THE

FREEMASONS'

QUARTERLY REVIEW.

NEW SERIES-MARCH 31, 1845.

WE had intended to have entered into many subjects at some length, but the interest excited by the leading articles in our three last numbers has led to the transmission of so many papers and reports, that we have been obliged, not only to extend the letter-press very considerably, and to encroach on our own space, but also to vary the type from the larger to the smaller size, in order to give room for several papers. Our present leader, therefore, will necessarily be limited accordingly.

Shall the "Freemasons' Quarterly" be changed to a Monthly Review?" The arguments in favour of such a change, have been warmly advocated by our readers in Edinburgh, Dublin, Oxford, Birmingham, Manchester and other places, but as no plan has been suggested to meet the consequent increased expenses, we must abide the event of the current year, when, if the prospect is sufficiently encouraging, the propriety of a change shall be duly considered.

The Additional Contributions to Grand Lodge.-After two years' talking against time," this motion was carried by a considerable majority. There may be some who consider that the provinces should only be amerced in half contributions-but as it is proved that they fully share in the benefit, it is surely but right that they should share equally in the honour. It was a rare circumstance, that for the first time in our recollection it was thought necessary to direct an especial notice to be served on the provinces, notifying the motion, that they might not be taken by surprise. We, who work for the provinces, have a better opinion of them than to anticipate their objection to some provision for the widows of Freemasons, and look forward with confidence to a confirmation of the minutes of the last Grand Lodge.

The Library and Museum.-The late report of the Board of General Purposes on this subject, intimates pretty broadly that it has proved a failure. If so, on whom does the blame of failure rest-not surely upon

VOL. III.

B

those who have contributed, but on those who have not. There is a board of Curators appointed. What report have we received of their labours? None whatever. Who appointed this learned and philosophical board? The Grand Lodge? No-the Board of General Purposes. Then who are the responsible parties? Why, the Board of General Purposes; and as this body will be elected in June next, let a proper investigation take place. The Library and Museum must not be sacrificed to the ignorance of a dunciad.*

New Sub-urban London Lodge.-The proceedings of this most interesting occasion are likely to be followed by similar advantages elsewhere; rumour already speaks of re-action in Paddington and the neighbourhood of Stepney.

New Masonic Publications.—In Germany, France, and the United States of America, there is such a growing interest in favour of Masonic periodicals, that the Grand Lodges have accorded their support of them. We shall have occasion to notice this momentous subject at greater length.

Masonic Differences in Ireland.—It is with the highest satisfaction we announce the termination of this long continued schism. The noble courtesy of the Duke of Leinster, aided by the chivalrous energy of Brother Henry O'Connor, have at length effected not merely an amicable arrangement, but a definitive treaty of peace-may no future "clique" ever again be permitted to deface the moral structure!

Jamaica.-We feel it necessary to call the attention of the officials in authority, to the necessity of appointing a Provincial Grand Master for this island, and as the distance from Kingston to the other towns is so great, it may be as well to observe that at least two Deputy Provincial Grand Masters should be appointed. Nor should any delay be permitted, for the nature of the case will not brook the longer continuance of indifference to this vital question.

The Masonic Intelligence will be found to be of a highly interesting character, that from Bombay most especially so.

Prussian Grand Lodges and our Jewish Brethren.-The Freemasons of England, having been made acquainted with the fact that in Prussia, Freemasonry is an exclusively religious society, it would perhaps be but justice to the Order to investigate farther what are the peculiar objects aimed at; and possibly at some future opportunity we shall do so, for it may become necessary to expose or repudiate a secret society,

An intelligent correspondent enquires if the Curators (!) ever enquired about the four hundred volumes on Masonry, that are now lying in the warehouse of a London bookseller. They may not be of importance, but what say the Curators?

taking our name, but not holding our principles. But as this question is one of the most important that has come under the notice of the Craft, as far as the principle of "universality'' is concerned, we deem it prudent not to comment upon it at the present, but to content ourselves, as the only English Masonic journalist, by recording what is passing. But it must be evident that it cannot be passed over in silence, nor will our obligation or duty permit this vital question to be "burked."

