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THERE is a point just now , as our lodges are like " dissolving views" for the moment , which , we think , deserves " noting . " How about our Treasurers' books ? How about the financial position of many excellent lodges ? It is just possible that

we are giving too much to sociality and too little to charity ? Is it the fact that many lodges are in debt to their Treasurer , and remain so year by year ? Is there no remedy for these things ? or are ** back reckonings" and limited grants for charity

still to be the order of the day ? Would it not be well if all lodges published a balance sheet yearly ? Very many do not . We have always held this to be a mistake , though we are also aware that there

is an idea afloat that such matters should not go beyond the lodge , and only be treated of in the lodge . There are , in fact , two sides to this , as to almost every question .

* * * WILL it surprise our readers to be told that in 1880 there still lingers amongst us a good deal of that dear , good old fogey objection to a Masonic Press ? No one denies , least of

all those who have to do with it , that Masonic journalism is always both exceptionable and delicate in the highest degree . But we had hoped that we had outlived the time of fifty years ago , when it was almost hig h treason to print or report Masonic

proceedings . The progress of Masonry and an altered condition of affairs seem now to demand in tlie best interests and for the safe progress of our

cherished Craft , a well-ordered Press , to proclaim its beneficent principles , to develope its goodly " outcome , "and to defend it against unreasonable opponents , and to record its wondrous progress .

MR . O'DONNELL seems to have a dislike to the Freemasons , as this little extract from thc Times of Friday last shews : " The hon . member went on " to ask the rig ht hon . gentleman whether he

" would lay on the table the oath or form of attes" tation of the Irish Constabulary ; and whether " it was true that Freemasonry was the only " secret society to which an Irish consulate was " expressly permitted or recommended to belong .

" MR . W . E . FORSTER said the oath contained " the following passage : ' I do not belong to , and " ' will not , while I shall hold thc same office , " ' join , subscribe , or belong to ^ any political " ' society whatever , or any secret society

what" ' ever , unless to thc society of Freemasons . •'( Laughter . ) It would be worse than absurd to " allow a member of the constabulary to belong to " a secret society as generally understood . With " regard to the Society of Freemasons , he believed

" it was not generall y thought to have the political " evils of a secret society . Many Royal Princes , " including the Prince of WALES , were members of " it , and he could not imagine , therefore , that " there was anything disloyal in it . ( Hear , hear . " )

As Freemasons we shall be pleased to note the remarkable testimony thus borne to the unchanging loyalty , on thc most unimpeachable authority , of Irish Freemasons , ( as is true of all real Freemasons

everywhere ) , and their unswerving obedience to thc laws of the land . This surely is the best reply to unjust depreciation or deliberate slander of our useful and orderly and peaceful Fraternity .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

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

ITINERANT MASONS . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Upon the above subject , so ably treated by r- you self and b y your correspondent " Past Master , S . C , " in your valuable paper of the 24 th of April , I beg to supply a few facts ; and , first , I beg to enclose a cutting from the

Manchester Guardian of this day relative to a case just before the magistrates at Acerington : "At the Acerington Police Court on Saturday , June 19 th , Thomas Richard Rice Stack , who had been remanded on the previous Monday , was charged with fraudulently obtaining , and attempting to obtain , money .

" His Masonic certificate shows him to have been made a Mason in 1 S 74 at the Cadder Lodge , Argyle , No . 147 , Scotland , and he also professed to belong to No . 62 , Ireland . " He was formerly a schoolmaster ; and , in this case , came to the W . M . of Equality [ Lodge , Acerington ( who is also a schoolmaster ) , claiming assistance on the dcuibie crounds of beinsr a teacher and a Mason . '"* "

Original Correspondence.

