Original Correspondence.

Present and Past Grand Officers I know nothing , save that the floral decorations were grand . Our R . W . Bro . VV . J . Hughan , P . S . G . D ., and Airs . Hughan most kindly invited Airs . Neilson and myself to lunch with them , and to meet as many brethren as Bro . Hughan could get to come to him . Bro . "A Past Grand Officer ' s " letter would imply that

our Truro brethren did not show the hospitality they should have done . I am aware several of them kept an open house and a welcome for all , and certainly our Bro . and Mrs . Hughan did so , ancl he invited every brother he came across , and both of them not only gave a most fraternal reception , but had an ample luncheon prepared for fifty or sixty , and many of us enjoyed not only their hospitality

but some hours of their most agreeable society . Having attended in Scotland many stone layings , including that of the Genera ! Post Oilice of Glasgow , by H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , where over eight thousand good brethren took part in the procession , 1 cannot conclude without most heartily congratulating , not only our valued and most highly esteemed R . W . Bro . the Earl of Mount

Edgcumbe , Provincial Grand Alaster , but also our Provincial Grand Officers and brethren on this most successful and great meeting , and bearing my humble testimony as to what I saw of his lordship's untiring exertions tomake everything succeed , also as to his universal courtesy and attention to every brother , and to every one he came across . I remain , yours fraternally .

JAAIES II . NEILSON . 32 , Lower Leeson-strect . Dublin , 31 st A lay .

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS . Tothe Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Inasmuch as 1 have never entertained any hostile feeling towards the members of the House Committee , I shall be obliged by your publishing the subjoined letter , as I find , lo my regret , that some of my friends have misinterpreted my motives in allowing myself to be put in nomination as a candidate at the recent election , and I am desirous to remove any erroneous impression . Yours fraternaly , R . R . DAVIS , 109 , Clapham-road , S . VV ., P . M . 25 G . 31 st May .

109 , Clapham-road , S . VV ., 22 nd May , 1 SS 0 . To EDWARD COX , Esq ., Chancery Lane . Dear Sir nnd Brother .

R . ALL GIRLS . I think it my duty to tell you candidly that I allowed myself to be put in nomination as a candidate for a seat on the House Committee under an entire misapprehension of what was intended to be done . I understood tbat , from resignations , there would be two or three vacancies to be filled ; and feeling a great interest in the welfare of the Institution , and having , moreover , had

several years experience on the Committee of another ( non-AIasonic ) charity , I was willing to compete ( as I supposed ) for one of the vacancies now arising . VVith this view—and with this view only—I have addressed a circular to such of the Governors as know me personally ; but , in so doing , I have simply asked ( heirsupport to myself , as I hail not tbe most remote itlea that

it was in contemplation to endeavour to oust the existing House Committee " en masse . " I can scarcely believe lhat so undesirable an end will be attained . For myself , I should regard it as an unmitigated calamity for the Institution—because , while fully believing that an occasional infusion of new blood may be beneficial to any Committee , I cannot imagine that an entirely new

Committee , however zealous the members may be , can , in the very nature of things , be competent to replace those wbo , from tbeir experience in the management of the Institution , have become acquainted with all the details . Knowing several members of the existing Committee ,

and their devotion to what appears to me the best interests of the Institution , I cannot but regret that I should have appeared to have endorsed a policy of which 1 cannot approve . 1 am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , R . R . DAVIS .

VISITING BRETHREN . To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 note from time to time letters respecting visiting which jar much on the minds of those who wish to practise as well as profess brotherly love , relief , truth , and the universality of Alasonry . Of course much abuse may follow

the wisest and best of sublunary efforts , but we should be careful to err rather in laxity than stringency in acts of hospitality , I lately visited a lodge founded by professionals . I found I had to pay live shillings to attend their refreshments , anel they had also the honour of conlributinglnrgest of all to our

Masonic Charities , because all the brethren assist tbeir funds and performances . This seems not fair , as we allow at our lodge all to come free . If professionals be Alasons I will pay to see them on the histrionic platform , but I cannot think it right to assess their talents when in lodge and at the festive board . 1 am , yours respectfully and fraternally , CONSISTENCY .

ADAIISSION INTO ENGLISH LODGES . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , --In reply to ' Bro . Poynter , il is true lhat the disjunctive "or" applies to Ihe requirement that a visitor should be " personally l-. m . v . n . recommended , or well vouched for , " bill the !!(> " !; ( .-l I '<>; ' -: it ntion .- ... , «•; ,, n Jo say " afier due examination by one of the prrs .-ni bn-llin n . " Now

bearing in nunn that i . o brother is i-niiil ¦¦ to be examined without producing , h . s c ' -itilu-. ile , j inalnlnin my previous proposition tbat a visitor mn t lir . 1 produce b ' . s rei-tilicatf , then undergo satisfactorily . 'i'i - \ aiuinatioii , and afterwards find some one lo recoinin mi hint before he ran claim admission into a lodge . Yours fraternally , P . G . SEC . 31 st May .

