Laying The Foundation Stone Of The New Docks At Ayr.

of ignorance , such persons canuofe sometimes understand tho nice distinction between words which , possessing nearly a similar sound , have yet the most contradictory meaning . " Parrot-like " is hardly the proper term to apply to the elocutionary exercise they attempt , for the result is a miserable travestie of grand and inspiriting language which is more characteristic of the mischievous propensities

of the ape . If no other good can be done in pursuance of my so-called pet scheme , " uniformity of working , " at least the minds of many brethren may be led to give consideration to the necessity for preserving our ritual and lectures from ridicule , and if nothing beyond this results , the labour of your correspondents will not be thrown away .

Ifc may indeed help to overcome the powerful barriers of prejudice , conceit , obtuseness and obstinacy , to which our Bro . Gottheil refers , and eventually shorten that word impossibility , which I dislike so much , by its first syllable . " He who perseveres may ultimately overcome all difficulties , " so we are taught ; so do many of us believe . We'll " learn to labour and to wait . "

Meanwhile Preceptor No 1 says " The hardest bodies polish by " attrition . " Preceptor No . 2 says "by collision , " and again the former says , " They travelled East in search of knowledge , and West to promulgate the same , " whilst the latter says " they travelled West to propagate the same . " In respect of both these cases , —" Which is correct ? Yours fraternally , Olapham , 25 th September 1876 . P . M ., P . Z .

Uniformity Of Working.

UNIFORMITY OF WORKING .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BKO . —I am glad to see that the question of uniformity of ritual is again engaging the attention of some of our most active working Masons . It is a subject that , in my bumble sphere , I have tried to promote . While fully agreeing with the opinions expressed by both " Q " and Bro . Gottheil on the question raised by

P . M ., P . Z ., I must slightly differ from the concluding remarks of Bro . G ., as my experience has shown me that , at any rate in comparatively limited circles , their attempts have not proved entire and unmitigated failures . On the contrary , I have seen several examples of great successes in the localities were a few earnest brothers set themselves zealously to the work in a kind and brotherly spirit ,

without which I agree that failure may be expected . However , it is something to have the best wishes of so eminent a Brother and practical Preceptor as Bro . Gottheil , for even that will help on the good work to a considerable extent . But there is another subject of still greater importance than even uniformity of ritual , great though I fully believe that to be , and that

is , Uniformity of Working . The mere difference of the words iu which the necessary instructions are conveyed to our candidates , or the precise answer that should be given to every question in the lectures , sinks into comparative insignificance when we take into consideration the differences that exist in the different modes that are employed in giving the

batteries ! taking the steps ' . ! and even in showing the signs ! 11 In your impression of the 23 rd inst ., you speak with commendation of the way in which Bro . Abbott translated the French mode of working to tho Confidence Lodge of Instruction . Not having been privileged to bo present , of course I can say nothing of the way in which it was done ; but old standards in Masonic ceremonies , as Bros .

Meggy and Stevens , certified to its correctness . If it was like the French work that I have seen , I think the brethren who wero present will agree with me that so far as the Universality of Masonry is concerned there is room for improvement if we desire uniformity of working . But we need not confine ourselves to France to find out these differ .

ences . Go to some of our own country Lodges , cross the Atlantic , or run over to Dublin , to say nothing of the lesser Irish towns , or visit Scotland , and yon will find that the modes of working are various under each different Constitution , and that even in adjoining towns and sometimes in the Lodges in the same town there is a diversity of work . As an humble Masonio student I hold this to be a grievous

error , and one that demands onr most strenuous efforts to correct . But for a work of this magnitude to be performed we want the assistance of the leading authorities of each Masonic jurisdiction , to co-operate either by conferences or in whatever other way they may deem best . This they will not do till the body afc largo see the necessity for the step , and I trust these few lines may enable you to work upon the right tack to bring about this result . Fraternally yours , G . W . W .

Pstcuo AT THE EGYPTIAN HALL . —Visitors to London who aro fond of the marvellous , -need only go to the Egyptian Hall , and see the performance of Messrs . Maskelyne and Cooke , to havo their powers of woudoring tried to their fullest extent , not only by tho surprising exposition of so-called spiritualistic manifestations , but most of all by the performance of the little lay figure , " Psycho , " which has been

brought to such a pitch of perfection as to thoroughly eclipse all previous automata ever manufactured or thought of . Its most striking peculiarity is not the mere movement of its arms or head , which could of coarse be effected by clock-work or other machinery , but these movements aro so combined and regulated as to allow of no explanation except that tho figure is possessed of mind as well as

matter , or that it is mysteriously governed by some outside force , with which it communicates independently of electricity or any other force yet known to men of science , who aro as unable to solve the mystery as aro any of the simple and unlearned pleasure-seekers who go in such largo numbers to see this latest triumph of man ' s ngenuifcy . '

Reviews.

REVIEWS .

