Correspondence.

ignored . Seeing that , without the confirmation of the minutes , the W . M . elect could not bo constitutionally installed , they decided upon the anomalous course of proceeding to election de novo . I need not point out the irregularity of this act , which I am sure can never bo

sanctioned by the authorities . I trust the brethren will perceive the error before it is too late to escape the penalties which must of necessity follow should so clear a breach of the laws of the Constitution be persisted in . Yours fraternally , E . GOTTHEIL .

A MASONIC LIST . To the Editor of THE FSEEJIASON ' S CHRONICLE . SIK , —I observe a letter in your impression of Saturday , 18 th September , we may presume to be written by a member of Lodge Upton , No . 1227 , Upton , Essex , in -which he advocates the propriety of printing and publishing , not only the names of the officers , but every member of each Lodge , & c . ; and , in addition , he

suggests that Grand Lodge would sanction such a proceeding . I venture to say , the brother has had little experience in Freemasonry , or he would never have made the suggestion . I do not know what advantages would arise from such publication , but I do know what it would do in a contrary direction . Itinerant vagabonds , calling themselves Freemasons , and trading upon the liberal and

careless members of the Craft , find sufficient means already to extract contributions , till the more prudent brethren havo found it necessary to use great caution ; and , so far as I have been able to ascertain the custom prevailing here , relief is seldom given without due enquiry , and no one is allowed to give the name of another brother but the one appointed by each Lodge to attend to applicants for relief . By inserting these few hastily written lines , you will greatly oblige a AYEST YORKSHIRE FREEMASON .

Answers To Correspondents.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS .

J . W . —According to the Book of Constitutions , no person can be initiated under the sum of five guineas , but many Lodges have lately increased the initiation fee , and also restricted the number of members . VERAX . —No jewels aro permitted to be worn in Grand Lodge , excepting Past Masters ' , Presentation and Eoyal Arch , and those only in connexion with the two former degrees .

Marrying A Mason.

MARRYING A MASON .

" Had I known you were a Freemason , I should never have married you . " On a snug and well cultivated farm , but not of large extent , in one of the western counties of Western New York , had been erected a cosy and convenient little cottage , yet large enough to answer the present needs of the family which was to occupy it . A much

travelled road passed it a few rods in front , leaving abundant room for the display of horticultual taste , which opportunity had been freely improved . The centre was a mass of bloom , gravelled walks conducted to unexpected and half concealed beauties , while a thick forest of the common evergreens , spruce , cedar and pine formed a protecting wall against the freezing blasts of winter , and a screen

from the piercing heats of summer . Around , and in the rear of the residence , were the usual appliances of a thrifty farm , and the neighbourhood gave evident and abuudant proof that industry , frugality and taste had regenerated the sterile soil , and that the owners wero the masters and not the slaves of labour . To the eastward , through the thick foliage of the

evergreens , could be seen the white spire of the one church where nearly every family in the neighbourhood assembled on the Sabbath to worship God , and on an opposite corner of the street had been reared the necessary adjunctjof a well governed community—a schoolhouse of such dimensions aud used under such regulations as precluded the necessity of any child growing up in ignorance and

consequent vice . All the surroundings seemed fitted for engendering pure and salutary influences over those who come within its roach . The school building , which was of two stories , and of a more pretentious character than most edifices used for that purpose in the country at the period of which we write , had a portion of the space beneath its roof devoted to other matters than

" Teaching the young idea how to shoot . " It was occupied to teach the maturer generation the way of dutyin fact , it was a -Masonic Lodge Eoom . There could have been but little of the anti-Masonic element in tbe community , else a building erected by a general tax , would hardly have been rented for a purpose which , in that case , must have been obnoxious to a portion

of the proprietors . And this little community prospered and were happy , and no element of discord was mixed with the public disposition . It was into this arcadian paradise that William Walton brought his newly wedded bride . She was a daughter of the Puritans , and selfreliant ; a little opinionated , and had been taught that Freemasonry

was the source of great evil in the community , and that Freemasons were not very inactive emissaries and worshippers of his "Brimstone Majesty . " It may be as well to say that Walton , previous to his migration from Vermont , had largely shared in that opinion ; but a few years' residence in New York , where the Fraternity was tolerated , and an acquaintance with many of the active members , convinced

Marrying A Mason.

him there was much good iu the Institution , aud just before he set out on his journey to bring to the home he had prepared his wife , ho received the degree of Master Mason , It was only a few days after the happy pair had become settled in their beautiful and love-lighted home , that one of tho brethren called , and during the conversation that ensued , casually asked Walton if he

would attend the Lodge on the next regular communication . His reply was in the affimative , when the wife , who was present , arose , and demanded , in a voice hoarse with excitement : " William Walton , are you a Freemason ? " " I am , " was the reply . " Had I known you were a Freemason , I should never have married

you , " she fairly screamed , her face livid with anger ; aud before an answer could be given , she left the room , and retired to her own apartment . Of course the brother apologized on the score of ignorance that his question would introduce an -unsettled controversy , and loft the husband to smooth the anxieties of the " ragged edge of connubial difficulty " as best he could .

