only for the improvement of the law; but while the power exists in the provinces, although so difficult of performance, what shall we say of Lodges situated beyond a railroad distance? in their case the law must become a dead letter. Surely they are not expected to send a representative who must be the Master, subscribing Past Master, or Warden of the Lodge! These officers are always to be found in the immediate vicinity of where the Lodge exists, yet Lodges in Canada or India are supposed to be the governing body, and have as much right to vote and give opinions in Freemasons' Hall as any Lodge that meets in Great Queen Street, London. But they cannot send every three months from Hong Kong, nor from St. Thomas's, nor from Bengal, nor from Canada, Africa, nor from anywhere else where our Lodges are situated; yet they have a right, a desire, and a command to attend, and the Masonic body has an equal right to demand that they should attend, that their opinions may be ascertained, their views considered, their interests consulted, and their wishes known before any laws (by which they are to be bound) should be enforced. The disadvantages are so evident that it would be better perhaps to enter at once on the remedy than to point out the extent of the grievance. FREEMASONRY AND MAYORALTY. THE quarterly meeting of the town council of Southampton took place (Nov. 9), to elect the mayor and municipal officers, and on other business. There was a large attendance, and the retiring mayor, Wm. Jas. Le Feuvre, Esq., opened the business of the day; and called upon some member of the council to propose a gentleman for the office of mayor for the ensuing year; whereupon Mr. John T. Tucker proposed that Mr. Daniel Brooks, of Richmond Lodge, be elected to that honourable office; in doing which he took occasion to speak in terms of high approbation of Mr. Brooks-of his having been twelve years a member of the council, active and useful in all its important duties, and especially referred to the circumstance of no councillor for the populous ward of St. Mary ever having been preferred to that office, although Mr. Brooks had been repeatedly proposed, and as often rejected by a tyrant majority-a majority that, he rejoiced to say, had now become insignificant. He also charged the late majority with not only requiring a political, but a Masonic character in their officers, and said, that to be a Freemason had hitherto been almost essential to hold an office of honour in that corporation. He had found that out of twenty-nine mayors, or other of the more distinguished officers, elected since the passing of the municipal bill, twenty-three of them were Freemasons. Mr. Tucker said he had nothing to say disrespectful of that body, but he supposed the members assembled as a secret society, and therein settled the municipal affairs of the town. Mr. Tucker concluded by proposing Mr. D. Brooks-(applause). Mr. RICHARD ANDREWS seconded the proposition, and spoke in strong eulogy of the honourable name and business character of Mr. Brooks. Mr. STEBBING said it could not be denied that a great change had occurred in the constituent character of the corporation; so much so, that as soon as the new aldermen were presently elected, the majority of the last twelve years would become the minority. It had therefore become a grave question with the existing majority what course should be adopted; and although, by whipping up a good attendance, they could elect the mayor and sheriff, yet they felt that the more handsome and gentlemanly course would be, to let the majority that would presently exist, have officers of their own selection to carry out their views of business in the ensuing year; and having come to that decision on Friday last, they had thought it right to intimate such their intention to their opponents; and therewith that the conservative party in the council did not contemplate offering a political or factious opposition, but were prepared to give a generous support to the new mayor and council in all measures, where conducive to the interests of the town. He congratulated Mr. Brooks on the prospect of an unanimous election, which unanimity was most important in the high office he would shortly fill, and he (Mr. Stebbing) and his friends, would have much pleasure in giving him a fair and friendly support-(cheers)-gratified the more that the gentleman brought forward possessed so many qualifications for the office. Mr. Alderman LOBB (one of the members of the council, who had thrice filled the office of mayor) gave an eloquent and spirited defence of the Masonic body; and said, that no such subjects as political or municipal matters could by possibility be discussed in a Mason's Lodge; and, moreover, that nothing of the kind had ever occurred in Southampton. He felt it was a matter of gratification to him as a Mason, to hear that so large a number of civic officers were or had been Freemasons, and