The Literature Of Freemasonry.

Masonry , they stepped in to supply the deficiency . They should have thought that their enterprise would have commanded the sympathy of all persons assuming to have at heart the cause of " intellectual advancement , " hut in this expectation they were doomed to dissappointment , so far , at least , as regarded the periodical now known as the Freemasons Monthly . That periodical lost no time in taking up a position of antagonism

towards the " Mirror . " Its intervals of publication had previously been quarterly , they noiv become monthly ; and whereas the price had formerly been two and sixpence , it was now lowered to a shilling , that it might enter into closer rivalry with the " Mirror . " This conduct , however unkind and illiberal as regards ourselves , Ave should try to endure ivith what philosophy Ave mightif Ave had the

consola-, tion of knoAving that our contemporary was improving , and that its literary character was such as to reflect credit on the Craft , but wc lose all patience when we find that it has entirely ceased to be that valuable and interesting work which we remember it to have been under the regime of Dr . Crucifix , and that , in fact , it has so deplorably degenerated , that its writers make no scruple to cite its errors and short-comings in proof of the intellectual

" sluggishness and inefficiency" of the Masonic body ! Such a proceeding on their part has the merit of modesty , but we cannot think that it is fair towards the Craft . With all possible respect for our contemporary we must protest against the right of any man to publish a stupid magazine and then to make its stupidity a basis on ivliich . to found a charge of intellectual depravity against any class of personsMasonic or otherivhose

, , names lie may think fit to print upon his cover ! What possible right could a man have to publish a trashy periodical , under the designation of the Shalesperian Magazine , and then to point to its nonsensical absurdities as a proof of Shakespere ' s want of genius ? Such a movement savours of malice , and we protest against it altogether .

Having been reluctantl y compelled in self-defence to make these observations , Ave must take leave to add that we confidently appeal to our own pages in corroboration of the claim Avhich , ivith all deference to our contemporary , we now respectfully put forward to be regarded as an organ and exponant of the Masonic body . We challenge comparison with our contemporary , and we do not hesitate to allege that we give better value for our money than he

does . The price of the " Mirror" is sixpence—that of the " Magazine" a shilling , and our contemporary gives but one-sixth , or at most one-fifth more paper , which is spread out in large type , so as not to contain the same amount of intelligence . Any one who will take the trouble of contrasting the contents of the two periodicals will find that the " Mirror " contains the largest quantity of informationand is in all respects the most

, complete record of Masonic proceedings and the most faithful guardian of Masonic interests . But our contemporary promises amendment , and if he improves lie shall find that ive will not be slow in expressing our satisfaction at an event , the imperative necessit y of which is so conspicuously and avowedly apparent .

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