Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

THE AGGRESSIONS OF THE GRAND CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND ON ENGLISH MARK MASONRY .

SIR AND BROTHER . —A curious document has lately come into my possession which throws considerable lig ht on the estimation in which the Grand Chapter of Scotland was held by the Grand Lodge of Scotland , as lately as 1818 , twenty-one years later than the date of the

present minute book of the Mark Lodge at Bolton . The notion of a modern body , so utterly repudiated by the Masonic authorities in Scotland , claiming to interfere with the antient and independent Mark Degree in England , is so

inexpressibly ridicuous , that one wonders the absurdity does not strike our worthy neighbours themselvesunless it is true , as Sidney Smith once said , that a surgical operation is necessary in order to j / et a joke into the head of a Scot . The following extracts will speak for themselves .

First comes a long remonstrance from the then newly established Grand Chaptei of Scotland , dated July 20 th , 1818 , to the Grand Lodge of Scotland , beginning thus' " Most Worshipful Grand Master and Brethren of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . —It is with

surprise we hear that a law has been passed by the Grand Lodge of Scotland , excluding from the rig ht of sitting or voting in that body , all Masons who may hold offices in Masonry that acknowledge a hig her degree than the three first . " Next comes the action taken by the Grand Master of Scotland on the memorial of the Grand

Chapter . At the quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , held in Freemasons' Hall , this 3 rd day of August , 1818—"The Grand Secretary stated that he had received a letter from a Mr . M . Pringle , Recorder

Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland , enclosing a communication , subscribed by certain persons as the 1 st , 2 nd , and 3 rd Most Excellent Grand Principals of the Supreme Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland ; Whereupon James Allan Maconochie , Esq ., R . W . Proxy for Mother

Lodge , Kilwinning , stated ; That as the Grand Lodge acknowledged no higher Degree or Order of Masonry , than that of St . John ' s , consisting of Apprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason ; and as the Grand Lodge had even by her standing laws , strictly prohibited all Masonic

communication with any such pretended higher Orders or Degrees , he would object to any such communication being either received or read . And accordingly he moved that the communication in question be rej . cted without reading . This motion was seconded by Bro . James Dallas ,

Esq ., R . W . Master of Canongate and Leith , Leith and Canongate Lodge . Bro . George Burnet , Esq ., R . W . Master of jCanongate Kilwinning Lodge , seconded by Bro . James Neilson , Esq ., R . W . Proxy for New Abbey Lodge , moved that the communication should be

read ; and the vote being put ' reject , ' or ' read , when 51 voted reject , and 32 read . The communication was therefore rejected b y a majority of 19 . " Yours fraternally , AN ENGLISH MARK MASTER .

BRO . A . M . SILBER , of the Tuscan Lodge fof the well-known firm of Silber and Fleming , Wood-street , City ) , has been elected an Associate of the Society of Civil Engineers . Last year that gentleman read a paper on a new description of light , which if carried out in railway's and places

where gas cannot be easil y obtained , will be a great boon , not only from the saving of expense , but also from the brilliancy of light exhibited . The various trials at several public places has been a great success ; and the very elaborate and talented paper read by him before the Societ y

was listened to with great attention , and that gentleman , it is hoped , will reap a reward , not •nly in an honorary sense , but also in a pecuniary one , which he so well deserves , not only from the simplicity of his invention , but also for the talent shown in its development .

Masonic Tidings.

Masonic Tidings .

BRITISH , FOREIGN , AND COLONIAL . TURK ' ISLAND . —The annual installation meeting of the Forth Lodge , No . 647 , ( E . C . ) washeldat the Masonic Hall , in Grand Turk , Turk ' s Island , when the W . M . elect , Bro . John T . Astwood ,

S . W ., having been regularly installed Right Worship ful Master for the ensuing year , was pleased to appoint the following brethren to be his officebearers ; vix : —Bros . C . R . Hinson , I . P . M .,

Treas ; James Maclean , S . W . ; Edwin J . Astwood , J . W . ; Joseph A . Gardiner , Sec . ; James W . Milbourne , S . D . ; Michle Victoria , J . D , ; Henry Kennedy , I . G . ; James Astwood , and T . J . Godet , Stewards ; Anthony Francis , Tyler .

CONSTANTINOPLE . —The Masonic Ball , ( for the benefit of tht poor of all kinds ) was held at the Greek Theatre , under the patronage of the Dist . G . M ., Bro . J . P . Brown , and under the auspices of the four lodges working under the

English constitution , was attended by upwards of 300 persons , and went off" with gre-at edut . The theatre was prettily decorated with flags and evergreens , and presented a brilliant lout ensemlUe .

In the intervals lig ht refreshments were served to the ladies . Dancing commenced shortl y after 9 p . m . and continued until five o ' clock in the morning .

A Masonic Lodge is in contemplation at Bagdad , in Mesopotamia , the supposed primitive abode of man , where there is , already , quite a number of Freemasons , among whom are some Persian Mussulmans . The Chief Minister of

the Shah of Persia , the Commander-in-chief of his army , and many other of his highest functionaries belong to the order . It is believed that a lodge will soon be founded at Teheran , the

capital of Persia , if , indeed , one does not already exist there , under the Grand Orient of France . Another lodge ( English ) is about to be founded in Jerusalem , the ancient city of Kings David and Solomon . The Consul of the United States

of America has taken the initiative in its formation . Besides a goodly number of resident brethren there , Jerusalem is annually visited by travellers of all faiths and nationalities , who are Freemasons ; thus the great order of universal

brotherhood , after making the circuit of the entire world , returns to the scene of its primitive creation , and the Temple of Solomon will once more shed light upon the footsteps of Freemasons .

