Original Correspondence.

Grand Lodge of England , or that of Ireland , or that of Scotland , and that no arrangement has been entered into for fraternal relations between it and any of these Grand Lodges . All the lodges of Mark Masters in England are daughters of the Supreme Grand Royal

Arch Chapter of Scotland , which supplied Mark books along with the charter and ritual to every daughter lodge ; and all the marks in these books have an odd number of points . As to marks with an even number of points , found on old buildings , their presence admits of

easy explanation . I shall not occupy your space at present by-showing what that explanation is . For this is not the present question , but that question is what at present is , and has been for more than one hundred and fifty years , the practice of lodges ?

Bro . Buchan and "A Masonic Student" have both wandered from this question which concerns speculative Masonry only , to a question concerning operative Masonry . Perhaps if they will duly consider this hint , they will find out for themselves how to account for marks with an even number of points to be found on

buildings , and Bro . Buchan ' s amusement at my statement as to Masons' Marks may give place to a somewhat different feeling . He may find that it is not my ignorance , but some other body ' s that needs to be excused . Yours fraternally , CHALMERS I . PATON . A Mark Master of England and Scotland .

MELROSE ST . JOHN'S LODGE . To the Editor nf the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Our attention having been called to a

correspondence by Mr . Stratford , on the above subject in your columns , we have much pleasure in sending you a letter to the Editor of the North British Dail y Mail , Glasgow , explaining

a visit of three masons , under Grand Lodge Constitution , to this lodge , which we think will speak for itself , and disabuse the minds of your Masonic readers of the idea that it was a fraternal visit , which Mr . Stratford attempted to convey

by the tone of his letter to which we replied . Trusting you will give it a place in your columns . We are yours fraternall y THE THREE VISITORS .

MELROSE " Birsn " LOJH ; E . To the Editor of the North British Dail y Mail . Sir , —In reply to Thomas Stratford ' s letter in your paper of 20 th inst ., we beg to say that , having seen an advertisement that his lodge was to meet on a certain evening ( the date of which

neither of us can recollect ) to " install officebearers , " we thought , seeing there was no Masonic ceremony , that it would be a suitable opportunity to visit for the purpose of gratifying our curiosity , and also , if necessary , putting our veto upon the proceedings , and exposing to the

members their true position with regard to the lodges and members thereof holding of Grand Lodge of Scotland . When we arrived at the place of meeting there was a sederunt book , in which we entered our names ; but will it be believed of this "lodge of lodges" that may some

day confer so much honour as to join Grand Lodge—though we would suggest to Mr . Stratford rather to offer Grand Lodge the honour of joining it—that their door keeper was unclothed , and on our interrogating him , there was no doubt in our minds that he was not a Mason .

We were admitted without being tested , which is anather sample of how business is conducted at this Temple of Masonic (?) perfection ; and pity it is that we had not had an instantaneous lens , in order that we might have presented a carte of this worthy meeting to each lodge in

the province . The chairman expressed his regret that he was not competent to install the officebearers , but requested Bro . Miller to have the kindness to do so , and hoped he would have no objection . This , need scarcely say , was promptly

and positively refused him , and in a protracted discussion which ensued , we repudiated their charter , protested that their meetings were unmasonic , exposed to the members their position relative to constitutional lodges and their meu .-bers , and censured in unsparing terms the con-

Original Correspondence.

duct of those who were carrying on the trade , but more especially that of Mr . Stratford , seeing he declared himself a Mason under Grand Lodge laws . We have the satisfaction of knowing that the report of our visit was the means of an agitation which resulted in Mr . Stratford

being ignominiously expelled ' from Lodge Glasgow No . 441 , and we hesitate not to say that he will not be permitted to enter any lodge in the province , and we have a very erroneous opinion of the gentleman if he attempts to do so . We neither saw nor heard anything of their charity ,

and as regards Melrose Lodge being instituted to benefit the " craft , " and not the " crafty , " the less Mr . Stratford says about that the better , bnt had his statement been that it was instituted by the " crafty , " it would have had our cordial approval . When it was proposed to close the

meeting , we intimated that as we could discern no pretensions for its being a Masonic lodge , we must retire , and accordingly did so . Thomas Stratford is not now a member of any properly constituted Masonic lodge , and we would say to those whom he may advise to join his party that they will not be admitted into the fellowship of

any Masonic lodge in this or any other province in the kingdom . We intend this letter as an explanation to brethren , and not as a reply to Mr . Stratford , whose conduct is unworthy of notice , unless indeed it be criminal to conduct an illegal secret society . Further correspondence on this subject will have no reply from us . —We are , & c . THE THREE VISITORS .

Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

ROYAL MASONIC INSTITUTION FOR BOYS .

The General Committee of this institution met last Saturday at Freemasons' Hall , Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , V . P ., in the chair . There was a good attendance of members , notwithstanding the holiday season and the inclemency of the weather . Among the brethren

present were James Weaver , Hyde Pullen , J . G . Chancellor , S . Rosenthal , James Terry , John Symonds , Richard Spencer , R . Motion , H . Massey , and F . Binckes , Secretary . After the reading of the minutes of the former general and house committee meetings , in

which latter the tenders of tradesmen for provisions for the school were set out , four petitions were read for placing as many candidates on the list for election at the quarterly court in October . The whole of them were

found to be satisfactory , and in one of them , which was a London case from No . 228 , the candidate appeared before the committee , and though only seven years of age , read very fluently . All four cases were ordered to be placed on the list .

The sum of £ 50 was ordered to be transferred from the general account of the school to the Sustentation Fund , as that amount would probably be required for the purposes for which the fund was established .

Bro . John Symonds , V . P ., gave notice that he would at the next meeting of the General Committee on the 2 nd May , move that ^ 50 be added to the salary of Bro . Binckes , from the commencement of the present year , on account of his long service as the Secretary ofthe Boys' School , and the efficiency of that service . The Committee then adjourned .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

For the Week ending Friday , April 17 , 1874 .

The Editor will be glad to have notice from Secretaries of Lodges and Chapters of any change in place or time of meeting .

Saturday , April 11 . Quarterly General Court , Girls' School , at 12 . Lodge 108 , London , Ship and Turtle Tavern , Leadenhallstreet . 11 ' 73 i l'l'o : nix , Freemasons' Hall . „ 1328 , Granite , Freemasons' Hall .

„ 1361 , United Senice , Greyhound Hotel , Richmond . „ 1423 , Era , Kings'Arms Hotel , Hampton Court . „ 1446 , Mount Edgcumbe , Swan Tavern , Battersea . Mark Lodge 104 , Macdonald , Head Quarters 1 st Surrey

Rifles , Brunswick-road , Camberwell . Manchester Lodge of Instruction ( 179 ) , Yorkshire Greyi 77 , London-street , Fitzroy-square , at 8 ; Bro . H . Ath > Preceptor . Lily Lodge of Instruction ( 820 ) , Greyhound Hotel , Richmond , Surrey .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

Star Lodge of Instruction ( 1275 ) , Marquis of Granby ,. New Cross-road , at 7 ; Bro . C . G . Dilley , Preceptor . Monday , April 13 . Quarterly General Court , Boys' School , at 12 . Lodge e , St . George ' s and Corner Stone , Freemasons '"

Hall . „ 29 , St . Alban ' s , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-st . „ 90 , St . John ' s , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-st . „ 136 , Good Report , City Terminus Hotel , Cannonstreet . „ 103 , Confidence , Ar . dei ton ' s Hotel , Fleet-st .

„ 222 , St . Andrew ' s , London Tavern , Bishopsgate . street . „ 957 , Leigh , Freemasons' Hall . Chap . 22 , Mount Sion , Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-st . Red Cross Conclave 2 , Plantagenet , Caledonian .. Hotel , Adelphi .

Prince Leopold Lodge of Instruction ( 1445 ; , Lord ' Stanley Tavern , Sandringham-road , Kingsland , at 7 ; Bro . T . Austin , Preceptor . Strong Man Lodge of Instruction ( 45 ) , Old Jerusalem Tavern , St . John ' s-gate , Clerkenwell , at 8 ; Bro . Beckett , Preceptor . Sincetity Lodge of Instruction ( 174 ) , Railway Tavern ,.

Fenchurch-street Station , at 7 . Camden Lodge of Instruction ( 704 ) , Adelaide Tavern , Haverstock-hill , ar . 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Eastern Star Lodge of Instruction ( 95 ) , Royal Hotel , Mileend-road , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . E . Gottheil , Preceptor . British Oak Lodge of Instruction , Bank ol Friendship Tavern , Mile-end , at 7 for 8 .

