Weekly Summary.

physical astronomy and the movement of the moon . The well-known painter , Wilhelm von Kaulbach , has died at Munich , of cholera , in the 70 th year of his age .

A monument to Lord Bryon is being discussed in Venice , and an Anglo-Italitan Committee for that purpose has been formed , at the initiative of the Venice Mail . "E . F . " writes to The Times : — - " Your Neapolitan Correspondent , in The Times of Wednesday ,

shows us how the beautiful isle of Sicily is still disgraced by the crime of brigandage , while he gives us no hope of its ceasing till the trade and commerce of the island are developed . But it is very singular that in the very adjoining column of the same sheet , in your most interesting review

of the Year Boohs of Edward / ., you should have pointed out the most effectual way of repressing such atrocities . ' There are several cases which illustrate the utility of this ancient system of Tything and Hundred in enforcing an excellent police administration , and in the securing of

prompt investigation in the case of concealed crimes or outrages by men wdiose rank or lawlessness had no small influence in impeding the cause of justice . And it is very remarkable that when Sicily was in a similar state of disorder after the wars in the beginning of this century ,

the island was brought to perfect rest and safety by the simple expedient of making every township and district responsible for the crimes committed in its area . " The Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels has taken up the question as to the custody of

Ruben ' s paintings , now 111 Antwerp Cathedral , and at a recent meeting of the Academy , M . Gallait , as president of the society , stated " that the Academy could not remain indifferent to the serious questions which had been raised on the subject in other quarters ; that the preservation

of those chtfs-d ' cuuvre must be thoroughly assured , and that a stop must be put to the scandalous traffic and abuse now going on in the cathedral , in refusing to allow these paintings to be seen except for a money payment . " Other members of the Academy having concumd in M . Gallait ' s observations , a commission is to be

appointed lo carry out the views of the Academy —viz ., that the paintings in question , being the patrimony of the nation , should be removed from all risk of deterioration and lie placed in the museums , in order that artists and amateurs should have an opportunity of studying them free of expense .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold mmi'h'L's responsible ior , or even as np /> ro \ inij of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but w : wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —ED , ]

MASONS' MARKS . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , It is impossible not to be intensely amused with Bro . Chalmers I . Paton ' s last and most characteristic letter .

In Theodore Hook ' s life , there is a very amusing story told , of his startling an ornate swell with the sudden query , " Please Sir , are you somebody ? " To judge by Bro . Chalmers I . Paton ' s letter in The Freemason of the nth ult ., he is the only writer who is competent to

discuss or decide certain " vexatas qurcstiones " of Masonic archeology , and though Bro . Chalmers I . I'aton is bold enough to say , that in common with Bro . Buchan , I know very little about the question of Masons' Marks , I will but say this once for all , that , I have studied Masons '

Marks probably far longer and far more carefully than Bro . Paton , and whether I am competent to express an opinion on such a subject or no , I will leave to my good friend Bro . Hughan to decide .

The truth is , that Bro . Paton , like a good many other persons at the present day , seem to think , that they are to bear you down , by noisy asseveration and overbearing assertion . I for one , never intend to allow any one , so long as I am able to hold a pen , to mislead the Craft

Original Correspondence.

either by absurd pretensions to infallibility , or by idle claims to authority . We have suffered too much from literary charlatanism as an Order , for those , who have studied the subject , and understand what they are writing about , to permit any brother , be he who

he may , to assume for himself the function of setting everybody else right , he himself being at the best , but a second rate , and second-hand authority . Bro . Chalmers I . Paton originally

asserted that all Marks must have even points . He did not then limit the assertion to speculative Masonry , whatever he may have meant . My answer to such an assertion was , and still is , that Bro . Paton was utterly wrong , and that such a statement was in direct defiance of all our

evidence on the subject . Bro . Paton said such had been the rule for Scotland for r ^ o years . My repl y was , that the e \ idence of the Scottish lodges , as preserved in Bros . Laurie ' s and D .

M . Murray ' s works , was entirely contradictory of such a gratuitous assertion . Bro . Flughan stated , that , there is no such rule in England Where then is Bro . Paton ?

All Mark Masonry is derivative from actual operative Masonry , and is only valuable to us archreologically . In operative Masonry , there is no such rule as even points , in speculative Masonry there is no trace of such a custom . If even there was , it

would only prove , as I originally observed , that speculative Masons have departed from the rules and regulations of Mark Masons . But on Bro . Hnghan ' s authority , which is very high as regards England , and on the authority of the Scotch speculative lodges , which are of far more wei ght

to us than Bro . Chalmers Paton ' s anonymous and elderly informant , Bro . Chalmers Paton , in my humble opinion , had not the sli ghtest warrant for his bold assertion . To show how little reliance can be placed on his knowledge of marks , he originally stated that the double

triangle was not a mark at all , because , it had an equal number of points . Now anyone \\\\ o has studied the maik question knows , that both the pentalphaand the double triangle , or hexatla are equally , if not common operative marks ) , yet

marks of which many instances can be proved , and which are still pursued . Let me recommend Bro . Paton to study the question a little more closely before he again writes so dogmatically , and as he began with a Scotch axiom , I will end with a good old English one , " Don ' t teach your grandmother to suck eggs . " A MASONIC STUDENT .

