Original Correspondence.

tion were errors of judgment on the part of the Grand Lodge itself , I think I shall be fully entitled to call upon the " minority of one " to enjoy a quiet laugh " all to himself" as a makeweight against that which met his proposition at the last meeting . Deiieve cieai oir iiuuDiuuici

- me , ' - , Yours truly and fraternally , JAMES STEVENS , P . M . and P . Z ., S . W . 1216 . Clapham-common , March 31 st , 1870 .

MASONIC WORKING . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I think your correspondent , Bro . Gompertz has hit the mark , in THE FREEMASON of March 19 th , when , giving up the idea of uniformity of working , he insists upon the necessity of accuracy of working . For my own part ,

I care no more whether all Masons work alike than all men praying alike . So long as there arc rituals , Masonic or religious , there will be diversity . And it is as well , perhaps , that it should be so . Why should we all move in one straight groove , instead of having something diversified in our way

to the common goal ? Paul desired that Christians should pray with " the understanding , " I should like to see Masons work with the understanding . This being secured , we need trouble ourselves about little beyond it . I should certainly like to find accuracy of diction marking the recital of our

ceremonials , for , to educated ears , the slaughtering of the Queen ' s English isverypainful . If anuneducated brother works his way up to the rulingof a lodge , ( and why should he not ?) he should certainly feel himself laid under an obligation to evince his sense of the honour conferred upon him , by at least making

himself Master of his p ' s and q's , or his h's and i ' s . Self-respect , indeed , if nothing else , should induce him to set himself assiduously to work to overcome suchsolccismsof language as cannot fail to challenge observation . Surely , very little reflection and watchfulness would guard him against giving utterance

to such barbarisms as " Iliu who do you put your trust ? " " Right glad ham hi to find , " & c , " no hcvil can hensoo . " But one finds an exchange of words made ; in some cases arising out of ignorance ofthe meaning of a word , in other cases for want of a little reflection . Of the former kind is the

substituof hail for hale , which makes nonesense of the passage . To hail is to salute , or to call out to one ; whereas hele is to cover or hide . The latter will apply to a secret ; the former , of course , cannot . Fancy the hailing of a secret ! As an example of an exchange of words for want of thought or

reflection , I may mention the substitution of and for but , in the charge in the second degree . " But as 1 trust that the import , " & c , is necessary to introduce the reason for abstaining from an extension of the charge ; whereas , " and as I trust , " & c ., has just the opposite effect . It makes what follows not only

inconsequential , but silly . A moment s reflection would prevent such a blunder . Another thing that imperatively calls for attention is distinctness in utterance and impressiveness in manner . Without these , a ritual , however beautifulandappropriate , becomes wearying , because the

due sense of feeling and propriety on the part of the officiator is lacking . No man can properly deliver a charge or anything else , however , if he do not fully comprehend its meaning and purpose . On the contrary , misplaced emphasis , or a formal and leaden monotony will characterize his

performance , and it will bc tedious and barren of usefulness , instead of interesting and impressive . It is a little disagreeable to point out faults ; but if we were faithful to each other , and when wc observe a fault , mention it to a brother in private , wc should generally find it taken kindly , and we should all be the better for it .

WILLIAM CARPENTER . AN APPEAL TO THE CRAFT . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Will you kindly allow me to make an appeal to the Craft , through your columns , on behalf of an unfortunate brother , who through unforsccn circumstances , and over

which he had no control , lost in a short time his all—in amount to something over . £ 3 , 000 . He was much respected in his lodge , Domatic , No . 177 , as a Mason , and also in the trade , as a Licensed Victualler . He was the support of an aged father and mother for many yearsand up to the time of

, his loss . He has a wife and two children looking to him for support ; he is now in great distress , having been unable to obtain any kind of employment for more than twelve months , and to save himself and his

family from the union , he now wishes to emigrate to one ofthe colonies . We therefore trust that our appeal will not be in vain , to subscribe sufficient funds to enable him to take out his wife and family to other lands where wc trust he may be successful . We , the undessigned , shall be most happy to

