Correspondence.

And then to die so young and leave Unfinished , what he might achieve ; Yet better sure is this than wandering up and down , An old man in a country town—unlirm and poor . For now he haunts his native land , As an immortal youth his hand Guides every plough . He sits beside each ingle nook ,

His voice is in each rushing brook , Each rustling bough . His presence haunts this room to-night , A form of mingled mist and light , From that far coast . Welcome beneath this roof of mine , Welcome , this vacant chair is thine , Dear guest and ghost . "

I remember some years ago paying a periodical pilgrimage to the cottage in which the bard first saw light , and in that cottage there was , and probably now is , a framed speech made on the centenary of his birth by Dr . Haley Waddell , of Glasgow . One paragraph in that speech buried itself into my memory , and with that I will close . The words were these— " Of the adamant and crystal of the Jewish mind God made Moses with that eye of His , where was the

very body of heaven in its clearness , of the lustrous marble of Archipelagohe , the head of Homer . The fictile clay of England , the finest , the best , the most impressible , and retentive , he setupon his patters wheel , and off came the mask of the myriad-minded Shakespeare , and from the unmolten iron of the northern hemisphere , full of heat and lire , full of rage and love , full of music and electricity , lie selected the most precious portion , and cast into the furnace of human passion—seven times heated—aye , with the

concentrated heat of 500 years—and out came Robert Burns ; glowing , flashing , raging hot ; ringing , echoing , reverberating with song j glansing and corruscating with wit and humour ; as musical as the bells of Moscow , as clear as a jubilee trumpet , as divinely authoritative as the horns of the priests at the downfall of Jericho . " Brethren , I beg to ask you to rise and drink in solemn silence the glorious immortal memory of our dear departed Bro . Robert Burns .

Bro . Page next proposed " The Treasurer , Bro . Ritchie , C . C . j the Secretary , Bro . James Thomson ; and the Trustee , Bro . James Gray . " 3 ro . Ritchie looked well after the funds of the lodge , and dispensed them with credit to himself and satisfaction to the brethren . He came there at considerable inconvenience , as Thursday was a day he had to attend at another important body . Bro . Thomson , the Secretary , had on the present occasion excelled himself in

the way he had arranged everything , and therefore more than the ordinary compliment was due to him . The whole of the work had been on his back . He had taken a great deal of trouble , and had asked him ( Bro . Page ) to help him to make it a success , that the lodge should not lose any of its prestige through the absence of the W . M . Then Bro . Gray , the Trustee , was always with them , and always ready to give his advice . He also was a host in himself , and

would do anything he could to help the lodge . Bros . Ritchie , Thomson , and Gray replied , all expressing ( he hearty interest they felt in the welfare of the Scots Lodge . Bro . Charteris , responding to the toast of " The Initiate , " said he knew but little yet about Freemasonry , but what little he knew made him wish to know more . The service he had gone through he thought a most solemn and impressive one , and he hoped he would become a credit to the

lodge . Bro . Page , proposing "The Visitors , " said the lodge was delighted to see those brethren , and he hoped the table would always be well surrounded with guests . Bros . Dalgety Henderson , T . C . Walls , and Campbell replied . Bro . Gellion , S . W ., responded to the toast of " The Officers , " and the Tyler's toast , given by Bro . W . Robertson , Tyier , brought the proceedings of this most enjoyable evening to a close .

Provincial Meetings.

PROVINCIAL MEETINGS .

CHICHESTER . Lodge of Union ( No . 3 8 ) . —The annual installation meeting of this lodge was held on Thursday , the ^ nd inst ., at the Council Chamber . Bro . C F . Charge , the retiring W . M ., presided at the commencement of the proceedings , and subsequently , with all due ceremony , installed his successor , Bro . lohn St . Clair , who had for the

second time , during his Masonic career , been called to the chair of the lodge by the unanimous voice of the brethren . It was in 1 S 6 S—exactly a quarter of a century ago—that Iko . St . Clair first filled the chair of K . S . in the lodge , - ' . nice then he has twice been called to office in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex , on the second occasion lilling the chair of Junior Grand Warden ; and he was also

the first W . M . of the Gordon Lodge , Bognor . Bro . St . Clair invested as his officers , for the ensuing year , the following : Bros . C . F . Charge , I . P . M . ; E . F . A . Gower , " W . ; H . Holding Moore , J . W . ; Rev . Musgrave 1 lilton , ' -Jiaplainj O . N . Wyatt , P . M ., P . P . G . Supt . of Works , Jreas . j J . H . Hawes , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Scc . j G . Fielder , S-D . ; A . I . Raven , J . D . j Oliver Lloyd , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., rt uamDertivi 58 Lincoinsnire

