Original Correspondence.

THE GIRLS' SCHOOL . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Some few months ago I addressed you on the subject of the approach to our School on Wandsworth Common—the only approach from Clapham Junctionunless a long round is made . It is over a narrow , muddy ,

dirty little foot bridge , that crosses the South Western Railway shortly after leaving the Junction ; the two ends ot the bridge are closed by swinging gates , and the stones on each side are much worn , so that they form considerable hollows , where rain collects just where the passers must p lace their feet when going to cross the bridge , and , in consequence , must in wet weather—and , as you know , it is frequently wet now-a-days—get their feet well soaked .

I suppose when members of the Committee of the School visit it they must drive round by the main road , and are , therefore , happily ignorant as to foot passengers , the only means of getting to the school . The next time , however , they have to visit the noble institution , let them come on a wet day , in patent leather boots , ' and walk from the Junction to the school : then something might be done . Yours fraternally , A CONSTANT READER .

THE MASONIC SCHOOL . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , Your potent and well timed " notes of warning " in the Freemason cannot fail to convince the Craft that the rapid increase in our numbers will naturally cause a corresponding increased demand on our central charities ,

which cannot at once be met , as regards the schools for want of space . What cannot be cured must be endured , yet to prevent heartburnings after the elections , and also carry out our noble tenets in their entirety , an education fund for each province should be at once formed , to educate the children of deceased and distressed Freemasons at suitable schools in the neighbourhood of their own homes , until such times as they can be elected into the Central

Schools , thereby constituting them , so to speak , wards of the province ; a noble example of which has been set by the provinces of West Yorkshire , Lancashire , Cheshire , and Cornwall . It would be an incentive to those brethren who do not contribute lo the central charities to begin their charity at home and induce them not to end it there , for Free masonry without Charity is worth nothing . I am , Sir , yours faithfully and fraternally , A . LINCOLNSHIRE W . M .

TEMPLE BAR LODGE . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In your otherwise excellent report of thc consecration of the Temple Bar Lodge there are two or three little inaccuracies of omission and commision , which I would in justice to the brethren and myself mention and

correct . For " I have never done much on behalf of our Masonic Charities , " it should have run , " 1 have never been able to do as much as I wished for our Masonic Charities . " There was a cry of " Question , "—but from Bro . Binckes—there may have been a seconder—but both were

speedily put down by a storm of " cheers , " which have been omitted . Many cries of "Question " were raised during a portion of Beo . Binckes' speech , which were also omitted . It is also not recorded that after Bro . Binckes spoke I rose in explanation , and said— " No word I said referred to the administration , but to the elective system of our

chanties . I strongly hold that truth may be spoken anywhere , so long as it is spoken in a gentlemanly manner and a proper spirit , and without personality . Public matters may surely be discussed in public at any meeting of the brethren , especially a matter which concerns not merely the subscribers to our charities , but the whole fraternity .

Your " note of warning " is very good and seasonable , but be assured we should have much fewer Masons coming into the Craft for what they could get if we had a highminded , impartial , and strict system of investigation before any candidate was placed on our charity list , and a better and more discriminating mode of election after . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , R . J . SIMPSON .

ROSLIN CASTLE . To the Editor of the " Freemason : ' Dear Sir and Brother , The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland recently held their first meeting of the session in Edinburgh , for the reading of papers . Among the papers read was one , by Mr . Andrew Sker , architect , formerly of Her Majesty's

Office of Works entitled , "Roslin Castle , its buildings Past and Present , " tracing the history of the building from the early part of the 14 th century , part ' of which building was erected by Sir William St . Clair . The castle was added to by his great grandson , Henry , the second of the St . Clair line of the Earls of Orkney . He built the great keep or South-west Tower . Sir William St . Clair , 3 rd Earl of Orkney , ( the founder

of the Collegiate Church of Roslin ) , also made large additions to the castle . In i 45 <; James H . gave Sir William the earldom of Caithness in exchange for Nithsdale , and afterwards , in consideration of the elegant buildings he had erected , conferred upon him the dignity of Grand Master Mason of Scotland , a title which remained in the fa . nily till the year 1736 , when it was given over to the Scottish Masonic Craft .

In 1544 . the Castle was burned by the English forces ol Henry the Ei ghth , it was partly restored by Sir William St . Clair after 1580 .

Original Correspondence.

Dear Sir , I have penned these few lines to you thinking they will throw some new light on Ancient Freemasonry . Perhaps some of our more enlightened Masonic Students will let us know where and when James the Second was made a Mason . I remain , fraternally yours , GEO . W . CHIRNSIDE .

Consecration Of The Cholmeley Lodge, No. 1731.

