True Freemasonry.

TRUE FREEMASONRY .

WE extract the following from the American Masonic Mirror and Keystone , to which it was communicated by a correspondent elating from St . Denis , Baltimore County , Maryland , who describes a visit to the Howard Lodge , located ^ at Elkridge landing , "just across the Patapsco . " Our Scottish brethren are indebted to the Howard Lodgeand the Grand

, Lodge of Scotland will not do its duty if it does not send out some honorary acknowledgment of so truly a Masonic kindness performed towards one of its members . Bro . C . S . Law , or Bro . Donald Campbell , should see to this : —

" In my rambles round about the Patapsco I found myself in the village where the good brethren of Howard Lodge have their temple . My visit was to me propitious ; for it was the day set apart by the brethren for the completion , of a great and glorious work whicli they had commenced many months before . I was cordially and fraternally invited to join them ; and very soon I found myself standing- by a green mound in the quiet grave yard ,

which lies just beyond the village . The Master , and the Senior , and the Junior Warden were there , with several of the brethren . It was their second meeting around , this grave . The first was to lay in it the cold remains of a stranger brother . Now , they were assembled to raise to his memory a white stone , whereon was inscribed the following : — "William Crawford , born October 23 , A . D . 1788 , A . n . 5788 . Died March 29 , . D . 1859 , A . L . 5859 .

A tribute of respect by Howard Lodge , No . 101 , A . P . A . M . " " The fact that the stone which the brethren had just raised , marked the last resting place of a stranger brother , excited within me an earnest desire to know his history , ami the circumstances which caused this exhibition of fraternal regard on the part of Howard Lodge . The kindness of my brethren soon put me in possession of the story of his afflictionsand of their leasure in

, p attending him in his last days . And in commendation of them , for their devotion to the principles and teachings of our great fraternity , I beg to lay before you some of the incidents which then came to my knowledge . " About two years since , AVilliam Crawford , a native of Scotland , applied for employment at the Avalon Nail Works , situated on the Patapscoa short distance from Elkridge Landing . He

, was an old man , nearly three score years and ten . He could do but little , for his strength was gone . The humane proprietors of the works , however , employed him , and he earned his pittance regularly until sickness overtook him . He was a stranger to all about him . Without friends or relations , he was about to die

'' Beneath a stranger air , A pilgrim on a , cold , dull earth . ' But in his last and bitter extremity , when all his little savings were gone , and want and helplessness were only left to him , he bethought him . of the lessons which he had received in another land , near half a century ago . Those words , which were then communicated to him by the instructive tongue of his Highland

brother , came back to his memory in words of living fire . Having ascertained that a Lodge of Masons was held at the Landing , he sent for one of its members , and modestly related to him tlle story of his life . Our good brother of Howard soon found that the old man was a true and tried brother , companion , and Sir Knight . He communicated to his Lodge , at its next meeting , the facts whicli he had discovered and the Lodpromptldirected that

; ge y the old brother should receive all the attention and assistance necessary to render his condition comfortable , and smooth his way to the grave . He came almost penniless and friendless , but now by the aid of that "' Hieroglyphic bright ,

Which none but Craftsmen ever saw ;' he was rich in the fraternal affection of true and devoted brethren and friends . "He was at once removed to a pleasant and quiet home in the midst of the village , and watched and nursed by the brethren , who seemed to rival each other in their kindness and devotion to the old and dying brother . Months rolled on : and the stranger still

lingered on his bed of suffering . At length the treasury of the Lodge was empty . What was to be done now ? Was the ° ld man to be left to the cold charities of the world ? The brethren said nay ; for they were bound to him by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection , ancl what the treasury of the Lod ge could not furnish , their free and open private purses sup-Plied ; _ and the wants of their brother were still as promptly met , and his pillow still as gently smoothed . Again months rolled on ; an d the old man ' s sufferings , and the cares and attentions of our

True Freemasonry.

brethren were at an end . The old man died , away from his home , a stranger in a strange land . But he had found friends , though strangers , who had ministered to his wants and sympathized with him in his declining days . His last moments were calm and peaceful , and surrounded by his devoted brethren , his spirit passed away to the upper and better world . His funeral was

attended by the Lodge , and his body deposited by them in the cold grave , with the solemn and impressive service of onr Order , added to which was an eloquent address by Bro . M'Cabe , of Baltimore , who had been specially invited for that purpose . But , not content with that , which they had already done , the brethren again assembled around that grave , and marked the last resting place of AVilliam Crawford , by erecting to his memory the marble slab which I have already described . "

Pseudo Masons.

PSEUDO MASONS .

IT will probably lie in . the recollection , of moat of our readers , that some weeks back we had occasion to call their attention to the proceedings of a body calling themselves the " Reformed Order of Memphis . " At the time we warned several of our correspondents that the persons in question had no rig ht to the title of Masons , and that they were acting

without auy authority or warrant from the Grand Masonic bodies here or abroad . We also expressed our opinion that their meetings were in direct contravention of the law , and that in point of fact they were liable to prosecution , as members of an illegal secret society . It is indeed strongly suspected that the primary aim of this society was political ,

whatever may be its objects at the present time ; and it is certain that the founders were Erench political refugees , who have taken refuge in London in consequence of the events which have , occurred in . Eranee of late years . We are , therefore , not surprised , that upon the facts of the case becoming known to the Executive of the Order , prompt measures have been taken to enlighten the Craft as to the proceedings of this spurious association , and as to the

consequences of becoming connected with it . The following official document has beeu promulgated among the various Lodges of the Craft , and will no doubt have the desired effect of discouraging any further attempts at proselytism on the part of these adventurers . We regret to find that at Stratford , in Essex , sufficient

inquiry has not been made into the constitution and origin of this society of " Philadelph . es , " and that they have succeeded in enrolling several of our countrymen . It will be seen that the names of the officers of the so-called " Stratford Lodge " are all English . " Freemasons' Hall , London , 24 th October , 1859 . WoKSiriwuT

"DEAR SIR AND , MASTER ., —I am directed to inform you that it has come to the knowledge of the Board , of General Purposes that there are at present existing in London and elsewhere in this country , spurious Lodges claiming to he Ereemasons . "I herewith furnish you ivith a copy of a certificate issued by a Lodge calling itself 'The Reformed Masonic Order of Memphis , or Rite of the Grand Lodge of Philadelphes , " and holding its meetings at Stratford , in Essex .

I am directed to caution j 7 ou to be especially careful that no member of such body be permitted under any circumstances to have access to your Lodge , and that you will remind the brethren of your Lodge that they can hold no communication with irregular Lodges without incurring the penalty of expulsion from the Order , and the liability to be proceeded against under the Act 39 Geo . IH ., for taking part iu the meetings of illegal secret societies .

" I am further to request that you will cause this letter to be read in open Lodge , and the copy of the certificate to be preserved for future reference in case of necessity . " I remain , clear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , "WM . GitAY GLAKK-E , Grand Sec . " N . B . —It is to be observed that the orig inal certificate contains various emblematical devices which it has not been deemed

necessary to have copied . [ COPY . ] " Ai ; nom du G . Conscil Gen . de l'Ordre Mac . reformd dc Memphis , sous les auspices dc la G . Lodge des Philadelphes , a tous les Macons repaiidus sur les deux hemispheres—iSalut , amitie , prosporite ' , courage , tolerance ;