" •* - , . w . , r .. B , I' . I ' . KJ . KJ . , Ofg-J C . R . B . Knight , I . G . j S . Baker and E . King , Rewards j and W . A . Beatson , Tyler . The W . M . 's first duty was a very pleasurable one , viz ., to present to Bro . j-harge a Past Master ' s gold jewel which had been voted to h "n as a mark of fraternal respect and goodwill , and in recognition of the able manner in which he had presided oyer the lodge during the year . The report of the Charity the had

^ rewards showed that lodge been very active during l ! l year in the support of the Masonic Charities , about ft ° having been sent up to the Benevolent Institution and tie Giri ' School , through Bros . Wyatt and Barrett . Bios . ''• Smith and O . N . Wyatt were re-elected Charity lewards . fill , laffur fr » cpn > . nn fliA ftiarit-ioc' f ~ V , mmitl .. i »

0 'he province , and a handsome'donation was voted to the " ° ys School , to be placed on the list of Bro . G . Fielder , ™? going up as a Steward at the ensuing Festival . ha conclusion of business , the brethren sat down to a DoT ' | ' served in good style by Bro . Hornsby , of the p 'Phin Hotel , in the Assembly Room . Bros . Langton , sev ° ' , J , - - Kev . V . Crick , Prov . G . Chap , j and i ' | W . M . ' s of other lodges were present as visitors . n the course of the evening a number of toasts were

Provincial Meetings.

given , in the drinking of which the brethren evinced their loyalty to the throne , their respect to the rulers of the Craft , both in Grand and Provincial Grand Lodge , and their affection for their W . M . Bro . St . Clair , on his part , interested the brethren in a learned discourse upon the antiquity of Freemasonry in Chichester , the city being undoubtedly the cradle of the

mystic Fraternity in Sussex . He showed conclusively that guilds of artificers , from which undoubtedly sprang the present fraternity of speculative Masons , existed in Chichester in the time of the Romanoccupation , | andfrom the year 16 95 , when , according to Anderson , the first Duke of Richmond was Master of a lodge at Chichester , and also Grand Master of the Fraternity in England , there had ,

with a few slight breaks , been a continuation of Masonic work in the city for 200 years . During the evening a musical programme was given , under the direction of the Organist , B ro . Lambert , the vocalists being Mr . F . Bailey , Mr . G . W . E . Cussons ( Chichester Cathedral ) , and Mr . Clifton Tyack ( Winchester Cathedral ) .

CROWLE . Isle of Axholme Lodge ( No . 1482 ) . —The monthly meeting of this lodge was held on Tuesday , the 31 st ult ., in the Masonic Hall , when there were present Bros . R . N . Brunyee , W . M . ; J . Constable , Chap . ; R . Wood , P . P . G . S . B ., Sec j T . Horobin , P . P . S . G . D .,- W . Burtonshaw , P . G . P . j W . Chamberlain , D . C . j P .

Staniforth , P . P . G . P ., P . G . Chap ., Stwd . j J . F . Watson , Treas . j C . Fox , S . W . ; j . Faulkner , J . W . j W . W . Scholey , I . G . j J . Turner , S . B . j W . Wressell and J . Franks , Stwds . j G . Naylor , Tyler j G . Medley , and J . Birch . Bro . Staniforth gave an account of the late bazaar and conversazione which resulted in a balance of £ 39 for the

Provincial Benevolent Fund , and after thanking Bro . Staniforth for the work he had done , it was resolved to make the sum up to 40 guineas so as to secure the full voting power . Bro . Constable proposed , and Bro . Horobin seconded , a vote of condolence with the family of the late Bro . Winter , who died on the 19 th ult ., and for whom the lodge was now in mourning . It was announced that the D . P . G . M . would visit this lodge in March .

