Masonic Grammar.

time to time we see in the pages of the Freemason that it has readers far more competent that " Lindley Murray " to deal with a question of this kind , who must have seen thc word which offended his hypercritical eye , and who yet allowed it to pass . Your crotchety correspondent could not . 1 sail he was inconsistent , anil I feel sure you have not

one reader ( except himself—he likes people to be particular ) who will deny that , while " Lindley Murray " has charged me with being personal , he has been far more personal in his own remarks . Is it not personal to say a brother is deficient in capacity , and to apply to him the lines which were written by Dryden of Shadwell ? More virulent ( I do not say vulgar ) personality cannot be conceived , and

could not be exemplified even by " Lindley Murray . " There is a predisposition in some people to be personal . " Lindley Murray" himself esteems it a blemish in human character ; let me assure him it is one which is likely to be much aggravated in those who admire the style in vvhich " Absalom and Achitophel" is written . I sairl that " Lindley Muiray " was inaccurate in his

statements , and this controversy , whatever else it does , clearly shows the truth of my remark . He has had to own that he was wrong in saying ( i ) that exceptional was in Johnson ; ( 2 ) that exceptional and exceptionable were synonymous ; and ( 3 ) that the use ol the word exceptional was not warranted by any authority but mine . He cannot be accurate even in smaller matters . He

imputes to me ignorance of the common use of the word stickler without the least ground for so doing ; and I notice , as all readers of Scott will have noticed , that he speaks of a Bertram in thc " Antiquaiy , " whereas in that novel there is no such character . Of course " Lindley Murray " may reply that it was verv pardonable to forget that Bertram is found in " Guy Mannering . " I do not

say it matters much ; and , since the words of the quotation are given as in the original , I mention the circumstance , in addition to these other four instances , only to show with what caution thc statements of " Lindley Murray " must be received . Strange that those who aie inaccurate themselves should be so ready to see the fault in others ! " Lindley Murray " seems to know Dryden . Can lie not admire this passatre : —

"'I he soul , shut up in her dark room , Viewing so clear abroad , at home sees nothing ; But , like a mole in earth , busy and blind , Works all her folly up , and casts it outward To the world ' s open view . "

Lastly , I said that , to judge from "Lindley Murray ' s ' letters , tin re was little to show that he had any qualification which decidedly entitled him to assume the office of ¦ 1 censor in . 1 matter of this kind . It was the remark of a great critic , speaking of literary work : —

Sunt delicta tamen ( juibus ignovissc vclimus ; " but will you allow me to say—I do not say it harshly—that , after making every allowance for your correspondent , the more I have seen of his productions , the more confirmed has my opinion become ? He has already dispu ted my capacity ; and , therefore , I could not possibly hope to persuade him that his style is not good , or that , in the

case uf every letter which he has written on this subject , it is marked by many inelegancus . This is a question on which many of your readers who have seen these letters will have already formed their opinion , and it is one to do justice to which would require too much of your space , and too much of my time , even if " Lindley Murray " were likely to be influenced by wint I might write .

" Lindley Muiray " has advised me to refer to Todd ' s Johnson ' s Dictionary , for he says "Emollit mores , ncc sinit esse feros . " The circumstances of the case do not allow this to appeal to me as a powerful argument , but I shall get the bonk . Let me also advise your correspondent , not i-i the words of the midwife in the passage [ from which he qjoted , to

'Do anything but write ;" for I say what is said a few lines furth-rr

on" I see , 1 sec , ' lis counsel given in vain ;" but let mc advise him , in the words which Polonius addressed to Laertes" Beware Of entrance into quarrel but , being in , Bear it that theoppose r may beware of thee . " I hope there is nothing in this letter which will wound

the feelings of " Lindley Murray , " or confirm in him the idea that I am " vulgarly personal . " 1 have read the article 011 "Personality in Masonic writing , " suggested , no doubt , by this controversy . Its impartiality , its tolerant spirit , its gentle rebuke , and , above all , its strong common sense invest it with a power by which it is impossible that our minds should not be affected . In a discussion of this

kind one is so easily led from the " retort courteous " ( as Touchstone has shown ) to the " quip modest , " " ihe reply churlish , " "the reproof valiant , " and so on even , except in the case of Masons , to the " lie direct . " 1 cannot conscientiously plead guilty to the charges made against me by " Lindley Murray ; " but we are brethren , and ought

to part , since we are about to part , on fraternal terms . Let me therefore retract anything I may have written which seemed to him a " vulgar personality , " and let me assure your correspondent that I never supposed any remark of mine could have been so characterised . Si Yours fraternally , T . M . DBON , J . W . 417 .

