Jonathan would say, first-rate, and which did not very favourably impress a retired Deputy Grand Master, took occasion to question the legality of the appointment, by reason that the Grand Lodge had no evidence before it of the resignation by Bro. R. L. Wilson of the office of Representative of the Grand Lodge of Texas, previously held by him; nothing but positive evidence would satisfy him. The matter was debated, and nearly an hour of the modicum of time, allowed for the consideration of business was lost; and what might have resulted had not the Grand Secretary who had retired to search for the letter of the Grand Secretary of Texas, at length returned with that document, it would be difficult to guess. The oligarchy however, gained by delay; for much important business was altogether burked.

Thus much for one of our legal authorities.

The next case was the confirmation of the grant of 50%., to a widow lady, voted at the previous Grand Lodge; and here we must enter a protest altogether against the propriety of reading a letter from the Grand Registrar on the subject. If such course becomes a precedent Grand Lodge may at once give in, and read proxy letters, counting them as ayes or nays. The sending of such a letter was assuming a position not intended by the law. But what shall we say of the writer of such a letter being himself too ill to attend Grand Lodge-we are somewhat in error, he could only sign the letter; what a moment this to entreat Grand Lodge not to confirm the grant to the widow! Alas! for our second legal authority, he gained nothing by the letter.

The third legal Brother, fortunately for himself, could scarcely be heard his object as a lawyer was clearly to construe the law strictly, himself forgetting the maxim of Terence-" Jus summum sæpe summa est injuria."

There was, moreover, a singular contrast during the debate which conveys a great moral lesson; a Brother had the courage to state that his misconception of the case had led him into error, and that he should vote for the grant from conviction of its perfect propriety; while the mover of the amendment to the grant, who had previously voted for inquiry on the information given by such Brother, remained unconvinced, and persisted in going to a division! He did not bear in mind that "there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninetynine just men,”—but having put himself clean out of court we have no desire to follow him.

One speaker on this interesting question stated truly that there had existed an improper threat of rivalry in certain quarters. It will hardly be believed that, out of Lodge, great exertions were made to oppose the confirmation of this vote, and even decency was scarcely observed by a certain functionary who observed of a supporter of the widow's case, that he was "a mischievous fellow." Such conduct is highly reprehensible, and

if it be persisted in, may lead to "a bill of attainder" before resigna tion could interfere to prevent its being preferred. These are strong words, but as journalists we cannot withhold the expression of an honest opinion, and being desirous to avert an "untoward event," we simply say "cavendo tutus." Forbearance has its limits.

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A few words to the triad committee.-We can understand that their amour propre" has sustained a gentle shock-but it will be a lesson in future that the acceptance of a duty carries with it a pledge to perform it; in this case each and all neglected that duty, and it will be wholesome for the "benevolence" of English Freemasonry, that this second attempt to interfere with the constitutional stream of its charity has been defeated by one of the largest majorities ever known.

THE ANNUITIES TO WIDOWS.-This question is again deferred, as indeed are other motions of importance. Some alteration in the law is needed to enable notices of motion to take their proper turn; for as it is, the Board may, by mixing up irrelevant matter with their report, bring it forward, and thus postpone, if not ultimately burk the most important questions.

THE CHARITIES are all in a very gratifying state-the Boys' Festival has worked well-that for the Girls has a very promising aspect—and the Asylum Festival, fixed for the 16th of June, is supported by several Stewards already associated in the cause of the aged Freemason.

CITY OF LONDON MASONIC HALL.-We congratulate the Craft on a very promising advance to a position of obvious improvement. It is high time that the philosophy of Freemasonry should at least keep pace with its social enjoyment; our opinion on this subject has never varied, and however we have been in advance of the day, as is usually the case with all reforming agents, we have often cast a Parthian glance on those for whom we have entertained sincere respect, although we as often regretted to find them slow to examine, and still slower to act with us. A few years since the Masons' Hall, in Basinghall-street, was suggested as the city head-quarters, next Crosby Hall, and recently Carpenters' Hall. The committee now appointed to examine and report on the project will, we hope, so devote themselves to the stringent examination of the subject and its appliances, as to report definitively thereon to a general meeting, to be held on the 30th instant; and may the result herald such abundant success, as to be commensurate with the dignity of this Augustan age of Freemasonry, and hand down to future ages a glorious evidence of its wisdom, strength, and beauty.

