A MASONIC ANECDOTE

FOUNDED ON FACT, AND CONVEYING A MOST INSTRUCTIVE MORAL.

SOME five years ago a certain Lodge in a certain province received a circular from head quarters denouncing the Freemasons' Quarterly Review, and prohibiting its perusal. The mandate was religiously obeyed. That Lodge has been gradually declining, in a great measure from the want of some intellectual impetus. Two other Lodges in the immediate neighbourhood have regularly subscribed to, and read the excommunicated and inhibited periodical organ of Masonic intelligence. Those two Lodges are in a particularly active and thriving condition. The inference may fairly be drawn in favour of a publication that visibly unites a widely scattered host by one wide channel of useful and interesting information, so peculiarly necessary to the Fraternity and so well adapted for the library of every Lodge.

A PROVINCIAL GRAND OFFICER.

THE STATUE AND THE DREAMER.

THE feast of 29th April, 1846, had ended-the song had ceased-the guests had departed. Revelry, even drunkenness, had yielded to sleep all was still-the silence of night had succeeded to the misguided orgies which for the time desecrated the temple, wherein none remained but the dreamer, who unconsciously slept at the base of the statue.

His breathing was short and difficult; he thought he was in another world, where spirits free from "mortal coil" were sitting in conclave reviewing the late scene, wherein the main principles of Freemasonry had been endangered. Among the spirits the dreamer traced the figures of those whose pictures adorn the Masonic hall, and also the "statue" of the late Grand Master. At length the statue moved! the lips parted! all was mute attention in the grand Lodge of Shadows. Thus the statue spoke :

"My Lords, Brethren by blood and by Masonic tie,-Behold this dreamer! mark his troubled breathing! well does it tell his sorrow at what has taken place: let us use caution, but yet be frank. He has been permitted by some unseen power to penetrate our mysterious passage and visit the Grand Lodge of Shadows, it may be for some great inexplicable cause, the effect of which the same power will doubtless make evident. You have been summoned to reflect on the conduct of the misguided Brethren who have converted the rational enjoyment of the annual holiday or feast of the Grand Lodge of England into a mockery and derision, and have shewn to the profane world that it is possible for Freemasons to be forgetful of their duty; both as regards their allegiance to the Order and their character as members of civil society. If we are removed from the ills that encompass mortality, we are not the less anxious for the happiness of those with whom we have been associated, and therefore lament most deeply the present dereliction from Masonic dignity. I implore of you, my Masonic compeers, to declare your sentiments on this unhappy occurrence.'

Here the dreamer became so startled as to create a fear lest he might awaken; the attention of the Masonic shadows was fixed upon him, but especially that of the statue, who observed-"Fear not, I know the dreamer; he may be trusted, although an enthusiast. Hereafter I will endeavour to bring to your recollection some by-gone days; our busi

ness now is with the present moment. Shades of my Lord Moira and of my honoured uncle Cumberland, I pray you aid me by your opinions." The noble forms rose, and mutually addressed the illustrious statue ; they declined, however, to express any opinion, preferring to leave the question in the care of their beloved friend, whereon the statue resumed

"I had myself once contemplated some revision in the formation of the Board, as necessary to render the office of Grand Steward more effectually serviceable as well as dignified. I had always in view to profit in due time by the suggestions of those who were competent to offer useful advice. Still the constitutions sufficiently direct the objects and office of Grand Steward, so as to have prevented this hapless occurrence. The point now to be attained is, to mark the circumstance well, and to endeavour by strict examination and impartial justice to prevent a repetition of such disgrace to the Order. I could hope that my noble successor would, on the instant, suspend the late Board of Grand Stewards -hold an inquiry into their conduct-and if, after such enquiry, it should appear that the disturbance arose from circumstances not to be controlled by them, they should, in such case, be honourably acquitted of all blame and restored to their Masonic rank and function. But if, on the contrary, it should appear either that the Grand Stewards acted with evident want of decision, with inefficiency, or in wilful neglect of duty, they should be visited by such penalty as should be found commensurate with the offence."

The statue ceased, and the dreamer felt as if he was regarded with complacency; while, however, thought was inspiring hope, a mist came over his senses and left him no other evidence of the Grand Lodge of Shadows than what emanated from a dream, impressing his mind with a consciousness of the strongest necessity of acting with justice, tempered, it may be, with such moderation as may increase its value.

FIDUS.

Midnight, April 29th, 1846.

TO THE EDITOR.

Malta, May 14th, 1846.