To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — 1 have been much surprised at the rather hairsplitting—if not head-splitting—controversy lately going 011 iii your cuiumns on English grammar , as 1 lliink , with one ul old , how delightful it is for brethren to dwell together in unity , nnd that they , especially ) ought to do no In facti lo use it veiy commyni but very unHfatrirnailsid ****

Masonic Grammar.

or rather absurd—phrase , that , of all others , they ought to be the last to fall our , especially about trifles . I was equally pleased with your very sensible and wellwritten article upon the subject . May those whom it concerns profitt by it . I , too , might have written to say that I was no aware that Masonic grammar differed from that of other people , as I really thought ;

but I cannot help saying that in rearling the letter of one of your correspondents ( I think Bro . Mackenzie ' s ) one would be lead to infer that such was the case , as he begins with this astonishing sentence 1 " I was not previously aware that Freemasons in any way differed in the construction of the English language to others . " Now for a

person to rush , uncalled , into a controversy on rather a nice point in the English language , and to commence his letter with such a sentence as tha f , does certainly seem extraordinary , and shows the truth of what you say , that people ought to consider before they do anything of the kind . Yours , Sec , OBSTUPUI .

MASONIC LITERATURE . To tlie Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Referring to your journal of the 19 th of April , and your remarks under the above heading , I note your remark that the " Masonic public wants educating " as to the high importance and value and light " imparted by

' Masonic literature . ' And as a rule you fear the less profound artistic and aesthetic level of Masonic literature is preferred , which deals with the ' menu ' and the ' songs , ' which sets up elaborate ' summonses ' and deftly decorated invitations as the ' summum bonum ' of Masonic literary taste and power , and that you fear thc majority of our Order remain perpetually indifferent to the lucubrations of

thc Masonic antiquarian , or the pages of thc Masonic historian . " Now Sir , while agreeing with you as to the importance , and value , and light imparted by " Masonic literature , " and while not differing with you to some extent in your latter remarks—that is as to the existence of those practices—I yet must , in all due deference , submit that the sense in which you have connected them , as ¦' their

being preferred , etc ., " is unjust and uncharitable . I claim for myself every desire to study Masonic literature , but while the " price " of such stands at the exorbitant rate as at present , you must not be surprised at that apparent want of interest in Masonic literature which , as your remarks would seem to point out , exists . If you can be the means of

causing " Masonic literature " to be put within the reach of the brethren , the same as other valuable literature , I think you would find no cause to draw any future comparisons , which as some one remarked are " odorous , " but would deserve the thai . ks of the Ciaft . Yours fraternally , CHEAP LITERATURE .

AN ERROR . To lhc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — There is an error in your list of contributions to the Girls' School , which please correct . It should be ND . I Lodge , I . W . Sewell , £ 22 is . Yours fraternally , ISAAC WILLIAM SEWELL .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF MIDDLESEX .

The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lotlge of Middlesex was held last Saturday at the Memorial Hall , Great Stanmore . Col . Burdett , R . W . Prov . Grand Master , presided . Sir Crurles T . Bright , Dep . Prov . Grand Master ; Bros . H . G . Buss . Prov . G . Treas .: H . C . Levander ,

Prov . G . Sec . ; Louis Beck , Prov . G . Org . ; John Gilbert , Prov . G . Tyler ; and the following brethren were also present : Bros . John Hammond , G . Steward ; R . Hilsdon , P . P . G . P . ; D . W . Pearse , P . P . G . R . ; Randolph G . Glover , P . G . D . ; Thos . J . Sabine , P . P . G . S . D . ; B . H . Swallow , P . P . G . J . D . ; M . A . Dubois , P . P . G . S . D . ; C . J . Rushworth , P . G . R ; George Kenning , P . P . G . J . D . ; Frederic Davison ,

P . G . S . W . ; R . W . Giddy , Dist . G . M . Griqualand Colonel shadwell II . Gierke , P . G . D . ; Charles Horsley , P . P . G . R . j J . B . Shackleton , P . P . G . P . ; T . C . Walls , P . P . G . D . ; Dr . K . W . Ramsay , P . G . S . W . ; Charles Veal , P . G . S . D . Surrey ; E . Hopwood , P . G . S . B , ; E . Letchworth , P . G . Reg . j W . Hammond , P . G . D . ; F . W . Levander , P . M . 1415 ; Cecil Thompson , VV . M . 1237 ; E . B .

