TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, 21 February 1873, Page 2

WHAT GOOD HAS FREEMASONRY DONE TO THE WORLI) AT LARGE ?

To the Editor of thb Neison Evening Mail. Sib—lt appears that Freemasons, like many other people, fancy they possess merits which are not their own.. A few days ago, " A Free and Accepted Mason" fold us that "Masonry will bear comparison with .Catholicism any, day.'' fcince its origin, the Catholic Church has worked openly, and its acts are recorded in the history of mankind, where anyone can easily learn them. Freemasonry, on the contrary, has ever purposely hidden its doings under a thick veil of secrecy in order to screen its acts and its ultimate aims irom the knowledge of tlie outer world. Hence, before we can believe the assumed pr«ise of "A Free and Accepted Mason," he must lift up the curtain for a moment and let the world gaze at their bidden achievements. The culogium of the Rev. Brother Simpson on Freemasonry, and published by Dr. Scaly a few days ago, amounts to nothing •—it is. froth, verba et voces el praterea nihil. Still that eloquent brother tells us gravely that tbeir society enjoys tbe venerable age of 3000 years! Many empires have risen and fallen since that time, but wbat tangible, apparent good has Freemasonry done during that period ? The world knows nothing about it, and the craft, strangely enongh, has kept itself wrapped up for 3000 years in the darkness of mystery ! What is their object ? It is a mystery. What fhtir true organism ? It is mostly a mystery. What is their real and everywhere apparent tendency, and which the means ? Mysteries ag dn ! How many thousand years more will it take thereto let their light frankly shine before men? If this tendency is really laudable and gnod in itself why not make it known like open and straightforward men? If they are really so innocent as they would fain make us believe, why continue for 3000 years to hide themselves under childish emblems, and still more childish secrets? lhey give themselves out for apostles of charity, and still, as a rule, *hey keep it connaed within the narrow limits of the craft, and ev<*n here it i* often—as it would not be difficult to prove—sadly neglected. , Surely these* are paradoxes of which Freemasons must rid themselves before any sensible men will, to say the least, believe in their pretended merits. They compare themselves with the grand old Catholic Church. But history shows that Catholicism saved the world from the degradation, tbe idolatry, the ignorance and immorality of P»gan ages ac a time when even among the wisest there was no hope of relief by human hands. For 300 years the Church pursued the task of regeneration through streams of blood; no less than twelve millions of martyrs laiiJ down their lives for that purpose, and as time went on the tame church multiplied schools for the education of the lower classes, and universities in great number for the sake of learning and fine arts, and hospitals for the sick and the destitute, and gigantic cathedrals for the worship of God all over the earth. What has Freemaeonry done to compare withtheseimonuments of civilisation and progress? Historically speaking, its results are as yet in germ, and in the state of infancy, notwithstanding its many years. Freemasons complain about the Catholic Church for condemning them. But let me briefly remind thera that the Order was "prohibited by the State in France in 1729, then in Holland in 1734, and successively in Flanders, Sweden, Poland, Russia. Austria, Spain. Portugal, Hungary, and Switzerland, as also in England, and even in- Prussia, and finally ia Bavaria in 1785. So the Popes haye not been the only Sovereigns who have condemned. Freemasonry, and it is rather difficult to admit or to prove that they all did it without reason; in fact, the contrary has been sufficiently proved. . Hoping that you will be kind enough to insert this letter in your paper, I am, &c, An Enquire-. P.S.—Disowning complicity with guilty lodges, members, or fractions of the order, assurances of total independence, &c, &c, are tactics generally resorted to in the defence of Freemasonry, but a common name, common organisation and universal intercommunion show a common end. and true union; hence no notice shall/be taken of these tactics should they be ihade use of in reply to the above remarks and queries.

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

[Per Anolo-Austeauan Pbess T__egk__h AOENOr.] ."■■„.,.',

aa— ■ ess^_«_____: w ' 11 3—— — — = ' The following star tling statements *- are made by The Times in a recent leading article:—" Our working classes have just won a succesion of great -victories. The campaign of labour against capital may be considered at an end for the present, and the results may be calculated almost as those of the late Franco- German War, They may be stated eithei in time or in money. Taking the latter test, it is not too much to say that five million men have won on the average a shiliog a week from their employers, even when all allowances are made for the increased price of food. That is thirteen millions sterling a year, and, if capitalised, is about the amount of the French Indemnity ." A Dangerous Newspaper WAR.~The elections in the States have set the papers by the ears to an almost unprecedented extent, but there have not been many shooting, stabbing, or clubbing affairs so far. Still, enough has been done in this way to remind the Memphis Appeal of a violent controversy which was expected to end in bloodshed but did not. It arose from a difference of opinion in regard to a matter of purely local interest. The discussion was carried on in the columns of two journals then published in that city, one edited by Mr. Bankhead, and the other by Mr. Yancy. Both editors were away at the time, and each ona had engaged a substitute to fill the editorial chair during his absence. The public became greatly interested io the controversy, which grew hotter and hotter with each succeeding day, and crowds daily gathered round the newspaper offices in the expectation of witnessing bloodshed in case the furious writers should happen to meet. The news of what was going on reached the absent editors, and they hurried home, each thinking his substitute was in danger of his life. They found popular excitement at fever heat, but were relieved from all anxiety in regard to consequences on discovering that, unknown to each other, they had engaged the same man to officiate editorially in their absence— an able and enterprising young lawyer, who had been conducting both sides of the venomous controversy with a degree of vigour only equalled by his impartiality. It is needless to say that no duel grew out of this discussion.

High Water at Nblsot*. Morn. Afternoon. Friday Feb.-. •21 ... 259 344 Saturday „. 22 ... 427 510 Sunday „" " 23 ... 5.47 6.24 Monday „ 24 ... 6.54 7.34