HAMPTON COURT . Hemming Lodge ( No . 1512 ) . —A meeting of this lodge was held at the Greyhound Hotel , on the 2 Cth inst . Among those present were Bros . W . Fisher , P . M . S 34 , W . M . j John Smith , S . W ., W . M . elect ,- J . W . Clarke , J . W . ; J . C . Jessett , P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Treas . j Capt . T . C . Walls , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., Sec . ; H . Robinson ,

S . D . ; Trotter , J . D . j Hopkins , I . G . j G . Ransford , P . M ., D . C . j G . I . Tagg , A . D . C j H . Wheatley , P . M ., P . P . A . G . D . C , P . Cronin , and C . Wheatley , Stwds . j A . F . Scholding , I . P . M . j W . Spearing , P . P . G . S . B . j C . Clark , P . M . j R . Eales , P . M . j W . C . Plimsaul , P . M ., P . A . G . P . ; and J . Gilbert , Tyler . Among the visitors we noticed Bros . A . Oliver , W . M . S 20 ; T . Glass , P . P . G . Std . Br . Jersey j

J . A . Harvey , P . M . 1314 j H . T . Cooper , P . M . 1567 ; S . Fish , P . M . 1733 j A . Tucker , P . P . G . S . B ., P . M . 1773 j S . J . Cross , P . M . 2242 ; T . R . Cass , J . D . 1320 ; D . Rawlings , J . D . 2012 j H . P . Harris , 1567 ; J Lodge , 15 G 7 ; W . N . Armstrong , 1733 j C Ransford , 2432 j and others . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , Bro . E . M . Jones was passed , and Bros . L .

Camisa , T . Fairer , and R . S . Fox were raised to the Third Degree . The W . M . then impressively installed Bro . J . Smith as W . M ., assisted by Bro ? . R . Eales , as S . W . ; E . Clark , as J . W . ; and G . Ransford , D . C . The following appointments and investitures were made : Bros . Clarke , S . W . ; Robinson , J . W . ; Jessett , P . M ., Treas . ; Capt . Walls , P . M ., Sec . ; Trotter , S . D . ; Hopkins , J . D . ; G . J . Tagg , l . G . j G . Ransford . P . M ., D . C . ; Cronin , A . D . C j

R . Eales , P . M ., C . Wheatly , F . Scott , H . Gale , and T . D . Meacock , Stwds . ; and J . Gilbert , Tyler . The report of the Audit Committee was received and adopted . The W . M . then ably initiated Mr . Edgar Morris into Craft mysteries . Apologies for non-attendance were received from Bros . H . H . Room , P . G . Sec . ( Hon . Mem . ) j A . Macchi , T . Greet , G . Dixon , and others . Bro . Fisher , I . P . M ., was

presented with a Past Master's jewel and collar . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquet . Upon the removal of the cloth the usual toasts followed . Bro . R . Eales responded fluently on behalf of "The Provincial Grand Officers , Present and Past . " The I . P . M ., in proposing "The Health of The Worshipful Master , " remarked that Bro . Smith , since the date

of his initiation , had been most punctual in attendance and painstaking with his work . The Worshipful Master having replied , gave "The Initiate , " who briefly replied . "The Visitors" followed . Bros . Oliver , Tucker , Fish , and others responded . In giving " The Past Masters , " the Worshipful Master

spoke in high terms of Bro . W . Fisher , whose term of office had been in every respect a great success . He had the pleasure of announcing that in response to many solicitations , Bro . Fisher had consented to be nominated as Provincial Grand Treasurer for Middlesex for 1 S 93 . He ( the W . M . ) trusted that the I . P . M . would be successful . The I . P . M ., in his reply , said that after nearly a quarter

of a century ' s Masonic work , he thought that he could honestly aspire to be a Provincial Grand Treasurer . Bros . H . Wheatley , P . M ., and G . Ransford , P . M ., also replied . "The Treasurer and Secretary , " "The Masonic Charities , " and "The Officers , " terminated the proceedings . The Worshipful Master was elected as Steward for the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys .

