Original Correspondence.

states that the " Sloane " MS . is referred to in the " Enc . Metropolitana" ( i . e . No . 3329 ) . This MS . is the most modern of the three in that celebrated collection , and Bro . Findel , in his "History of Freemasonry , " claims to be the discoverer of it . It appears , however , to be well-known to several

Masons , and Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., has possessed a copy of it for many years . As the article on Freemasonry is such a long one , I must endeavour to read it when at a large library in the ensuing week . Bro . Forsyth will find , on turning to the Freemasons' Quarterly Reviezu , for

A . D . 1836 , pp . 288 ancl 295 , that "the Harleian MSS ., 1942 and 2054 , " have not "been entirely overlooked by Masons" as the former is therein printed in full . These are not the oldest MSS . on Freemasonry in existence . Those known as the " Halliwell MS . " ( Bibl . Reg . 17 AL , ff . 32 ) , the

" Matthew Cooke MS ., " ( Add . MSS ., No . 23 and 19 S , ) and the " Lansdowne MS ., " ( No . 98 , Ait 48 , f . 2766 , ) allin the British Museum , are many , years older . We intend publishing the Harleian MS . No . 2054 , the Sloane MS . ( 3323 , f . 195 , dated 1695 , ) and others early in 1871 .

The work will be limited to 100 copies at 6 s . each , and will be sold entirely on behalf of the " Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons . " intending subscribers should forward me their names without delay . Fraternally yours , W . TAMES HUGHAN .

Truro , Cornwall , Dec . 10 , 1870 . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am assured that many readers of THE FREEMASON will feel greatly obliged by Bro . Forsyth's kind offer to give in extenso the article " Freemasonry" from the

"Encyclopedia Metropolitana . " This work , from its magnitude and large price , is unknown to many , except by name ; and but few have an opportunity of perusing the article in question , which is no doubt very ably written and gives a resumd and detailed account of the Craft which would be read

by every brother with pleasure and profit . Many brethren have but a vague knowledge of the various theories of the origin of the Craft , and the perusal of the article would enable them to understand and appreciate the correspondence on the subject which from time to time appears in THE

FREEMASON . I only trust the insertion of the article in question will not prove too laborious for Bro . Forsyth , or too lengthy for your columns . Yours fraternally , W . W . S ., 180 .

( To thc Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In reading the letter of Bro . Charles G . Forsyth ( page 642 ) , where he offers to give in extenso the article " Freemasonry " from the " Encyclopedia Metropolitana , " I am certain that we would not get tired of the length of

it . Therefore , with your leave , I , for one—and I am certain your many readers—would not only receive it with pleasure , but perhaps derive instruction from it , as he states that it has been entirely overlooked by Masons . It might elucidate many

facts regarding the origin of our Order v . thc wouldbe 1717 theory , and throw a little more light on the subject . I hope that Bro . Forsyth may be induced to commence the article in an early number . 1 am , Sir and Brother , Yours truly and fraternally ,

MONTRA . THE PURPLE V . WEST LANCASHIRE .

( lo the Editor of the Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTHER , — The favouritism and abuses are too glaring in West Lancashire to be passed over with a word . Why should not the Provincial Grand Lodge be open to all as a reward for long and faithful services , personal merit and

worth , and not to those who have done nothing in word or deed , nor any work in lodge or chapter ? Let us hope that those in powcrwill have recourse to better principles , and inquire after men of long standing , faithful services , ancl personal worth . If

such principles were carried out , they would be a real blessing and do good , as well as a gratification to every member of the Craft at large ; ancl would quicken thc zeal and energy of many Masons to emulate each other .

I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , P . Z ., P . M ., & P . P . G . O . . P . S . —I am told a brother , who has done work in the cause of charity for eleven years , has been passed over .

PRESENTATION TO BRO . C . A . MURTON .

( To the Editor of Thc Freemason . ) . VERY DEAR BROTHER , —I have been much interested in reading the account of the testimonial presented to the indefatigable Secretary of thc

Original Correspondence.

