Weekly Summary.

Westminster Abbey , the consecration sermon being preached by Archdeacon Pott . Mr . Jean Luie , a very important witness for the prisoner in the Tichborne trial , has been discovered to be a convict with a ticket-of-leave , of

the name of Lundgren , and has been committed accordingly by Sir Thomas Henry to the Middle sex House of Detention , on the charge of" having forfeited his licence as a convict of ticket-of-leave , by neglecting to report ^ himself at intervals to the proper authorities . "

Four railway accidents , more or less serious , have occurred during the last few days , the worst being a double collision near Bolton , on the Lancashire and Yorkshire , by which ten passengers were severely injured , and several others slightly . The news from- the Gold Coast is not

important . Sir Garnet Wolseley is still aboard the Simoom , but able to attend to business , and is awaiting the fine brigade now on their way . In the meantime every preparation is made for an advance , and every precaution is taken to ensure the health of the troops . Commodore Hewitt has assumed the naval command .

At the Cape of Good Hope , a skirmish has ensued in Natal , between " Langilabile , " a Caffre chief , and some thirty carabineers , under Major Durnford ; in which three Englishmen lost their lives . It is to be hoped that this unfortunate event may not lead to another " little

Caffre War . " Sir S . R . Baker has given a most interesting account of his expedition , before a select audience presided over by H . R . H . the Duke of Cambridge , the Commander-in-Chief .

A furious gale has raged since early Tuesday morning , all through Yorkshire , and extending into Scotland , causing much damage to property . In Foreign news , there is not a great deal to notice .

Marshal Bazaine , despite thc eloquence of Maitre Lachaud , has been unanimously condemned to death and military degradation by the court martial , but Marshal McMnhon has commuted the sentence into seclusion for twenty years , and removal from thc army .

We are not politicians , anel only profess to record events , but we cannot help thinking this prosecution of Marshal Bazaine a great mistake , as it is impossible after the event to judge of much that a General commanding has to take into account .

The French joke about poor Admiral Byng returns to our memory , for certainly it would seem , as if the intense desire manifested by some to punish and shoot an old soldier was " pour encourager les autres" !

The Dutch have hael a successful landing at Acheen—and will probably soon master the outbreak in their colony . Carthagena has not yet surrendered , and the Carlist movement seems at a stand still .

The Virginius has been surrendered to the United Stales , so that all possibility e ) f war is arrested . But the great question of compensation remains for British anel American subjectsille-gally put to death .

We have to announce with regret thc death of Mr . Winterbotham , M . P ., Uiv !< r Secretary of State in the Home Department , who dieel at Rome , where he had geme for the benefit of his health , on Saturday .

The death of the Queen Dowager of Prussia is also announced , as also that of Professor Agassiz .

Thc Editor of the" Bauhutte" has founded at Florence an establishment for the sale eif German anel English books . We have much pleasure in introducing the same to the notice of our mam' readers who may visit the fair city ,

feeling assured that they will meet with every attention from those in charge . The address is •Messrs . Flor and Findel , German and Foreign

Booksellers , 24 , Lung Arno Acciajoli Florence , Italy . Prints , photographs , pictures , and English stationery , are also kept in stock . — AllVT .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

FRUGALITY AND PHILANTHROPE

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — BrodGottheil , in his able letter ' of Saturday last , though he has put forward his view of the subject with great power and perspicuity , has not quite represented the whole truth of

the matter . I quite agree with Bro . Gottheil that it would be most undesirable if even it were possible , to curtailthe " amusements of the people , " or to interfere ' unnecessarily with the social arrangements of our lodges , which I quite admit are not

only most needful but most beneficial for our Craft . But the real question is , whether our system may not admit of some little amendment , and whether , in our present regulations on ' the subject , we quite do justice either to our lodges or our own feelings , or best promote the interests

of charity , and the general welfare and progress of Freemasonry . I quite endorse Bro . Gottheil ' s view that where the bye-laws of a lodge require a certain amount of annual subscripfion , and that for that sum certain banquets are specified among the

privileges of the members , they receive in fact , only their " quid pro quo , " and cannot fairly be said to employ the lotige funds for eating and drinking . At thc same time I say this , I do not think those good bye-laws , which provide for any banquets out eif the lodge subscriptions .

For let us see how this system works . Phere are three systems in fact at present in vogue amongst us . One is the system which fixes the subscription at a given sum , and provides in the bye-laws for so many banquets gratis to thc brethren yearly . l'he second is the system

which calls upon the members of the lodge for a certain annual subscription , but says nothing about banquets , and when in conseejuence the expenses for refreshment are paid by the brethren personally each lodge night , and collected by the Stewards .

