The Supply Of Masonic Literature.

history of our days . We do not wish to seem to too much on the subject , or puff the wares f our enterprising publisher , but we think ° t well to commend the offer to the notice 1 f our lodges , as yve think that many lodges

may bc - willing to make these interesting works the nucleus of a Masonic collection which may one day grow into a useful an valuable library . We Know of course what Bro . Prudent , and Bro . Pickpoint , and Bro .

Rational , and Bio . Keepasyveare yvill say at once , the objections that will be made , the resistance that yvill be probably offered ; but believing the movement to be a true one , and

a rifht one , yve have no doubt that if , delayed for a time it yvill eventually succeed . Bro . Kenning offers it a helping hand to-day , and it has our hearty good wishes for lhe improvement and intellectual culture of our kindly and useful Craft .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do not hold ourselves responsible for , or even as approving of tile op inions expressed bv onr correspondents , but we yvish , iu a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—wiih ' m certain necessary limits—free discussion . —El ' . ] URGENT APPEAL ON BEHALF OF THE KOYAL

MASONIC INSTITU I ION FOR AGED FREEMASONS AND WIDOWS . iy , Montague-road , Dalston , January 12 th , 1876 .

To lhe Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Will you kindly alloyv this letter to appear in your next , in reference to my appeal to the wives , mothers , and daughters of Freemasons on behalf of the aged and decayed . I have issued nearly 2000 circulars and lists for

contributions , giving the date for rctu 11 on or before the 4 th of January , but I am sorry to say up to the present time I have only received the fulhnving lists : — £ s . d . Mrs . Robert Clarke 5 ° ° , „ Louis J . Wulff 2 13 ° .. Gottlieb 1 o o

,, — „ Blaxland 100 „ . ] . Boor 1 1 o Miss Mayo 050 I lake the opportunity of thanking thc above ladies for

their kind consideration and contributions . I trust the brethren yvho have received lists for contributions yvill ( if not already dene ) place the same into the hands of the ladies , and I have no fear of the result . The members of the Craft yvho have nut received my list can on application to thc above address , or at 51 , Threadneedlestreet , E . G ., obtain as many as they rt quire post free .

1 he total expenditure of the institution is over £ 8000 annually , and at the present time has 233 annuitants ( men and yvidoyvs ) . To meet this thc institution only receives an income of about £ 2100 , including the grant from Grand Lodge of £ 950 , so that it has to rely on the liberality of the Craft to make up a deficiency of over £ 6000 annually . The brethren \\\\\ see by this yvhat yvoik there is to do .

I thought that during thc Christmas festivities the old men and women yvould not have been forgotten . This was the object I had in view in appealing at that lime ( I pray the Grand Architect of the Universe the appeal will yet be answered liberally ) . Observe our position , tiventy-one unsuccessful candidates at last election , and at thc coming one about forty male and an eijual number of female'

candidates , while , at the present time , only six yacancies . In conclusion , let me earnestly entreat , on behalf of our aged brethren , a liberal response to my appeal ; and , praying for contributions on or before the 30 th January , I remain , dear Sir , yours fraternally , FRANCIS FELLOWES , Lion and Lamb , i <) 2 .

THE ANTIQUITY OF FREEMASONRY . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In the " Freemason" of the 8 th inst ., page 18 , a lew paragraphs appear adverting to my communication in your issue ol the 25 th ult ., relating to the antiquity of Kreemasonrv in Great Britain .

I he remarks made being incorrect , ! had thought they did not require notice , yet , yvhen your Glasgow correspondent attempts to revieyv , criticise , or advise , lie ought to be yvell versed in the subject . He stated that I had taken as my authority for the assertions , the " Freemason . " Here he committed a very great error ; I merely referred to your valuable neyvspaper ,

as to the remarks made by the Rev . P . P . Agnew . As to the antiquity ofthe Craft , I quoted the " Masonic Miscellanies , " by S . Jones , P . M ., published about . the commencement of this century ( the book is dated 1811 ) . I have not yvritten on this topic without having authority for the observations made , still , I am not alone in publishing what is here referred to , as , by a singular coincidence , there appears in the " London and Provincial Illustrated

Newspaper , " page 5 8 , blh January , 18 76 , "A Preliminary Sketch ot Freemasonry , " by Bro . Kennttli lt , H . Mackenzie , who supplies in Minilar words , the dates 28 7 and 926 , Sic , as before mentioned . Since your correspondent is a brother , I forbear noticing the want of courtesy displayed in his personal remarks . — Yours fraternally , A PROVINCIAL I ' . M . [ The " Freemason" is for archa : ologieal discussions , not

Original Correspondence.

