Original Correspondence.

Before taking any action in the matter , therefore , I thought it only fair to ask you if this document really emanates from the Supreme Council , and as matter of courtesy 1 expect a reply . I may at the same time express my sincere regret that the Supreme Council should have adopted such a hostile attitude to the Sovereign Sanctuary , and thus forcing us

into an antagonism which we deprecate , and would gladly avoid . 1 cannot but think that this hot haste to stir up strife and ill-will is about the last thing that Masons should be guilty of , and must afford considerable amusement to those not concerned in the issue , to see how lightly are regarded those professions of love and charity when selfish class interests are concerned , and how readily the almost

exploded ideas of bigoto ' , intolerance , and persecution are seized upon , when opportunity offers , with the vain hope that they are again available to suppress liberty and truth . You krfow that the Ancient and Primitive Rite is derived from the same source as your own Ancient and Accepted , and the antiquity of both is pretty much on a par . Why then endeavour to put a false glamour of imaginary descent

on what is confessedly a modern compilation . Let us drop this nonsense of paper warfare ; it does not become us as Masons , still less as Christians , and as I said before , offers to outsiders an amusing contrast to our professions . Believe me , we do not want to interfere with ' , your rights , real or imaginary . Let us alone . Yours truly and fraternally , J AMES HILL .

We have been requested to publish the following : [ Copy . ] THE CIRCULAR . This communication to be read at two successive meetings of your chapter . 33 , Golden-square , London , W ., July 7 th , iSSo . Dear Sir and Brother , —

A notice having lately appeared in the Masonic journals signed James Hill , 32 , under the Ancient and Primitive Kite of Masonry , to the effect that the " Rose of Sharon " Chapter , No . 6 , is opened weekly as a lodge of instruction in various Degrees , to which Royal Arch and other Masons are invited , 1 am instructed by the Sup . Co . of England , Wales , and the Dependencies of the British

Crown to acquaint you that the so-called " Ancient and Primitive Rite" is not recognised by this or any other legetimate Supreme Council , by whom it is held to be an unauthorised body . I am , therefore , to request that you will have the goodness to make known to the brethren of your chapter that no Masonic communion can be held with any bodies or

individuals under the said "Ancient and Primitive Rite " under the terms of their obligation as set forth at page 11 of the Rules and Regulations of the Order . The name of James Hill , who signs himself as 32 , is quite unknown to this Supreme Council . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , HUGH W . D . SANDEMAN , 33 " , To the M . W . S . G . Sec . Gen .

QUERIES . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother . — Will you kindly permit me to ask two questions through the medium of your paper , and to say how obliged I shall be to any brother who will favour me with answers to them , or cither of them ? In the " Masonic Magazine" for September , under the

heading , "French Freemasonry , " I read the following : — " In Paris , 1725 , Lord Derwentwater , Sir Nevil Maskelync , and some other Englishmen , established a lodge in a house in the Rue des Boucheries , belonging to an English restaurateur named Hure ; and shortly after , ; in May , 1 S 29 , at an inn in the same street , the first lodge that had a regular constitution was established by Bro . Le Breton , and called

the Louis DArgent . In 173 G there were but four Masonic lodges in Paris . " Now Don Martinez-Pasqualis , writing from Bordeaux to the Grand Lodge of Paris , in the year 1763 , says : — " The Grand Master of London sends me also the general list of legitimate lodges that exist in France , and with which I can associate , to wit : The first lodge , at the sign

of the "Town of Tonnerre , " Rue des Boucheries , Pans . This lodge was created by warrant from the Grand Lodge of London 15 th May , 1732 . The second lodge is at Valenciennes , in French Flanders , at the sign "Royal Exchange , " founded 27 th December , 1733 . The third lodge is that of Aix and Marseille , of which my father was Master , nth October , 1723 . The which lodges have all

been constituted by the Grand Lodge of Scotland , Ireland , and London . " What authorities have wc on this point that may be considered reliable ? There exist in Spain Freemasons' lodges composed of women , and in at least one other lodge a woman has been initiated in proper form . Are there known to have existed , or to still ex ' st in any

other country , a lodge or lodges composed of women , or that were or are androgynal ? Fraternally yours , JORGE COLLAS . [ The answer to these historical questions is to be found in the Freemason for June 2 Gth , n . 205 , in the review of Daruty ' s Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite . Androgynous Masonry died out with the past century . —ED . F . M . ]