MANCHESTER . Humphrey Chetham Lodge ( No . 64 s ) . —There was a large assembly of influential brethren at Freemasons' Hall , Cooper-street , on Wednesday , the 1 st inst ., to witness the installation of Bro . A . II . Jefferis , P . M ., P . J . G . W ., by Bro . J . II . Sillitoe , P . M ., P . P . G . W .,

P . G . Std . Br . Bro . C II . Arnold , W . M ., opened the lodge , and the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed , after which the W . M . invited Bro . Sillitoe to take the chair as Installing Master . Bro . Jefferis , the W . M . elect , was presented by Bro . Williams , P . M ., D . C , and a Board of Installed Masters having been duly constituted , Bro . Jefferis was installed into the chair of K . S .,

Provincial Meetings.

The ceremony at this point being conducted by Bro . Williams , Dir . of Cers ., who also presented the working tools , Bro . Sillitoe addressing the W . M ., Wardens , and brethren . We feel sure that under the mastership of Bro . Jefferis , one who is so popular in East Lancashire and has done so much for Freemasonry in general , the success of the Humphrey Chetham Lodge is assured for the ensuing

year , in conjunction with the following officers , who he invested and addressed himself : Bros . W . I . oose , S . W . ; E . Robinson Walker , J . W . j Carl J . W . Gotz , P . M ., P . P . G . W ., Treas . ; John E . Lees , P . M ., P . P . G . 1 ' reas ., Sec . j J . Andrew Orrell , S . D . j W . J . Bernstein , J . D . ; J . Moody , I . G . ; W . Williams , P . M ., Dir . of Cers . j and F . J . Robbins , Org .

The meeting was a very successful one . The members of the lodge have always been to the front as regards the Charities , and this year they seem to have kept the reputation , for they have contributed 30 guineas to the R . M . B . L ; 10 guineas to the East Lancashire Systematic Masonic Educational and Benevolent Institution , as well as several handsome donations locally .

After "Hearty good wishes" had been givenby the numerous visitors present , the Worshipful Master presented to Bro . C . H . Arnold , the I . P . M ., a handsome Past Master ' s jewel . He said it gave him very great pleasure indeed to do so , as Bro . Arnold had done all in his power to make his year a successful one , and had accomplished it , and he hoped he would live many years to wear it in the lodge . Bro . C . H .

Arnold suitably responded . At the close of the business , the brethren adjourned to the banquet hall to celebrate the Festival of St . John . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and responded to . The pleasure of the evening was greatly enhanced by the vocalist party , consisting of Bros . J . W . Kershaw , P . M . j Cuthbert Blacoe , and S . Kinnell , Bro . Daber acting as

accompanist . The following are a few of those present : Bros . C . H . Arnold , VV . M . j Wm . Loose , J . W . j J . E . Lees , P . P . G . Treas ., Sec . j J . Andrew Orrell , W . J . Bernstein , Williams , P . M ., D . C . j John Hall , J . H . Sillitoe , P . G . Std . Br . j A . H . Jefferis , Arthur Middleton , P . M . j S . Kelly , P . M . ; M . Weigenthaller , P . M . ; E . Chiswell

E . Moody , T . Bullock , A . B . Smith , Isidore Gotz , Thos . Harrop , Thos . Barron , P . M . ; and F . W . B . Woodward . Visitors : Bros . G . L . Vaughan , P . M . ; J . M . Sinclair , P . P . G . D . ; J . J . Lambert , P . P . G . Registrar ; A . Kenfin , S . Dawson , G . S . Smith , P . M . ; J . Robinson , W . M . 1219 ; W . Pritchard , P . M . ; John Hocking , P . M . ; Wm . Jaffray , P . P . G . D . ; and J . Kcnworthy , S . W . 1170 . The jewel was manufactured by Bro . George Kenning ,

PLUMSTEAD . Pattison Lodge ( No . 913 ) . —The usual monthly meeting of the above eminent lodge took place on Thursday the 2 nd inst ., at the Freemasons' Hall , Mount Pleasant , and was well attended . The only business on the agenda was the passing of Bro . James , which was done to perfection by the W . M ., Bro . W . Campbell Taylor , and his

olhcers , the incidental music , vocal and instrumental , being admirably rendered by the Pattison Choir , and Bro . F . Tyler , the Organist . The W . M . then gave the lecture on the tracing board in the Second Degree . Bro . the Rev . J . W . Horsley , M . A ., Chap ., a lodge Almoner , then gave a most interesting account of his researches into the history and antecedents of the various cases of

