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divisions and cabals , and to dissensions innumerable amongst the Russian Freemasons . Up to that time , our English Masonic system had received the direct approval of the

Government , because altogether peaceable , loyal , and unpolitical , and had attracted to it some of the best names in Russia , as may be seen from an interesting account of " Freemasonry in Russia , "

translated from " Le Monde Maconnique , ' and which will appear in the June number ofthe '" Masonic Magazine . "

About 1821 , as it is well known , all the Masonic lodges in Russia were closed by order of the imperial authority , and have remained so ever since , there being little doubt but , that the

peculiar views and teaching of the High Grades , which abroad are ever a cause of dissension , and a cause of weakness to Craft Alasonry , had

attracted the attention of the Government , not otherwise unfriendly . Indeed the ceaseless dissensions and cabals of

the High Grade Masons , and the divisions which existed in Russian Freemasonry , gave , we feel it right to express our opinion , legitimate cause for the apprehensions and decision of the

lawful authorities , But it is perhaps not impossible that , if Russian Freemasonry could divest itself , were its resuscitation permitted , of those extraneous

and hurtful accessories , and revert to its personal simple English form of an entirely unpolitical and benevolent association , many of the old objections to its existence would be loosened and

eventually removed . So we shall hope , that as time passes on , the former Anglo-Russian Masonic system may be revived , with the full approval of the imperial

authorities , and resume its peaceful labours , duly intent on promulgating it-s great and benign principles of active corporate beneficence and charity , brotherly love , sympathy , and liberation for all mankind .

The Anniversary Festival Of The Girls' School.

THE ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL OF THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

We congratulate the House Committee of the Girls' School , and Bro . R . W . Little , on the most successful result of the gathering of Wednesday last , the 13 th inst . Our third Masonic Charitable Festival for

1874 , has come and gone with increasing tokens of Masonic sympathy , and liberality . As Bro . Binckes observed , " It seems as if our charitable anniversaries have proceeded at ' crescendo ' time

since while the tno have produced the large total in all of over £ 21 , 00 , they have stood respectively at s £ 6 , ooo , £ 7 , , and £ 8 , 000 . We therefore beg to express once more , our

hearty felicitations to all concerned in the management of the Girls' School , and in the arrangement of the Festival . It says something for the energy of the

Stewards , and not a little for the kindl y liberality of our Order , that , this last anniversary was so entirely successful , alike in its appeal , and in its results , and , that , so large a response has been

made to the claims of that most excellent Institution , in order to render it still more serviceable to the many applicants for its happy home , and its admirable education .

The Anniversary Festival Of The Girls' School.

It seems , that , in a previous article , we slig htly underrated the increase of the number of orphans since the last anniversary . Twenty-eight additional pupils have actually

been received , Bro . R . W . Little tells us , since 1873 , and with the exception of about ten , or fifteen nice at the outside , the present building , we believe , cannot be made to accommodate by any means a larger number .

Let us rejoice to think , that , we as an Order , can boast of so admirable a school , unique in its organization , standing out prominently amidst a host of educational institutions , as remarkably

successful , and perfectly adapted to the end in view , a kind and parental training of the young girls , on whom in the providence of God , the terrible trial of orphanhood has fallen .

And with this feeling of pude and rejoicing , of confidence in the House Committee , of approval of the educational authorities , may it be

our aim not to relax our efforts , or stay our hands in the liberal support of our Masonic Girls' School .

There is no Masonic charity in which we may feel a more legitimate contentment and pride , and there is no educational institution in the country which has a more abiding and rig

htful claim on our fraternal sympathy and material aid . Those , too , who take an interest in the proceedings of educational establishments , will have

been deeply pleased with the report of the distribution of prizes by Bro . the Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , and his kindly Countess , on Monday last , the 1 ith .

It is most gratifying to read such an account of the result of the labours of the pupils , and to note so much proficiency in every branch of study or emulation .

The girls seem to be thoroughly happy , healthy , and contented , educated with greatjeare and skill , and fitted , as far as friendly human help can fit them , for the after struggles- and

sterner battle of life . Let it be a subject of rejoicing to us as Freemasons , that , while many idle and hurtful controversies abound about education , what it is

and what it should be , we have so far practically solved the difficulty by giving to these interesting orphans , as sound , as good , as practical , as valuable an education as can ' possibly be given

under " any circumstances . The actual condition of the Girls' School reflects the hi ghest credit on the governing body , on Bro . Little , and above

all on Miss Davis , and those associated happily with her , in the active and ever blessed work of education .

