Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold oiirselves responsible for tha opinions of our Cor . respondents . All Letters must hear 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 .

BRO . HUGHAN'S BOOK . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I was sorry to read a letter written in such questionable taste and exhibiting so much of the silly petulance of a spoiled child as that of Bro . Gould , which you quoted a fortnight since from the pages of tho Philadelphia Keystone . I endorse every word he says in praise of Bro . Hughan ' s new work , but I consider

that in stepping out of his way to criticise thus patromsingly the production of a brother author , he has shown an amazing want of delicacy of feeling . There is in Masonry no censor literarum as there was iu ancient Rome a censor morv . m ,. By this I m an there i-i no one entitled by prescription or officially to decide off-hand whether a book which is submitted to our reading public is good , bad , or

indifferent . This duty—if indeed it can be considered a duty at all—is fulfilled by a body of men recruited from all parts , and exhibiting a greater or less degree of competency for their task according to the attainments , abilities , and experience they severally possess—I refer to the " Reviewers of the Craft" npon whom Bro . Gould has been pleased to bestow the distinction of inverted commas . I believe it is

pretty generally allowed tbat , though by no means infallible , these " Reviewers" do what is required of them conscientiously , to tbe best of their ability , and with an exceeding tenderness for the reputation of those authors whose writings they aro invited to criticise . Indeed , I am given to understand they are mostly gentlemen as well as critics , aid that if ever they forget themselves and say in haste

what they would rather havo left unsaid , they are always willing , and even anxious , to make atonement for their forgetfalness . This much I think I may venture to say generally in their behalf . Bro . Gould's apparent object in writing this letter is to let the world know his opinion of Bro . Hughan ' s work , notwithstanding he disclaims all idea of wishing to anticipate the verdict of the Keystone

critic , and he seems to have done this so ostentatiously that I confess if I wore Bro . Hnghan I would rather have been pitched into by bim . But his real object , I take it , is to proclaim everywhere that he has a grievance against the "Reviewers of the Craft , " because they have had the presumption to condemn unanimously some of tho conclusions at which he has arrived in his " History of

Freemasonry . " I judge also from the concluding paragraph of his letter that they , or some of thero , have not exhibited that " tone aud temper , " which is , or should be , part of the critic ' s stock iu trade . I shall not follow Bro . Gould ' s example and constitute myself the mouthpiece of the " Reviewers" as a body , as he appears to have constituted himself the absolute and unimpeachable authority on the

Masonic literary productions of the day . But , speaking for myself only , I have to state that I cannot call to mind one passage in my review of his work , though it extended to several articles , in which , if I had occasion to differ with him in opinion , I forgot the respect due to him and myself . I am not conscious of having anywhere exhibited any want of fairness or of consideration for him personally , neither can

I recal a single instance in which tho "tone and temper" of my remarks were in anywise incompatible with the requirements of polite discussion . As I am speaking from memory , I may of course be in error in saying this ; but in any circumstances I shall be glad if Bro . Gould will specify those portions of my review which are justly liable to any other charge than that of containing opinions on

debateable matters which are at variance with his . I must also aak him to modify , so far as I am concerned , the statement about the " unanimous censure" he has incurred from the " Reviewers of the Craft , " by pointing out thafc while , in the honest exercise of my judgment , I may have felfc ifc necessary to differ with him about the Wren tradition , and ifc may be some other points of comparatively

small importance , I have expressed myself in terms of almost unqualified admiration of the greater portion of his work . I hope I shall be excused for suggesting further that , as Bro . Gould has been most unfortunate in the manner of his criticism , so likewise has he been unfortunate in the selection of his medium for making it pnblic . His want of delicacy in ostentatiously patting Bro . Hughan

on the back I have already noticed , but I would also point out thafc it is no part of a critic ' s duty to measure out praiso and blame aa a chemist measures out the constituents of a pill or powder , so many grains of one to so many scruples of another , and so on . The critic damns a thing off-hand which is worthless , but he praises what , is worthy of praise generously , without troubling himself about those minor

shortcomings which the best among us aro sometimes guilty of . Jnst imagine a man remarking , for the sake of example— "Mr . A . B . C . is a man of noble disposition ; bufc unfortunately ho has a wart on his nose . " As to the want of an index to Bro . Hughan ' s book , I fancy he would be puzzled to furnish a better substitute for one than he has furnished already in his "Table of Contents . " Lastly , if we are

to understand that Bro . Gould is writhing nnder the " nnanimous censure " of the " Reviewers of the Craft " in this country , has been treated by them unfairly and disrespectfully , and has , in short , been condemned without benefit of clergy , why , in the name of all that is reasonable , does he write to Philadelphia to say so ? Why has he

not addressed himself to you , Sir , and the Editor of fche Freemason , complaining of the unjust and ungenerous treatment he considers he has met with at the hands of your and his reviower ? I feel morall y certain both you and he would afford him every opportunity for resenting aspersions that may have been cast upon him , as well as for defending his own theories . I can only express my surprise and

Correspondence.

regret that so obvious a way of meeting the censure of the " Reviewers" has not occurred to him . I remain , Faithfully and fraternally , YOUR REVIEWER OF BRO . GOULD ' " HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY . "