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receive subscriptions , and willing to give any information required . Bro . ELMES , P . M . 177 , 15 , Rathbone-place . Bro . TANNER , P . M . 177 , 18 , North-street , Westminster . Bro . R . E . CLARKE , 177 & W . M . 1158 ,

York Hotel , Bramley-rd ., Notting-lnll . Bro . ARNOLD , 177 , Robin Hood , 281 , High Holborn . Bro . THOMPSON , 543 , Black Horse , Haymarket . Bro . J . EMPSON , 141 , Bedford Arms , Red Lion-st ., Holborn .

THE TEMPLARS . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I read with much pleasure and satisfaction the able remarks of " Lupus , " at page 134 , March 19 th . It seemed tome there was

a good and substantial ring about them , which far too many of our Masonic articles want . It is to be sincerely hoped , however , that time will bring improvement . I am , yours fraternally , LEO .

FREEMASONS' LIFE BOAT . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I read in your last edition the letter bearing thesignature"Mica , " which is onlyremarkable for being diametrically opposed to facts . I pass by his remarks as regards mv wishing to

let my friends know to what Order I belong , with the contempt it merits . I regret " Mica " cannot comprehend my thankfulness to the Almighty for having twice preserved me from a watery grave , and which has been the great incentive of my perseverance in endeavouring to obtain a life boat .

Does he intend to insinuate that my want of success on one occasion should deter me from renewing my exertions for so desirable an object ? "Mica " states that he found by the Declaration Book of the Lodge of Faith , that I was admitted into the mysteries of Freemasonry at the end of 186 9 . Sir ,

I was initiated in the March of that year . He is also mistaken as to the amount collected . He also says , that my name is not on the list of subscribers to the National Life Boat Society . That is not from want of sympathy or means , but from the wish , which I am proud to say has been realised , of

forming a committee , and through its exertions , at no distant time may be able to present the society with a boat , the result of my movement . I must protest against the tendency of such effusions as " Mica , " and will only add , that at the proper time the subscribers will have the opportunity of judging how far the fund has been wasted

unnecessary expenses . Yours fraternally , S ' . DAVIS , 141

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The mind of your correspondent W . M . seems to be a psychological curiosity . His mental vision is certainly oblique . A straightforward and unreserved answer to the only question in his former letter worth a reply he

characterises as an evasion . The same question is reiterated in his second letter in the following ludicrous sentence : — " I simply asked what he [ meaning myself ] proposed doing with the money which has already been subscribed towards a Masonic Life Boat , inasmuch as he repudiated any

connection with those who had received subscriptions for that purpose . " He might quite as reasonably have asked me what I proposed doing with a fund collected for the purpose of liquidating the National Debt . W . M . is very anxious to know why we did not communicate with the committee already

existing . Is there another committee ? If so , ' whcrc ? Their place of meeting , where is that ? The fund that has been collected , in whose possession is that ? The individuals W . M . speaks of arc to me only shadowy possibilities , I know not of their existence , the very sound of their names is as much a mvstcry

to mc as the appearance of the other side of the moon . Instead of writing senseless letters , why docs he not furnish' us with a clue as to the probable whereabouts of the fund . Who is that brother whom , as we are informed in his first letter , he did not personally know , but with whom he corresponded ,

and declares in his second letter , he not only corresponded with , but subsequently saw him . Perhaps //( ¦ might put us in the way . We shall bc only loo happy to amalgamate the two funds . It is ,. ' however , first necessary to have possession ofthe fund , before wc shall be able to gratify the enquiring

mind of W . M . respecting the disposal of it . But may I enquire , what is the aim and object of W . M . 's letter ? What docs he purpose to effect , or what advantages does he hope to obtain for the Craft or mankind in general by his attempt to throw cold water upon a movement applauded by every

