not, like the Grand Master, protected by "irresponsibility" in acts. Bad as is the law Masonic, it would reach them. They are, however, to be dreaded, inasmuch as their votes may continue to tell against the defences of Masonry. Masonic persecution may follow our freedom-so be it. "Let the galled jade wince-our withers are unwrung."

Freemasonry-pure and holy Freemasonry-is our creed and our hope, and we will peril all in its defence.

"If I'm a traitor, think and blush, thou tyrant,
Whose injuries betrayed me into treason."

For what purpose, we ask, were those stringent directions of the Constitutions promulgated but to secure the stability of our system by a wholesome preparatory state of probation through the several degrees? It has been imputed, forsooth, that men's minds are so constituted that one man can learn in a week more than another man can in a month; and that, therefore, it is an injury in proportion to retard the degrees! We do not hesitate to reply to this inuendo, that the man who can learn more in a week than can his fellow man in a month, may still study, and still advance himself in Masonic knowledge; but the truth is, that these levellers of our system from wholesome discipline to a reckless indifference, perceive neither duty nor pleasure in conforming to the dictates of truth and reason: they view such things with vision obliquitous, and judgment perverted. But after all, the expediency of mammon and folly may not be permitted to supersede consistency, or be allowed to ride "rough shod " over the laws of propriety and honour.

"Honour's a sacred tie, the law of kings,

The noble mind's discriminate perfection,

That aids and strengthens virtue when it meets her,
And imitates her actions where she is not;
It is not to be sported with.”

We trust that his lordship will seriously re-consider this most sorrowful motion, fraught with frightful danger. His very supporters have, vulgarly speaking, let the cat out of the bag! One, in particular, observed that he hoped the relaxation would extend to his province, where there were many ship-masters and others who would gladly avail themselves of the said relaxation. To be sure they would! What school-boy would not avail himself of the permission to forego his lesson? So that, on this showing, all the maritime provinces of England are to follow in the wake of New Brunswick and the Bahamas! How long will it be before the English provinces in general will partake of the panic, and rush impetuously to their ruinous degradation ?—or rather, how short a time it will be, is really the question! Let this resolution be confirmed, and a shop may at once be opened in London, with provincial and foreign agencies for the sale of certificates, the parties giving security for payment of money-for as to security of

Masonic character, the world will soon decide the question, and the Mason will sigh as

What would be thought of the phlegmatic nation of Holland, if it were to pass a law to remove any one of the vast protective defences against the irruption of the ocean? The nation itself, relying on the integrity of its rulers, might agree to any wild proposition, but what would surrounding nations think of such madness? With what grief would those Dutchmen who, sojourned in other countries, sighing for a return to their fatherland, learn that they had no longer a home for thought that it had been delivered over to the ruthless sea, and was no more!

Freemasons beware! The Hollanders of old, by moral power and physical industry, gained, with the aid of Providence, a kingdom from the sea. Your ancestors modified, by the aid of Providence, a magnificent system of moral ethics, for the instruction of all time.

We may instance a singular coincidence in the opinion of His Grace the Duke of Wellington. In the Morning Chronicle of the 29th November, there appeared a letter, signed "F," on the subject of our means of national defence in the event of sudden war; the letter alludes to the opinion of the Duke, who, as the writer states, demands only certain easy points of defence and security,—but the following earnest apostrophe by the Duke is most pointed: "I am now bordering on my seventy-seven years of age, passed in honour,-I hope the Almighty may protect me from being a WITNESS OF THE TRAGEDY I CANNOT PERSUADE MY CON

The Duke is a Freemason; he points out the dangers of the futurelet us profit by the lesson, and not suffer a mine to be sprung in our very sight, and which, if it explode, will be the prelude to the downfall of Freemasonry in England.

We most earnestly implore our readers to examine for themselves the arguments employed for and against the resolution, and then to

"Look on this picture and on that."

A passing remark may be made on the great inconsistency of many members in the Grand Lodge, some of whom, when differing in their views from those of the Grand Master, introduce their observations with so many expressions of regret and even fulsome adulation towards his lordship as must, we feel certain, create any feeling but that of satisfacIn a fair debate this is not only unnecessary but misplaced. Rochefaucault was of opinion that "to praise princes for virtues which they have not, is to reproach them with impunity."

tion.

We are painfully constrained to remind the Grand Master that he himself is but the steward of his office, and that better things are expected of him than, on full reconsideration of the resolution put forth, that he should throw into the scale the powerful effect of his exalted position. As the protector of the Masonic Order in England, his position is supreme; he may be said to be the representative of Freemasonry universal; yet as a Freemason, obligated in face of the Eternal, he is but one man!

Let us now examine the voting on the 1st of December:

There were for the resolution
Against the resolution.

Majority

90

49

41

But how stands the majority? There were present forty-four Grand Officers, of which six voted against the resolution,-leaving on this account thirty-eight; it is not unfair, in justice to the "purple,” to consider that in questions where the Grand Master leads they should go with him; now, taking away the thirty-eight, this would leave his lordship a majority of three-but when it is known that several members did not vote at all, the majority itself is but a questionable nature,—so questionable, that if the members of Grand Lodge will obey" a call of the house,” THERE MAY BE A FAIR PROMISE OF THE OBNOXIOUS RESOLUTION BEING REJECTED WHEN PUT FOR CONFIRMATION.