for personal discussions , and we can admit no more letters in this style . We have seen Bro . Mackenzie ' s paper , but such dates cannot be dogmatically asserted to be landmarks of speculative Masonry , only of Craft or operative Freemasonry . —ED . ]

CAN A TYLER VOTE ? To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I believe it was rather the way in which I stated my oyvn views which caused them to be regarded with an authority to which they might not be considered entitled , being founded on an incidental expression of opinion . I ,

therefore , assume the entire responsibility of what I said . I may be perhaps allowed to add that it would not be possible for the Ty ler of the Grand Lodge to have any other title than Grand Tyler . As such he peiforms , and yvith remarkable ability . I had no idea of making any imputation against the Grand Tyler , or the Tyler of any other lodges , ! and I am glad to find my views so fully borne out

by so experienced and distinguished a Mason as Bro . Weaver ; his yvords are so explicit that I may be pardoned for bringing them fonvard agan . He says " Tylers are not balloted for , therefore they are not members of the lodges they tile , " precisely my meaning . A Tyler in one lodge may be a Deacon , Warden , or Master in another , or at any rate a private member . This yvas all I wished

to bring forward , and the case mentioned by Bro . S . C . H . must , according to Bro . Weaver ' s vieyv , be a very exceptional case . It is scarce worth yvhile occupying your ¦ valuable space with any remarks on the other portion of the paragraph of Bro . Weaver ' sjetter , it being foreign to the immediate question . I remain , dear Sir and Brother . ' yours faithfully and

fraternally , KENNETH R . H . MACKENZIE . Chiswick Square , VV ., Jan . 10 th , 1876 . [ We are glad that Bro . Mackenzie disclaims the use of the high name and great authority of our esteemed Grand Secretary , Bro . John Heivey . It is clear that Bro . Mackenzie had no authority to quote his opinion , and is in error as to payment per se being a disqualification . —ED . ]

A FRIEND AND A BROTHER . To lhe Editor of the Freemason . Onnerd Sur , As I knows that you are a friend to wot his right and prupper , I thinks it to be my dooty to hinform you of a yrery queer proceeding on the part of won of your Masonic lot . Tho honly a newsboy , I ave a soul

above peepers and halways has ad a sense of wot is " strait . " And as I thinks the gent 00 m I ham a writing to you hot vants a talking too , 1 troubles youjwith this here statement , or memo , as the swells calls it . "Jimmy is my name , and Brixton is my station , " and I sells there for Smith and Son of com" you may ave eerd on the moornin and hevenin peepers . The bother day a gent walks up to

our stall , and takes up the " Freemason . " 1 lunks hi to myself he is a coming down with his tuppence , and perhaps a penny hover for me , like a brick . I ave allers eerd say as Alasons is " bricks . " But no such thing . Not E . He actually read the " Freemason , '' all through hadvertisements and hall , and then he puts the paper down and quietly yvalks avay . He nearly missed his train

owing to his occupation , but not a blessed farthing did he pay up . Noyv this Sur is yvot I calls cheap liteurtoor with a yvengeance . Hoyv about its being nasty too for any one to hact , as I would ave scorned to ave done ? The chap seemed yvell to do too , but I do think it were right mean of im . Hoyv is neyvsboys to live , and Smith and Son , let alone heditors and newspaper proprietors , and them

" chaps in the chapel . " This is a joke of mine . Noyv sur , do you think sich conduct , and ithaint uncommon , fair of im , or fair on hus , or fair on Bro . Kenning , as I ear them calling im . No I brother , brother , brother , says he , but viy dont you hact as a brother should hact , says hi . If that yvorthy hindividual sees this letter , praps he'll come to the Brixton Station and buy a " Freemason , " and give

me summat for my trouble , not monkey ' s halloyvance . Some folks his so different . The bother day a wery good looking yung ooman came and hasked for the " Freemason . " I said to her , his you one , Miss . She said I'm a sister . So 1 gives her a " Freemason , " and she gives me sixpence , and says you may keep the fourpence for yourself , So I says to her Thank you , Miss , and good luck to the sisters I says to you to-day .

I hopes as ow you will put in this letter , for I've been in a Board School , and am Yours respectfully , A NEWS BOY , Brixton Station . [ Wethank our observing correspondent . VVe entirely agree with his vieyv of the matter , but , as he truly says , such behaviour is not uncommon . Wc wish brothers yvould practice " fraternity , " and not merely " spout" it . —ED . ]

HISTORICAL ENGRAVING OF THE INSTALLATION OF H . R . H . THE PRINCE OF WALES , M . W . G . M . To lhe Editor if lhe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I yvish through the medium of your columns to inform the brethren generally that the above engraving is rapidly and most satisfactorily progressing , the eminent

engraver employed upon it sparing no labour or pains to produce a result worthy of the great event . Upwards of 400 portraits are now in hand , and I wish especially to call attention that I can insert fully 200 more ; but these portraits must all be collected and arranged by the end of February next , which will be the latest peiiod that I can receive portraits for insertion . I therefore particularly request qualified brethren to lose no time in forwarding their portraits to me . . . . , . MiitH

Original Correspondence.

