To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

Bro . HENRY SMITH ' S letter received , but too late for this week—shall appear in our next , and " proof " shall be sent . We would beg to repeat to our correspondents and brethren that all letters should be received at the office on Wednesday to be in time for thc week ' s publication . We gave a notice to this effect some time back , but we fear and find it is not attended to .

Can any brother explain the meaning of the following circular , which has been issued by a City firm , and largely circulated amongst the Craft ? We do not profess to understand it : 1 SS 0 . OCTOBER ELECTION ROYAL MASONIC CHARITIES . Dear Sir and Brother ,

We beg to acquaint you we did our best to support your case , and shall be glad in future to know the most deserving . Fraternally yours , Owing to pressure on our columns the following stand over : — Skiddaw Lodge , No . 1002 .

BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . "Hull Packet , " "Broad Arrow , " "European Mail , " "Sunday Times , " "Croydon Guardian , " "Keystone , " "The Chicago Standard , " "Citizen , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail , " "ICasseU ' s Popular Educator , " "Cassell's Cookery , "

" The Alasonic Record of Western India , " " The Golden Alark" ( Christmas number of the "Quiver" ) , "The Alasonic Age , " "The Egyptian Gazette , " "Thc Times of Natal , " " The Freemason ' s Repository , " " Der Long Islaender , " "The Cincinnati Daily Times , " "Orient . "

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THE FREEMASON . SATURDAY , IDEC . II , 1 SS 0 .

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THE proceedings of the last Quarterly Communication were , if not of great importance , of some interest . In the first place , let us rejoice to think that the vote of congratulation to H . R . H . the PRINCESS OF WALES , under such exceptional

circumstances , was so gracefully proposed and seconded , by permission of the GRAND MASTER in the chair , and heartily and unanimousl y adopted by Grand Lodge . It was a fitting tribute of attachment to the best of Princesses , and thc most

charming and admirable of women , from that always loyal body , —the Freemasons of England . Let us congratulate LORD TENTERDEN , in thc next place , on the admirable manner in which he presided over Grand Lodge for thc first time , —good

omen , let us hope , of much future work for Masonry and the Grand Lodge . Thc report of the Committee , in reference to the infraction of the letter of the law relative to a sum of money , above £ 5000 , was received and adopted ; and was ,

in truth , just what we expected , the only reasonable and sensible method of " healing " to besuggestcd . That the Hoard of General Purposes acted with

perfect " bona fides " in the matter wc arc fully aware ; but so great is the importance for the safety of our Order , its true interests , and its right direction lhat the Book of Constitutions should

be fully and rigorousl y observed , that we venture to express our approval of the action of the authorities in thc matter , and our gratitude for this zealous supervision by Grand Lodge itself , tliat the laws of the Craft are not infringed in any way or

any degree . We confess that , thougli we feel somewhat wilh our esteemed Bro . the PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD or GENERAL PURPOSES in his unwillingness to admit that the Board over which he so abl y presides has ,

with thc best intentions in thc world , unwittingl y gone a little beyond the " letter of the law , " yet wc do equally venture to express a doubt , whether liis reference to supposed previous precedents in any way affects the main question at issue . " Two

" blacks do not make a white , " and even admitting such precedents could be found , which we are very doubtful of indeed , they by no means arc available in thc present little dilemma . Any supposed precedent set by that excellent Freemason ,

Bro . J HAVERS , is no doubt a valuable one in itself , but knowing what wc do of his public Masonic career , we feel sure that Bro . SIR JOHN MONCKTON is under some misapprehension in this respect . The Book of Constitutions

is distinct and peremptory on the subject , and any such action , however desirable in itself , verbally needful , ought to have been

approved of , we think , at a Special Grand Lodge . We say all this with all deference for two reasons . Firstly , because we feel strongly the absolute ncccslily of maintaining thc Book of Constitutions ini ts

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letter and in its spirit . LORD RIPON used to say , and say truly , " that it was our duty to uphold laws " duly passed , because they were ' pro bono pub" ' lico , ' and any deviation from them , even for a " momentary purpose , was both selfish and

dan" gerous , in that it seriously affected thc liberties " and rights of the 'body politic , ' safe guarded " by careful rules and regulations , and especially " in Freemasonry , where so many important in" terests were involved . " And , secondly , because

the Board of General Purposes , being a quasi judicial authority , as well as disciplinary , it behoves it always to adhere most entirely to the actual provisions of the Book of Constitutions . That the result of the enquiry

would confirm the fact of the need of the purchase , and be a bill of indemnity , practically , for this actual , if unintentional , infraction of the law , we have never for one moment doubted , but it is , to our mind , a great constitutional question , thus

established , that all are amenable to our excellent laws . While then wc feel grateful to the authorities on thc one hand , on the other we ought to believe that the Board of General Purposes acted really in the best interests of the Craft , in securing

. 1 needful and valuable purchase of property , most important to Freemasons' Hall . It is a great pity , we still think , that the whole matter was not submitted to a Special Grand Lodge , when no difficulty whatever could have arisen .

* * SINCE we had written the above , a letter has been sent us from Bro . J HAVERS himself , which wc publish elsewhere , and lo whicii we direct attention . It confirms , in a remarl < able measure , our anticipation and our views .

