Some Special Difficulties Of Masonic Literature.

real , with the sense of how much yet remains to be achieved before Masonic Journalism reaches its proper position , or attains what ought to be its normal prestige . A very large number of Freemasons never look at a Masoaic paper of any kind at all . Some dislike Masonic

publications , and a large proportion are too busy in secular pursuits , to devote any time to the study or support of Masonic Literature . Once upon a time we remember asking a worthy and distinguished brother Mason had he seen a certain article in the hebdomadal Masonic Journal .

" My dear fellow , " was his reply , " I never read it ; I never open it , and I know nothing at all of what is in it , it remains on my table for a week , and after that time is swept into the waste paper basket . " This probably , represents the state of the case as regards some subscribers , still , and

if it does , what can we say of those who have so little time , or care so little for Masonic literature that a casual glance at a club is sufficient for them ? We remember , some of us , an old story in the Freemason , where a brother at the bookstalls read the Freemason through ,

advertisements and all , but did not buy it , and as some of our good brethren ignore certain facts as regards Masonic journalism , we think it right gently to hint to them to-day , in no spirit of complaint or fault-finding , but as a simple historic truth that their support is not what

it ought fairly to be . As we before observed , a large portion of onr Order never troubles itself with Masonic literature , because it has no time to devote to the study , while another portion does not care for Masonic publications , and rather discourages than supports them , —so

that Masonic journalism is doubly handicapped for the race . It has to deal with a special class , but that special class does not much care for special literature , and in most cases prefers what is not special . But still Masonic literature has to be kept up , and as no Masonic journal is

produced tor nothing , a fact sometimes forgotten , as a general rule , the fate of Masonic journalism is not difficult to predicate . We might touch on other topics , but we do not . The Freemasonhas no cause to complain of either special or public support . It has received from the first most generous encouragement , and is now in the po

session of a larger amount of special and public patronage than ever has been accorded in Great Britain to any other Masonic journal . Across theAtlantic , with 700 , 000 Masons or thereabouts , the same difficulty exists , the same complaints are made , only with a hundredfold intensity , and we are sometimes inclined to reduce to a

simple rule of three sum , " if the support of 700 , 000 Masons in America is so much , what will be that of 100 , 000 in Great Britain'" Can any arithmetical brethren help us to a solution . In the meantime Publisher and Editor return their best thanks not only for " obliging enquiries , " but for very liberal support .

Grand Lodge Of Spain.

GRAND LODGE OF SPAIN .

We have received with great pleasure from Bro . Juan A . Perez , Grand Master of the Spanish Grand Lodge , a list of all the Symbolical Lodges , and of the High Grades . We beg to thank him most fraternally for forwarding this information to us , and to express all good wishes for the peaceful future of the Grand Lodge of Spain .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hole ! ourselves responsible for , or even as approving ofthe opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—tree discussion . —ED . 1

" FREEMASON " INDIAN FAMINE FUND . To the Editor if the "Freemason . " Dear Sir anel Brother , — I have been considerably astonished at the very poor result as yet that you have received in response to

your appeal on behalf of the Indian Famine Fund . Various lod ges , I am aware , have sent their subscriptions direct to the Lord Mayor , but there are , I know , numerous lodges whose offeiings would be perhaps too small by themselves , out when put with ethers would make no insignificant amount .

I ' he suggestion originally made by Bro . Wm . Cooke , I . M . 1 302 , anil so generously responded toby your worthy ? £ . ' the proprietor , would I had thought have received '" c immediate support of the Craft . Bro . Cooke ' s suggestion was in my opinion a very sensible one , and should be

Original Correspondence.

acted upon by the W . M ., Treasurer , or' Secretary without delay . I think if either of these officers would at thc banquet , when thc brethren arc surrounded with all the luxuries of the table , ask them to think for one moment of our thousands of fellow subjects literally starving in Ineiia and that a small sum , say one shilling-, from each present ,

woulel help to relieve the sufferings of so many , thc result woultl be that a very large sum would be received . Could any brother resist this appeal at so opportune a moment ? I think not . I tlo sincerely trust that this matter will receive the generous and early attention " of tlie Craft , as it so richly deserves . —I remain , dear Sir and Brother , jours fraternally 1426 .

