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it is shared by others: there are now three of the black-balled. We understand the doctor intends to petition their excellencies to admit the two recently rejected.

TEMPLARS, &c.

A KNIGHT. The party assuming to confer the degrees of Rose Croix, &c., not being authorized, his acts as such are spurious.

A COMMANDER.-The power vested in the M. E. G. Master of Masonic Knights Templar for England and Wales is limited to that Order-beyond which he has no Masonic jurisdiction whatever.-(Vide statutes.)

AN ENQUIRER should address the Secretary-General H.E.-Davyd W. Nash, Esq., Sion Lodge, Richmond, Surry.

THE ASYLUM.

The annual Ball in aid of the funds of this institution will take place at Freemasons' Hall, London, early in January.

We intended to have noticed the Freemasons' Monthly Magazine (Boston, U. S.), but it reached us too late. We state this, lest, having extracted some important information therefrom, we should be attainted of discourtesy in not acknowledging the same.

THE

FREEMASONS'

QUARTERLY

REVIEW.

SECOND SERIES—DECEMBER 31, 1846.

"I have ever felt it my duty to support and encourage its principles and practice, because it powerfully developes all social and benevolent affections; because it mitigates without, and annihilates within, the virulence of political and theological controversy--because it affords the only neutral ground on which all ranks and classes can meet in perfect equality, and associate without degradation or mortification, whether for purposes of moral instruction or social intercourse."-The EARL OF DURHAM on Freemasonry, 21st Jan. 1834.

"This obedience, which must be vigorously observed, does not prevent us, however, from investigating the inconvenience of laws, which at the time they were framed may have been political, prudent-nay, even necessary; but now, from a total change of circumstances and events, may have become unjust, oppressive, and equally useless.

*

"Justinian declares that he acts contrary to the law who, confining himself to the letter, acts contrary to the spirit and interest of it."-H. R. H. the DUKE OF SUSSEX, April 21, 1812. House of Lords.

Ar the Quarterly Communication of the United Grand Lodge of England, held in September last, the Grand Secretary announced that in the event of the confirmation of the minutes of the previous Grand Lodge held in June, he had authority to read, if required, a letter which the Grand Master the Earl of Zetland intended to transmit to the Grand Master of Berlin, in relation to the non-admission of any Brethren to Lodges under that Masonic authority excepting such as professed the Christian faith. The Grand Lodge did not require the letter to be read; but we now present to our readers a copy thereof, addressed by order of the Grand Master of England, and leave it to the consideration of the Masonic world, as a document clearly illustrative of the pure tenets of the Order, the dignity of which has been most honourably maintained by the distinguished nobleman at the head of the English Craft.

* The SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER WAS PUBLished on THE 15th OF MAY, 1843,
CONTAINING all the INTERESTING PARTICULARS, MASONIC AND OTHERWISE,
RELATING TO H.R.H. THe duke of Sussex, the late illuSTRIOUS GRAND
MASTER. WITH A PORTRAIT, AND MAY BE HAD of the Publishers, messrs.
SHERWOOD AND CO., 23, PATERNOSTER ROW. PRICE three shillings.
VOL. IV.

3 F

To the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Grand Lodge, Royal York of Friendship, Berlin.

Freemasons' Hall London, 4th September. 1846.

MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER,-The Most Worshipful Grand Master of England, the Right Honourable the Earl of Zetland, received with the deepest feeling of grief the reply made by the Right Worshipful Brother Bier, the Grand Secretary, on behalf of the Grand Lodge, Royal York of Friendship, Berlin, to the communication of his Lordship of the 15th of December last, inasmuch as that reply announces that, by the existing laws of the Grand Lodge, Royal York of Friendship, none but Christians and duly legitimated Brethren of recognized Lodges, are to be allowed access to the labours.

To this law it appears that all subordinate Lodges are bound to conform, and to exclude, as visitors, Brethren of the Jewish faith, notwithstanding such Brothers may take with them the certificate of the Grand Lodge of England, and be in every respect, as to character, unexceptionable, the religious creed being alone the ground of refusal.

The Grand Lodge of England, by the earliest history and tradition, has always declared and observed the universality of Freemasons, making no distinction or exclusion on the score of religious faith,,—a matter in which she never enquires, beyond the point in which all men agree. It is for this reason that she does not sanction or recognize meetings which in some places are holden-assemblies of particular religionists. With these the Grand Lodge of England does not interfere; but she strictly guards, by her laws and her practice, against the introduction into her Lodges of any emblems or decorations which are indicative of particular creeds, deeming them liable to be taken as offensive demonstrations at variance with the true spirit of Freemasonry. This universality the Grand Masters of England have always upheld, and, as far as has been within their power, have sought the co-operation of other Grand Lodges; without, however, pretending to any right of direct interference. But when members of English Lodges, lawfully admitted, and bearing diplomas from the Grand Lodge of England, duly authenticated under her seal, are not recognized, and, on the contrary, are rejected merely on account of their particular faith, it becomes an imperative duty of the Grand Master to vindicate the rights, the honour, and the integrity of the body over which he has been called to preside, whose branches extend into every quarter of the habitable globe.

