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" villages around with a view to baffle the supposed " witch ' s evil designs , but without effect—they " could get no peace . The chairman said such ' * things as the defendants had done mig ht have led " some years ago to a serious riot . They would be

" bound over to keep the peace for six months .

* * BRO . HYDE CLARKE has kindly sent us an extract from a paper of the Rev . R . H . C ODRINGTON , read before tlie Anthropological Institute , June 9 th , on ' * Relig ious Belief and Practices in

Melanesia , " by which it seems that a sort of religious fraternity exists among the islands . The extract is as follows : " The great institutions of the "Banks Islands are the Suge and the Tainate . " Neither has a religious character , nor is any

" superstitious practice necessarilly connected with "them . The Suge is a club , the house belonging " to which is the most conspicuous building in every " village , and is to bc found wherever there is a " permanent habitation . This house , or gamut ,

"has many compartments , each with its own oven , "in accordance with the several grades in the " society . To rise from one grade to another money " has to be given and p igs killed . The authority " of the men hig hest in the Suge is very

consider" able , and it is these persons who appear lo " traders and naval officers as chiefs . The Tamate "is a secret society , to which entrance is obtained " by payment , and the neophyte has to spend many "days in the salagoro , or sacred place ; the only

" secret , however , is thc making of the masks and "hats in which the members appear in public , and " the way of producing the sound which is supposed " to be the cry of the ghosts . The members of the "great Tamate indulge in much licence . When

" they choose to go abroad to collect provision for " one of their feasts , the women nnd uninitiated arc " obliged to keep away from their paths ; the warn" ing voice of the Tamate is heard , and the country

" is shut up . One of the most interesting points of Masonic arch .-eology is the existence of a secret confraternity quosi Masonic in every portion of the habitable globe .

IT will bc seen by our report Vhat the post of collector for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution is now advertized for . The decision of the Committee making twenty-five thc minimum and

fortyfive the maximum , strikes out candidates , so to say , " at both ends . " Thus Bro . WEBBE and Bro . RECKNEL are both excluded . We , ourselves , think , with others , that by making a hard and fast line of forty-five , we shut out some most excellent

candidates , and the same maj' perhaps be said of the minimum of twenty-five . It seems desirable that the Collector , be lie who he may , should be a brother of mature age , sound judgement , steady

principles , and business habits . Among the candidates now before thc Committee arc Bros . MASO . V , SWEGHT , WOKRELL , nnd DAVIS ; but there is no telling whom the advertisement may call forth .

* * WE call attention to a statement elsewhere relative to "Betting Lotteries and Masonic Sweeps , " which we recommend to the perusal of all who otherwise might be tempted perchance to take part in dubious proceedings or hurtful schemes .

* ' * IN our contemporary , thc New York Dispatch , of June 18 th , we find the following passage : — " It has been thought that the Roman Catholic " Church was alone among Christians for its never

'' ending war on Masonry . We now learn that " the General Synod of the Presbyterian body , " which met in Brooklyn on the 7 th inst ., have " uttered their Anetlienia and Marenatlia against

" the Craft . They declare that Freemasonry is anti-repub " lican , anti-Christian and anti-reformed !

" One member declared that Masonry dis" honoured God and promoted infidelity ! " Our contemporary seems to have forgotten that " Presb j'terian Synods " before this— both in the last century and the present—have sought to " ex-

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" communicate " Freemasons and Freemasonry . The Roman Catholic objection is based "quantum " valet" on the Bull of Pope C LEMENT , 1738 , and other subsequent Bulls and allocutions . But this " cursing" of Freemasonry by bodies like

Baptist Assemblies and Presbyterian Synods is simply an act of intolerant and ignorant , bigotry , without reason and without excuse . We do not , as our readers well know , in the least extenuate the many foolish and intolerant acts of Roman

Catholic authorities in respect of linghsh freemasonry especially , which are regretted by Roman Catholics themselves . But though it be true that history repeats itself , generation after generation , we are not tlie less relieved from the duty of

protesting openly against such childish imitations of perverse proceedings . We are glad to note that one member of the Presbyterian body , a Bro . Dr . E . S . PORTER , openly avowed himself a Freemason , and defended Freemasonry on the occasion referred to .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible , or even approving , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

GRAND AIARK LODGE OFFICE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In your paper of June 5 th I notice among the appointments to office in Grand Alark Lodge one that has certainly taken many of us by surprise—I allude to that of the Grand Alaster Overseer .

