Uniformity Of Ritual.

amount of liberty is preserved in our ceremonial usuages , which , so far , has not worked ill for English Freemasonry . In our opinion any attempt to enforce one ritual is sure ' to fail , alike from the impossibility of the result as from the opposition of the best and brightest Masons amongst us .

Much of the discussion relating to this subject cannot well be discussed in a newspaper , even a Masonic one , but we speak with some certainty when we say that any proposal to form a lodge of Preceptors will only throw back educated Freemasonry amongst us , or advance , what some

wish , ( despite its absolute failure elsewhere ) , a printed ritual . For who are they who are beginning this new agitation ? Are they Masonic teachers like those we possess in our lodges of instruction ? Are they those who , having carefully studied the ritual , we know well from their

careful and correct rendering of it ? Are they those to whom the history and antiquities of Freemasonry , as well as its ornate and intricate ceremonial , have been the subject of minute study for years Certainly not . We have often heard the subject discussed in former years , but we

never heard any brother who had looked closely into the matter on reflection approve of the proposal , or fail to see the difficulties , and dangers , and pitfalls involved in the question . In all societies there are a set of fussy men , who always must be saying or doing something . To

them controversy is a boon , agitation a blessing . They swim like the little apples of old in the stream , and are elate if only they can manage to cause a certain amount of discussion , to secure a certain amount of spare type . They are friends to the printer , but not to themselves . They are

not the persons who make great movements or create needful reforms , and we feel sure that if ever this little question is seriously discussed in Grand Lodge it will be found that the good sense of the brethren will at once reject a proposition fraught , as we know it tobe , with countless evils to

all honest and loyal working Masons amongst us . As we have often said before , these very objectors to slight discrepancies seem to forget , in Iheir love of uniformity , that this very independence of ritual is a strong proof among many

more , alike to the antiquity of our Order and to the long continued usage of ' . habitual archaisms and familiar words , -with some slight allowable variation in the different lodges of our jurisdiction .

The Grand Lodge Of Quebec.

THE GRAND LODGE OF QUEBEC .

We are pleased to notice that our esteemed Bro . Graham is re-elected G . M . of the Grand Lodge of Quebec . We trust that this is a good omen that moderate counsels may prevail . Bro . Graham has much experience , kindliness , and tact , and he is , we venture to think , a friend to Masonic peace and fraternal concord .

The License Of Libel.

THE LICENSE OF LIBEL .

J ust now libel seems very much in fashion , and we are informed , on what we consider a good authority , that there are several papers which under various and euphonious titles seem to revel in the garbage of disgraceful slander . In a free country like ours it is

obviously impossible to restrict the liberty of the press , except within the limits of public safety , general morality , and personal forbearance . We can undoubtedly , and we do by statute and common law , punish those who write treason , who insult religion , who vilify individual

character , who do injury to the fair fame or actual credit of unoffending fellow-citizens . But beyond this we cannot go , and we can only leave to the good taste of the community to discourage that " fifth estate . " of the press which is a disgrace to journalism , and an injury to society .

For as there is no smoke without a fire , so unless these scurrilous prints and printers have readers and supporters they could not thrive at all , much less survive the needful expenses of production . It becomes a serious matter for

enquiry who are they whoread such papers which , false in themselves , discredit and degrade every axiom of decency , fair play , and truth ? LTnfoitunately there always is aclassin society , both of old and young , which seems to revel in prurient

The License Of Libel.

