Original Correspondence.

Do not imagin e that 1 have the ambition to step into the shoes of Dr . Hemming , for I have not the talent , the energy , nor thc o pportunities for becoming a great Masonic reformer ; 1 simply love Freemasonry from my own view of it , and w ould wish intelligent men to see it too

From my stand-p oint , but I am nut sufficiently cntete to force my own ide as on unwilling minds . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , H . J . BURGER . Kingston , Jam ., Feb . ioth , 1878 .

BRO . BURGER'S LECTURE . Dear Bro . Kenning , I have seen Bro . Burger ' s letter above , and though I don ' t profess to admire its tone , nor can I accept its assumptions , I think it well to send a few lines " ancnt" it . Bro . Burger ' s idea that his theory is a novel one , unique , " sui generis , " is not borne out by the facts of the case .

Whatever may really bc his explanation of our Masonic Ritual , however original or impoitant , it is an undeiubted fact that many writers have sought to extract a philosophy of some kind or other , special or gcncal , from our Masonic ritual . " Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona , " and philological reformers have lived and spoken—begging his pardoneven before Bro . Burger .

Indeed this tendency to "' philosophize " upon our simpler Masonic Ritual was the basts of ail the Thcosophic High Grade , Hermetic movements in the last century . If Bro . Burger will turn to Kl . ssVBhliographieder Freimaurerei , " he will find that he gives the names of 51 w ^ rks , more or less Masonic , under the division " Metaphysik , Thcosophic , Mystik , Cabbala , " and of 145 works under the head .

" Antiquitatcn , Mystericn , Coitus . " So far back as 1777 Court de Gebelin delivered his lectures at Paris on the Allegories of Freemasonry , and in 1814 A . Lenoir published his well known work , " La Tranche Maconnerie renduc a sa Veritable Origine , " & c . " Initiation a la Philosophic de ia Franc Maconnerie , " by J . C . A . Fisch , appeared in 1803 , "Esprit du Dogme oe la Franc he Maconnerie , " by

Rhegcllini de Schio in 1825 . There arc later works in French , German , and English on the same subject , which I need not mention here , but those above mentioned must suffice , " ad hoc , " as actual contributions to a philosophic Masonry . There may of course be a , 1 'fferencc between Bro . Burgerand all these write rs , probably there are , but they have this in

common with him—that they philosophize in one direction or another . In one sense we all hold that there is a philosophy of Masonry in our Ritual , namely , a purely moral philosophy , in the truest sense of the word , but beyond this we do net go in England , and I for one , think wc are light in taking , in this ; as in all other matters , a common sense view of things .

There is one argument of Bro . Hubert ' s which I cannot understand , if he means that because Desaguliers and Anderson , Clare and Preston , Hemming and Williams , successively altered thc Ritual , therefore , we are still to go on altering it in 1878 , ! must at once eiem . ir to his premise . The earlier teachers found the Ritual crude and incoherent , disconnected anel discrepant , and , therefore , they wisely

amalgamated , modified , anel harmonized its various portions . Such as we have it , it is a good pior"uct of Masonic zeal , tempered with harmony and discretion , and I for one , object to chance , as I fancy all Masonic teachers will , and above all , to fancied improvements , or philosophizing changes , wh ch mostly land us on hopeless rubbish . I stick to my text— " quitta non movere , " and am , yours most fraternally , THE EDITOR .

LODGES AT TAVERNS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Bro . W . Darlcy ' s letter last week appears to me crushing and unanswerable , and his advice is most

brotherly , he has to my knowledge been the instigation of many lodges being taken from public-houses , and every honest brother will follow his resolve a nd look out to see that the * chari'ies are thoroughly upheld . Yours fraternally , Titurii .

THE EXCLUSION OF HEBREWS . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " 'Dear Sir and Brother , — Allow me a small space in your valuable Masonic journal , and I hope it may give light amongst the brethren abroad . About three months ago , I have noticed in several

newspapers of this province of a meeting which has taken place by the Grand Lodge of England , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales presiding , stating about the Grand Lodge of France not agreeing with the Principal Orders and ground-works of Masonry , which ccrta ' nly ought to be condemned , and I cannot but glory in the courage of thc many subordinate lodges of France , to dissolve all

future connection with such mother lodge . Futthermore as to not admitting non-Christians as members in lodges in this country , which is very general , and not like some brothers abroad imagine . I am a member of Austin Lodge , No . 1 2 , Austin , Texas , ( and a companion of Royal Arch Chapter , No . 6 ) , have been residing here for several years , and I can speak for

myself , as an eye-witness that I have tried to become a member here of "Tempel der Eintracht , " and admittance has been refused to me , for no other reason , only because I am of thc Jewish nation , and a believer in the Deity . Such brotherly love exists in Masonry in Prussia I Is this the corner-stone of our foundation ? Should this be the wages of

a Mason , and the fruits of his la ' iour , which he has so faithfully and honestly worked for ? Furthermore , honest labouring men are not admitted here , as their external qualifications are considered more than their internal , and most of times it is necessary , as the woiking men and the better class do not associate in this

Original Correspondence.

country even in societies like ours . Should this be the love of fellowship , which our brothers abroad approve of ? I have visited various climes , and travelled East and West , and over many a rough road , and never have 1 met with such obstacles as this . I would like to have some light on the subject by some brother abroad . B . PCI . ASKI , 28 , Fricdtich-str ., Posen , Prussia .