THE LOST TEN TRIBES . To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —

Will you permit mc to ask Bro . Carpenter , through the columns of The Freemason , whether he lias traced any portion of the ten tribes to the continent of America . VVill you also permit me to ask some other learned brother

if the Indian word wigwam—or living placehas any connection with the Latin word vivam—I shall live , and which according to the new , or perhaps , more properly speaking , the ancient

pronunciation would be pronounced wigwam , ' •I shall live , " or in the present subjunctive word , " I may live . " Fraternally yours , H . li . HODGES , P . P . S . G . W ., Herts .

THE MELROSK LODGE . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , —

As the Editor of the North British Daily Mail has declined to insert my second letter in answer to the second letter of " Masonicus , " which appeared in The Freemason of the 4 th inst ., perhaps you will , in fairness , insert the enclosed copy of my first letter , which is simply an answer to the first letter of "

Masonicus , " in which he dogmatically asserts that Masons hailing from the Grand Lodge of Scotland had no business to be present at the consecration of Melrose No . 2 Lodge Glasgow . As "Masonicus" is open to correction , F trust that

Original Correspondence.

he will have the goodness to correct those parts of his second letter where he couples me with those who contend for the priority of the old lodge at Melrose , over that of Kilwinning , that F leave to those who are now investigating into

that matter . The question with me is , which of the two bodies are the best practical Masons . Let " Masonicus " answer this without any equivocation . As soon as he has done so , F shall with your permission , be prepared to present him with a bone which he may not find easy to masticate .

I am , yours fraternally , FRATERNAL J USTICE . F ATHER MELROSE AND MOTHER KILWINNING . To the Editor of the North British Dail y Mail . Sir , —In answer to " Masonicus " I beg to

inform him that F , among many others , hailing from the Grand Lodge of Scotland have been in the habit of visiting the Melrose Masons in Glasgow ; and having now had some experience of both bodies of Masons , F do not for a moment

hesitate to give it as my candid opinion that the Melrose Masons are the most economical , the most charitable , the most brotherly , the most orderly , and consequently the best Masons that 1 have met with anywhere , especially in Scotland .

F do not regard the authority of either " Masonicus " or any others of similar opinions who may question my right in acknowled ging the Melrose Masons . F know they are acknowledged in all parts of the world , and that of itself is

quite sufficient lor me . F know , on the other hand , Masons hailing from the Grand Lodge of Scotland and from lodges in Glasgow actually being refused admittance in lodges in America . 1 am , & c . FRATERNAL J USTICE .

THE MASONIC CHARITIES . To the Editor oj the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have been very pleased to notice the interest taken in the important subject of " Our Masonic Chaiities , " and have duly considered the various suggestions made by the writers of

the several interesting letters which have appeared in The Freemason . As Bro . Gottheil says , " For this discussion to be of any value , it should lead to some practical results , " and I think some tangible good cannot fail to be produced through the ventilation of the question in these

pages . The communication signed "Ad Referendum " is a fair representative of the feelings of a great number of brethren in the provinces , and the sooner such a state of matters is altered the better . The lowering of the Steward ' s fee is a

step in the right direction , and at the ensuing festival of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls only two guineas each have to be paid by the Stewards . This arrangement will partly meet with the wishes of " Ad Referendum ( who is , if I mistake not , an active worker in the " good cause " ) ; and at the Boys' Festival the

fee was not more more than three guineas , inclusive , we believe , of a '' ladies' ticket . " According to the new laws , Stewards are eligible to wear the charity jewel , provided they attend two festivals , and have £ 100 on each of their lists , even if they give no sum themselves to either of the charities beyond the subscriptions for Stewards' fees .

F think , for brethren residing in the provinces , the necessary attendance at the festival as a qualification for the charity jewel , should be dispensed with , for else in many cases the cost of travelling , & c , would exceed that of a life governorship .

In the province of Cornwall , each lodge elects a Steward for the year at its annual festival for the Cornwall Masonic Account and Benevolent Fund , and we find the plan has worked exceedingly well , having realized nearly ^ 2 , 000 in ten

years . Could not a similar plan be devised for the great Masonic charities , and either a Charity Steward he appointed annually by each province , or one by each lodge , and a committee formed , with chairman and officers , as in the province of West Yorkshire , and which has already been