if so, they might rely on it the public interests had not suffered. He knew full well that the principles of Masonry would ever keep a public man in the path of duty; and the advice and friendship of his brother members would at all times stimulate him to good deeds. He could but insufficiently explain the advantages of Masonry to Mr. Tucker, who had not yet seen the light, but could assure him, that a participation in the secrets of Masonry would never make him a less useful member of society, nor render a corporate officer unworthy of his high position. Mr. Lobb concluded by stating that he should offer no opposition to the very respectable gentleman who had been proposed as mayor of the borough. Other gentlemen having addressed the council in a similar spirit, and no other candidate being proposed, Mr. Brooks was declared duly elected, and was immediately sworn into office. [We offer no comment on the above. It is, however, gratifying to observe, that out of twenty-nine mayoralty chairs, no less than twentythree are filled by Masons. Brothers Stebbing and Lobb had an opportunity of defending the Order of Freemasonry, which they did not neglect, and probably set Mr. Tucker right in a case of doubt.] ROMISH PRIESTS v. FREEMASONRY. York Hotel. The W. Masters of 51, 837, 989, presiding. W. Patrickson, Secretary. The circumstances of the death and burial of the late lamented Bro. Thomas Mulhern having been considered— "That he was for many years a zealous member of Lodge 51.” "That he was a zealous member of the Church of Rome, aud treasurer to the Roman Catholic chapel and some Roman Catholic charities, and in every respect was considered as one of the most attached and intelligent lay assistants of the Roman Catholic Clergy of this Union." "That he had a severe attack of apoplexy a few days before his death, when his wife immediately sent for the parish priest, the Rev. M. Dunleavy, to administer the rites of the Church to him; but the reverend gentleman refused to do so, as the deceased Brother was a Mason, and had declined shewing any disposition to forsake that society, and THAT HIS HANDS WERE THEREFOre closed agAINST HIM." "That our deceased Brother was attended to the grave by several Masonic Lodges in this town, at the desire of his friends and family; but as no Roman Catholic Clergyman attended to perform the funeral service, although the Roman Catholic Bishop and Priests had been entreated to do so, his body was committed to the earth without these religious ceremonies; the withholding of which was calculated to stigmatise the character of our deceased Brother, and to outrage the feelings of his surviving relatives." "That our Institution knows no religious or political distinctions." "That it embraces within its bosom religionists of all denominations, and that, by introducing members of every creed into a society, where they are united truly in the bonds of love and brotherly affection, renders it peculiarly qualified to soften down those asperities which crafty and interested individuals have so successfully created." "That we deprecate every attempt made to disunite the members of the several religious communities, which the terror of the example set, in the instance of our departed Brother Mulheru, is so powerfully calculated to effect. * * * " The Masters of Lodges were formed into a Committee of co-operation to sustain the best interests of the Craft; and it was ordered that the resolutions be published in the" Dublin Evening Mail,” “Sligo Journal,” and "Western Luminary.” DEAR SIR AND BROTHER,-The Grand Lodge of Ireland having appointed a committee "to enquire into the state of the Order of Freemasonry in this country, and to report its opinion as to the best means of improving the same," I am instructed, as Secretary, to request your * Can any Brother supply the date? most zealous co-operation, and that of your intelligent Masonic friends, on this occasion, by disseminating as widely as possible the object of this enquiry, and endeavouring to procure answers as speedily as possible to the following queries, or any of them, together with any other matter relative to the state of the Order, or its improvements, which your judgment may suggest, Your answer, transmitted to No. 33, Dame-street, will oblige, dear Sir and Brother, yours truly, QUERIES. EDWARD TRIM, Secretary. 1. What Lodges meet in your neighbourhood? 2. What is the charge of admission and contribution? 3. What is the mode of ballot, and what notice requisite before the ballot can take place? 4. What is the strength of each Lodge? 5. What their periods of meeting? 6. How many members usually attend? 7. Of what description of persons do the Lodges usually consist? 8. What Lodges are most respectable? 9. Is the Order improving or declining? 10. If declining, to what cause do you attribute its decay? 11. What is the prevailing opinion among persons not of the Order respecting Masonry? 