After the notice that a member of the Grand Lodge would submit the subject to the impartial and deliberate investigation of the Board of General Purposes, we opine it will come from that body to the Grand Lodge with their remarks; and whatever differences of opinion may and do exist upon many subjects, we presume upon this, all Freemasons will unite in their determination to uphold the honour, dignity and universality of the Order, without reference to religious or political opinions. In whatever shape the Board may think proper to deal with the matter, we suppose they will not be the first here to suggest the course to be adopted, as a memorial was transmitted from a Lodge (holding its warrant under the constitution of England) to the Grand Secretary on the 3rd of February, 1845, for presentation to the Grand Master, soliciting his interference, as some of the members of that Lodge, having certificates duly issued by the Grand Lodge of England, had been refused admission to the Lodges in Prussia, in consequence of their religious creed, we may fairly infer that the M. W. the Grand Master has by this time privately acted on the requisition. Our object, however, in the present state of the affair was rather to question what had been done by the fraternity, whose attention has been called to the subject in other parts of Europe and America. Our neighbours and Brethren of France were apprised by their Grand Master that none but christians would gain admittance to the Lodges in Prussia; he, the Grand Master of France (as soon as he was apprised of the fact) wrote to Prussia upon the subject, and transmitted a copy of the letter that he had sent to Berlin, to the Lodges under his control, ordering at the same time the publication of the letter in the "Bulletin Trimestrial" (Freemasons' quarterly bulletin) the organ of the Grand Lodge of France. An article upon the subject is promised in the next number of that work. The other French Masonic publications, Revue Maçonique, Globe, and L'Orient, give intimation that they will in their next enter fully upon the question. The Globe mentions that a Committee has been appointed from their Board of General Purposes (commision permanente,) to investigate and communicate further with Prussia upon the matter; but, says the Editor, the course of proceedings of the committee is already decided by the proceedings of the superior body from which its authority has been derived. In the St. George Lodge of Hambro' the question has been decided by ballot-86 voting for the

admission of Jewish Brethren, while but 20 could be found to vote against the motion. The decision, after an interesting debate, was that "All then uniting in the universal feeling of fraternal love, good citizenship, and honourable conduct, were fit and proper to be admitted into Masonic Lodges, unless they were known to be atheists.”

Our American Brethren have been no less prompt; and in an interesting report brought before the annual meeting of the Craft, by the Secretary, it was stated that a correspondence with Prussia had taken place, the last communication from New York had been forwarded on the 28th July, 1844, to Berlin, in which the objects of Masonry, as understood in America, are set forth, requesting that justice might be rendered to their members and Brethren holding certificates from the Grand Lodge of America, and further urging the necessity of their signature being honourably protected. This document bears the signatures of (the late) Morgan Lewis, M. W. Grand Master, A. H. Robertson, R. W. Deputy Grand Master, and James Herring, Grand Secretary. "We do not," say they, 66 as yet insist upon our rights, although we know that one of our members was refused, in March 1842, admission into a Lodge at Berlin on account of his religious creed. Upon your future decisions depend the glory and the honour of our institution, which is the union and friendship of one family uninfluenced by any question of any religion or politics."

The Grand Master of Sweden has given publicity to similar opinions, and Holland is in the van with the rest. England alone has not yet declared itself; but we presume now the question will be decided. It is reported that a new law, equally stringent, was passed in the Royal York of Friendship Grand Lodge, at Berlin, on the 29th January last, excluding all persons not christians. We do not vouch for the truth of this; and after the representative of that Lodge declaring, in the Grand Lodge of England, in September, that no such law existed, we can scarcely give credence to the report. It certainly is strange, if no such law existed, that all the world should be deceived.

MASONIC ARISTOCRACY.

"Masons prize honour and virtue above all the external advantages of rank and wealth.” MASONIC LECTURES.

"Prize honour and virtue above all the external advantages of rank and wealth!" A goodly theory this; but is it carried out in practice? Were every man who calls himself a Freemason (as too many do, merely because they have passed through the ceremonies of their initiation) to lay his hand on his heart, and to answer this question truly and on his honour, it is much to be feared that an affirmative reply. would neither be promptly nor unanimously given. As Masons, we