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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
£ We ia not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary imits—free discussion . —ED . 1
THE LANDMARKS OF FREEMASONRY . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In the Landmarks of Freemasonry are laid down the Fundamental principles of our Craft , together with the ground-plan of the entire edifice . Onr Landmarks consist in :
I . Axiomatic symbols Which combine the outward and visible truth of geometrical axioms with the inward and spiritual truth of their symbolic nature . These , before all things , inculcate belief in God , the source and Creator of all things visible and invisible , the Immortality of the Soul and the Concord and everlasting Harmony between Nature and Religion , Science and Faith .
2 . The architectural features of the lodge ; the two pillars on either side of the entrance , thcirjsignification ; the fixed objects within the lodge and their due bearings . 3 . The opening and closing of the lodge , together with the knocks , signs and words of the St . John ' s degrees , and the consecration of a lodge with corn-or-bread , salt , oil , and wine .
4 . The relative places in the lodge oi the W . Master and the two brother Wardens and , consequently , of the three Orders of Architecture and the three great lights they bear . 3 . The symbolic signification of the builders' tools , derived from their real practical use , and their position in the lodge .
C . The Master ' s key and the symbolic signification of numbers together with the dsrivation thereof . 7 . The Masonic virtues . S . The Masonic greeting . 9 . The Abacus of the G . A . O . T . U ., the holy Bible . To illustrate these Landmarks and impress them on our
minds the old charges have been drawn up and printed for the use of the brethren , together with the Book of Constitutions , and these , though not Landmarks , are the canon and written law of Freemasonry . Yours fraternally , VERTI .
PINE'S LIST OF LODGES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In looking over the Masonic Review , Cincinnati , U . S . A ., I notice in the September number , page 344 , a correspondent of the Masonic Record of Western India writes : — " I have in my possession a very interesting relic
of Freemasonry , in the shape of ' a list of regular lodges according to the seniority and constitution ; printed for and sold by J . Pine , Engraver , Little Briliati , and in Aldersgate-street , and bears date 1719 , fifty-four lodges arc mentioned . '" Knowing how earnestly you , yourself , and Bro . W . , 1 . Hughan , are searching for these interesting
relics of Masonry , I trust this excerpt may bc of sen ice to you . Perhaps , you two might be able to get some further information of importance on this subject from the Masonic Record ot Western India . Yours fraternally , GEO . R . HARRIOTT , P . G . M . Wigtown and Kirkcudbright .
THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE . To the Editor ofthe Scottish "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Since my last letter to you on this subject the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Committee of Scotland have practically endorsed the decision of the Grand Lodge of Ireland . The Grand Lodge of England
has unanimously referred the matter to a committee , to show that they do not act hastily but deliberately , and to enable the French Lodges that have remained true to the Order an opportunity of emancipnting themselves from the sentence to be passed on the Grand Orient and its adherents . In like manner , the Grand Committee of Scotland has taken up the question , and will report on it in February .
It is particularly to be noticed that tbe meeting of the Grand Lodge of England was unusually crowded , showing how important the question was considered by the members of the English Craft . May our meeting in February be as large and as unanimous , yours fraternally , GEO . R . HARRIOTT , P . G . M . Wigton and Kirkcudbright .
THE ORDER OF MALTA . To the Editor of the Times . Sir , —An anonymous correspondent , under the nom de plume of the Marquis of Carabas , K . G ., and who asserts that he is a member of the Order ol Malta , is justly severe in The Times of the 24 th inst . upon those who assume styles and titles to which
they have neither right nor claim , but since hej includes among such pretenders a lamented friend whose death appeared in your obituary ofthe 19 th inst ., making an attempt to disparage the high character of an honourable man , and at the same time a covert attack upon a body with which I am officially connected , I must ask you to grant me the opportunity of a reply to him . As Secretary of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem in England , I
confirm the announcement made in your columns that the late Richard Woolfe , F . S . A ., was the Registrar of that confraternity , and I take occasion to express the regret with which I am compelled to vindicate the character of one who was truth and uprightness itself , and above all suspicion of being in any sense of the word a pretender . But as the remark of your anonymous correspondentwho evidently wilfully ignores the real position el the
Original Correspondence.
