Masonic Bibliography

books , sold in New York , 18 79 , by G . A . Levitt and Co ., the Library Catalogue of my revered friend , Bro . Frederick Hockley , sold by Sotheby and Co ., London , 1887 ; the numerous sale catalogues of the Masonic Publishing Company of New York , and especially the catalogue of the " Loge Karl yu Ulmeh Ulmb Reinhold Taute in 16 bthe

dem 3 on , " y Bro . , printed SS y Masonic historian , Herr Findel , whose collection is included in this line Bibliography of some 2800 lots , and of 268 pages octavo . This includes Bro . Findel ' s Catalogue of the year 1 S 70 . Many more might be enumerated , but this must suffice for the present .

W . J . HUGHAN . Torquay , England , September 9 th , 1 S 91 . [ " From , minutes of proceedings of Lodge "Albert Victor , " No . 2370 , Lahore , India , 30 th January , 1892 . 1

Arab Masonry.

ARAB MASONRY .

I had been in Cairo some little time , and had been unable to locate any of the native lodges I had heard were held there as the Craft in that country , unlike ourselves , wear no distinguishing marks or badges , with but few exceptions , whereby one brother may know another . The only exception I remember of was a hotel proprietor in Jerusalem , and I have a strong suspicion he did it in the interest of trade . So , one day , after much

enquiry , I was directed to an Englishman who was said to be a Mason , and calling upon him found him to be a very cordial and agreeable brother , and he readily agreed to take me around and introduce me . The next evening the Englishman called at my hotel , and we started out and found the lodge room within five minutes' walk of the hotel , on the ground floor of a building I had been passing a dozen times a day without a suspicion of its being

a lodge . We found the brothers assembled and about to open , and if any of them had attempted to visit a lodge in Indiana , I think they would have been refused admittance on account of being clandestine , as they were all shades of colour , from a little yellow to jet black . But there was no doubt about their having a true Masonic spirit , as they gave me a hearty welcome .

The lodge was held under the Italian Constitution , and I understand there are about 30 in Egypt . The interior arrangements and stations of officers are very much like ours . The entire floor was a checkered pavement , and the ceiling a starry decked canopy , and upon the altar rested the Koran , the Mohamedan scripture .

The work , as near as I could judge , was like ours , but as none of them spoke a word of English , all of their work being conducted in Arabic , and my stock of Arabic being very limited , of course I was somewhat at a disadvantage . I was left in the ante-room until the lodge had opened , and then the doors opened and the brothers formed an avenue , bearing candles . A P . M . escorted me through the lines and introduced me to the W . M .,

who invited me to a seat b y his side in the E . The routine work then proreeded , during which they balloted on a candidate . The Senior Deacon first carried around a basket of black and white balls , and each member took one of each , and as they passed the basket to me I did likewise . He then came around with the ballot box , and each cast one of the balls in his possession . He then came round with the basket again and collected the remaining balls . Of course I cast a white ball .

After the business of the lodge was finished , the W . M . arose and made a speech of welcome in Arabic , thanking me for visiting them , and assuring me that he considered it a great compliment that one of the Fraternity from so far away should meet with them . The Secretary , who spoke French , then translated his remarks into that language , and the English brother with me translated it from French to

English . I , of course , spoke a few words in reply , which went back in the same round-about course . Sitting there in a foreign land , surrounded by those dusky brothers , dressed in their long , loose Arabic robes , their heads covered with turbans or fezes , I was reminded of the universality of Masonry in a more practical way than ever before . —Masonic Advocate .

Reading Masons.

READING MASONS .

The Masonic Brotherhood ought to be made up of reading people , and Masons are supposed to be a select people , chosen with much care from the common mass or mankind ; sound in body and in mind , who have a desire for knowledge , that they may be serviceable to their fellow-men . And our art is calculated to stimulate rather than stultify a growth of intellect and foster a love for learning .

Now , in _ order to acquire knowledge , study is requisite ; hence it might be readil y inferred that Masons would be ' students—not only readers of books but students of them , and of that class of books which afford food for the intellectual faculties . That they would devote at least some time to those works of science which are calculated to reveal the hidden truths of

nature , and lead the mind up through nature , into communion with the Great First Cause—the God who dwelleth in secret , and yet He is not far from him who searcheth after Him . But it is a lamentable fact that multitudes of the members of our Institution are not reading men . If they ever had any thirst for knowledge it must have died outor it lies as dormant as does the latent heat in a bar of

, 'rosted iron , and requires quite as hard blows to incite it to action . Ask them to subscribe for a journal or purchase a book , and they show no interest whatever . Press the matter and you will soon discover that they have no 'Merest in journals or books . It is true they will tell you that they are full y supplied—have even more than they can possibl y find time to read . But

converse with them on topics of interest lo the man of intelligence , and you will soon discover the utter barrenness of their minds . If they read at all , '" eir reading is made up of the light , frothy fiction which affords no work or the intellectual faculties , and is not calculated to improve either mind or '" orals .

Now we do not mean to insinuate that there arc no reading Masons , far ¦ "om it . They arc not a few who are students indeed . They are often ° und amongst the most busy of men ; those who rise early and retire late , n d eat not the bread of idleness . But they rightly divide their time , and n credl y set aside a portion for mental and moral culture , and thus they nd time for business , for society , for the study and reading needful in

Reading Masons.

order to their keeping pace with the intelligence and progress of the age . And they find time to read a Masonic journal also , and therefore know something of what is transpiring in the Fraternity at home and in sister jurisdictions . They are enli ghtened Masons— " sons of light . " They read the decisions of their Grand Masters , their addresses and the reports of important Committees of Correspondence , & c . In a word they are

posted , lor they take time to read . They also remember that they have homes , and that they are under as much obligation to provide choice books and publications for the use of their families as they are to provide them food and clothing . Yea , even more important , if possible . Better that children should live on a very plain food , and go poorly clad , than that the culture of their minds should be neglected .