St . James ' s Union Lodgeof Instruction C 180 ) , Horse and Groom Tavern , Winsley-street ( opposite the Pantheon ) ,. Oxford-street , at 8 ; Bro . J . R . Stacey , Preceptor . Wellington Lodge of Instruction , White Swan Tavern ,-Deptford , at 8 ; Bro . C . G . Dilley , P . M . 1155 , Preceptor . St . John of Wapping Lodge of Instruction ( 1306 ) , Gun

Tavern , High-street , Wapping , at 8 ; Bro . T . Mortlockr Preceptor . West Kent Lodge of Improvement ( 1297 ) , St . Saviour ' s College , Stansted-road , Forest-hill , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . H . W . Lindus , Preceptor . Metropolitan Mark Lodge of Instruction , Coach and Horses Hotel , 313 , Strand , at 8 .

Tuesday , April 14 . Lodge 9 6 , Burlington , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-st . „ 198 , Percy , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . „ 211 , St . Michael's , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-st . -, •, 8 TT „ if ^ H SfrHnn-rh . Old Tfrns . ilem Tavern . St . . 228 United StrengthOld Jerusalem TavernSt ..

„ , . , John ' s Gate . „ 235 , Nine Mases . „ 54 S , Wellington , White Swan Tavern , Deptford . ,, 834 , Ranelagh , Clarendon Hotel , Hammersmith . „ 917 , Cosmopolitan , City Terminus Hotel ,

Cannon—. Chap . 185 , Jerusalem , Freemasons' Hall . Mark Lodge 22 , Southwark , Bridge House Hotel , South--wark .

Yarborough Lodge of Instruction , Green Dragon ,. Stepney , at 8 ; Bro . Barnes , P . M ., Preceptor . Domatic Lodge of Instruction , Palmerston Tavern , Gros-\ eiwi-park , Camberwell , at 8 . Faith Lodge of Instruction , Refreshment Rooms , Victoria-st . ( opposite Westminster Palace Hotel ) , at 8 ; Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Preceptor .

Prince Fredk . William Lodge of Instruction ( 753 ; , Lord ' s Hotel , Lord ' s Cricket Ground , St . John ' s-wood . at 8 ; . Bro . F . G . Baker . Preceptor . Dalhousie Lodge of Instruction , King Edward , Triangle ,. Hackney , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Crawley , Preceptor . Prosperity Lodee of Instruction , Gladstone Tavern ,.

Bishopsgate-st ., Within , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Bolton , W . M . 1227 , Preceptor . St . Marylebone Lodge of Instruction (" 1305 ) , British Stores-Tavern , New-street , St . John ' s Wood , at 8 ; Bro . T .. A . Adams , Preceptor . Constitutional Lodge of Instruction ( 55 ) , Wheatsheaf . Hotel , Hand-court , Holborn , at 7 ; Bro . J . R . Stacey ( P . M . 180 ) , Preceptor .

Wednesday , April 15 . General Committee , Grand Chapter , at 3 . Grand Stewards' Lodge . Lodge 140 , St George ' s , Trafalgar Hotel , Greenwich . „ 174 , Sincerity , Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-st . 190 Oak , Freemasons' Hall .

„ , „ 700 , Nelson , Masonic Hall , William-st . Woolwich ... „ 969 , Maybury , Freemasons' Hall . „ 1044 , Wandsworth , Spread Eagle , Hotel , New Wandsworth . „ 11 ; o , Buckingham and Chandos , Freemasons '

Hall . „ 1349 , Friars , Cheshire Cheese , Crutched Friars . „ 1382 , Corinthian , George Inn , Cubitt Town . Chap . 192 , Lion and Lamb , City Terminus Hotel , Cannonstreet . Mark Lodge , Bon Accord , Freemasons' Tavern . Southwark Lodge of Instruction , ( 879 ) , "Southwark Park-Tavern , Southwark Park , at 8 ; Bro . Charles William .

Kent , Preceptor . Pythagorean Lodge of Instruction ( 79 ) , Prince of Orange Greenwich , at 8 ; Bro . J . Robt . Nash , Preceptor . United Strength Lodge of Instruction ( 228 ) , the Graftor * -

Arms , Prince of Wales ' s-road , Kentish-town , at 8 ; B o . J . N . Frost , Preceptor . Israel Lodge of Instruction , Rising Sun Tavern , Globe-road ,. at 7 . 30 . New Concord Lodge of Instruction , Rosemary Branch . ••Tavern , Hoxton , at 8 .