Correspondence.

the cross on whioh Christ was crucified , tho blade of the lance with which Christ was pierced , and the very identical sponge whioh was dipped in vinegar and presented to Christ when he was nailed to the cross , all whioh curiosities were bought by King Louis for a liberal snra . On Good Friday , in tho year 1241 , these relics reached the suburbs of Paris , where they were mat by a pious procession .

St . Louis , who purified himself for the occasion by three days fasting , walked in the procession , bue-headed and bare-footed , clothed in a flannel shirt without a girdle ; his mother and hia queen walked behind him , and , followed by nobles , prelates , and a great crowd , the orown of thorns was brought out to meet tho cross , blude , and sponge ; the king , of course , undertook the job of carrying tho cross ,

but as the load was too heavy for his f ' oeble frame , two nobles walked on each side of tho king to snpport his arms . Those holy treasures were first deposited in a church , but afterwards a special ohapel was erected for them . " When I got throngh with the above narrative , my friend shouted " Bravo ! it is capital , St . Louis , his nobles and prelates , as well as

Emperor Baudouin , shall all be Masonized ; as St . Louis was a Crusader , every Masonic Knight Templar will at once believe that St . Louis was a bona fide Freemason . Our American lovers of pompous titles will be delighted with the titles of Emperor , King , Saint , Noble , and Prelate ; all the events above given will be introduced into the ceremonies ; the king walking bare-headed , barefooted , and robed in a plain flannel shirt , will more excite the pious

representative of the said kings in the new performance than the performances in K . T . Degrees , the Rose Croix Degree , or any other of their pious moonshine degrees , and I am satisfied that a couple of dozen of such exciting degrees will fill their stomachs to repletion , to snob an extent , that Masonic cravings for more and more degrees will eventually disappear , even from the Boston Masonio Temple . To all which I merely said , " Well , Brother , Go-ahead . " I am , yours fraternally , JACOB NORTON . Boston , U . S . A ., 24 th March 1891 .

St. Anne's Memorial Church, Strathpeffer.

ST . ANNE'S MEMORIAL CHURCH , STRATHPEFFER .

ON the 2 nd inst . the foundation-stone of the beautiful new Episcopal Church , whicb is being erected at Strathpeffer as a memorial to the late Duchess of Sutherland , was laid in the presence of a large and fashionable company . The stone was laid according " to the anoient rites of Masonry . " A platform was erected for tbe convenience of the visitors , but the weather was so bitterly cold that the ceremony , picturesque and interesting in its way ,

was quickly gone through , to the relief of all . The Masonio brethren assembled at the railway station , where , after being marshalled , they proeeeded to the Pavilion . There was a very good muster of the brethren . All being in readiness the Lodge was duly constituted , and headed by the Dingwall Volunteer band , the brethren marched in procession to the church . As a memorial

church it will be a fitting tribute to the memory of the late Duchess , who gave the site free . Already a sum of £ 1 , 500 has been subscribed , but according to the estimates the work will cost about £ 2 , 600 . Bishop Kelly , delighted with the progress of the work and the cordial manner in which it is being taken up , gave an additional donation of £ 10 towards tbe building fund . The ceremony of laying the

foundation-stone was undertaken by Sir Hector Munro , who was assisted by Mr . Tucker , Stornoway ; Mr . Joass , Dingwall , and other brethren , and at tho close he declared the stone to be well and truly laid , according to the rules of Masonry . Addressing tbe gathering , Sir Hector said it was customary on an occasion such as that for the presiding Mason to give an address . At the outset he was glad to

say that the foundation-stone had been laid according to the rules of good Masonry , and he took that opportunity of congratulating all the inhabitants of Strathpeffer upon that auspicious event . Tbe new chnrch was dedicated to tbe memory of a lady who was beloved by all , and who in her lifetime took the deepest interest in the Strath and all in its neighbourhood , and he was sure it gave thorn all the

greatest pleasure to see such a large gathering there that day . He was sure it was their earnest desire that the new church should be a oredit to Strathpeffer , and a credit to Ross-shire , and that the spirit of unity and good fellowship should continue , and tbat they should all have reason to congratulate themselves upon this new addition to their places of worship . As a health resort , Strathpeffer was well

known as one of the best in Great Britain , its beautiful scenery and lovely walks commanding tho attention and admiration of all , and he was sure they all wished it increased popularity aud prosperity . They were glad to seo so many of their brethren from a distance present that day , and particularly their esteemed friend Sir H . C . Macandrew , the Provincial Grand Master of Invernoss-shiro . It was

particularly gratifying to the Masons of Ross-shire to see such a large gathering , and to witness the cordial reception those present had given to them all . Mr . Gnnn , on behalf of the family of the late Duchess of Sutherland , tendered his best thanks to Sir Hector and the Masonic brethren present for their attendance , and said they all

regarded it as a touching mark of respect and esteem to the memory of the lato Duchess . Sir Henry Macandrew in a word expressed his great gratification at boing present , and seeing such a largo gathering of bis brethren . He hoped that tho mooting of that day waa bnt the beginning of many fraternal gatherings . The proceedings were then brought to a close in due form .

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Masonic Lecture At Southend-On-Sea.

MASONIC LECTURE AT SOUTHEND-ON-SEA .

