Freemasonry Abroad.

FREEMASONRY ABROAD .

Space forbids our giving a lengthy review of the Craft in foreign countries , such as we published last week , in respect of l'reemasonry in thc British Empire ; but we do not consider we are debarred by this important consideration from offering a few remarks a- ; to its general position and progress during the year 1894 . As regards the continent of Kurope , it will ,

perhaps , be sufficient if we state that in those Masonic jurisdictions with which our Grand Lodge is on terms of . friendly intercourse , nothing of material importance to the welfare of our Society has happened . In Sweden and Norway , in Denmark , in the Netherlands ,: throughout Germany , in Switzerland , and in Hungary , & c " , Freemasonry , though it may not have

made any material advance , has undoubtedly maintained its position and influence . In France and elsewhere outside the above jurisdictions , it still insists on mixing itself up with the political , social , and religious controversies of the day , and wisely , therefore , we refrain , as we have refrained for many years , from permitting ourselves to be in any way associated with them .

In so far as these latter Grand Orients or Grand Lodges respect the fundamental principles or our Order , to that extent we sympathise with them , and they justly command our sincerest wishes for their prosperity . But we dare not act inconsistently with the unvarying professions of our Masonic faith . We cannot proclaim ourselves unsectarian in religion and politics , and

at the same time join hands with those who make no secret of their resolution to employ their Masonic organisation as a means to further their political or religious aims ; neither can we acknowledge them as members of the LIniversal Masonic Brotherhood , who have eliminated from their creed the first and most important article of a Mason ' s faith , namely ,

belief in God and a future state . But we need not dwell upon these matters , especially at a season of the year when , of all others ; we would extend the utmost Charity to all sorts and . conditions of men . Rather let us turn to that country in which , in the middle of last century , the Masonry of these islands established for itself a number of homes , and note

how those settlements have developed into an immense organisatoni which , to judge by the experience of the last half-century , appears to be capable of still further and even more enormous developments than the world has ever known in the case of any society . We are , of course , aljuding to the United States of Norlh America , to which in 1730 , 17 . 33

1737 , and subsequently certain of the Grand Masters of England granted deputations to DANIEL CORE , HENRY PRICE , and others to preside over one or more of what were then British Colonies as Provincial Grand Masters . The seed thus sown found a congenial soil , and though the career of Freemasonry since those early times has not been without its serious vicissitudes , and

though at one time open war was declared against our Society by a formidable section of the people , it has not only survived the dangers which have encompassed it , but has become , as we have said , an immense organisation capable of almost infinite development . The number of Grand Lodges is close on 50 , under which are ranged some thousands of private lodges , while

the subscribing members to the latter are quite Sor 1 , 000 . The largest jurisdiction is that of the Grand Lodge of New York , in which there are about SOD lodges wi ; h an aggregate membership of 86 , 000 , while the Grand Lodges of Pennsylvania , Illinois , Massachusetts , Ohio , Indiana , Michigan , Iowa , and others that might be enumerated , are strong in numbers and well

organised . Many of these have established what are called Homes , which correspond with our Benevolent and Scholastic Institutions , but they are of comparatively recent origin , and are , therefore , for the present on a scale which is by no means commensurate with the extent and resources of the jurisdictions in which they are located . But our own Masonic Charities were

on a modest icale in their early days , and we doubt not that in time the American Masonic Charities will receive that greater measure of support which they deserve . As regards some among the older and larger jurisdictions , we nole that Connecticut has some 110 lodges on its IO'I ; in Georgia there are between 17 000 and 18 , 000 subscribing members ; in Illinois there

are not far short of 50 , 000—the total mentioned at the meeting of Grand Lodge towards the close of the year 18 9 . ; was 4 8 222 , and showed an increase of more than 2000 as compared with the preceding year ; in Kentucky , over 18 , 000 ; in Maryland between ( ioooand 7000 ; in Massachusetts about 34 . o < x > j in New Jersey , abaut 15 , 000 ; in New York , as before

stated , upwards of 86 , 000 ; and in Pennsylvania , upwards of 400 ledges with an aggregate membership of about 4 S 000 —it was close on 46 , 000 in December , 1 S 92 , and the annual increase during the last

few years has been nearer 21100 than 1000 , so that we ae not over-estimating the present total when we gave it at the number mentioned . Royal Arch Masonry and the Templar body are also proportionately as formidable in respect of numbers as is Craft Masonry . The Royal and Select

Freemasonry Abroad.