' We must always bear in mind that while in London , and a few of our larger towns thc loelges may be termed , without offc-nce , dinner lodges , that is , where work is followed by a regular dinner , the great majority of our Provincial Lodges only have as a general rule supper after

their labours , a much lighter and less expensive kind of refreshment . There is a third system where the subscription is at the minimum , and where the loelge provides the " eatables , " but where the Stewards provide the " drinkables , "

and each brother , lo use a homely term , " pays his own shot . " I do not purpose in this letter to pass any jutlgment , anel least of all to cast any imputation upon either of these systems , or the Brethren who uphold advisedly , one or the other of them .

But the ellect certainl y of the present system is , that a large proportion of our lodges do not subscribe as lodges to any of the Masonic Charities , and though the names of the brethren appear tin the list , the loelges themselves are not to be found there—with some happy anel

honourable exceptions . Bros . Hughan and Iloelge's , in their remarks , have been actuated by a desire tei increase our charitable returns , anel certainly tlie fact stated , if true , ought to suggest serious thought , namely that more than one loelge is in debt for the dinner fund , and is unable to do anything for charity .

I his discussitm will have this one good result . Let us hope that it will make some of us think , and if it only elicits one or two more as able letters as Bro . Gottheil ' s is , it will shew what I have always said , how great is the latent and dormant talent ofthe Craft . I am , yours fraternally , AN - OLD P . M . AND P . Z .

NOT GENERALLY KNOWN . To the Editor of ihe I ' iceiiiasoii . Dear Sir and Brother , — I elo not , I confess , at all appreciate 01

admire liro . Jacob Norton ' s constant allusion to his " credulous brethren" in America , of whom , according to his own view , many " thousands " exist . If our good brother possesses so much more

Original Correspondence.

light than his brethren generally , he should seek to enlighten them in a kind , courteous , and Masonic way . It is not Masonic always to be dwelling on the supposed ignorance or credulity of others ; when some might think , that , Bro . Jacob Norton ,

earnest as he is , pushes his cavils to the verge of absolute scepticism , and might say , fairly enough , " It is better to believe too much than too little . " T am , yours fraternally , NEMO .

HONORARY MEMBERS . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother ,- — In reply to " An Enquirer , " honorary members cannot vote in lodge , and certainly cannot ballot for candidates for admission .

None but bona fide subscribing members to the lodge can vote or ballot . I am , yours fraternally , DRACO .

BRO . BIGG AND THE MIDDLESEX LODGE .

To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — The letter of " P . M . " , which appears in your columns of the 1 , 3 th inst , courts a reply from me to two questions , whicli I have no

hesitation in giving , though I confess I have a dislike to anonymous correspondents . Possibly our worthy brother witholds his name , lest Bro . Salmon or myself should offer him the opportunity of enjoying our hospitality and thus disturb the balance of his fraternal impartiality .

ist . When the W . M . of the Middlesex , came over to where I stood , and asked me to retire from the lodge until my introducer arrived , I said " All Masons were eligible to attend lodges and that it was not the rule of my lodge to expel brethren under such circumstances . " Bro . Salmon told me in courteous terms ; ' It is our rule , and I advise you to withdraw . "

2 nd . The W . M . never hinted at the idea of " trying anel proving" me , nor did I in the face of such a peremptory rule as the above , venture to obt . ude myself on the brethren of the Middlesex Lodge . I respectfully submit that the question at

issue is not one involving " boorishness and inhospitality either , or caution and fidelity . " It goes at the very root of " Masonry and its princi ples . " It proclaims that the " Equality among Masons " is an axiom enforced in theory , but eschewed in practice ,

and that the maxims of " meeting on the level and parting on the square " isa practical Masonic joke . It admits of class lodges encouraging exclusiveness , and divests Masonry of its most attractive characteristic .

I never did , and I trust never shall attempt to thrust myself into any society where my presence would be objectionable , hence I withdrew on this occasion to the " convenient room adjoining the loelge , " awaiting the arrival of my introducers .

In conclusion I may remark that had thc W . M . and his Wardens performed the duties expected of them by Granel Loelge , they would have attended the last quarterly communication , and would have recognised me as the mover of the first resolution on tho Agenda , but possibly I may be too much like the editor of the

Eatunswill Gazette , who , when he had written a slashing leader denouncing everything anel everybody , finding he had created no sensation , and was unrecognised , remarked " Good God ! and this is popularity !" Yours fraternally , FREDERICK BIGG , W . M .. 1261 . P . M . 66 .

To lite Editor 0 / The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I waited till your publication succeeding that which gave an account of Bro . P . M . Bigg ' s reception and dismissal at ihe Middlesex Lodge

appeared , and which 1 de not hesitate to say was an outrage on the principles of Freemasonry , and may now be fitl y so called ; no explanation or apology having appeared in your columns from any member of that lodge .