Now, if Bro.' John Hyde Harris, Bro. John Hislop, and Bro. Sir Donald M'Lean, were to perjure themselves by breaking their oaths and severing their con nection with that much-abused association the Freemasons, would it be a libel on the Masonic body for Bishop Moran to take notice of such a circumstance in the New Zealand Tablet ? I think not, At all events, his Lordship did riot think so when Lord Ripon in 187-i cast off his sworn allegiance to the ancient craft, and I entered the fold of the Romish Church. The fact that he might be regarded a renegade and a perjurer was not considered a bar to his admission ; and if lam correctly informed, great was the rejoicing of the Roman Catholic Church thereat. His Worship: But ate you right in your facts ? Did Lord Ripon throw over his alle fiance to the Freemasons by becoming' a toman Catholic ? Did he tell his wife and his friends of the secrecy of the Order? Did ,he open up the secrets of the prison-hocse ?—? — (Laughter.) Mr Howorth : lam not aware whether he went to that extent or not. I know for a fact that Lord Ripen did throw off his allegiance to the Freemasons, and that there was very con siderable rejoicing by the members of thft Roman Catholic Church themselves. Again, with regard to the Good Templars. If it were said, that a Good Templar had broken' his vows, and taken to drink, that would not be a libel ,'on the Good Templars. I will now direct your Worship's attention to the manner in which this action waa commenced. And here I would beg to say that, while I hare the greatest sym pathy with Bishop Moran in his desire to pro tect the good name of tbe ladies and gentlemen with whom he is connected, he has commenced this action without the slightest regard to every rule of courtesy and good taate. He did not take the slightest action to ascertain how the para graph appeared. Hedidnot giveany opportunity to Mr Bell, to contradict the report, which" no doubt he would have done, if requested. His Worship : What does Lord Campbell's Act say upon that '. Mr Howorth : It goes to the root of the whole question of libel. 