Order of St . John in England—may lead to some misconception in the minds of your readers as to the legitimacy of the claims of that body and its relations to the ( Roman Catholic ) Order of Malta , I must ask you to give publicity to the following extract from a protest lodged in 1874 by the English Langue of the Order of St . John in the Lord Chamberlain ' s Office , in repiy to attacks which have been
made from time to time by the Roman Order of Malta upon their Protestant confreres : — " That although the Grand Priories of Italy and Germany may , as alleged , be the only sections of the Order which are in communion of jurisdiction and obedience with the Roman * Council , yet this fact in no manner interferes with the law ' ful existence of those sections of the Order
which are not also ml such communion and obedience . That the Order lawfully exists in Russian Priories of the Greek Church , in Brandenburg , and England , professing the Protestant faith , and that ommunion with and obedience to the Roman Council is not necessary to its validity in any of these countries , or in any other State in which it may have lawful being . "
I have the honour to be , Sir , your obedient servant , E . A . H . LECHMERE , Secretary and Receiver of the Order of St . John cf Jerusalem in England . Rhydd Court , Upton-on-Severn , Dec . 26 .
To the Editor ofthe Times . Sir , —The practice of assuming styles or titles seems to me on the increase . People seem not to realise the inconvenience to the community at large of such a practice . Within a few days I have noticed the following instances : —A rev . clergyman of the Established Church appended to his name the letters , " O . S . B . " ( Order of St . Benedict ) .
Every one knows that this is a Catholic religious order which has existed for some 1 4 centuries , has its own officers , and is in every respect as well defined a body as , say , the Bencher ; of Lincoln ' s-inu , with their society , or the three battalions of the R flc Brigade . Then , I read in The Times last week a letter from a gentleman who appended to his name the style of " Apostolic Prothonotary . " Here again
the College of Prelates bearing tins title is one of the most ancient corporations of the Roman Court -, 1 look in vain in the official list for this gentleman ' s name ; in other words , it is a fancy title which he has bestowed on himself , as words sometimes gain or lose a letter , "fertile sake of euphony , " I suppose . Again in your obituary one day this week I read the demise of a very respectable member
of a learned society who is declared to have been Registrar for many years of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem , in England . Being a member of this Order , commonly called the Order of Malta , which has its own officers anil official lists , I beg to siy that no such person belongs or ever did belong to it . Where is this sort of thing to stop ? Is it competent for me , for instance , to style myself a Master in
Chancery , a Colonel in the Coldstream Guards , or a Fellow of Trinity College , Cambridge , although as a fact I have none of those honourable dignities ? Perhaps you may deem my inquiry worthy of a small space in The Times . If we are to assume what titles we please and describe ourselves as members of any honourable body to which we do not belong , I have no hesitation in choosing the titles which most attract me , and signing myself , Sir ,
1 our obedient servant , THE MARIJUIS OF CARADAS , ICG . [ In commending these letters to the notice of all our readers we wish to say that as regards the historical point raised by our worthy Bro . Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , we should like to have some historical evidence on the subject . What are historically the facts of the case as respects the perpetuation and continuation of the Order of _ St . John in England?—ED .
ASYLUM FOR FATHERLESS CHILDREN . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly allow me to ask any of your readers who may happen to bc subscribers to the Asylum for Fatherless Children at Rcedham , Surrey , to give me their votes for Arthur Thomas Mitchell , aged io _ J years .