The following is from Richmond , Indiana , U . S ., and it is certainly a note which deserves to be found and attended to , by the proper authorities , though of course mishaps will occur in all postal deliveries . —Ed .

BRITISH MAILS . —To illustrate the interest taken by the English P . O . Department in missent letters and papers , we would notice , that a copy of the London Weekly Freemason is taken at this P . O ., and the No . due here for Oct .

28 , 1873 , arrived here this week , it having been mis-sent to Melbourne in Australia , 13 , 000 miles , and then forwarded to New York 15 , 600 miles , from thence to Richmond—the whole time being nearly six months .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ Wc do not hold our * -elves responsible for , or even as approving of , the opinions expressed liy our correspondents , but w ; wibh , in a spirit of fair play to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —Lu . I

MASONS' MARKS . To the Editor of the Freemason .

Dear Sir and Brother , I have read this correspondence with some interest , and think it is a pity these discussions can never be confined to their archaeological limits ; the fact that they never can show

the bigotry of Masonry , whilst it sets itself up the opponent of such in all other creeds . We may , I think , reasonably conclude that in ancient times , as now , whilst the mystic nature ofthe Marks were understood by a few , the mass

were ignorant of the signification . I can show either " Masonic Student , " or Bro . Hughan , a Mark ritual furnished to me by the Grand Mark Lodge of England upon which to start the first lodge founded here under their jurisdiction , which makes the odd points

compulsory but to my mind this is the very strongest argument in favour of these writers against Bro . Paton , since it shows the ritual to be a modern concoction , opposed , as it is , to the facts of operative marks . Few Masons , now-a-days , believe the

pretensions of any of the Masonic degrees , and in my opinion the Mark is a spurious Order , not above a century old . The old operative and speculative Masonry ( conjoined ) gave the Mark with both the first and second degree , as some degrees give stones , tokens , mottoes ,

characteristics , roses . & c , and the single principle followed seems to have been , that , like Runic or arrow-headed characters , they were to be simple and easy to cut , carve , or engrave . Mystic symbols , when available , were used as now . Other trades , even merchants and literary

men , made use of marks m the same way as operative Masons . It is worthy of enquiry whether the even marks might betoken the 1 st , and the odd the 2 nd . The Mark degree , I consider no authority either way . J YARKER , jun .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I think that it will be better on the whole for me to withdraw from the discussion on this very interesting topic to myself , who have carefully studied it for years , and leave to Bro . C . Paton the honour of beginning and ending it

with puerile personalities . I have said nothing except in pure self-defence , and when a state of things had been arrived at by Bro . Paton ' s rejoinder to a purely archaeological communication , in which , to use the words of a very great statesman , he clearly proves that " ignorance was not logic and impertinence

was not criticism . Then it was Bro . Paton told me , as he told Bro . Buchan , that we neither of us knew anything about the matter , that he was in fact alike the only " arbiter elegantiarum , " and " ductor dubitantium , " and last week he expressed his

conviction that I had never even studied the subject at all , or if I had , I had learnt nothing from my studies , and that I had not even read Laurie or Oliver , though why he brings Oliver in I don ' t exactly know . It is in vain Bro . Hughan , by no means given

to flatter anyone , tells him , on his personal knowledge , that I do understand what I write about . There is , as we know , no limit to "la credulite des incridule . " The truth is Bro . Paton has got into a regular mess ; he has struck out into deep water , and has hardly yet

learned to swim * he has committed himself to a ridiculous position in which he has unfortunatel y betrayed his entire ignorance of the subject to all true students ; he can ' t advance ; he can ' t retreat ; and so being between Scylla and Charibdis , or rather in the " Caudine Forks "

of practical evidence and scientific criticism , he follows the example of that ever memorable ' * tepresentative of an uncurrent 6 s . and 8 d . " To use poor Powers' words , in " His Last Legs , " " I have a deuced bad ^ case , go in and abuse the plaintiffs attorney . "