Original Correspondence.

To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — It vvas with a sense of relief I scanned your columns this morning to find the infliction we have endured the past few weeks in respect of Masonic grammar was apparently ended , but I find on referring to your " Answers Jo Corresponelents " that we have not yet heard the last of it ,

and this must plead my excuse in addressing you ; and , first of all , I vvill state that I am no grammarian , but what I am wanting in knowledge thereof I trust I can make up with common courtesy and Masonic charitableness , and thus preserve the tenets of my Order , which I , in common vvith my brethren , professed to adopt on initiation . It is well that " Bro . Lindley Murray " should perceive that his

brethren generally deprecate the catechism so unnecessarily and unwarrantably inflicted upon Bro . Dron for a possible lapsus lingurc or expression which Bro . Lindley Murray admits he may have been prone to make himself in the confusion of a moment ; therefore , however excellent a grammatian Bro . L . M . may be , it is very questionable how far he mav claim the right of dictator or criticiser . Your

readers arc aware who commenced this puerile ouibble , and no doubt noticed the personalities used through its introduction , and all must regret that such a personal subject should have appeared in print under cover of a non de plume . When une person—brother or otherwise—stoops from his own pedestal of knowledge and apparent selfimportance to attack another for a lack of knowledge and

scholastic attainments , on the plea of being a " stickler for thc purity of " Masonic Grammar , " it is a pity to find such an absence of decorum . It would be interesting to have the cognomen of L . M ., as also whether , having regard to his strong respect for "Masonic Grammar , " he would have been equally felicitous in telling a person to his face that which he descends to state under cover of a non deplume ,

which , under the circumstances , appears to me ill chosen . It is gratifying to learn , that we shall hear no more from this able expounder of our language in the present unpleasant and needless controversy , as it is evident he is not blessed vvith an over abundant amount of charity towards a brother , which is the first principle of our Order . One and all must admit that Bro . Dron has had to meet a

very uncharitable and unwarrantable criticism , and , as a constant reader and subscriber to your valuable journal , the nurity of which I feel in some degree jealous , I protest against such unseemly and un-Masnnic correspondence , and appeal to you , Sir , whether it is not time to exercise

your prerogative , and act the part of " stickler" in this " exceptionable " correspondence , for the sake of the repute of your journal as well as the consideration of your readers . Yours fraternally , G . HERBERT . Manchester , 28 th June , 1879 .

THE SO CALLED GHAND LODGE OF NEW SOUTH WALES . Grand Secretary ' s Office , Freemasons' Hall , Dublin , 18 th day of February , 1879 . Dear Sir and Brother . — The communication from the W . M . of 278 , under date nth August , 1878 , but not received until November ,

has been under thc consideration of the Baird of General Purposes , and also yours of the 20 th November , returning thc officers of the lodge for 1879 , and reporting certain affiliations , all of which have been duly noted . In compliance vvith your request I enclose a memo of how the lodge a | c . stands in Grand Lodge books . For a considerable time past we have not been favoured

with returns or remittances from the Prov . Grand Lodge , so that Grand Lodge has been in almost ignorance of what has been been doing by the several lodges . As to the Prnv . Grand Lodge it appears to have ceased to exist . The Prov . Grand Master sent in his resignation twelve months since , and as Provincial Grand Master his functions and authority have ceased since then , but it appears strange

that there should not be some of the members sufficiently loyal to their parent Grand Lodge to work the P . G . L . The Grand Lotlge on the recommendation ofthe Board ol General Purposes has directed that all lodges in the province shoultl have full power and permission to communicate direct with the office here , make all returns , pay all moneys , and apply for certificates direct . A Bro . Nichs .

Welsh wrote some short time since , offering to pay a lump sum to clear off the arrears of all the subordinate lodges , and Grantl Lodge consented to receive £ 300 ( about 15 s . in the pound ) . Hc also applied for recognition of the socalled Grantl Lodge of New South Wales , but Grand Lodge , so far from recognising their body , declined to

entertain the application , and should the matter lie entertained , I have no tloubt but that Grand Lodge will act as they have tlone in other cases , and require for all existing lodges full and free permission and authority to hold their warrants from the Grand Lodge of Ireland , and to work independently while recngnised by the new Grand Lodge .

The conduct of the late Prov . Grand Master , & c , at the meeting of 27 8 in July last , as reported by your W . M ., was wholly unjustifiable , as for months previously he had ceased to hold such office , and Grand Lodge has directed that he be called on for an explanation of such conduct .

Sympathising with tbe lodges in New South Wales , and hoping better times are in store for them , * 1 remain , yours fraternally , SAML . B " . OLDHAM , Dep . G . Sec . Bro . II . A . Richardson , Parramatta .

THI * : CASE OF BRO . SIMONSEN . To the Editor of lhe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In your number for the 12 th April this year is reported " A Had Case of Persecution , " in which the Uev . Bro . Simoti ' . en is represented as being denied employment as a clergyman in Norway because of his being a Fre <» frtMon .

Original Correspondence.