He is the son of the late Mr . William Mitchell , printer , Sudbury , Suffolk , who died from a painful internal disease about two years ago . The applicant is one of four children , ( one of whom is a cripple ) , all entirely dependent upon their mother , who is a most respectable person , and who carries on a small business as a dressmaker . The case is one well worthy of support , and , as in consequence
of the boy ' s age it must be his last application , the old probcrb , " bis dat qui cito dab , " is perfectly true in this case . I shall be most happy to supply any further information that may be required . I may mention that Mrs . Mitchell is a Congregationallist , and that the rase is warmly supported by the Rev . J Hollier , Congregational minister at Sudbury , as well as by the rector , Canon Molyncux , and several other well-known
persons in the neighbourhood , and that I shall be glad to receive any proxies with which I may bc favoured , not later than the 12 th January . Believe me , yours very faithfully and fraternally , CHARLES J . MARTYN , P . G . C , Rector of Melford , Suffolk , and Rural Dean , D . P . G . M . for Suffolk . Dec . 31 st ., 1877 .
ANTIGtUITY OF INSURANCE . To the Editor of the Times , Sir , —I am much indebted to " Cantab" for his drawing my attention to the earliest note of insurance , which is to be found in ancient Indian literature . The point with which I intended to deal in the portion of my lecture on the Talmud referred to was the introduction of the practice of insurance into Europe . I find that several authorities
Original Correspondence.
are quoted by Mr . Hendnks m his contributions tc the history of insurance—viz ., the Florentine historian Giovanni Villani , Cleirac , in his "Les us de Coutumes de la Mer , " and the great French " Encyclope'die . " These fully confirm the statement I made , that insurance was introduced
in Europe by the Jews ; and 1 quoted the interesting passage from the Talumd ( Baby Kamma , p . 116 ) to indicate the probable source of that valuable invention . I am , Sir , yours obediently , HERMANN ADLER , Bayswater , Dec . 26 .
A HAPPY NEW YEAR . '"Z , To Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you grant me space to ask if any brother will render this a really " Happy New Year " to a " distressed Mason , " by finding him some occupationof trust , for which he is well fiitcd in every respect , and for the
proper discharge of the duties of which his friends will give substantial guarantees ? He has been a manufacturer in a large way of business , but the depression of trade has overcome him . Fraternally yours , WM . TEBBS . P . S . —All particulars will bc given in answer to replies , addressed to the Rev . William Tebbs , Ashwick Lodge , Caterham Valley .
CHRISTMAS CARDS . To Ihc Editor ofthe Times . Sir , —We have to face a new great " social evil . " At a quarter past four on this Christmas Day at Clifton , the pestman is just delivering his morning letters at the house I am temporarily slaying at . In other words , the legitimate correspondence of the country has been delayed
seven hours in crder that cartloads of children ' s cards may be delivered . Wc arc a curious people . The habit of sending wedding cards , based upon a sensible object , is being rapidly thiust aside ; and yet the whole population —men , women , and children—seems suddenly to have given itself up to the stationers and fancy shops and their endless variety of Christmas and New Year ' s cards .
People sit down with pen in hand , and envelopes and postage-stamps before them , and bring up from the depths of their inner consciousness the names of people of whom they know little , and for whom they care less , to address , in order to swell out the total number they may despatch , as forming a ground of boasting . On the other hand , the number received by the individual and the family are
recounted with a zest and pride marvellous for its childishness . We shall have a repetition of this disarrangement of the postal service on New Year ' s Day . Valentine ' s Day is a " flea-bite " to it . I dare say that some will say that this complaint is very cynical and very morose . Not doubting that in many cases the sending of cards may serve a very useful purpose and represent genuine regard
I maintain that it lias now become a huge national plaything , which has definite evils and inconveniences in its train . It is like the " Boat-race , " and the " Harrow and Eton match , " and will , 1 trust , disappear as suddenly as " spelling bees " and most of the rinks . When Mary Ann the maid can boast of as many Christmas cards as her
mistress or the young Indies , it will soon go out of favour . Meanwhile , if the present fever continues , I commend it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as affording a clue to a very productive tax . It would beat the Match Tax , at all events . Yours obediently ,
M . P . Clifton , Bristol , Dec . 2 ;; . [ We quite endorse the graphic complaint of "M . P . " to the Times . —ED . ]
A QUERY . To Ihe Editor of Ihe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In answer to your correspondent " Lex , " in your is sue of the Sth ult ., you state that a Chaplain , not being a ' P . M ., would nevertheless sit on the dais to th c right of the W . M .