Reviews.

Reviews .

ROSICRUCIANISM . Hy Bro . T . B . WHYTEHEAD , York . This is an inaugural address , delivered at thc first meeting of the York College , by our well-known and able brother , and is very good reading . For some reason or other much interest is just now excited in the history and solidity of the " Brethren of the Rosy Cross , " and all such

essays are helps to students , which deserve both noting and commemmoration . The hiseory of the Rosicrucians is itself a "Crux , " their connection with later bodies a still greater one for the honest enquirer to-day . There is an immense amount of Hermetic and Rosicrucian literature in thc world , which requires to be looked at dispassionately and critically , lt is quite clear that with tbe " Rose Croix " of

the Ancient anel Accepted Rite , as far as we see at present , the old Rosy Cross Fraterity had nothing to do . Neither is it as yet clear that any continuation of the olden Hermetic body anywhere exists , unless it be somehow absorbed in some other Hermetic Grades . The Rosicrucian College is of course a modern resuscitation , not based , we apprehend , on any real Rosicrucian formula ; , nor lineally nor

actually the descendants even of Ashmole ' s Astrological and Hermetic Association . We may say at starting that we historically accept the fact of thc existence of an Hermetic Fraternity . Thc earliest book relative to the Rosy Cross Fraternity appears to be published at Venice in 1612-13-14 , as the "Allegemcine and General Reformation , " & c , and " Bencben des Fama Fraternitatis , " & c , was published first at Cassel in 1614 ,

as Kioss declares , and this is only a translation b y Besold , be assures us , from Ragguaglio de Parnasso , Venice , 16 irr , by Trojano Boccalini . The actual " Fama Fraternitatis , " about which so much has been written , appears to have been published at Cassel , Germany , by Wessel , 1615 , and is said to have been really written by a Hamburger citizen named Yung , and not by Anilraa . A curious work which

we have seen , called "Secretioris Philosophic Consideration & c , " Cum Confessione Fraternitatis , R . C ., " by Phillip A . Gabella , appeared at Cassel in 1615 , and at Frankfort in 1617 . There is said to be another edition of it . There is a Dutch translation of the " Fama Fraternitatis" in 1 C 15 , so probably the real date of the orignal work is somewhere about 1614 . Two poetical pieces addressed to the Rose

Croix Fraternity appear also in 1615 . This shows us the early appearance of Rose Croix literature , anel perhaps we have not yet realized the earliest , as we might find traces of it in some of the much earlier -are Hermetic works . Robert Fludd's " Apologia" appealed in 1615 , and thc " Chemiscbc Hochzcit of Christian Rosenkreuz , by Valentin Anelraa , or Andrae , was published in iCn (> . This

appears to be his first work , though not his last by many . There is a " Confessio et Liteive , " published in 1615 , " Appendix Necessaria , & c , " also published in 1615 , " Verio Sapientke Filiis , & c , " and "Alysteriuni Arilhmeticum SiveCabalistium . & c , " as well as an "Asscrlio , & c , " all published in 1 O 15 . We need not here allude to numerous works like "Fama Remissa , " in ifiifi , "Tractatus

Thcologo Pbibsopbicus , " " Elucidarius Alajor , or any of Michael Maicr ' s works which are known to Hermetic students . Indeed Rosicrucian literature is in numbers and matter an alarming reality . The writer of this has a very curious attack 011 the Fraternity called " Rosce Crucrs

rrater , of date 1019 . hut though all this be so , where are we to look for the continuation , if any , of this old 1 Iermeticism is the problem we bave to solve . We thank Bro . Whytehead for an interesting and well-written paper , and trust that some of our " Notes" may be useful to bim and others .

GREEKS AND GOTHS : A STUDY ON THE RUNES . By Rev . ISAAC TAYLOR . AIACMILLAX , anel Co . This is one of the most interesting books which we have read for sometime . Like the writer ' s other works , " Word and Places , " and "Etruscan Researches , " it deserves perusal anel thought . We are ourselves quite inclined lo accept Bro . Taylor ' s ingeniously worked out theory , which , however , it is impossible to elo justice to in a cursory and fragmentary

re-view like this must reasonably be , anel which only professes to point out such works , not analyze them . But it is a wonderful fact which the writer seems to us so clearly to establish , that the " Runes " so long looked on as magical signs , and what not , are the Gothic development of the old Greek , or rather Thracian trading alphabet . See a further review of this most interesting book ill lhc " Alasonic Alagazinc " for July .

