Original Correspondence.

THE PROVINCES AND THE CHARITIES . To thc Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In continuation of the statistics published in your issues of the Sth and 15 th November last , I send herewith the result as regards the Girls' School for the year 1 S 79 . The tables are made up in the same way as last year , but

for the information of any who did not see those I may repeat that the three columns give respectively the total number of lodges in the province , the total number of life votes possessed by individuals and lodges in the province , and , lastly , the average per lodge which those figures give . 'The provinces are placed in order of merit . The number after the name of the province refers to the numerical position last year . Fractions of - ] - are estimated as -. r .

From this I claim to deduce about the fairest available estimate of the relative amount of support awarded to the Charities by the several provinces . The results have been arrived at with care , but I do not claim infallibility . Errors may have crept in ; if so , I shall be ready to acknowledge any that may be pointed out . c . c " . = 3 -- -J a a-S | -g . 3-= - %% 4 * " * ° S £ ' £ £ ° .

1 . West Yorkshire ( 1 ) ... 6 G 1539 23 "; 2 . Gloucestershire ( 12 ) ... 14 251 18 3 . Sussex ( 3 ) 24 42 G 17 " " * 4 . Kent ( 2 ) 44 734 lfi-l-5 . Oxfordshire ( C ) ... 9 146 \ 6 \ Ci . Warwickshire ( 8 ) ... 30 476 iG 7 . Staffordshire ( 14 ) ... 23 317 14

S . Wilts ( 4 ) 10 137 UT 9 . South Wales , Eastern ( 5 ) . 15 200 13 I 10 . Herts ( 17 ) 11 146 13 Sn . Surrey ( 7 ) 19 24 S 13 I 12 . Somerset ( 15 ) 22 27 S 12 $ 13 . Lincolnshire ( 11 ) ... 20 251 12 " * 14 . Alonmouthshire ( 16 ) ... S 97 12 }

15 . Berks and Bucks ( 10 ) iS 209 II * ; - i ( 5 . Bristol ( 19 ) S 91 11 i 17 . Hants and I . of W . ( 13 ) 32 33 S 10 ' f iS . Durham ( iS ) 25 2 C 3 10 'f 19 . Norths and Hunts ( 9 ) 9 82 g-J-20 . Worcestershire ( 28 ) ... 10 90 9 21 . South Wales , Western ( 20 ) 9 75 S . V

22 . Dorset ( 25 ) 13 10 G 8 } 23 . Herefordshire ( 29 ) ... 4 33 S | 24 . Essex ( 22 ) 19 154 8 . J-25 . Aliddlescx ( 23 ) 30 239 8 2 G . Suffolk ( 21 ) 20 151 7 } 27 . Leicester & Rutland ( 2 G ) 10 74 7 * . - 28 . Cheshire ( 30 ) 37 2 G 5 7 I

29 . Lancashire , East ( 24 ) 91 606 (>\ 30 . Norfolk ( 27 ) 16 94 6 31 . Notts ( 33 ) ... ... 11 57 5 V 32 . Yorkshire , N . and E . ( 31 ) 2 G 134 5 ^ 33 . N . Wales and Salop ( 34 ) 25 123 5 34 . Cornwall ( 40 ) ... 28 134 5 35 . Devon ( 3 G ) . ... 47 222 4 * } 3 G . Cumberland and

Westmorland ( 32 ) ... 19 90 4 J . 37 . Lancashire , VV . ( 37 ) ... Si 364 4 . V 38 . Northumberland ( 35 ) ... iS 77 4 I 39 . Bedfordshire ( 38 ) ... 5 14 3 40 . Cambridgeshire ( 39 ) ... 4 11 2 J 41 . Channel Islands ( 41 ) ... 11 23 2 | 42 . Derbyshire ( 42 ) ... 19 32 2 \ 43 . Isle of Alan ( 43 ) ... 3 00

Totals . 9 G 3 9397 10 Yours fraternally , A PAST MASTER .

