FREEMASONS'

QUARTERLY

REVIEW.

SECOND SERIES-MARCH 31, 1847.

IRELAND.-Famine, disease, and death, rule all powerful in the sister kingdom of Ireland; their gaunt and iron grasp has plunged millions into calamitous despair, annihilating every hope but that which the All-Merciful shall engender in the hearts and bosoms of the faithful. Appalling indeed is the grim spectre of suffering humanity, overtaken in its abject wretchedness by the march of famine, which stays neither by night nor by day. The cry of famishing districts speaks aloud-no, no, not aloud—but groans deeply for that aid which the sympathy of the English nation can alone supply. The desolating evidences of the ruthless malignity of famine rapidly extend-and, as they extend, trace out long lines of fever and pestilence, leaving despair to bring up the rear, that death may the more readily consign the suffering victims into the yawning sepulchral gulph.

These are not words of exaggeration-facts-indisputable facts prove that instead of the daily reports of commercial and statistical matters, we have the painful knowledge that, of an authenticated census of three millions of paupers, hundreds daily perish of hunger in the most luxuriant and fertile country of Ireland. Nature herself is aghast at this visitation ! We have read that a great political character has observed, that "England's necessity was Ireland's opportunity," but we honestly believe that he meant these words as prophetic of some hopeful change on the advent of stern necessity, and not in their harsher sense. The same may be said of him when giving his prejudiced version of the conduct of the Saxon to the Celt. Let him see that "Ireland's sad necessity" is in reality" England's opportunity," and that the Saxon can and will step forward, and with giant energies strive to mitigate the anguish, and it may be, to succour and to save fellow-creatures from famine, disease, and death! The English nation is aroused-its sympathý partakes of a more than industrial character-it has a holy duty to perform, and to render its charity more acceptable to the Throne of Grace, a general fast was held on the 24th of this month, as a day of national humiliation.

Will Freemasons be last in the holy throng? Assuredly not-all classes of the Fraternity feel that the call is that of nature upon nature itself, and however as citizens of the world they may in one way or an

VOL. V.

B

other have joined in the subscription lists, that as Freemasons they will also transmit their oblations to the altar of misery.

We subjoin a letter of Cato, which has much propriety in it, and which we have reason to know has done much service; as also another from the Rev. Brother Dr. Wolff, the converted Jew and enterprising traveller, who having risked his life in the cause of humanity by a perilous journey to Bokhara, has set the seal and impress of brotherly love to this hapless visitation. Read their letters.

FREEMASONRY AND THE PRESENT DISTRESS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sin,-Permit me, through the instrumentality of your widely-circulated journal, to remind my Brethren (the Freemasons of England), that it behoves them, in the present time of extraordinary distress, to do something for its alleviation.

I would suggest that a collection be made in every Lodge on their next meeting night. In a society so extensive and so well to do in the world, I feel certain the call upon their charity would be responded to in a manner worthy of the principles on which the Order is founded.

The popular world, seeing their good works, will then believe that Masonry is indeed something more than a name.

January 11.

CATO.

TO THE MASONS IN ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND.

BROTHER MASONS,-You will pardon the liberty which I take by addressing to you these lines.

I lately entered your ancient and venerable Fraternity for two rea

sons:

1.—In order to increase my usefulness for the benefit of my fellow-creatures;

2. To be enabled to enter more fully into the depth of sacred antiquity.

As there now is great distress in the land, in England, Ireland, and Scotland, I am ready to deliver lectures during the week days in different towns of England, for the purpose of contributing towards the relief of the starving population of England, Ireland, and Scotland, let them be Protestants, Roman Catholics, Jews, or Mahomedans. I don't want anything else except the expences for travelling by third class carriages in rails, and am ready to make a commencement at Sherborne for this purpose, when the collections may go to the poor of England, Scotland,

and Ireland, instead of assisting me in building my parsonage. The hungry must first be fed before one can think of building parsonages or

churches.

Your most affectionate Brother,

JOSEPH WOLFF.

Isle Brewers, near Langport, in Somersetshire,

Jan. 15, 1847.