THK MASONIC AlUSK . By F . J ULIAN CKOOKR . Spencer and Co ., 23 A , Great Oueeii-stivet . This is a well-printed book , whicb will be useful , wc doubt not , to those good friends of ours who take part in " recitations" and " musical deliverances . " We are glad lobe permitted to call the attention of our readers to an original work of merit and music combined .

AIAGAX 1 NES . " Tc-mple Bar" continues "Adam nnd Eve" and the " Rebel of the Family , " and has two interesting papers on Wm . Cowper anil Victor Hugo , and some touching lines , wc fear , " Ower True , " to boot , from Annie Thomas , ( Airs . Cundlip ) . "All the Year Round" flourishes with " The Duke ' s

Children , " anel though we ilo not profess to like "Set in a Silver Sea . " it lias , we know , many admirers . We are sorry to see "All the Year Round " touching that ticklish " Land ( Jucstion " and the " Law of Piimogclogical , " as an excited orator- once said . " The Antiquary " is a very interesting number , and i ^" , we hope , now an established reality amongst us .

H . iT . i . inv . w ' s Pn . i . s . — laver , I . un ; j ; s , and Kidneys . —A lar ^ e number et" internal inala . hcs .-1 ri-e t ' n . m o ] i > triulioiw < t \" er the rcintnal of which llie-se ivl .-l . r .- ilcil I' II- ccrci-i- lie- imi .-t pcrfci ! tviiilnil . A course nt' llieiu is -:: iui'J \ ivcennneutlcil as a rcuuily I ' nr almost all 1 I ire ; lie a licet inns - as ! : \ cr coin plaint , ci invest it in til the limes , turpi' !;! -, et' tne hiiliK-v--, ami ether luiictitinal disorders which cause

nnuh present suttcrim ' ., an . ! il' m-itkrteil lav the- limnilatiun tit" inli'imeraHe itii . e-a-. es . I It . lluuaj V Pills arc especially : nl : i ; i ( c ' tl fur Hie Mitin .: aii'l I ' -lval-: their eeii ' tlc anil puritViu ^ action places then ) al . tuc ail titlier ineiliciii s . in iaili-s--. ii icnuus ailcctinns , i . nnt , anil ihcuuiali-m tiiese Tills hau- raised Im- themselves a uuiiers . il I ' ainu . Thee cxp . 'l all ilnpiinlies from the liluml ami llnrs ra . lorc clrcal * illness ami vitiuur . ~ | A : nr . " |

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( Continued from page - .-, 7 . ) to act as Steward on the occasion . The brethren afterwards proceeded to " refreshment , " and during the evening a very choice programme was given by Bros . Busfield , Burton , D . Saunders / Frcd Albert / Henri Clark , Brammall , Geldard , and Fairclou . gh . "The Health of Bro . Courtenay , I . P . AL , " was the subject of a special toastin recognition

, of the fact that be had on the previous day celebrated thc tenth anniversary of his arrival in Liverpool , and cordial wishes were expressed for his future success , health , and happiness . A motion is on foot to raise the sum voted by the lodge to the Boys' School to the sum of 100

guineasno mean contribution for a lodge which has only been a few years in existence , and has . already voted a lanjc sum of money for Alasonic purposes , besides having established a Benevolent Fund on its own account , in connection with which there is now a substantial amount laid by for thc "rainy day" which may overtake any member .

LIVERPOOL . —Kirkdale Lodge ( No . 1756 ) . — The usual monthly meeting of this young and flourishing lodge was held at the Skelmersdale Hall , Kirkdale , on Wednesday , the 20 th ult . Thc lodge was opened at 6 . 30 p . m . by the W . AL , Bro . William Gick . There were present Bros . E . Johnsor I . P . AL ; Dr . T . Serjeant , P . AL , M . C ; II . Finleysoi ., S . W . ; J . GricrsonJ . W . ; R . E .

, Alitton , lreasurer ; C Bargerev , Secretary ; Thos . Hay , S . D . ; W . G . West , J . D . ; A . Child , Organist ; I ' I . Alarshall , I . G . ; J . D . Reader , S . ; Watson , Tyler ; H . Formby , ) os . Croxton , J . Davidson , R . Jude , VV . Alacinder , J . I-I . Wilcox , VV . Phillips , VV . Wilson , 1-:. Wilson , J . S . Bramley , lames Rillie , ] . 11 . Williams , W . Warhurst , C . Ilansill , Fred . Alaish ' all , A . N . Hamilton , R . T .

