Notices Of Meetings.

Bros . A . E . Hallwood W . M . Chairman , W . H . P . iukuoll Treasurer , j W . Mefoalf Sec , were complete aul satisfactory iu every detail .

Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

— : o : — HOLIDAY HAUNTS . To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CUUONICLK . DEAR SIB AND BKOTHER , —Holding , as I trust I always shall , a lively and vivid recollection of many happy hours wo have spent together in seeking for green holds and pleasant places , I desire to send YOU a few rambling " notes" as to a recent visit I pdd to a

locality with which I know yon aro familiar . In yonr journal a fewyears bick yon had something to say ab > ufc t . ho Clydach Valley , ami the many features of in ' erest it presents to thoso tourists who aro not afraid of footing a rough road , and who at tho same timo possess the physique and energy to tlo a little climbing . As you aro well aware

I havo known tho Clydach district lor nearly thirty years , and have recollections of its surroundings that I can meditate on with satisfaction , while afc ihe sumo time my experiences havo uot always been of so agreeable a nature . Still , iu this life we must take the ups with tho downs ; it only remains for us to endeavour to make

our burdens as lightsome as we can , and whenever it lies in our power so to adjust the weight of trouble our neighbour has to carry thafc he may nofc have to fall wearied by fcho wayside . Well , then , let me without further preface tell you that on the occasion under notice I made Ab-rgavenny my headquarters . Now , Sir , vvhon you

and I first visited tho Clydach together there was no railroad to take us on to Brynmawr ; if you had to visit that now bustling place you must "post" ifc , or exercise your pedestrian powers , unless you were content to bo jostled almost tu death in a farmer ' s cart , which in too many cases was not ro loleut with tho scout of roses . Now

things have materially changed ; fcho London and North Western Railway Company , which somo twenty years back acquired by purchase fche single line of railway constructed by the lato Crawshaw Bailoy , I meau the line connecting Abergavenny with Brynmawr , have added a second lino of rails , aud the system is now , and indeed

has been for years , in full force , irains run at short intervals during tbe day , and thoso who desire it can break their journey afc either of the three stations , viz . Govilau , Gilweru , or Clydach—whichever may suit them best for the special locality they desire to inspect . With respect to Abergavenny , so much has been written about it

during tho last two centuries that I need scarcely add a word ; I will therefor- - nvro !* " * ay to those who have never visited this pretty li '"' . . : ..- ¦ ¦ . n ^ ' t . iii r , ' a , r it is surround .-d by some of the finest scenery iu th- wor i iv ho as lega'ils it .- < radwav facilities no district could bo boner M rviced ; i- is literally accessible , from ulinout every

import . oi di .- 'ru-t in ihe United kingdom . Wolf . Sir , if you will pe .-iini me , I will ar , once proceed to the extreme point I have started to touch upon , end te-k your readers to accompany mo to Brynmawr . Now Brynmawr , as you leave fcho railway station , does not present an iu » i : iug aspect , it has ; :, steiile aud barren appearance as regards

vegetuion , but has also every indication of a bee hive in full vigour . But let . me rpiote from a few " Local Notes" kindly placed at my disposal : — "Tho town is on the confines of Brecmishii o , where the parishes of Llangyniiier , Fjltmelly , aud Ll'mgiittock , iu Brcconshire , ad Abervs'n > fh , r > M'iiimoi : ' .. lishirr , met . Ir , is built on a

hill , and is the highest town in Sooth Wales , being l / J-JO fvt above Hi- h-v [ ,, | ih ,. nl -a .. it is MlUated about half-way bet . vveoi Men live aud Ab .-rguvoiiny , distance from L , > : ulo : i 170 miles . The hind wh eh is composed of various sfciwa of cord and mine , is owned b y the Duke of Beaufort , who receives an annual rental for the same .

On t < sides run ihe rivers Clydach aud Ebbwy-Fychiin . The former at urn-s running down at a mighty speed , empties itself into the FJsk , now Abergavenny . The hitter , after swelling various ponds , finds its way to the Channel near Newport , while tho Ebbw and Moelliyn Mountains stand out in bold relief on the outskirts of the town . "

However , it is only with Brynmawr iu connection with fcho Valley of the Clydach that I now have to deal , and therefore beyond mentioning tho fact that it has many features of interest worth y of inspection in its immediate neighbourhood , I will not say more than that , its old name was Gwain-yr-Helygan , the field of willows , nnd

tnafc in olden days the Ancient Britons here held their courts aud cmncils . Now let us repair to the eastern snbnrb of tho town ; it is lu re that the charming Cl ydach has its rise . The first feature of i < a « e . st , to ¦ - ' ¦ hich I may direct your ve : ui < iv ' s -attention is the Pont Harry Isaac Fall . Yon , Sir , know it well , and you will agree with me

tldar , any attempt to describe its beauties must result in failure . With tho sun's rays full up : > n it its glistening sprays glint like diamonds . While in wet seasons the fall of water is naturall y of a grander character , —the snpplv never fails , oven during tho driest summer . Nest we come to the delightful " Fairy Glen . " Well I