Supposing the Treasurer not to be a P . M ., would he equally sit on the dais ? and if so would both these princi pies hold good in a Mark as well as a Craft Lodge . Yours fraternally , A W . M . Designate . ~ ' [ In a Craft Lodge the Treasurer does not necessarily sit on the dais . —Eu . l
DANGERS OI- THE ST . BERNARD . —The Swiss Times says that on the 25 th of November , five travellers started about 1 p . m . from the Cantine of Proz for the Great St . Bernard . Snow was falling thickly and a violent north wind was blowing it along in blinding clouds , still , notwithstanding the remonstrances of the proprietor of the cantine , they determined to continue their journey .
Night overtook them at the bridge of Mudry , about an hour ' s distance from the convent . Three of the party soon after became so exhausted that they were untble to proceed , but the others started outfor the hospital , where they arrived about 3 a . m ., having mistaken their way and wandered about several hours in the dark . The monks immediately set out for the rescue of the other three ,
taking with them their dogs and a gcod supply of restoratives , and after some hard work they succeeded in discovering them—one dead , and the legs and arms of the other two frozen . One of the two survivors died shortly after his removal to the hospital , but the other is in a fair way to
recovery . Calamities of this kind are likely to become more frequent on the St . Bernard , as the Cantinc ' of Proz , which forms so welcome a shelter for travellers , is about to be closed , the Government of the Canton Valais having refused to continue the payment of the annual subsidy for its support .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Original Correspondence.
Original Correspondence .
£ We ia not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary imits—free discussion . —ED . 1
THE LANDMARKS OF FREEMASONRY . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , In the Landmarks of Freemasonry are laid down the Fundamental principles of our Craft , together with the ground-plan of the entire edifice . Onr Landmarks consist in :
I . Axiomatic symbols Which combine the outward and visible truth of geometrical axioms with the inward and spiritual truth of their symbolic nature . These , before all things , inculcate belief in God , the source and Creator of all things visible and invisible , the Immortality of the Soul and the Concord and everlasting Harmony between Nature and Religion , Science and Faith .
2 . The architectural features of the lodge ; the two pillars on either side of the entrance , thcirjsignification ; the fixed objects within the lodge and their due bearings . 3 . The opening and closing of the lodge , together with the knocks , signs and words of the St . John ' s degrees , and the consecration of a lodge with corn-or-bread , salt , oil , and wine .
4 . The relative places in the lodge oi the W . Master and the two brother Wardens and , consequently , of the three Orders of Architecture and the three great lights they bear . 3 . The symbolic signification of the builders' tools , derived from their real practical use , and their position in the lodge .
C . The Master ' s key and the symbolic signification of numbers together with the dsrivation thereof . 7 . The Masonic virtues . S . The Masonic greeting . 9 . The Abacus of the G . A . O . T . U ., the holy Bible . To illustrate these Landmarks and impress them on our
minds the old charges have been drawn up and printed for the use of the brethren , together with the Book of Constitutions , and these , though not Landmarks , are the canon and written law of Freemasonry . Yours fraternally , VERTI .
