Original Correspondence.

ences with them , and was elected a life member of the organisation on the ground of his being the founder and patriarch of the Order . Some day , if you like , he will give you an account of the circumstances under which the system originated . Next week , when the weariness induced by the necessary

exertions shall have passed away , the writer will endeavour to make a better account of the Grand Pageant of Templary through which we have just gone . It is in some respects the most extraordinary Masonic event of the age . Fraternally yours , ROB MORRIS . Chicago , Illinois , 20 th August .

QUERY . To the Editor ~ ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir anrl . Brother , — > A short time ago 1 sat next to a gentleman at a Masonic banquet who wore black knee breeches and

stockings , but was not evidently high up in the Craft ; he wore no jewels , and was not asked to respond to any toast . Would you tell me if this is a Masonic full dress ( he did not wear court coat , frilled shirt , or swoid ) , or only an old fashion ? It looked remarkably neat . May any one wear such costume in lodge ? INQUIRER .

[ Certainly . —ED . F . M . J THE GOSS RITE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The query originates others . Who was Dr Crucifixand who was Dr . Goss , and which was which ?

, SECOND ENQUIRER . [ Dr . Crucifix was well known in Freemasonry a genera tion ago . —ED . F . M . ]

THE BLACKBALLING CASE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir anel Brother , — I am glad that Bro . Trevor has disproved the alleged ignorance of the Book of Constitutions , said to ucui uiauiicM iy luug ^ in I | UI ^ IIUII

nave ^ u . euu . . . It has often occurred to me , nevertheless , that all lodge bye-laws want "overhauling , " and I beg to throw out the suggestion to the provincial authorities and the Grand Secretary and Registrar . Yours truly , LEX .

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — After the arguments of "Reviresco" and a "P . P . G . Sec . "—which together with my own remain un-answercd —I should not again address you on the subject of my former communications , were it not for the inuendo in a

recent "leader , " which ascribes " special pleading" to those who favour my side in this controversy . Permit me , therefore , once again to place before the readers of the Freemason a brief extract from the Constitutions . At page 29 it is stated : — " Thc Grand Master shall , cither on the day of the Grand Masonic Festival or on the day immediately preceding , as he may direct , be regularly

installed . He is then to nominate his Grand Officers , who are thereupon to be installed or invested in antient form , with the exception of thc President of the Board of General Purposes , who is to be appointed anil invested at the Quarterly Communication in June . " I submit with confidence that the only ofiicers of Granel Lodge are the brethren nominated and invested conformably with par . 1 ., page

29 , of the Book of Constitutions above cited . This view , it may be aelded , is sustained by the action of our Grand ( or Acting Grand ) Master at the Annual Grand Festival of the Society . For example , on the 2 Sth April last , though both Provincial and District Grand Masters were present , the Earl

of Lathom ( Deputy Grand Master , presiding ) associated with the toast of the " Grand Ofiicers " thc name of Sir Francis Truscott , Junior Grand Warden . I am , dear Sir . ind Brother , yours truly and fraternally , September 7 th . BAYARD-[ The word special pleading did not necessarily apply to "Bayard's" letter , but rather to the whole line of argument . —ED . F . M . I

LIEUT .-COLONEL BUTLER'S ATTACK ON FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — May I , as an old member of the Craft , express my opinion that enough has been saiel upon the subject of the splenetic attack upon Freemasonry in a recent article in

"Goods Words . " I have read the article , which contains abundant internal evidence that the writer is either a member of the Church of Rome , or that he belongs to the mistaken faction who wish to renew the intolerant prejudices of the middle ages in the Chinch of England . From his point of view , the Reformation was an unhappy schism which crippled Christendom . Henry V 11 L , worse than Sultan

Selim , a brutal tyrant who sacrificed the interests of religion to his lusts ; anel the only martyrs of his reign , those who , like More anel Fisher , suffereel the penalty of high treason . How an article of this complexion should havc appeared in a professedly Protestant periodical it would be hard to explain , without infringing on that ground , wisel y tabooed to Freemasons , the region of party politics ; but it

is sufficient for the present to know that the insult offered to the Craft is the- effusion of prejudiced bigotry , and , therefore , unworthy ejf comment . I remain , fraternally yours , W . K . R . BEDFORD . P . G . C .

National Club , 1 , Whitehall-gardens , S . W ., September 1 st . P . S . —The author is as ignorant of historical facts as of politics ; he speaks of the Atiberge de Castile at Valetta re-echoing the " mailed" footstep of the Spaniard—the building being one of the last century only .