Masters muster a grand total of about 28 , 000 , there being some 32 Grand Councils with about 400 private councils . The Ancient and Accepted Rite is divided inlo the Northern and Southern jurisdictions , the former having its headquarters in Boston , Massachusetts , and the latter in Charleston , South Carolina , while the Ked Cross , the Allied Degrees , the Rosicrucians , and

even the Royal Order of Scotland are represented in the States , though ihe ' . r introduction is of recent date . In short , Freemasonry , both in its main trunk and in its branches , is very largely supported and encouraged by our American cousins , among its most prominent luminaries being included a very large number of the leading citizens , and what it his chiefly to guard

against is that love of innovation which so readily finds favour in comparatively new , countries . We have again and again referred to the changes which have been introduced into lodge work in some of the jurisdictions . In one the officers are installed publicly , in anothe . - they are arrayed in gorgeous vestments when degrees are conferred . Here open war is declared

against saloon-keepers , there Freemasonry is raised to the dignity of a religion , and while a great parade is made about the observance of the ancient landmarks , not the . slightest trouble is taken to point out the essential , the fundamental principles of the Society . We rejoice to say this tendency to introduce change is not to be found—or at all events , not to any very

considerable extent , in the older jurisdictions . There the old traditions of the Craft have been carefully preserved and are most religiously respected , but in Grand Lodges of later constitution the go-ahead notions which characterise the American people generally , their fondness for any and every deviation from the ancient ways , and , in some respects , their contempt for

any sect or b jdy which upholds the tenets that constituted the faith of its founders , have made their influence felt even in the sphere of Masonic duty . In the ordinary course of life a due respect for the past , for the work of those who have gone before us , is not incompatible with a proper regard for the things of to-day and of the future ; in Masonry it is of the very essence

of its being that its past should be dealt with respectfully , and as closely followed as the circumstances of our time will permit . If we take away that past from Freemasonry , there is little or nothing left us to respect or observe . However , there is little or no danger of Freemasonry degenerating into a benefit society , or being converted into a political , social , or religious

organisation , while we have such Grand Lodges as those of New York , Pennsylvania , and Massachusetts retaining and exercising their just influence . The spirit that animates these and some of the other Grand Lodges cannot

be too greatly admired or too closely followed , and so long as these retain their just influence , so long shall we continue to look upon the extension and numerical increase of Masonry in the United States as a blessing to the Craft generally .

History Of No. 304, Leeds.

HISTORY OF No . 304 , LEEDS .

The Province of West Yorkshire , has been abundantly favoured with Histories of Lodges within its jurisdiction , and so also as to publications concerning the progress of the Craft generally . As to the latter , many particulars are to be found in the trio of Records of the Installations of the Provincial Grand Masters of West Yorkshire , in 1 S 75 , 1885 , and 1894 , prepared by

several competent and zealous brethren , and of Lodge Histories—more or less valuable and exhaustive—may be noted . 61 , Halfax , Bro . Herbert Crossley , 188 S . 242 , Doncaster , Bro . William Delanoy , 18 S 0 . 265 , Keighley , Bro . J . R . Riley , 18 S 9 ,-

289 , Leeds , Bros ; Scarth and Braim , 1893 ; .. ' , '<" 290 , Huddersfield , Bro . W . L . Wilmshurst , 1893 . ' ¦ 296 , Sheffield , Bros . St . icey and Moss , 1 S 93 .

302 , Bradford , Bro . C . Gott ( and others ) , 18114 . 304 , Leeds , Bro . C . L . Mason , 18 94 . 308 , Eastwood , Bro . J . E . Craven , 18 S 6 . 387 , Shipley , Bro . J . R . Riley , 1877-78-80 .

1221 , Leeds , Bro . William Watson , Hon . Librarian , W . Yorks , 1879 . Also last , but not least , the Yorkshire lodges : " A Century of Yorkshire Freemasonry , " by Bro . J / Ramsderi Riley ( 1 S 85 ) . I have had the pleasure of writing several of the Introductions to these volumes , and have taken a lively interest in the preparation and publication of most of them .

Of Lodge Histories , two of the most important are those of " Fidelity , " No . 289 , so ably written by Bros . Alfred Scarth and Charles Albert Braim ( reviewed by me in the Freemason for July 21 st , 1894 ) , and the "Philanthropic , " No . 304 , by Bro . Charles Letch Mason ( P . M ., P . Prov . Grand Treasurer ) , about vvriich I now desire to say a few wor 4 s ,