Original Corrrespondence.

I hope Bro . J . B . will be satisfied that ten tribes were carried off by the Assyrians , and not nine only , and now ask where j . B . learns that " when Benjamin , in obedience to the warning of Christ , finally separated from fudah , they followed after

the ten tribes at the final dispersion of the Jews , Judah and Levi . " I am quite open to believe that , by the preaching of Christ and the apostles , the children of the tribe of Benjamin were in

great measure , converted to being believers in his great mission , but i have no evidence that they joined the ten tribes in their exile . If Bro . j . B . can give any information on this point , it will be very acceptable .

Permit me to take the opportunity of replying to some other critics , who take exception to an observation in my letter , published Jan . 2 oth , in which I say that I can never understand where geographers get their information whereby they

are enabled to trace with such apparent precision the boundaries of the several tribes of Israel . I am told I shall find this precise information in the book of Joshua , but on referring to this book " 1 find little more than a recital of a number of

names of places , which doubtless existed in the time of Moses and Johsua , but of whose precise locality we now can know next to nothing . W e can , with tolerable accuracy determine the " whereabouts " of of the different tribes in

reference to each other , but I contend that we have no data whereby to define boundaries with the accuracy usually claimed by geographers . It was this feeling which induced me to question the acqnraey if the maps which place Bethel

in Benjannm , even in defiance of the scripture narrative , which states facts totall y irreconcievuble with such anassumption . It now onl y remains for me to correct a typographical errror , which occurred in my article of

Jan . 27 th . The work " Historical Dissertations of the prophetic Scriptures " is ascribed to Mr . Matthew Htdxrston ' s ; it should have been " Ilalershods . " I am , yours fraternally , W . " K . N . No . 7 VS 6 .

MASONIC BALLS . ( To the Editor of the Freemason . ) Dear Sir and Brother , —I conclude the P . G : M . of Somerset must have based his refusal upon the ground of the Ball being intended as a Craft

assembly , and that he , consequently , had the ri ght to prescribe in what costumes the company should attend . This inference , I think , must be correct , as his Lordship is not at the head of the High Degrees , and is very unlikely to usurp authority with which he is not duly invested .

It does not appear to me that any permission is required for wearing the decoration of the High Degrees , or of the Temple , any where or at any time , where they are not objected to ; but seems to rest onl y with the discretion and good taste of the possessors .

Yours fraternally , LUPUS . HUxMBER LODGE , ( No . tj . )

( 'lo the Editor 11 / the Freemason . ) Dear Sir and Brother , —At page 106 of last Saturday ' s Freemason , I was pleased to read a notice of the Htimber Lodge , ( 57 ) , of which I

have the honour of being a member . Permit me to point out an error in the concluding sentence . —You say the Building has few inferiors . I feel sure the writer intended to convey the direct opposite to that .

Also in the list of officers , W . Banks Slay should have been W . Banks Hay . With great respect , 1 remain Yours fraternally , I . PRATT .

BREAKFAST . —Epp ' s COCOA . —GHATKIUI , ANU COMroiiTiNG . — " By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition , and by a careful application of the fine properties of well-selected cocoa , Mr . Epps lias provided our breakfast , tables with a

delicately-flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills , "—Civil Service Gii-rllc Made simply with Boiling Water or Milk . Each packet is labelled"JAMES EPPS & : Co ., Homoeopathic Chemists , London . " Also , makers of Epp ' s Milky Cocoa ( Cocoa and Condensed M'lk .

Grand Masonic Ball At Whitehaven.

GRAND MASONIC BALL AT WHITEHAVEN .

Previous to last Friday , ten years bad elapsed since the occurrence of a Masonic Ball in Whitehaven , and it may readily be conjectured that on the announcement being issued three weeks ago , no little interest was manifested in the novelty , both among craftsmen and the uninitiated . The

fact of there being two lodges 111 the town , each with strong" and influential membership rolls , was of itself sufficient to guarantee the assembly a success , for the empressmenl of the brethren belonging to the Sun , Square , and Compass Lodge , No . 191 , and Lewis Lodge , No . 872 , in all matters masonic , is beyond rival in the

province . The ball was under the distinguished patronage , among others , of Brother the Rig ht Hon . the Earl of Bective , ALP ., Ri g ht Worshipful Provincial Grand Master ; Brother Colonel Whitewell , AI . P ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master ; Brother the Rig ht Hon . the Karl ol Lonsdale , Brother Lord Muncaster , and Bro . G . A . I- ' . C . Bentinek , AI . P .

The Town Hall was the appointed locale of the evening ' s enjoyment , and the visitors upon entering the salon , could not be oblivious to the fact that the committee of management had perfectly succeeded in transposing the dingy room into a magnificent terpsichorean palace . The staircase

was carpeted and nicely ornamented ; and the windows of the hall were draped with muslin curtains . The spacious floor was entirely covered with holland for the occasion , and the usual dirty walls had been coloured anew , at the expense of the committee . At one end of the hall blazed in

jets the star of the five points , and , facing this , above the orchestra , was the conventional level of [ the craft , also in gas . All around the hall , paintings , engravings , and tings were suspended , princiall y of a Masonic character , including the banner of the Provincial Grand

Lodge , as also those of the Whitehaven Lodges , and a few handsome mirrors further tended , when the floor was covered with dancers , to heighten the splendour of the scene . Prominent amongst the paintings were portraits of the Karl of Zetland , the Most Worshipful Past Grand Master of

