Monthly Masonic Summary.

Monthly Masonic Summary .

Ws have not this month much to record , except the onward progress of English Freemasonry . The constitution and consecration of three IIOAV lodges Avithin ten clays within tbe Metropolitan District , and tliree iu the proA'inces , is a remarkable proof of the expansrveness just now of our

lodge system . The Chaucer Lodge is a neve lodge established at SoutMvark , not far from where once stood the Tabard . While the lodge Avas being consecrated , ancl the orator Avas alluding to Chaucer and the Tabard , the

remains of tbe old hostelry Avere being demolished . It is a mistake to suppose , however , that the last Tabard was the original Tabard ! That had long yielded to the encroaching hand of time , and had been folloAved by another Tabard , which , often repaired , has at last disappeared from Southwark . We think it was a happy idea that linked the fortunes of the UOAV

lodge with the venerated name of Chaucer , as , whether he were a Freemason or no , as some have thought , he was officially connected with the operative guilds of Freemasons . Some of us will remember how he

tells of some of the guilds of London , clothed in the " solempne livery ' of a " grete Fraternite , " ancl Ave shall wish that he had said something about tbe " Fremaeons "the whilom form of the word . So far . the earliest mention of "Fremacon" is about

1398 , Ave believe , proving to us its simple derivation from tbe Norman French . The building of the New Surrey Masonic Hall is a very good thing for the district ; but London is still far behind the provinces in accommodation for the CraftThe

. proceedings , under our distinguished Deputy Grand Master , were most successful , and ive wisl ^ all prosperity to the new W . M ., Bro . Lailham , ancl the officers and brethren of the Surrey Masonic Hall Lodge 1539 . The Alexandra Lod ge has also been consecrated

, ancl our able and esteemed Bros ., J . Horror , G . S ., JR . J . Simpson , P . G . C , h . W . Little , and others , took part in the

day ' s proceedings . According to the "Times" of Monday , 19 th July , the announcement Avas officially made at the meeting that the English Grand Lodge had recognized the Grand Orient of Rome . The three provincial lodges are the

United Military Lodge , 1537 ; the A hereon ! Lodge , Middlesex , 1549 ; the Liverpool Lodge , 1457 , at Liverpool . At the United Military Lodge Major-Geueral Brownrigg , P . G . M . for Surrey , made a most admirable speechAvhich appeared in

, the " Freemason" of July 10 th , ancl Avhich Ave earnestly commend to the attention and perusal of our Brethren . At the consecration of the Abercorn Lodge , Bro . R . W . Little gave an able oration , and at the consecration of tbe Liverpool Lodge , Bro .

the Rev . J . M . Morgan , P . P . G . C ., W . Lane , delivered a very eloquent address . Bro . E . J . Simpson , P . G . C , at the consecration of the Alexandra Lodge , gave an eloquent ¦ oration , Avbieb appeared in tbe "Freemason " of July 24 th . The Bishop of Orleans , " more suo , " has penned a fiery pamphlet against

Freemasonry . The Bishop , Avho is , as most know , a very able -writer , though he deals with Freemasonry generally on the grounds mainly of the Papal interdicts , specifically attacks the French and Belg » au Freemasons for their political procliA'ities and their non-religious avowals . We wish that Ave

could say or think that Monsigneur Dupanloup has no ground fur what he advances so very clearly and fully . In our humble opinion , the great defect of French and Belgian Freemasonry is it g dealing Avith political and leligious questions . To us in

England the banishing of the Bible from the lodges is a deplorable mistake , and we fear that their acute opponent has bit a terrible blot , alike iu their profession and their practice . Wehope , however , asitisnevertoolate to mend , that both the French and Belgian

Freemasons may retrace their sreps , and become what they say they are , but Avhich at present they certainly are not , in their intolerance towards the Bible , a liberal , a tolerant , a religious , a philanthropical organization , truly Masonic in Avord and deed . D