MASONIC TRADING . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I attended my lodge last Monday evening , when a circular letter was opened by the W . M . This circular bore on the left hand corner our Masonic Arms , and on the opposite corner what was no doubt meant to represent the

Fourth D- 'grce in Masonry , viz ., a champagne cork . The circular commenced "Dear Sir and Brother , " and went on to describe how Mr . So-and-So ( of wham few Masoas ever heard , at least his name is not familiar to me ) was initiated into Mount Lebanon Lodge , and thereupon

be : ameso " charmed with the " grandeur of our Masonic Charities , that henceforth he determined to carve out his name high in the annals ot good Masonry , and in pursuance of this laudable design would give to every thirsty brother of the fruit of his vineyard such quantities of his " grand 1 S 74 vintage champagne" as his necessities

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might require . Noble and generous offer ! O worthy Mason !! True , our brother does say something about 65 s . per dozen , but that is of little importance : the grand point is that with every dozen will be sent a coupon representing 3 s . each , " such coupon to be sent to the Secretary of whichever Charity the lodge or brother elects , and

endorsed by him , when they are at once payable at my office . " So that any brother purchasing seven dozen of this champagne may benefit Bro . So-and-So—I beg Bro . So-and-So ' s pardon—may benefit one of our Masonic Institutions to the extent of one guinea , and at the same time no doubt increase the charmedness of our excellent

Bro . So-and-So . Never look a gift horse in the mouth is proverbial philosophy which would prevent us from daring to compare thc celebrated brand of our self-denying brother with the lesser known brands "Creme d' Epernay , 1 S 74 ; Krug 1 st Quality , 'Sec' 1 S 74 ; Jules Camuset-Grand Vin Extra , 1 S 74 ; Moet and Chandon , istQual . ; Perrier ijouet , extra quality , 1 S 74 ; Jules Mumm , extra

dry ; Due de Montebello ; Clicquot , and many others , all of which can be obtained at about a similar price . Our worthy brother , being a wholesale man , cannot himself sell to individuals , but is prepared to distribute it through his agent , another excellent Mason , who signs his name " faithfully and fraternally " at the bottom of the circular , and whose office is to be found not quite 100 miles from the

Mansion House . I forgot to add that to prevent imposition each bottle will bear a label on which will be fully displayed the Mason's Arms . Now , Sir , I ask you , can anything be more outrageous , more contrary to our professions , more likely to bring disgrace upon our Craft than such proceedings as these ? Is our Society ( notwithstanding each individual's solemn

protestation at his initiation that sordid reasons do not influence him in his desire to join our fraternity ) to be used for trade purposes , to be turned into a means for advertising one's wares . If so , then farewell to the purity and virtue on which our Order is founded ; farewell to every ennobling sentiment which for ages past has drawn us together in one indissoluble bond of brotherhood , anxious only for the

welfare of ourfellow creatures , and to emulate each other in deeds of charity and benevolence . Sir , I call upon you as one high up in our Order to use your powerful voice and stem at once this sinuous attempt to prostitute and degrade our noble Charities , to demoralise our pure principles , and to bring disgrace and shame upon our Order . Let not

our escutcheon be debased by any sinister blot . Demand to know who dares to bear our Arms un-Masonically . Speak boldly . Speak instantly . Speak with no uncertain sound , and you will earn the gratitude of every true Freemason , and among them Yours faithfully and fraternally , C . YURRD .