CHARITY VOTING REFORM , & ,- . [ Tlie following correspondence lias come accielentally into our possession between a vice-patron of the Boys ' School , anil a leading member of the Charity Voting Reform Association , and we leave it to the careful consideration of all whom it may concern . " ]

Dear Sir anti Brother , — Please let me have all the voLs y .. u can spare for thc poor boy . Yours fraternally , Dear Sir and Brother ,, — I must say I was much taken aback at your canvassing for votes for considering the strong

attacks , you , as a prominent member of the Charily Reform Association , have made against nil canvassing . I was especially taken aback that you should canvass my votes for the weakest Masonic case that ever came before my notice , anil one which , being not eligible according to the laws , was only placed on the list by a mistake of the Committee . Yours very truly anel fraternally , ——

—Dear Sir and Brother , — You ask me why I am so inconsistent as [ to canvas . In the first place I felt that I might answer your invitation to write by eloing something quite inconsistent , and which woultl afford you the opportunity of returning good for evil .

You are quite right ! I tlo very sincerely set my face against the canvassing system , which I think wrong in principle , anel calculateel to help the least eleseiving amongst the candidates . But you , that is the Committee , place us outsiders 011 the horns of a dilemma , and wc are thereby diiven to employ your own weapons , or rather tlic only means at our disposal to assist a candidate , otherwise we

should probably let in a worse case than that I mentioned to you , ami vvhich I now see , for the first time , is a very weak one . But , surely , the Committee is lo blame for permitting sixty-four candidates to scramble for nine vacancies , ami on thc principle of " God for us all , and the devil take care of the hindmost . "

1 ou ought to set to work to reform the abuses of the present system . A list should be sent round giving some idea of thc comparative claims ami merits of the several candidates , and the brethren should be asked to support thc most deserving . Now a large number of children are admitted whose cases are quite as weak as that I have been asked to support by a brother who stands high in the Craft , ami who , 1 suppose , believes the case a deserving

one , or he would not have enlisted my sympathies . Do , pray , try and put a stop to trafficking in voles ; buying ami selling at the last moment converts the election into a farce , so far as the merits of the case are concerncel . How comes it that the boy whose name stands at the head of thc list is up for the eighth time ? Is this Masonic charity ? Believe me , I remain yours fraternally ,

PBOVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF WEST LANCASHIRE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir anti Brother , — In the report of this distinguished province , in your paper of the 13 th inst ., an incident occurs which raises in my mind a question of Masonic legality . What is the authority by vvhich the Provincial Grand

Lodge of West Yorkshire resolves itself into a " Court of Governors of the West Lancashire Masonic Educational Institution ? " Having very great doubts as to the constitutional legality of such a proceeding under all circumstairccs , I venture to ask in your columns for a little light upon the subject . I am , yours , fraternally , Is * THE DAHK .

LODGES AT TAVERNS . To ihe Editor 0 } the " Freemason . " Dear Sir , and Brother , — Please permit me in reply to " Sigma's " letter to you in last week's issue , to state that if the inclination of the Craft is adverse ( as it ought to be ) , to holding their ltxige meeting at taverns or hotels , there is now every

opportunity and facility for their removal to a properly constituted anil consecrated building , ( in addition to the Surrey Masonic Hall ) where Masonic ritual , and ceremonies , also the banquet , if desired , can be enjoyed vvitli greater advantages , and less costs than at hotels and taverns . I refer te , tte Lonelon Masonic Club , advertised in your columns , where also a Lodge of Instruction meets .

The apathy shown by the Craft to Masonic buildings , as for instance the lamentable result of the Surrey Masonic Hall , is the cause of so many resorting to " Pubs . " I am fraternally , J . E . SHAND , ( Member of the Club ) and Hon . Sec . L . M . C . L . of Instruction .

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Your correspondent "Sftrma , " in vour last issue , raises a question of vital importance in Frcemasonty , ami consequently of great interest to all Freemasons . Thc holeling of London Lcelges at taverns is unfortti nately unavoidable , owing to the want of suitable Masonic

buildings m which to hold them , but your correspondent will be glad to be informed that a most successful attempt lo remedy this , has alreaely been matle . The London Masonic Club was instituted for the purpose ( inter alia . ) of supplying accommodation for lodges . Any lcr ' . ge desirous of holding their meetings anti lanquets in a building solely devoted to Masonic purposes shoultl ainilv to thc

Secretary of tins Club . Thc Deputy Giant ! Master , ( Lord Skelmersdale ) , who presided last year at the opening of the club , stated that the fact cf the club offering a place of meeting for loelges , other than at taverns , ought of itself to ensure success . Yours fraternally , J OSEPH LANGTON- , Chairman of- the Club Committee .