PINE'S LIST OF LODGES . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In looking over the Masonic Review , Cincinnati , U . S . A ., I notice in the September number , page 344 , a correspondent of the Masonic Record of Western India writes : — " I have in my possession a very interesting relic
of Freemasonry , in the shape of ' a list of regular lodges according to the seniority and constitution ; printed for and sold by J . Pine , Engraver , Little Briliati , and in Aldersgate-street , and bears date 1719 , fifty-four lodges arc mentioned . '" Knowing how earnestly you , yourself , and Bro . W . , 1 . Hughan , are searching for these interesting
relics of Masonry , I trust this excerpt may bc of sen ice to you . Perhaps , you two might be able to get some further information of importance on this subject from the Masonic Record ot Western India . Yours fraternally , GEO . R . HARRIOTT , P . G . M . Wigtown and Kirkcudbright .
THE GRAND ORIENT OF FRANCE . To the Editor ofthe Scottish "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Since my last letter to you on this subject the Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Committee of Scotland have practically endorsed the decision of the Grand Lodge of Ireland . The Grand Lodge of England
has unanimously referred the matter to a committee , to show that they do not act hastily but deliberately , and to enable the French Lodges that have remained true to the Order an opportunity of emancipnting themselves from the sentence to be passed on the Grand Orient and its adherents . In like manner , the Grand Committee of Scotland has taken up the question , and will report on it in February .
It is particularly to be noticed that tbe meeting of the Grand Lodge of England was unusually crowded , showing how important the question was considered by the members of the English Craft . May our meeting in February be as large and as unanimous , yours fraternally , GEO . R . HARRIOTT , P . G . M . Wigton and Kirkcudbright .
THE ORDER OF MALTA . To the Editor of the Times . Sir , —An anonymous correspondent , under the nom de plume of the Marquis of Carabas , K . G ., and who asserts that he is a member of the Order ol Malta , is justly severe in The Times of the 24 th inst . upon those who assume styles and titles to which
they have neither right nor claim , but since hej includes among such pretenders a lamented friend whose death appeared in your obituary ofthe 19 th inst ., making an attempt to disparage the high character of an honourable man , and at the same time a covert attack upon a body with which I am officially connected , I must ask you to grant me the opportunity of a reply to him . As Secretary of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem in England , I
confirm the announcement made in your columns that the late Richard Woolfe , F . S . A ., was the Registrar of that confraternity , and I take occasion to express the regret with which I am compelled to vindicate the character of one who was truth and uprightness itself , and above all suspicion of being in any sense of the word a pretender . But as the remark of your anonymous correspondentwho evidently wilfully ignores the real position el the
Original Correspondence.
Order of St . John in England—may lead to some misconception in the minds of your readers as to the legitimacy of the claims of that body and its relations to the ( Roman Catholic ) Order of Malta , I must ask you to give publicity to the following extract from a protest lodged in 1874 by the English Langue of the Order of St . John in the Lord Chamberlain ' s Office , in repiy to attacks which have been
made from time to time by the Roman Order of Malta upon their Protestant confreres : — " That although the Grand Priories of Italy and Germany may , as alleged , be the only sections of the Order which are in communion of jurisdiction and obedience with the Roman * Council , yet this fact in no manner interferes with the law ' ful existence of those sections of the Order
which are not also ml such communion and obedience . That the Order lawfully exists in Russian Priories of the Greek Church , in Brandenburg , and England , professing the Protestant faith , and that ommunion with and obedience to the Roman Council is not necessary to its validity in any of these countries , or in any other State in which it may have lawful being . "
I have the honour to be , Sir , your obedient servant , E . A . H . LECHMERE , Secretary and Receiver of the Order of St . John cf Jerusalem in England . Rhydd Court , Upton-on-Severn , Dec . 26 .
To the Editor ofthe Times . Sir , —The practice of assuming styles or titles seems to me on the increase . People seem not to realise the inconvenience to the community at large of such a practice . Within a few days I have noticed the following instances : —A rev . clergyman of the Established Church appended to his name the letters , " O . S . B . " ( Order of St . Benedict ) .
