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lead to one conclusion , namely , that it had been stolen . Since that time 1 have kept a sharp look out for its appearance in a case like the one your correspondent narrates . I think it probable , therefore , that the man alluded to may be , by unlawful means , in possession of the missing document . Yours fraternally , THOMAS BLAIR , l . G . 1239 . THE NEW KHEDIVE AND THE GRAND ORIENT

OF EGYPT . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — You will very much oblige the undersigned by the insertion of the following communication , which , as he thinks , may , perhaps , be of some interest to the readers of the Freemason and the fraternity at large .

On the 17 th inst ., at a quarter-past ten m the morning , His Highness Mehmet Tewfik Pasha , the new Khedive , was graciously welcoming in his palace of Ismailieh ( Cairo ) a deputation from the National Grand Orient of Egypt . The deputation was composed of the M . M . W . W . B . B . Raph Borg , acting Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge ; S . A . Zola , Past Grand Master ; Dr . D .

Teonomaputos , Teputy Grand Master ; Prof . F . F . Oddi , Grand Secretary ; and M . L . Zaia , D . L . L ., Grand Orator . M . W . Bro . Borg , as Grand Master , and in his capacity of PresiJent , delivered the following address : — " May it please your Highness , — " Egyptian Masonry , through our deputation , beg leave to offer to your Highness their best

congratulations and wishes upon your happy accession to the throne of Egypt . Masonry , being altogether a stranger to political and religious questions , has no other object in view but that of peacefully promoting the irrespressiblc march of intellectual progress and moral civilisation ; its chief privileges and favourite province are to teach men their rights , and enforce upon them all their duties . These are the

peculiar qualities that , keeping it up distinct and aloof from any other human institution , have on several occasions realised the coadjucancy and protection of those enlightened Sovereigns who felt always highly honoured to be reckoned among its votaries . This is , also , the rtason that Egyptian Masonry , recently reorganised , has been favoured with the high patronage of your august father .

We , then , once more beg leave to assure to your Highness that in all things relating to the moral developement , progress , and civilisation of this country Egyptian Masonry can be fairly relied upon . And now we earnestly pray to God that your Highness may successfully accomplish the great work , whereof you have already shown yourself the most eager promoter , for the benefit of this old and

classical land . " His Highness answered he felt very much impressed and moved with the sentiments the deputation had so expressively evinced ; that he well knew , and thoroughly understood , the noble scope which Masonry aims at ; that he was confiding in its help for the advance and progress of his own country ; that he most cheerfully extended to the

Masonic Order his high patronage and moral support ; and that as soon as his Secretaiy had announced to him the visit of the deputation he at once expressed the very great pleasure he felt thereon . Then His Highness continued for a little while to converse with the members of the deputation , and , expatiating upon the position of Egypt , he disclosed the noblest

aspirations , and declared he was | entirely trusting to the generous exertions of his people , and the sympathies shown to him , for bringing about a task , the several difficulties and many asperities of which he well knew and would never conceal from himself . •And now , with my best acknowlegments and regards , I remain , dear Sir and Brother , fraternally yours ,

F . F . ODDI Cairo , 24 th August , 1879 .

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The meaning to be attached to the confirmation of minutes of piivate lodges has been engaging the attention of several brethren of the Masonic community in this city ; differences of opinion , very strong on either side ,

exists as to the interpretation , and in one case the W . M . of a Scotch lodge refused to put the minutes of a previous meeting for confirmation , giving , as his ruling , that they were only read to show that they were correct records of transactions , and that the Secretary hail faithfully done his work . Those who support this view refer to page 167 of the

last edition ( 1879 ) of the Scotch Constitution for their authority , and read the ist Sec , English Constitution , " Of the Masters and Wardens of Lodges , " to mean that it is not compulsory to read and confirm more of the minutes of the preceding meeting than that referring to the election of a Master , so that , in fact , they maintain that the minutes ( if correct records ) confirm themselves , and can

only be interfered with by a notice of motion to rescind , which must be taken up at next meeting after the minutes of the previous have been proved correct . Those brethren who support the view that minutes of a previous meeting are read ( and ought to be put ) for confirmation or approval , maintain that the intention is , that the brethren alone meeting should signify their approval or disapproval of the acts of the previous meeting by

confirming or non-confirming the whole , or any portion , of the minutes , except such as arc records of the carrying out of the constitutions or bye-laws of the lodge and the conferring of the degiees , which , of necessity , must be confirmed . They are of opinion that the extract from page 16 7 , Seotch Constitution , only r < -fcrs to Scotch Grand Lodge , and that the ist Sec . of English Constitution , "Of the Masters and Wardens of Lodges , " means that whilst any

