Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . THE ARK MARINER DEGREE AND GRAND MARK LODGE .

( To the Editor of The Freemason ) . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your last week ' s impression " Scribe , " in his attempt to correct your report of the proceedings of the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters , has himself been guilty of inaccuracy—inadvertently , doubtless . In

stating that he had been informed that the " Ark , Link , and Wrestle" differed from the degree of " Ark Mariner , " the M . W . Grand Master did not say that any Mark Master was at liberty to join the proposed new Grand Lodge of Ark Mariners , nor did he express himself in favour of any particular

course of action with reference to that organisation . A committee , appointed under resolution of Grand Lodge , is now considering the questions in connection with various side degrees , for the revival of which there appears to be some desire on the part of brethren — Mark Masters under the

English Grand Mark Lodge—and until that committee has had time for proper investigation , and to report , it is the Grand Mark Master ' s opinion that it is extremely unadvisable for any English Mark Master to commit himself to the support , in any way , of the new movement referred to by your

correspondent . I would myself , in the most earnest manner , recommend every brother under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge to refrain from any attempt to introduce another supreme Masonic body , pending the negociations now in progress , having for their

object the promotion of unity among the members of the orders and degrees not recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England . Your efforts in this direction are worthy of all praise , even if they do not result in the establishment of a " Council of

Rites . " I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES , Grand Secretary , Grand Mark Lodge of England , & c . London , June 14 , 1870 .

THE BREAD AND BUTTER THEORY . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Whilst differing in matters of Masonic archaeology from Bro . Buchan , I yet admire his consistency and denunciation of all dishonest assertions . The phase through which we arc at present passing arises in part from

mistaken and illogical views as to universality , leading writers for the sake of it to advance theories it is impossible they can believe themselves ; and in part from the admission by journalists of letters by writers upon a subject for which their education and knowledge unfit them . Of this I am quite

certain , had some of these writers studied the Operative Constitutions of that Guild to which they are so anxious of tracing our present system of Freemasonry for the sake of their own version of Universality , we should have been spared much tall talk , as those Constitutions afford the strongest possible

evidence that Guild Freemasonry entertained little beyond the bigoted Christianity of the time . Therefore , Speculative Masonry of to-day , is not Guild or Operative Masonry . 1 have demanded for years , in the face of all this guild writing , the slightest proof that such had any approach to our present

ceremonial , and until it is given , I feel inclined to adopt what 1 find detailed in these Constitutions as to guild ceremonies , and add , therefore again , that such is not our Freemasonry . 1 take the truth to be , that guild Masonry virtually ceased in England , though not in Scotland , early in the 17 th century ;

and whether or no it originated Speculative Masonry , it seems quite certain that all our principal rites and degrees were at the before-mentioned period well known , and that Speculative Masonry was intended to bean Order of much greater universality than Bro . Norton ' s "bread and butler "

Masonry ; but how our degrees came to take the name of Freemasonry 1 am not in a position to say at present . Of course , Bro . Norton ' s notion of deference and universality in one word means Judaism , which I consider to be in every respect inferior to the

original and older doctrines of the Aryans which passed eventually into the religion of the Zend Avcsla and Vedas . Had it not been so , Judaism would never have been destroyed by a few fishermen and superseded by a better and purer system of morals not new to the times , on the preaching

of Christianity , but found in Secret Societies centuries before that lime I am not now merely advocatingmy own opinions , but what 1 . 1111 also taught by High Grade Freemasonry , so much ridiculed , and even so little understood by its own members . When it is shown that Speculative Masonry is something greater than Guild Masonry , our traditions

Original Correspondence.

everywhere assume one harmonious whole . I place Templary outside the pale of Freemasonry as professedly originated in 1686 , but state that its secrets and ceremonial are found in the degrees of the rite of Heredom-Kadosh . Now this rite claims to be also the rite of the Rosicrucians , which is said

to have been derived from the East shortly after the destruction of the Templars ; we see then that the assertions of the Rosicrucians in 1600 agree with the traditions of to-day ' s Speculative Masonry , the origin of which is well-know to the elect , and those who have not reached that grade have no right to

the information , for , as said in 1721 , " to you is given to know those secrets which are hidden from the unworthy . " I learn from rituals in my possession , that the York rite of last century consisted of seven degrees , every one of which led a brother one step nearer to perfection ; whilst in the 32 ° of the

Continental rite , I learn that the parent rite consisted also of the same number of steps to perfection . Freemasonry being then much more complicated than Guild Masonry , and being neither a Deist nor a Materialist , I decline to have the mark of Cain forced upon me , even with the advantage of the

arts mechanical , & c , invented by his descendants , and as I am not a Jew or Sadducee , I decline to allow any brother to force upon me his own notions of perfection , but I prefer going forward to that purer system of Faith , Hope , and Charity which led to the promulgation of Christianity , aad the

spiritual doctrines figured to us in the other line of Adam's derivation or supposed descendants . As also our philosophical system is one of secrecy , let each be content with his own degree , without interfering with a superior step , for it is only the Perfected Brother who is the true Universalist , and the possessor of the key to all religious truth .

If we are really Guild Masons , we had better return to the ceremonial of Guild Masonry , and much good may it do its votaries . It will be sufficient to remind your readers that the Templars suffered for gnosticism , and there is no impossibility in the amalgation of Speculative Masons , Rosicrucians , and Templars ] in later centuries . Fraternally yours , JOHN YARKER .