MASONIC TRAMPS . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I regret to say within the last month I have come across three Masonic tramps , whose names I shall give to

any lodge Secretary who may apply to me . These cases fully bear out the wisdom of always telegraphing or writing to the Master or Secretary of lodges before giving relief , as by so doing these tramps were found out . Yours fraternally , JAMES II . NEILSON . 32 , Leeson-street , Lower , Dublin , 27 th October .

GRAND LODGES OF SCOTLAND AND QUEBEC . To the Editor of thc " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Knowing the interest which the Freemason has taken in the late unfortunate differences between the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Quebec , I am sure that you will join with the brethren in Canada in mutual congratulations that these differences have at last been amicably

settled . It is understood that the lodges in Montreal holding Scotch warrants are to become of obedience to the Grand Lodge of Quebec , but are to be allowed to retain their own mode of " working " and to wear their own regalia . I enclose you a copy of the proclamation issued by the Grand Master of Quebec . Yours truly and fraternally ,

J . NISBET ROBERTSON . [ Wc are glad to receive our worth y correspondent's letter , and to publish it . The proclamation referrred to will be found on page 490 . —ED . F . M . ]

ANSWER TO A LETTER . To the Editor of die "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Referring to a letter in your last issue , signed "James Hill , 33 , Gr , Sec . Gen . Ancient and Primitive Rite , " in which he complains of having been covertl y attacked by thc Supreme Council , 33 , of the Ancient and

Accepted Rite , may I be permitted briefly to state that a circular was recently addressed by the Supreme Council to Chapters under its jurisdiction , informing them that the Ancient and Primitive Rite , not being recognised by regular Supreme Councils , could not be visited by Rose Croix Freemasons who are attached to the Ancient and Accepted Rite , under the conditions upon which they had taken their Degree .

As the body styling itself the " Ancient and Primitive Rite" prolesses to give certain Degrees corresponding in their nomenclature with those of the Ancient and Accepted Rite , and had , by advertisement , invited Rose Croix Masons generally to attend its meetings , it was deemed advisable by the Supreme Council Thirty-Third Degrte , to put brethren under its jurisdiction upon their guard , lest they might unwittingly be led to forget their duty as members of the Ancient and Accepted Rite . I am , dear Sir and Brother , vours fraternally .

HUGH D . SANDEMAN G . Sec . General , 33 . 33 , Colden-square , W ., 1 st November .

SWIMMING BATHS . We have been requested to publish the following : — My dear Bro . Symonds , — I was indeed very pleased to receive your letter , and hope ere long to have the further pleasure of seeing you . In reply to your query , we have not yet established a swimming bath at Wood Green , but hope before long to

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mature a scheme by which the subject may be brought before our subscribers . to I am fully alive to the importance of this matter , and will not fail to push it at an early date . With kind regards , believe me , always yours , J . CREATON .

Reviews.

Reviews .

A VISIT TO WAZAN . By R . SPENCE WATSON . Macmillan and Co . This is one of the most pleasantly written books we have read for some time , and treats of a matter well known to all who land " on Mauritania ' s shore . " Years ago—yes , years , alas—we visited both Tangiers and Tetuan , and remember hearing there of Wazan , the sacred citv of the

Moors , _ where the descendant of Mahomet resides , more mysterious and inaccessible to Europeans than even Tim buctoo . Poor Davidson , who fell in his experiment to reach Timbuctoo , never even thought of Wazan . A Dr . Rollfs has been at Wazan , which he entered as a professed or real Mahommedan , we know not which , but to Bro . Spence Watson must we give the honour of beinsr the first Christian

who has lived in and fully seen , and come back from Wazan . The Cherif of Wazan—who is the 33 rd in direct descent from "Ali , " the nephew , and Fatima , the daughter of Mahomet—has , as it is known , married an English lady , and her second son is now the " Cherif " at Wazan , to the Moors the " representative of God on earth . " Bro . Watson obtained letters of introduction to the " Cherifa "