In the discharge of that duty, then, the Grand Master of England protests against the refusal which has been made to acknowledge the legitimate children of a lawful constituted English Lodge; and at the same time is constrained to recal from his post the Right Worshipful Brother the Chevalier Esser, as the Representative of England in the Grand Lodge, Royal York of Friendship, at Berlin.

The communication from the Right Worshipful Grand Secretary Bier, dated the 2nd March, states that the Grand Lodge, Royal York of Friendship, has long been occupied with the question of admission of non-Christian Brothers, but that circumstances connected with the Protectorate of all the Prussian Lodges by His Royal Highness the Prince of Prussia, have unavoidably caused the consideration of that question to be postponed, and expresses a hope that the Grand Lolge in alliance with her would not consider the resolution for the admission of none but Christian Brethren, as the dereliction of a principle always acknowledged by her, and that the Grand Lodge of England will recognize the fact, that the ground for not altering a long-established rule, is the wish to maintain the mutual relations of amity now subsisting among the Lodges in Prussia.

Into the alleged causes for deferring the consideration of the Rule, and the reasons for wishing it at present to be retained, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of England cannot enter, because they involve matters with which they cannot interfere. But however the Grand Master may feel the difficulty in which you may be placed, it would, on his part, be a dereliction of Masonic principles to concur in a plan of religious exclusion, and an abandonment of duty to permit his Grand Lodge diploma to be declared of no avail.

The Grand Master of England regrets exceedingly that any circumstances should even temporarily interrupt that intimate union which has heretofore existed between the two Grand Lodges, and he anxiously looks forward to a period (he hopes not distant) when those intimate relations may be restored with honour and advantage to the respective Grand Lodges, and to the benefit of the universal Masonic family; and he trusts that in the interim, personal fraternal feeling between individual members of the two countries will not be weakened. The Grand Master commands me to add, that he has communicated to the Grand Lodge the sentiment here conveyed, as well as the course he felt compelled to adopt, and that the Grand Lodge with one accord declared its full assent.

The Grand Master of England, in his own name, and on behalf of his Grand Lodge, begs to reassure you, Most Worshipful Grand Master and your Right Worshipful Grand Lodge, of his and their high consideration and brotherly affection, while he laments the occurrences which for a time unfortunately impede the wonted intercourse.

Permit me to subscribe myself, with all deference,

Most Worshipful Grand Master,

Your faithful and devoted Brother,

WILLIAM H. WHITE,

Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge of England.

THE MASON'S Widow, and her COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY.-We presume that the Committee appointed to examine into this case must have misinterpreted their directions, for but one of them—the Grand Secretary-visited the widow. His report, though unfavourable, was heartily adopted by the other twain. This case is curious. Enquiry arose from the report that the lady was to receive 1400 guineas for the medical practice of her deceased husband. Was this report proved on examination of the tres juncti in uno? Quite the reverse. A letter from the gentleman who entered into an engagement, proved that up to the present time he had paid nothing to the family, and that if he received nothing he was to pay-nothing. The case of enquiry therefore broke down. But was the Grand Secretary to break down-was be to go back to the Grand Lodge an unsuccessful inquisitor—and his alter et idem to face public contempt or were they to pay the £50? Oh, no! he discovered a mare's nest, and they applauded. What was it? Had the widow then any immediate means of help that she had withheld from them? Marry, no immediate means; but her husband had settled on her children a policy of insurance for £1000, the interest of which (£30) she was to appropriate in their board and education. Six children! to be boarded and educated on £30. Five pounds per year for each! But the committee of inquisitors did not state that some opposition to the payment, and subsequent expenses, har delayed the investment, so that she will receive but a very infinitesimal interest until July, 1847. They ruled that the case did not fall within their directions to relieve, and their report was unfavourable, but without giving any reasons. Debate drew out their reasons; and the special pleading that a thousand pounds put the case out of court, was all but successful. A goose is said to have saved Rome-anserine pleading was nearly fatal to Freemasonry,—which was saved only by a majority of two in favour of the Order. And these practises are permitted in the present day! Let us, however, while we reprove the great minority, confess that at the late hour at which the vote was taken, many friends to good order had left under the impression that no opposition was possible; and that the same view must have been taken by many who were absent, several of whom have since expressed their sincere regret on the occasion. Let them make the "amende honorable" at the next Grand Lodge: for until the minutes of the last Grand Lodge are confirmed, the president of the Board has declared his intention not to pay the grant!

Pay or not pay, the cause of the widow has already suffered : we know, not from report, but from facts, that upwards of £50 have been otherwise withheld from flowing into the exchequer appointed by Providence for her use, and that even to many of the popular world it has been hinted by profane Masons that the case is not a deserving one. May the mildew of hopeless affliction never light on them or on theirs! and

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