UNLAWFUL JEWELS IN CRAFT LODGES AND CHAPTERS . To thc Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — A few days since , when present at an installation in a Royal Arch chapter in one of the northern provinces , I noticed the Al . E . Z . elect had adorned himself with two massive jewels belonging to a Alark province . Another

companion , afterwards appointed Assist . Sty ., was resplendent with Knight Templar , Knight of Malta , and Red Cross Knight , as also Alark jewels , in addition to Craft and Arch decorations . Now , leaving it a debateable point whether King Solomon , in all his glory , was ever arrayed like one of these companions , I think Installing Officers

ought to stoutly forbid any such breach of the Constitutions appertaining to "pure and ancient Alasonry . " Let the companions in question try such conduct on with the Grand Tyler or . Grand Janitor , should they ever visit" Freemasons ' Hall ; the lesson might bc useful . Fraternally yours , EN REGLE .

AIASONIC REGALIA . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother . — Referring to Bro . Budden's letter , which appeared in your issue of the 17 th inst ., in thc interests of the Craft I should strongly advise Bro . Budden , before attempting to set other brethren right , to thoroughly inform himself on the subject he ventures upon . I not only think with him , that

" to Alasons with a moderate share of experience the Constitutions on regalia are sufficiently explicit , " but , further , that thc Book of Constitutions on this subject is thoroughly explicit to men of even very limited capacity , and cannot be misunderstood even in the absence of the useless addition of "drawings of aprons , " as suggested by him . If Bro . Budden , whom , 1 assume , is a " Alason with a

moderate share of experience , " will refer to the Book of Constitutions under the head of "Aprons , " he will find as follows : "The Alasters and Past Alasters of lodges to wear , in place of the three rosettes on the Master Alason's apron , perpendicular lines upon horizontal lines , thereby forming three several sets of two right angles , etc . ; "

not , as he puts it , "levels tn blue instead of rosettes . " The word level is not once made use of , nor are these emblems intended to represent levels . If they were so intended they would not only be described as such , but would be made complete with a string and bob . Further , the level in no way refers to the W . M . or P . AL I , although a P . M . and a Alason of over thirty years '

standing , cannot attempt to give any explanation as to what these emblems allude to , as they have long been a puzzle to myself , and one I have never been able to solve , although having sought for an explanation of them from many brethren of considerable experience and research , Bro . Hughan included , and from whom I have in my possession a letter on thc subject .

Bro . Budden quotes the fifth section of the First Lecture , for what purpose I am unable to guess , as there is in it no mention whatever of either the apron or the emblems alluded to . As to emblems of office being worn on thc aprons , I can only express my astonishment at a question being raised regarding the position in which they should be placed , as reference has only to be made to the aprons of Grand

Lodge and Prov . Grand Lodges todecide the question . In addition , any manufacturer of Masonic regalia could have decided the question without the necessity of rushing into print . As an old Mason I look on such discussions as these in public print as not only useless but worse than useless , as they simply tend to make us look ridiculous in the eyes of the uninitiated . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours truly , April 21 . P . AL , P . Z .

THE LATE BRO . AIICHAEL HAYDON . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As one who for many years had the pleasure of Bro . Haydofi ' s acquaintance and friendship , and from whom I received the first oflice I held in Freemasonry in the Domatic Lodge , in the year when Bro . Haydon occupied the

Alaster ' s chair , I feel grateful to you for the kindly notice of him which appeared in your impression of the 24 th ult . 'There is , however , an error in it , which , doubtless , you will be desirous to correct . You say that he " brought to a successful issue many of the most important cases of fraud and forgery which have happened in the present age , viz ., thc robbery of gold bars ( i . e . gold dust ) value i 14 , 000 ,

between London and Pans , on the South-Eastern Railway , in which Lester , Pearce , Burgess , and Agar were connected and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment . " The name of Lester should be Tester , but what is of more importance is that Agar was not one ol those convicted of this robbery , but , on the contrary , vvas the principal and almost the only witness against them . Agar had been previously convicted

