Original Correspondence.

ness is , "If Mr . Conway is a sample of the Masters of Lodges , " & e . Doubtless , you Sir , with myself , have witnessed and mourned over the follies of the wise , and the failings of the good . We have known persons do things so inconsistent with their position and profession , us to excite our greatest wonder , and we have

heard that expression which is almost heart-breaking , as it comes from our almost heart-broken Master , " Is thy servant a dog that he should do this thing . " If I were to ask the following questions in a mixed company , Is that person a sample of all married women ? Is that person a sample of all who take Holy

Orders ? Is that person who is being punished for systematic cruelty to her child , is she a sample of all mothers ? Is that man who said , " Whomsoever I shall kiss , that , same is He , hold him fast , " is he a sample of all disciples ? These with many others of a kindred character might be asked , but , right minded men and

pure minded women , if they answered , would probably add these words , the fact of your asking or supposing that all women are faithless , because you have fed on the foulness of some divorce reports , or that every man in Holy Orders disgraces his church and calling

because some have done so ; or that every mother is an incarnation ot cruelty , or every disciple a Judas , is an indubitable sign of your own suspicious , deceitful , bad heart . " If Mr . Conxoay is a sample of the Masters of

Lodges , The character of Freemasonry is as firmly established as the everlasting hills . Time is called the Great Leveller , yet notwithstanding the wearing influences and operationsof countless ages , and the destructive eneigies of storm and tempest , still they are—the everlasting

hills—defiant of time , emblems of eternity ; fixed and indestructible on earth , and ever directing man to the contemplation and attaiiunentofliis native heaven . So with Freemasonry , firm in its native omnipotence and perfect in its essential purity , its character is invulnerable and everlasting . This—this is the place which cannot be

moved but abideth for ever , from the world's infancy to its present maturity it lias been adding strength to strength , destroying enmity by the strength of its love , and destroying want by the s'rength of its beneficence , and of the increase of its government there shall bo no end , while there is in this world a necessity to be relieved

or a sorrow to be soothed . If the intention of the London Correspondent was to damage only the reputation of Freemasonry , still it was labour lost , for in every clime and every living language it is felt and acknowledged to be a system of brotherly love , its benevolence is co-extensive

with the wants of the world , and can be satisfied only when every clime is resplendent with its brightness , and happy iu its purity of joy . Every continent of the earth , and every island of the sea , can attest the divinity of its mission . The figurative phraseology of one place speaks of it as- feet to the lame , and eyes to the blind , in

another place it is represented as the shelter and shadow of a great rock in a weary land , but among ourselves where figures of rhetoric are less perfectly understood than facts , we say , if we cannot dry up the orphan ' s tears , for they will come—They do come—yet we will do our best to be a father to the fatherless . The

widows shall find a home . The aged and infirm shall be provided for , cared for ; and though the palsied frame , fiebic step , and second childhood are beyond our remedial skill , yet thu decline and energy affile are so soothed and enlightened , and the alleviative tendency of our affectum and care is such , that when our

venerated brother is called lo the Grand Lodge above , he may find that the brotherly love of the lodge that is to be his home for ever , is the same in kind as that which he has left , only greater in degree . Divine , love being the source and snstentalion of pure Masonic life now , ami the deathless rapturous themes of the multitude , which no man cm number , for ever and ever .

" // Mr . Cunwtty is a sample of Masters of Lodges , < £ •<¦ ., < 0 c . " In conclusion , if the London Correspondent meant to show that neither official dignity , nor self-respect , nor personal safety c : iu keep some men from evil , then I say no fraternity can feel it more keenly , nor punish it more propuly , than a Lodge of Freemasons . As

there are spots in the sun , so there are occasionall y unworthy men f mud among Masons . True Masomy never robbed or mined man , woman or child , but has helped and ennobled all those who have been < bedient to its precepts . I enclose my card , and am , Sir , Yours fraternallv , A FREEMASON .

ANOIENT DEGREES . ( To the Editnr of The Freemason . ) DEAR Sin AMI > l > uoriii ' . is . —In the number of THE FKKESIASON for Sep f , you did me the favor of inserting a letter requesting a list of thu thirty-three degrees of Masonry as practised iu Ireland and

America . In the succeeding number , you have been so kind as to give a list , and Bros . Iluglian and Yarlter have also very fully entered into the matter and the short description the latter has given of the various degrees is rery hit resting . Yet , withal , I must confess I am not satisfied and

Original Correspondence.

cannot reconcile the various statements , and you will p lease pardon me in returning to the subject again . Your statement of the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Rite agrees with Bro . Yarker , which as far as I can judge are the American degrees , and yet they do not agree with those of Bro . Hughan ; he has g iven a

list of ten degrees as practised in Ireland according to Ahiman Rezon and as I received them . In this list Past Master does not occur , although it appears to be the fifth degree in Scotland and America , and Ex . M . and Sup . Ex . M . merge into R . A . and form one degree .