* * WITH reference to a little mailer of " domestic policy" at " head quarters , " we rejoice to hear that the " restaurant" and " billiard room " are given up at Freemasons' Tavern , and that henceforth

that most useful building will be kept strictl y to the purposes for which it was originally designed . We congratulate all concerned on the salutary change thus brought about , and the return to the older and more dignified character of Freemasons '

Tavern , so mixed up as it is with the history of English Freemasonry . Wc always objected to the " restaurant , " and especiall y to the "billiard room , " as unworthy of the " chief locale" of our great Fraternity . There were also many reasons

why such an alteration vvas imperatively called for in the vcry best interests of Freemasonry , but wc have always forborne from being the " mouth piece " of numerous complainants , being unwilling in any measure to seem to prejudice the efforts

and position of thc very respectable and energetic tenant of Grand Lodge . For to Bro . BEST must be . conceded the great praise , that under his spirited management the accommodation and commissariat of Freemasons' Tavern liavebccn improved

in most marked measure , and remembering tlie fact , wc who week by week meet within its walls , must feel , and ought to feel , duly sensible of 13 ro . BEST ' care , zeal , and constant courtesy . Neither

must wc forget Bro . DAWKINS , who is always anxious and ready to consult the tastes and meet the wishes of those who avail themselves of the now effective resources of Freemasons' Tavern .

* - *< AT the meeting of the General Committee of the Boys' School , ( as will be seen by our report elsewhere , ) I 3 ro . RAYNHAM STEWART ' motion for a Committee was unanimously carried , with a very

necessary enlargement of the powers of the Committee , namely , lo consider the propriety cither of purchasing or hiring an existing building . There seemed to be a general disinclination to go into " large building operations , " and the opinion of

thc majority clearly was rather to make it a tentative experiment , as the Freemason has suggested . The hiring of a house to accommodate 50 or 100

boys for two or three years would certainly commend itself to the Craft . Bro . BINCKES ' warning and " caveat " against touching the existing funded properly was well received .

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THOUGH some interest exists as regards the case of the boy C OLLINGWOOD , and as it cannot be adjudicated upon finall y until the Quarterly Court in January , we think it to be in the best interests

of fairness and justice to all to say nothing about the matter until then . But we may add that enough was disclosed on Saturday to render an enquiry a wise precaution , —nay , an imperative necessity .

** - OUR Christmas Number duly appeared this week , and we trust will afford , gratification and interest to a large circle of readers . We have to thank our numerous kind contributors for their ready response

and their able papers . We feel sure that the Christmas Freemason , both for its literary merits and its sound selection of appropriate tales , will not only be a goodly addition to the Christmas Literature , but will be heartil y welcomed by our Cosmopolitan Craft .

* * THE January Jissue of the " Masonic Magazine , " we arc informed , will be composed solel y of tales and narratives , as appropriate to the first number of the New Year . We thinl * : that this little

departure from the normal staple of the Magazine may not be unwelcome to its readers . It seems to us to be a very good thing to encourage the latent literary talent and power in our Order . The proposal and thc serial lias our best wishes for their

success . v * * THE Dreadnought Hospital is one of those Institutions which appear , at this time of the year , fairly to appeal to " Freemasons , " in lhat it is

" Cosmopolitan " in its good work and kindl y efforts to mitigate human suffering . It receives , and nurses , and uses the healing art of medicine and Surgery for Seamen of all Nations , regardless of Race , Colour , or Creed . Its vested income

is £ 4000 per annum , its outgoings are £ 12 , 000 , and it is now in want of funds to carry on its "labour of love . " One little fact is a very striking illustration both of its use , and needs , and claims . In 1870 it relieved 455 sailors

of the Port of London . These cost £ 2300 to the Institution , whereas the London subscriptions were only £ 800 . Any enquiries will be answered by , and subscriptions should be sent to , H . C . BURDETT , Esq ., Seaman ' s Hospital , Greenwich .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approvine ; of , thc opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit of fair play to all to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . ]

A RECTIFICATION . To the Editor ofthe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — A friend has kindl y directed my attention to a statement made by the President of the Board of General Purposes at Grand Lodge on Wednesday last , to the effect that there was some sort of precedent for the purchase of property by the Board of General Purposes without thc

previous sanction of Grand Lodge , in what was done by me , and by those I had the honour of presiding over , in 1 S 57 or thereabouts . Aly wretched state of health prevents my taking any share in Alasonic work , and debars me of one of the greatest pleasures I know , namely that of meeting my old friends and brethren to whom I owe so much gratitude for all their kindness and confidence , and to meet whom was always one of my greatest enjoyments . As I cannot attend Grand Lodge I must beg vou to

permit me say , that I have no recollection of , nor do I think it possible with my feelings on the subject , and with my determination never to break the laws of our Order , that either while I vvas President of the Board of General Purposes or while I vvas Chairman of the Building Committee , cither of those bodies made any purchase of land or houses without the sanction of Grand Lodge having been previously obtained . If I am wrong I should be indebted to any brother who will point out to mc any such

instance . Without in any way casting a shadow of doubt on the bona fides of the Board , I must acknowledge that I was astounded when I heard of the purchase of so large a property having been made without the authority of Grand Lodge , and 1 may add that what astonished me most was , how thc money vvas obtained , or thc stock sold out to pay for it , without the knowledge or sanction of the Trustees . If £ 6000 or JC 7000 of our funds may be so disposed of

£ 20 , 000 or £ 40 , 000 may in like manner be dealt with , ana this to me , as one of the Trustees of Grand Lodge , appears to be a vcry formidable question . I do not know for certain who arc the ordinary legal advisers of the Craft referred to , but I take it that thc most important one is the G . Registrar , and I know that he was not consulted . I do trust that what has now occurred will for an time prevent a recurrence of what must be looked upon as a most unwarrantable proceeding . „_ _ Yours fraternally , JOHN HAVERS . Gth December .