Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

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

DIVERGENCES IN MASONIC WORKING AND CEREMONY—AMERICA AND ENGLAND .

To the Editor 0 / the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BUOTHER , —In the aceonnt yon published in yonr iesne of tho 10 th ult ., of the meeting of the Anglo-American Lodge , you report a vory interesting speech given by a distinguished visitor from the United States , Bro . Oakman . That brother , in the course of his remarks said , that in America they did their work on quite

different lines to what ho had witnessed that day in the Anglo . American Lodge ; bub ho was pleased to see that neither of them lost sight of tho landmarks that united Freemasons all the world over . I havo heard similar opinions expressed on other occasions , and have little doubt there are great and interesting variations in tho work aa performed on the two continents . My object in writing

to you ia to ask if it is possible for us in London ever to witness a proper rehearsal of tbo American ceremonies ? I am not associated with tho Anglo-American Lodge in auy way , so I hope the members will excuse mo for asking in public if it would be convenient for them to arrange tbo display I suggest ? I imagine there aro generally enough American Masons in London fco work a Lodge on strict

American lines , if they conld be got together , and wonld devote the necessary time to tho matter , and I also imagine they would be warmly received and heartily thanked for the trouble they took in tho matter . It seems to me the arrangement of the exhibition should rest with the Anglo-American Lodge , which is established , if namo goes for anything , for Anglo-American purposes , bnt if the

members of that Lodge could not bring the matter to an issue , or did not approve of my suggestion , perhaps tho Emulation Lodge of Improvement , as premier of its class , would consider tho advisability of doing so . In any case I am convinced there is a sp endid field open for instruction in this direction , as by a proper knowledge of the differences in working there is a better chance to secure

improvement , for I suppose Wo are not so old-fashioned in this country as to profess to bo above learning from our jnnior , as the American Mason will , no doubt , consider himself . I have travelled about a good bit during my association with Freemasonry , and havo witnessed many strange renderings of tbe work , althongh I have never gone beyond the limits of England . I can therefore imagine a very enjoyable series of evenings might be spent

in listening to practical demonstrations of different methods of working from d liferent countries . If it is not possible to arrange for an American display , perhaps it might be found convenient to give a representation of Irish work , which , I am told , differs considerably from what is practised in London Lodges , but I hope tho Anglo-American Lodge , or some other body , will be able to arrange for a display of American work , with all tbe necessary surroundings of an American Lodgo , whatever they may be .

I am , & c . A LONDON MASON . 7 th May 1890 .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , N . — : o : — "Tho Freemasons' Calendar and Directory for tho Provinco of Leicestershire and Eutland , for 1890 . "

ONCE more this handy little work has been presented to tho Craft in the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland , under the guidance of Bro . B . A . Smith , M . A ., LL . D ., P . M . 523 . As of yore , all the most attractive and useful information is forthcoming , in a concise way , and should prove useful to tho brethren . Among the information

contained in tho Calendar we may mention the list of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers , the lists of members of the several Craft Lodges , and tho roll of Lodges , & c , in tho adjoining Provinces of Derbyshire , Nottinghamshire , Northamptonshire and Huntingdon ,

nnd p lenty of other Masonic matters . A capital portrait , and short account of Bro . the Rov . C . Henton Wood , M . A ., Provincial Grand Secretary of the Province , is also given , so that it will be seen that everything has been done to command the attention of tho brethren of the Province .

"The Freemasons Calendar and Directory for the Province of Oxfordshire and Neighbourhood , for 1890-91 . " Oxford : Bro . W . R . Bowden , High-street . BRO . W . R . Bowden has onco more published his Calendar for the Provinco of Oxfordshire , with tho consent and nnder tho immediate

patronage of the Provincial Grand Master , the Right Hon . tho Earl of Jersey . Liko its predecessor , tho present Calendar is full of useful matter , containing as it does an account of Local incidents in Freemasonry dnring tho past year , a Calendar and Directory , tho Officers of Grand Lodge and Chapter . Grand Mark Lodge , Provincial Grand

Reviews.

