To Correspondents.

To Correspondents .

In reply to J ONATHAN HOLBUCK . —We cannot go into details of Ritual , but both forms are in use . We incline to First Degree . The following report stands over : — Easter Star Lodge , No . 95 .

BOOKS , & . c , RECEIVED . "Australian Freemason , " " Keystone , " " The Freemason , " " Proceedings of District Grand Lodge of Bombay , " " Hebrew Leader , " "The Commonwealth of Missouri , " " Der Long Islander , " " Masonic Newspaper , " " Walk : a "Word for the New Year . "

Births, Marriages, And Deaths.

Births , Marriages , and Deaths .

[ The charge is 2 s . 6 d . for announcements not exceeding Four Lines under this heading . ] BIRTHS . FENOULHET . —On the 16 th inst ., at 18 , Pcrcey-road , W ., the wife of Mr . I'dward Cooper Fenoulhet , of a son . PAWLE . —On the 16 th inst ., at St . Winifred's , Reigate , Mrs . F . D . Pawle , prematurely , of a daughter .

MARRIAGE . CALDER—MUSSAHEB . —On the 14 th inst ., at St . George ' s , Ramsgate , by the Vicar , the Rev . Canon fcdwyn , M . A ., Edwin Gilcert , son of the late Col . Calrier , 8 th Foot ( King ' s ) , to Bertha , daughter of Mr . George Mussared , the Castle Hotel , Ramsgate .

DEATHS . BAKER . —On the 14 th inst ., at Anerlcy , Mr . George Kennett Baker , in his 69 th year . HOBSLEY . —On the 17 th inst ., at 2 , Staple Inn , W . C , Bro . Charles Horsley , Solicitor , formerly ot Worcester , aged 60 years . Friends will please accept this the

only intimation . J ENKINSON . —On the 13 th inst ., at 1 , Gainsboro ' -road , South Hornsey , Sarah Jane , the beloved wife of W . Massey Jenkinson , aged 33 . Deeply lamented . L'EsTBANGK . —On the 16 th inst ., at his residence , Norwich , Lieut .-Col . H . P . L'Estrange , R . W . P . G . S . Norfolk .

The Freemason.

THE FREEMASON .

SATURDAT , FEBRUARY 21 , 1880 .

WE feel sure that all our readers , be they who they may , will deeply sympathise with the Emperor of Russia and the Duchess of Edinburgh under the recent most atrocious attempt to destroy the whole Imperial Family . At such

a moment honest indignation supervenes , and there can be but one feeling , widespread and distinct , with regard to acts which are a disgrace to civilization and humanity , and repugnant to every sentiment of loyalty and patriotism . Those

who can deliberately plan , carry out , and even palliate such fearful and deplorable acts are , in our opinion , little removed from abject barbarism , and deserve every punishment which the violated

Jaws of the land can inflict . As Freemasons we are always loyal , and feel bound openly tc express our abhorrence of criminal proceedings which darken the age in which we live .

* * WE recur with pleasure to the " facts " connected with the last Stewards' returns to the Royal Masonic Benevolent festival , but for fear

of making our " leader ' too long , we ask our kind readers to cast their eyes over the " Communique " which follows the leaders . We congratulate Bro . Terry on such a satisfactory result .

* WE beg to remind our readers that Bro . Hedges is anxious to receive the names of brethren as Stewards for the Girls' School Anniversary . The

first meeting of the Stewards was to take place on Friday , at four , at Freemasons' Hall . We shall again allude to this important subject in our next .

* * OUR Publisher has sent a copy of the Freemason of February 14 th to every Master of a lodge under the English Constitution . We trust that

the records it contains of the successful anniversary for 1880 , and of the excellent speech of Bro . the Earl of Zetland , will maintain and _ 2 £ Qilsg _ the _ interest of our brethren in the R . M . B . I .

The Freemason.

WE trust that the movement in favour of the Duchess of Marlborough ' s Fund will advance week by week until it represents a fair "total" of genuine Masonic sympathy for so great a national

distress . After the forcible letter of our distinguished Bro . the President of the Board of General Purposes , we feel we had better leave his effective appeal to bring about a proper reply .

# # We are authorized to state , and we think it should be generally known , that the Committee of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement have directed a letter to be sent in answer to Bro .

Stevens' circular , informing him that they cannot consistently , with their views on the subject before Grand Lodge , consent to be represented on his Committee j and adding that they wish it

to be distinctly understood that if any member of Bro . Stevens' Committee should assume to represent the Emulation Lodge of Improvement , he will be acting without the authority or sanction of the Committee .

* * BY the death of Bro . Cremieux the Rite Ecossais in France loses its distinguished head and Grand Commander . One of the last acts of his Ion ? life was to sign the needful decrees b y

which the formation of the so-called " Grande Loge Symbolique Independante" in the Rite Ecossais was repudiated and condemned . He was buried on Thursday last in the cemetery of Mont Parnasse , before a distinguished assembly . *

WE note that the "New Zealand Tablet" of November 7 thagain complains of Judge Harvey , R . W . D . G . M ., laying the foundation stone of the New law Courts with Masonic honours , and

surrounded by the Fraternity . And why , forsooth . Because the writer thinks fit to assert that English Masons approve of the silly doings of some French Masons who disgraced

themselves during the Commune at Paris . He cannot and does not think so , but having a very bad case indeed , he abuses " con amore " the " p laintiff's attorney . "

* * IT has occurred to us , when reading the reports of American Grand Lodges , that the one weak point in their work is active and practical charitable effort . Their great drawback seems

to be the immense sums paid for mileage and members' allowances . If these sums were devoted to Masonic charity , Freemasonry in America would , we are inclined to fancy , make giant strides . At present the greatest

admirers of all its good points , and they are many , can hardly say of its work " si quceris circumspice . " We say this in all deference , and friendship , and hearty sympathy with all American Masons .

