Masonic Sayings And Doings Abroad.

to remind you that volumes have been written upon his subject by the opponents of Masonry . " It is a serious question whether any act of ours , which should bring this matter prominently before the world , would be of any benefit to Masonry here , or

to the Craft ' in those countries less favoured than ours . ' It would give opportunity for the friends of the Eomish Church to assert the necessity of the Papal Bull against the Masonic fraternity ; for the adherents of despotism to apologise for the acts of

the Emperor in appointing his own trusty adviser > although a profane , Grand Master of the Grand Orient of France ; and for the reflection that the crown of England has always been sufficiently crafty to have a true and loyal peer of the realm occupy the

Oriental chair of its Grand Lodge . "It is difficult to imagine what possible benefit would result from the meeting you propose . Our Grand Lodges are not political institutions , and there would be great hazard in their attempting to exercise

political influence . If we should try to exercise it , and be partially successful , we might thereby be induced to attempt the experiment again , and thus bring the society into disrepute and inevitable ruin .

'' Of course I do not desire to set up my own judgment against the well-considered plans of my brethren , nor to discourage attempts to ameliorate the misfortunes of my fellows . Nevertheless , I have great fear of bringing the institution of Freemasonry before the public upon any occasion , and of its attempting

in any manner to influence the action of civil governments . " The brethren of the Grand Lodge of this jurisdiction have elected me Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts . Over them I am called to exercise the

functions of this office . Among the many and varied duties of my distinguished predecessors , extending over a period of time especially marked by revolutions and persecutions of the faithful , I can find no precedent for the novel action which you propose , and no

warrant for the meeting to which you have invited me . As an individual Mason you do not ask me to attend . As Grand Master I must respectfully decline your invitation , as I cannot take the responsibility of placing the Grand Lodge and the brethren

of Massachusetts in a position which neither the customs and constitutions of the Craft nor the direction of the Grand Lodge have authorised me to place them . —N . T . Dispatch .

The Fkergreen says that a " Pilgrim Memorial Convention" was recently held in Chicago , in special honour of the " Blarney-stone" of New England . Many of the measures inaugurated by this Convention , which was a national Congregational Convention , are laudable in their conception and noble in their

aim . Being held under the shadow of the execrable Cynosure , and having the infamous Blanchard for one of its engineers , of course this Convention of Congregationalists could not adjourn without " kicking against the pricks , " and so there was introduced a resolution " earnestly requesting the Pilgrim Society

of Plymouth to remove the Masonic tablet on the corner stone of the national monument to our forefathers , on the ground that their spirit and principles were quite inconsistent with the genius of Masonry . " For a wonder , this resolution provoked a warm

discussion , but it was finally postponed indefinitely , as a Congregational Convention is to be held at Cincinnati next summer to expressly consider the question of " the relation of the Church to secret societies . "

Some maintain that a maimed man may be made a Mason by dispensation of the Grand Master . This is an error . Can the Grand Master make a Mason out of a murderer or a thief ? No . Whence then is his power to make Masons out of maimed men ? It may

be said that the moral maiming in the case is more objectionable than the physical maiming in the other . But this is not sufficient . No Grand Master has any rights but those vested in him by his installation , and this is not one of them . A maimed or dismembered

person , in such a condition prior to his being made a Mason , is a record and a public posting of the sin of those who made him . And has a Grand Master any right to afflict a lodge locally , or the brethren generally , with such an exhibition ? We are convinced he has not . —Voice of Masonry .

The Keystone says of John H . Anthon , G . Master of New York , "As a Mason , he is one of the truest , brightest , and best members of the fraternity . As a man , he has the respect and esteem of the people of New York . With all the ability , and learning , and

courage to perform the duties of this high position , we wish'him that eminent success he so justly deserves . We trust he will stand by the ancient landmarks , administer the true Masonic law , and defend that sovereignty which constitutes Grand Lodges the

supreme Masonic authority within their boundaries . The Craft in New York have now a Grand Master capable , competent , active , earnest , sincere , and faithful , a fit successor to Clinton , Simmons , and Gibson men who have made the Grand Lodge of New York a power in the Masonic world . "

At the last communication of the Grand Lodge of Michigan , two hundred and thirty-seven lodges were represented . A table given in the Grand Master's address shows the annual progress since 18 G 0 . In that year there were 115 lodges aud 5 , 816 members i