Consecration Of The Rothesay Lodge, No. 1687.

of Bros . Col . Burdett , Buss , ancl Cottebrune . Bro . Col . Burdett rose . Having been called upon by tho W . M . to respond to the toast , which had just been so enthusiastically received ; ho would return his heartiest thanks . He referred to tho working of tho Grand Officers , and to the interest thoy took in all matters connected with the Order . They were honoured by having three Princes of England at tho head of

G . L . In Masonry they wanted quality rather than quantity . Iuhisown Province they numbered among them some of tho highest members of society . Not only is Masonry progressing throughout tho kingdom , but tho working has never been better carried out . Bro . Little rose and proposed the health of tho W . M . From what ho had seen of him he felt sure he would make a good Blaster . Tho W . M .

acknowledged tho compliment paid him by the Consecrating Officer . It should not bo for want of exertion on his part if the Lodgo did not prosper . Before resuming his seat , he had pleasure in proposing the health of tho Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Middlesex , Bro . Little , who had travelled a loner journey to enable him to bo present ' to consecrate their Lodge . He , as well as every Brother present ,

was pleased to sec him , and hoped that ero long his health would be restored , and that he would live to be among them for many years to come . Bro . Little , in a brief , but appropriate manner , responded to the toast , thanking tho brethren for their good wishes . Bro . Col . Burdett then proposed the health of tho founders of tho Lodge . They had succeeded iu getting a name for their Lodgo that all might

be proud of , and ho wished them one and all long life , health , and prosperity . Bro . Kirk S . W . responded to tho toast . Tho W . M . next proposed tho Visitors . As a young Lodgo they felt themselves honoured by the presence of so many visitors . He coupled with tho toast the names of Bro . Brignall P . Prov . G R . Durham , ancl Bro . H . Levander Prov . G . Sec . Middlesex , both of whom as well as Bros . G .

Bnbb and F . Walters replied to the toast . The Rev . P . M . Holden was pleased to propose tho next toast , which , although nearly tho last on tho list , yet it was one of tho first in order of merit . Ho was sure it would meet with the approbation of the brethren . He spoke of tho " Charities . " Ho was confident all tho brethren were proud of the Institutions connected with

our Order , and ho hoped that they would flourish in tho future as they had dono in tho past . Brother Little had already responded to a toast , so ho would not couple his name with this one , but would call on their well-known Bro . Levander , who , in a very capital speech , returned thanks . Tho WM . said ho had represented the Benevolent Fund at the last Festival , ancl would be pleased

to act as Steward for the Girls' School next year . The Tyler's toast was then given , aud a very pleasant meeting closed . Tho visitors were Bros . E . W . Col . F . Burdett P . G . M . Middlesex , H . G . Buss Assist . G . S ., C . A . Cottebrune P . G . P ., C . B . Payne P . M . 27 G . T ., E . J . Scott 749 , G . Bnbb P . M . 180 , T . Wake 719 , H . Green 1275 , J . West P . G . R , Surrey , H . Levander P . G . S . Middlesex , E . H . Thiellay P . P . G . S . Middlesex , W . B . Scott P . M . 822 , H . M . Levy P . M . 188 , Gibb 34 , N . E . Forscntt

749 , E . Moody P . M . 1426 , J . L . Thomas P . G . J . W . Middlesex , B Swallow P . M . 382 , H . Massey P . M . 619 .

Periodical Literature

PERIODICAL LITERATURE

rpiIERE is considerable variety in the current number of Tinslei / s , - * - ancl many of the articles show a great degree of merit . We are glad to find that where formerly there used to be three ancl often four concurrent serials , there are now but two . Oue of these , Mr . Frank Barrett ' s " Two Knaves ancl a Queen , " has been running some time . Ifc is well written , and many of tho characters aro extremely welldrawn . Tho other serial , which is from tho pen of Mrs . Alexander

Fraser , is entitled " A Maddening Blow , " ancl has thus far reached only its fourteenth chapter , including , that is to say , the present instalment . This , however , is quite far enough to justify us in expressing our opinion that the talo will be very generally appreciated by novel readers . Mrs . Fraser ia well known as a novelist ; her stories are usually well constructed , and contain likewise some very good descriptive

writing . Mr . Godfrey Turner contributes a paper entitled " Shakespeare Made Easy . " We are not aware that Mr . Turner has any great claims to be regarded as an authority ou Shakespeare , but he writes sensibly enough . There are two or three short stories , which aro decidedly creditable— " My Heroine " by Evelyn Jerrold , ancl tho " Two Sibyls . " An " Eccentric Old Boy " gives vent to his views on education in the

shape of a few " Detached Notes" thereon , which will bear analysing ; while it is almost a matter of course that tho poetical contributions , which include a " Love Song" of Dr . Davics ' s , are somewhat above the average of magazine poetry . In line , wc havo occasionally read numbers which aro the equal of this , but very seldom any which could justly bo described as its superior .

