Our English Constitutions.

serve when we received a copy of the bye-laws and certain extracts from the " Constitutions , " in Italian , that we highly approved of the work , as , in our op inion , it might do great good to Italian

Freemasonry to know alike our wise regulations and truly tolerant system . We are pleased to learn that La Revista , the principal Italian Masonic organ , which , unfortunately , we do not see , thoug h we know not why , is republishing the little work , which does such credit to Bro .

Broadley and all concerned in its publication and production . If Bro . Broadley will add to his favours by sending the book to us in French , when ready , we will call attention to it in our columns . For of this one thing we are persuaded , that the more our English Constitutions are

known , the more they will be appreciated by all true Masons , and we should like very much to think that , translated into other languages , they mig ht yet become a rallying point for many foreign Grand Lodges , which , unfortunately , rely ing on ciude notions and non-expert Masons ,

have codes of laws which are not calculated either to advance the prestige of Masonry or to diffuse true Masonic principles in the various quarters of the habitable world . So we heartily commend Bro . Broadley ' s work , and that of the Lodge 1717 at Tunis .

Charity Reform.

CHARITY REFORM .

We have read our worthy Bro . P . G . C . Simpson ' s letter with much attention , but , though we think it right to notice it out of respect to him and the cause it relates to , we find little to find fault with and less to answer . Our good brother rather—we say it in all friendliness—evades the

point of dispute between us . Ho talks of " abuses , " many and ftagrant ; we say we know of none , really and truly , worth calling " abuses , " meeting him on his own ground and great point , " the exchange of votes . " He says we have misrepresented his views , and as he has said this

before we again ask him to restate them clearly , for they are now in a certain state of muddle and misconception . If we understand his various speeches and letters , Bro . Simp-. on finds fault almost entirely with the administration of the Charities on the ground of the "exchange of

votes , ' which he has said , over and over again , leads to " canvassing , " and to " cards , " to "expense , " and to " corruption , " and to the "hardship of poor candidates , " and the " selection of not the most deserving cases ; " that " interest , " aud not " merit , '' becomes the chaiacteristics of all

such Charities where the present system of " exchange of votes " prevails . Now , we ask Bro . Simpson , distinctly , and once for all , without any " word splitting , " to tell us how he proposes to deal with our Masonic votes . They represent now many , many thousands of voters

at each election . They are held by the provinces and metropolis in round numbers , in almost equal proportion , highly to the credit of the metropolitan brethren , and are equivalent now to a very large sum of money paid on the faith of certain rules and regulations . If exchanges and

Committees are to cease , how are all these votes to be sent to London - and through what channel or channels ? Through " the Central Committee " as is proposed by some ? or " direct to the Secretaries , " as it is advocated by others ? Or has Bro . Simpson a new method cf his own ? For

remember , as Masons , we are practical and sensible men , and wish our Charities to be governed , not only on benevolent but business principles . One great good of the Provincial Charity Committees and the Metropolitan Association is , that the expenses and cards are reduced to a minimum

for candidates , and that all cases are carefully scrutinized , and the strongest cases , as a rule , selected . But , as we pointed out last week , the only little weakness that we are aware of is in the " original selection of candidates , " and how that is to be improved is certainly not affected by Bro . Simpson ' s views , because , by our rules , such selection

is made b y the General Committee . The selection might be made by a Sub-Committee , no doubt , but we are not sure the change would please the Subscribers , since the General Committee is an " open court" where objections can be made and are heard . JNo doubt a Sub-Committee would go

Charity Reform.

deeper into the merits of each case , and weigh each case carefully , and though we are ourselves favourable to a Sub-Committee of selection , we believe that the general feeling of the subscribers leans to the present arrangement . Bro . Simpson ' s argument that the Provincial Charities

Committees have arisen from dissatisfaction with the present state of things , he must excuse us for saying , is simply unhistorical and not a little absurd , begging his pardon . The provincial system of Charity Committees began in i 860 and 1861 , and was simply an effort to obtain the

benefit of local meritorious efforts for the Chanties for distressing and worthy local cases . The charity reform movement , such as it is , is the creation of not ten years . The provinces , on the contrary , are quite satisfied with the present system , and would be great losers by any other .

We do ask our worthy brother , the P . G . C , and others to leave our excellent Masonic Charities alone , and to allow them to pursue the " even tenour of their way , " diffusing blessings and help to many , and " constituting the ornament and the pride of our warm-hearted and charitable brotherhood . There is , we believe , but one feeling

amongst our kindly brotherhood , excepting one or two crotchetly persons , and amongst all who really understand the question , to resist idle changes and worthless reforms , which will weaken and not strengthen , which will undermine and not prop up , which will deteriorate and not improve our admirable and excellent Charitable Institutions .

Professed Exposures Of Freemasonry.

PROFESSED EXPOSURES OF FREEMASONRY .