. SWEDENBORGIAN RITE . To ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As I gather from my correspondence that some misapprchetisic . il prevails as to my motives in organising the Swedtnborgian Rite , as well the Ancient and

Primitive—Memphis , Mizraim , tec , I should be glad if , once and forever , } ou will allow me an explanatory word of a personal nature . I have accepted the Grand Masterships of several excellent rites , those , I mean , with valuable information or objects , for the simple reason that there was no other

eligible brother willing to take them , but I do not care to retain them when once a suitable successor for any of my Masonic offices presents himself . Especially shall I be glad to be relieved of the Grand Mastership of the Swedenborgian Rite , which already numbers nine lodges , and I have already offcr » d it both to Captain F . G . Irwin and

Lord Lindsay , neither of whom seems disposed to take it . The position which I assume in regard to these rites is that of the organising agent to help those who require them . They are of great Craft interest , and there must be many who , like myself , would be glad to acquaint themselves w-ith them , and add to their other Masonic

titles thc privilege of being a member at a rcasinable cost , the funds being as carefully husbanded as they can be with justice to the rites themselves . For such brethren as these the rites only exist . They are there for them to take or leave ; it being to me a matter of no prrsonal moment . But so long as the management of them remains in my hands I shall tlo my duty to them , at some cost to myself ,

111 a quiet easy-going way . When any one suitable will undeitaketo relieve me of the unsought trouble of office I shall bc delighted to transfer my unappreciated troubles to them , assuring them , from a long experience , that high Masonic office brings more of jealousy and ill-feeling than—thank you for your trouble . Yours truly and fraternally , J YAKKER .

THE INSTALLATION ENGRAVING . To the Editor nf the " Freemason . " Dear Sir ancl Brother , 1 find you are profuse in your praises of the InstallationjEngraving , and have no doubt you are correct . I am only a very humble subscriber , at £ 2 2 s ., but

shou'd be very thankful if you could say when I am likely to get mine , as I have been put off time after time , although some caustic brothers endeavoured to silence the subscribers by telling them how long other engravings had taken , ancl implying wc had no right to expect this at an unreasonable time , that is , thc time it was promised .

I must still press for a reply . I fancy by expecting them when they were promised , we were paying Bro . Harty a very high compliment , simply because we trusted to his judgment and believed his promises . I understood that only a limited number of each were to be struck off , if so , why the delay , and why send out these at a higher price

at an earlier period ? I think all ought to have been delivered or ready for delivery on one and thc same day . I understood all were to be placed as near as possible where they stood ; is it a fact that such has been departed from , and those who subscribe for thc most expensive copies are placed in a prominent position in consequence . 1 should be glad to see the promised advertisment in jour columns ,

to say that all are ready for delivery on receipt of the cash . I hope 1 shall not be considered very premature , as I have waited more than 12 months ( I think ) , after the promised time . Please remember the promise was not extorted under pressure—it was volunteered . Very faithfully yours , DISAPPOINTED .

A ( iUERY . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can A ., who is W . M . of a lodge , instal B . ( who has been duly elected ) into the chair of another lodge , A . not heing a P . M ., but actually a W . M . ? Yours , & c . ¦¦

j . .. [ Certainly , if asked to do so by the W . M . —En . ]

COINCIDENCE OR DESIGN—WHICH ? ' ' To the Editor oj the Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Permit me through your columns very sincerely to thank " S . P . " for his letter under the above heading . 1 have coloured copies of the cartoons before my eyes at

every meal , and a set of prints in my bedroom , ancl though I delight in a constant study of men , I confess that the idea suggested by " S . P . ' - ^ ncver before occurred to me ; but my attention having been drawn to thc subject , I have made it my business carefully to examine the cartoon to which he evidently alludes , and it has struck me that the position ,

though hardly so forced and unnatural as to attract the attention of the uninstructed , or even a P . M ., unless like S . P . a very thoughtful one , is quite sufficiently so to give rise to a very decided suspicion of " design" in its execution rather than of coincidence . It is , to my mind very strongly suggestive of " occult knowledge , " and actual participation in some ceremony analogous to that of our present installation . Although therefore , this certainly curious coincidence ,

Original Correspondence.

cannot of course be regarded as actual proof , still it does seem to me that , in the absence of positive evidence to thc contrary , it affords a reasonable presumption , that Freemasonry existed early in the ltjth century ; that though its ceremonies may have been changed , its tokens were then similar to those of the present day , and that if so then