Now Sir , what I would like to know is a list of the various degrees as practised in Ireland from 10 th to 18 th ( which I have been informed is Prince Masons ) and from 18 th to 80 th . This last and remaining three are given in the Book of Constitutions . I would take the liberty of enquiring in your pages

also for some information or sketch of the " Priestly Degree" or as it is sometimes called the " Pillar Priest . " As I mentioned in my former communication it is practised in the North of Ireland , and is a beautiful degree though not recognised by the Grand Lodge or in the Book of Constitutions .

Hie only information 1 can get respecting it is in Oliver ' s "Landmarks , " where he states it is the seventh in the series of Baron Ilunde , is practised in Belfast , and under another name in Newcastle , in the North ; and Bristol in the South of England . Hoping I may not be trespassing too much , I remain , yours fraternally . BELFASTIENSIS .

Obituary.

Obituary .

BRO . JOHN STEVENS PULLEN , P . G . D . We deepl y regret having to announce the decease of this estimable brother who expired on Monday the 1 st inst ., in his Gist year . Bro . Ptillen was an old Mason , having been initiated in the Old Union Lodge , No . 4 ( 5 , on the 10 th February , 1833 , and in clue time he served every office in the lodge . The Grand Master selected our deceased brother for the office of

Senior Grand Deacon , in April , 1815 ; he was also an energetic member of the Board ot General Purposes , and took an active part in the construction of the New Buildings , at Freemasons ' Hall . In his business relations Bro . Pullen was

greatly respected as a man of integrity and ability , and wo may sum up his character b y saying that ho ever adhered strictl y to the princip les of honor and probity inculcated iu the precepts of the Craft .

ACCIOENT TO E . \ w . VANE Lord Vane attended on Monday a Masonic ceremony in Oswestry , where he joined the Oswestry Lodge , to support , the Provincial Grand Master , Sir Watkin Williams Wynn , in laying the foundation-stone of a Cottage Hospital . In returning by the last train at nig ht to Machynlleth ,

his lordship occupied a saloon attached to the guard's van , and at a place called Carno ( on a steep incline ) , forty miles from Oswestry , the train came into collision with a goods train , which was partly shunted for it to pass . The force of the collision snapped the coupling chains , and Lord Vane's carriage ran down

the incline a distance of six miles , to Moat-lane Junction . Fortunately the saloon kept the rails , and met with no obstruction . The manager of the Moatlane refreshment-room was just going to bed , when an alarm was given of the unexpected arrival of the carriage , and his lordship , with Ins face bleeding from

a wound in the forehead , received in the collision , was brought in . Dr . Parry , of Caersws , was sent for , and the wounds dressed . An engine was obtained from Llanidloes , and shortly before . 0 o'clock his lordship was conveyed specially to Machynlleth . Wo understand that the stoker of the passenger train was much

hurt , uiil some , of the passengers knocked about . ON * Monday , the 1 st of November , a few gentlemen in connexion with the North of London Licensed Victuallers' Cricket Club , met for the purpose of presenting Bro . . lolin Day , of the Westbourne Lodge , and the worthy proprietor of Lord ' s

Cricket Ground , with a . very elegant Diamond Ring ) supplied by Bro . H . M . Levy , of No . ( i , Northbuildings , by a few friends on the occasion of his birth-day . The presentation was quite unexpected to that worthy brother , but by the exertions of Bro . James Wvld , Hon . See ., who lias done so much for

the success of the C'lid ' , a very pleasant evening , was the result . A very excellent cold colla'ion was provided and the chair was occupied by Bro . Wentz I ' , who filled it with th . it genial and courteous manner , so characteristic of that gentleman . Several toasts

were proposed and responded to , and among those present were Bros . Ford , Eaves , L . Drew , II . M . Levy , . T-. unea Wyid , Coatets , R . vwliugs , Fowler , & c , and a most agreeable eveniug was quite unexpectedly passed .

Presentation To Bro. Thomas M'Kell Campbell, At Glasgow.

PRESENTATION TO BRO . THOMAS M'KELL CAMPBELL , AT GLASGOW .