We need more reading Masons ; such as will encourage our literature withal , by lending a cheerful support to our pubrcations . Then Masonic journals would not famish and die as a half score have done in the last decade . Then Masonic editors would not retire , after having wrought hard for nearly half a century , poor and without the means of support in their old age . Then , too , our Fraternity would flourish better , and we should all get more out of life , for our enjoyments would be of the hi g her and nobler kind . —Philadelphia Keystone .

What Is Masonry?

WHAT IS MASONRY ?

The question may be asked in the negative , what is not Masonry ? Everything good , pure , and upright is in harmony with Masonic teaching . Whatever is vicious or bad is contrary to the inculcations of the lodge room . The emphasis of every Masonic ceremony is purity . The foundation of every ritualistic lesson is the Holy Word of God . Masonry , then , is everything good .

Under the broad and comprehensive term Masonry , may be included every avenue of human life . Masonry is interested in every branch of the human family . It would reach down and raise the polluted from the mire and degradation that unfits them for the society of good people . It would plant into the heart of the infidel a faith in one true and living God . It would reverence the almi ghty , invisible power that sustains the universe . From the starry decked heaven to the clod of the valley ; from the gentle rivulet ,

meandering through the solitude of primeval forests , to the rush of the mighty Niagara ; from the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the torrid sun of the Equator , it points to the works of the Great Architect of the Universe . Masonry reads sermons in the rocks , and profound lessons in the lil y of the valley . It is universal in its efforts to better the condition of mankind . All may rest in the shade of its temples . It binds up the wounds of those who are afflicted , feeds the hungry , clothes the naked , because they are children of one Father .

Masonry has no creed but the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man . It would bridge over and heal differences existing between various beliefs in order to unite the family of man in the service of one God . Masonry is not religion , but it is religious . It bows in humble recognition ol the homage due from the creature to the Creator , but forbids narrow and sectarian bigotry that would condemn to outer darkness all who differ from

a certain belief . Masonry is the world's religion , in that it contains the foundation of all faith and practice ; for Jew and Christian , Mohammedan and Parsee , Roman and Protestant , may enjoy the privileges it affords . One thing all must believe—there is a God . After that , the manner of serving God , the form of doctrine is left to each individual . He reads the message from his Father , and obeys it according to his understanding and agreeably to the dictates of his consience .

Outwardly the Mason must act uprightly , deal justly , and be a moral man . He is to solace his brothers in their afflictions ; soothe , comfort , and aid them in distress ; to sympathise with them in their hour of trial ; to join in tempered congratulation in their prosperity ; to give them the hand of brotherhood , the foot of support , the bended knee in supplications for their welfare ; to offer the breast of fidelity as a depository of their just and

lawful secrets ; and to afford them defence and protection when absent . Masonry teaches peace and unity . There are no enemies in Masonry , at least there should be none . Men may differ in politics , may not agree on questions of capital and labour , but their differences are not known in the lodge room . The princi ples of the Fraternity would bring together employer and employee and strikes and riots would be unknown . The rights

of both would be recognised and a spirit of fairness on both sides would soon lead to harmony and agreement . Man is an impetus being . He needs some restraining influence . Masonry seeks to be that restraining influence . It is alike opposed to oppression by the rich and unjust demands of the poor . All have rights , and each man views his rights from the standard he sets up . His is an unsafe standard . The needed arbitrator is found in

Masonry , which stands with the scales at equipoise and renders to all men their just due . Its judgments are without prejudice , are calm and just . Masonry would to-day pour oil upon the troubled waters of discontented labour , and bring about an understanding between the workman and his employer . It would discountenance bloodshed and riot , and appeal only to peaceful measures . This is Masonry . —New York Dispatch .

- ? RULES OF ORDER are necessary for the transaction of business ; but with the exception of Grand Lodge—which has certain " Regulations for the Government of Grand Lodge during the Time of Public Business" —in the Provincial Grand Lodge and private lodges , for the most part , unless laid down in the by-laws , which is not common , the matter is generally arranged by the Provincial Grand

Master and Worshipful Master . No business can be entered upon until the minutes of the last regular lodge are confirmed ; but beyond this , the regulation of business—the " agenda" paper , so to say—is , in the case ot Provincial Grand Lodges and private lodges , in the hands of the Provincial Grand Master and the Worshipful Master respectively . As a general rule , the summons declares the business , and the order in which it is to be taken ; but it is impossible , as

well as unadvisable , we apprehend , to lay down any order of business which could be universall y followed by lodges . Good sense and fraternal feeling and business habits and ancient usage constitute , so to say , our common law on the subject . In respect of the actual condition under which the business is transacted in lodge , though there are no laws on the subject—except , as we have said before , as regards Grand Lodge—there is a certain uniformity of action arising from Masonic custom , and which is as good as law . The well-known rules of

public meetings are adhered to , and by them our Fraternity is enabled to carry on friendly discussions on all subjects in peace and propriety . The presiding officer is the supreme arbiter and court of appeal in all matters relating to order . The common rules of order , as affecting all public meetings , and which are incorporated into all Masonic parliamentary procedure , are so well known as net to need recapitulation here . They can only be affected , as we have before said , by Prov . Grand Lodge or private lodge by-laws . —Kenning ' s Cyclopedia of Freemasonry .