never yefc m- ? fc a Welshman who claimed Shakespeare for a felloi-,-conntryman , bnt every student will admit thttfc our immortal bard knew a great deal about Walt's , and when v / e hear it asserted b y men for whose opinions we entertain every respect that Shakespeare had tlie Fairy Glen in the Clydach Valley in view when he outlined

the scene for his play of the Midsummer Night ' s Dream , wo fool bound to attach somo importance to fche fact . Bufc of this something might be said by the present Rector of Merthyr a gentleman who knows more in reference to the legends of the Cl ydach Valley than perhaps any ono living . In any case tho tourist will

never ic ; r rct a vhifc he may bo induced to make to inspect the "Fairy Glen . " The next feature of interest we come across in tracing the source and progress of the river is the Fvnou-is-Vaen Springs . Here the water , icily cold , bn ' obk s up iu a ] . ur « -o circle licit ) muy be ucea , at nil jjua : joiiii of tho y ^ -v . \ the p . jor , tho inaiiusxl

Correspondence.

and tho halt , freely using theso cooling waters medicinally , A second spring , at this spot , possesses—so it is currently believed —especial curative properties for dimness of sight , and for many diseases the human cyo is subject to . Whatever virtues theso waters really . possss I am unable to decide , but I havo per .

sonally benefited by their use in a case of severe sprain , whou lotions innumerable had failed iu reducing the inflammation consequent thereupon . For drinking purposes also the water is excellent . Ifc acts as a mild aperient , bufc is very pleasant to the taste . Tho next feature of interest to

which I would draw attention is the Clydach Rapids . Your readers must remember that when starting from Brynmawr I abated we wero at the highest point iu South Wales ; wo havo now proceeded some threo miles , but fcho downward tendency has been a rapid one , consequently when we are asked to inspect tho " rapids "

we can promise thorn something worth looking on . Next wo come to tho Shady Dell ; hero tho tourist can rest , and if he has exhibited forethought can strengthen his inner man with refreshment ,

which by this time will doubtless be found acceptable . Then , forward , for the Rocky Pass and Caves , several of which hitter are to be found hereabout . To those who seek adventure I may say that those caves can bo traversed for cousiderablo distances—some assert for

miles , but for this I cannot personally vouch . However , those who desire to learu for themselves can do so . Let them , however , be accompanied by trustworthy guides , men accustomed to

" Tear in the dark at tho earth a heart ' s core . Such guides cau bo secured , and indeed wo recommend all who may visit this interesting locality to avail themselves of thoso who know its special characteristics . We next come to tho Sylvan Ghido , where ferns of infinite variety

abound . Hero the river becomes somewhat more steady in its course , and here it may be fairly said to be available for other onrpo .-os than mere motive power . Hereabouts , spots may be selected whuro a grateful bath may be secured without danger of being driven agaiust pieces of jagged rock . Wo aro now in sight of

tho Clydach Station , and by this time , if wo have dono justice co the many features of interest brought under notice , wo may feel inclined to mount the steep ascent which constitutes tho roadway to Clydach Station and there take train , with a view to completing our journey by rail .

Sir , if I cau find timo I will endeavour to give you , in a future letter , a few particulars as to other inducements offered to Tourists who may feel inclined to visit theso parts . There is ample railway accommodation ; the North Western Company offer their patrons special facilities . Quarters can be secured at perhaps oue-fourth of fche

charges made at so-called fashionable resorts , while good troufc and salmon fishing can be had by those who affect the gentle art . Wifch these advantages , to sav nothing of tho really bracing air of the

mountains , t yet hope to live to see the Clydach Valley better patronized by those who at present , year after year , prefer to spend their money amongst , foreigners , who have learned to look upon all tourists as legitimate game for plunder .

I am , Dear Sir aud Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , GTTl'IiLV . lf . P . H . —I may add thafc our good friend James F . Neat , of Beaufort Street , Brynmawr , has kindly promised to recommend qualified

guides to any party of Tourists who may write to him . You well know the interest Mr . Neat tukt . s iu this matter ; how energetic he has ever been , iu erecting seats , iu making suitable foot-paths and pioviding a bridge , in order to make the springs accessible . May he long be spared to continue the good work he so heartily enters upon .

Supreme Grand Chapter.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER .

A QUARTERLY Convocation of fche Supreme Grand Chapter will be held afc Freemasons' Hall , London , on Wednesday , the 1 st of August next , tit six o ' clock in the evening .

BUSINESS . The minutes of the lasfc Quarterly Convocation to be road for confirmation . THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES .

To the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England ,. Tho Committee of General Purposes bug to report that they havo examined tho accounts from tho 18 th April to the 17 th July 1883 , both inclusive , which they find to bo aa follows : — £ s d £ a d Balance Grand Chap- Purchase of £ 502 10 3

tor - - 735 2 11 2 F / 0 Consols „ Unappropriated ( to . 9 ij-g d ' Ji ) 7 5 Account - 2 G 0 13 7 Com-Snbsequeut Receipts- 387 17 6 ; mission 0 12 7 500 0 0 Disbursements during the quarter - 308 10 7 Balauce - - 313 ID 7 „ Unappropriated Account - 201 ? , 10

£ 1323 il 0 £ 1323 14 0 which balances arc in the Bank of England , Western Branch . The Committeo have try report thab thoy have received the following octitionti : —