THE LATE ELECTIONS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —The result sheets of the late elections show a greater waste of votes than I , a constant Scrutineer for some years , have ever seen . For instance , out of 35 , 330 votes issued for the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , 4 , 522 were not recorded ; and out of 51 , 613 for Royal Masonio Institution for Bovs , 6138 , out of 87 , 000 ,

in round numbers , were wasted . 11 , 000 were thrown away . This shows two or three things j either indifference of the owners , or want of energy on the part of those who undertake the conduct of oases ; or , perhaps even worse , a dog in the manger policy;—they are no use to me , and nobody else shall have them without a quid pro quo . The changes which will take place in the Schools by the end of

January next are as follows : —Boys—London 52-51 , Berks and Bucks 2-1 , Channel Islands 2-3 , Derby 3-4 , Devon 3-5 , Dorset 7-5 , Durham 5 . 4 , Gloucester 3-4 , Kent . 6-5 , Lancashire ( East ) 9-12 , Lancashire ( West ) 5-6 , Lincoln 5-7 , Norfolk 2-4 , Northumberland 3-4 , Somerset 4-5 , Stafford 2-3 , Sussex 4-5 , Warwick 7-5 , Yorkshire ( West )

22-19 , North Wales and Salop 5-3 , South Wales 3-1 . The others remain the same . Girls—London 79-73 , Hants 13-14 , Herts 2-3 , Kent 13-14 , Lancashire ( East ) 9-8 , Lancashire ( West ) 7-6 , Northumberland 1-2 , Somerset 7-5 , Stafford 2-4 . There are some Provinces whioh ought to bestir themselves , and bear their fair share of the expense , and not leave all the burden upon others' shoulders . Yours fraternally , P . M . 1607 . 8 Thurloe-place , S . W ., 20 th October 1884 .

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books intended for Heview should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , Belvidere "Works , Hermes Hill , Pentonville , London , IT .

Principles of Physiognomical Hairdressing . With Illustrations . By Joseph Lichtonfeld , author of " Modern Hairdressing . " Published by the author , 39 Great Castle-street , Oxford Circus , London , W . Price 2 s 6 d .

PEOPLE will not unnaturally ask " What next ? when they read so formidable a title in connection with so ordinary a process as that of dressing the hair . Many indeed will be inclined to ridicule the idea of hairdressing being treated scientifically . However , if they will only be at the trouble of reading Mr . Lichtenfeld ' s treatise , they will

probably see good reason for retracting their opinion . Mr . Liohtenfeld has worked his subject up admirably . The reader will have no difficulty in following him , his instructions are so reasonable and so clearly expressed . The illustrations are numerous and well executed , and as they and the letter-press have been fitted together in such a

manner that each illustrates the other perfectly , ifc will be a task of some difficulty for the reader not to master the author's theory . We commend the work , especially to our fair friends , for whose special benefit inded Mr . Lichtenfeld appears to have reduced his ideas to a regular and sensible system .

Metropolitan Chapter of Improvement . —The weekly convocation of this Chapter was held on Tuesday evening , 21 st inst ., at the White Hart , Cannon Street , and notwithstanding its removal from its old and well-known quarters afc the Jamaica Tavern , so far from suffering from its removal additional interest is felt in its prosperity , as is evinced by the large numbers who attend and the new

members constantly added to that honourable roll of those embraced In this supreme degree . This may readily be accounted for , as in this Chapter all who aspire to distinction in this degree , by attending to the pure instruction here freely given , cannot fail to attain to the highest honours which this snpreme degree can confer . Companion Brown is the talented Preceptor , and his genial manners , nofc less than

his intelligence , renders instruction in thi .-i Chapter anything but an irksome acquirement . On Tnesday last the Officers were Comps . Daniel Z ., Smart H ., George J ., Wells S . N ., and Webb P . S . ; also Comps . Beedell , Forss , Fraser , Anderson , Powell , Veal , Roberts , Haynes , Brown and Langdon . The ceremony of exaltation was rehearsed , Comp . Roberts being the candidate . A telegram was

received from Comp . Child ( who was to have oconpied the chair of Z . ) , expressing his inability to be present . A very cordial vote of thanks was unanimously given to Comp . Beedall for having presented to fche Chapter cards announcing fche meeting , and also the time and place . There being no further business , the Chapter was closed and the convocation adjourned until Tuesday , the 28 th inst .

HOLLOWAY S PILLS . —Tho blood being tho very essence of health and life , it is most essential that , it should bo thoroughly purified before tho depressing influences of winter display themselves . Those Pills will accomplish this purification in a safe nnd satisfactory manner , and put the circulation in that desirable condition which alone can rightly form flesh , bono , mussel , nerve and skin

. Capricious nppetites , weak digestions , torpid livers , and irregular bowels are corrected by this potent medicine , which may bo truly said to induce " a sane mind in a sound body . " Holloway ' R Pills possess the remarkable property of cleansing without weakening . While purifying , they are strengthening and adding to those enjoyments of life -which health and vigour can alone bestow ,