Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

^ [ THE EDITOR does not hold himself responsible for any opinions entertained bg Correspondents . ' ] MASONIC LICENSE . TO TIM ! EDITOR Of THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AKD MASOWIC MIRKOE . DEAR Sn : AXD BROTHER—There appears to be great diversity

, of opinion among members of the Craft in different districts , as to how far the obligations , very properly and necessarily imposed in the various degrees of progress , are binding upon them . In France I believe that very great laxity prevails , ancl secrecy is , I apprehend , required only as regards the signs , ivords , and other means of recognition . Among some English Masons , too , I have heard expressions leading me to suppose that they agree in this opinion .

In America , I am told , that strict secrecy is maintained as to every part of the ritual ; and from correspondence I "have recently had with brethren in a distant part of England , I learn that they participate in tin ' s view . Allow me to suggest that it ivould be well if some authoritative directions were given on this head . The simple question is , Are we to consider the obligation binding onlas regards what are peculiarlcalled the Masonic secretsor

y y , does it include every part and point of the ritual ? For my own part , my opinion lies between the two , as there arc undoubtedly portions of our history and traditions wliich should not be made public , inasmuch as many points peculiar to us hinge upon them ; and if there were no other considerations , which I believe there are , they form good tests of the attention bestowed by brethren upon the science , of the interest they have

taken in the extension of their Masonic knowledge , and of the skill thej-have attained ; evincing that they regard it as worthy of an amount of study which enables them fully to enter into , understand and illustrate the forms of ritual and ceremonial founded on that knowledge progressively acquired at every step . As regards a promulgation of the moral interpretations aud objects of various portions of the instruction iven to candidates

g , whether for the first or for subsequent degrees , I am inclined to think that there can be no objection to it ; and were these more generally diffused among the " external world , " which I apprehend they might be without any impropriety , our institution would be belter understood and appreciated , and many of our opoononts

who so often display utter ignorance of our objects ancl give us credit for results which we utterly disclaim , would be disarmed of their prejudices against it . In my own writings on Freemasonry I have not hesitated to act on this opinion to a certain extent , though I know that I have thereby incurred some amount of censure , however mildly expressed . Some Masons even refuse their assent to quotations ' from our ritual , when not given as suchrestriction which

a would limit writers on the subject within bounds so narrow , that they would find it difficult , " out of the Lodge , to express their sentiments in any manner which could be intelligible . Indeed I have met with brethren ivho decline to support your valuable periodical on this very ground , and also because you act contrary to the notion which they hold—that every thing connected with ' Masonic proceedings should be retained

within the tylcd precincts of the Lodge , and flint it is wrong to publish what appears under your bead of "Masonic Mems . " 'J'he following is to be found in the Book of Constitutions , showing that they have authority for their opinions and conduct in this respect , a regulation which I have reason to suppose is very rarely acted upon ; certainly it has not been by myself , in a ' formal mannereither in this province or in another in which I have

, given accounts for publication , though the Provincial Grand Master has been cognizant of my proceedings in this respect and has even spoken to me in anticipation of reports ivhieh I have been about to send to you . " No brother shall presume to print or publish , or cause to be printed or published , the proceedings of any Lodge or any part thereof , or the names of the persons present at such Lod without the direction of the Grand Master

ge , or Provincial Grancl Master , under pain of being expelled from the Order . " * I fancy that if this law were strictly enforced , a large number of the most useful and intellectual members ivould be found to have exposed themselves to its penalty . I think we are generally far too lax in admitting our neophytes from one degree to another , ivithout requiring positive proof that they have to some extent mastered the previous ones , of which

Correspondence.

the short form of test usually applied , after a month ' s probation , is but a very bare and unsatisfactory indication , especially in Lodges where prompting , or even a dictation of the whole answers is allowed , ivithout thc slightest attempt having been made to acquire even this very limited amount of knowledge , in some cases which have come under my notice . There is another matter too which might very properly and iven to candi

advantageously be introduced into the directions g - dates on their ' initiation . Young Masons are very apt to be proud of their newly acquired position , and , in ignorance of the retiringhabits of older members of the Craft , with regard to those who do not belong to it , to make it a business to endeavour to test persons whom they casually meet in mixed companies , in so open a manner as to render it difficult to escape observation . Several

instances of the kind have recently occurred to myself , and to avoid being positively rude , the only course open to me yas _ to make some extravagant gestures , being aware that the attention of others was directed towards mc . It is true that the skilled Mason can always detect mistakes in any attempts at imposition , as has been the case when a person who has been known not to be a member of the Craft has accidentallcaught something like

y a sign , but has not given it with perfect correctness ; then it is possible to refuse to notice and to deny knowledge of it as legitimate , but the looseness of general practice in this way deserves more than a passing remark ; it ought to be especially aud

emphatically given as a caution to men ou their initiation , to abstain from all vain and useless attempts at recognition , which have no particular object . I am able to speak pointedly and decidedly on the matter , because several individuals have been pointed out to me , who , having procured certain works wliich absurdly pretend to a revelation of our knowledge , have made them their study in concert , with the avowed intention of passing themselves off as skilled members of

Masons ; and though they cannot impose upon our Order , owing to the * absurdities which are mixed up with avery limited portion of truth , newly made apprentices and craftsmen may be easily led astray , in their delight at meeting with those whom they suppose they have ascertained to be brethren , by an exhibition of the very scanty amount of information with which they have at first been entrusted , before they have acquired

the requisite habits of caution . I shall be exceedingly glad if the suggestions which have nonbeen crudely thrown out should be the means of causing some general directions from head quarters , as a guide both to public writers cin Masonic subjects , and to brethren in their private practice . At present each one acts on his own opinions , iihich possiblbe greatly at variance with those of many whose

may y cooperation and sympathy he may desire to have , but who withhold it in consequence of '__ diversity in judgment on some of the points mentioned . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , II .

West Lancashire.

WEST LANCASHIRE .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASON ' S' MAGAZINE AND MASOHTO MO . ROE . DEAR Sin AXD BROTHER , —Thc letter signed "Justice , " and published in your last number , appears to me so much more like a vindication of the reasons why the members of St . John ' s Lodge , JNo . 971 , have not removed to the Masonic temple , than a reply to my communication of the 4 th instant , that I should not have deemed it necessary to trouble you with further

correspondence on the subject , did it not afford me an opportunity of correcting an error unconsciously made therein , and which I now do with very great pleasure . In giving the numbers of those Lodges noiv meeting at tho temple , but previously mooting at hotels , I included the Mariners ' Lodge , JNo . .. 10 . I have since learnt that that Lodge , prior to its removal to Hope-street , had for about five years held its

meetings at a private house , and was , I am given to understand , amongst the first to remove from tavern influence ; this explanation not only enables me to render an act of justice to No . 010 , but strengthens my former statement , inasmuch as amongst the Lodges returned by me as meeting at the Temple , No . 310 is the only one whose initiations were less in 1859 than in the previous

year . The only matter in " Justice ' s " letter at all relevant to the subject , so far from being a refutation of my former statement , is strong corroborative evidence in my favour , inasmuch as he proves that the initiations in No . 971 were much fewer in 1859 than in 1858 ; and although there is a considerable discrepancy in our respective statements , 1 can only repeat that the particulars in mv former letter ivere extracted from the official returns .