All Books iuteuded for Review should be addressed to the Editor of The Freemason ' s Chronicle , 67 Barbican , E . C . Early History and Transactions of the Grand Lodge of Free ancl

Accepted Masons of the State of Nexo York , 1781-1815 . Part V . Published by authority of the Grand Lodge . Granted to Kane Lodge , No . 454 , June 1874 . New York ; Masonio and Miscellaneous Publishers , No . 2 Bleecker-streefc j D . Sickels and Co ., Managers . 1876 . THE period embraeed within this part extends from the month of November 1797 to the end of May 1800 , during which time the Eoyal Art may be said to have made very satisfactory progress . True , certain troubles were caused , notably through an attempted introduction of foreign authority within the limits of tho New York jurisdiction . The attempt , however , was summarily repressed . Wo

have , further , a record of the proceedings taken by Grand Lodge in memory of the illustrious Washington . A considerable number of Warrants for new Lodges are issued , so that the influence of Free , masonry is slowly but surely being extended , afc the oame time that the work of consolidation is being prosecuted earnestly and with unabated vigour . One other point is noteworthy , thafc Bro . Living .

ston still remains in office as Grand Master , having held the reins of government during a period , thus far , of sixteen years . After these general remarks , we pass , as in the previous parts , to the details which compose this portion of the record , noting the more salient points in regular chronological order . Tho first record of any interest is contained in the minutes for the

6 th December 1797 , wherein ifc is mentioned that a letter had been received from a certain Huet Lachelle , styling himself a Dep . G . M . under the Grand Lodgo of France , and requesting permission to visit the Grand Lodge , either in such capacity or in his private character of a Master Mason . But D . G . M . Morton , having stated he had heard , on good authority , thafc this Huet Lachelle had granted a

Warrant for the establishment of a Lodge , by the name of " L Uniou Franchise , " in the city of New York ; a Committee is appointed to wait on the said Lachelle , in order to inform him of his invasion of the rights of tho State Grand Lodge , and declining to receive him till he pledges himself , in writing , " to revoke the powers granted by him in the said Warrant . " Lachene , however , when the Committee

call upon him , declines to revoke the Warrant he had granted , claiming the right to issue such instruments when and where he pleased , but refusing to exhibit this authority for exercising such right . In tho result Lachelle , his associates of tho Lodge "L ' Union Francaise , " and certain dissatisfied members of " L'Unite Americaine , " are inhibited from attending any of the Lodges in New York

iurisdiction . The report of the Committee appointed to inquire as to tho rank of Union Lodge of Albany is agreed to , tho report fixing tho rank of the said Lodge from 26 th February 1765 , the date of its first Provincial Warrant . A number of documents relating to dissensions existing in Lodgo "L'Unite Americaine , " are likewise snb . mitted at this Grand Lodge . It was further agreed to hold an extra

meeting , to consider the action taken by certain brethren in reference to a matter of grave importance connected with tho foregoing differences . Among the other business transacted , we note the grant ; of a petition from " Paine ' s Lodge , " No . 27 , to change its name to " Hiram Lodge , " No . 27 , the reason assigned being " the numerous inconveniences they labour under , from the Lodge bearing tho

name of a man who , since thafc took placo , has rendered himself odious by his indecent attacks on Christianity . A petition from West Chester Lodgo , No . 46 , to change its place of meeting to some more convenient placo in the county is ordered to stand over . At tho extra meeting called , as above , on the 12 th of the month , the brethren , members of L'Unite "

Americaine , summoned , as well as Lachelle and his associates , are summarily dealt with in the manner already explained . At another extra meeting , however , held on the 18 th , a petition of twenty-eighfc members of L'Unite Americaine is read , detailing the origin and circum - stances of the recent dissensions in their Lodge and their association with Lachelle . They expressed their readiness to acknowledge the

jurisdiction of the State Grand Lodge , and solicit permission to meet together as a Lodge . Thereupon it is resolved to re-instate them in their Masonic rights conditionally on their surrendering the warrant received by them from Lachelle , and also on their complying with sneh disposition of the property and papers of the Lodge L'Unite Americaine as Grand Lodge in its wisdom may direct . The

suspension of another brother mixed up with these differences is likewise removed , on explanation and duo submission made . At a third extra meeting , held on tho 25 th , the Committee appointed to report on this prolonged disturbance detail at considerable length tho various steps they have taken . They announce that Lachello ' s warrant has been returned into the hands of the P . G . M . of San Domingo , who had

given it , and that finding the antagonism between tho W . M . of L'Unite Americaine and his supporters on tho ono hand , and his opponents on tho other , irreconcileable , they have constituted the latter into a Lodge . These stops are approved , and a dispensation for six mouths to the Lodge thus erected is granted . It is also directed that the minutes of this new Lodge of L'Unite Americaine

be kept both in English and French . A dispensation for the day only is likewise granted to certain brethren confined in the city jail for debt to meet as a Lodge and celebrate St . John ' s Day . Ou the 7 th March 1798 , petitions for warrants to erecfc three new-Lodges aro granted , namely , for the'Adoniratn , Rensselaer , and Sharon

Felicity Lodges respectively . A fourth petition for a new Lodge , to be called the Eoman Lodge , is referred to the Grand Presiding Officers . It is further ordered thafc twenty shillings bo paid in future for a Grand Lodge Certificate , the fee to be the perquisite of the Grand Secretary , and also that the Grand Treasurer sub . scribe in the name of the Grand , fcodge . for tea shares iu the City