Contents.

CONTENTS .

L EADERS 3 i ! Board of Benes-olence 3 d Consecration of the Tristram Mark Lodge , No , 346 35 Laving the Foundation Stone of a Fesv Masonic Temple at Barmouth 3 6 Desaguliers and Scottish Freemasonry—A Study 37 Masonic Mendicancy 37 The Countercheck Argumcntatis * e 37 C ORRESPONDENCEThe TieasviTeisliip o € thc Girls" School ... 39 The Widosvs' Fund , Royal Masonic Benes-olent Institution 39 Res-lews 39 Notes and Queries 39

REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 40 Instruction 45 Royal Arch 45 Mark Masonry , , 45 Knights Templar 16 Allied Masonic Degrees 4 6 China 4 6 Liverpool Masonic Ball 45 Coming of Age of Bro . Capt . Edgar Henry Bosvyer , 46 The Craft Abroad 4 6 Obituary 4 6 Masonic and General Tidings 47 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 48

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In the Standard of Tuesday last appeared the following paragraph : "The death occurred at noon to-day , at his residence , Weymouth , of Mr . WILLIAM ELIOT , head of the firm of Messrs . ELIOT , PEARCE , and Co ., bankers , in his 92 nd year . The deceased was the oldest Freemason in Europe , in fact , he is believed to be the oldest in the world , having been initiated nearly 70

years ago . Deceased was a member of All Souls Lodge , Weymouth , and had filled numerous public offices . " We all have heard from time to time of the " oldest Freemason , " and there seem to have been many " oldest Freemasons , " both in Great Britain and America . Seventy years of

membership is a long spell , and carries our worthy and lamented brother close up to the Union in 1 S 13 . Such a fact constitutes a very striking commentary on the lasting attachment of Freemasons to ^ their useful , loyal , and benevolent Order .

* * * ALL our readers will deeply regret to learn of the death of our gallant Bro . Col . FRED . BURNABY , who fell bravely fighting in a hand-to-hand conflict at the desperate action at the Abu Klea Wells , on the 17 th inst . As the Times observes , there is no exaggeration in saying that very few military men would be more missed by such a large circle of admirers .

* # * TIME as it passes " on year by year , with its startling marvels or its " strange conceits , " seems hardly at all to affect that wonderful Order of Freemasons which is now diffused wherever mortals do congregate on the earth ' s surface . Wherever the foot of man . has trod there we behold the

marks and the traces ol Freemasonry , some contend indigenous , as descending through secret agencies from primeval times . However this may be , alike amid countries civilized and savage , on the ruins of crumbling cathedrals , as in the mysterious remains of forgotten places and countries , we behold the humble Mason ' s mark still defying the destructive tendencies

of atmospheric influences and the ravages of the destroying hand of time . We like to think of our Order as an universal body , using the alphabetical form of all languages and numerals , as a sort of universal tongue , a mystic recognition of that great confederation , mysterious and universal , " oneand indivisible . " And when in the progress of time , and the wants

of Society , such mere operative guilds had lost their meaning and use and influence , then we are pleased to recognise them as opening out into a Cosmopolitan Fraternity , including men of all religions , countries , tongues , and colour within its world-wide fold , and under its great banner of toleration and universality , criarity and loyalty . To-day Freemasonry , better thought

of by the world than in former days of idle hostility and childish fear , holds a hitherto unreached position of prestige and utility . That is to say , it may do so , and ought to do so . We entirely reject the creations of romanticists , or the imaginations of antagonists , who represent Freemasonry as a secret , political , destructive , mischievous confraternity ,

indulglI"g hidden aims , seeking for universal domination , and in the fell dreams of hurtful illusions professing to change everything . ' amend everything , uproot everything , opposed equally to law and order , the good will of kings , the sanctions of religion , and the rightful claims and possessions of inalienable property and honest industry . The Freemasonry we wot of and recognize is

that which proclaims a message of kindness , sympathy , goodwill , toleration to mankind . It knows nothing of political watchwords or party considerations ; it ignores equally the theories of rival parties , and the fads and fancies , whether of the iconoclast or reactionary of the hour . Constitutional •tself , it hails the sway of each constitutional regime , where the rights of all

are equally upheld , where just Iawu are honestly administered , and where liberty , peace , literature , commerce flourish , and where the happiness and contentment of the many are the aim and toil of rulers and statesmen .