CONSECRATION OF THE CHOLMELEY LODGE , No . 1731 .

The following is the oration delivered by the Rev . C . W . Arnold , Grand Chaplain , who acted as Chaplain at the consecration of the Cholmeley Lodge at the Alexandra Palace on Wednesday , the 9 th inst . " At a time when the members of our ancient Order are so rapidly increasing in

number , and when a false step has been taken by the Grand Orient of France , it seems to me that I cannot better occupy your time than by adtlressing a fe w words to you on the great landmarks and principles of our Order . I say then , without the slightest hesitation , that the great basis on which our Order rests is " the belief in God . " Masonry is not religion ; but at the same time it

is deeply rooted in religion , and demands of every candidate for its privileges the belief in thc existence of a Personal Deity , the One Living and True God . Further than this Craft Masonry does not go , and so it holds the door open to all nations , whatever may be their religious systems , who believe in God . Thus the Christian , the Jew , the Mahommcdan , the Hindoo , the inhabitant of

Ch ' unTand Japan , the American Indian , and the South-Sea Islander [ can all unite in this common bond of brotherhood ; but it rigidly excludes thc Atheist . Need I remind you that Masonry calls for thc rec ignition of God at every step ? Under the names of the Great Architect of the Universe , the Grand Geometrician , and the Most High , His blessing is invoked in each degree . In the centre of the lodge is

situated the sacred symbol , to call attention to His eternal existence , His omnipotence , and His everlasting watchfulness , round which each Mason stands on the circumference of a circle waiting for His commands and subject to His inspection . Before the W . M . lie the open pages of the volume of the Sacred Law , the revelation of God's will to man . It is the standard of Masonic truth ,

the guide of our actions , and the rule of our faith . Every obligation is scaled upon its sacred pages , and the Mason is taught to square his actions according to the dictates of that Sacred Volume if he wishes to become a living stone fit to be built into that temple not made with hands , eternal in the heavens . Masonry teaches the immortality of the soul . It invites us to contemplate

death without terror , assuring us that even nature bears witness that in this perishable frame resides a vital and an immortal principle , which inspires -x holyconfidence that the Lord of Life will enable us to trample the King of Terrors beneath our feet , and lift our eyes to that bright morning star , whose rising brings peace and salvation to the faithful and obedient of the human race .

And the working tools of a Master Mason teach us to bear in mind and act according to the laws of our Divine Creator , that when we shall be summoned from this sublunary abode we may ascend to the Grand Lodge above , where the world's Great Architect lives to reign for evermore . Our second great landmark is charity or love , and this divides itself into two heads , brotherly love and

relief . I call this our second landmark because it springs from thc first . It is born out of the loving heart of God himself , bringing heaven as it were down to earth , and linking soul to soul throughout the world . As has well been said , " Masonry seeks to bring together men of every political faith and of every religious creed , winning them

from their isolation , their selfishness , and their sins , and uniting them in their work for the general good . " The discussion of religion and politics is strictly forbidden in our lodges , becanse they are the two most fruitful sources of dissension and bitterness . What can be a grander exemplification of brotherly love than the five points of fellowship , hand-to-hand , & c . But Masonry

not only teaches us to have charitable feelings , and to drop the tear of sympathy over the failings of a brother , but to perform charitable acts , to feed the hungry , comfort the afflicted , relieve the oppressed or distressed , to educate the orphan child , and to provide for the aged widow and brother who are past work . Need I say more about these two great landmarks ? Well are our principles stated to

be Brotherly Love , Relief , and Truth , for Truth depends upon belief in God ; Relief originates in true brotherly love ; and Brotherly Love springs from the love of God . fhus the whole current of Masonry rises in and flows back again to God the centre . Time would fail me were I to enlarge upon its allegories and symbols , which remind

the Mason every day - and hour of his solemn obligations . I would that all men were truly actuated by its | r nciplcs ; the world wonld then wear a vcry different aspect ; no longer would our hearts bleed at the horrors of war and strife , but the song of Heaven would be realised , " Peace on earth , good-will towards men . "

How MUCH WE TALK . —It is well that all we say is not written down , not only because some of it might be rather against us , but because there would not be room for it . A curious Frenchman has lately been making a calculation , which is that a man talks on an average three hours a day , at the rate of about twenty-nine octavo pages

an hour . This would make eighty-seven pages a day , about six huntlred a week , which would amount to fiftytwo good-sized volumes every year . And then , multiplying this by the number of years in a man ' s life , what a library he would have should it be all printed I And , too , how very little of the whole would be worth preserving , and how much he would be so glad if it had been left unsaid 1

Reviews.

Reviews .