Masonic distress brought to his notice , the record of which he had entered in a book , so as to become a reference for future . Almoners . Out of four applicants , two of whom were Scotch Masons , and all from the north , he found three to be confirmed tramps and impostors . He advocated a system of intercommunication between the Almoners of lodges so as to

become acquainted with the crowd of Masonic , or sham Masonic itinerants , who made a living out of Masonic Charity . Bro . Horsley was congratulated on his acumen and adaptability for this especial duty , and then the lodge was closed . A handsomely served dinner followed , after which the usual loyal , Grand Lodge , Provincial Crand Lodgeand

, personal toasts were given and honoured ; some splendid singing and instrumental music filling the pauses effectively . Among the other brethren pres-nt and not above mentioned were Bros . C . Coupland , P . M ., Treas ., P . P . J . G . W . j R . J . Cook , P . M ., P . P . G . R . j H . Mason , P . M . j E . Denton , P . M ., Sec , P . P . S . G . D . j C . Jolly , P . M ., P . M . 1472 and 21 S 4 J Dr . E . Bryceson , S . W . j C . 1 . ClaDham ,

J . W . j J . J . Collins , S . D . j D . K . Summers , J . D . ; J . Cook , I . G . j E . M . Taylor , A . D . C ; J . Farrier , A . Moore , and R . B . Saunders , Stwds . ; J . Turton , | . Rigden , W . Wren , W . A . Fenn , J . H . tfutter , E . G . Denton , W . Chany , A . Littlewood , J . Stratton , W . Freeman , J . Squires , W . Pryce , W . Newton , G . Frost . W .

Sanders , G . Clifton , I . Rose , G . G . Roberts , J . W . Dickenson , G . H . Campbell jJ . Widger , A . D . Capon , E . Trapnal , H . Stewart , J . Griffiths , C . Lonergan , J . Buckley , B . Hammond , and L . Mills , all of the lodge . The visitors included Bros . G . F . Taylor , W . M . ; J . Sanderson , P . M . j H . King , P . M . 615 j H . Tufnell , J . W ., K . Carter , and A . Fenn , of 700 ; and E . W . Carter , P . M .

PLYMOUTH . Fortitude Lodge ( No . 105 ) . —The annual banquet was held on Wednesday , the ist instant , at Freemasons' Hall . The W . M ., Bro . T . W . Sopcr , presided , supported by the following : Bros , S . Jew , P . M ., Chap .,-R . B . Twose , P . M . j C H . Cooper , P . M ., Rrepresentative at Committee of Petitions , Sec . j H . J . Kitt , P . M . ; J . W . Parsnn . P . M A \\ l < ,-. ;„„„ ., I > lU T . i « - . C _ I

Edgcumbe , P . M . ; W . J . Sweet , P . M . j C Luke , S . W . j S . H . R . Gibbons , J . W . j R . R . Rodd , jun ., S . D . j T . G . Taylor , J . D . j F . Maitland , I . G . j C F . Cooper , D . C ; W . D . B . Symons , Org . ; A . F . Matthews , Asst . Org . j A . R . Stancombe and C . Brown , Stewards j W . H . Phillips , Tyler ; and F . Mabin , Charity Steward . The visitors were Bros . R . G . Bird , 1550 , P . P . G . T . ; E .

Aitken-Davies , 1099 , P . P . G . S . of W . j A . R . Lethbridge , P . P . G . S . of W . j N . Radmore , 159 ; W . BrowniSg , P . P . G . D . C ,- R . Blight , P . G . Std . Br . j T . C . Lewarn 223 , P . P . J . G . D . j W . Allsford , G . W . Hancock , 202 ; I . R . Lord , P . P . G . T . ; B . R . P . Elliott , P . G . L . Pearce , 1247 , P . P . S . G . D . ; G . Milford , J . T . Rook , W . H . Williams , 1 S 47 J T . C . Jeffery , 1136 ; A . H . Widden , 1212 ; H . S . Best , 225 S ; W . h . Chapell , 150 ; II . Reynolds , 2025 ; W . II . Botterell , 1255 j G . Guvney , 1247 j 1 . Hicks , 70 ;