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER,-You may remember, some months since, that a spurious Lodge was set up in Bristol, to which the attention not only of the Grand Lodge, but also of the judicial authorities, was directed. A notice eventually issued from the G.L., directed to the W.M. of all Lodges, cautioning them to receive no brother into his Lodge without a G.L. certificate (but more especially any one from Bristol), which reached the Lodges established in Malta.

Will you be kind enough to enlighten a few Brothers by replying to the following question, or by advising them how to act under peculiar circumstances?

At a distance of a few hours sail from this island are the kingdoms of Sicily and Italy, and daily communication is maintained. You are aware of the spirit which influences many natives of the latter country, and how many, called Italian refugees, have fled-how great are the persecutions they have endured-what privatious they have borne to establish their rights, whether real or imaginary this is no time to inquire. Many of the refugees are Freemasons—but should a "certificate be found on them, in their own country, perpetual imprisonment, if not death, would probably ensue, hence are they never provided.

Under these circumstances, a new Lodge, desirous of acting in strict conformity with the instructions of the Grand Lodge, requires advice.

1st. To admit men without a certificate is to violate a G.L. command. 2nd. Not to admit them, is to exclude good Masons, and to wound the feelings of the Brother who proposes them as members.

In this dilemma is there no mid-course by which foreign members may have the right of entrée to Lodges under a British charter, without being admitted as members, subscribing or honorary?

A few weeks since, a Mason of high and long standing (a refugee), was rejected as an honorary member for the simple reason that he had done nothing to the knowledge of the members to entitle him to such a mark of distinction; yet his proposer was advised to introduce him in that capacity, since by the order above alluded to, he could not, unprovided with a certificate, have been admitted as a member.

The Brother proposing him of course felt chagrined at his rejectionunpleasant discussion followed-hence this demand by

A MEMBER OF THE ZETLAND.

[There may be some difficulty in the case, but in the sense of honesty, not an insurmountable one. The Grand Lodge of England itself is not infallible. Some five years since, by a sudden and disgraceful ruse, it actually denounced a Masonic periodical as traitorous-for speaking the TRUTH!—yet, thank God, that periodical exists, and, we hope, with some advantage to FREEMASONRY UNIVERSAL. In the case of the spurious Lodge at Bristol, the Grand Lodge was quite en regle, nor could it well direct that Italian refugees should be received. But in the case of "A Mason of high and long standing (a refugee)," we certainly are of opinion that an exception should be made in his favour. The course frequently adopted, where certificates cannot be introduced, is by testing the Brother on the Sacred Volume. Let the Brother take a moral obligation thereon, and if, after occasionally visiting the Lodge, his general demeanour as a Mason should be such as to entitle him to be ballotted for as an honorary member, an exception might be made in his favour, and with advantage to the Order. Such a course is purely within the construction of Masonic courtesy, for even the English Masonic constitution, generally tolerant as it is, could hardly refuse admission to a Brother where allegiance to Freemasonry in his own country exposed him to the fearful penalty of DEATH! A virtuous Freemason thus circumstanced, is a beacon-light-a test of purity—and should be respected accordingly.-ED.]

TO THE EDITOR.

36, New Broad Street, City, 28th May, 1846.

SIR AND BROTHER,-In your last number, under the head of "The Reporter," page 79, an article is inserted "Old King's Arms Lodge, No. 30, Feb. 25th," and proceeds with a copy of a circular sent from the Worshipful Master of that Lodge to its members, in which it is stated the Board of General Purposes decided "that the charges brought against various members by Bro. Gibbins, P. M., Bro. A. U. Thiselton, P. M., and others, were not proved." But it omits to state a very important portion of the decision of the Board, viz.-" That Bro.

VOL. IV.

BB

Gibbins (the then W. M.,) was fully justified in bringing the matter before the Board; in fact it was his duty to do so.'

Presuming upon your candour and desire to do justice to all parties, I rely upon your inserting this communication in your next number, and that more particularly from the circumstance of the Board of General Purposes having thought it proper to severely censure the Worshipful Master of the Old King's Arms Lodge, No. 30, for having sent forth such a garbled statement of their decision on this case; by doing which you will oblige,

Your obedient Servant,

JAS. GIBBINS, P. M., No. 30.