England , and oi Colonel Lowther , AI . P . There was also a portrait of Bro . Patrick Quinn the oldest Freemason in Cumberland , who years ago did good service to the craft , and lives respected and honoured by his brethren . Large views were exhibited of the Royal Masonic Institution for

Boys , at Wood Green , near London , and ol the Royal Freemasons' School for Female Children at Battersea . A framed document , in illuminated writing , recorded that in 1866 the Sun , Square , and Compasses Lodge had subscribed a sufficient sum of money to the Royal Masonic Institution

for the Sons of Indigent and Deceased Freemasons to secure four votes in perpetuity . A similar record stated that the Lewis Lodge had done precisely the same . It was interesting to notice a framed memoir , with portrait , of the Hon . Mrs . Aldworth , who , when Miss St . Leger ,

was installed a Mason , under circumstances wellknown to the craft , and pretty generally familiar to the outside public . Hothouse plants , in ornamental vases , were also plentifully besprinkled here and there , and white and pink drapery was placed above the seats , which were unique

and appropriate m their character , being composed principally of the new and superbly upholstered offices' chairs and ordinary seats belonging to the Lewis Lodge . In the hall was a refreshment buffet , loaded with everything , liquid and otherwise , calculated to restore exhausted nature

alter a long enjoyable waltz or gallop . It may be mentioned that , conspicuous above the entrance to the Town Hall , was the square and compasses , with the number of the old lodge , in gas jets . The ladies who graced the ball-room by their

presence looked most charming , and the dresses were elegant and fashionable . Many ladies were to be noticed emulating the brethren of the " mystic tie , " in dress at least , a Royal Arch Mason ' s scarf here and there adorning the shoulders of not a few fair dancers : whilst one

lady had , for a nonce , donned the sombre and funeral-looking baldric of a Knight Templar , minus , however , the sword , We likewise noticed one lady wearing the baldrick of a Knight

Grand Masonic Ball At Whitehaven.

of the Red Cross of Rome and Constantine . From the foregoing list of company it will be readily seen that a great proportion of the gentlemen were connected wite the craft , and thesi all appeared in . Masonic clothing , thus adding

much to the brilliancy of the evening ' s enjoyment . Royal Arch Masons predominated , by the way , and it is an interesting point to adduce that pretty nearly all so attired belong to either lodge roi or 872 ; The next prevailing feature in the adornments of the brethren Mils that of

the blue and silver of Craft Masonry , and then there were two or three in the undress of the chivalrie degree ( the Red Cross and Templar Knights ) . The garter blue and gold clothing of the Provincial Grand Officers was also

very numerously represented . One brother wore a Lambskin apron , curiously emblazoned with Masonic emblems , upwards of eighty years old , and originally belonging to the Worrhipful Master of one of the most ancient of the Scotch lodges , that of the St . John ' s Lodge , Banff " . The jewellery and similar ornaments of the more advanced Masons formed a

noticeable leatttre 111 the display , the coat breasts of two or three gentlemen being absolutely resplendent with valuable craft decorations and costly marks of honour . All things considered , the ball was in every respect a magnificent affair ; in fact , it is no

exaggeration to assert that , m point or numbers , beauty of the ladies , ! and attractiveness of the general entourage , the re-union may justly be chronicled as the ball of the season in Cumberland and Westmoreland . Much credit , too , is

reflected on the members of the two lodges who had the arrangements in charge , and it is devoutly to be hoped that their endeavours on this occasion may ( inl y form the precursor of an annual gathering .

Multum In Parbo, Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , Masonic Notes and Queries .

POOR AND DISTRESSED MASONS ' .

During six years in which I acted as Secretary of the Lodge of St . Oswald , ( 1124 ) , 1 found the duties of Almoner more vexatious than any portion of the work of a Secretary , until I adopted a plan which we have found to work admirably . It is this ; I prepared a book for entering all cases ol

relief , 111 which there was space reserved for the signature and number of lodge of all recipients of relief When a party , called claiming sympathy , I never " prove " him ( and by so doing give him a hint ) but at once asked him for his Grand Lodge

and private lodge certificate . If he could not produce this , there was an end of the matter , but if he did , then I asked him to sign the book . In one or two cases the applicant has not been able to write ; in others his signature has not corresponded with the name on the certificate . In one case a man told me he had been a master-mason

fifteen years ; yet his certificate was not more than ten years old . In nine cases out of ten , I am sorry to say , the applicants were either impostors , or periodical mendicants . The book acts as a register , and saves a world of trouble and lying , AsKiiw ROHKRTS .

f iol . l . OVVAv ' s OlSTMHNT AM ) l ' ll . l . S . 1 [ eal ' . llg IlOt Harmful . —Xo application has met with the same universal approbation for curing all external ailments as that which this unguent has received . Sores , deep ulcers , foetid discharges , burns , blistered surfaces , and many similar affections , are at once soothed , and set on the road to soundness

by Hollovvay ' s Ointment . With this Ointment and Pills the wealthy may save themselves much suffering , and the poor may help themselves to health , since these medicaments are reasonable in price , and can lie purchased in every hamlet . They have effected cures of stiff joints , swelled legs , and lacerated limbs , and opened out the prospect of a happy future after hope of recovery had been given up .

" Moin : than a year ago one of my children was attacked with bronchitis , and , after a long illness , was given up by all physicans as ' past cure . ' I was then induced to try your Vegetable Pain Killer , and from the time I began the use of it the child lapidly got better , and it is now strong anil healthy . —Jons WINSTANTU-V , 10 , Whittle-st ., IJpool , i 86 o . — -To P . D . & Son . "