A SECOND visit to the Priory Lodge of Instruction , No . 1000 , at Southend-ou-Sea , Essex , was paid by Bro . James Stevens P . M . P . Z ., on the 3 rd inst ., for the purpose of continuing his lectures on the Ritual and Ceremonial of Symbolic Freemasonry . Amongst the nomsrons brethren present wero Bros . Hood W . M ., Thomas S . W ., Vandervord J . W ., Lucking P . G . P . Treasurer , Dawson P . M . Secretary , Barnard S . D ., Cumine J . D ., Martin I . G ., Walker Tyler , Bridgland

P . M ., Hon . P . G . Lambert P . M ., Fenrnside Organist , Berry P . M ., Walton , Adams , Pritchard , Creswell , Bowmaoher , G . F . Vandervord , Reed , Trig ? , Bull , Forbes , Floyd , Val Mason , Brown , Cogill , Hobday , Armitage , Chignell , Brown , and others . Lodge having been opened , Bro . Stevens commenced at eight o ' clock an extempore address which , saving only a brief " call off" for refreshments , rivetted the

earnest attention of his hearers until eleven . Tho several Craft degrees and their ritual , with the allegorical and symbolic meanings attached thereto , were illustrated by the lecturer iu a manner very different to that of the ordinary method of instruction by sections , and the quality as well as quantity of the valuable information , muoh of whioh was entirely new to many of the veteran Masons present , occasioned agreeable surprise . There can be no doubt that

Bro . Stevens can both instruct and entertain his hearers , and judging from the hearty reception accorded to him on introduction , and the applause whioh followed his address , it may be fairly assumed that his kotures are doing good service to the Craft generally , and more particularly to the Lodges io whioh he may be heard . A vote of thanks to the lecturer having been unanimously carried , the Lodge was closed , and the brethren separated , well pleased with the evening ' s proceedings .

Presentation At Leeds.

PRESENTATION AT LEEDS .

W BRO . J . Cooper Malcolm , tbe Leeds Borough Coroner , who is for the second time occupying the chair of K . S . in Lodge Alfred , No . 306 , and Mrs . Malcolm , were on Friday afteraon , the 3 rd inst ., the recipients of a most handsome and valuable token of regard from the Officers and Members of tbe Lodge . As a mark of esteem for their genial Worshipful Master , and as a token of regard to Mrs . Malcolm , his accomplished wife , the brethren had subscribed

for a handsome silver salver and tea service , and also for a P . M . ' s jewel ; and on Friday afternoon these handsome and appropriate presents were handed over to the recipients amid general manifestations of good will and esteem . The Rev . C . A . Lambert , M . A ., Vicar of Weston , who is Senior Warden , was the medium of presenting to Mrs . Malcolm the silver tea service , whioh is of chaste design , each article being

engraved with suitable Masonio emblems . The silver salver bears the following inscription : — " Presented to Mrs . J . C . Malcolm as a mark of esteem , by numerous brethren of the Alfred Lodge , 3 rd April 1891 . " He bore eloquent testimony to the lady's worth and expressed tho deep sense of regard felt by his brethren at the graceful hospitality whioh Mrs . Malcolm had dispensed to the brethren and

their wives . Bro . Malcolm , in feeling terms , acknowledged the present on behalf of his wife , and said they would never use that beautiful service without boing reminded of the good will so pleasantly expressed by the members of the Lodge . Bro . Wedderspoon then presented to Bro . Malcolm a beautiful Past Master ' s jewel . On tho obverse of the jewel is tho following inscription : —¦ " Alfred Lodge , 300 , W . M . 187 li and 1891 . " The reverse bears the

following inscription : — " Presented to W . Bro . J . C . Malcolm W . M , P . M . P . P . G . Reg . West Yorks by the following Officers :-C . A . Lambert S . W ., D . Wedderspoon J . W ., J . Dyson P . M . Treasurer , W . Towers Secretary , A . Neil S . D ., J . F . Towers J . D ., G . Darley I . G ., C . Fenton S . S ., E . Harlow J . S ., R . E . Seanor P . M . Dir . of Cers ., Bro . Malcolm heartily reciprocated the good feelings whioh the donors had shown towards him , and the proceedings terminated .

" Tbo T y ler , " in Liverpool Fair play , writes : — The editor of the Ma & rat Masonic News informs his readers in a recent issue that items are very scarce to obtain , and asks for assistance , asserting at the same time that ho travels about 300 miles per month per bullock coach to enable him to gatherh is notes . This brother bas evidently a lively time of it .

Hia editor thus comments : — In reading over * ' Tho Tyler ' s " notes , I cannot pass the reference he makes to tho editor of the Madras Masonic News without adding the remark that it would be well if tho worthy "Tyler" himself took a hint from the industry and perseverance of his Indian confrere . Think of

" The Tyler " lolling in the lap of luxury , smoking ninepenny cigars all day long , to say nothing of the expensive liqueurs he consumes , and tl : o use of an always attendant hansom . Then think of tbe Madras

editor doing his 300 miles on a bullock coach in order to pick up few " pars . " What a moral and a contrast ! Surely such an . example is enough to make even " The Tyler " turn from hia wiokw indolence and procrastination !

From New York we learn there has been muoh remark in Roman Catholic circles respecting the fact tbat Father Sherman , a wellknown priest , administered the last sacraments to Lawrence Barrett—whose death was recently announced- —notwithstanding bo was a Freemason , and therefore not entitled to receive them . Father Sherman ' s reply is that Archbishop Corrigiin consented to his administering tbo pnernments ou condition that ihoro should be U . U Masouic ntuu ut tho funeral .