Every one knows that this is a Catholic religious order which has existed for some 1 4 centuries , has its own officers , and is in every respect as well defined a body as , say , the Bencher ; of Lincoln ' s-inu , with their society , or the three battalions of the R flc Brigade . Then , I read in The Times last week a letter from a gentleman who appended to his name the style of " Apostolic Prothonotary . " Here again
the College of Prelates bearing tins title is one of the most ancient corporations of the Roman Court -, 1 look in vain in the official list for this gentleman ' s name ; in other words , it is a fancy title which he has bestowed on himself , as words sometimes gain or lose a letter , "fertile sake of euphony , " I suppose . Again in your obituary one day this week I read the demise of a very respectable member
of a learned society who is declared to have been Registrar for many years of the Order of St . John of Jerusalem , in England . Being a member of this Order , commonly called the Order of Malta , which has its own officers anil official lists , I beg to siy that no such person belongs or ever did belong to it . Where is this sort of thing to stop ? Is it competent for me , for instance , to style myself a Master in
Chancery , a Colonel in the Coldstream Guards , or a Fellow of Trinity College , Cambridge , although as a fact I have none of those honourable dignities ? Perhaps you may deem my inquiry worthy of a small space in The Times . If we are to assume what titles we please and describe ourselves as members of any honourable body to which we do not belong , I have no hesitation in choosing the titles which most attract me , and signing myself , Sir ,
1 our obedient servant , THE MARIJUIS OF CARADAS , ICG . [ In commending these letters to the notice of all our readers we wish to say that as regards the historical point raised by our worthy Bro . Sir E . A . H . Lechmere , we should like to have some historical evidence on the subject . What are historically the facts of the case as respects the perpetuation and continuation of the Order of _ St . John in England?—ED .
ASYLUM FOR FATHERLESS CHILDREN . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly allow me to ask any of your readers who may happen to bc subscribers to the Asylum for Fatherless Children at Rcedham , Surrey , to give me their votes for Arthur Thomas Mitchell , aged io _ J years .
He is the son of the late Mr . William Mitchell , printer , Sudbury , Suffolk , who died from a painful internal disease about two years ago . The applicant is one of four children , ( one of whom is a cripple ) , all entirely dependent upon their mother , who is a most respectable person , and who carries on a small business as a dressmaker . The case is one well worthy of support , and , as in consequence
of the boy ' s age it must be his last application , the old probcrb , " bis dat qui cito dab , " is perfectly true in this case . I shall be most happy to supply any further information that may be required . I may mention that Mrs . Mitchell is a Congregationallist , and that the rase is warmly supported by the Rev . J Hollier , Congregational minister at Sudbury , as well as by the rector , Canon Molyncux , and several other well-known
persons in the neighbourhood , and that I shall be glad to receive any proxies with which I may bc favoured , not later than the 12 th January . Believe me , yours very faithfully and fraternally , CHARLES J . MARTYN , P . G . C , Rector of Melford , Suffolk , and Rural Dean , D . P . G . M . for Suffolk . Dec . 31 st ., 1877 .
ANTIGtUITY OF INSURANCE . To the Editor of the Times , Sir , —I am much indebted to " Cantab" for his drawing my attention to the earliest note of insurance , which is to be found in ancient Indian literature . The point with which I intended to deal in the portion of my lecture on the Talmud referred to was the introduction of the practice of insurance into Europe . I find that several authorities
Original Correspondence.
are quoted by Mr . Hendnks m his contributions tc the history of insurance—viz ., the Florentine historian Giovanni Villani , Cleirac , in his "Les us de Coutumes de la Mer , " and the great French " Encyclope'die . " These fully confirm the statement I made , that insurance was introduced
in Europe by the Jews ; and 1 quoted the interesting passage from the Talumd ( Baby Kamma , p . 116 ) to indicate the probable source of that valuable invention . I am , Sir , yours obediently , HERMANN ADLER , Bayswater , Dec . 26 .