Cassells Family Magazine is well furnished with stories aud articles of tho nsual character . The serial fiction remains the same . " Paul Knox , Pitman , " has , throughout , been an interesting story , and tho scene between Lady Elizabeth and May Gwynu is oue of the best contrived in the story . "Stone Steps and Wooden Stairs" is developing , as it progresses , into an admirable tale , aud , if wo judge rightly ,

will do great credit to its author , Beatrice Leigh Hunt . Among the family ancl other papers must be noted "Crab and Lobster Lore , " by Professor A . Wilson , hints by the Rev . G . Watkins , " How to Enjoy the Sea-side , " " A Peep iuto my Grandmother ' s Work-box , " a paper by Mr . Edward Oxen ford on "Tho Origin of Names , " and "A Parliamentary Paper . " Then there aro " My Saturday Half Holiday , " " A Military Tea Party , " ancl an article on "Local Examinations . " A

Family Doctor ' s suggestions as to " Headaches , aud How to Cirri Them , " are worth rogardiug , and a short story , by Mr . G . Manvillt Fenn , entitled "Laura ' s Doctor , " wi 11 be pretty generally admired Some of the illustrations , in particular tho one accompanying thi " Military Tea Party , " are very happy , while tho " Gatherer ' s" notes , and tho " Chit-Chat on Dress " aro quite as instructive and entertain . iug as wo have fgiuid them hitherto . '

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications . All Letters must hear the name and address of the Writer , not necessarily for publication , but as a guarantee of good faith .

THE BALLOT . To the Editor of TUB FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR Sin AND BROTHER , —It has always been my rule , when acting as W . M . or l . M ., to insist that the wise provisions of the Book of Constitutions as to proposing candidates be carried out in accordance with tho strict letter of the law , aud havo never permitted a caudidate to bo proposed , except in open Lodgo , with tht > solitary exception

of a gentleman going to Bombay , who desired to join tho Craft before leaving this country . By thus acting , tho candidate is literally ou Ins merits for ono month , ancl should he not bo found worthy , wo have always in our Lodge found it the best plan for tho objector to privately inform tho W . M ., who has tho opportunity given him of asking tho proposer to

withdraw tho name , which is done in almost every case , thus avoiding tho painful necessity of informing a candidate of his ignominious rejection . Now , as regards blackballing from malicious motives ; or , from a feeling of personal enmity to tho proposer . I can only characterise such a proceeding as below contempt , and worthy of being visited

by the most severe reprobation . Alas ! I know it has been , aud I fear will again be dono . Tho love of office , and the ambition to outstrip one another in the race for honours , bo they real or fancied , will always create enemies ont of one ' s own best and clearest friends , and sometimes wo find men with small brains , narrow hearts , and infinitesimal intellect , who allow some paltry , and perhaps unstudied ,

injury to rankle in what they call their minds , until surcharged with spleen and malice , they vent their potty spito on an innocent object . From these we cannot expect anything but a course of conduct alike ungenerous aud uugentlemanly . The true remedy for this class of blackballers is to still further hedge our Lodges round with precautions against the very proposition of candidates who aro not likely to do credit to the Order , and admit none but those we are assured are

true and faithful , and have the ring of sterling metal . I may hint that in one Lodge to which I belong there is an under , stood rule , a Lex non Scripta , that no member shall propose a candidate , either for initiation , or as a joining member , unless he previously certifies in open Lodgo , that such candidate is an intimate personal friend , and on visiting terms . This is certainly a step in the right direction . We find in Euclid , "Things which are equal to the same thing , are equal to one another . " I am , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , P . M . and P . G . W .

CHEVALIER RAMSAY AND THE ROYAL ARCH . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In the " Pocket Companion aud History of Freemasons , London , 1754 , " there is a section with the following title-page : — "An Apology for the Freo ancl Accepted Masons occasioned by their persecution in the Canton of Berne , with the present

state of Masonry in Germany , Italy , Flanders , and Holland . Translated from the French by a Brother . Printed at Frankfort , 1748 . " This , no doubt , is a reprint of the Dublin pamphlet , 1739 , which Bro . Jacob Norton is in quest of , and in the absence of the original it may be of service to him in the Masonic inquiry he is engaged upon . Yours truly and fraternally ,

JOHN HOOG , 26 th July 1877 . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Since writing to you yesterday , I have found in my collection a volume , in which is bound up a pamphlet of 92 pp ., with the following title : — " Relation Apologique et Historiqne

do la Sociute des Francs-Macons . Par J . G . D . M . F . M . ii Dublin , chez Patrice Odonoko , Libtairo and Imprimeur , 1738 . " This would seem to be tho original edition of the pamphlet which Bro . Jacob Norton is in search of . The copy in Bro . Spencer ' s list went to America , and was , I believe , bought for Bro . Carson , of Cincinnati . Yours truly aud fraternally , JOHN HOGG . 27 th July 1877 .

No. 79 And The Old Lodge Lists.

NO . 79 AND THE OLD LODGE LISTS .

Bv BRO . JACOB NORTON .

IN the preface to the reprint of the Dublin Lod go List of 1735 , Bro . Hughan remarked , " Wo as Masons live for one another , and he subject ( No . 79 ) is moro likely to bo decided on this side of tho Atlantic , because of our greater facility for such studies . " For thia eason I troubled you with a communication last week upon tho : uftie subject , aud uiasfc eveii trouble vou , uuco more ,