I have a large number of the nobility , gentry , and brethren generally , a complete list of which I shall shortly publish in your columns . As I am sure the Craft generally yvill be glad to see the engraving as complete as possible , I yvill conclude by again requesting that portraits be forwarded to me without further delay .

I am , dear Sir and brother , fraternally yours , EDWARD J . HARTY . 213 , Regent-street , W . P . S . I may add that brethren calling at this address can point out the position they occupied and be at once photographed , it not being necessary that the photograph should be in Masonic costume .

LETTER FROM DR . ARNOTT . CORRECTION . To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear [ Sirand Brother , — I see you have my name appended to the letter of Dr . Arnott ' s , and in justice to the brother yvho forwarded

it for publication I must not allow it to be considered as my contribution ( which it is not ) , my part being simply to furnish the editor with particulars of the brethren mentioned in Dr . Arnott ' s most interesting communication . WM . J . HUGHAN . [ We quite confirm Bro . Hughan ' s statement . —ED . ]

RE-WILSON'S MS . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — Any particulars respecting the above from Bro . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , M . A ., will prove most acceptable to Masonic students generally , and in particular to WM . J . HUGHAN .

GRAND LODGE OF ALL ENGLAND AND " W . M . " To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — In answer to our Bro . W . M ., I must again object to the terms he uses as to " York Grand Lodge , " and his lodge warrant , & c .

The " York Grand Lodge " was of course the " Grand Lodge of All England , " held at York , to which W . M . ' s lodge did not belong , so the warrant under which his lodge works was not from the York Grand Lodge , though he says it yvas . I have no doubt but yvhat W . M . refers to the " Grand

Lodge according to the old Constitutions , " held in London from 1753 to 1813 , and yvhich united in the latter year with the regular Grand Lodge , knoyvn for a short title by the name of the " Moderns , " and the former by the name of the " Ancients , " though in reality the " Ancients " socalled were the Modern seceders , and the " Moderns "

socalled were the Ancients . My " Memorials of the Masonic Union of 18 : 3 " are out of print , but if Bro . W . M . will state the name and number of his lodge ( which he has not yet done ) I can give him the information desired , or lend him my list of lodges . WM . J . HUGHAN .

BROS . BINCKES , PERROTT AND TEW . To the Editor ofthe Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — May I ask Bro . Binckes , through your columns , if he knows anything of the " Boys' School Investigation Committee " of the Province of West Yorkshire , or of the

" Report" of the same announced for presentation at Leeds , January 26 th ? May I ask him , has he been examined , or any of the House Committee , or any brother yvho knoyvs anything really about the school at all ?—Yours fraternally , FAIR PLAY .

BRO . BURGESS AND THE ( MARK . DEGREE . To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I have hitherto abstained from replying to any of the numerous letters and articles which have appeared in your columns under the heading " Bro . Burgess and

the Mark Degree , " and this for reasons knoyvn to others as well as myself . I cannot , however , in justice to the Mark Grand Lodge , its rulers and executive , refrain from stating , in reply to the letter in your last issue , whereih . Bro . Burgess makes use of the following yvords — " My claim was suppressed from the meeting of Grand Lodge "—that lie is on this

point entirely mistaken . Not only was Bro . Burgess ' s letter not " suppressed " but its reception was duly announced , and on motion , dulyproposed and seconded , it was unanimously resolved that it be referred for consideration and report to the General Board . I am , dear Sir and Brother , yours faithfully and fraternally , FREDERICK BINCKES , G . S . G . L . M . M . M .

Laying The Foundation Stone Of The New Prince's Docks, Bombay.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW PRINCE'S DOCKS , BOMBAY .

Continued from page 28 . ) The procession , on reaching the pavilion , opened out , and His Royal Highness walked forward and took his seat on the chair surrounded by the Grand Lodge Officers ,

& c . His Excellency the Governor then addressed His Royal Highness as follows : —May it please your Royal Highness , —On behalf of the people of the Presidency of Bombay , I have to request that your Royal Highness will b «

good enough to lay the foundation stone of this structure , which is to be called the Prince ' s Dock . The Prince bowed graciously , and said —With much pleasure . H . E . the Governor then requested Col . Callard , Chair-