We much regret that a notice of motion that stood on the business paper of the Grand Lodge of England at its last meeting, for a grant of one thousand pounds to the suffering poor of Ireland and Scotland, was prevented from being entertained in consequence of the hour for new motions having elapsed. We know not whether the standing order in such a case might not have been suspended; but surely this was a case of such stringent necessity, that the breach of the law would have been its best observance. Let us hope that the notice of motion itself will operate as a moral direction to the Freemasons over the whole world, to do their duty at any rate, and that by the next meeting of the Grand Lodge there will be such a glorious evidence of the charity of Freemasons, that the Grand Lodge of England, instead of having had the honour of leading the van of charity, may bring up her reserve in the fulness of a grateful and glorious success in the great cause of mankind.

Since these remarks were written, many Lodges have subscribed. The India Lodges-the wealthy Hindoos-and republican America, have enlisted their sympathies; and there is hopeful prospect that whatever difference of opinion there may exist as to notions of political economy, there is among Freemasons but one thought, but one mind, when such a calamity prevails.

Under the English constitution there are registered 768 Lodges; were each to contribute but ten pounds, there would from this source be collected 7,6807., a small sum in itself, but large in effect, for it would tend to create a general impulse among individual members; and it is not too much to calculate that the merchant princes of England, most of them Masons, would remove the taunt of Napoleon, that wondrous man and Mason, who in his political wrath denounced us as a nation of shopkeepers. Let aid be sought in every source, and the motto will be proved, "Juncta juvant."

THE HEWLETT FUND.-We refer our readers to the quarterly obituary, as well as to our advertising columns, for the particulars of a sad and distressing case which has occurred by the lamented decease of a most worthy Brother, the Rev. J. T. Hewlett, who died recently and suddenly, leaving nine motherless children, destitute of any other means of existence than what the alternative of the "union" provided. As an

author of great merit the deceased was well known-yet he was not fortunate in a worldly sense. Many a one rejoiced in the perusal of his works, little dreaming of the sadness of the author's heart. His urbanity and goodness were proverbial, and his ministry essentially pious. Some idea may be formed of his mental sufferings when we state that his rectory produced but 1757., and that at his death the sheriff was in possession of his scanty furniture.

To the Lodge of True Friendship, No. 186, be ascribed all honour. On hearing of the decease of their Brother and Pastor, they gave food and raiment to the orphans, dismissed the sheriff, conducted the funeral, and took the family under their care until Providence should send further aid. Godlike Brethren! may your reward be peace here, and happiness hereafter. Well do you merit the blessings attendant on your noble conduct. How sweet must be the thanks of these orphans! And next to them, how gratifying must be the numerous acknowledgements of your generous sympathy from various Lodges!

The Right Worshipful Brother Rowland Alston, P.G.M. for Essex, and his excellent son and deputy, and the Grand Lodge of Essex, have earned golden opinions from the Craft, whose honour has been by them so worthily sustained. We tell them, with a frankness not unworthy the high sense entertained of their Masonic position, that such acts enhance even their character, and prove them worthy our gratitude.

The subscription list is most promising; and it is expected that it will be sufficiently extended to place all the orphans beyond the reach of want, and thus realise the prayerful hope of their dying father to his friend, "Ask nothing for me when I am dead, as I soon shall be; remember my poor children, and save them from the union."

It will afford us much pleasure to receive and forward any subscriptions for the " Hewlett Fund" with which we may be entrusted.

THE GRAND LODGE.-The debate or business of the Grand Lodge, on the 3rd instant, independent of the unanimous election of the Earl of Zetland as Grand Master, may be divided into three parts-the last occupying the case of Bro. Hewlett's orphans, passed in a manner most satisfactory; it calmed the eddying vortex of unseemly prejudice, and closed the evening with some show of Masonic propriety. But it is on the two other parts that we feel called upon to make remarks.

It was stated to the Grand Lodge that the Grand Master had re.ceived a communication from the Grand Lodge of Ireland, that it had elected as its representative, in the Sister Grand Lodge of England, Bro. R. L. Wilson, and which appointment the Grand Master approved. Here the matter ought to have rested; but a Past Grand Registrar, whose previous legal tactics have not been altogether, as Bro.