of presenting a forged cheque at a banking house , and was sentenced to be transported for life . Before he was tried he requested Pearce , with whom he had been long associated in planning the gold dust robbery , to take care of a woman named Fanny Kay , with whom he had been on intimate terms , and informed him that he had a good sum invested in Turkish Bonds , and the dividends derived from them

would be sufficient to maintain her comfortably for life , Pearce promising that his request should be faithfully complied with . A few months , however , had only elapsed when this supposed friend of Agar treated this poor destitute woman with the greatest indignity and insults , utterly disregarding the solemn promises he had made , and evidently only bent upon converting everything that he could lay his

hands upon to his own use . In the course of time , according to prison regulations , Agar , who had now been sent to Dartmoor , vvas allowed to receive a letter , in which Fanny Kay detailed to him thc scandalous treatment she had received from his supposed friend Pearce , and this was further strengthened by a personal communication , through the interposition of the Governor of Dartmoor Prison , that he

was able to obtain from her . Upon this , finding out what a traitor Pearce had been , Agar requested the Governor to obtain the attendance of Mr . Rees , thc then solicitor to the South-Eastern Railway Company , to whom he detailed every step which Tester , Pearce , and Burgess had taken to effect the gold dust robbery , and which occupied twelve months before they could carry it into effect . Bro . Haydon

materially assisted in taking these three men into custody , who were tried and convicted at thc Central Criminal Court , and Agar gave his evidence in such a direct and straightforward manner against them , defying the most searching cross-examination , that it drew forth an observation from the presiding judge that he only regretted that a man with such splendid abilities had not used them in a right

direction , for had he done so there vvas no telling to what a point of eminence he might have arrived . The prisoners were found guilty , when Pearce , not being a servant of the company , was sentenced to two years' imprisonment only , and Tester and Burgess to transportation for fifteen years . By a strange fiction in the law , the City authorities obtained

possession of the Turkish Bonds , under the plea that it vvas the money of a convicted felon , and thus became forfeited , paying the amount of them into their own coffers , and thus vvas poor Fanny Kay thrown destitute upon the world , and soon quitted a life that to her had been only one of misery , wretchedness , and despair . I thought it only right that you should know all these facts , and remain , yours faithfully and fraternally , A P . M ., No . 177 . April 26 th .

RED CROSS OF ROA 1 E AND CONSTANTINE—A QUERY . To thc Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will any one , high in authority , kindly enlighten me to whom and where to write for Grand Conclave certificates of the above Order ? In the conclave to which I belong three or four Sir Knights have for some time past

been waiting fortheir patents of knighthood . VVe are also anxious to pay our dues . I have several timai written letters on other business connected with the Order ; but such letters were either returned or unacknowledged . Our Recorder and Treasurer make the same complaint . I trust I may not be charged with insubordination if I hint that the Supreme Grand Council requires rousing up . Yours , in faith and fraternity , P . S . No . 3 G .

ROYAL AIASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION ELECTIONS IN MAY . Dear Bro . Kenning , — If any of our good brethren have voting papers for the Benevolent Institution to spare , men or widows , they will assist materially some very deserving cases if they will . 'send them to me at 25 a , Norfolk crescent , Hyde-park , W ., or to Bro . A . Tisley , 1 , Clifford ' s Inn , Fleet-street , E . C . I am , yours very fraternally , A . F . A . WOODFORD .

AIASONIC NAMES OF THE DEITY . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly correct two slight errors which have crept into my letter concerning " Alasonic Names of the Deity " in last week ' s Freemason : 1 . Instead of "the

word Yahveh is to be taken in the meaning of ' He causes to come , ' or 'He brings into existence , '" it must read thus ; "The word Yahveh is to be taken in the meaning of 'He causes to come into existence , ' or ' He brings into existence . ' " 2 . A part of my signature is incorrect , and I therefore sign more correctly . Yours fraternally , JOSEPH STRAUSS .

Chaplain and S . D . of Harmony , 600 . Alanningham , April 22 nd .