Is it usual to give Grand Lodge office to one not a Master or P . AI . of even a Craft Lodge ? moreover to one who has been a Mason only four years , and a Mark Alason of 1 S 77 ? Those who know the case cannot imagine what claims the

Baron De Ferrieres can have for such office , and feel that by his appointment many old and deserving Afarlc Masters of Gloucestershire have been overlooked . Kindly inform me what position of p recedence he would take over his senior brethren in Provincial Grand Alark Lodge ? I am , yours fraternally , P . M .

ANCIENT AND PRIMITIVE RITE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother . — Referring to the notice at page 292 of your last issue , and the advertisement on the same subject , I am instructed by the Supreme Council 33 to ask you to acquaint

your readers that the " Rose of Sharon Chapter , " under the so-called " Ancient and Primitive Rite , " is in no way connected with the "Ancient and Accepted Rite , " and that , therefore , it may not be recognised or visited by any Rose Croix Freemason under the obedience of this Supreme Council . I am , yours fraternally ,

HUGH D . SANDEA 1 AN , 33 ° Grand Secretary General . 33 , Golden-square , 28 June , 1 SS 0 .

Reviews.

Reviews .

URANIA . Simpson , Marshall , & Co ., 4 , Stationers' Hallcourt , London . This monthly journal of " Astrology , Meteorology , and Physical Science , " seems to advance , and has some very interesting papers . Some of our brethren may be glad to read articles such as the " Astrology of Shakespeare" and the " Alusic of the Spheres . "

LE MONDE MACONNIQUE . Edited by Bro . GRIMAUX . Paris , 16 , Rue de Seine . The number for June is a very good one . We wish some means might be found by which all foreign Masonic literature could be seen by our English brethren . BROOK'S POPULAR BOTANY , No . 1 . J . Brook & Co .,

282 , Strand . This is a new and popular manual on Botany , not the "Botinney" of Air . Squeers . As the prospectus truly says : " Botany is a subject which possesses interest and fascination for all ; it is a study alike beautiful and useful . From the days of Theocritus and Virgil to those of

Wordsworth and lennyson , poets have never ceased to celebrate the Flowers of the Field ; while , in the more prosaic applications of daily life , Botany has ever ranked as a science of paramount importance . "Hitherto , owing chiefly to its technical phraseology , this delightful study has been sealed to the generality of readers . It is the object of Brook ' s Popular Botany to justify its title by making its contents 'clear to allby

di-, vesting the text , as far as possible , of technical terms , or giving explanations where such become necessary . " In the conduct of their self-imposed task , the chief aim of the publishers is , as thc title will imply , to produce a work , which for Accuracy , Utility , and Cheapness , shall stand unrivalled . To this end no expense has been spared in selection of authors and artists to whom its completion has been entrusted . "

If the subsequent numbers carry out this programme the work will be a good and useful one . Its first appearance is most prepossessing . LODGE OF FRIENDSHIP , No . 277 , Oldham . By the Rev . J . HARRISON . 198 , Fleet-street . This is a reprint from the minute books of the lodge , which ori g inally appeared in the " Alasonic Alagazine . " It is a very interesting rdsum < 5 indeed .

Reviews.

HISTORIOUE DU PREMIER SIECLE DE LA LOGE FRAffCAISE "LE PHENIX , " DE JOIGNY RITE ECOSSAIS . By EDGAR BERILLON ( Medical Student ) . Hamelin Zanotte , 27 , Grande Rue Joigny . Just as we warmly welcome all lodge histories in England , so we greet this interesting little "brochure" from " Outre Alanche . " It appears the lodge was first formed ¦ n 1777 , and was consecrated on the 13 th of September

that year , under the name of "L'Aigle de S . Jean . " Its charter was signed by the Duke oi : Luxembourg , G . M ., and also by Dr . Guillotin , of ill-omened memory . Its original certificate was signed , among others , by " Maret , " Curate of St . Savinien , Master of the Lodge " Concorde , " de Sens . Like most of the French lodges it went into " sommeil , " or " sleepy silence , " until the Reign of Terror was over . We again repeat that no greater

mistake has ever been made than to seek to identify tne French lodges of Freemasons with the authors of the French Revolution . In 1 S 06 , June 23 , the lodge ( when Masonry , under Cambac ^ res , as Grand Master , resumed its activity in France ) seems to have been permitted at last again to meet as a lodge . In 1 S 23 the lodge was closed by the political police , apparently the " Eagle" of St . John appearing to them as a seditious emblem , and only identified with the