Raffale d'Urbino was a member of thc Craft and had passed the chair . I may observe that he was perhaps forgetful , if at that time aware e . f the impropriety of " delineation . " while thus " manifesting the possession of occult krioivle ' . ' ge . " I am , dear Sir and Brother , fraternally yours , H . J . H ., P . M . ' ttjo , P . P . tS .-l , j 8 ° .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of this Institution met on Saturday last at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . S . Rosenthal in ihe chair . Among tile other brethren present were Bros . Geo . J . Row , Jairies Winter , S . Rawson , L . Ruf , J . G . Berry , Raynham W . Stewart , John Boyd ,

Pereival Smford , Wm . F . C . Moutrie , Wm . Roebuck . A . Durrani , Don . M . Dewar , Hyde Pullen , J . G . Chancellor , Henry W . Hunt , J . W . Dosell , H . Massey , ( Freemason ) , W . Maple , and F . Binckes , Secretary . After the reading and confirmation of the minutes , Bro , Raynham W . Stewart said he rose to ask a question which he was sure under present circumstances would elicit an

answer that would relieve the brethren ' s minds of a good deal of doubt and anxiety . The subject on which he wished to put a question was tlie recent bank failure in rhe City . That bank being the banking house cf Messrs . Willis , Pereival , eS : Co ., thc bankers to this Institution , it we uld be satisfactory to know in what position the Boy ; . ' School stood

with regard to it . He would therefore ask as shortly as possible what balance this Institution had Manning at the bank which hael failed , and what steps had been taken for placing this Institution's account at another bank . No doubt this Institution had lost by the failure of Messrs . Willis , Pereival , et Co ., but it was belter that they should at once know the worst .

Bro . Binckes said he had fully anticipated lhat some member of the Committee would ask this question , and would wish to have some statement laid before the brethren . I le had therefore prepared himself , and could now inform the Committee , in answer to Bro . Stewart ' s question , that on the ist January thc balance at thc bank was £ 275 % 19 s . 4 d . They had since paid inlo the bank £ 1249 25 .

iod ., and there had been paid into the hank direct £ 15 5 s ., and dividends £ 148 2 s . Cd . ; or a total of £ 4172 9 s . 8 d . From this had to be deducted cheques drawn on the bankers and hononred by them £ 2680 19 s . 4 d ., leaving an indebtedness by the bank on ttie general lund of £ 149 1 ics . 41 ! ., anil £ 74 165 . 41 ! . on the sustcnuticm account ; making the claim of tins Institution against the bank 6

^ 1516 s . 8 d . Bro . Binckes then read the notice which appeared in the Standard as to the failure of the bank , and the letter he had received from Messrs . Lawrancc , Plews , and Baker . He had heard from private souices that it was possible there would not be a dividend of mo'c ihan 3 s . 4 c ! . in thc pound . He was at Manchester on Thuisray and Friday ,

and when he saw the announcement of the failure in the papers on Friday morning he came back . He called at the London and Westminster Bank ( Bloonisbury Branch ) that ( Saturday ) morning , and saw the manager and asked him if he was prepared to open an aecount with the Boys * School . He then found lhat tl e same step had been taken by Grand Secretary on behalf of Grand Lod ge ,

the representative of the Secretary o' the Girls' School , and by the Secretary ofthe Benevolent Insti'uli . 11 . The manager said he would , and lie ( Bro . Binckes ) informed him that he hoped at the meeting of ihe Committee that afternoon to bc able to get a resolu-iun passed authorising a banking account to bc opened with the Louden and Westminster , which he would forward to him embodied in a

formal letter . Ihe bark was therefore now ready to receive the money of the Buys' School , sub , ect to the approval of this Committee . The arrangements were all made , and this Institution would b-. gin to pay in on Monday next . Bro . Raynham W . Stewart said he would move a resolution , "That thc account of thcRojal Masonic Institution

for Boys be transferred to the Bloomsbuiy Branch of the London ancl Westminster Bank . " Bro . J . J . Berry seconded the motion , which was then put and carried . Bro . W . Roebuck , in accordance with notice given last month , moved , "That the salary of Miss Hall , ihe matron at the school , be incrcaseel from £ 100 to £ 150 a year . "

Since Miss Hall last had a rise the school had increased in numbers , and after the next election there would be fifty more boys in the school than there weie when Miss Hall had a rise to £ 100 a year . Everyone who had visited the Boys' School must know how deserving Miss Hall was of an increase in her salary . No one could look after the boys more kindly or attentive ly ; and the brethren

must remember that it was not only the fifty additional boys that she had to look after , but an increased number of teachers and servants , which would make the addition of fifty as high as sixty . The ine-reiscd nnmb . r of assistants had not at all eased Miss Hair ' s posi ion . Miss Hall had had great difficulties to contend with , but they were all surmounted , and everything went on remarkably well .

Bro . Raynham W . Stewart hart much pleasure in seconding the motion , as one of the oldest members of thc House Committee . In that capaeicy he had observed how Miss Hall had discharged her duties , and he was able to say that no one could discharge them better . Bro . Durrant asked what salary the matron of the Girls ' School had , and what number of pupils were under her charge .