" The Jouroal of Travels , " No . 1 . Ward and Greaves , . . » Crown-court . This is a new candidate for public approval , and comes before us with a very striking , not to say startling , " bill of fare . " The idea is a good one , and is well worked out , and we think that the periodical has a successful future

before it . We should not , however , be honest reviewers if we did not point out that the extreme sensationalism of " Robinson Afloat " can do no possible good , and may be productive of harm . We cannot see the good of thus representing , especially to the young , scenes of horror and violence , alike morbid and grotesque .

" Lancaster Masonic Calendar" for 1 S 78 . By Bro . J . D . Dr . MOORE , M . D . Is most neatly got up , and is a very handy little " vade mecum" for those for whom it is mainly intended . It is also likely to be very useful to " travelling brethren " in that part of the county desirous of visiting a lodge and appreciating Masonic work and Masonic hospitality .

" Notes on the History of Freemasonry , " By Bro . HENRY SUTHTIIKRLAND , M . D ., P . M . * University Lodge , No . 1118 . We have received this little work , printed apparently for " private circulation " only , but we think it well to make one or two humble " notes " and " , ' comments " respecting

it . The idea of the writer is a good one , as well as a useful one , and we are glad to welcome Bro . Dr . Sutherland among that phalanx of Masonic students who are seeking to advance the true interests of Masonic history and Masonic archaeology . We cannot , however , concur altogether with our esteemed brother student , either as regards

his general or critical view of the present posiiion of Masonic historiography . We cannot concur with him in asserting that Anderson was the founder , for instance , of the mystical school , inasmuch ss all that Anderson really did was , uncritically no doubt , and unscientifically if you will , to modernise the guild legends . But in this vcry effort of

his he preserved consciously or unconsciously it matters not now , the true history of Freemasonry . The mystical school of Freemasonry is rather to be traced to those who actually developed the teaching of the old Catechism or Lectures . Whether Anderson ever had anything to do with the Lectures is more than doubtful , and Desagulier ' s share

in them is more , we apprehend a matter of tradition than anything else . Our mystical school can hardly be placed as early as 1723 , and is to our mind much later , founding its main profession on Hutchinson , Preston , Calcott , Ashe , and Oliver . Some of the facts mentioned by Dr . Sutherland are not

now accepted by the " Authentic School , " and it is a mistake on his part to assume , as he does , that Preston arraigned th : " York Ritual in 1 744 , " as it is this confusion of York with the South which is the rock upon which so many Masonic historians have come to grief . It cannot be too often repeated ( as Bro . Hughan will

agree ) , that the Antients had nothing to do with York ; and though Bro . Preston may have been initiated in an "Antient Lodge " ( though of this no clear evidence exists ) , all his ritual work is that of the " Modern Grand Lodge . " We must not , it appears to us , press too far the evidence of the " Masonic Poem . " It no doubt represents the customs

and teaching ot the operative lodges at the end of the 14 th century , and carries us back to still earlier teaching , but it is purely operative , and all that we can derive from it , in our opinion , is a general accordance of teaching . Many of its provisions as regards freedom of birth and

corporeal blemishes are now given up by our speculative Grand Lodge . Though we belong to the authentic school ourselves , we are not such slaves to authenticity as to seek to strike out all " sentiment" from Freemasonry , and we feel that in Masonic Archaiology , as in everything else , the old a lage is safest and best , " Medio tutissimus ibis . "

" Science for All , " Illustrated , No . 1 . Cassell , Petter , and Galpin . We have received this well conceived and admirably executed illustrated serial , and we are glad to commend it , without any reserve , to the notice of our many readers . If the subsequent numbers , as we doubt not , are as carefully edited , and

as strikingly interesting in themselves , we feel sure that not only will they approve themselves to the educational mind of the day , but they will obtain a large amount of public patronage . "Science for All" deserves to be well studied and thought over , the names of the writers beingja guarantee against anything like the mere wordiness of some professed teachers of science . We recommend our readers to buy the work and judge for themselves .

The policemen of North Cornwall have been armed with cutlasses to fortify them for the raid against stray dogs which has been resolved upon . Mat / fair states that the rooo nights of " Our

Boys " will be reached on the iqth proximo and that Bros . James and Thome propose on that night to double the prices of admission and to hand over the proceeds to some charitable object , which will be a very graceful and appropriate way of celebrating an unprecedented . run .

A drawing room entertainment b y the employes of Messrs . J . C . Boyd and Co . was give ' ft on behalf of the Royal Hospital for incurables at St : GebVge ' s Hall on Thursday , 17 th inst ., at 6 . 30 . Bro . Ockenden , liizand 1656 was Secretary to the Committee .