gossip or defamatory mysteries . These are they who , the nuisances of our clubs , retail in private circles the vile inuendo or the deliberate libel with a nod of intelligence or a wink of sagacity , and so it is passed on from one gobemouche to another as ' * the last new thing at the

clubs . " We always distrust a person who tells us what he heard at the clubs , as , with the exception of the " City , " to which many extraordinary statements are credited day by day , more lies , to use a plain good word , are put down to the authority of the " clubs " than ever were coined

in the idlest and most reckless of them all . Hence it comes to pass that social life is saturated with that tendency to " libel , " to all " uncharitableness , " to downrig ht cruel and wicked slander , which is either significent of debased morals or a dissolving society . At this moment

many are these truthful and intellectual prints which cater to a vitiated taste , to this diseased condition of morals and feelings . The publisher of two of them has lately been before Mr Alderman Staples , and is now at the Old Bailey , for audacious libels , simply

intended to create " sensation ' or inflict pain . It represents well the state of things to which a portion of contemporary journalism is reduced , that the proprietor states that he had resource to a special agent to ascertain the truth of the vile and cowardly libel given him by a

contributor , which he so greedily and daringly published , and that he was deceived by both . Can any further commentary be needed on proceedings which we feel are disgraceful to us all ? Let us hope that the common sense and keen perception of our great community will ere

long render all such " ventures both profitless and hopeless , and that the punishment of the law , and the contempt , of society will await all who , violating every decency of public and private life , pander to a passing craze for what is libellous , hateful , debasing , and untruthful .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

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

MELROSE LODGE . To lhe Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I beg to thank your correspondent P . M . No . t , S . C , for his courteous information about Bro . Buchan's contributions to Masonic literature , and I will endeavour to avail myself of his previous researches in the ground I

am now going over . Respecting the ancient charge , all I can say at present about it is that it purports to be " extracted by me , A . M ., " in MDCLXXIV . from one of date 1581 . The original must have been an English document , as it is subscribed " in the riing of our most Soveraing Lady Elizabeth the ( 22 ) year . " Not having Bro . Murray Lyon ' s valuable work I am unable to compare the

documents . I have , however , compared thc writing with that of some of the earlier minutes in thc Melrose Lodge book , and find it resembles some of them very much , and I further find that the chirography of one of these old Masons , yclept Andro Mein , is remarkably like that of the old charge , and this idea is borne out by the initials A . M ., which stand in all probability for this Andro Mein . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours truly and fraternally , W . FRED . VERNON .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — My attention has been called to a correspondence which has been going on in your columns anent the Melrose Lodge , and reference is made to a visit paid by me to Mtttose . about eleven , years ago , when I had thc privilege of getting a glance at the old records of the lodge ,

and also seeing the fine old abbey . An account of my visit was published at pp . 205-209 of the " Freemasons' Magazine and Masonic Mirror" for September nth , 1869 , and inter alia I stited " It has records so far back as 1674 . " I did not assert that it had no other older documents , but mentioned 1674 as the date of the oldest I was either shown , or spoken , or written to

about then . I published a copy of the lodge seal , but it was not old , and also of certain regulations dated 1796 . I referred to the Melrose Masonic legend that John Murdo was Grand Master of the Masons of Melrose in 1136 , when the abbey was founded , but showed its absurdity as proved by Mr . —or shall I say Bro . ?—Murdo himself . In thc inscription tablet at Melrose Abbey , where John

Murdo treats us to his autobiography , we learn that Melrose only got a share of his patronage , for he says he " had in keeping all Mason work of St . Andrews , ye high Kirk ; of Glasgow , Melrose , and Paslay ; of Myddysdale and of Galway , " & c * So from this we see , that even supposing that John Murdo had been either a Master or a Grand Master of the Melro . se Lodge , yet ss he places it after Glasgow during ; his life , there js no good reason why

Original Correspondence.

it should be placed before . Glasgow after his death . Taking the whole matter into consideration , and with the desire to give the Melrose Lodge as high a position as possible upon the roll of Grand Lodge without unnecessarily insulting other lodges possibly older than the Melrose Lodge , I would respectfully suggest No . jf , so as to place it between the Lodge of Glasgow St . John , No . 3 % , and

Kilwinning , No . 4 . I think I published a minute of the Lodge of Glasgow St , John of 1613 , while the Glasgow Masons' incorporation have minutes back to 1600 , I think , and a charter or seal of cause a number of years earlier . Then again , as the Glasgow Masons signed the 1628 Roslin Charter , I fear that Bro . Vernon must in justice restrain his enthusiasm a little before really supporting the idea of placing the Melrose Lodge upon the roll as either

" IA" or " Ai . " I wish Bro . Vernon , however , good speed with his researches , and trust he will be able to publish valuable and interesting information shortly . Only , above all , give us historical accuracy , and support the truth , no matter what becomes of pretensions . I cannot close without holding out my hand to my old and esteemed friend Bro . Hughan . May he long be spared to the Ciaft . I am yours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN .

A CORRECTION : RECTITUDE CHAPTER No . 581 . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In your report of the meeting of this chapter contained in your last week ' s issue Comp . Arensberg is stated to have said that the jewel he was presenting to Comp . James Hall was the first ever presented to him ,

and at a later part of the evening Comp . Gallagher , Z . 325 , repeated the statement . In fairness to our esteemed Comp . Hall , I think it right to prevent any misapprehension which might arise from the above erroneous statement , as such would lead your readers tt , suppose that Comp . Hall ' s valuable services had hitherto been unrecognised by the various chapters in

which he has worked so energetically . Some five years since eight or nine chapters subscribed for a very handsome eighteen-carat P . Z . jewel set with diamonds , which was suitably inscribed and presented to Comp . Hall . Each subscribing chapter had a bar bearing its number placed across the ribbon , lt seems somewhat strange considering that the Rectitude

Chapter as well as St . John ' s , 325 ( Comp . Gallagher ' s ) , took part in this presentation , that such statements should be made , more especially so as St . John ' s Chapter in addition presented Comp . Hall with a P . Z . jewel on their own account . It is a pity that more care is not observed in makings

such statements , as these errors sometimes cause much trouble and annoyance . And correspondents ought also to be more careful in giving proper titles , and not send them to the press hap-hazard . Comp . HaU is not P . P . G . Treasurer , as reported , but P . P . G . P . S ., as the presentation jewel denotes . Yours fraternally , " PALMUt QiUl MERUIT FERAT . "

ROYAL MASONIC PUPILS' ASSISTANCE FUND . To lhe Editor of lhe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I am pleased to inform you H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught has forwarded through Bro . Binckes £ 20 as a donation to the Royal Masonic Pupils' Assistance Fund . 1 enclose you the list of Patrons up to October 1 ith ; there

are some thirty names to add since . I find the well-known Westminster anil Keystone Lodge have sit . ee the year 1866 forwarded a subscription annually to the Boys * and Girls' Schools , for the purpose of assisting deserving boys and girls on leaving school ( an example I am soiry to say not followed by other lodges . ) I am informed atthe present time the Supreme Council and

members of the Schools Committees have several cases they arc supporting in tbe manner | proposed by the R . M . P . A . F ., and ' Dr . Morris can mention other cases . This alone speaks for the necessity of establishing a separate fund , and when we remember that at various periods such well-known brothers as Bros . Clabon and Dr . Jabez Hogg have proposed that some such fund be established , as also that ou r illustrious Bro . Lord Leigh , as Chairman of the Boys *

Festival , proposed the advisability of establishing scholarships , there can be but little doubt Lord Roslyn ' s proposal at the last Boys' Festival will meet with hearty support and approval , and the success up to the present is so far beyond my most sanguine expectations that very early I hope to be able to report the proposed scheme " un faifc accompli . " Thanking you , Sir , for your hearty support , I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , DICK RADCLYFFE .

128 , High Holborn , London , W . C , October nth , 1879 . ORIGINAL RESEARCH . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The work bearing the above title is still in hand , and will , in all likelihood , be published in the course of six months . It will shew by the science of speculative astronomy ,

Ar00706

* I have made somewhat free with the spelling here . 1 believe it will be difficult for John Murdo to prove his existence before the fitfeenth century . He tells us hc was not engaged building new edifices , but he " had in keeping " those he mentions , which were already erected , and which often suffered at the hands of the English after the death of Robert the Bruce , and the memory of whose raids a uses him to pray that Melrose Kirk might be protected , frpm harm , or " l ? ept fra skaith . "