" He produced a letter purporting to come from the Rev . Lewis Morgan , Brookwood Vicarage , Woking , inviting Stack to take charge of a school at that place , and he asked for means to take himself and family there . Temporary relief was given , and at the lodge in the evening the brethren promised to look into his case , and , if found deserving , to give substantial relief . He was requested to

call again in two days . " The letter from Woking was strongly suspected to be Slack's own writing ; and a telegram elicited the fact that neither the person nor address of the clergyman was known at Woking . "The matter was at once placed in the hands of the police , and on Saturday Slack was sentenced to two

months hard labour . " Previous convictions were proved against him for bigamy , indecent assault , and aggravated assault , besides having been twice charged with assault . " It has been discovered that he has at various times and places attempted to obtain grants from Masonic Charities , among others from the Grand Lodge of Scotland , and that

he is well known as a scamp to the Almoners of the East Lancashire Systematic Benevolent Fund . " We are also informed that he had never subscribed one penny to his lodge since his entrance , and , in fact , has never visited the lodge but once since . "He is apparently about fifty years of age , middle height , pallid countenance , pockmarked , dark hair , heavy browed ,

with a strong cast in one eye , and speaks with a strong Irish accent . " This ease has more than once been before our Almoners here , who , satisfied that the man was unworthy , refused relief , and , in so doing , narrowly escaped assault . He is a Scotch Mason , being initiated in Cadder Lodge , Argyle , No . 147 , and I have it on the authority of the Secretary that he never subscribed one penny to the lodge since his

initiation . The Grand Secretary of Scotland informs me that in June , 1 S 75 , the Board of Benevolence granted this brother the sum of five pounds , conditionally that a favourable report was received from a brother to whom the case was referred . At the following meeting the Board cancelled the award . By the Grand Lodge ' s request , I caused

application to be made to the court for his certificate , in order that it might be returned to Scotland , and thus prevent this itineracy , but the magistrate stated that he had no authority to do anything of the kind , or yet endorse it ; and thus at the end of two months this man will be again at liberty

to pursue his reckless defiance of all Masonic laws . So far as this province is concerned , 1 feel satisfied that the strictness of the Almoners' investigations is preventing a large amount of deception . I reman , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , JOHN CHADWICK , June 21 st . Prov . G . Sec . E . L .

H . M . S . ATALANTA . To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — M y attention was called this morning to your issue of the 12 th inst ., in which a letter appeared from Bro . W . H . Hinks relative to Bro . G . H . Wyatt , who , we must conclude , has lost his life with the above-named vessel , leaving

a widow and three young children , and with the daily expectation of a fourth . I have been to see the poor woman , and I can verify the statement made from personal observation , and I can also state that from inquiries I have made I am in a position to prove that the case is a most deserving one for every Mason to lend a helping hand to .

1 shall do my best here amongst my many Masonic friends to help hsr during her present necessities , and shall be glad to receive and acknowledge any contributions that our numerous brethren may confide to me on her behalf , assuring them that such will be thankfully received and properly disposed of . I am , dear Sir and Brother , fraternally yours ,

WM . BUZZARD , PM . 6 S , P . P . G . S . D . Bristol . 3 , Brighton-street , City-road , Bristol , June 17 th . P . S . —I may add that Bro . Geo . H . Wyatt was initiated in the Sun Lodge , Exmouth , No . IOO " , in July , 1 S 75 , but that his documents are all lost with him .

Reviews.

Reviews .

RECHERCHES SUR LE RITE ECOSSAIS , ANCIEN ACCEPTE . By Bro . J . EMILE DARUTY . Paris : Panisset , 14 , Rue dc Metz . Bro . Daruty , Master of the Lodge L'Amitie , No . 245 , under the French Rite Ecossais , and a member of the 33 , writes this work from Port Louis , " He Maurice . " It is a work which deserves to be read by all who interest themselves in such matters , as it is marked by much careful

research , and an evident desire to be correct . The author has put together a very interesting account of Masonry in general in England , France , and Scotland , as well as of the Rite Ecossais in France , and we will proceed to shew where we think he is correct and where incorrect in his theories and in his conclusions . Wc would ask him to dismiss at once all ideas of a Knitrhtlv oriirin for