, the wife of the "Cherif" at Tangiers , and , armed with a letter from the "Cherif " to his son at Wazan , was able to perform a most satisfactory and pleasant journey to this hitherto inaccessible region , and to give us an account , alike animated and truthful , of what he saw at Wazan . We ourselves can " vouch " for the fidelity of his account of Tangiers and Tetuan , and , judging from what he tells

us so well cf what we have seen , we are the more inclined , trustingly and believingly , to accept his description of what we have not seen . We must refer our readers to the book itself , ( as our space is limited ) , for his account of Wazan . One point will interest Freemasonry . It seems that Bro . Watson was in the Franco-German War , and delivered from a " certain peril" by " Freemasonry . " We do not

know if these lines will meet his eyes , but if they do , we shall be glad to give our readers his account of his deliverance by Freemasonry from the dangers which beset him . He tells us , at page 194 , that both the " Cherif " at Wazan and his elder brother , a high official at Fez , talked to him about the " mystic science . " He adds , " There are scarcely any Free and Accepted Masons amongst the Moors , though

the existence ot the Urder is well known . " Is he quite sure of this ? We , on the contrary , have reason to know that Freemasonry exists among the "Santons , " or holy men , or "Saints , " and it is quite possible that , unknown even to himself , Bro . Watson was in the presence ot the G . M . of Moorish Freemasonry , such as it is , and whatever it may be . Their interest in it may be accounted for by this fact .

We always understood that it was confined to a very select few , but that it existed , and of its existence , as we said before , we had an indubitable evidence . The writer of the story "Ubique" in our last Christmas number of the Freemason g ives a good account of thc fact , of which wc who write this can " vouch for . " We commend " Wazan " to all our readers , as a most interesting and pleasant work .

MAGAZINES FOR NOVEMBER . Thc Magazines are before us , in their usual profusion , and hopelessness , therefore , of complete reading or satisfactory selection . "All the Year Round" maintains its position well . "Asphodel" is so far very pleasant reading , and there are many other papers of much interest and effectiveness . An " Unbusiness-hkc Proceeding" is very amusing .

"Temple Bar" is both varied and readable . "Erasmus Darwin , " " Lady Hester Stanhope , " and " The Gibraltar of the East" are all well worthy of persual . "Adam and Eve" is winding up , somewhat sensationally , and "An Experiment in Mesmerism " and "A Little Bohemian " ate , we think , almost too painful in their " realism " and " word painting . " We do not , wc confess , ourselves care very much for "The Rebel of the Family , " though wc know it has many readers and admirers .

"The Antiquary " pursues the "noiseless and even tenour of its way " with much usefulness , reality , and good effect . All its articles are very readable and valuable of their kind , important to note , and instructive to refer to . "Scribner" comes up in its " decennial period " with its character and power of literary merit and artistic illustration . We wish it heartily all success . As a monthly

magazine it has few equals , and no superiors . Its articles are many and interesting , and its " p ictures" of marked finish and excellence . "The Life of the Czar Peter" is too spun out ; and we cannot quite agree with the article on "Walt Waithman . " But " Zerviah Hope , " "Tiger Lily , " "Bordanstow and the Buonapartes , " "Francois Millet , " "Mr . Gladstone , " "Artemus Ward , " " Elihu Vedder , " are all well worth reading .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

"Solomon in all his Glory" is a work about which a good deal has been said . I possess the 2 nd edition , with two fine copper plates , published by Robinson and Roberts , No . 25 , Paternoster-row , 1768 . It is said to be written by a certain officer in the Army , and late master of the Swan Tavern , in the Strand . He signs himself Thomas Wilson

in the preface . It contains also a list of lodges to February , 17 GS . The work is said to be translated from the French , originally published at Berlin , and burnt there by order of thc King of Prussia , at the intercession of the Freemasons . This is clearly a mistake , as the work is purely an English work .

An Abstract of Laws for the Society of Royal Arch Masons is printed at London ( no printer's name ) in 17 S 6 . It is signed on behalf of " our Grand and Royal Chapter , " loth of May , 1768 , by John Allen , Z . ; John Hoody , H . ; Francis Coust , J . It contains a very excellent oration , which might well be re-delivered at the consecration of a