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well-disposed brother ? Does he consider it incompatible with the principles of Freemasonry to endeavour to extend a helping hand , however feeble , to an institution which has effected so much real , practical good , and whose invaluable services arc universally acknowledged ? Does he wish us to

cease our exertions , dissolve the committee , and still allow it to bc said that Freemasons have done nothing in aid of so excellent an institution , whilst other bodies of less pretensions have done so much ? Or , docs he merely write , which is at least probable , to display his ability , to string a few sentences

together in the form of an epistle ? if so , he deserves to append to his name , besides W . M ., which he seems entitled to , the three initials of which Dr . Pangloss is so proud , and is never weary of repeating . Again , I demand what is the purpose of W . M . ' s letters ? and what result does he dream to gain by

his Quixotic championship ? W . M . laments that we have no " illustrious " names on the committeeneed he be reminded that the history of mankind is replete with instances of wonderfully great events resulting from exceedingly small beginings ? A very few obscure fishermen introduced a religious system

amongst men , sufficiently grand to effect the civilisation ofthe world . Had W . M . lived in those days , he would , I have no doubt , have opposed that movement , on the ground that amongst the movers there was not a single "illustrious" name . How is it W . M . docs not vouchsafe to give us the

benefit of his name in full ? An honest face requires no mask . It would be more frank and English ; besides which , if he were willing and found worthy , we may perchance at Inst be so happy as to have one " illustrious" name on our list of committee I In the event , however , of our being so unfortunate

as to be unable to obtain W . M . ' s assistance , we will still persevere in our efforts to secure that success a movement of such importance is entitled to . Yours fraternally , E . GOTTHEIL , P . M . 141 , Hon . Sec . to the Committee .

MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — I was very much surprised at the acrimonious reply ( if such it can be called ) to my remarks in THE FREEMASON of Feb . 5 . I should have hoped that any bad feeling

that might have been felt at the moment of reading would have cooled down after waiting weeks , and instead of charging me with "rushing into print with what is not true , " and calling me an " anonymous libeller , " it would have been more like a friend ofthe institution if he had answered the statements .

I believe the interest of the institution to be forwarded by discussion . I did not complain of or blame any individual ; my remarks were intended to stimulate Masons to greater activity , and if possible to make it as popular as the "Boys' School . 1 made no positive statement except I felt a difficulty in

getting information , and Bro . Udall does nothing towards supplying that want . I have attended a large number of lodges in different parts , and I find extensive efforts are being made to get up thousands and tens of thousands of pounds for the Boys ' School , and I honour the brethren who take active

part in doing the work . 1 only want a similar effort tobc madewith the Aged Benevolent Institution , and I am sure it would meet withasimilar result . I consider it a disgrace that an aged Mason and his wife should only have two-thirds allowed for the two that one boy costs , and that several of a family may be in the

school at the same time belonging to a deceased brother who had not been a member of a lodge half the timcit is necessary for an applicant for the Aged Asylum . Ihopc Bro . Udallwillputmeright , ifwrong , and remember we arc not all vain enough to wish lo have our names in print .

I remain , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , STRICT JUSTICE .

THE Public Night of the Chapter of Prudent Brethren , No . 145 , was a triumphant success , about 200 Companions being present . Full particulars in

our next . MASONIC STATIONERY is supplied advantageously by lira . T . HKKDI . K , High-street , Weston-super-Mare , Somerset , who executes Relief and Cameo stamping on his own premises . l ! ro . Hccdle's Steel 1 ' en is a really good pen , and he sends 12 dozen , per post , for twenty stamps . —[ Advt . ]

The New Vade Mcctim ( invented and manufactured by Charles II . Vincent , optician , of 23 , Windsorstreet , Liverpool ) consists of a telescope well adapted for tourists , itc , to which is added an excellent microscope of great power and first-class delinition , quite equal lo others

sold at ten limes the price . Wonderful as it may seem , the price of this ingenious combination is only 3 s . 6 d ., and Mr . Vincent sends it ( carriage free ) anywhere , with printed directions , upon receipt of post-office order or stamps to the amount of 3 s . lod . — [ Advt . ]