THE MASONIC A 1 AGAZINE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As we are approaching the end of the sixth volume of the "Alasonic Alagazine , " I wish to be permitted in the Freemason to call the attention of my brethren generally to the fact , and to invoke for the new years of 18 S 0-S 1

a considerable increase of subscribers . The publisher has kept up the " Alasonic Magazine" chivalrously and loyally , in the hopes of a better day for Alasonic literature , and as vve arc beginning a new volume I venture in your columns to ask for the cheerful patronage of many who seem to be unconscious of its very existence , of those who have both leisure and means to read and assist such a desirable and

useful undertaking . It only requires a little general sympathy and continued aid to render the "Alasonic Alagazine" perfectly self-supporting , and I do trust that as we are commencing a new volume we may be cheered by many new subscribers and zealous contributors . If the " Alasonic Magazine" is to become a thoroughly

first-class publication , as it ought to be , and as it may be with 1000 nevvsubscribers . it would commence a new lease of Alasonic usefulness and literary embellishment . The publisher only wants to be assured of the undoubted support of the Craft to make it still more worth y of their kindly patronage and regular perusal . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally ,

THE EDITOR OF THE "AIASONIC A 1 AGAZINE . " [ VVe may add that the five bound volumes constitute very good reading , and are a very suitable present or purchase for thc individual or the lodge library . —ED . F . M . J

A CORRECTION . To thc Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In your leader of the 24 th ult ., under the head of "Stewards' Returns Girls' Festival , 1 SS 0 , " there is an

omission which I feel sure is unintentional ; still , when amounts areso prominently specified in their order of merit , it is but due to say " Worcestershire with £ 364 7 s . " is not " succeeded by Oxfordshire , " but rather b y Gloucestershire with £ 358 is ., which vvas left out entirely .

I am , yours fraternally , A GLOUCESTERSHIRE STEWARD , AND V . P . [ Entirely an oversight , for which vve apologise . —ED . ]

THE GIRLS' FESTIVAL . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I think a good many brethren would be surprised if I had not acted as a Steward for the Girls' School

Festival when Prince Leopold vvas presiding , so perhaps you may think it well to state that the " Rev . Pickering " who is said to have been Steward for 357 , on the Oxfordshire list , is really , Yours truly and fraternally , H . ADAIR PICKARD , P . G . C .

A QUERY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Can you enlighten me as to the following point of relative Masonic rank ?

Bros . T . and L . arc both members of Lodges A . and U . Bro . T . is W . AL of Lodge A ., and is not in oflice in Lodge U . Bro . L . is W . AL of Lodge U ., and is not in office in Lodge A . What relative rank do they hold when attending the

lodges of whom they arc not Alasters ? Do they take precedence of the I . P . M . or of any P . M . of such lodges ? Yours fraternally , H . H . L . [ Certainly not . They have no rank in either of the other lodges except that of P . M . —ED . ]

CLOSELY TILED . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — From an incident that I witnessed latel y I feci bound , for the good of our grand old Craft , to ask attention to the above subject . I should not , however , be in Alasonic order in asking such a question literally , even in a Alasonic

journal , but being convinced of its importance everywhere , I venture to ask it in the Freemason , in a manner that will be readily understand by Masons : The door may bc , but in the true meaning of the question , is every part ofthe lodge ? All Alasons ought to be " operative" as well as "speculative" in this matter , and really p rove our lodges , chapters , and lodges of instruction secure

in this first principle of our ceremonies . In these days of increase of numbers in our ranks , which is quite natural as the population increases , I should like to hear of the most effectual remed y against this danger , for it is not only an element of destruction to ourOrder , but is very unsatisfactory to all who expend time and labour to learn our ceremonies orally , and find this subject neglected . Yours fraternally , A COUNTRY PAST A 1 ASTER .

Reviews.

Reviews .

JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTS . This useful weekly journal contains in its last issucamost interesting paper by Mr . Holman Hunt , R . A ., on present painting materials . THE VOICE OF A 1 ASONRY . This well edited Masonic periodical deserves both patronage and perusal by all reading Masons .