Truth , with its euphonious and affecting name , is well known , probably , to many of our readers , and we need say no more about it than that it is a weekly paper , published every Thursday , whose editor is Mr . Labotichere—sec recent trials " passim . " In its issue of Thursday , July 17 th ,

it professes to give a complete and succinct explanation of the " mysteries" of Freemasonry , which it elegantly terms " mummeries , " both in the Three Degrees and the Royal Arch . We were very much amused when scanning the columns of Truth to note that this modern

" Mustagogos did not disdain to have recourse to older and worthless impugneis of Freemasonry ; nay , that he had even ventured to " crib " a " wrinkle" from the infallible Pichard , the honestminded Carlisle , and the suffering and injured Morgan . Indeed , we only see in it an olden

weapon , refurbished with the modern appliances and startling brilliancy of Truth . Those of our brethren who read Truth for July j ; th will have probably laughed heartily at this obsolete and absurd attack , while the non-Masonic world will give no more credence to it than they did to

similar notable productions in bygone years . For it is a curious " factor " in the history of Freemasonry , explain it as we will , that neither interesting " confessions" nor abusive "exposures" have done any harm to the Order . It has , on the contrary , gained strength from every assault , found

vitality in every blow . One passage iri Truth , and only one , requires notice by us ; as for the rest of the attack it may be safel y left to the good sense and loyal feeling of the community at large . The passage is this : " I am not myself a Freemason , but I have often amused myself

by passing for one . " Despite the great authority of Truth , whose motto always most properl y is " Magna est Veritas et prevalebit , " we beg most respectfully to demur to such a statement , if its words are properly understood by us . It is just possible , indeed , that in that eclectic and august

circle in which the writer of Truth always moves , as we know , he may have amused himself and his friends—like those of Mr . Magnus , easily amused—with passing himself off as a Freemason , but that he ever did so in a lodge or among Freemasons we utterly deny . If such be really the meaning of Truth , as we just said , we should

like to know the lodge where , and the meeting when , this interesting episode took place , as , if it took place , it says a good deaf , does it not , for the ' -assurance" of the writer in Truth , be he who he may , on the one side—it says not a little " per contra" for the weakness and carelessness of our brethren on the other ? Yes , verily , my

Professed Exposures Of Freemasonry.

masters . So we await with much interest the " denouement " of this last ecstatic utterance of Truth . We note , as an amusing commentary on the above , that the same writer who professes that he often passed for a Freemason also assures his

readers in the same number that he entered a harem , disguised as a homoeopathic doctor , and cured an interesting patient with a " few globules " in a " silver spoon . " Risum teneatis fratres et amici .

The Perils Of Table Talk

THE PERILS OF TABLE TALK

A very curious case is reported in the Times , of Thursday fortnight , which , as it seriously affects the character , and privacy , and liberty , and comfort , of every dinner table , deserves , as it seems to us , our very attentive consideration . We allude to the case of " Whitehead versus Westropp and

wife , " before the Lord Chief Justice , at Westminster . It seems that at a dinner two gentlemen found their fair neighbour , Mrs . Westropp , so " conformable" and so agreeable that they talked across her , until noticing her husband ' s frowns she " straitened herself up , " whatever that may

mean . During this agreeable interlude several very jocular remarks were passed , and the conversation became of a very li ght and airy character . No doubt , the dinner was good , and the wines were " what they should be , " and

given an agreeable companion in " juxtaposition , " we have all the needful ingredients for a very pleasant and enjoyable dinner . The " punctilious" husband , however , as the Lord Chief Justice appositely styled him , took it into his head that the conversation " across his wife " and

" to his wife was something very improper indeed , and having heard , no doubt , from his wife and slightly coloured account of the festive assertions of her two amiable adjuncts , he hastily and excitedly came to the conclusion that such jokes were not the " correct card , " that his wife had

been insulted , and that the conversation itself , especially cf the plaintiff , was libellous to a third person . Why the husband shonld assume all this to be the case does not quite clearly appear , unless we suppose that his wife was in earnest when she said she disapproved of such a style of

conversation . Unlike some we have known , the most cheery and the most guileless , and yet the most proper of women , they could smile at a quiet joke , and laugh out at a good story , as well as the most uproarious and least reticent of us all . Accordingly , like irate husbands in general , this

aggrieved individual wrote to Mr . Whitehead , asking for an apology—and "instanter too . " Outraged propriety required an immediate and effective " amende honorable . " The reply to this , in our opinion , needlessly angry letter and unreasonable request , was a calm statement that the dinner

conversation was really and truly only a dinner conversation , free , careless , and , perhaps , a little expansive , but not meant to be repeated , much less complained of or apologised for . But the still indignant husband once more "joined issue "

with this jocose doctor , for it seems Mr . Whitehead is a medical man , who is equally ready to write a prescription or make a joke . Failing an apology , he added a threat , namely , that under " such circumstances " he should " be under the

necessity of having recourse to such measures as will seriously affect your character as a gentleman and a doctor . " These measures , which consisted of conversations to third persons in the neighbourhood of Ventnor , where the plaintiff practised , were the subject of the present action . We need

hardly point out to our readers how detrimental to a medical man would be allegations and insinuations as to his free and easy manners and his relaxed conversation , as well as an amiable habit of repetition and scandal . So Mr . Whitehead brings an action against Westropp and wife and

obtains a farthing damage . We read that the Lord Chief J ustice said he should "mark his sense of what the verdict should have been by giving the plaintiff the costs of the action . " This resolution of the Lord Chief Justice will mulct Mr .

Westropp in a considerable sense , and , let us hope , be a warning to many others who forget that conversation at a dinner table is meant to be alike free and confidential ; in that none of us would , probably , like the Town Crier , to announce at the street corner all the nonsense that we