The "Jerusalem Lodge" is to contain as much of the ancient fragments of the " Lodge of Solomon " as can be collected together . The cedars of Mount Lebanon will furnish its working tools ; Joppa and Baalbek will lend their aid in the

reconstruction of the edifice ; and Hiram , King of Tyre , live in the memories of those who humbly imitate his faithful career in life , as well as in his faith . Notwithstanding the misconceptions existing

among many Mussulmans of Turkey regarding the principles of Freemasonry , it gradually recommends itself to their better opinion , It tends very much to dispossess them of their great animosity against men of all other religious bodies

than their own . It is to this hostility that may be attributed the slow progress made amongst Mussulmans in mental culture and improvement , evenin the arts and scinces of eother peoples and countries . Everything , therefore , which tends

to dispel it , must be a great advantage to them ; and it is only when it has been removed , and religious hostility fides away before the genial

light and warmth of one universal brotherhood , that there will exist not only harmony between the Moslem and men of all other faiths , but a sincere sympathy among them .

Nova Scotia.

NOVA SCOTIA .

HALIFAX . —St . James ' s Lodge ( No . 44 S ) . —On Tuesday , January , , 30 th , the annual festival of this lodge was celebrated at the Freemasons ' Hall , St . John ' s Place , Halifax , where there was a numerous attendance of brethren . Prior to the banquet the lodge was opened in the three

degrees by Bro . J . Ibbertson , W . M ., and after the transaction of business Bro . W . F . Wilkinson was duly installed W . M . for the ensuing year by Bro . Normanton , P . M ., P . P . G . S . D ., assisted by ^ Bro . F . Waddington , P . M . (" of the Saville Lodge , Elland , who conducted the installation

ceremony in an excellent maimer . The W . M . then proceeded to invest his officers , Bro . R . jessop being conducted to S . W . ' s chair . Bro . A . Mattbewson , J . W . ; Bro . T . Whitaker , S . D . ; Bro . Taylor Whcelhouse , J . D . ; Bro . C . T . Rhodes , I . G . ; and Bro . I . Greenwood , P . M ..

Tyler . The lodge having been closed the brethren dined together in the dining-hall , the W . M . presiding , being surrounded b y Bros . H . Gaukroger , W . M . of Probity , No . 61 ; W . H . D . Horsfall , W . M . of De Warren Lodge , and several visiting brethren . The loyal and masonic

toasts were proposed by the chairman , that of the Provincial Grand Master and Officers of the Province being responded to by Bro . Normanton , P . Prov . G . S . D ., and Bro . Fred . Whitaker , Prov . G . S . D . The "W . M . of St . James ' s Lodge " was proposed by Bro . Ibbertson , P . M ., and

received with hearty cheers , to which the chairman responded . The " Installing Officers " was proposed by the chairman , responded to by Bros . Normanton and Waddington . The " Past Masters of St . James ' s Lodge" was proposed by Bro . Mattbewson , to " which Bros . E .

Walshaw , P . M . ; Normanton , P . M . ; Lupton , P . M ., and Ibbertson , P . M ., responded . "Our Visiting Brethren" was introduced b y Bro . E . Walshaw , and replied to Bros . Beaumont and Mackenzie , of the Saville Lodge , Elland ; Suteliffe P . M ., Todmorden ; Hartley , Todmorden , and

Belton . " The Senior and Junior Wardens and Officers of St . James ' s Lodge" was proposed bd Bro . Lupton , P . M . ant ! responded to by thy Wardens . "The W . M ., P . M ., Officers ane Brethren of the Lodge of Probity , No . 61 , " was proposed by the chairman , and gracefully

responded to by Bro . Gaukroger , W . M . of Probity . "TheW . M ., P . M ., Officers and Brethren of the De Warren Lodge , No . 1302 , " proposed by the chairman , to which Bro . W . H . D . Horsfall , W . M . ; J . Firth , P . M . ; and F . Whitaker , P . M . responded . "The Masonic Charities "

was proposed by Bro . T . G . Knowles , respondeiFto by Bros . E . Walshaw , and Normanton , who spoke of the value of Masonic institutions , and felt sure that the brethren could visit the Schools and the Home for Decayed Masons they

would be induced to assist those institutions more liberally . Bro . F . Whitaker also responded , and spoke of the large amount of good done by those institutions . He had taken a great pride in them , and not onl y in them , but in other charitable institutions at home . For some time

he had made a practice of devoting a certain per centage of his income to these charities , and he never yet felt , however , much he had given , that he was the worse ; on the contrary , the more he gave the more he seemed to receive . But that was not his sole motive ; he was sure that to assist such institutions was to act on the true

Masonic principle , which blessed both the giver and the receiver . He urged all the brethren to adopt the same plan , and they would never regret it .- —The toast of the " Poor and Distressed Masons" was given by the chairman . The evening was very pleasantly spent , several songs and recitations being given .

I IOI . I . OWAV ' Pn . 1 . 1 .. —Liver Complaints and Disorders of the Bowels , ft is impossible to exaggerate the extraordinary virtue of this Medicine , in the treatment of all affections of the Liver or irregularities of the Uowels , In cases of depraved or superabundant Bile , these Pills taken freely , have never been known to fail . In Bowel complaints

they are equally efficacious , but they should then be taken rather sparingly , for every every medicine in the form of an aperient requires ^ caution when . the Bowels ' a . re disordered , though a more gentle or more genail aperient than these Pills in moderate doses has neier yet been- discovered - If - taken according to the printed instructions they not only cure the complaint but improve the whole system .