Lodge , Chapter , and Mark Lodge of Oxfordshire , besides the several Lodges , Chapters , & c , in tho Province . There is also a list of tho brethren in tho Province , with tho votes that each have for the different Masonio Institutions . Tho portrait of the lit . Hon . tho Earl of Jersey is a capital one , aud should materially help tho sale of tho work .

"Lippincotts Monthly Magazine . London : Ward , Lock and Co ., Salisbury Square , W . C . THE way in which this monthly magazine is being turned ont does credit both to publisher aud printer . As most of our readers know , " Lippincott ' s " is an American magazine , but l-ecently Messrs . Ward , Lock and Co . started to publish it in England , with tho result that ,

month after month , the work becomes more popular . The most noteworthy feature of tho issue i ? , that eaoh part contains a complete story , tho present one being written by that well known anthor Bret Harte . The title of tho story is " A Sappho of Green Springs , " and is both interesting and attractive . Among other items in this

month a part we may mention " The Icilce : a little Comedy in Rhyme "; "Robert Browning "; "Karma "; "The Decline of Comedy" ; chapters eight and nine of " A Dead Man ' s Diary , " besides several other instructive articles . In conclusion , wo heartily recommend "Lippincott's" fo tho notice of our readers , who will find it an interesting serial .

Obituary.

Obituary .

WE havo to-day to record the loss of this worthy brother , who died ( a bachelor ) afc 07 Grosvenor Road , Highbury New Park , aged 50 , on tho 28 th nit ., and was buried at West Ham Cemetery . Bro . Sheffield was initiated in the Buningyong Lodge , Victoria , I . C ., No . 413 , in the year r Bno . JOHN EVANS SHEFFIELD .

I 80 O . In tho year 1873 ho received his clearance certificate from his Lodge , and returned to England , where , in tho year 1875 , ho was exalted , in tho Westbourne Chapter R . A . Subsequently ho joined the Citadel Lodge , No . 1897 , of which he was J . D . at the timo of his

decease . A wreath was sent by absent members of the Citadel Lodge ; Bro . Gray placed on the coffin a wreath , in the name of tho members of the Islington Lodge of Instruction , No . 1471 , wherein deceased was an active worker . At tho grave side the Sir Hugh

Myddelton Lodge , No . 1002 , was represented by Bro . John Greenfield P . M ., one of the deceased ' s executors , the other executor , Bro . John Weston P . M ., being unavoidably absent . No . 1897 waa represented by Bro . Yol Holthorp I . P . M ., Jones , Wrafchall , Gray , and Kressel . Deceased

was a thoroughly hardworking , conscientious brother , ever ready to help and advise to the best of his ability . After patiently enduring great sufferings , he entered into that rest for which he longed . Bro . Sheffield will be missed by many , especially by the poor of tho North of London .

Bro. Bateman.

BRO . BATEMAN .

THE remains of Bro . Bateman , who had been a resident in Walton for the last twenty-five years , woro interred in the West Derby Cemetery on the 2 nd inst ., at two o ' clock . The deceased was much respected in tho neighbourhood , as a most charitably disposed citizen and a helper in every

good cause . His death , which was rather sudden , was much deplored in the township of Walton . It adds additional pathos to the loss that his wife was only interred at tho beginning of tho month , in the same ground . Many sympathising friends assembled at the grave side , and tho Licensed Victuallers' Association and tho Masonic

fraternity , to whom he belonged , were also represented . Among tho mourners were the following : Bros . 0 . R . Asheton P . M . 203 , S . Gardham 1035 , L . Peake P . M . 1035 , R . Ingham 1035 , M . Carr 1035 , John King 1035 , C . Bargery P . P . G . S . D ., G . Hoare , John Wylie , T . Dodd 1035 , Evans

594 , J . Pratt 1035 , W . Forrester W . M . 1035 , J . Whalley P . P . G . D . C , Zachariah Davies J . S . 1035 , J . C . Turner Organist 1473 . A beautiful wreath , among many others ,

was presented by the Prince of Wales Lodge , and the funeral proceedings were vory tastefully carried out by Messrs . J . Waugh and Sons , the service being impressively given by the Rev . T . Major Lester , M . A .