Bright , P . M . 778 ; John Hunt , P . M . 1512 ; Henry Lovegrove , S . W . 177 < j ; H . Mead , P . M . 788 ; John Verity , S . W . 1194 ; C . J . W . Davis , P . M . 382 ; W . Grist , J . W . 1637 ; W . Stephens , W . M . 16 . 37 ; W . Radford , S . W . 1702 ; T . Keene , P . M . 1415 ; Heiiry C . Finch , P . M . 708 ; J . Wall , J . W . 1702 ; J . R . Nichols , W . M . 1 367 ; W . W . Stevens , I . P . M . 1733 ; T . VV . Clarke , J . W . 15 G 7 ; J . W . Robbins ,

D . D ., P . M . 1 C 85 ; George Penn , P . M . 1642 ; J . L . Coulton , P . M . 3 82 ; German Fehrenbach , P . M . 382 ; Fred W . Dougall , P . M . 755 ; Fred H . Varley , P . M . 16 37 ; George Harrison , 1326 ; T . W . Ockenden , J . W . 1512 ; W . S . Marshall , J . 1549 ; C . Harding , P . M . 77 8 ; W . H . Paul , J . D . 77 8 ; Thomas Cubitt , P . G . P . ; G . H . Stephens , S . W . 1626 ; T . J . Maidwell , I . P . M . 27 ; Francis Buckland , P . M .

2 c $ and 88 9 , W . M . 1638 ; T . J . V . Honeywell , I . P . M . S 8 9 ; R . T . Elsam , P . M . * 201 and 889 , P . P . G . D . C . Surrey ; 11 . Handel , 16 5 6 ; G . H . Mead , 34 ; G . H . Hunt , 1194 ; Charles Hawksley , Sec . 1702 ; W . T . Buck , S . D . 1702 ; F . W . Greenwood , James W . Lambert , S . D . 1285 ; It . Farquharson , 2 ; Fredk . H . Cozens , Org . 907 ; Robert P .

Paton , 1549 ; John Middleton , 834 ; John Green , P . M . 27 ; George J . Fox , 1239 ; Charles Graham , 1326 , 1540 ; F . H , Wilson lies , P . P . G . S . VV ,, G . Sec . Herts ; W . Johnson , 1549 i Fredk , Binckes , P . O . Steward of England ( John E , Dawson , P . G . J . VY , Httts . ) Thos . Massa , and H . Mftittcy . P . Mi 619 ( JVMMWfl ) .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Middlesex.

Bro . Middleton assisted Bro . Gilbert , the Prov . Grand Tyler . The Grand Lodge having been opened , the minutes read , and the report of the Audit Committee adopted , on the motion of Bro . Davison , seconded by Bro . Sabine , Bro . H . G . Buss , Assistant Grand Secretary , was unanimously

reelected Prov . Grand Treas . ; for which mark of confidence and esteem Bro . Buss returned his sincere thanks . It was then arranged that the meetings of Prov . Grand Lodge should take place annually on the fourth Saturday in June . The following brethren were then invested as Provincial Grand Officers for the year 1—

Bro . Sir C . T . Brig ht Prov . D . G . M . „ T . J . Sabine Prov . G . S . W . „ H . A . Dubois Prov . G . J . W . ,, Rev . John Robbins Prov . G . Chap . „ H . G . Buss Prov . G . Treas . „ Thomas Keene Prov . G . Reg . . I-I . C . Levander Prov . G . Sec .

. „ F . S . Knyvett Prov . G . S . D . „ John Hammond Prov . G . J . D . „ John Verity Prov . G . S . of XV .

„ VV . Stephens Prov . G . D . C . „ G . I-I . Mead Prov . G . A . D . C . „ T . C . Walls Prov . G . S . B . „ J . B . Shackleton Prov . G . Purst .

