of the vicar in 1842;* when a new incumbent was appointed "who knew not Joseph," and he was removed from the curacy without the slightest remuneration, at the advanced age of nearly ninety years. Fortunately, a few months afterwards, the rectory of Lambly, † in Nottinghamshire, was presented to him, and it became a comfortable retreat for his latter days. Here he died on the 9th of August last, after a short illness, greatly respected by his parishioners, "being old and full of days," and three generations of his posterity followed him to the grave. He was a perfectly original character. His actions all sprang from impulse, and were not the result of experience; and consequently he was occasionally hasty in his decisions. His system of divinity was sound and good, because it was founded on the writings of the old Anglican divines, with which he was familiarly acquainted; and if he was sometimes severe in his remarks on the sin of schism, it sprang from a purely conscientious motive. He considered it his duty to defend the principles of the Church of England to the utmost of his power; and he conceived that the best means of doing it was by exposing the errors of those who had dissented from her communion. He has been heard to say that he felt himself divinely commissioned to " cry aloud and spare not," against dissent in all its forms; and that if he omitted to do so, he should grievously wound his own soul, and be guilty of an unpardonable offence against God. Such examples of firmness and orthodoxy are rapidly departing from the land. We were prepared to subjoin some of his early poetical effusions, but this article is already too much extended; and we forbear, in the hope that at some future time his posthumous remarks may be submitted to public inspection. They will show that his heart was imbued with the true spirit of Christianity; for they breathe the aspirations of a pious mind, unadulterated with any insiduous pretensions to elicit the praise of men. Such was Bro. Samuel Oliver, the revered father of Bro. George Oliver, D. D., the historian of Freemasonry. TO THE EDITOR. Grove, Gravesend, July 10, 1847. SIR,—I am reluctantly compelled to enter a protest against the manner in which the transactions of the Grand Lodge holden on the 2nd day of June last, are reported in the printed circular issued by the direction of the Grand Master. Leaving such other Brethren who addressed Grand Lodge on the occasion, to approve or to disapprove the reports of their several speeches, I shall simply enter a protest against the account of the few remarks I ventured to offer, and do not hesitate to state that the report is neither fair, impartial, nor ungarbled. Although the necessity for my very brief address was too obviously sudden for the slightest preparation, I was then, as I ever am, too cautious to permit any offensive construction to be placed on what I did state, and therefore feel some surprise at the liberty taken with my remarks, the first and last portions of which have been altogether omitted, and no slight variation made with the remainder. As a question of privilege, this is a clear case, and, were I disposed to take advantage of it, I am fortunate in having two VOL. V. * Vide F. Q. R. 1842, page 63. Ibid. page 421. R R strings to my bow; first, the Grand Reporter who assumed to take notes, and next, the Grand Master, who by his declaration that he should sanction the publicity of such portions of the transactions of the Grand Lodge as should meet his approbation, has, in my humble opinion, constituted himself the responsible editor of these documentary evidences of the legislative wisdom of English Freemasonry. I forbear from entering into the question at present further than by expressing my sincere regret that a promise made to the ear has been broken to the hope. ROBERT THOS. CRUCEFIX. TO THE EDITOR.· July 27, 1847. DEAR SIR AND BROTHER,-Pardon my frankness, but I am of opinion that in canvassing or criticising the conduct of certain Grand Officers of England, or of other Grand Lodges, it would be better to avoid as much as possible, any expressions that may seem harsh. We know that there are many of "Gil Blas' Bishops" in the world, but we ought also to know, and to act as though we knew, that all those old women in breeches have their admirers and followers, and that those who have never seen them or heard them, and only know them by the office they so unworthily fill in the Craft, cannot believe that the Craft would have tolerated so much imbecility and malignity for so many years. You may lay yourself open to the charge of exaggeration, or at any rate of using too strong language. A PAST MASTER. [We respect the integrity of our estimable correspondent too highly not to give free scope to his views; we wish he could occasionally be present to form his opinion from personal observation.-ED.] TO THE EDITOR. September 1, 1847. SIR AND BROTHER,-I have been four times on the list of candidates of the Royal Masonic Annuity Fund, and stood first on the list of my province; last May, I was fourteenth on the general list, twelve were duly elected, and afterwards, two more were put on; I, alas, had no friend at court. I am sixty-two years of age, my dear wife the same; we have been married thirty-seven years. Merciful Heaven! are we to be separated in the Union? yet what are we to do? our whole dependance is three shillings a week, with a little occasional aid from a kind-hearted Brother. Indeed, sir, my case is one of sad distress; I have lost the use of my limbs by paralysis, and my last hope, the little keel, sunk. I have been a seaman, and of course often away from home, yet Masonry has ever been in my thoughts. I have been strongly recommended by my province; can you, dear sir, help me? How gladly should I accept a presentation to_the Asylum for the aged and distressed Masons. H. [Comment on this case is unnecessary, it too truthfully tells the tale of destitution. It should be sent without delay to the Board of Benevolence, for such an amount of relief as will not invalidate the claim to the annuity fund.] TO THE EDITOR. SIR AND BROTHER,-In a former number of your truly valuable publication, there is a letter signed Philo-Masonicus. The