Emulation Lodge of Improvement . Bro . Murton well deserves the honour thus conferred on him , and though I have been denied the opportunity of giving my mite—being a country member of that famous " Lodge of Improvement , " and thereby not within the length of the subscribers c t . . —I at

least beg sufficient space in THE FREEMASON , as a representative of the country members , to express their heartfelt appreciation of Bro . Murton ' s most efficient services , and their delight on hearing he has received so handsome an acknowledgment of

the uniform courteous and fraternal manner in which he has fulfilled the onerous duties of Secretary for so many years . That he may live long to enjoy the confidence and regard of the members , is the earnest wish of

Yours fraternally , W . JAMES HUGHAN , Prov . G . Sec . Cornwall . Truro , Cornwall , Dec . 10 , 1870 .

THE 1717 THEORY . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Whether the 1717 Theory of Bro . Buchan is correct or not , it cannot be denied that we are indebted to Bro . Tames

Anderson for the compilation of the Masonic Constitution of 1723 , for its revision in 1738 , and for many ideas which separate the two Masonic epochs , viz ., before and after 1717 . Now it seems strange that we should know so little about the man who

may be called , the father of Modern Freemasonry . Oliver ' s " Revelation of a Square , " contains a brief notice of Drs . Anderson and Chamber ' s " Diction of Eminent Scotchmen , " also furnishes a short biography ; but neither one is , or was able to inform us when he ( Anderson ) was born , or when he died . It appears to me , that in this age of delving and

digging into the early records , that some able brother ought to dig out some information respecting the life and death of the said Dr . Anderson , I am particularly desirous of learning where and when

Bro . Anderson died , and if this should lead to the desired information , I am sure you will deserve the thanks of many Masons , including my own . Fraternally and respectfully yours , JACOB NORTON .

Boston , U . S ., Nov . 15 th , 1870 . THE MASONIC LIFE-BOAT . ( To thc Editor of Thc Freemason . ) SIR , —In my official capacity as Masonic and general reporter , I have had frequent opportunities of advocating the cause of the Masonic Life-Boat , but I regret to say that my efforts have met with

little success in consequence of my having unfortunately been some short time connected , in a small degree , with a certain journal that has never given , as you are doubtless aware , a good account of the fund firstly collected . This may in some measure account for the lukewarmness with which the efforts

of the committee of which those excellent Masons Bros . Gottheil , Davis , and Levy are members , have been received . I think the Life Boat Institution is much indebted to you for your excellent leader upon the subject , and if thc Craft wish anything further to stir them up , let them read the accounts this week in thc daily

papers of the truly noble services rendered by thc life-boats on the 10 th inst . at Tynemouth ( Northumberland ) , Chapel ( Lincolnshire ) , ancl on the 12 th at Ramsgate , when the entire crews of three vessels were almost miraculously saved . I do not like incognitas , ancl therefore give my name and address . I am , Sir , yours fraternally ,

CHAS . E . THOMPSON , 1 77 , S . W . 1158 , Rcd-h & c 122 , Offord-road , Barnsbury-park , N ., Dec . 13 th , 1870 .

( To the Editor of The I-rcemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Will you kindly let me know through the columns of your valuable journal if in thc absence of the W . M ., I . P . M ., ancl

P . M . ' s in regular lodge , the S . W . can initiate candidates who have been regularly elected ? Yours fraternally , A SUBSCRIBER , Lodge 1101 . Reading , Dec . 12 , 1870 .

Caution To The Craft.

CAUTION TO THE CRAFT .

AN IMPOSTOR REPRESENTING HIMSELF A . S A FREEMASON . A man , calling himself J . B . Williams , of short stature , dark brown hair , no whiskers , carrying an umbrella in his hand , and dressed as a captain

of a vessel , has been travelling about the country , more especially thc North of England , giving it forth that he is a ship captain in distress , that he has lost his vessel at sea , and landing at Hamburg penniless , he now seeks thc aid of the Masonic Brotherhood . He carries along with him a subscription

Caution To The Craft.

book , which he exhibits as purporting to be the signatures of some of the Masonic fraternity in Hamburg and elsewhere , and more especially the signature of the British Consul at Hamburg , who , he says , had , along with others , subscribed and assisted him to a slight extent . We paid a visit to

Berwick-on-Tweed on Friday , the 2 nd mst ., and called on the Almoner of the district , but not finding him at home , and learning that he would not return for a day or two , took the liberty of writing the Almoner ' s name in the book which he carries about with him as having subscribed five shillings .

