Stray Leaves from a Freemason's Note Book. By a Suffolk Rector. Spencer. The title of this work has been changed from "A Home for the Lonely." It is nearly ready for delivery, and is altogether a work of most thrilling interest, and will cause a great sensation, or we are much mistaken. The following are all received, and hereby acknowleged. 1. Supreme Grand Council of Rites for Freland. 2. Rules, Regulations, and Bye-laws of the Kilwinning (formerly Grand) Chapter of Princes Rose-Croix of Ireland. 3. By-laws of the Bank of England Lodge (revised.) 4. Regulations of the Asylum for Aged Freemasons (revised.) TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are requested to state that Dr. Crucefix has altogether retired from London. His address is, Grove, Gravesend, Kent; where all communications should be addressed that are intended for his personal observation-indeed, letters for the Editor, under cover to him, will more immediately reach their destination. It is most earnestly entreated that, wherever possible, all communications may be written only on one side of the paper; also that all German and other foreign words may be most legibly written. We are requested by Dr. Crucefix, who is preparing for the Press an account of popular events in English Freemasonry, to be favoured by any Masonic papers; more especially as relating to York and Athol Masonry-the trials of Preston, Whitney, Bonnor, and others. His own escapade is complete. The Grand Officers appointed by the M. W. Grand Master on the Board of General Purposes, are Bros. Dobie, (President), Goldsworthy, Parkinson, James Savage, Bossy, H. T. Foreman, Mc Mullen, Evans, Jennings, Lewis, and Webb. A COUNTRY BROTHER.-The Freemasons' Calendar for 1846, is not out of print, as reported, but may be had (by ordering it through the local bookseller) from Bro. Spencer, the publisher. A MASON.-Bro. Spencer receives subscriptions for supplying the "Freemasons' Monthly Magazine," by Bro. Moore, Boston, U. S.; also for the "American Masonic Register," by Bro. Hoffman, Albany, New York. APPOINTMENT.-Bro. David Pollock, P. G. W., (elder brother of Bro. Sir F. Pollock, Chief Baron of the Exchequer,) Commissioner of the Insolvent Debtors' Court, is appointed Chief Justice at Bombay; salary, 80001. per annum. A SUFFERER.-We cannot refer to the precise date of our remarks on the Pannus Corium, but we have a grateful recollection of the great benefit derived from its use. Since we placed our feet under Mr. Hall's care, (now many years since,) we have not suffered from corns or tender feet. Dr. Eisenberg, and other chiropodists, may vaunt their cures, but we advise those afflicted with any inconveniences in the feet, to try the Pannus Corium previous to placing themselves under operators; and those who fancy themselves cured of corns by extraction, will do well to use it, for better security against a return of the complaint. HERCULES' CLUB was a fine stick of classic shillelagh. The threatened club at Hercules' pillars, is the mere cackling of a goose--provoking laughter. RUMOUR.-All the fume about protests against the return of the Board of General Purposes has evaporated; the Board has met-fama volat. VOL. IV. NN BRO. PLOWMAN.-Welcome back again. Be more careful; we will not lead you astray. THE BAKER is respectfully declined. EX PEDE HERCULEM.-The quaker goose and his toadies, are not understood. We are dull of comprehension. A STEWARD reproaches us for not giving a full report of the Boy's Festival. We retort, why not have sent our reporter a ticket? ANTIQUITAS.-In the case of Mr. Halliwell. Having returned the papers for some very important corrections, we have anxiously awaited their return; why they are delayed is unaccountable. We are most desirous to enter our own protest against the intolerance to which that gentleman has been subjected; and, therefore, the more regret the untoward delay of our correspondent. BRO. BRICE.-The letter came too late (25th June). A SUMATRAN, is suspected to be a hoax on his Provincial Grand Master. A PROVINCIAL BROTHER.-We are obliged by the promised details of some very interesting proceedings, and anxiously look for them. AN ATHOL MASON.—Many thanks for the loan of the papers, which shall be returned when examined. SIT LUX, and other friends, will please to peruse some remarks in our leader. A FRIEND.-The epigram is too severe as well as true, but, if published, would stick to the poor wight for his lifetime. GOLGOTHA.-The party has not a bad memory; he intends to win the purple by nominating the Grand Master until-he gets it. ONE OF THE FEASTED.-Silence would be more becoming; to eat, drink, and carouse at the expense of another, and then to laugh at him, is mean. BRO. JOHN PURDY.-We are requested by Dr. Crucefix to state that his valuable MS. has met due consideration. KNAPSACK, June 9.-The report from head quarters, Royal Artillery Company, is hardly of sufficient interest to Masons, albeit that so many Brethren are in rank and file. Knapsack very properly reprobates the conduct of those who hissed at the adjutant, who, however supercilious, vain, and not unoften rude, is an excellent drill-officer. Some curious particulars abide time and circumstance. A SUBSCRIBER TO MRS. CROOK'S PORTRAIT.-In reply to several letters, the portrait is finished; it only remains to collect the money and pay the artist. As to grumbling about the indifference of the G. S., no good will come of that. Habits of fifty years' standing, are not easily thrown aside, nor should it now be expected. DISCIPLINE AND PRACTICE. BRO. H.-Provincial and district Grand Lodges can make no by-laws that interfere with the Book of Constitutions. INQUISITOR.-The Masonic law does not prevent a member of the Board of General Purposes from turning "informer." Such conduct is, however, not simply ungraceful, but dishonourable. The party alluded to is, in many respects, disqualified, being silly and vain. Some are of opinion that the initials only of Artium Societatis Socius," might be assumed by him without the slightest doubt of their propriety. A PROVINCIAL GRAND OFFICER -Wants name and address. ARCH MATTERS. THE MASONIC OMNIBUS is not bad. There must have been some fun when, on the 6th of May, it was licenced to carry thirteen inside, and seven out; but the characters are too broadly and coarsely sketched. The concluding stanza, where the G. O.'s are made to club with the cad to bring themselves in, can hardly be founded on fact. A SOJOURNER must be in error; but having mislaid our list of the new Grand Officers, we cannot set him right at present, TEMPLARS, &c. SIR KNIGHT BLAKE.