Operative And Speculative Masonry.

Preston s Illustrations—or why tho explanation ordinarily attached to it should be called in question . When Ashmole states that he was " made a Freemason " on 16 th October 1646 , and again that he was present , March 11 , 1682 , when certain gentlemen " were admitted into tho Fellowship of

Freemasons , " we do not understand him to uso the word Freemasons in its speculative sense . We consider he means that he was made free of tho guild of Masons , jusfc as , even now , we speak of men being made free of the City of London or of Edinburgh . The value of Ashmole ' s statement lies

in tho proof it furnishes that in the middle of tho seventeenth century there were non-operative members of the guild of Masonry . The still earlier records we have quoted from Murray Lyon ' s history show this was also the case in Scotland . Here is evidence that cannot be doubted ,

nor need we , in accepting it , go the length of considering " operative and speculative Masonry are one and the same thing . " Gradually , the non-operative element in Masonry ,

by reason of its increasing numbers , became more powerful than the operative , until , at length , in the beginning of the eighteenth century , Masons' Lodges became wholly speculative .

Ifc may bo from our inability to appreciate the merits of the argument as stated in the last two paragraphs in the article of our contemporary , or it may he due to some other cause . We confess , however , we do not quite understand the views laid down in them by our learned brethren .

Perhaps , on some future occasion , we may be in a position to deal with it more successfully , having in the interim obtained a clearer understanding of the case . In the hope this may prove to be so , we close these remarks for the present .

The Wandering Freemason.

THE WANDERING FREEMASON .

XI . BLAKE now assumed by degrees a new character , which was artfully originated by himself in general conversation . He came out as the large philanthropist—the beneficent Howard who , compassionating the ignorance and unproductiveness of hordes of savages , had cast around for some favoured spot of earth where their

condition might be improved , where they might become civilised and instructed , at the same time conferring by their labour an inestimable benefit upon deserving lands which lay fallow , awaiting human industry . What country so worthy of development and so prodigal of a rich return as that of the

glorious Republic of Peru ? He foresaw a future export of sugar in untold increase , vast tracts under cochineal and indigo , immense development of the saltpetre and mining interests , as the result of his benevolent enterprise . The press magnified the theme and public men dilated with

enthusiasm upon the grand prospects in store . I could not , however , help remarking , with surprise , that as the empressement of the Lfmenians increased , the cordiality of the

foreign merchants fell off , until at length they held entirely aloof from him . I learned , afterwards , that at this time he made strenuous efforts to induce some of the large houses to co-operate in equipping an expedition , without effect .

Carnival time came , when all seemed seized with sudden mania for throwing of bon-bons , and for practical joking . It is startling , when paying an evening visit to some tprtulla , to be received by the lady of the house who , whilst she tenders her right hand , slyly raises the other behind yonr

back and unexpectedly cracks an eag upon your skull . Though no worse contents than a shower of scent bedew you , still the situation is embarrassing to one not in the secret of the peculiar license of the season . Out of doors worse will befall the unwary ; as he crosses the streetfrom

, the end of a balcony some sly inmate will empty a basin or watering pot over him : remonstrance would provoke only derision and repeated attack . On the balcony of the office of Gibbs and Sons I was smoking with Crawley Boevey ( a

good fellow , now no more ) when we were spotted by two hvel y damsels inhabiting a good house opposite , as innocent gringos * Forthwith ensued to our damage a shower of e ggs ; and we , sending out for a quantity , eagerly reciprocated the bombardment .

Our clothes were reeking with Bau de Cologne , when the Jadies ' ^ supply of missiles being exhausted , they commenced besieg ing us with plain water from a garden syringe , •'• 'apudent but imprudent belles , they could not have antici-

The Wandering Freemason.

patcd tho resources of the foreigner ! With speed and silence , the house fire-engine was made ready below , a hose Ipcl up behind the curtain , a volume of water shot across tho street and shrieks of consternation announced tho total defeat of the enemy .

In scenes like these , Blake participated with activity that really went beyond a joke . Mere victory would not satisfy him ; he would utterly crush all bis assailants , and paraded the streets followed b y two little negroes loaded with baskets of comfits , scented egsrs , and other missiles .

I two or three times encountered him , when his flushed face and rapid utterance gave me tho impression that ho had been drinking freely . I found him once behind a counter , on astoundingly familiar terms with a prett y

French milliner . Altogether , my admiration of him received a rude shock ; I knew not what to make of a great capitalist and largo philanthropist who could so far forget the dignity of his age and assumed importance .

My uneasiness was to be changed into consternation , Carter took me aside one morning , and sounded me with much mystery , so that for some time I could not understand what ho was driving at ; at length it dawned upon me that he was asking , " Had Mr . Blake been borrowing

of me ? " Thunderstruck at the supposition , I at once disclaimed it , when Carter apologised , saying that Blake had been borrowing of " the Doctor , " and as he was unfit to be trusted with cash , a friendly warning about it would

not be thrown away . The doctor alluded to was a medical man from San Francisco , who , with his wife , was staying at the hotel , and whom I had occasionally met in Blake ' s quarters .

In the capacity of acting secretary to the fund collecting in Peru for the distressed Lancashire operatives , I had applied to Blake for a subscription , anticipating a princely donation ( our minister headed the listwith £ 100 ) , but had been , at tho time , disappointed by his writing

down " twenty dollars , " with a flourish , as though he had done something grand . Even this amount he had not paid , and I did not like to ask for it , thinking it beneath the notice of so great a man ; but I now applied for it to Carter , who paid begrudgingly , and I soon took an

opportunity of discussing this with the Doctor , who confided to me his notion that there was something "very fishy " about our friends ; that whatever money there might be in the concern , it was Carter who provided it all ; and that to the latter he looked for repayment of the various sums he had from time to time advanced .

I began to regret my precipitation in making grand acquaintances and my fatal enthusiasm for cosmopolitan philanthropists , but made no further confidant and kept my suspicions to myself . In due time it was announced that the " Adelante , " a barque of some 400 tons , was

being fitted out at Callao by Triarte and Co ., chartered by Miles Blake , the concesionario of the privilege of importing labourers from the South Seas , to proceed to some port unknown , for the purpose of importing a first company of immigrants . As preparations progressed , Blake became

ill and weakly . Several times I found him confined to his bed—once in partial delirium , after an overdose of " painkiller . " Carter was all bustle to and fro between Lima and Callao , seeing to the fittings of the vessel , laying in suitable stores , buying up cheap blankets and

blue shirtings . The Doctor was engaged as medical attendant of the expedition and an agent of the Peruvian Government was appointed to accompany it , with blank Contract forms , printed in Spanish , English , and Kanaka , which , upon being signed by each immigrant , were to be attested in due form .

On the morning of tho departure , Blake , being very unwell , requested me to fetch Yriarte to the railway station for a few parting words . This I did , and remarked that the latter treated the matter as though he had been induced to risk money in an uncertain venture , and that

Blake thanked him exceedingly , assuring him that nothing on his part should be wanting to ensure success . The Doctor begsred me not to forget to visit his wife occasionally ; and Blake laughingly promised to procure me the post of Peruvian Consul-General in the South Seas .

It was calculated that about four months must elapse ' ere their return ; when Yriarte and Co . were to send three more vessels on a second trip . It was rumonred that

planters were already in the market making overtures to take charge of a certain number of immigrants at a high premium : the rate of wages and scale of rations being fixed by the Government . Gradually it dawned upon mo