Fortified with this mode of deception , he called on no less than four ship captains in Berwick-on-Tweed , and three of them gave him half a sovereign each . He then called on the fourth , at his private office , and also showed him the list of subscribers , boasting about the Consul at Hamburg . It so

happened that this fourth captain , also a Freemason , and one of Lloyd ' s agents , was intimate with the handwriting of the Hamburg Consul . He immediately inquired the name of the vessel that was pretended to be lost by this assumed ship captain , and on turning up a printed list kept by

him of all the vessels in Britain , no such vessel as that mentioned by this assumed ship captain was to be found . He then challenged the impostor , telling him that no such vessel was ever in existence , also that the signature in his subscription book was not the handwriting of the Hamburg Consul . On

hearing this , the impostor , in a great hurry , fled out of the office , and was no more to be seen or heard of . As it is just possible that this assumed ship captain may turn up again in some other place , it is to be hoped the Craft will look after him , and have him brought to justice . —Communicated .

Masonic Miscellanea.

Masonic Miscellanea .

WE are preparing a series of articles on "Our American Contemporaries , " which will shortly appear . BRO . T . A . ADAMS'Annual Ball will be held at Freemasons' Tavern , on the first Tuesday in February . App lications for tickets can made to Bro . R . Wentworth Little , 7 , Gilbert-road , Kennington .

THE Rev . G . R . Portal , Grand Mark Master Mason , has constituted Middlesex and Surrey into a Province of the Mark Degree , and has appointed Col . Burdett to be the first Provincial Grand Mark Master .

AT the forthcoming festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , on 25 th January , Bro . H . G . Buss , of 127 , Offord-road , Barnsbury , will represent the Knights of Constantine , and will be happy to receive additions to his list .

WE have great pleasure in stating that Bro . Jesse Owen , the Hon . Secretary to the " Tedder Fund , " will be happy to receive subscriptions , and will gladly forward circulars with the names of the committee and the objects of thc fund . Applications can be addressed to the editor .

THE St . Andrew ' s Conclave , No . 15 , will meet at the Masons' Hall Tavern , Masons ' -avenue , City , on Saturday , the 17 th inst ., when several candidates are expected for installation , after which Sir Knt . Kenyon will be enthroned as M . P . S ., and Sir Knt . Binckes as Vicerov .

No movement has yet been made towards selecting a representative of the county of Westmoreland , in place of Earl Bcctive , who has been elevated to the Peerage by the death of tA Marquis of Headfort ; but it is stated that his son , Lord Kenlis , of Undcrly Hall , will be invited to offer himself as a candidate for thc scat .

BRO . ALEXANDER DVMAS , pere , died on the 5 th instant , at Buys , near Dieppe . The world-wide reputation of the deceased Mason as a brilliant writer would most certainly have ensured him a fitting tribute from many able Masonic pens in his beloved France ; but from thc chaotic state ofaffairs

in that unfortunate country , we fear that Dumas will find no place in the " Necrology" of our quondam contemporaries , the Monde Maconnique and Chaine d'Union , of which we have heard nothing since Sedan . Need more be said ? The Daily Telegraph has , wc are glad to see , however , done justice to thc memory of the illustrious dead .

BREAKFAST . — EPPS ' S COCOA . — Grateful and Comforting . —The very agreeable character of this preparation hai rendered it a general favourite . The Civil Service Ca-. ette remarks : - " Hy a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern thc operations of digestion and nutrition , and by a careful application ot the fine properties of well-selected cocoa , . Mr . Kpps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors'bills . " Each packet islabelled—JAMK " Kl' 1 'S AND CO ., Homicopathic Chemists , London . AUr , makers ol Epps ' s Cacaoinc , a very liijlit , thin , evening bevcrazc . —[ Atlvt . J