12. Is Masonry reputable or disreputable in your neighbourhood? 13. What measures would you recommend for improving the state of he Order? * ROMAN CATHOLIC INTOLERANCE TO THE DYING AND THE DEAD. TO THE EDITOR. RESPECTED SIR AND BROTHER,-In the Nieueve Rotterdamsche Courant, of the 16th of September, I found the following account; and as fidelity to the Craft, and the respect paid by the world to a departed Brother are pleasant subjects for the Brethren to reflect upon, I have translated it, and if you find it worthy of a place in your truly valuable work, you are welcome to it : "We read in the Courrier du Grand Duché de Luxembourg-Mr. Motus, director of the Luxembourg Company's Iron Works, died of a fever on the 7th instant, and the last consolations of religion were denied to him upon his death-bed. This event occurred in the following manner: "Mr. Motus was travelling upon business when he was suddenly seized with an illness, in Mersch, which took him to his grave. The pastor of the place visited him, but refused to administer the sacrament unto him unless he would abjure Freemasonry, of which society he was a member. Mr. Motus answered, that Freemasonry was an institution which contained nothing contrary to true religion, and that to abjure it would be to do a foolish thing to which he could not consent. A few days after, the son of the sick man, who found his father in a hopeless condition, sent a message to the pastor begging him to suffer the sacrament to be administered to his father, which the * This paper is from the Collection of "Cuttings from the Globe." VOL. V. 3 L minister again refused. Mr. Motus died, and the following day his corpse was carried from Mersch to Fischbach, his late residence. The pastor of the place declared that he would not allow the corpse to be buried in any other place than that where the unbaptized children were buried, to which the burgomaster of Fischbach replied that he would cause the grave to be dug where he thought good; and he was, in fact, buried alongside of his daughter, according to his last request on his death-bed. On Thursday, 9th instant, a number of the friends of Mr. Motus, from Luxembourg, Larochette, and the neighbouring places, assembled together to pay the last token of respect to the memory of a man who was loved and respected by all who knew him, among whom was the burgomaster of Larochette, accompanied by a band of music. About three o'clock, the tolling of the castle bells announced that the funereal procession would commence. The band went first, playing solemn music, followed by the corpse, covered with a pall, and preceded by a crucifix sent by the city of Luxembourg. The relations, and a number of friends of the deceased, with nearly the whole of the inhabitants of the place, closed the train. The body was borne by the workmen of the ironworks, and by them lowered into the grave, after which Mr. Barreau, at the request of the relations and friends of Mr. Motus, delivered a most impressive funeral address." As it is almost impossible to translate these things literally, I beg to state that I have strictly confined myself to the meaning of the paragraph and to the words which the writer would have used had he been writing in English-viz., number of musicians, band of music (playing sacred music being understood in Dutch). I am, Sir, yours most respectfully and fraternally. Rotterdam, Sept. 16, 1847. GEORGE WATSON. WHAT IS A COMPLIMENT? TO THE EDITOR. Dear Brother,─Please to say what you call a compliment. When Dr. Crucefix said it was a compliment to the F. Q. R. that a reporter was to be appointed, save my ears from such compliments," said Bro. Humfrey. It is a compliment (said a Brother to me the other day) to the Grand Secretary and his clerks that a reporter is appointed, because otherwise they must have done the work and got no more pay. Now, Mr. or Mrs. Editor, what is a compliment? I always fancied the Grand Secretary and his first clerk, and the first clerk's first clerk, attended to take notes of the proceedings, such as all other secretaries do at meetings of the bodies to which they are attached; but our staff are either stupid or incompetent, and therefore another person is nominated to do what should be their duty, at all events for an extra twenty guineas a-year. I will be bound to say our Grand Secretary's office could have produced one or two persons to have done the work; is it not almost an offence to them to have to go out of doors to spend our twenty guineas, to find some one able to take notes for such a document as the Grand Lodge report of the proceedings? If that is a compliment, what is a tacit insult? If, as is said, the Grand Secretary, under the rose, reports for the F. Q. R., I am sure he is able to do the other. Is it fair to ask, what he gets for his reports beyond the allowance of " more kicks than halfpence?" Please give me an answer, as I am easy "ANIMO ESSE OFFENSO." |