•Hence the prestige of all true Freemasonry at this very hour . Its neutrality ls 'ts pride ; its toleration its boast ; its wise moderation constitutes its safety , while its beneficence attracts the admiration of the whole world , and , ncreases the loyal admiration of its ownj devoted members . Thus , but

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only thus , long may it flourish , ministering to the onward progress of the human race , speeding on its mission , as revolving centuries roll over the head of our common humanity , becoming , let us hope , more humane , moro cultured , and more civilized as the " fashion of this world passeth away . "

* # * WE should be interested all in knowing the exact statistics of Freemasonry in the world . Our Ultramontane adversaries always overrate our numbers and our influence . No doubt the sum total of Freemasonry is very large , but that there are Freemasons and Freemasons is a truth the

world at large has been slow to perceive , and it is only gradually dasvning on Freemasons themselves . In some parts and jurisdictions true Freemasonry seems in chaos , and clearly its principles are forgotten , its teaching ignored , and the residuum after all that remains of old Masonic lore has been filtered or nihilized away , is very questionable indeed . There

always has been and still is among Masonic writers , as in most things markedly to-day , a tendency to exaggerate both the strength and the weakness of our Order . " Omne ignotum pro magnifico" seems to be the . adage of many profane writers equally as regards Freemasons and Freemasonry . The consequence of this system of " action and reaction , " is that it is

very difficult to arrive at even an approximate calculation of the numbers of our Fraternity in the world . We have seen enumerations of five and six millions , we need not say , entirely fictitious and absurd . As far as any reckoning can now be satisfactory , without distinct figures , we should be inclined to say that 500 , 000 or 600 , 000 exceed the gross totality alike of

attached and unattached members . And even this array , large as it , is not one , after all , in idea or sentiment , though it ought to be so . Some jurisdictions are now doing more harm than good to the cause of Freemasonry . They are not Freemasons in the letter or the spirit of true cosmopolitan Freemasonry . They inspire fear in rulers , and raise up adversaries in

peaceful and free States , by their assumption of the hateful role of a secret political debating club . From Freemasonry proper neither law , order , nor society has anything to fear , either in abstract principles or concrete action . Its great and enduring principles are reverence for regular authority , religion , and morality , and abstaining from all matters of controversial or

political discussion—it ignores and abjures all conspiracies against thc ruling powers , and any plots or secret hidden movements against the State . However numerous Freemasonry may become it will never antagonize , in

its overwhelming majority , the prescriptions of ancient days , or the just claims of lawful authority ; while it will assuredly ever co-operate with and subserve the general progress of our common humanity , and the peace and civilization of our race .

# * WE have been assured , on what appears to us good authority , that our worthy Bro . CAMA intends to withdraw from the contest for the Grand Treasurership . Without expressing any opinion on the matter one way or other ,

we think it right to add , that in so doing Bro . CAMA will not forfeit the good opinion entertained of his Masonic excellences and personal high character , but , on the contrary , will rather rise in the estimation and sympathies of numerous warm English friends and brethren admirers .

» # * THE question of a Library and Museum at Freemasons' Hall is not an easy one to solve or settle . At present there is no room for any such needful extension or special accommodation , and . any attempt to enlarge our sphere of operations must be attended with great difficulty , and is , in truth , a

severe " labour of love . " There is a small library indeed , but in no sense commensurate with the prestige , or , we will hope one day , the needs of our Craft . It is true that the Craft itself is mainly to blame in this respect . It has shown itself so utterly apathetic in all that concerns Masonic archaeology and studies , and the like , that those who " care for none of these things "

are emboldened in their opposition to any similar proposal as a waste of money and effort . Some years ago , a suggestion was made to buy Bro . SPENCER ' S library by Grand Lodge ; but it was said it was hopeless to expect to obtain the consent of Grand Lodge , and no one could be found bold enough to "bell the cat . " The consequence has been that MSS . and

volumes have gone to America which ought never to have left England , and which ought now to be in the possession of the Grand Lodge ; and we fear that , despite the efforts of our GRAND SECRETARY , the outlook as regards a Masonic Museum and Library is not a hopeful one . Perhaps vvhen we

reconsider the building question five years hence , provision may be made for the literary and archaeological tastes of our Order ; and we confess , despite the opinions of some good brethren of ours , we should prefer a Library and a Museum to a Supper Room , kc . However , tastes differ , and there we leave