FREEMASONRY IN INDIA . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As promised , I send you a memo , of Masonry in this distant part of the world , From the newspaper reports , & c , you will have seen the doings of the Duke of Edinburgh

and the Viceroy last March , when the two great railways met and were united at Jubbulpore . A glance at a map shows wc are about the centre of the great Indian empire , midway between Calcutta and Bombay—our Masonic capital . There are numerous lodges about us , distant , too ,

when looking at them from , your part ; but viewing them from this immense country , they appear near , particularly when linked by railway . Our nearest neighbour is Lodge St . Andrews , Kamptce , 154 miles off—a nice distance ! Our next is Corrinth , Nagporc , 164 miles . Our next neighbour is

Independence and Philanthropy , Allahabad , 227 miles ; and so on , getting further and further till you reach the confines of this great country . I had the pleasure of visiting the above lodges last year , and can speak of the truly Masonic manner in which the brethren received me and

other visitors . Masonry is flourishing in India ; nearly every large ( European ) station has its lodge , many even working chapters . To come to my own station , Jubbulpore , we have a strong muster of Craftsmen working in Lodge Alexandra , 1065—viz ., W . Bro . F . J . Jordan , Master ; XV . Bro . Lieut . R .

B . Reed , and his brother , Dr . B . Reed , Past Masters ; with 36 other members . The lodge works well , is excellently decorated , and attended . On my visit to this lodge last month , there was one raising and one initiation . On the 22 nd there was one passing , one initiation , and four

joining . \ csterday I was present at the farewell meeting and supper to the XV . Bro . Jordan , and was indeed pleased with the proceedings . One poor woman ( widow ) got £ 5 from the poor box . A silver watch and chain was presented to Bro . Bastion , Treasurer , going on sick leave . A silver tankard ,

with address , voted to the Past Masters , Lieut , and Dr . Reed . Three joining brothers ballottcd for and admitted ( one poor fellow not admitted ) . A brother was severely censured for allowing his messengers to wear a large Masonic sign on their belts . The offending brother was ordered to remove the badge ( as such looked like " touting" ) or

cease attending lodge . One gentleman proposed for initiation . The proceedings of the evening wound up with XV . Bro . Jordan resigning the chair , anil investing Bro . Dr . Reed with the square and hiram for the remainder of the year . The lodge closed in peace at half-past nine , and the brethren adjourned lo banquet ; songs and toasts followed fast and furious , until old Time warned the

Craftsmen to depart , which we did about half-past eleven , all pleased with our evening ' s entertainment . W . Bro . Jordan was cheered again and again , all wishing him God speed to old England , whither he goes in a few days , after an absence of 20 years . Yours , " SPERANZA . "

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —In your " Life of Lord Howe , " you have omitted the fact that he had been a member ofthe Lodge of Antiquity since May , 1844 , when he was elected a joining member . He continued

to subscribe until his death , which has deprived the lodge of an old and valued member . I would have written sooner , but I wanted to give you the date of his joining . Yours truly , No . TWO . Union Club , S . W ., June , 1870 .

AN APPEAL . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR , —Will you kindly permit me a small space in your paper for an appeal to my brethen in aid of a fund for providing a summer-day ' s excursion into

the country , together with two good meals , for at least five hundred poor children of the parish of St . Leonard's , Shoreditch , Middlesex . 1 have in six years gone by derived great assistance for works of charity from the Craft , and I never appealed in

. Donations may be sent to Yours fraternally , GEORGE DOWTY , Curate of the parish ( seven years ) , and P . Pro . G . Chaplain , E . L . 41 , West-street , Shoreditch , Middlesex .

WANTS . ( To ihe Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —May I ask has any brother duplicate copies ofthe undermentioned , for which he would accept " exchanges , " or their monetary value . If so I should feel obliged . Yours fraternally , W . J . HUGHAN .

Truro , Cornwall , June nth , 1870 . Constitutions ofthe Freemasons , 1776 and 1784 . Constitutions of the Freemasons , T . Harper , 1813 . Freemasons' Calendars , ( London , ) 1813-4-5 . Calendar , Prov . G . L . of Oxfordshire , 1857 .

Dr . Morris ' s Masonic Calendars , excepting i 860 and 1865 . Preston ' s 111 . of Masonry , between 1772 and 1781 . Constitutions G . L . of England , 1847-55-58-61 . Constitutions G . L . of Scotland , between 1804 and 18 4 8 . Constitutions R . A . Grand Chapter , before A . D . 1823 .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Kindly give a reply to the following queries in your" Notices to Correspondents " this week : — 1 . If , after a vote on a given question is taken , it is found that brethren have voted who are in arrears

with their subscription , and the bye-laws declare that " no brother shall be allowed to vote on any occasion if he be three months in arrears , " is the vote legal and binding ? 2 . If a resolution and amendment are both duly proposed and seconded , is it not proper that the

following be the order observed : —First , the amendment is put to the vote , for and against ; second , the resolution is put to the vote , for and against ; thirdly , if the amendment is carried , should it not then be put as a substantive motion ? 3 . What notice is necessary for the calling a Lodge

of Emergency ? I think that on the second query , especially , full information would be very valuable to a W . M . not accustomed to the conduct of public business . Yours fraternally , BENJ . L . GREEN , Lodgeof Unity , 613 . [ Answered under " Multtim in Parvo . "—ED . F . \\

WE understand that the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cornwall will be held at Truro , on Tuesday , the 19 th July , and that a very large muster of the brethren is expected . The last time the P . G . L met in this town was in 1863 , and since then the Province has increased considerably , both as

respects the number of lodges and members . The new Masonic Hall will be dedicated by the Prov . G . Master on the same day , and we believe the brethren will walk in procession to St . Mary ' s Church , and will dine at the new Public Rooms ;

but the arrangements arc not yet finally made , so wc forbear anything approaching prophecy . Any information can be obtained from Bro . XV . J . Hughan , the Prov . Grand Secretary , and wc hope to announce the particulars in our advertising columns shortly .