An Old Warrant.

Accep ted ( York ) Masons , " was substituted for the mild declaration of former days , and names and titles of the Grand Officers are duly enumerated , & c . The charter was granted " with the approbation and consent of 47 lodges held within the Cities and

Suburbs of London and Westminster . " * Due respect was to be paid to this Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted ( York ) Masons , and the seal was that of the "Grand Lodge , London . "

The " Kent" Lodge , No . 8 ( now No . 15 ) , works by a warrant bearing date 17 th May , 1758 , and is much the same in character as No . 66 of the previous year , already noted . The Warrant of the Grand Master ' s Lodge , No . 1 , is dated 13 th August , 1759 , and has been fully described by Bro . H .

Sadler in the Freemason , May igth , 1885 . In it another change is exhibited , as the ordinary recital of the late Warrants seems then ( virtually ) to have been introduced , viz ., "The Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted

Masons ( according to the original Constitution granted by Prince Edwin of York ); " though , of course , in several respects the Charter is quite different to all others , because of its special character .

I believe the original No . 85 , so lately donated to the West Yorkshire Masonic Library , is the next warrant preserved that succeeds No . 1 , as respects date of issue , viz ., 21 st January , 17 61 . In it another variety will be detected ; "Prince Edwin " is omitted , and only " 34 regular lodges" are noted in the suburbs of London and Westminster .

No . 113 , Greenwich , of 19 th May , 17 6 3 , is very similar to No . 85 ; but the Warrant for No . 44 ( now 47 ) , granted as a " renewal" on 13 th January , 1764 , has the " Prince Edwin , " & c , recited in full , as doubtless have all its successors in like manner . It seems likely that the earliest use of the term " York

Masons " by the " Ancients * " is to be found in the first edition of their laws ( " Ahiman Rezon" ) of A . D . 175 6 . If there is any original Warrant of the Ancients extant , save No . 8 5 between 1759 and 1763 , Bro . John Lane and the undersigned will be glad of information thereon . W . T . HUGHAN .

Fidelity Of Purpose.

FIDELITY OF PURPOSE .

If Freemasonry teaches anything with emphasis it is the virtue of fidelity . The Entered Apprentice is taught it at the beginning of his Masonic life . When standing erect , upright to all outward appearance , he is charged that it is his duty always

to act and walk in that manner . No temptation or personal ease or self aggrandisement is ever to lead him to prove false to any trust reposed in him . He is to be true to his God : to deal iustlv

with all men , and to practice Charity . The great need of the present day in Masonry and out of it is the practice of fidelity . There are no greater heroes or men more honoured than those who have lived lives of faithfulness . Life is considered of little

weight when in the balance with Fidelity . Fais ce que dots advienne quepoura should be the motto of every man , especially a Mason .

Every member of the Fraternity should be faithful to his obli gations . There is nothing in any requirements of Freemasonry that is intended to interfere in any respect whatever with the ordinary duties of life . Indeed , the man who neglects his famil y , fails to pay his just debts , oversteps the bounds of virtue

in a pretended devotion to Masonry , is plainly unfaithful to his obligations . Unfortunatel y , some men allow their zeal tor the Institution to lead them to place its imagined demands above everything else . The real demands of the Craft make a

man a better citizen , a better father , a better merchant , and consequentl y a better man . Fidelity to obligation means a strict Mherence to truth , honesty , virtue , and everything calculated to elevate morally .

Applicants for Masonic light should be known to possess a idehty of purpose in seeking admission to the Fraternity before ln ey are permitted to cross the threshold of the lodge . No unworth y motive should be allowed to actuate a man in his petition

° lnitl ation . Expectation of favours , gain of popularity , in-• r „ of patronage , and other selfish considerations that often ^ nuence our actions are foreign to the spirit of Masonry . We j j , unite with the Fraternity with a view to improvement , orall y and intellectually . By association with those whose cb

^ --are tor higher and nobler ancl better achievements we e sure to be ourselves benefited . Our aspiration will be for a 110 fier and purer life . been " ^ within the precincts of the lodge , our obligations broad i f tUaL We are a 11 e 9 * We a 11 stand u P on the same __ _^_ Ptatform and have all sworn fidelity to every principle of

