Freemasonry Among The Mormons.

his house , where we spent a very pleasant hour , chatting over Mormonism and Freemasonry . Bro . I . Meeks then insisted upon myself and Bro . Robertson paying himself and Mrs . Meeks a nocturnal visit ; which , although it was past "low twelve , " we certainly did , and enjoyed a quiet little chat in his cosy parlour . When ' the wee sma ' hours had arrived , I wished with sincere regret '

Goodbye' to the kind-hearted , hospitable brother of AVahsatch . Lodge , No . 8 . " Before closing , I would mention that these are the only two lodges in this vast territory . They have a joint lodge room with the Odd-Fellows , which is elegantly furnished , though not sufficiently ventilated . They are charitable in the extremeexhibiting a liberality which

, , considering the numerous calls made upon their pursestrings ,- is truly wonderful . Mount Moriah Lodge , for example , contributed five hundred dollars towards the starving sufferers of the South , after the war ; and Wahsatch Lodge clothed , fed , and nursed a brother from Los Angelos , California , who had been drugged and robbed of his money at a neihbouring city . This case came

g under my immediate observation , and alone had cost Wabsatch over one hundred dollars . Our Utah brethren , therefore , are not regardless of the principles of the fraternity . " I must now give the reasons assigned by W . Bro . Nounnan for the non-admittance of Mormons into the

lodge room . " 1 st . That the Mormons at Nauvoo , 111 , had a Lodge U . D , and that during that period it is said they initiated woman , and were guilty of other un-3 f asonic conduct . " 2 nd . It is generally believed that the 3 Iormons , in their endowment ceremonies , have pleged and bound themselves together by an unwritten ritual , with certain

signs and words borrowed from Freemasonry . " 3 rd . The Mormons are living in open violation of a law of the United States , passed by Congress in 1682 . " The above are the reasons generally assigned by our Gentile brethren for refusing admission to Mormon members of the Craft , or accepting petitions from Mormon Candidates . The subject is , as I remarked at the commencement of this letter , a delicate and intricate one for those at a distance to discuss . It will be noted

however that the first two reasons assigned are merely based on rumour , and that the last is a question of faith , Polygamy to us is a Sin , to them it is the Inspiration of God . Bro . Mackay said to our brother , Judge Strickland , question the suspected brother regarding his belief : such a theory has no foundation . The Gentile Mason of Utah may refuse to wear the white apron in

the same room with his Mormon brother , but as Freemasonry acknowledges no creed nor belief , except the one faith in T . G . A . O . T . U , it would be improper for any examining Committee to ask any visiting brother to what Church he may belong . Tbe real fact is this ; the Mormons were at first pevecnted , drivenfrom their homes , some of them , Masons , murdered , they sought refuge in

a barren wilderness , determined to worship God according to their belief , a few Christians and Jews ( Gentiles as they term them ) settled amongst them , and at once they ( the Mormons ) changed from the persecuted to the persecutors . The result is evident , a bitter feeling of hatred has sprung up between the resident Gentile " and the resident Mormonanduntil that feeling subsides

, , , no , fraternal love can exist between these two classeshence for years to come we may expect to see Freemasonry in Utah more or less a sectarian institution . Of course , every one must regret that such is the case , but our brethren there deserve great praise for their energy , their cordiality , and their liberality . Let us remember under what difficulties they labouronltwo

, y lodges in that vast country , and each of those under a separate jurisdiction , hundreds of miles away from them . Rumour says they propose to organize a Grand Lodge . Bro . Mackay in his Jurisprudence says , three lodges are the requisite number for the formation of a Grand Lodge ,

Freemasonry Among The Mormons.

but , after all , upon what basis does he ground his theory ? As far as I recollect , the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was organized from two subordinate lodges , if so , and if it would forward the common cause of the Fraternity to have a Supreme Body in Utah , by all means let us recognise her as soon as our youthful sister modestly announces that she has come to womanhood .

" In conclusion I would say that I called with Bro . Kimball upon the President , Brigham Young . AVe found him cordial , but very busy , so that it was impossible for us to ask him regarding his views on Masonry . I believe both himself and several of his High Council are or were members of the fraternity . " Yours fraternally , " ROBERT RAMSAY . "

Literature, Science, Music, Drama, And The Fine Arts.

LITERATURE , SCIENCE , MUSIC , DRAMA , AND THE FINE ARTS .

Auber ' s new opera is to be called " Reve d' Amour . " The Royal Archaeological Institute hascommenced its annual meeting at Bury St . Edmund's . Miss Laura Harris has entered into an engagement to sing at Moscow for two years . Miss Minnie Hauck will also appear there . The Musical Standard says that the new Prussian

national hymn , by Sir Michael Costa , is to be performed in public in the autumn . Mr . Henry Denison , ayounger brother of the Speaker and the Archdeacon of Taunton , has put forth a Latia version of Shakespeare's "Julius Caisar . " The Roman Catholics of Quebec have been warned by their pastors against attending the performance of "La-Grande Duchess" and " La Belle Helene . "

The new theatre in the Strand , which will be under the management of Miss Litton , will , it is rumoured ,, be none other than the present abode of the Bentinck Club . A writer in Blaclaoood maintains that earthquakes are caused by a zone of electric action , close to the surface , and wholly independent of the internal condition of our

planet , whatever that may be . Miss Roden , a principal vocalist at the Adelphi and other AVest End theatres , has taken , the Olympic for a short term , for light operatic entertainments . The theatre will open early next month . A person in Calcutta , named Cameron , writes tothe seriouslproposing a scientific expedition to

press y Borneo in search of tailed men and women , who , he is inclined to think , are to be found wandering in the foreststhere . The Geographical Society of Italy have struck their prize gold medal in honour of Mrs . Somerville . On oneside of it is the likeness of Victor Emmanuel , and on the other the name of the venerable ladto whom it is

y presented . Mr . Charles Dickens has found the benefit of his rest . Constant travelling by express trains had so completel y knocked him up that he was obliged to discontinue his farewell readings . He is now convalescent , and they will be resumed next season .

Sir Henry Bulwer , who is writing a life of Lord Palmerston , has just had valuable material placed in his hands by Lady Palmerston , in the shape of a diary kept by her husband from the year 1827 . The MS . volumes are written with great precision and neatness . Sir J . Pakington presented a petition to the House of Commons from the Society of Arts , praying for the

establishment and support of a National School of Muaic . The petitioners stated that no such institution could be maintained by private enterprise , and must be supported by the Slate .