Freemasonry . He quotes Anderson as alluding to this point , but Anderson ' s view , put into other words , is simply , that the Knightly Order and the Hermetic Grades were borrowed from Freemasonry , not Freemasonry from them . This is a point to be noted in the controversy . As regards Hermetic and Chivalric Grades , all we think that can fairly be saidis , thatan Hermetic Grade existed in 1717 . Gr thereabouts

but what it really was we cannot now , or at present , plainly say . All our brother ' s theories of Templar perpetuation , whether in Scotland or elsewhere , or the antiquity of "Heredom , " & c , cannot be substantiated , and are , in our opinion , mere " figments . " What is the true connection of Freemasonry with Hermeticism , and how much it borrowed from it , or vice versa , or was coloured and dominated by its

traditions , is a question which has yet to be more fully considered . Bro . Daruty seems to make Isnglish Masonry operative and partly Knightly , Scottish Masonry altogether Knightly in its origin , though he alludes to " Lombard Masons , " builders of Killwinning . French Masonry he makes to come from England , and partly from Scotland . We have always fancied that Lord Derwentwater obtained his Masonry from Scotland . Bro . Daruty takes back Scottish Freemasonry to Ramsay , and the Chapter d'Arras . And i £ we may

Reviews.

agree that Ramsay was at one time very active in Masonry , and probably Stuart Masonry , yet Bro . Daruty brings out apparently most interestingly , the fact that he" had a Correspondence with Cardinal Fleury in 1737 , and that , in consequence of the King ' s objections , he soon afterwards retired from Masonry . He fixes the famous speech March if st ,- 1737 * —not 1740 , as commonly stated . It would be interesting to *

ascertain , if one could , when the famous address attrrtbi-ifeato Ramsay first appeared . The earliest appearance of it which we know of is in Varrentraap ' s work , Frankfort , 1742 . Bro . Daruty mentions an earlier allusion " in a work published in 1741 , and again in 173 S , but I am inclined to think , ( though the fact may be so ) , that the earliest appearance is in 1740 , its second in 1742 , and

its third in the " Histoires des Francmasons , " Pans , 1745 , in the Paris edition just mentioned . In a scarce little work , " Les Francs Macons , " of 1744 , we find a French translation of the original , by | J . G . D . M . F . M ., of the " Relation ApoIogique , " , a Dublin , cher Patrice Odonoko , 173 S . Bro . Daruty clears up the personality of the Duke d'Antin , abour which much obscurity prevailed . He appears now to have been Louis de Paidaillan , de Gondron , Due d'Antin ,

born in 1707 , died in 1743 , aged 36 . Bro . Daruty gives a very interesting account of thc French Lodges , and his work requires to be studied . We wish it all success , as we consider it a most careful and meritorious effort to lay before us a connected view of French Masonic history . We may recur to it . We will express but one regret , that Bro . Daruty had not apparently seen Kenning ' s Cyclopaedia , as he would find many points dilated upon there which would have helped him much .

North Africa.

North Africa .

TUNIS . —Ancient Carthage Lodge ( No 1717 ) . —' The closing meetings of the various English Masonic bodies in the regency of Tunis have taken place with much success , and all work is now virtuall y suspended till the early part of October . The last meeting of the above lodge was held on thc pth June . ( The W . M ., Dr . Perini ( D . G . S . W . ) , presided , and there was a large attendance of members and

visitors . The Masons of Malta were represented by W . Bro . W . Read , P . M . 407 , P . D-G . Reg . ; and W . Bro . C . Thompson , VV . M . and Z . 38 ^ , I . C . At this meeting the Baron Constantine d'Ortes was initiated , and Bro . Daumas passed to the F . C . Degree . The Permanent Committee reported a balance of nearly jCioo in hand , that about £ 20 had been dispensed in charity , and that the disbursements

for the past year had been nil . Great satisfaction was " - expressed at a grant of £ 30 made by the Grand Lodge o ( Benevolence to the widow of one of the seven founders oi the lodge , an Italian P . M . The present number of active * members is seventy-four , divided on the head of nationality as follows , viz .: Enclish , fourteen ; French , twenty-six :

Italian , twenty-five ; Greek . one ; German , one ; Portuguese , one ; and Tunisian , six . The distinction as to creed may be given thus : Roman Catholics , thirty-seven ; Israelites , twenty-eight ; Protestants , seven ; Greek Church , one ; and Mahommedan , one . The utmost harmony prevails in the lodge , which will soon enter on its fourth year of existence .