ADMISSION OF VISITORS . To the Editor of thc "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have before me the Book of Constitutions , 1 S 73 edition , but I cannot find anything to warrant a lodge in insisting on the production of the certificate as a " sine qua non , " and I shoiililcertainly refrain from visiting where not known , in preference to being compelled to carry it about with mc .

Original Correspondence.

As to being " vouched for , " I think you will see on refering to the first paragraph on " visitors , " page S 9 , that it only properly takes place " after due examination by one of the present brethren . " Taken in conjunction with the next paragraph , which empowers the Master , Wardens , and brethren " to refuse admission to any visitor of known bad character , " it proves to me that a lodge has no right to refuse admission to a visitor , except as above , if he beeither " personally known ,

recommended , or well vouched for , after due examination by one of the present brethren . " In my case examination was distinctly refused . As to the order mentioned by your correspondent" Read , Mark , and Learn , " not having seen it , I must be allowed to doubt its general application to the Craft , until convinced by ocular demonstration . I should be very pleased if any brother would forward me a copy . Yours fraternally , J . E . STEWARD , W . M . 33 6 .

A BEGGING MASON . To thc Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I take an early opportunity of warning the Almoners of lodges r _ nd other members of the Craft in the South of England against a man representing himself as belonging to the Loyal Victoria Lodge , No . 557 , Callington , Cornwall , who , by falsehood , obtained money from

me . He was in the neighbourhood of Havant on Friday , the 3 d inst ., but I do not know whether he went towards Brighton , Guildford , or Southampton . Description : About forty-five years of age , 5 ft . 7 m . in height , dark complexion , with black whiskers , beard , moustache , hair , and eyes ; says he is a plumber and painter ; dressed like a mechanic , in suit all alike ; carries a basket ; his certificate is dated about twenty years back , and is dirty and much worn .

THE SECRETARY S 04 . P . S . —When shall we organise ourselves so as to discover those unworthy Masons who make begging a profession , and who are the cause of preventing the worthy brother in distress from being relieved to thc amount which he merits ?

Reviews.

Reviews .

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE IMPERIAL GEORGE LODGE , No . 7 S . By Bro . SAMUEL HEWITT . John Heywood , Manchester . This is one of those useful little lodge histories which we always welcome , and which are to be encouraged and desiderated alike in the interest of Masonic archaeology

and Masonic history . The annals of No . 7 S are not very important , and rather represent the average level of lodge life amongst us , still they have points of interest , and we recommend our readers to peruse for themselves this useful and very little compilation , which bears on all its pages the impress most clearly , we venture to think , both of carefulness and truth .

THE CURIOSITIES OF THE SEARCH ROOM . By the Author of Flemish Interiors . Chapman and Hall . This is a most interesting book , and one which will have many attractions for those of us who have often amused themselves in searching for old wills in Doctors' Commons . That venerable search room is extinct , and a new one is set up at Somerset House . There were at one time 372 Ecclesiastical Courts in England and Wales where wills

could be proved ; there arc now 41 , and with London 42 . But a copy of all wills must be depositeil in thc London central ofiice . In 1 S 73 there were 40 , 960 wills proved , concerning property valued at £ 119 , 387 , 091 ; of these 15 , 711 wills were proved in Loneion , and 25 , 249 wills in the countiy registries . As regards the antiquity of the wills , a great batch of original wills goes back to Kdward V ., 14 S 3 , but copies date a century earlier , from Richard ll . It

is impossible in our limited space to give even an idea of the amount of interest to be found in this very readable book , though it is perhaps a little too modern in its illustrations , as many of the modern wills given are very commonplace indeed . The history of wills is , however , per se , a very curious one , anil a very sad one , though we cannot enlarge on it here . We give one or two eccentric wills , arid wc must ask our readers to find many more for

themselves . The following seems to us , wc may be too precisian for this easy going age , really a profane will . A dissenting minister ( name properly not given ) bequeathed a sum of money to his chapel at St . Ives to provide " six bibles every year , for which six men anel six women were to throw dice on Whit Monday after a morning service , the minister kneeling at the south end of the communion table and praying Goel to direct the luck to His glory . " Page 49 .

This is another truly eccentric will : A sailor requested his executors " to pay to his wife one shilling , wherewith to buy hazel nuts , as she had always preferred cracking nuts to mending stockings . " 1 lore is a proof of the spitefulness of wills . A Genii ' iii professor , who died at Berlin the beginning of this ceiitury , entertaining a great dislike to his sole surviving relative , left all his property to him , but on the sole condition "that he should always wear white

linen clothes at all seasons 01 thc year , and should not supplement them in winter by extra under garments . " Lore ! Stafford left to his wife , Claude Charlotte de Grammont , daughter of the well known Giammont in King Charles Il . 's times , * 'live-and forty brass halfpence . " Indeed , there is no entl to selections we might make , but we must stop here , recommending our friends to read the book themselves , anel the editor of thc "Magazine" to give us a good review of it in the October number .