PAST GRAND RANK . To Ihe Editor of Ihe "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I was very much pleased to sec in jour last issue a letter signed by " P . M . " upon Past Grand Rank . There is no doubt but a deal of misconception arises upon the position of Past Prov . Grant ! Pursuivants . I am : i Past

Grand Pursuivant of North Wales and Shropshire , having been appointed to that ofiice in December , 1 S 70 , and served as such for two years , but I never now wear the clothing , as I contend that I have no right to tlo so , because the Prov . Grand Master never grants pcrmisson to lake past rank and wear the clothing . At every appointment in the Grant ! Lodge of England I think the Grand Master always

orders "that in consideration of thc conduct of Bro . A . B . as Grauel Pursuivant he has been graciously pleased to order that he ranks as a Past Grantl Pursuivant and wear the clothing . " Now why is this not done in the Provinces ? and why should a Past Pursuivant , whose duties are much more important , be treated differently to thc Grand Deacons , Sword and Standard Bearers .

When the present Prov . Grand Bye-laws of Wales , & c , were uneler revision in the year 1 S 74 , I was present at a meeting of P . M . 's helil at Wynnstay , anel I laid great stress upon the particular point , but was outvoteel anil the anomaly still continues , and I believe that I am thc only Past Pursuivant in the province who does not wear the clothing . I think it would be worth while for the Board

of General Purposes to take the question into consideration , ami ilelinitcly settle the position of Past Pursuivants , who in my opinion arc most important officers of Grand or Prov . Grantl Lodge , if those holding thc appointment thoroughly do their duty . Yours fraternally , D . P . Owen , P . M . ami P . Z . AoS .

THE ROYAL ORIENTAL ORDER OF SIK . HA ANC

SAT B'HAI . To Ihe Editor of lhc "Scottish Freemason . " Dear Sir anel Brother , In reply to " Querist , " in Scottish Freemason of September ifith , I give the following condensed description from Mackenzie ' s Masonic Cyclopa-dia— " Order of Sikha andSatB'hai : —This is an Order of Indian origin , and

named after a sacred bird of the Hindus , whose flight invariably in sevens , has obtained for the Rite the appellation of the Seven ( Sat ) Brethren ( B'hai ) . It is divided into seven degrees ( but with Sikhas , composed of Sponsors , nine ) . None but Master Masons can be admitted into ihe higher degrees of the Order . The principles of the Order are Masonic , and includes the preservation , in . its

original Archaic purity , of Craft Masonry ; the support of duly constituted authority , wherever found -, sympathy with all branches of the Ayrian race , and the cultivation of a fraternal sentiment—more especially towards the Hindus ; and it inculcates the study of Hindu literature

and archaeology . The Order is now firmly established in England and Scotland , and has branches in America , Austria and other countries , and its Masonic value is highly appreciated by eminent brethren all over the world . " Yours fraternally , ONE OF THE Onnr . ii .

DRINK . FOR THE THIRSTY . [ The following interesting letter appeared in thc Scotsman , ot the 4 th inst . ] Sir , —Though much good work is being done in the cause cf temperance , it is very remarkable that the most important means of all is left almost untouched in this and other large cities .

How can there be sobriety in the working and moving classes of our crowded streets and city approaches unless an abundant supply of puie drinking water be readily accessible to them at all moments of the day ? At present a thirsty wayfaier in our streets and dustysuburban roads has no place to turn to in order to quench his thirst but to the first public-house that comes to hand

the drinking-fountain movement halts in its monumental and aesthetic stage . The number of drinking fountains in Edinburgh may probably be counted on the fingers of one hand , whereas when we turn to thc Post Office Directory we find four hundred and seventeen public-houses for the supply of intoxicating drinks . The remedy is very

simple . Drop the Arcadian title " Drinking Fountain , " and establish , in the city and suburbs , a system of " Street Drinking Taps , " in number commensurate at least with that cf the puplic-houses . Let the construction be sorrething of the character of the pillar letter-boxesviz ., a cast-iron cylinder of diameter sufficient to contain