TUNIS . —William Kingston Lodge ( No . 1835 } , —On Friday , the nth inst ., the installation meeting of this lodge took place at the Goletta . The lodge was opened by the W . M ., Bro . J . E . L . Barker ( D . G . S . D . ) , and his officers at seven o'clock p . m ., assisted by a full attendance of members . A handsome banner , bearing the heraldic emblems of Ancient Carthage , was unfurled for the first time .

At the request of the W . M ., Bro . VV . Read , P . D . G . Reg ., assumed thc gavel , and installed Bro . Broadley , P . M . and Z . 1717 , P . D . D . G . M . of Malta , in the chair of K . S ., being assisted in the Board of Installed Masters by VV . Bros . T . F . Reade , P . M . 106 S , P . D . D . G . M . of Egypt ; Dr . A . Perini , W . M . 1717 ; and _ J . Barker , I . P . M . 1835 . The usual salutes having been given and proclamations made ,

the VV . M ., with appropriate remarks , invested the following officers , viz .: Bros . Barker , I . P . M . ; Curletto , S . VV . ; Eugercr , J . W . ; Durazzano , Treas . ; Ayra , Sec . ; Villareale , D . C ; Attard , S . D . ; Vaux , J . D . ; D'Amico , I . G . ; and Pagano , Tyler . A very satisfactory report having been received from the Audit Committee , the brethren and visitors adjourned tothe refreshment room , where the yearly installation banquet was duly celebrated .

TUNIS . —Kingston Mark Lodge ( No . 222 ) . —On Saturday , the 12 th inst ., _ the Masonic Hall was the scene of the installation meeting and summer festival of this Mark lodge . The W . M . M ., Bro . G . Pentecost ( P . p . J . W . ) , opened his lodge at 6 . 30 p . m ., there being a satisfactory attendance of officers and members , including the P . G . M ., W . Bro . W . Read , P . M . 107 , W . M . 262 , and

P . G . S . W ., and VV . Bro . C . Thompson , W . M . 387 , I . C . ( C f and Mark ) , represented the English and Irish Mark M " as " ters of Malta , and Bro . Vaux ( Secretary ) St . Louis Mark Lodge , No . 254 , at Goletta . A ballot was taken successfull y for Mr . P . Q . Puliga , LL . D ., and Bro . L . Chevalier , of Lodge 1717 . The latter , being in attendance , was advanced by the P . G . M . to the Degree of M . M . M . Thi *

ceremony being completed , Bro . Broadley addressed the members as to the progress of Mark Masonry in general and this lodge in particular since its consecration , two years previously . There were now sevent y active Mark Masters in Tunis , and he trusted that under the incoming VV . M . this prosperity would continue and increase . He alluded to the pleasure he felt at the presence of the two Masters of the

Mark Degree from Malta . Bro . Read was not only P . G . S . W ., but he had been recently called to fill the chair of the youngest Mark lodge in his province—the Union of Malta , No . 262—which already showed signs of being attended with a great and permanent success . Bro . Thompson also ruled over the Leinster Mark Lodge , No . 3 S 7 , which , under the authority of the Supreme G . R . A . Chapter of Ireland

had done much to render the Degree popular and respected in Malta both in the past and present . Bro . Thompson had laboured assiduousl y to draw the union closer between the English Mark Masters and their Irish confreres . The P . G . M . then called on these brethren to nresent the S . W

Bro . Dr . Perini ( W . M . I 7 i 7 and P . G . S . O . Mark ) , in the East , and duly installed him in the chair of A . The W . M . invested the following officers for 18 S 0-Si viz .: Bros . Pentecost , I . P . M . ; Souiller , S . W . ; Le Gallais , J . W . ; Clement , M . O . ; Bokobsa , S . O . ; Sessing J . O . j Bawotti , TreiM- . } Audry , Sec ; Chaigne . S . D . ;