I shall not enter into the case of Bro . Simonsen , but simply state that truth makes it my duty to declare " that no clergyman in Norway ever has been persecuted , or denied employment or preferment , because of his being a Freemason . " A not quite small number of Norwegian clergymen have in times past been , antl are at the present , Freemasons , and amongst them men who have been promoted to very

high and responsible positions in the Norwegian Church . I beg that you kindly will give this declaration a place in your paper . I remain , dear Brother , with great respect , yours truly , N . T . WERGELAND , Lieut .-Geneial and G . M . of the Norwegian Prov = Lodge . Chiistiania , 23 rd June , 1879 .

CAGLIOSTRO . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I have no wish to enter into any discussion of tbe subject of the above heading , but I may perhaps be allowed to say that to my mind the most just estimate of the character of Cagliostro ( albeit an exaggerated one , and

novelists always exaggerate ) has been formed by Dumas , as pictured in his " Joseph Balsamo . " He introduces his hero as attending a meeting of the illuminati at which Swendenborg also was present , the object being the French Revolution . The biography of Cagliostro by Carlisle , where authentic , simply plays into the hands of the Inquisition , and for the rest he did not understand

what he was writing about . I myself believe that Swedenborg was an initiate , and I think his writings show it , although such passages as are applicable thereto may be explained by the doctrine of correspondence . The Sweden , borgians themselves are anxious to disavow any connection with Freemasonry . 1 have some extracts on Cagliostro ' s Rite from Ragon and the works of Jacques Et . Marconis , in which the

principal part of the ceremony is the invocation of Moses , and the Planetary Angels , a young child acting as the interpreter of visions in Cagliostro ' s well known crystal vase rilled with water . His method of invocation was that of the Copts , and his elixir of life is said to have been potable gold . But these discussions , although suited , say , for the Rosicrucian Order , are inapplicable to your pages . Yours truly and fraternally ,

JOHN YARKER . I ' . S . Madame H . P . Blavatsky in her "It is Unveiled " assures us that the elixir of the Lamas is sulphur , and the aura of silver , and not vulgar q uicksilver , as the Rosicrucians were understood to affirm .

THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AT CORK . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The British Medical Association will hold its annual meeting this year at Cork , on August 5 th and following days . In our ancient and honourable fraternity you must be aware there are a large number of medical

men , and I am sure it would greatly enhance the anticipated pleasures of the visit if we , who happen to be Masons as well as medical men , could be assured that there was any probability of our Irish Masonic as well as medical brethren oiganising some little meeting and offering us the right hand of fellowship . As far as I can make out by the enclosed list the regular meetings of thc

various lo Igcs at Cork do not seem to agree with the days on which , the association meets , viz ., August 5 th , 6 th , 7 th , and Sth . A hint in the Freemason , which I trust has as deservedly large a circulation in the sister island as in England , will doubtless be of service : — fi First Lodge of Ireland , M . H ., Tuckey-street , Cork , Cork , ist Munday . 3 Cork , M . H ., Mayler-street , Cork , 3 rd Wednesday .

8 St . Patrick , M . H ., Mayler-st ., Cork , 2 nd Tuesday 15 Skibbereen , M . H ., North-st ., Cork , ist Thursday 67 Cork , M . H ., Mayler-street , Cork , 2 nd Monday . 71 Concord , Cork , 3 rd Monday . 95 City of Cork , Cork , ist and 3 rd Tuesday . 557 To Ha , Queenstown , Cork , 2 nd Monday . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Fraternally yours , M . D „ P . M .

Reviews.

Reviews .

GREENHOUSE PLANTS . Groombridge & Sons . This is a very charming little work , very artistically illustrated , and , we think , not only deserving of notice in our columns , but worthy of perusal by our many readers . Rather , wc would say , by those who take a praiseworthy interest in conservatories , as to them it is likely to prove

very useful and very suggestive . We always encourage a taste for gardening and flowers , inasmuch as we have in this healthy pursuit a most interesting and elevating employment of our time , and one calculated to do . us all great good in many ways . It is noteworthy how that the handiwork of T . G . A . O . T . U . is still pre-eminent aud

unapproachable , either by the developements of civilization , or the creations of art , and how that flowers especially , delightful and glorious in their formation and splendour , constitute alike the ornament of our homes , and the study of our lives—and even then we can neither equal , much less surpass , their grace , their beauty , and their wondrous reality .