THE HIGH DEGREES.-We understand that in the ensuing month there will be a Grand Consistory, to be holden for the purpose of conferring the degrees of dignity, and for issuing a manifesto.

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND, MARCH, 1847.

The Prophet in the desert found,
When all was faintingness around,
And Israel's children sought in vain
The solace of one drop of rain,
A gushing spring within the stone-
As we in later days have kuown
From flinty hearts great charity
Well out in flowing sympathy.

Blest be the man *whose courage bold
Had confidence Now, as of old,
That but to touch was sure to win
The healing fount from stone within;
And blest, too, all who aided him.
The vote here given has answering hymn
In the far holier Lodge above,

Where Brethren chant one song of love.

EDWARD RALEIGH MORAN,

No. 1, Grand Master's Lodge, P.M. 49, Lodge of Concord.

New Kent Road, March, 1847.

TO THE R. W. BRO. ROWLAND ALSTON, ESQ.,

P.G.M. FOR ESSEX.

"Macte tuâ virtute."

Now, in the wiser course, embarked at length,

Το

Proceed with hopefulness and lasting truth;

'Tis thine, though in our Craft scarce more than youth,
prove the power of Masonry's best strength :-

Thou gavest to the widow's cause great aid—

Be not of what's before thee thou afraid.

Remember, LEWIS! all that he, who gave

Thee life and being, and, far better, thought, Still, from the silent keeping of the grave, Doth indicate remaining to be wrought. Progressive be thy path, then. Thousand hearts, Beating beneath our emblems of bright blue, Feel, each, for thee a prompting thought that starts To give thee, and that will, ere long, thy merits' due. EDWARD RALEIGH MORAN, M.M.

"Globe" Office, 127, Strand, March, 1847.

*It would be idle affectation not to name the Brother here alluded to (Dr. Crucefix), to whom Masonry, in all its highest attributes, is more indebted than to any other living. It would be still worse affectation did I not add-and this I know-that modern Masonry owes to him a tribute of affectionate reward which it misbecomes us all much, not to take every opportunity, even as I do thus slightly, of displaying. He knows that here I speak with a sincerity only to be appreciated by those who, like himself, love Masonry because of its best and rarest qualities; and in so speaking of him, I presume upon his fraternal indulgence.-E. R. M.

A numerous and respectable meeting of Brethren (convened by private circular) was held in Carpenters' Hall on Friday evening, March 12, 1847, for the purpose of considering the propriety of taking premises adapted for conversion into a City Masonic Hall.

Brother S. H. LEE having been unanimously called to the Chair, briefly adverted to the object of the meeting. He stated that the questions for consideration were two-first, whether a Hall was necessary?-and secondly, what premises were eligible for that purpose?

Brother PRYER said, in allusion to the first question, he had great satisfaction in moving-" That it is essential for the welfare of Freemasonry that a Masonic Hall should be established in the City of London for the accommodation of the Fraternity." Bro. Pryer observed that he felt convinced no argument would be necessary to demonstrate the propriety of this proposition. The presence of the assembled Brethren was sufficiently indicative of their opinion. For himself, he considered the practice of meeting in hotels and taverns entirely inconsistent with the true principles of Freemasonry. The Lodge should be held on its own consecrated ground. The connection between the Lodge and the Tavern was a most unholy alliance, which he trusted, for the credit of the Order, would be speedily dissolved. The provincial Brethren were erecting halls in every principal town, and he considered it a great reflection upon the London Brethren that they were not similarly engaged. He trusted, however, that very shortly this desirable object would be accomplished.