On the evening of Friday , 29 th October , 1869 a banquet took place in the Hall of the Tontine Hotel , Glasgow , on occasion of the presentation , of a Testimonial to Bro . Thomas M . 'Kell Campbell , Past Master "Lodge Cly de , " 408 , member of the Grand Lod ge of Scotland , Most

Excellent Principal "Z .. St . Andrew ' s Royal Arch Chapter , " No . 69 , and a life member of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland . There were present about one-hundred members of the Lodge Clyde , No . 40 S , and many other members of the Craft , including Masters and

Past Masters of lodges in the Glasgow Province , and deputations from lodges Nos . 4 , 9 , 27 , 89 , 102 , 116 . 117 , 128 , 153 , 219 , 332 , 333 , 362 , 392 , 419 , 437 , 441 , 459 , & c . Tho object of the meeting was to honour the worthy and esteemed

brother already named hy presenting to him a handsome gold lever hunting watch , gold Albert chain , gold locket , and gold-mounted , ebony , walking stick , also a gold brooch , gold chain , and gold ear-rings for his wife , the value of the whole being more than fifty guineas . The hall

was beautifull y decorated with flags , flowers and evergreens . At the upper end the banner of the lodge Clyde , No . 408 , floated over the head of the R . W . M . of the lodge , Bro . John Buchanan , who occupied the chair ; and many ships' flags , sent to do honour to the occasion from vessels lying in the Clyde , were exhibited on other

parts of the walls . On the right hand of the chairman was the guest of the evening , Bro . Thomas M'Kell Campbell , and on both hands were Masters and Past Musters of lodges iu the province . Amongst those on the ri ght were Bros . McEwan , Macplierson , and Boyle , and on the left , Bros . T . Boyle , S LM , -. OS ; C . J . Paton ,

P . M . 392 ; J . Steel , R . W . M 4 , P . G . T . W . ; and J . T . Thomson , R . W . M . 437 . An excellent supper was enjoyed , and the chairman , the Right Worshipful MASTER of the " Lodge Clyde , " then rose and stated that it gave him great

pleasure to preside on this occasion—an occasion , which he was sure was regarded with much satisfaction by all present . He saw around him old familiar faces , reminding him of days long past , as " The soothing influence of a pleasant dream ,

Calms down the strife of this chequered scene . " In looking on those now before him , he could not but anticipate good thoughts and good deeds for the future ; and he thought this evening ' s work mi ght tend to the formation and develnpenient of many

a high aspiration , worthy of the ancient and honourable order to which they belong , and worthy of honourable and right-meaning men . He then gave Ihe first toast , namely that of " The First Lady of the Land ,

With tho Sons of tho True Fraternal Band , " "The Queen and the Craft . " As the next toast of the evening , the R . W . Master gave " The Prince and Princess of Wales . " Both toasts were responded to in a suitable

manner . Bro W . LINDSAY , S . W .. then proposed the toast of "The Army , Navy , and Volunteers , " in doing which he said that any nation might be proud of such a force as ours , which is unequalled in the world . Bro . D . Downe replied , ami echoed the

opinion of the proposer of the toast , by saying that no Army , Navy , or Volunteer Force was ever iu a better state , and that therefore no country was ever mure secure against invasion , no nation better prepared to hold its own against all enemies . The toast of "The Three Grand Lodges" was

then given from the chair . Bro . J . F . W . Templeton replied , remarking that although the three Gi and Lodges are confined to the capitals of En . land Scotland , and Ireland , their branches are spread throughout the whole world . lie said that on looking into their history , and beginning with England ,

the institution of Freemasonry , must be refeired to time immemorial . The first record carries us back to A . n , i ! 87 , when it is said that St . Alban formed the first Grand Lodge . 'Ihe Grand Lodge of Scotland deduces its origin from the Mother Lodge of Kilwinning , formed in A . D . 1128 . The ( iraiid Lodge of Ireland was formed in A . D . 1727 . Turning to foreign countries , we find the Grand Lodgo of

I ' ranee formed in 17-5 , and that a . Scotchman , the Karl of Derwentwater , was its first Grand Master . The Grand Lodge of Belgium was formed in 182 . 1 : that of the Netherlands iu 1757 , that of Denmark in 1717 , that of Sweden and Norway in 1754 . 'S \ w United Grand Lodge of Germany is composed of four Grand Lo IL ' : ( I ) The National Grand Lodge of the Three , cstahlish d in 1740 . ( 2 ) The