Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

To the Editor of Fhe freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I shall feel greatly obliged if you or nny of your readers could inform me where I could procure the undermentioned works , by A . C . J . Arnold , LL . D . " The Alodern Eleusinia . "

" The Conspiracy . "The Mystery . *' I am under the impression that these are United States editions , but know nothing more . Yours fraternally , 1 . EDMONDS .

Heraldry In The New Order Of The Temple.

HERALDRY IN THE NEW ORDER OF THE TEMPLE .

To lite Editor ol the Freeinttsuii . Dear Sir and Brother , —¦ In a printed paper , officially signe d , 1 read that the cross to be worn on the mantles of members of this new Order is a " cross potence , " and in a report of proceedings of the Convent

General published , by authority , it is statetl that the cross to be worn in the same manner isa " cross patent . " Having but a small acquaintance with the science of heraldry , it nevertheless seemed to me that I had never heard of crosses of either description , and I have therefore searched some

heraldic works in my library with the following result * . I presume that no one can question the authorities to which I am about to refer—Gvvillim ( 16 , 38 ) , Carter ( 1660 ) , Bont .-II ( 186 , 3 ) , and Cussans ( 1869 ) , are silent as to such crosses , the " Parfaite Science des Armoires * ' ( 1670 )

however mentions" croix poteneee , qui est faite a ses bouts en forme d ' une potence ou de notre lettre T qui est le mesme quelc Tan des anciens Hebrieux . " A . s I have beui shown a cross on a mantle of a member of lhe new Order , which is stated to have been officially pointed out to the

Convent General as a '" cross potence , " and the proper form of cross to be 11 : iw worn , and as this bears no resemblance whatever to the letter T , it is evident that the " croix poteneee" is not that which is referred to under the name of " potence . " What a '' cross patent" can be , 1 am unable to

conceive , unless it be so called 111 order to openly demonstrate the crass ignorance of the official fiom whom the report emanates . The cross pake has been generall y recognised as the badge of the Old Templars , antl

plenty of examples of it may be seen in the Temple Church in London . The " Parfaite Science des Armoiivs " describes this cross as having " les bonis de ses branches plus larges trois fois que letirs racines et vindees sur ses flancs par un traict d ovale . "

The Alasonic lemplars , on the contrary , have borne what vvas called a cross pa lee , but which was composed of four triangles wilh the points i . l wards .

I would suggest that the officials of the New Order of the Temple should not assume a pretension tothe knowledge ofa science which they do not possess , as they make the ( ) rder and its members , as well as themselves , ridiculous by

doing so . I believe a distinguished member of the College of Heralds belongs to the new Order , and he would no doubt , with his accustomed courtesy , gladlv atlvi * -e these officials on any point of heraldry . In i ' i meantime it woultl perhaps be more saii-faero ;* ' * if , in . lead of be in : '

ptrpli xt * d by r . i * ' * ' -far *;_* i * t ! heraldic tt mis invented hy Sir p . i . '<•!< . ; , ' ioi * ii , an . I which are not to he fount ! clscuhur " . the nu mbeis of the ( Irdei * were furnished with a description of lhe new cross , as well as wilh . lira i * . ** a * - * oi ! s i ' or its ad < plion .

1 have l : i * . * n anxiously looking out for some notice ofthe new Onlir , and the alleged reasons for its creation , in tha London ( lazcllc , and canevidently no longer Alasonic Order of the Temple , for that Order has committed suicide , ami until the On ! , r of Colqnhoun is duly

gazetted , it has no stains out of Freemasonry . Yours , heraldic-lily , ARGENT AM ) AZI . ' RK . P . S . It has been suggested to me that the new cross is a phallic emblem , which the authorities did not like to call b y its right name' hence the shuflling between " patent" and " potence . "

The Order Of The Temple.

THE ORDER OF THE TEMPLE .

To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I gather from a letter of Bro . E . Holmes , in your last issue , that Lord Eliot has retired from the Order of the Temple . I was nresent when our noble brother ' s name was

mentioned as one of the recipients of the distinction of a Grand Cross ; and I shall be glad to know whether it is that his Lordship has simply declined the Grand Cross , or absolutely resigned his connection with the Order . I

think it must be a foregone conclusion to suppose that Lord liliot has been influenced by any " Church organ" ( instrumental or literary ) in adopting any course he may have thought it right to pursue . Yours fraternally , C . C . XV . G .

P . G . Expert of England . ( To the Editor of the Freemason . ) Dear Sir and Brother . — I am a member ofthe A . ancl A . Rite , and , i Knight Templar : Sir Patrick Colqnhoun

also belongs to both orders . I think that the letter bearing his signature , which appeared in your last issue , must be a

forgery , as I cannot believe that a man whom I have always seen most courteous to those around him , can have been the author of such a scurrilous antl ungentlemanly production . J am Sir , Your obedient servant , A . F . T .

To lhe Editor nf the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Assuming the authenticity of the letter ittributed to Sir P . Colqnhoun , and published in

your last week ' s issue , I wish to call the attention of your readers to the fact that wc have here a plain and authoritative reply to the queries which I have been reiterating in your columns .