" Empire . " We beg to commend to the notice of those excellent members of the French Grand Orient who have lately suppressed all mention of T . G . A . O . T . U ., the words in which the Grand Orator ofthe day called the attention of the then Grand Orient to this little absurdity of the French Political police . " Puisque L'Ai g le Choisi par la Divinite pour Communiquer les impressions du ciel a l ' un" des quatre Evangilistes est considere , on cette circonstance

comme un embleme seditieux je ademande le changement du litre de I'Aigle de W . Je n en celui , de Ph & iix . Since the Eagle , chosen by Divinity to communicate the impressions of Heaven to one of the four Evangelists , is considered in these circumstances as a seditious emblem , I ask the change of the name to that of the Phoenix . Since then the history of the lodge Phcenix is that of the majority of the French lodges . Some of the physical trials

of candidates are very amusing . We wish we could say that French Freemasonry had never forgotten that the controversy of religion and the strife of political factions were alike forbidden by its neutral and peaceful laws . It is too clear , we fear , on the contrary , that even the members of the good lodge Phoenix have yielded at times to the " siren" of political party , under the fascinating guise of

" liberty" and " patriotism , " but , alas ! under such circumstances , utterly " mythic . " Until French Freemasonry , we make bold to say , resolutely returns to its ancient principles of "absolute neutrality , " it will never reach unto the reality or true end of its mission . Bro . Berillon deserves much credit for the agreeable and able manner in which he has edited this " History of the Phoenix Lodge of Joigny . "

A CATALOGUE OF SCARCE BOOKS . Robson and Kerslake , 43 , Cranbourn-street , Leicester-square , W . C . 1 have looked over this catalogue with pleasure , and for book collectors , like ourselves , it has its interest . It deserves perusal . We would mention , among others , 'the " Northern Garlands , " Sec ., by T . Ritson ; " Les

Metamorphoses D'Ovid , 4 vols ., 4 to , Paris , 1767 ; "A Fine Horoe" of the XVI . century ; Drayton ' s "Poly-olbion , " first edition , folio , 1 G 13 ; " Charles Cotton ' s Works , " 1771 ; "Cornish Wrestling , " 1727 ; "Old English Dramatists , " 27 vols . ; Major ' s " Walton , " and Cotton's " Angler , " 1 S 12 ; " Poetry or Witchcraft , " 1833 ; Wright ' s " Pilgrimage to Paradise , " 1591 .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

JACHIN AND BOAZ . It is to be hoped that Bros . Carson or Bower may see this discussion and kindly send over an exact transcript of the title page of the 1762 edition . I confess the more I think about it , with all deference to my esteemed Bro . Hughan ' s opinion , the more I lean to the view that the old Doctor was right , otherwise , I fear , we must come to this , that so distinct a statement is utterly untrustworthy . EDITOR "FM . "

ROSICRUCIANS . I see that in " Cole ' s English Dictionary of Difficult Terms , " printed for Peter Parker , at the Leg and Star , over against thc Royal Exchange , Cornhiil , 16 S 5 , " Rosicrucians " are said to be "brethren of the Rosy Cross , " and thus treated as an existent and recognized society . AIASONIC STUDENT .

An edition of this book , dated 1767 , was lately on sale at Mr . Hitchman ' s , Bookseller , Birmingham . It has , we understand , fallen into the hands of Bro . Coombe , Hayle , Cornwall , to whom we have written on the subject . Other copies will , no doubt , yet turn up in London , and we may , perhaps , be able to settle the question distinctly , as to when the first edition appeared , 1 750 or 1762 , and if there was , as Dr . Oliver says , a fifth edition in 1764 .

Since I wrote the above Bro . Coombe , of Hayle , Cornwall , has , with the greatest kindness , sent me a transcript of the title page of the book he has recently bought at Birmingham . I take the essential portion-. | "The Sixth Edition . Printed for W . Nichol ) . London , & c , MDCCLXVII . " This fact seems to prove that the first

edition could hardly have been published in 17 G 2 , and confirms Oliver's statement of a fifth edition in 1764 . Oliver mentions a 1766 edition , but not this one . This edition has not a " Beautiful Frontispiece of the Regalia Jewels , Sec ., " and which seems from the 1779 edition to have been published first , August 30 th 1776 , at least Nicholl seems to claim the . copyright from that date .

I am glad to see an increased interest exhibited in Alasonic bibliography , and shall be only too pleased to aid in the department of "Notes and Queries . " Bro . Broughton's communication is an interesTing one , and he hasdone well to referto the " Freemason's Answer . " It was published in 1762 , and , so far as I know , was the earliest work in reply to "J . and B . " that came from the

press . 1762 being the first reply does not look as if "Jachin and Boaz" was printed in 17 , 50 . The pamphlet in question is very rare , and its full title is as follows : " A Frec-Alason ' s Answer to the Suspected Author of a Pamphlet entitled 'Jachin and Boaz ; ' or an Authentic Key to Free-Masonry . Addressed to all Masons , as well as to the Public in general . "