Hnu . mv . iY ' s OINTMENT . AND PII . I . S . —Debilitated Constitutions . ¦ —When climate , aire , or hardships havo undermined thc health , skin diseases are prone lonrise and augment tlie existing weakness . Ilnllnway's medicaments daily prove most serviceable , even under lire most untoward circumstances . This well-known and hiirhlyesteemed unguent possesses tlie lincst balsamic virtues , which soothe aud ileal without inllami'ie or irritatinu tlie most lender

skin or most sensitive sore . I lolloway ' s Ointment anil Pills are infallible for curing bad legs , varicose veins , swelled ankle's , erysipelas , scnlv skin , and every variety of skin disease . Over all these disorders Holloway's remedies exert a quick and favourable action , and , wliere cure is possible , gradually but certainly arri \ -e at that consummation . They are invaluable in the cure of scrofula ami scurvy . — [ ADVT . ]

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS

For the Week ending Friday , September 17 , 1 SS 0 . The Editor will be glad to receive notice from Secretaries of Craft Lodges , Royal Arch Chapters , Mark Lodges , Encampments , Conclaves , & c , oi any change in place , day , or month of meeting .

SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER n . Lodge 144 C , Mount Edgcumbe , Swan Hot ., Battersea . „ 1607 , Loyalty , Alexandra Palace . ,, 16 S 5 , Guelph , Red Lion , Leytonstone . „ i ? 43 > Perseverance , Imperial Hot ., Holborn Viaduct . Chap . I 2 <) 3 , Burdett , Mitre Hot ., Hampton Court .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Manchester , 17 , London-st ., Fitzroy-sq ., at S . Star , Marquis of Gianby , New Cross-rd ., at 7 . Percy , Jolly Farmcs , Southgate-rd ., N ., at S . Eccleston , King's Head , Ebury Bridge , Pimlico . Sphinx , Stirling Castle , Camberwell . Alexandra Palace , Masonic Club , Loughborough , at 7 . 30 .

MONDAY , SEPTEMBER 13 . Lodge 122 S , Beacontree , Red Lion , Leytonstone . ,, ijfif' , Highgate , Gatehouse Hot ., Highgate . „ 1571 , Leopold , Woolpack Tav ., Bermondsey . LODGES oe INSTRUCTION . Lily , Greyhound , Richmond , at 7 . London Masonic Club , 101 , Oueen Victoria-st ., E . C , at 6 .

Wellington , White Swan Hot ., High-st ., Deptford , S to IO . St . John , Gun Hot ., Wapping , S to 10 . PrinceLeopold , MitfordTav ., Sandringham-rd ., Dalston , 7 . 30 . Sincerity , Railway Tav ., Fenchurch-st . Station , at 7 . Camden , 174 , High-st ., Camden Town , at S . Tredegar , Royal Hot ., Mile End-rd ., at S . St . James ' s union , Union Tav ., Air-st ., Regent-st ., at S .

Perfect Ashlar , Victoria Tav ., Lower-rd ., Rotherhithe , at 8 . Upper Norwood , White Hart Hot ., Church-rd ., at S . Marquisof Ripon , PemburyTav ., Amhcrst-rd ., Hackney , 8 . Loughborough , Cambria Tav ., Loughborough J une , at 7 . 30 . Hyde Park , Thc Westbourne , 1 , Craven-rd ., at 8 . West Smithfield , New Market Hot ., West Smithfield . St . George's , Globe Tav ., Royal Hill , Greenwich , at 7 . Doric Chapter , 24 S , Globe-rd ., Mile End-rd ., at S .

Royal Commemoration , R . Hot ., High-st ., Putney , S till 10 . British Oak , Bank of Friendship Tav ., Mile End . Eastern Star , Royal Hot ., Mile End-rd ., 7 . 30 . St . Mark ' s , S . M . H ., Camberwell New-rd . John Hervey , Albion Hall , London Wall , at S . New Finsbury Park , Plimsoll Arms , St . Thomas-rd ., N ., at 8 . Kilburn , South Molton Hot ., South Molton-st ., W ., at 7 . 30 . Strong Man , George Hot ., Australian Avenue , Barbican , 8 . Metropolitan , White Swan , Coleman-st ., at 7 . 30 .