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portion of the minutes of the preceding meeting may not be confirmed or approved of , it is compulsory to read and confirm that portion relating to the election of Master before the installation can be proceeded with , and they claim to be supported in this view by the lucid arguments and affirmations contained in the latest ( 1874 ) edition of Dr . Oliver ' s Masonic Jurisprudence , under the heading of

" Confirmation oE the Minutes . " After the above statements I think you will agree with me that , for the sake of that unity which should characterise Masonry , it is of the greatest importance that there should be a settlement of the question here , and , as I am not aware of any ruling of the Grand Lodge of England on the subject as it affects private lodges , 1 venture to

seek the experience of your able judgment through the medium of your widely circulated paper , and to ask , further , that you would kindly publish with this any English ruling or interpretation of the " confirmation of the minutes . " In doing this , I may state that at a Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge , held on the

6 th June , 1877 , Bro . Mclntyre referred to this matter , but the two extreme cases that were set up as examples were those in which no doubt rests , and , therefore , have not helped to settle the difficulty . Failing any legal ruling or interpretation , I should be glad if you would give us the benefit of your opinion . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , KINGSTON , JAMAICA . August 9 th , 1879 .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In common with a number of brethren , possessed of much greater influence and position in the Craft than I can boast of , I am deeply interested in promoting the election of a certain candidate for admission to one of our Masonic Schools . It is not my purpose to ask you to give

the case a gratuitous advertisement by publishing here the name of my candidate , neither would your wise and salutary rules on this point permit me so to do . But there is one matter connected with all cases like to that which I am supporting , involving a principle not generally understood , which I think possesses sufficient Masonic interest to allow of its statement in vour columns .

One of the cards reotimmencing our case was returned to me by the brother to whom it had been sent , together with a courteous note expressing regret at his inability to support our candidate . The writer states that he has many applications from brethren soliciting votes for the children of Masons of very much longer standing in the Craft than the father of the child recommended by me ,

and that these applications must necessarily take priority of mine . The inference is , that " long standing " in the Craft is , or should be , the claim which governors and subscribers ought to consider first in determining the proper bestowal of their votes . That this rule is very generally acted upon is , I think , beyond dispute , but 1 fail altogether to see the cogency of

the arguments by which it is supported . In the matter of elections to the Benevolent Institution the claim of age , and particularly of age in Masonry , always does and always must command sympathy ; but it seems to me that the principle does not apply in the case of children who seek admission to our Masonic Schools , nor ought it so to do . It would be impossible to deny that , other things

being equal , the orphan child of a very old Mason has a bette r claim to the benefits of our Masonic Charitable Institutions than the child of a brother of less seniority in the Craft j but that is very far indeed from affirming that the test of age is the most impoitant one , and the first that ought to be applied . If that were so , then some of the most piteous cases which appeal so strongly to our

sympatheis would be of right deferred to others far less deserving . For it cannot often happen that very old Masons die leaving a number of very young children , and yet it is in cases where families of tender age are left fatherless that we . find the most clamant need of sympathy and assistance . It should not be forgotten , moreover , that Freemasonry

is not a benefit society like the Oddfellows or Foresters , el id genus omne . " Equality " is very nearly as strong a plank in our platform as " fraternity , " and a Mason of fifty years ' standing has no better claim to Masonic privileges and Masonic benefits than his brother who may be only a twelvemonth old , In other words , neither of them has any claim at all . And yet the idea unelerlying that

consideration which is given to " long standing " in the Cralt , is essentially this : that Masons may establish an actual claim upon their brethren in Freemasonry by long-continued membership ; and the sentiment—a very sordid one when analyzed—is , * that becausre much has been paid by them to the Craft , so much must be repaid by the Craft to them . This is a very good commercial principle , but

charity ought to know little of such principles , and Masonry still less . Moveover , the test of age in Masonry is a very fallible one , if what is really wanted is acknowledged to be the amount of money contributed to the Craft . It will often be found that one brother pays more in five years than another dees in five-and-twenty , and one Mason may do far greater service to Freemasonry in a

single twelvemonth than his neighbour may do during a long Masonic life . In Masonry , as elsewhere , we have both bees and drones , and I fail to see why the drone of five-and-twenty should be deemed a better member of our society than the bee whose Masonic life has not even reached its first decade .

