Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

— : o : — We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Correspondents . 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 SATURDAY REVIEW AND DR . OLIVER . To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIR , —I have had some experience as a reviewer , but I have seldom Been anything more grossly unfair than the following notice which appeared in the columns of the Saturday Review of the 8 th inst : — " The Pythagorean Triangle and Discrepancies of Freemasonry are posthumous works by Dr . Oliver , who , it appears , was a well-known

Freemason . They are written in the sty le of mysterious nonsense , which is characteristic of the Order . " If the writer of these lines is a Mason , he must have heard of Dr . Oliver ' s high reputation as a Masonic writer , and that , however " mysterious " his works may he or seem to be , they are certainly not " nonsense . " If he is not a Mason , he has no business to abuse

that of which he knows nothing . It wonld be impossible to place tho writer of the above notice in the same category with Dr . Oliver . The latter was a scholar and a gentleman . The former may be the one , but he certainly is not the other . Yours fraternally , "Q . "

The Antiquity Of Freemasonry.

THE ANTIQUITY OF FREEMASONRY .

though Dallaway * apparently did not regard it with so much suspicion . It was first published at Frankfort , in Germany , and all efforts to trace it in England having proved fruitless hitherto , its authenticity

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —A propos of your article on the " Anti . quity of Freemasonry , " I mnst remark that the old MS . therein cited , said to have been signed by Henry VI ., and copied by Leland , has not yet been found , and that grave doubts exist as to whether it ever existed . The foremost Masonic investigators in this country , Bros . Hughan and Woodford , do not hold themselves justified in accepting it ,

remains open to question . As to its inherent evidence , archaisms , & c , experts differ so much that nothing certain can be critically decided on that head . Tours fraternally , E . P . Norwich , 17 th January .

Masonic Ball At The Town Hall, Liverpool.

MASONIC BALL AT THE TOWN HALL , LIVERPOOL .

THE twenty-seventh annual Masonic ball took place on 10 th January and proved a brilliant success . The West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution is a credit to the county , and , thanks to the brethren of the various local Lodges , this annual ball materially helps its funds . The Institution can boast of a vested capital of £ 13 , 000 , and out of this capital between 60 and 70 children are

educated , at a cost of £ 8 to £ 45 each . This success is mainly attributable to the untiring exertions of Bro . R . Brown , W . M . 241 , the Hon . Secretary , and Bro . B . Wilson P . G . S . D ., the Hon . Treasurer . The arrangements for the ball were ably carried out by an efficient committee , and upwards of 1 , 000 visitors wero present . The majority wore their Masonic insignia . The hall was under the patronage of

His Worship the Mayor ( Lieut .-Col . Thompson ) and the Mayoress , both of whom were present , the Countess Bective , the M . W . the Earl of Carnarvon , Lady Skelmersdale , Lord Skelmersdale , Major Starkie , Lord De Tabley , Major Leigh , Hon . F . Stanley , Earl Bective , & c . The ball committee comprised Bro . M . W . Lord Skelmersdale , President ; Hon . F . Stanley , Vice-President ; H . Alpass P . G . S .,

Chairman ; M . Chudey P . M . 241 , Vice-Cbairmari ; G . Hntchin S . W . 241 , Treasurer ; and Bro . H . Kelson P . M . 673 and 1505 , Secretary , who was untiring in his exertions . Bro . H . M . Molyneanx was a very efficient M . C . Bro . W . Vines , of the Canton Hotel , proved an excellent caterer , a special supper being provided in the council chamber . The musical arrangements were under the direction of Bro . G . A . W . Phillips , and dancing was kept up until a very late hour .

Red Cross Of Rome And Constantine.

RED CROSS OF ROME AND CONSTANTINE .

The Lily of the Valloy Conclave , 127 , met on Thursday , tho 13 th of January , in Freemasons' Hall , Holytown , Sir Knight IT . J . Shields , 33 ° , M . P . S ., Wm . McMurdo E . V . E ., Daniel Baker S . G ., J . McMurdo I . G . ; visitor , G . W . Wheeler M . P . S . 114 , who , at the request of Sir Knight Shields , conferred those two degrees on Companions li

Clark , Henry Dyer , and Ilobert Gray . A Sanctuary of K . 1 I . S . was afterwards opened , when Sir Knight Shields , assisted by Sir Knight Wheeler and his officer bearers , received four Companions into the Sanctuary , and afterwards created them Knights of St . John the Evangelist . The ceremonies were very carefully wrought , all the accessories being perfectly attended to by Sir Knight Shields . * Discourses on Gothic Architecture in England ,

Diary For The Week.

DIARY FOR THE WEEK .

We shall be obliged if the Secretaries of the various Lodges throughout the Kingdom will favour us with a list of their Days of Meeting , & o . as we have decided to insert only those that are verified by the Officers of the several Lodges .

SATURDAY , 22 nd JANUARY . Audit Committee , Boys' School , Freemasons' Hall , at 3 . R . A . —Sinai Chapter of Instruction , Union Tavern , Air-street , Regent-streot . at 8 .

MONDAY , 24 th JANUARY ., 45—Strong Man , Old Jerusalem Tavern , St . John ' s Square , Clerkenwell , at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 48—Industry , Freemasons * Hall , West-street , Gateshead-on-Tyne . 68—Royal Clarence , Freemasons' Hall , Bristol . R . A . 241—Friendship , Masonic Temple , 22 Hope Street , Liverpool .

