Keep Your Temper.

of the criminal code was discountenanced because on search in the parish register of an obscure village it was found that the proposer had not been born in wedlock . " It is this amusing , if hurtful , tendency to substitute pure personality for logic , grammar , and common courtesy , which

too often marks our Masonic gladiators . If time permitted , or if space was propitious , we might give numerous laughable proofs of this perversity of the Masonic mind , under certain conditions of print and publicity . The good-natured brother in common life becomes irritable and discourteous

in our columns ; while the brother whose whole antecedents point to a full knowledge of what constitutes the gentleman and the Mason , descends at once , when in print , ( strange metamorpohsis ) , to unhandsome insinuations , or bitter personalities . It has been said by some one that all "

controversy evokes the worst passions and feelings of humanity , in that it touches the secret springs of self-conceit , and self-assurance , and self-comp lacency , " but " for the life of us , " we never can understand why , as Freemasons , we should invariably seek ostentatiously to demonstrate to

all around , if only we once get into a correspondence on subjects , whether of the highest importance or even the veriest trifles in existence , our own utter oblivion of every principle we profess as a fraternity , of the whole moral teaching of our excellent and useful Order . If any persons

should be careful and considerate in what they say of others- if any individuals should be selfrestrained in tongue and self-controlled in temper ; if any writers should carefully avoid personal imputations and even slanderous suggestionssurely we , as Freemasons , should claim and

exercize these distinct and unfailing characteristics , [ f we do not and will not do so the world will assuredly say , and not without reason or justice , that our professions and practice do not " square , " and that , like many other fellow mortals , we only prove how

easy it is to " preach , " how hard , how very hard indeed , it is to " practise . " So we venture to give this friendly and fraternal advice to all Masonic controversialists , be they who they m ay " remember that you are Freemasons when you write , and in whatever you write about , and

then , perhaps , you may , happily , learn both to amend your vocabulary , and to improve your style , and to keep your temper , so that the world will not be able to say scoffingly , as it often does to-day , " How very charming ! See how these Freemasons , always talking of brotherly love , like to abuse each other . "

Truth.

TRUTH .

Tlie more we think over the article in Truth to which we adverted in our last , the more we regret that habit of " sensationalism " which is so greviously injuring the position and prospects of the press . Papers foolish and obscure appear for a time , and seem to revel in grotesque

slanders and personal incriminations . The history of an individual or a family is commented upon and dissected minutely for the gratification of whom ?—a few brainless youths , who can barely spell , who write " bet , " even , with two " t ' s , " and whose life is made up of " maundering "

from billiards to " S . and B ., " and from races to smoking rooms . The consequence is they live in a vitiated atmosphere , and require , like their appetites , high-spiced nutriment . Habituall y and morally their mind is diseased . But what a weak , and , we may add , what a low order of

mind is that which exults in the garbage of anonymous slander , or the vulgar inuendoes of personal scandal , which is gratified in thinking that ^ all are as bad as itself , that virtue is an idle word , honesty a non-existent quality . Anything more deteriorating to the public taste

or to personal morals than some of the papers we hear about and see just now , we cannot well conceive . We regret to note that Truth has pandered to this injurious but prevalent " fashion , " and we would beg to point out to our

contemporary that thus coming forward with the old , old story of an " Exposure of Masonry , " of which the world is sick , though he avoids the Charibdis " of the self-confessing traits by the "ne he has taken , he yet falls into the " Scylla " ° f the silly , gossiping , credulous gobemouche .

Truth.

Let us hope that we have heard the last of similar foolish attacks on our good old Order , and Freemasonry , which laughs at them , can afford to be alike forbearing and forgiving .

Missing Individuals.

MISSING INDIVIDUALS .

It is impossible , we think , not to feel something like great anxiety when we read in the " agony column , " properly so termed , of the Times those startling advertisements which tell us of male and female disappearances , like that of "Leopold Landmann , " or the lady whose linen is marked " D " with a coronet . No doubt a

good deal may be allowed just now for that insane love of " sensationalism " so prevalent , for foolish "escapades , " and for " police considerations . " Many of these disappearances are not truly disappearances , and though they are the " town talk " for an hour , and give the police a

good deal of trouble often for many days , are simple experiments on the patience of friends , on the childishness of the public , or the forbearance even of justice . But yet there is another , and a darker side to the picture , a " nocturne , " if you like , which , "pace" Mr . Ruskin , we

must contemplate . Some of us may remember Bauer ' s case , which startled us all a few years ago , and which in truth , say what we will , or hush it up as we like , constitnted a great scandal on our metropolis , and on our boasted civilization . That a \* oung man and his luggage should

disappear , bodily and entirely , leave his hotel or a railway station in the middle of the day in London , and that no traces can be found of him anywhere , is a fact most serious for us , and suggests many other considerations very painful and alarming , whether for the liberty of the subject ,

or the comfort and safety of the metropolis . Now putting on one side for the moment the possible personal or police view of the case , ( though both require always to be kept in mind ) , let us consider the matter as it affects us peaceful citizens of our "little village , " "living under

our vine and fig tree , ( metaphorically of course ) , and "drinking the waters , " ( not always wholesome ) , of our own cisterns . Undoubtedly in this as in other directions a " craze" comes over the public from time to time , and there have been periods in the

history more or less of all great capitals , where persons have disappeared in succession without any ostensible reason , and without for a long time any possible discovery . But is there then beyond the probable recklessness perhaps , or folly , or wickedness of some " sensationalists , "

male or female , any possible and reasonable explanation of those mysterious disappearances ? Is there any system at work amongst us which would facilitate such a regretable state of affairs if means were , found to make it worth while for any to incur the risk of detection and legal

punishment , by pandering to the cupidity or revenge of others , and causing certain persons to disappear from" active life ? Several of our Judges have from time to time , in striking words , warningly reprobated that system of * ' special agency" which is now in full swing amongst us ,

of which we see notable advertisements , and which may clearl y be turned by the disreputable and the desperate to the worst purposes , and to the most criminal ends . Many of the recent proceedings of our police and law courts must inspire and alarm the minds of all who value the