A HAPPY NEW YEAR . '"Z , To Ihe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Will you grant me space to ask if any brother will render this a really " Happy New Year " to a " distressed Mason , " by finding him some occupationof trust , for which he is well fiitcd in every respect , and for the
proper discharge of the duties of which his friends will give substantial guarantees ? He has been a manufacturer in a large way of business , but the depression of trade has overcome him . Fraternally yours , WM . TEBBS . P . S . —All particulars will bc given in answer to replies , addressed to the Rev . William Tebbs , Ashwick Lodge , Caterham Valley .
CHRISTMAS CARDS . To Ihc Editor ofthe Times . Sir , —We have to face a new great " social evil . " At a quarter past four on this Christmas Day at Clifton , the pestman is just delivering his morning letters at the house I am temporarily slaying at . In other words , the legitimate correspondence of the country has been delayed
seven hours in crder that cartloads of children ' s cards may be delivered . Wc arc a curious people . The habit of sending wedding cards , based upon a sensible object , is being rapidly thiust aside ; and yet the whole population —men , women , and children—seems suddenly to have given itself up to the stationers and fancy shops and their endless variety of Christmas and New Year ' s cards .
People sit down with pen in hand , and envelopes and postage-stamps before them , and bring up from the depths of their inner consciousness the names of people of whom they know little , and for whom they care less , to address , in order to swell out the total number they may despatch , as forming a ground of boasting . On the other hand , the number received by the individual and the family are
recounted with a zest and pride marvellous for its childishness . We shall have a repetition of this disarrangement of the postal service on New Year ' s Day . Valentine ' s Day is a " flea-bite " to it . I dare say that some will say that this complaint is very cynical and very morose . Not doubting that in many cases the sending of cards may serve a very useful purpose and represent genuine regard
I maintain that it lias now become a huge national plaything , which has definite evils and inconveniences in its train . It is like the " Boat-race , " and the " Harrow and Eton match , " and will , 1 trust , disappear as suddenly as " spelling bees " and most of the rinks . When Mary Ann the maid can boast of as many Christmas cards as her
mistress or the young Indies , it will soon go out of favour . Meanwhile , if the present fever continues , I commend it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as affording a clue to a very productive tax . It would beat the Match Tax , at all events . Yours obediently ,
M . P . Clifton , Bristol , Dec . 2 ;; . [ We quite endorse the graphic complaint of "M . P . " to the Times . —ED . ]
A QUERY . To Ihe Editor of Ihe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In answer to your correspondent " Lex , " in your is sue of the Sth ult ., you state that a Chaplain , not being a ' P . M ., would nevertheless sit on the dais to th c right of the W . M .
Supposing the Treasurer not to be a P . M ., would he equally sit on the dais ? and if so would both these princi pies hold good in a Mark as well as a Craft Lodge . Yours fraternally , A W . M . Designate . ~ ' [ In a Craft Lodge the Treasurer does not necessarily sit on the dais . —Eu . l
DANGERS OI- THE ST . BERNARD . —The Swiss Times says that on the 25 th of November , five travellers started about 1 p . m . from the Cantine of Proz for the Great St . Bernard . Snow was falling thickly and a violent north wind was blowing it along in blinding clouds , still , notwithstanding the remonstrances of the proprietor of the cantine , they determined to continue their journey .
Night overtook them at the bridge of Mudry , about an hour ' s distance from the convent . Three of the party soon after became so exhausted that they were untble to proceed , but the others started outfor the hospital , where they arrived about 3 a . m ., having mistaken their way and wandered about several hours in the dark . The monks immediately set out for the rescue of the other three ,
taking with them their dogs and a gcod supply of restoratives , and after some hard work they succeeded in discovering them—one dead , and the legs and arms of the other two frozen . One of the two survivors died shortly after his removal to the hospital , but the other is in a fair way to
recovery . Calamities of this kind are likely to become more frequent on the St . Bernard , as the Cantinc ' of Proz , which forms so welcome a shelter for travellers , is about to be closed , the Government of the Canton Valais having refused to continue the payment of the annual subsidy for its support .