-The costume for Knight of Malta is, we hear, not yet definitively settled. Templars' clothing is altogether inadmissible in Craft or Arch Masonry. For other replies, vide section 2 of the Articles of Union. Sir Knights should not wear blue gauntlets. A DUBLIN KNIGHT is misinformed; the statements in the "Mail" are neither of them correct. Again, the Grand Conclave of England is REVIVED. A Supreme Grand Council of the thirty-third degree for England and Wales is ORGANIZED. SIR J. GIBLET.-On a former occasion we declined to notice a periodical during its limited existence, and on its decease were silent. We adopt the same course with regard to another abortive attempt; but we condole with the "Pet of the Fancy" on the loss of his organ. Poor Sir J! the title of Sir Knight is insufficient for him, but he has a prototype magnifico who is equally grand, and who insists in rejoicing as Sir R. SIR KNIGHT PURDY.-We are directed to observe that the suggestions forwarded to the party have been perused with much interest. A KNIGHT.-The error of the offending party has been atoned for, and the apology accepted. THE FREEMASONS' QUARTERLY REVIEW. SECOND SERIES-SEPTEMBER 30, 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. THE PHARISAICAL MASONS, AND THE CASES OF TWO LADIES, WIDOWS OF MASONS.-These are startling words, but alas how true! If our readers will turn back to the number for September 1844 (p. 304 et seq.), they will find a re-perusal of the proceedings in Grand Lodge highly interesting. It will be there seen that the report of the then Board of General Purposes contained among other matters the following proposition : "To alter the constitution of the Board of Benevolence altogether, viz. That it should consist of twenty-five members-the President and * THE SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBER WAS PUblished oN THE 15th OF MAY, 1843, N N ten thereof to be nominated by the Grand Master, and the remaining fourteen by the Grand Lodge." This attempt to seize upon the distribution of the general fund of Benevolence met with deserved reprobation-amendments failed—it was negatived by a large majority-and it was hoped that no future attempt would be made to desecrate the principle of charity, and that the Masters of Lodges would not again be insulted by a libel on common sense, that intimated they were not fit and proper persons to carry into effect the laws regulated by the constitution-in fact, that none but the pharisaical few possess the mind and the heart for such purpose. But no! Scarce two years passed ere the case of a widow lady was recommended to Grand Lodge for a grant of £ 50. Be it observed that her case was in every particular substantiated, it was recommended by an almost unanimous vote, but during the discussion the alarm of fire took place, which rendered it necessary to adjourn the Grand Lodge; previous to which the mover, with much regret, consented to the case being referred to the Board of General Purposes, but under a strong protest against its being considered as a precedent-the case, in fact, being the first to be so dealt with. The Board found the case perfect in all its parts, and the money was paid. Of course they did all this— what the movers in the farce wanted was the precedent, the hook on which to fix their net. But what follows-another widow lady preferred her claim, as will be seen by our report of Grand Lodge in the present month-and mark! the Lodge of which her deceased husband was a Past Master, unanimously recommended her petition to the Board of Benevolence, believing the allegations set forth to be true. The Lodge of Benevolence on such petition, and on a still more elaborate statement, vouched for by parties intimately acquainted with the subject, find not only that its necessity required and merited a greater liberality than they, or even the Grand Master, could legally extend, unanimously recommended the petition to the Grand Lodge for a grant of £50. In this case there was not even one dissentient. Could it be believed that to such a case there would have arisen opposition? Yes; the Pharisees struck up their psaltery, and the cry of "reference to the Board" resounded. Again a majority decided that it should not be when mark! a second amendment was moved, that a committee, consisting of the President, Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes, and the Grand Secretary, should take the case into immediate consideration, and if they were satisfied, they should draw a check for the amount. The check did the business-aided certainly by the opinion of the Deputy Grand Master, who although but a youthful practitioner in our noble science, we regret to state lent the influence of his high position in favour of the pharisaical amendments. And thus the delicacy of a lady's position was cast aside, her petition doubted, the opinions of the Lodge and of the Board of Benevolence treated with indifference, and the solemn declarations of those who vouched for the truth of the case, all cast on the tender mercies of such an amendment. But let our readers judge for themselves-at the time we write,* the committee, after three weeks' consideration, have not yet visited the widow and her fatherless family, although she has remained at home in daily expectation of the inquisitorial visit; and, indeed, unless they shall deign to perform their gracious office in a few days, the lady, whose hapless destitution has thus placed her under obligation, will have left a residence afforded her by a non-masonic friend during her momentous trial, and may not readily be found. Oh, woman, woman! how art thou dealt with, when men forget the kindness of their mother. Not the brightest part of this affair is the ready attention paid by some medical Brethren to the tongue of "false report." May their widows ever lack such pharisaical reasoning-may the spirit of the tomb, not rise in judgment, but in mercy, on their unnasonic conduct! they may feign indifference to this aspiration, but we do not envy them. There is a homely proverb applicable to those who travel somewhat out of the record—" Ne sutor ultra crepidam." A SAD CASE.-At the Board of Benevolence in July last, the case of an unhappy Irish Brother, desirous of a passage to America, was considered; he was born to better prospects, and was highly educated; the case was about to be liberally treated, when it was proved that he was addicted to inebriety, and he received but a very trifling aid. His case leads * 28th September. |