TUESDAY , SEPTEMBER 14 . Lodge 167 , St . John ' s , Holl y Bush Tav ., Hampstead . „ 54 S , Wellington , White Swan , Deptford . „ 1269 , Stanhope , Thicket Hot ., Anerley . ,, 1 C 04 , Wanderers ' , F . M . H . Mark 22 , Southwark , Bridge House Hot ., London Bdg . K . H . S . 1 , Mount Carmel , F . AL Tav .

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION . Pilgrim , F . M . H ., ist and last Tues . Yarborough , Green Dragon , Stepney , at 7 . Domatic , Surrey M . IL , Camberwell New-rd ., at 7 . 30 . Faith , 2 , Westminster Chambers , Victoria-st ., S . W ., at ? . Prince Fredk . Win ., Lord ' s Hot ., St . John's Wood , at 7 . Prosperity , Hercules Tav ., Lcadenhali-st ., at 7 . 30 .

Dalhousie , The Sisters' lav ., Pownall-rd ., Dalston , E ., 7 . 30 . Florence Nightingale , M . IL , William-st ., Woolwich , 7 . 30 . Constitutional , Bedford Hot ., Southampton Bdgs ., at 7 . Israel , Rising Sun Tav ., Globe-rd . Wandsworth , Star and Garter Hot ., Wandsworth , at 7 . Royal Arthur , Prince ' s Head , York-rd ., Battersea , at 8 . Beacontree , Red Lion , Leytonstone , at S .

Excelsior , Ceimmercial Dock Tav ., Rotherhithe , at S . St . John of Wapping , Gun Hot ., High-st ., Wapping , at 8 . Islington , Moorgate Station Restaurant , at 7 . Leopold , Gregorian Arms , Jamaica-id ., Bermondsey , at S . Mount Edgcumbe , 19 , Jermyn-st ., St . James's , at S . Duke of Connaught , Palmerston Arms , Grosvenor Park , S . Sir Hugh Myddelton , ifc , St . | ohn ' s-st .-rd ., at S .

St . . Marylebone , Eyre Arms , Finchley-rd ., at S . Corinthian , George Hot ., Millwall Docks , at 7 . Henley , Three Crowns , North Woolwich , at 7 . 30 . Royal Naval College , Greenwich Hospital Schools , at S . Eleanor , Angel Hot ., Edmonton . Metropolitan Chapter , Jamaica Coffee Ho ., Cornhill . Islington , Moorgatc Station Restaurant , at 7 .

WEDNESDAY , SEPTEMBER 15 . Lodge SG 5 , Dalhousie , l ' . ll ., Hounslow . ,, 1044 , Wandsworth , Lecture Hall , New Wandsworth . „ 13 S 2 , Corinthian , George Hot ., Cubitt Town . „ 1 C 24 , Ecclestone , Grosvenor Hall , Pimlico .

LODGES OK INSTRUCTION . Confidence , Railway Tavern , Fenchurch-st ., 7 till 9 . New Concord , Jolly Farmers , Southgate-rd ., N ., at S . Mt . Lebanon , Horse Shoe Tav ., Newington Causeway , S . Pythagorean , Portland Hot ., Greenwich , at S . Burdett Coutts , Salmon & Ball , Bethnal Green-rd ., at S . 30 . La Tolerance , 2 , Maddox-st ., W . at 7 . 45 .

Peckham , Maismore Arms , Park-rd ., Peckham , at S . Finsbury Park , Alwyne Castle , St . Paul ' s-rd ., N . Southwark , Southwark Park Tav ., Southwark Park , at S . Dukeof Connaught , Ryl . Edwd . Hot ., Mare-st ., Hackney . S . United Strength , Hope & Anchor , Crowndale-rd ., N . W ., 8 . Whittington , Red Lion , Poppin ' s-court , Fleet-st ., at 8 . Royal jubilee , Si , Long Acre , at S .

Langthorne , Swan Hot ., Stratford , at S . Temperance in the East , Geo . the Fourth , [ da-st ., E ., at 7 . 30 . Thistle , M . M . M ., The Haro Tav . at S . Eleanor , Trocadero Hot ., Liverpool-st ., Edmonton . Zetland , King's Arms Hot ., High-st ., Kensington , at S . Merchant Navy , Silver Tav ., Burdett-rd ., Limehouse , 7 . 30 . Creaton , Prince Albert lav ., Portobello-ter ., Notting-hill , 8 . Stockwell , Crown , Albert Embankment , at 7 . Panmure , Balham Hot ., Balham , 7 . 30 .