Fidelity Of Purpose.

right . When elevated from the ground floor to the honoured position of Master , our duties are increased , and we owe to the brethren a service of love , and , if possible , a stronger fidelity to the obligations of the lodge than before . The motives that cause men to seek official positions in Masonry are sometimes

in direct violation of the obligation assumed upon becoming members of the great Brotherhood . Purity of purpose to lead the brethren to a practise of virtue and uprightness should be found in every Master of a lodge . Is is a sad commentary upon the weakness of human nature when we see a man who has

chosen to be the embodiment of uprightness so far forgetting himself as to be a profane swearer , a wine r bibber , or unfaithful to his trusts . Fidelity of Masters to the duties devolving upon them brings honour and preferments ; a want of it dishonour and oblivion .

What is true of the Master , is true , in a measure , of the other officers . They have promised to do certain things , to perform certain duties . The manner in which these duties are discharged produces good or bad results . The candidates have a right to expect proper treatment from every officer , from the

Master of Ceremonies to the Master in the East . Fidelity of purpose in preparing , introducing , and instructing the neophyte is absolutely necessary if the beauties of the hitherto unknown world to him are to be realised . That purpose must be , to make a lasting and favourable impression upon his mind . How much

can be done in the preparation room , to cause the candidate to have either a favourable or unfavourable impression of the Institution ! How faithful then should be every brother who is sent out to meet for the first time the one who comes for light to Masonry There is a duty which the members of the Fraternity owe to

the world outside . It is a fidelity to the professions we make . We claim to practice Charity , not in the mere giving of alms but in that broad sense of love . The world has always watched us . It is watching us to-day . It always will watch us . Synods , Presbyteries and Conferences often have the Masonic Fraternity

under discussion . Frequently their criticisms are adverse to us . How much of ignorant prejudice or jealously may enter into their decisions matters not . Let us prove by our fidelity to every principle of justice , every moral and upright doctrine , that we are really what our teachings would lead the world to expect .

Masonry is popular just now , and in that popularity there is danger that one may lose sight of the binding nature and the high , noble , and pure character of our obligations . Let fidelity

of purpose actuate us in all of our dealings with our brethren , the applicant for Masonic preferments and the world at large . Then will the wisdom , strength , and beauty of our Institution be fully exemplified and known . —New York Dispatch .

The Late General Pike.

THE LATE GENERAL PIKE .

At the good old age of 8 ** , our dear Bro . Albert Pike has been " called home , " having , in fact , been waiting for some weeks for his peremptory summons . Long ago he was named " the uncrowned King of the Hautes Grades" by his friend , Bro . Hughan , and that title has been well

earned . No one , living or dead , has ever done for the " Ancient and Accepted Rite " what General Pike has . Of this fact all are well aware who are familiar with the history and literature of that great Masonic organisation , especially during the last 30 years . Born so long ago as December 29 th , 1809 , his grand

figure and name have been before the Craft for many years , and from the year 1859 he has been the Grand Commander of the Supreme Council , 33 ° / f ° ^ Southern Jurisdiction of the U . S . A ., occupying that exalted position to the day of his lamented decease .

To do justice to the career of General Pike , either socially , politically , or Masonically , would require a complete issue of the Freemason , and even a list of the titles of the numerous works , pamphlets , and poems which have been written by him would take several of its columns .

Of late years he has renewed his interest in English Masonic literature , and was a frequent correspondent of Bros . Gould and Speth , as well as with his old confrere , Bro . Hughan , by all of whom his loss will be most keenly felt .

General Pike ' s grasp of the various intricate points involved in the origin of the " Ineffable Degrees" was firm and complete , and hence his decisions had great weight , and his addresses were models of accurate statements and valuable information , read and consulted by students of all rites and countries .

Bro . McClenachan's verdict will be accepted by the universal Craft , viz ., "His standing as a Masonic author and historian , and withal as a poet , is most distinguished , and his

untiring zeal is without a parallel . " Whatever he touched with his pen became at once interesting , and the common property of all Craftsmen ; for it was his delight to instruct and generously share his wonderful store of information .