The case which my friends and myself are supporting on this occasion affords a striking illustration of my argument . The father died just one year ago , leaving a widow and six children , five of whom ate wholly dependent . Like many of our most \ aluablc members our late brother did not enter Masonry as a very young man , and at the

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time of his death he had been little more than six years a brother of our Order . But he had already reached high office in his mother lodge , held a somewhat lower position in a second lodge , and was a founder and first Master of a third . To these he hail paid initiation , joining and founder ' s fees , and all annual subscriptions as well . He was a member of the Royal Arch , and P . S . of his chapter ;

and he had been " advanced " in the Mark Degree . He had also contributed to our Charitable Institutions , was a life subscriber in one of them , and was only prevented by his death-illness from standing as Steward in one of the festivals of last year . He was most indefatigable in supporting and procuring assistance for all worthy cases requiring Masonic relief , and spared himself no trouble in

any matter relating to the Craft . I may add that he was devoted to the cause of Masonic instruction ; and , being possessed of a singularly retentive memory , he was complete master of all the ceremonies , and of the Fifteen Sections as well . These arc the " claims" which the orphan child of our late brother presents . Is it possible that they can be

considered inferior to those acquired by a simple membership extending over a somewhat longer period of time ? I hope and believe , for the sake of all that is best in our charitable system , that they will not be deemed so by my brethren who are Governors of the Schools . I am , dear Sir and Brother , faithfully and fraternally yours , P . M . AND L . G .

Reviews.

Reviews .

A SERMON . Preached by the Rev . GEO . LOWE , P . G . C . Lincolnshire , before Prov . Grand Lodge of Freemasons , Lincolnshire , at Spalding , June 19 th , 1879 . Wilkinson and Crush , Hall-place , Spalding . We have received and read this sermon with much pleasure , and beg to commend it to the notice of our brethren .

It is simply but forcibly written , clearly but eloquently expressed , and was , no doubt , as effective in the hands of the preacher as it was appropriate to the scene and the assembly . It is a very remarkably toned and cultured sermon , which it is both a pleasure to peruse and to possess . Many of our brethren may like to see it , and we call their special attention to it .

THE SKIN AND ITS TROUBLES . David Bogue , 31 , St . Martin ' s-lane . This is one of a series of "health ptimers , " at the moelest price of is . each , which is being published under the joint editorship of Messrs . Laugdown Down , M . D ., H . Power , M . D ., J . Mortimer Granville , M . D ., and John Tweedy , F . R . C . S . Among the able members of the

medical piofession who are contributors to the series we note the names , of J . Chrichlon Browne , Sidney Coupland , John Williams , M . Farquharson , H . H . Alchin , W . S . Greenfield , C . W . Heaton , and Harry Leach , and , no doubt , such a compilation will attract readers , and must have its value . But the old feeling comes over all , ( like the warning of the Greek chorus , again and

again ) , is it wise , or does it profit them medically , to explain everything ? Do we not help to pave the way for " quacks , " and " nostrums , " and "specifics ? " Are we not treading on that debateable ground which lies between skilled medical treatment on the one hand , and the remedies and advertisements of charlatans on the other ? Buchan ' s " Domestic Medicine " did no good ; the "

Fallacies of the Faculty " did not advance the health or the tastes of suffering mortals , and for our part , though we doubt not the good intent of the designers of the series , and to a certain extent realize the object of such a publication , we yet prefer , on the whole , the old-fashioned system of medical advice , trusting your doctor like you do your lawyer , when you are in a difficulty , like a wise man .

Dne of the great mistakes of the present day , in our humble opinion , is this encomium of and attempt at general knowledge . Our forefathers may have erred in the particular of special and limited study , but we are , at any rate , clearly astray on the subject of general study of science and the like . The consequence is , that while scholarship is retrograding , and special knowledge

decaying amongst us , we have to confront a lot of "chatterboxes " who know nothing well , truly , " au fond , " as the French say , but , like a lot of brainless monkeys , overwhelm you with the vulgarity of vehement jargon , and second-hand cramming as to lacts and dates . We prefer the limited information cf our forefathers , who , if they conversed on

little , knew what they were talking about . We may add that this little book is very readable , its statements are very precise and very easily understood , and with the qualifications and warnings above mentioned , we can conscientiously recommend it to all who are either suffering from skin disease , or are interested in the study of the phenomena of the skin .

ROYAL VISIT TO CUMBERLAND . — Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Connaug ht arrived at Ravenglass on a visit to Lord and Lady Muncaster , at Muncaster Castle , late on Tuesday , the 2 nd inst . On Wednesday , the 3 rd inst ., they left for Scotland via Carlisle , passing through Whitehaven at an early hour in the morning .

Constitutions of the Ancient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons , containing the Charges , Regulations E . A . Song , & c . A copy should be in the possession of srerj brother . It may be obtained for 2 s . at the office of the Free ' mason , or will be sent post free to any part of ll , e r . Kingdom on receipt of twenty-five penny stamps . Address , Publisher , 198 , Fleet-street , London . —[ Aim . ]