Brother RULE warmly seconded the motion. The construction of a Hall was absolutely necessary to redeem the character of the Fraternity, and to show to the initiated that they assembled for other purposes than those of mere conviviality. In Scotland the Lodges meet in halls and private houses. When he considered the London Lodgesthe large amount paid for subscriptions, and the small portion appropriated for charitable purposes - the Order became here a great tavernkeeper's Benefit Club, rather than a Society for the dissemination of those great moral and benevolent principles upon which Freemasonry was based.

The motion was then put, and carried unanimously.

Brothers J. R. Lloyd, Elliott, Canstatt, Firth, and Vallance addressed the meeting in furtherance of the objects in view.

A Committee consisting of the following Brethren, viz., Brothers Lee, Lloyd, Lazarus, Canstatt, Pryer, Rule, Alport, Patten, and Goodchap, were then appointed for the purpose of inquiring into the eligibility of premises for the proposed hall; and the Committee were to report the result to a general meeting, to be convened after the necessary inquiries had been made.

A share list of five pound shares, for the purpose of forming a fund, was then opened, and many shares subscribed for in the course of the evening.

Bro. Lazarus was appointed Hon. Secretary to the Committee.

After some discussion as to the best means of carrying out the objects of the meeting, the business of the evening was concluded by a vote of thanks to Bro. Lee for his kindness in taking the Chair.

The meeting then adjourned.

The Committee have since entered actively into the discharge of their duties, and will be prepared to make a report on the 30th instant.

ON THE STUDY OF MASONIC ANTIQUITIES.

BY BRO. THOMAS PRYER, W. M. OF THE OAK LODGE, S. G. I. G. 33°.

CHAPTER III.

THE SUBJECT DIVIDED INTO SPECULATIVE AND OPERATIVE-COMMENCEMENT OF THE SPECULATIVE PORTION-ANCIENT EGYPT-MODE OF REDUCING THE HIEROGLYPHICS-ORIGIN OF HEBREW EMBLEMS.

IN the preceding chapter I offered some general remarks as to the nature and meaning of the ancient mysteries, their common origin, the relation which they bore to the universal system of Freemasonry, their original purity, and the causes which led to their subsequent perversion, and eventual decline.

The various subjects embraced in those remarks are necessary to be carefully examined, and perfectly understood, before any profitable investigation into the history and progress of the mysteries in any particular nation of antiquity can be entered into. A correct general view must first be formed before the student can be qualified to examine details. It is thus only he can be enabled to compare and understand the symbols and emblems, rites and usages, disclosed in each particular system, and comprehend the different forms under which the same elementary principles are variously presented.

It does not fall within the scope of my present intention to give a full explanation of the machinery of the mysteries, or the various rites observed by the different nations by whom they were practised. It will, however, be necessary to enter into such details relative to this subject, as will serve (as before observed) to direct the Masonic student in his researches into the antiquities of our Order; and for more minute particulars I would refer to the very erudite works of our learned Brother, Dr. Oliver, and particularly his "History of Initiation."

As many of the mysteries were practised cotemporaneously in different nations, a mere chronological account of them would be somewhat confused, and give but an indistinct idea of their entire meaning. I consider, therefore, that the object I have in view will be best answered by dividing the future observations into two parts, corresponding with the general division of Freemasonry, viz., SPECULATIVE and OPERATIVE. The propriety and convenience of this arrangement will, it is apprehended, be sufficiently obvious. It seems calculated to avoid much of the apparent incongruity which, in the absence of such clear division, is frequently perceptible in our most learned treatises, and renders the whole subject under consideration more perspicuous and intelligible.

I propose, therefore, under the speculative portion of the subject, to give some account of those countries where the principal mysteries were celebrated, with an outline or some general notice of the ceremonies observed by each, and such observations as may occasionally be deemed necessary for the more complete elucidation of the subject; and under

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