„ John Hurst Prov . G . A . Purst . „ John Gilbert Prov . G . Tyler . Bros . Davis , F . W . Levander , E . ~ ) Bright , Tiricomb , W . H . Stevens , V Prov . G . Stewards , and Japheth Tickle J

The Prov . G . Master in proposing that £ 10 10 s . be granted from the Benevolent Fund to the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , £ 10 ios . to the . Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , and £ 10 10 s . to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , said it required very few words from him to induce the brethren to assist thc Charities in

the way they had done in foinier years , and were very happy to do . The province had had rather an uphill work in its younger ( lays , but it had reduced its difficulties now to an infinitesimal measure , and he hoped that by next year , even after assisting the Charities , there would be a balance altogether in favour of the Prov . G . Lodge . The Masonic Institutions told their own tale , and there

was hardly any necessity to say anything in their favour . By the exertions made on behalf of those Institutions very large sums had been raised , £ 10 , 000 to one , £ 11 , 000 to another , and £ 12 , 000 to another in one year , but there were very heavy calls on them , and it was the duty of Masons to place those Institutions in a proud position , not only before Masons but before the world . Other Charities

thought themselves very fortunate if they collected £ 5000 , but the Masonic Institutions had no difficulty in doubling that amount . He hoped it always would be so , and that by the benefits thc Institutions afforded they would prove themselves worthy of such generous support . Sir Charles Bright , D . P . G . M ., seconded the motion , which was then put and carried by acclamation .

I he sum of £ 10 was granted to a provincial brother m distress , and ordered to be paid immediately . Bro . H . C . Levander , P . G . Secretary , reael the letter he had been directed , by the vote of last Grand Lodge , to write to the widow of the late Bro . R . W . Little , and Grand Lodge was thereupon closed . The brethren aftervvarels attended the parish church , which had been kindly placed

at the disposal of the Grand Lodge by the rector , the Rev . L . J . Bernays , where a sermon was preached by the Rev . John Robbins , Prov . G . Chaplain . After church the rector invited the brethren to the rectory house and grounds , after inspecting which a banquet , admirably supplied by Bro . Veal , of the Abercorn Arms , was partaken of . The customary toasts vvere afterwards honoured .

1 he Prov . G . M ., in proposing " The Pro Grand Master , and the rest of the Grand Officers , " said that Lord Carnarvon was always ready to perform his duties , and when he was at the Colonial Office put himself to considerable inconvenience in order to preside at Grand Lodge . So much was this the case that it frequently kept him up till one o ' clock in the morning discharging his secretarial

duties . Lord Skelmersdale was also very energetic as Deputy Grand Master , as were also other Grand Officers . Some of these were presert , and , while not forgetting Bro . Col . Shadwell Clerkcyhe wished to mention Bro . Richard Giddy , District Grand Master of Griqualand , where , under his rule , Masonry was now in a very flouiishingcondition , although the country , unhappily , was at present in a

disturbed state . Bro . R . H . Giddy , Dist . G . M . of Griqualand , replied . He felt a difficulty , he said , on such an occasion as that in replying to a toast so wide in its application , because , coming as he did a comparative stranger to England , he could not be supposed just yet to know the merits of the Grand Officers . He could , however , testify to the merits

of Lord Carnarvon and Lord Skelmersdale . As far as he had seen , all the Grand Officers weie worthy of the position they occupied , and he was very glad to find they were so highly appreciated by the brethren in general . Bro . Giddy , in proposing " The Health of the Prov . Grand Master , " said it had given him great pleasure to see the Grand Master conduct ihe business of Grand Lodge so

admirably . Altherugh liberalism of ideas was growing very extensively , Masons confessed that there must be a hiad to everything . It was necessary there shoulel be a head of Grand Lodge , of Provincial Grand Lodges , and of private lodges . It was also necessary that there should be

a head in business life . While Masons had such a head as the Provincial Grand Master for Middlesex , who ruled with courtesy and geniality , as the brethren must confess he hail ruled that evening , such a Provincial Giand L-odtf * as thai of Middlesex must prosper . Th « l ' ror . Grand Ma » t « r . In ruporuc , a a id he ( tit evn »