Masonry Universal.

once more rose into notice and esteem . " Plcrc wc find the date of the changes which originated Freemasonry as a Speculative Science , and whatever might then have been the nature of the new regulations and the mode of ceremonial , whether based upon the Christian religion alone , or those of

Jews and Gentiles modified to conciliate conflicting prejudices and opinions , it was this new science which was declared in less than a hundred years after , to be " universal " and " spread over the four quarters of the globe . " Let us see how far this assertion can be justified by facts within the reach of any member of the

Order in the present day , and without invading the domain of abstruse research . A reference to the register of Lodges under the English constitution—and it is acknowledged that England is the mother country of all speculative Freemasonry—shows that in 1 S 13 , when the reconciliation of divergent systems was

effected , and the United Grand Lodge became thereby constituted—there were but some 338 Lodges , of which but nineteen were established in foreign parts . These were represented by six Lodges in Calcutta , three in Madras , three at Gibraltar , two each in Jamaica and Bermuda , and one each in Barbadoes , South

America , and South Africa . That appears to have been the full extent of " Masonry Universal " at that date , and when the ritual of the present century was framed . It is true that some

other Grand Lodges were in existence at the time mentioned , but these do not appear to have progressed far towards Universality . The Grand Lodge of Scotland , with 250 Lodges in 1813 , had but two at foreign stations . These were at Nassau and Trinidad respectively . Upon how slight a basis , therefore , was

the pretension to Universality founded ! The wish might have been , and doubtless was , " father to the thought , " but to claim as a fact that the signs and tokens by which connection with the Science could alone be demonstrated by one person to another were common and universal throughout the world , was a

perversion of the great principle of Truth not at all in accordance with the system of morality which Speculative Freemasonry was designed to promote . The statement at that time was erroneous . How much nearer the truth is it in the present day , and after the lapse of but three-fourths of a century since its promulgation ?

There arc now about 550 foreign Lodges on the register of English Freemasonry , and a very considerable number of foreign Grand Lodges , with numerous , so-termed , subordinate Lodges attached to each , and there can be no doubt that the spread of Freemasonry towards that Universality which is claimed for it

has been very great and rapid . But it is yet far , very far , from attainment . A recent writer on the subject * not only very forcibly points out that " the claim was first advanced on the strength of a pure supposition in order to maintain a shadow of the original pretension—advanced in ignorance "; but , placing

the great difficulty against Universality in its proper position , maintains that " so long as a fragment of religious belief is required from a candidate , it follows that the Masonic system cannot be absolutely universal . " Is this an argument for the abandonment of religious principles in the system ? Not at all ; but

it is strong as against the claim of Universality , It is an anomal y in the present clay , whatever it might have been a century or a century and a half ago , to tell intelligent men—and it is to be presumed that all men who enter into the Order are possessed of intelligence—that Freemasonry is common to the whole world ,

when they must know that the faith they hold , and without the full acknowledgment of which they could not t ) ass the portals of a Masom ' c Lodge , is not accepted by millions of people , dwellers on the surface of that earth over which it is said that Freemasonry is universally spread .

Round And About.

Round and About .

Universal pleasure will be felt at the recovery of the Earl of Jersey—the Prov . Grand Master of Oxfordshire—from his severe attack of gastric fever , contracted . on his journey from India ; but the most sincere congratulations will come from the villagers and poor of the Osterley estate . Lord Jersey has a strong attachment for children , and nothing pleases him more than to fill one of his

home meadows on a July afternoon with children from the neighbouring schools and institutions , and romp with them until his Countess summons them around her to partake of tea and all the goodies she can procure .

I found his Lordship on one occasion speeding a host of his departing guests at the gates of the park , where he was doleing out , from huge boxes lying upon the gravel , buns and oranges and all kinds of good things for his young friends , and not until the last little mite had filed round a bend of the road did he cease waving his handkerchief in return for the cheers that the } ' gave him . On

another occasion , when a cricket-match was being played in the park by a local club of policemen against a team from London , his Lordship , hearing the " bobbies " were a man short , hastily donned his whites , took his place in the field , and materially assisted his side to win the match .

* * * The World says : — " The Derby of 188 9 was rather one of enormous crowds than of intense enthusiasm . The weather was magnificent , and it is quite possible that the number of sightseers actually beat the record . Circulation on the Hill was at one time almost impossible , owing to the unprecedented number of coaches .

Lord Cheylesmore ( suffering from a slight attack of gout ) sat by the side of his son , and assisted him to entertain Lord George Pratt , Colonels Trotter and Cochrane , the Master of the Cattistock Hounds , and Mr . ' Willy' Brand ; the arrival of General Boulanger , sitting behind Mr . L . M . Wynne ' s magnificent black-brown team , and

apparently in the political charge of Mr . Ashmead-Bartlett , Mr . Whitmore , and Mr . Dixon-Hartland , excited considerable interest ; Mr . Toole , Mr . Bancroft , Mr . George Grossmith , Mr . Charles

Wyndham , and Mr . Brough were , as usual , the guests of Lord Londesborough ; Lord Donegall and Mr . Borlase seemed almost as cheerful as of yore ; Sir Victor Houlton enjoyed the hospitality of his tall nephew in the Royals ; but no trysting-place was half as popular as the tent over which floated the purple flag and golden portcullis of the Body-Guard . Here Lords Brooke , Coventry , and

Breadalbane arrived together as soon as the great event was over ; the Deputy-Master of the Mint ' came on' from the lunch of the L . B . & S . C . directors ; Lords Sempill and Sudeley were both amongst the guests ; Sir Reginald Hanson and Mr . Alderman Evans discussed the coming contest for the Conservancy between the

races ; and if Mr . Seager-Hunt did not find many of his colleagues , the Army was represented by Sir ' Sam ' Smith , Sir George Harman , Sir Gustavtts Hume , Colonel Wemyss , General Dunne , and Sir Arthur Herbert . "

* * * " The ' Royal train ' becomes each year an increasingly important feature in the Derby Day programme , and on this occasion Mr . G . Lopes took charge of the engine ' Samuel Laing ' in person . Lord Colville , Mr . Ralph Dutton , Mr . J . S . Forbes , and Mr . Doughty Brown surveyed with a critical eye the preparations for

departure ; the Dukes of Beaufort , Westminster , and Portland arrived in quick succession , the latter looking radiantly happy in the company of \ nsfu \ nu-c , who wore a cool , cream-coloured dress trimmed with roses . The Duchess of Westminster and Lady Hindlip were both attired in green ; Lord Hardwicke , in the

glossiest of hats , reserved his most diverting stories for Lord Dudley ; Lord and Lady Londonderry were far more cheerful than last year ; Lord Harrington held a lengthy conference with Mr . Leopold de Rothschild ; Sir Harry Keppel was the life and soul of