Monthly Masonic Summary.

Monthly Masonic Summary .

QUE Grand Master is still m India , and has visited in succession LucknoAv , Delhi , and OaAvnpore , and is IIOAV in the North Western proAdnces . His progress is not only a Eoyal one , but a very successful one , and he seems to have Avon golden opinions from all classes ; to have conciliated the

natives , and delighted Europeans , both' by Ms kindness and geniality , his friendly interest , and his pleasant " abord . " May his travels end as they have begun , in the halo of success , and may he soon haA'e a safe and pleasant homeward journey to

loving hearts at home ! There is not much HOAVS , Masonically , to communicate this month . London loclges are IIOAV at full work again , the Christmas holidays and New-Year gatherings beingoverbut there is not much to tell or record

, beyond the normal procedure of Masonic life . The first charitable gathering of the year will take place on the 9 th February , under that justly popular nobleman , Lord Skelmersdale , D . G . Master , and Ave augur for Bro . Terry , the zealous and meritorious

secretary of the R . M . B . Institution , a golden harvest . We Avish him and that admirable institution all prosperity and success ; and sure we are that in no case can the charitable sympathies of our brethren be more fairly roused , or the zealous interests of the Stewards be more devotedly

employed . We hope in our next number of the Magazine to announce a great success for the first Masonic charitable gathering of 1876 . The appointment of H . R . H . Prince Leopold to be Provincial Grand Warden of

Oxfordshire has been Avarmly received by the Order , and enthusiastically greeted by tliat distinguished Province OA e ' r Avhich he is IIOAV wisely called to rule . We are glad to remind our readers that that lamented aud distinguished public

servant , Mr . Birch , as Avell as gallant Captain Innes , R . E ., Avere members of the Lod ge at Penang , and thoroughly earnest and good Freemasons . Monsi gnor Nardi has Avelcomed Lord Ri pon to Rome and Romanism in a very

flowery oration , but has thought well to bespatter the Freemasons with a little Ultramontane sarcasm , to " damn" them publicly with " faint praise " and coA'ert taunt and insinuation . The point of his ecclesiastical wit is that Ave are fond of

good dinners , a sort of harmless " goose club . " When sober Ave are very decent felloAvs , and different from all other Freemasons , Avhom Monsignor Nardi fiercely denounces " en bloc ; " but when " inebriated , " we behave ourselves improperly , and one of our main points is hostility to the

Roman Church . Poor Monsignor Nardi If he had nothing better to say he had , we think , much better have said nothing at all than put forth gravely this melancholy specimen of courtly trimming and fulsome adulation . Lord liipon had no sin cere r

friends than his IIOAV vilified and contemned Masonic brethren . He knoAvs well that Monsignor Nardi ' s burlesque account of Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry is not true , and if he IIOAV allows his old friends and brethren thus to be lampooned without a word of

protest or denial we shall be equally sorry for Lord Ripon . But our hope is that in his oAvn honesty of purpose , and loyalty and courage of old , he will rise aboA'e the swaddling bands of Roman Catholic intolerance , and disregarding the impertinence of Ultramontanism , will dare to be just and honest , and , above all , to speak the truth .

It is amusing to note IIOAV error will still cling to our Masonic Avriters , and IIOAV apparently hopeless it is for Masonic students to pioneer the AA'ay for a true and reliable history of Freemasonry . After all our archcoological researches and critical

studies it is a little disheartening to find a professed Masonic teacher coolly asserting the reality of the so-called Locke MS . Bro . Leo Fort , in his recent scholarl y history , in our opinion has said too much in favour of the same " aiersis ; " but Ave

Avere quite astounded recently to note that an English Masonic teacher , professing , too , to write for the information of others , has fallen into so great a blunder , and even boldlyasserts that the MS . copied by Leland actually exists in the Bodleian library .