But that task -was not so easily performed . The lady uniformly refused to listen to what the culprit had to offer in his own justification , and whenever he undertook that task , either left him alone , or replied so bitterly that it required all his self-command to prevent him from retorting in a simlar strain . Thus passed tho years . Children were born unto them , acres were added to acres , barns were

pulled down that greater ones might be builded , a new and more pretentious house was erected in the evergreen grove ; all the evidences of prosperity were about them , and still the controversy on the Masonic question was unsettled , and the stereotyped phrase which stands at tho head of this article was often yet repeated . The family had commanded the respect and esteem of their

neighbours ; its head had been chosen by his fellow citizens to fill high and honourable places in the public service ; he had achieved a reputation for honesty and capability which is possessed by few in this age and country ; he was a good husband , a kind father , a trusty public officer , and an honoured man ; aud still if his wife had known he was a Mason she would never have married him .

A man with an honest principle and purpose , is likely to give too much credit to others for honest , and this frequently leads him to place his confidence and trust where they will be abused and betrayed . Walton had extensive dealings in real estate , " endorsed for a friend " occasionally , but managed to keep things square and easy during his lifetime , though his property was sometimes considerably encumbered

with mortgages . It so happened that business took him to New York City . There was a collision of trains—several were killed , some were desperately wounded , among whom was Walton , and others escaped unhurt . Fraternal hands ministered to bis wants , aud heeding his request to be taken home to his family , accompanied him , and , as far as human

skill could compass that end , relieved him from his sufferings . But it was written that ho should die , and soon tho Lorlge , of which ho was a member , was called to pay the last tribute of respect which the living can perform for the dead . As it was the expressed wish of the deceased that he should bo buried by the Fraternity , with all the impressive forms and rites of tho Order , tho widow could

scarcely object , however much she felt liko doing so , aud the burial was performed under the solo auspices of the Lodge . On examination of the affairs of the estate , they were found to be in a far worse condition than any ono had anticipated . Tho executor was compelled to sell all tho real csente except tho

homestead , and the proceeds of these sales barely were sufficient to pay the legal demands against the estate , including several indorsements amounting to about twenty thousand dollars ; leaving the homestead , with a mortgage of two thousand , for tho family . The widow , with her family , seemed likely to bo turned out upon the cold charity of tho world .

Tho Lodge , however , without consulting her , had determined otherwise . That portion of the homestead which was sitnated between the house and the river , was laid out in town lots , somo of the moro wealthy of the members purchased a number of them , and through their influence " Walton ' s addition " became popular as a place for residences . Eeal estate in that quarter increased rapidly in value ,

and in an incredibly short time tho mortgages were paid etc , aud a sum realized in addition sufficiently large to secure a respectable livelihood to the bereaved family . When the final settlement was accomplished , tho executor , who was also Master of the Lodge , as the safest securities -with which he was acquainted , invested the surplus in United States Bonds . It

was a pleasant clay for tho Lodge , as well as for the family , when those bonds , representing a sum , the inter st of which placed tho widow and hot" children in comfortable aud independent circumstances , wore reported as the result of the effort to save the homestead , and it would be difficult to say which was most pleased with tho successful administration of the estate , but from that clay tho widow

forgot to repeat the old refrain , that hnd she known her husband was a Mason she never would have married him . Bnt ib was soon known to the Craft , she had said privately to some of her intimate friends , that no daughter of hers should marry a man not a member of tho Lodge , with her consent , and that her Sony should all be Masons if

they were found worthy . Wc leave tho reader to decide when sho acted most , wisely—when she was sorry nho had married a Mason , or when she was desirous that all her children should participate in the benefits of the Institution ? and would only say , there arc many Mrs . Waltons in the world . —Voice of Masonry .

Ad00704

CHINESE CARVING . FOE Sale , an elaborately carved Set of Ivory Chessmen . The Kings stand Si inches high , the other pieces in proportion . Knights and Pawns on horseback , all mounted on stands , with concentric halls . Cm bo seen , and full particulars obtained , on application to \ V . W . JJORCUN , 67 Barbican . AM ,