .

PLAY GRAMMAR . By Miss CORNER ; DOG TRAY'S TRAVELS ; THE WHITE CATS OF YORK . Dean and Son , lfioA , Fleet-street . We have received the three books mentioned above , and have looked over them with much interest and approval . The " Grammar , " which has gone through sixteen editions , of 2003 each , has been entirely revised , and we commend

it conscientiously to the notice of all our young friends as affording alike information anel amusement , and being easily digested by the mental assimilation of the young and very healthy food . The new Royal series of toy books is likely to be very popular from the two specimens mentioned above , which are highly commendable in themstlves , and reflect great credit on the publisher . They are

very effective in appearance , and are likely to amuse and attract . It may interest some of our readers to know that Messrs . Dean and Son fairly claim credit for the fact that the " illustrations " are much better executed , being printed in chromo . than those usually provided for " children's books , "

and that " the books arc sewn along the entire length , so that nothing short of deliberate tearing will destroy the leaves . " Remembering the humble picture books of our youth , we almost say with a sigh , " Ah mihi pra : teritos si referet Jupiter annos , " and are inclined to envy the youthful generation such pleasant companions for the sportive or idle hour .

DICTIONARY OF THE THAMES FROM OXFORD TO THE NORE . By CHARLES DrcKENS . 36 , Wellington-street . We welcomed Bro . Dickens ' s " Dictionary of London " when it appeared , and we hail this new contribution of his to-day just as we are prepared , like Roman

citizens , to say "Salve , " to his " Dictionary of Pans " when it appears in good time . We think Bro . Dickens is doing good by these handy , useful , " unconventional" handbooks . For it is astonishing what an amount of ignorance still exists , even among educated people , as to the streets and " purlieus " of our " little village , " and how much more the stretch from " Oxford