[In compliance with Bro. Gibbins's desire we publish his letter, and with the greater pleasure, inasmuch as it confirms the general good sense of the statement complained of by him in the letter of the W. Master of No. 30, to the members of his Lodge. The terms "garbled statement" may or may not have been used by the Board; but the complimentary allusion to Bro. Gibbins in bringing a matter before the Board (of which he was a member,) that was not proved, conveys somewhat a sense of the ludicrous. Is Bro. Gibbins aware that since a certain member of the Board has joined the Lodge No. 30, there has been nothing but discord and quarrelling. Let Bro. G. advise the party alluded to, to depart in peace-Kindness and goodwill will resume their sway; but, by the very "pillars of Hercules," while such a member remains, farewell to peace and harmony.-ED.]

TO THE EDITOR.

London, 1st June, 1846.

SIR AND BROTHER,-A long series of ill health and imminent danger of death, have been the reasons for suspending my pen until the present moment, in answer to your intimation, page 206, June 1845.

Although I am fully aware of the great difficulty of reaching the ear of the Court of Rome, I am equally conscious that this Court is not impervious to truth or impenetrable to reason. Every question submitted to Rome is laid before the properly constituted tribunal-most minutely weighed and considered in all its bearings, before being determined, according to the strictest rules of truth and justice.

I have, therefore, long entertained an opinion on the efficacy of a respectful and courteous address or remonstrance, signed by the members of as many Lodges as possible, in England, Ireland, and even the colonies, indiscriminately by Catholics and others, to be sent to us here for the purpose of transmission through the hands of our bishop, Griffiths, in London.

When I wrote some time ago, to enquire whether the Grand Lodge would be induced to afford their Roman Catholic Brethren any assistance on such an occasion, it was at a moment when a cardinal (Capacini, since dead,) was here on his way to Rome. His stay was short, and I was not sufficiently recovered in time to resume the subject.

These few words may, for the present, perhaps, be sufficient for the purpose of exciting attention upon a very important point, involving, in the estimation of many, if not the salvation, the peace of mind of many thousand "good Catholics."

A CATHOLIC.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR AND BROTHER,-A few years ago an individual, a resident housekeeper in this town, anxious to become a Freemason, made application to a Lodge in another town to be admitted there; he was proposed, balloted for, but black beaned.

The same individual, a few weeks ago, made application to the Lodge in this town, and was proposed for admission by a Brother of the Lodge, who, at the same time, was informed by several of the Brethren, that the proposed candidate had been blackbeaned at

some years ago; at the same time it was stated that there existed a strong feeling against the candidate, and, if persisted in for a ballot, that he would be blackbeaned. Notwithstanding these hints given, the candidate was proposed in full Lodge, balloted for, and, as was anticipated, he was blackbeaned by five votes. This has caused dissension and unpleasant feelings amongst the Brethren, and a breaking up or separation is talked of by some of the members in favour of the candidate.

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Sir and Brother, will you be so good, and give your opinion in your next Quarterly Review, (to serve as a land mark" and guidance, in future, for a similar occurrence), whether it is constitutional to propose a blackbeaned individual?-Whether that Brother who proposed him, having been warned of the result to issue, is justified in proposing a rejected candidate?-or can he have just cause to complain of want of respect or courtesy shown to him, or consider himself insulted by not admitting the individual he proposed? A BROTHER.

[It is possible that the party desirous of entering the Order some years since, might have felt cognizant of the existence of some difference of opinion between himself and a member or members of the Lodge in the town wherein he resided, and that he therefore endeavoured to enter the Masonic portal elsewhere. Should this idea be correct, we see nothing therein but deference to propriety. It is better that one person should be refused entrance, than that the peace and harmony of many should be disturbed. Well, many years elapsed, and inclination still existing, his amour propre, probably revolted from seeking entrance where rejection had once followed. The party then tried his own town, and was there rejected the former reasons possibly existing. The case is, we believe, an isolated one. If the party be respectable in character and courteous in disposition, his rejection is unworthy of the Brethren ; if otherwise, while we still lament his rejection, his own good sense will doubtless supply the moral. Should, however, his rejection have resulted from mere ill-nature, (and Freemasons are but men), we can assure him that the door of Freemasonry will open freely to admit him. We have since heard that his first rejection arose from a most unworthy motive-ED.]

TO THE EDITOR.

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER,-I have much pleasure in informing you that the St. James' Lodge, No. 707, at Handsworth, have unanimously voted the sum of One Guinea annually to each of the four Masonic charities; a pattern this for the other Lodges under the English constitution. Let them do likewise, and the treasurer of each charity would, at the end of every year, be enabled to make a flourishing report of 762 guineas from this source alone.

Yours truly, A PROVINCIAL GRAND OFFICER.