TUESDAY , 25 th JANUARY . Audit Committee , Girls' School , Freemasons' Hall , at 4 . 14—Tuscan , Freemasons' Hall , W . C . 65—Constitutional , "Wheatsheaf Tavern , Hand-court , W . C , at 7 . 0 . ( Instruction . ) 145—Prudent Brethren , Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , W . C . 860—Dalhousie , Royal Kdward , Triangle , Hackney , at 7 . 30 . ( Instruction . ) 253—Tyrian , Masonic Hall , Gower Street , Derby . 310—Union , Freemasons' Hall , Castlo Street , Carlisle . 357—ADOUO University . Masonic Hall . Oxford .

573—Perseverance , Shenstone Hotel , Hales Owen . 1016—Elkington , Masonic Rcoms , Now Street , Birmingham . 1228—Beacontree , Red Lion , Leytonstone , at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 1358—Torbay , Town Hall , Paignton , Metropolitan Chapter of Instruction , Jamaica Coffee House , St . Michael ' s * alley , Cornhill , at 6 . 30 . R . A . —94—Do Lambton , Freemasons' Hall , Sunderland . R . A . —103—Beaufort , Freemasons' Hall , Bristol . R , A . —124—Concord , Freemasons' Hall , Durham .

WEDNESDAY , 26 th JANUARY . 193— . Confidence , Masons' Hall , Masons ' -avenno , at 7 . 30 . ( Instruction . ) 1524—Duke of Connaught , Havelock Tavern , Albion-road , Dalston , at 8 . 0 . ( Instruction . ) 199—Peace and Harmony , Royal Oak Hotel , Dover . ( Instruction . ) 996—Sondes , Eagle Hotel , East Dereham , Norfolk . 1039—St . John ' s , Goorge Hotel , Lichfield . R . A . 236—Zetland , Masonic Hall , York . Rose Croix , Ivor Hael , Freemasons' Hall , Dock-street , Newport , Mon ,

THURSDAY , 27 th JANUARY . General Committee , Girls' School , Freemasons' Hall , at 4 . 27—Egyptian , Hercules Tavern , Leadenhall-street , E . C . ( Instruction ) . 435—Salisbury , UnioniTavern , Air-street , Regent-street , W . at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 1260—Hervey , 152 Fulham-road , at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 78—Imperial George , Assheton Arms Hotel , Middleton , Lancashire . 100—Friendship , Crown and Anchor Hotel , Quay , Great Yarmouth 214—Hope and Unity , White Hart Hotel , Romford . 807—Cabbell , Masonic Hall , Theatre Street , Norwich . 966—St . Edward's , Literary Institute , Leek , Stafford .

R . A . —657—Canonbury , Mason's Anns Tavern , Masons Avenue , Basinghall Street , E . C . R . A . 57—Humber , Freemasons' Hall , Osborn-street , Hull . R . A . 292—Liverpool , Masonic Temple . 22 Hope-street , Liverpool . R . A . 421—De Burghi , Masonic Hall , West-street , Gateshead . R . A . 732—Royal Sussex , Royal Pavilion , Brighton . K . T . —Gwent , Freemasons Hall , Dock-street , Newport , Mon .

FRIDAY , 28 th JANUARY . 569—Fitzroy , Head Quai-ters , Hon . Artillery Company , City-road . 1278—Burdett Coutts , Approach Tavern , Victoria Park , at 8 . ( Instruction . ) 1507—Metropolitan , 269 Pentonville-road . ( Instruction . ) 1385—Gladmuir , Red Lion Hotel , Barnet , Herts . R . A . 152—Virtue , Freemesons' Hall , Cooper-street , Manchester . R . A . 471—Silurian , Freemasons' Hall , Dock-street , Newport , Mon .

SATURDAY , 29 th JANUARY . R . A . —Sinai Chapter of Instruction , Union Tavern , Air-street , Regent-street .

EDINBURGH DISTRICT . MONDAY—340—St . Clair , Freemasons' Hall . TUESDAY—151—Defensive Band . Alexander Hall , Cockburn-street . ,, R . A . 40—Naval and Military , Freemasons' Hall . WEDNESDAY—112—St . John Fisherrow , Roral Hotel , Musselburgh . THURSDAY—392—Caledonian , Freemasons' Hall . FRIDAY—223—Trafalgar , 54 Bernard-street , Leith .

GLASGOW DISTRICT . MONDAY . —102—St . Mark ' s , 213 Buchanan-street . ,, 103—Union and Crown , 170 Buchanan-street . „ 219—Star , 12 Translate . ,, 362—St . Glair , 25 Robartson-strcet . „ 541—Marie Stewart , Freemasons' Hall , Crosshill . R . A—122—Thetis , 35 St . James-street . TUESDAY—413—Athol , 213 Buchanan-street . R . A . —07—Cathedral , 24 Striithcre-street .

,, R . A . —73—Caledonian of Unity , 170 Buchanan-street . WEDNESDAY—SiO—Maryhill , 167 Main-street , Maryhill . 571—Dramatic , 213 Buchaiian-trcet . THURSDAY—165—St . Andrew , Freemasons' Hall , Garngad-road . 553—St . Vincent , 162 Kent-road . FRIDAY—153—Royal Arch , School Room . Pollockshaws . „ 317—St . John , Freemasons' Hall , Rutherglen . ( t , 403—Clyde , 170 Buchanan-street . „ R . A . 79—Commercial , 30 Hops Street . aATURDAY-305-St , Johu WooOhaU , Freemason * ' Hall , Holytown .