At The Sign Of The Perfect Ashlar.

institutions . The origin of Freemasonry , said the lecturer , was enshrouded in the gloom of an unfathomable past . Far back in the ages we found men building pillars and monuments and temples , and graving strange words upon them , which still remained stately records of their skill as workmen and lasting memorials of their taste as architects . It was at

one time the proud boast of Egypt that her annals and monuments antedated those of all other nations ; but the discoveries which have been made in the valley of the two great rivers—the Tigris and the Euphrates—have for ever silenced that boast . Antient Chalchea pointed to a

monumentally-recorded date nearly 6 , 000 years ago , but Egypt ' s oldest authentic monuments , her great Pyramids , were considerably later . Chalckea , the cradle of nations , might well be the birth-place of Freemasonry , no matter by what name

it was called , no matter by whom it was enjoyed . The sacred builders , the Hiero-Laotomi — ancient religious assemblies—and the Orphic mysteries of Pythagoras , and the working tools of the disciples , witli their many points in common with modern masonry , were luminously explained by the lecturer , whoaided by carefully-drawn illustrations ,

, indicated the origin of the allegories , signs , tokens , and symbols employed in the Craft to-day . In conclusion , the lecturer said the institution of Freemasonry rose on the most solemn and sacred principles of religion , and , like the fabled pillars of Seth , which are said to have bidden defiance to

the Deluge , it had stood in the midst of that Hood which sweeps men and nations , with all their mighty works , into oblivion—a perfect monument of wisdom , strength , and beaut } ' , which ages could not obliterate nor adversity decay .

4 > ^> O " How Hindus were admitted into the mysteries of Freemasonry" ( Calcutta , 1905 ) . This is an interesting book on the subject of the initiation of natives of India as members of the Masonic Craft , and written by Bro . Prosinno Coomar

Dutt , who was " the first Hindu Mason . " After nine years of most determined exertions , and in spite of opposition , which would have deterred any ordinary man , Bro . Dutt succeeded in his desire to be proposed for initiation and membership of an English Lodge , and was

elected by the brethren of the " Anchor and Hope Lodge , " No . 234 , Calcutta , in 1872 . Notwithstanding the obstacles placed in his way so as to bar his admission , Bro . Dutt lost no time when once he was received , to progress , officially and generall }' , as a Freemason . His election as W . M . of his lodge

occurred on 12 th December , 18 73 , and his re-election on . the 18 th December in the following year ; his valuable services being recognised by the presentation of handsome Masonic Regalia and an address , in 18 7 6 . He again served in the Chair in 1876-7 and 1882-3 , some of the most zealous of tlie members of the district testifying to the importance of his

labours for the welfare of the fraternity . Bro . Dutt became a founder of other lodges , and also joined No . 444 of the Scottish Constitution , becoming R . W . M . 1874-5 . So as to complete the trio he joined No . 73 8 , under the Irish Grand Lodge , and was installed as W . M . in 1885 . His membership of the Fortitude ( Centenary ) Lodge , No . 131 , Truro , and of

the Correspondence Circle of the "Quatuor Coronati , " No . 2076 , London , should also be noted , as well as the C . C . of the " Lodge of Research , " No . 2429 , Leicester . Many other lodges might also be mentioned , but the foregoing will suffice to illustrate how broad are his sympathies . In the District

Grand Lodge of Bengal he has served in several offices , and finally reached that of Deputy G . M . in 18 95 . In R . A . Masonry Comp . Dutt has also connected himself with the three Constitutions , and after serving in five offices , was raised to the dignity of Second Grand Principal of the district

in 1890 . In Mark Masonry he has been equally successful , not only as P . M ., and D . Dist . G . M . of Bengal , but he is also a Past S . G . D . of the Mark Grand Lodge of England . In other degrees Bro . Dutt is far advanced , about which full particulars are . given , but we have quoted enough from this interesting volume to prove how well he has deserved so

many honours from the Craft . His portrait occurs several times in illustration of the rank he holds in various degrees . ©» C ? © " Fungi" is the term applied by the Tyler-Keystone to certain

forms of so-called Masonry prevalent in the United States . It is announced that in Milwaulki there has been formed an organization called The Grotto . " Little attention , " it goes on to say , " would be deserved at our hands by these excrescences if they were not heralded abroad as ' Masonic' "

There seems to be a morbid desire to load Masonry down with an army of parasites , till it is not strange that , to the uninitiated , the grand old fraternity itself is obscured from view by the fungi which cling to it . These fungus growths may be very well in their place , but they should not use , nor permit to be used , the name of Masonry merely for their aggrandisement .

< $ » o o The initiation of His Highness the Sultan of Johore , K . C . M . G ., makes an interesting addition to the already long list of Colonial celebrities and Eastern Potentates who have . been received into Masonry through the hospitable portals of the

Empire Lodge . Ibrahim , Sultan of Johore , is the representative of the oldest dynasty of Malaya , and his territory forms the Southern portion of the peninsula of which the island of Singapore , now one of the most important of the English possessions in the far East , once formed a part . Johore

alone , of the Malay States , is governed by an independent Sovereign , subject to certain control by the British Colonial Office in its foreign relations .

o » c > o The introduction into Masonry of the Sultan will doubtless lead to the formation of a Masonic lodge within his territory , and in that project His Highness will be ably supported by the Dato Abdul Rahman , C . M . G ., himself a

Mason of many years standing , who , at the same meeting of the Empire Lodge , was proposed as a joining member . The Dato occupies an important position in the government of Johore , and on his frequent visits to this country during the past eighteen years has made many friends , both Masonic and otherwise .

000 We have received from the editor a copy of the Northern Freemason , which this month appears in an improved form , and fills , including advertisements , of which there is a goodly show , 32 pages of quarto size . The

production speaks well for the zeal of the fraternity in the Northern counties , and for the enterprise of its proprietors , Messrs . A . J . Thompson , of Liverpool . We wish it every success .

< S > < 3 > < V Bro . R . F . Gould contributes an article , the second of a series of " Notes on Freemasonry , " entitled " Symbolic traditions , " which exhibits all that intimate knowledge and critical acumen of things Masonic which we now expect from the

profound scholarship and sound judgment of the author of " The History of Freemasonry . " Other notes and comments , with portraits and illustrations of interest , help to fill up the pages of this new candidate for Masonic favour .

000 We must , however , confess to a feeling of surprise that its columns have been opened to the lucubrations of that redoubtable militant Mason who a generation ago created such a stir and flurry in the Masonic dovecot . One

experiences some such feeling as that of the family and friends of Rip Van Winkle on his reappearance after his years of sojourn on the mountain . " John Yarker , 33 , P . M ., & c , & c , " was a familiar signature in the Masonic Press a quarter of a century ago , but the present generation of Masons know him not . Full of cabalistic lore , and impatient of all restraint , he many years ago found the Grand