That reply is contained in these words , " The principle accepted , vvas , that the body is not , in itself , Alasonic . " The old body was , undoubtedly , in principle , Alasoirc . Therefore , it follows that the new

body diners , m essential principles , from the old one . Therefore , it further appears to me , that the OB . taken to the old botly cannot be claimed , as a matter of right , by the new one . Nay , n * ore : even if we exercise our option , and

consider ourselves as obligated to the non-Masonic Templars , there is nothing on earth to prevent us from owing allegiance , as well , to the supreme jurisdiction of any other body of Alasonic Templars that we may consider to represent the original botly to which we were obligated .

1 respectfully invite the heads of the new bod y to consider this difficulty . Yours fraternally , P . H . NKWMIAM .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Whoever may be the author of the letter attributed to Sir P . Colqnhoun , he has some notions whicli 1 cannot quite reconcile with

Bro . Emra Holmes ' s theory of the " brotherhood of gentlemen . " lie says , "As we profess to be a chivahic body , anil cannot be so iu the sense of the 1 ith and 1 2 th centuries , let us be so aceordhnj to the

usages of the 19 th century . " fie the . ' , goes on to exemplify " ( he usages of the 19 th century" by two paragraphs brimful ol " venenious spite and deliberate false statements . Is this your " brotherhood of gentlemen , " Brother I lolmes ?

1 OTA Nil 1 : it . A DISTKKSSING CASE To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Si , *; . ml Brother . —

I am advised by several well-known I'Yeeinasons to state my case to you , in the hope that something may be done to enable me to support a sick husband and five helpless children . Aly husband , who has been for many years a Freemason , has beon affiicted with a severe illness , which has reduced us from comfort to

The Order Of The Temple.

extreme poverty , his recovery was hopeless until last week , but he is now so weak that the doctors say it will be some months before he can do anything for his family . If I had a little

means to place me in some small business I could support them until it pleased the Almighty God to restore him . I earnestly implore his brother Alasons to assist me , and keep my helpless children from want .

Aly husband is at present in the Convalescent Hospital , Southport , where if he were able to remain a few months , the doctors think he mi ght recover , but I have no means to pay for his keep there . I have received s £$ from the Benevolent Fund of Grand Lodge , which is now expended .

References may be made and contributions thankfully received and acknowledged by the following gentlemen : —Bro . Chas . Chard , P . AI . 907 ; Bro . H . J . Lewis , P . M . 907 j Bro . J . Dennis P . AL 907 ; and by Bro . John Albert Farnfield " soFcitor , No . go , Lower Thames-street .

I am , Sir , Yours obediently , ELIZABETH W .

Reviews.

Reviews .

Samuel Plimsoll , Esq ., AI . P ., "The Sailor ' s Friend , " has issued a record of the draught of water of sea-going ships leaving ports in the United Kingdom , reported to the Board of Trade . It contains reports from Alay 8 , 1872 , to February 26 , 187 . 3 , inclusive . It also contains the "

Alerchant Shipping Acts Amendment . ' The special features which distinguish this work are the tables , which show at a glance the name of vessel , port of sailing , port of registry , register tonnage , where noted , draught , depth of hold , destination , and general remarks . It consists of

160 pages , well printed on fine toned paper . We wish it a wide circulation . It is published by Virtue and Co ., London . " A descriptive notice on the Theatricohistorical religious Labarium , the Casanova Alonumental Triptic , " b y the Cavaliere D . Casanm * , i .

The writer has very ably described this piece of antitiquity . The utmost pains has evidently been taken in the compilation of this book ; its get-up is unexceptional , every point is explained in the highest possible degree . The name , form , and subject of the monument , has been

got np vvith remarkable care and taste . We heartily recommend this little book , and trust it vvill be universally received . It can be procured through Turner and Go ., Printers , Saint John ' s Gate Works , E . C . We have received " Abstract of the Proceedings

of the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania , and Alasonic Jurisdiction thereunto belonging , for the year 1872 . " Contents Quarterl y Grand communications for February 1 , Alay 2 , August 1 , November 7 , 1872 ; Annual Grand Communication , December 27 , 1872 ;

Appendix . In the discharge of their duty , the Committee quoted largely from all the subjects that came under their notice . They determined that they would give a chance to all to benefit themselves by presenting everything of interest they could find , and we are sure they had a mass of wisdom to draw from .

We have received " Index to Heirs-at-Law , Next-of-Kin , Legatees , Alissing Friends , Encumbrances , and Creditors or their Representatives in Chancery suits , who have been advertised for during the last 150 years . " It contains upwards of 50 , 000 names relating to vast sums of

unclaimed money . It is arranged by Robert Chambers , 90 , Stockwell Park-road , S . W . 'Flu ' s Index will be found of great value to solicitors , and others , in prosecuting inquiries respecting unclaimed money . We have just received Part II . of "The People ' s History of Cleveland , " by G . Al .

IweddelL This prt contains poetry on " The Banks of the Leven ; " an excellent paper on giology ; the fossils of the Yorkshire hills , with a systematic catalogue of the fossils ; the agiiculture of the district , \* c . Its pages are profusely and splendidly illustrated with p lates and wood engravings , and no expense is spared to render the work one of beatify , as well as of