ORATORY AND ORATORS . By Wm . Matthews , LL . D . Hamilton , Adams , & Co ., London . This , thc 7 th edition of an oft-quoted work , seems to deserve a passing notice in the Freemason , Some one ha * aid that the world Is govetnett by oratory , t * nd * no doubt ,

Reviews.

orators have at times welded the fierce passions , or swayed the mighty impulses of multitudes and nations . It is also true , we think , that the world is governed more b y the " individual" than the " many ; " more by the great " unit " than the " undistinguishable thousands . " If it be true that the history of the world is an history after all of "individualism , " and not of " aggregation , " we

probably have in this truth the fact of the influence of the in . dividual friend , well , and orator , over the " homo . " But then , on the other hand , how much of what we call oratory in common parlance is mixed up with the base alloy of personal motives . If we separate from the " epea pteroenta *' from the " thoughts which burn " and the * ' words which melt , " all that is influenced by the petty or dirty

considerations of earth , how small , alas is the " residuum in that testing crucible left behind , for the real welfare and lasting happiness of mankind . " There are , indeed , some speakers whose words still linger with us long after we first heard them , in vivid emotion or constraining power , and believing them to be real words , true words , good words , we cling to them , and are influenced by them , and act by them ;

and if , on the one hand , wonderful is thc gift , great the influence of the orator no less serious is his responsibility , inasmuch as he can affect a " people" either for good or for bad , for the highest ends of humanity , for the basest ends of evil . We fear that Jobson's objection to " much speaking " has some foundation for it , and that when he says these " talking fellows do more harm than good to any

one , " we cannot altogether demur to the truthfulness of his words . Unrestrained speech is a great curse ; the " cacaothes loquendi , " the " bottled moonshine " of the " windbag , " do us all much moral harm , and we think it well , therefore , when we are reviewing orators and oratory , to strike a humble , tiny note of warning and deprecation , Becauseas , say what we will , the world is still governed to a

great extent by "humbug ; " the normal class of speeches and speakers is dreadfully infested by this parasitical disease . We have , indeed , sometimes listened with beating heart to the vivid words of Lord Beaconsfield , we have been held spellbound by the silvery address of Lord Cairns , nay , we have admired the Homeric flow of Mr . Gladstone , and the often angry logic cf Mr . Lowe . We can

remember old days when we have sat in the Speaker ' s Gallery and followed the glittm . ig periods of Lotd Stanley and Lord Macaulay , the lucidity of Sir Robert Peel and Sir James Graham , the eloquence of Buller and Shiel , the calmer , sensible words of Palmerston and Lord John Russell , and , therefore , we feel how much oratory has in it to command thc attention , the sympathy ,

the admiration of mankind . Mr . Matthew ' s book gives us a good account of oratory , and many amusing anecdotes of political or parliamentary orators , forensic orators , that is lawyers , but he will use fine words ; and pulpit orators , that is preachers . One of these we must quote—Taylor , the " Sailor ' s Preacher , " at Boston was one day preaching to a large audience . He had vividly depicted an impenitent sinner under the figure of a storm-tossed

vessel , bowing under the hurricane , every bit of canvas gone , and driving madly towartls the rock-bound coast of Cape Ann . " How shall this poor sinner be saved ? " was his touching query as his climax . An " old salt" in the gallery had listened spellbound , but now , at this question , he jumped up anil said , " Let him put his helm hard down antl bear aw iy for Squam . " We can commend the book to the notice of our readers .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

Masonic Notes and Queries .

FREEMASONRY IN ESSEX . In the interesting account of the lodges in the Province of Essex ( Freemason , No . 53 8 ) I see that frequent references are made to Bro . Gould ' s and my lists of lodges . I presume the writer had not access at the time to my latest work " Masonic Register , " & c , as in that , at page 7 6 , he

will find that No . 214 is located at Brentwood , having been removed from Romford quite recently . Thc value of these lists of lodges from A . D . 1723 to thc present time will doubtless be fully appreciated when brethren generally take an interest in the origin and progress of the old lodges , but just now I fear that many look upon such studies as rather dry , and not a few as useless researches ,

until tbey or their friends desire a centenary warrant , or want to prove the antiquity of their lodges ; then of course the lists are found to be indispensable and invahiahle , I believe that sketches like the one as to Essex will do a deal to make the study more popular , only especial care should be taken in the preparation of the figures , as else the errors will counterbalance much of the advantage . I

temark this in a general sense only . I fail to see any discrepancy between Bro . Gould and myself . Our works arc mutually supplemental , and together complete the numerical registers from 172-5 to 1878 . 28 " Moderns'Un 1813 calendar was at " Waltham Abbey , " and called " Well disposed , " which agrees with the " Four Old Lodges , but in 1814 in the " Union " List , published in that year ( but the calendar dated 1815 ) , the name of the lodge was

changed to the " Alpha , " and its location was Kensington Palace , as No . 43 . It did not appear in the 1832 list , and its date was A . D . 1730 ( not 1732 ) , as Bro . Gould and 1 have it . It is well to remember that the calendar of i 8 ' * f was issued in 1813 , before the " Union " took place . N ° - 29 , before lhe " Union , " was at Burnham , Essex ( lis' ° * 1813 ) , but in 1793 was at East Smithfield , as Bro . Gouia states ( his list at page 73 of his excellent work being * copy of that year ' s calendar ) . I shall be happy to answe any question as to these matters . W . J . H UGHAN .

WORDSWORTH ' S "COCA PILLS" the successful xcmi Aim & ¦ lee *' e « ancs > , neuralgia , and Hay fever , n . per box , rim pathlc Chcn-ilit , 6 , Sloinc-tU-et , London ,