writer has touched upon some topics, which seem well deserving the attention of the higher powers. I more particularly allude to what he says upon the subject of an uniformity in the working of our ceremonies and lectures. The sooner a Committee is appointed for their revision the better; particularly the Lectures. I have given a good deal of time and attention in endeavouring to make myself master of the correct form; but such discrepancies are constantly starting up, as to render the pursuit almost hopeless. The two great sources from which younger Brethren seek to make themselves proficients, are the G. S. L. and a good L. of Instruction. I have heard the lectures worked in both; and, in some parts, give a decided preference to the latter. Take, for instance, the explanation of F. H. and C. as worked in the Red Lodge. Look at the superfluity of words; and the paucity of any definite meaning, which they convey to the mind. Whilst these various readings continue, and each L. claims a right to its own version, how can we expect them to be well worked in any private L. The W. M. may have learned what has been pointed out to him as a good version: he puts his questions, and receives answers so different from what he expected, that both parties become confused, and the whole thing is a failure. Another topic, in a correspondent's letter, is the limiting the office of the M. W. G. M. to a certain number of years. I say, go further; put an incapacitating terminus to the situation of paid officers; either by length of service, or age. They can become old women as well as others, and, forgetting they are servants, assume the courteous behaviour of rulers. We have entered upon a new reign. Let the Augean stable be cleansed. The sooner all abuses, anomalies, and irregularities are done away with, the better. Amongst other abuses is the following, that of making Officers in private Lodges pay a fine on receiving their collars. It is done in a few, and, I believe, very few Lodges. Surely this is against the principles of our Order. The Book of Constitutions only recognizes the custom in the G. and P. G. Lodges. Every Brother, before he holds office, has paid enough in the shape of initiation and joining fees, and annual subscriptions, without any further demand on receiving a collar. It is not every Brother whose avocations will allow him time, whatever may be his inclination, to qualify himself for office: and to those the honour of a Collar and Jewel is justly due for their exertions, without being fined for it. I am, sir, yours fraternally, P. M. TO THE EDITOR. September 2, 1847. SIR,- Will you, on the part of the Craft, lift up your powerful voice against the monstrous privilege assumed by the Grand Registrar, who, on the 1st instant, in the midst of a debate, had the assurance to argue a notice of a motion he said he intended to give; why, sir, this out-Herods M'Gullem; true, he was called to order, but not until the Grand Lodge yawned their dissatisfaction at a proceeding, which, coming from any other member would have met summary castigation from the Grand Registrar himself. A PROVINCIAL MEMBER. TO THE EDITOR. Shetland Islands. SIR AND BROTHER,-A rumour has reached me which seems almost incredible, but I certainly should like to have it contradicted. On my first appearance in the character of a member of Grand Lodge in June last, I saw our excellent Brother Major General Cooke, appointed our representive to the Grand Lodge of New York; and also heard it officially stated, that the M. W. G. M. would duly furnish him with the requisite credentials. Now the rumour is, that our Brother Cooke, owing to some neglect of the lowerlings, (the Grand Secretary's officials,) actually left England without those credentials. Is it true? I cannot say whether your Review is the authorised agent of the Grand Lodge, or not, but so much fuss has been made about the Freemasons' Quarterly Review, that every one knows its existence and power, and I hope some one (I cannot venture to say from my inexperience who ought) will answer my query satisfactorily in its pages. Sir, your very inexperienced contributor, and faithful Brother, A MASONIC CHICKEN. [The General left England unfurnished with any other credentials of his appointment, than the F. Q. R.—ED.] TO THE EDITOR. September 2, 1847. SIR,-As our M. W. G. Master has declared himself the editor of the "circular" from Grand Lodge; will you oblige me by notifying a "nack" which the Grand Secretary has hitherto adopted, and which for the future may be more honoured in the breach than the observance. It is a matter apparently of little moment, but it operates like certain medicines on the pulse: although a general practice, I will merely take two instances, viz :— 2nd December, 1846.-On the subject of a grant to a lady for fifty pounds, the Grand Secretary states that it passed by a very small. majority; this was literally true; still there was a majority, which did not please the Grand Secretary; and so the President of the Board of General Purposes declined to pay the money until after the confirmation of the minutes. But mark, further. 3rd March, 1847.-It was moved, that the same grant be not confirmed. The Grand Secretary merely publishes that that the motion was negatived, whereas it was negatived by a large majority. On the question of its being confirmed, the Grand Secretary merely publishes that it was confirmed, whereas, it was confirmed by a large majority. I ask, in the name of common decency, if this be the conduct Freemasons approve? COMMON SENSE. POETRY. THE LIGHT OF MASONRY. A STAR burst forth from the golden east, It brightened the rosy smile of Peace, And prayed the God of Love to bless For, with prophet-eye, that child of grief Mid the chequered flight of coming years, She saw it cheering the widow'd heart, And prayed the God of Love to bless In many a heart she saw its ray Which, nurtured thus in the way of truth, Pursued its true career. The love of God and man its chart O'er life's dark-heaving sea; And she prayed the God of Love to bless The Light of Masonry. W. SNEWING. GEM FROM THE OLD POETS. HERRICK TO HIS MISTRESS. You say I love not, 'cause I do not play Deep waters noiseless are; and this we know, |