Brittan , Robert Forbes , G . M . Allien , J . 11 . Giles , G . II . Shearer , and others . Visitors : Bros . J . C Patterson , W . AL 1473 ; R . A . Hughes , S . W . 1473 ; Capt . F . Large , nSj ; Thomas Hatton , 203 : Joseph Queen , 66 7 ; ' Webster Williams , 1600 , ; W . H . Ouale , 1325 ; J . A . Aluir , S 23 ; Thomas Watkins , 249 ; W . Brassey , S . D ., 825 ; E . Callcrall ,

S . D . 203 ; J . II . Haniscll , 203 ; T . Atherton , 203 ; John Alclnness , 135 O ; Robt . Stockton , 1393 ; IL [ ones , 135 ( 1 ; S . Broadbridge , 241 ; and J . C . Robinson , P . M . 249 . After the lodge had been openeel in due form and solemn prayer , the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed . The ballot was then taken for Alessrs . Phillip Ormc and E . II . Norton , anel in each case they were

declared duly elected , and being in attendance were duly initiated into the privileges and mysteries of Freemasonry . Bros . Wilson and Davielson being desirous of going forward were examined in this Degree , and , being found proficient , were entrusted and retired . The loelge was then opened on the square , when the above-named brethren were readmitted and passed to the Degree of Follow Craft , the

work in each Degree being performed by the W . AL and his officers in a very creditable manner . The lodge was then closed down to the First Degree , when a brother was proposeel as a joining member and a gentleman for initiation . " Hearty good wishes " having- been expressed by the visitors , the lodge was closed in due form . The brethren then adjourned to banquetwhich was

, served by Bro . Casey , who as usual gave great satisfaction . Upon the removal of the cloth the usual loval and Alasonic toasts were proposed and duly honoured . "The Health of the W . AL , " " The Ncwiy-liiitiatcd , " and " The P . AI . 's " followed . Bros . Capt . Large , Robinson , and Patterson ( W . AL 1473 ) , responded on behalf of "The Visitors . "

The last-named brother spoke highly of the good working and hospitality of the lodge . The Tyler ' s toast brought a . most _ enjoyable evening to a close . ' Hie harmony oi" the meeting was greatly enhanced by the musical efforts of Bros . Webster Williams , J . ( Won , T . Hatton , VV . II . Ouayle , J . D . Reader , and " A . Child . The last named presided nt the pianoforte .

TWICKENHAM . — Royal Hanover Lodge ( No . 1777 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held on Saturday , the 22 nd nit ., at the Albany 1 Intel . There were present Bros . Henry Lovegrove , W . AL ; Geo . Clark , jun ., S . VV . ; W . 11 . Barber , ' Sec ; C . C Cruikshanks , S . D . ; F . | . Perks , | . D . ; VV . lleelis , D . C ; W . S . Dunkley , I . G . ; T . G . W . Wood , W . S . ; Harrison , acting Tyler ;

II . A . Dubois , P . AI , P . | . G . W . ( Proy . G . . Scribe E . Arch ) , I . P . AL ; Al . S . Larlham , P . AI . 121 ( 1 , 1539 ; Holliday , Elliott , Johnston , Johnson , and St . I . cgcr . Visitors Bros . Chas . Wclkir . l , " J . W . 1 . 10 ; W ' eust , P . AI . 753 ; Fox , S ; and W . R . Phillips , P . AI . 975 . The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed , and the ballot was taken for ttvo joining members , Bros .

A . G . White and ]•' . 11 . Parker , also for a candidate for initiation . Air . II . G . Green was introduced and initiated into the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry . The W . AL was then informed that thc R . W . Provincial Grand Master , Bro . Col . F . Burdett , was in the ante-room , ancl directions were given for a proper reception of the elistinguished visitor , who was accorded a hearty welcome , and

duly saluted in ancient form . The W . AL then proceeded to pass Bios . Johnson anel St . Leger to the Second Degree , and afterwards raised Bro . Elliott . The proceedings , which lasted nearly three hours , were then brought to a close , anel the brethren aeljourned to refreshment . Twenty-three members and visitors having discussed the good things provie ' . eel by Bro . Bayliss , the usual toasts were dul y

honoured . The W . AL , 111 proposing thc toast of "The R . W . Prov . G . AL , " expressed the pleasure felt by himself and all the members of the lodge at his kindness in attending tin that occasion . The R . W . P . G . AL thanked the brethren for their hearty welcome , and expressed bis satisfaction at tbe rareful and impressive way in wbich the W . AL bad performed his duties , and the efficient working of the ofiicers .

Bro . II . A . Dubois , I . P . M ., proposed "The Health of the W . AL , " who , in responding , urged upon the brethren the duty of supporting the Charities , and . tiiiiuunced that he would represent the lodge at the festival of thc Royal . Masonic Institution for Boys . Bro . J . A . Elliott , a member of tin : lodge , who had that evening taken the Third Degree , handed to the W . AL an original acrostic on the name of the lodge — R oyal in name , anil second unto none , (• ur lodge unites ns till beneath the sun ; Y e brothers of the light , the mystic tie A round 11 .--, casts the rays of charily , L ove , honour , concord , and fraternity .