English constitution , and are proud of the liberties we enjoy as English citizens . Striking cases tell us of special agents terming themselves " detectives , " ( a word solely belonging to the police force ) , apeing the functions , assuming the very name of the police , intimidating the weak ,

watching the unsuspecting , tampering with the characters of servants , and performing acts for which they have no possible warrant . No Englishman has a right , for instance , to be followed about , except by a sworn officer of justice , or a sworn officer of law , and any such act is in

itself " an incentive to a breach of the peace . " Yet this is precisely what is now of daily , hourly occurrence by special agents . We are of opinion , therefore , that the whole special agency system requires the strictest " surveillance" of the police , as dangerous to " public safety , " and as very susceptible , ( the gains are so great ) , of being

Missing Individuals.

turned by the unscrupulous and the penniless , of whom there are many in such a city as London , to the very worst possible purposes . It will be remembered in Bauer ' s most mysterious case , ( almost inexplicable to us still ) , that the " secret

societies " were stated to be the " motive cause , ' ' but knowing as we do the "dangerous class "from which special agency is recruited , we are rather inclined to believe that " some one " has made it worth " somebody else ' s " while to bring about

that "denouement ' of disappearance which startles all so much . At the same time we do not wish to be unjust even to " special agents , " and we shall be glad to hear that to some other causes these and other disappearances are really

owing . One question we should like to have answered— what becomes of the "luggage ? " The persons disappear , where do their effects go to ? Is there perchance a " Special-Agency-Lost-and Unclaimed Luggage Department , " where all these " little objects " can be found ? or do they

disappear amid the philanthropic attentions of accommodating " fences , " and the kindly solicitude of marine store dealers , male and female ? We think that we may fairly commend such a matter to the careful attention ofthe City Detective Force and the Criminal Investigation Department at Scotland Yard .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

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

THE FRENCH ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE . Monsieur le Directeur du "Freemason , " a Londres . j'ai Iu avec surprise l'article con ten u dans votre estimable journal sur les dvdnements qui preoccupents si vivement tous les esprits des Macons Eccossais en France

et a l'Etrangrr . II me parait evident que votre bonne foi a -id surprise , tt , pour vous donner la possibility de juger par vous merne du caract & re profondement Maconnique du movement dont mes amis et moi nous acceptons la rcsponsabilit _ , je crois ne pouvoir mieux faire que de vous transmtttre les brochure et documents qui contiennent

l ' expression de nos idees . Apr-s avoir lu ces ecrits , nous avons la confiance que dans votre haute impartialite' vous voudrez bien reconnaitre que nos tlemandes du rdforme sont prdsente ' es sur un ton mo . e ' re' qui appelle la discussion , et non les apostrophes violentes dont votre journal s'est fait l ' echo . ' II est possible de contester i ' utilite des rdformes que nous demandons ,

mais on ne saurait justement nous refuser le me ' rite d'agir avec le calme que comporte une conviction siric-re dans la justice de notre cause . Je vous serais tr & s-reconnaissant de m ' addresser le numdro de votre journal que contiendra la rectification que j'ose attendre de votre equitd . Veuillez agreer Monsieur le Directeur , l'hommage de ma conside ' ration dislinguee

P . GOUMAIN-CORNILLE . Ex . Vice-Prdsident de la ire Section de la Gr . * . L . \ C . • Ex . Ven . * . dela L . \ 133 La Justice . De ' pute rdelu de la L , \ 166 L'Ecossaise Or . d'Alexandrie , Egypt . Paris , 2 } Juillet , 1870 .

TRANSLATION . I have read with surprise the article contained in your estimable journal with respect to the events which pre-occupy so anxiously the minds of all Scotch Masons , in France and abroad . It is evident to me that your good faith has been surprised , and in order to give you the

possibility ol j'ldging for yourself the profoundly Masonic character of the movement of which myself and my friends accept the responsibility , I think I cannot do better than transmit to you the pamphlet and the documents which contain the exact expression of our ideas . After having read these we have the confidence that in

your high impartiality you will readily admit the fact , that our demands and reform call for discussion , and do not deserve the violent epithets of which your journal has been made the echo . It is possible to contest the reforms which we ask for , but it would be impossible justly to refuse

to us the merit of acting with the calmness which belongs to a sincere conviction in the justice of our cause . I shall be very grateful if you will send me the number of your jnurnal containing the rectification , which I venture to await from your equity .

[ Wc have reatl the documents , but see leader for our opinion , anl reply to our Bro . Cornille . —ED . F . M . ]

CHARITY REFORM . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — You must have been dwelling in some very

serene and sequestered lodge not to have known as well as heard of the " abuses" of thc present charity voting system . Let me , however , accept your challenge , and re-stafe some of these parasitical growths that have gradually