* * IN the ' ' Monde Maconnrque " Bro . Grimaux reports the meeting of last Grand Lodge , and the debate in re " Uniformity of Ritual . " According to his view , —as there is no " printed

ritual " there is every reason to apprehend nonuniformity . We feel sure that many who voted for the motion in last Grand Lodge did not perceive , that by so doing they were " leading up " logically to that most fatal practice . * * *

THE discovery of alleged Masonic symbols on the base of an obelisk of Cleopatra about to be shipped to the United States has been announced . We are " prima facie " inclined to think that such a "find " has been too hastily " discounted . "

Subsequent and maturer considerations may materially modify , perhaps overthrow , "hasty assumptions" and "eager speculations . " We should always be upon our guard against the " post hoc , propter hoc . " We call attention to a communication relative to the same subject elsewhere .

WE are extremely glad to find that the Christmas number of the Freemason was appreciated in the United States of America . Indeed , it is very encouraging to our energetic publisher to

The Freemason.

diffuse a wholesome and intellectual Masonic literature at home are admired and applauded abroad .

* IT has been effectively pointed out to us , and we admit the entire , truth of the observation , that a great confusion ]! is made and apparentl y prevails between Unity and Uniformity of Ritual .

We are all , we apprehend , for Unity , but Uniformity is , in our opinion , impossible of attainment without lowering the whole " status " of

intellectual Masonry amongst us , and paving the way for changes whose only result can , humanly speaking , be the deterioration and debasement of all lodge ritual work .

WE are glad to be informed that some who most vehemently opposed the purchase of Lyncombe House have since modified their opinions ,

and that many who once were dubious on the point now perceive the necessity of the purchase for the School " at any price . " We ourselves never doubted that calmer thoughts and right reason would eventually prevail . a

* * WE think it right to call attention to a "circular " which has been issued in the Ancient and Accepted Rite relative to our esteemed Grand

Secretary , Bro . Lieut .-Col . Shadwell H . Ck'rke . It will , no doubt , be ri ghtly appreciated and heartily responded to by the members of tliat distinguished body , to which he has rendered such valuable services .

* WE publish elsewhere a letter from our Bro . Whytehead , of York , which deserves attention and perusal . From many communications and

remarks , we think that some steps should at once be taken to place the present position of the Pupils' Assistance Fund , financially and otherwise , formally before our Masonic public . We shall next week again mention the matter .

* * WE beg to call attention to a circular elsewhere , about to be issued by our Publisher , in respect of the "Masonic Cyclopredia , " which being one

of much liberality on his part , and of advantage to the Craft and Masonic students , we deem it only necessary to mention and to refer our readers to that explanatory and fraternal circular , itself .

Communique.

COMMUNIQUE .

We beg to call special attention to the Stewards' returns for the recent festival of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , which our energetic Bro . Terry must have read out with much p leasure , and not a little justifiable pride . It will be seen , as we before noticed , that the metropolis

with 126 Stewards has returned £ ji 4 15 s . 6 d ., a most remarkable return per se , placing it ahead of the provinces about £ 1 ^ 00 in round numbers . Of the remitting lodges and chapter ? , as we also before pointed out , the Lo : lge ot Prudent Brethren , No . 1642 , Bro . S . H . Parkhouse ,

heads the goodly list with the really noble contribution of , £ 400 ; Sincerity , No . 145 , Bro . J . H . Leggott , succeeds with the handsome amount of £ 276 js . 6 d . ; ' and the Islington , So . 147 t , Bro . Wm . Bausor , completes the worthy trio with the considerable contribution of

£ 128 13 s . 6 d . We note that the Sincerity Chapter , No . 174 , Comp . J . Hallctt , is nest with £ 210 ; and that the Friends in Cauncil , No . 1383 , Bro . R . W . H . Giddy , Distrct Giaiid Master for Griqnaland , follows with £ 187 3 ? - The Prince of Wales' Lodge , No . 250 ,

Bro-Major-General the Hon . Somerset J . G . Calthorpe , £ 178 £ , s . precedes the Creaton Lodge - No . 1791 , H . J . Johnson , which comes gallantly forward with , £ 174 5 s . Too much praise cannot be accorded to the charitable exertions of this young and rising lodge . We no '

also with much approval the returns of the L- 'l )' Lodge of Richmond , No . 820 , Bro . Char ! - ' j Hubbard , £ 144 16 s . ; Egyptian , Bro . J . »¦ j Poole , £ r 40 3 s . 6 d . ; Temple Bar , No . ip 9 > Bro . T . W . C . Bush , £ 137 os . 6 d . ; Fitzro . V Bro . H . Bateman , £ 131 5 s .: Kilburn , N" - j