PRIVILEGE AND THE GRAND MASTER.-Dr. Lane, at the desire of the Grand Master, brought forward his notice of motion previous to the nomination of his lordship as Grand Master for the ensuing year. The discussion was conducted with Masonic courtesy ;* the doctor, as was expected, expounding his case with masterly consideration, and the Grand Master giving such explanations as appeared to be satisfactory to the Grand Lodge. It was curious, however, to observe in the case of the Grand Master, that he was both the accused and the judge; after this explanation, the Grand Master was put into nomination, nemine dissentiente, some members not voting. We take the liberty to introduce ourselves into this question of privilege, inasmuch as we have been alluded to in Grand Lodge by many Brethren, and by Dr. Lane in particular, in a kind and fraternal manner; we have had also to sustain the odium of others, whose names it is needless to allude to ; but we cannot refrain from touching gently on an observation of the Grand Master himself, that the Freemasons' Quarterly Review was denounced by the Grand Lodge as an unauthorized publication; now the truth is,

* With the exception of a noble Brother, who acted as a foil on the occasion.

that in 1841, and again in 1847, a judgment was suddenly snatched, without the slightest previous notice, and these miserable shifts serve as an occasional opportunity for a pretext to cover the weighty sin of breach of privilege; what will be thought of this public declaration, that we are prepared to prove that a Grand Master has sanctioned falsehood, perverted facts, and suppressed the truth? all this is on record, and yet the present Grand Master assumes that we are denounced as an unauthorized publication! We would not resume this subject willingly, but we are independent of all control, save that of loyalty to the Craft— "Hail, independence, hail! Heaven's next best gift

To that of life and our immortal soul!"

In our last number we republished the circular of the Grand Editor, as taken from the notes of the preceding Grand Lodge. We regret that, as yet, the proceedings of the especial Grand Lodge in November and of the first instant, have not been published by the Grand Master; we are therefore compelled to give our own report. In fact, although denounced, yet we are first in the field, and therefore entitled to the praise of industry-our labours are numerous, we have to look to the entire world, and yet we are ever ready-this, too, without accommodation for our reporter, or, in fact, any means of aid. It would be satisfactory to us to be allowed to have a copy of the Grand Reporter's notes,* and thus save ourselves and the Grand Master from playing any longer in the farce of the "Denounced."

THE JEWISH BRETHREN AND THE GRAND LODGE OF BERLIN.-A correspondent, Bro. Pollack, would rather lead us to infer that, after all, the Grand Lodge of Berlin is not sincere; we hope otherwise, and were pleased to witness the re-appearance of the representative in the last Grand Lodge; but as his retirement was a public act, we think his restoration should have been so also, it would have been more consistent.

PORTRAIT OF THE EARL OF ZETLAND.-A Committee has been appointed to carry out the resolutions requesting the Grand Master to sit for his portrait. We hope the duty will be entrusted to a Masonic artist: it would be a reflection on the Order otherwise.

ANNUITIES TO WIDOWS.-The Craft at large will learn with unmixed satisfaction that a sum of three hundred pounds per annum has been voted in annuities to widows; also that a further sum of two hundred per annum has been granted to the Benevolent Annuity Fund; both votes having only been passed on the 30th November, at an especial Grand Lodge, it was very properly considered that the confirmation of

• Erratum in our last.-Bro. Masson's name and speech were accidentally omitted.

these two important grants should be deferred until March. 'The friends of the aged Brother and the widow will of course be present to give their moral aid in support of these charitable objects.

THE ASYLUM.-We had hoped to have given an engraving of the design selected for this long promised temple of refuge to the worthy Aged Mason, but the delay in effecting the securities has intervened. We hope to do so in our next number; meantime we call upon Lodges, Chapters, and other Masonic bodies, as well as the Brethren, to forward subscriptions and donations; bearing in mind that the Patrons of the Asylum are among the originators and promoters of the other Masonic charities. The ground selected is near the Croydon station.

THE TESTIMONIAL TO BRO. SAVAGE.-The day fixed for presentation is Friday the 17th March, at the Freemasons' Tavern. There will no doubt be a numerous attendance.

BRO. HUSENBETH.-We have been enquired of from many quarters as to the cause of delay in forwarding the praiseworthy object of affording effectual relief to this most estimable man, accomplished Mason, and aged Brother.

POPE PIUS IX.-We call attention to a letter from a Catholic Brother, in the hope that this enlightened prince will select a liberal minded cardinal as his ambassador to our court, to whom the Freemasons' may refer their case with confidence.

BRO. THE REV. THOMAS HARVEY.-We have elsewhere alluded to the grievances of this estimable Brother, and have received numerous letters on the subject; most earnestly do we recommend the Masonic example of the Lodge of Good Fellowship to the attention of the Fraternity, reminding them that "those who assume the profession of charity should feel thankful for the lesson which teaches them to practice what they profess."

THE SUPREME COUNCIL, 33°.-This august body is in full work; its next meeting will be on the 9th of February.

A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all, with the "hearty good wishes" of the Editor.