Original Correspondence.

Bro . " Devoniensis " would like in addition some social qualification , and I would suggest that the Order carried out one of the main princip les ofthe ancient Order , and be all sworn to celibacy . I I wonder what one of the old Templars would think of some of the present encampments , could

he awake and visit one , and find it composed principally of men , who though excellent Masons , were carrying on ( 1 trust successfully ) the business of apothecaries , tailors , shoemakers , lawyers , and in fact a mixture of all trades and professions ! He would , I doubt not , retire with

very unmixed feelings . Our esteemed brother , who signs himself a " Masonic Student" is justly proud of his position as a simple Craftsman ; like him , I accept , ex inio corde , the universality of Freemasonry , and cannot see my way clear to accept ,

either Masonically or historically , what are technically called the " high grades , " especially after reading the concluding portions of Bro . Yarker ' s " Speculative Masonry . " Bro . Yarker , who can put after his name a string of highsounding titles in every degree up to the 33 rd ,

tells us that there is an immense amount of learning developed in the higher degrees , but that their advantages is a vexed question , and which , if Freemasonry could be conducted on its old principles , wonld be useless , as the whole of the learning which they are designed to convey

is latent in the three degrees of Craft Alasonry . The modern Knights Templar have , vulgarly speaking , not a leg to stand upon . They cannot possibly be a chivalric body , and they are not Masonic . I would , therefore , give them the homely advice frequently given in my county , to

" let the old hare sit ; " and I trust the Alasonic prefix never will , in any possible form , be revived . With regard to the complaint of Bro . "H . H , " that in the province to which he has the honour to belong , no restriction is placed on the wearing

of badges of unrecognised degrees in some lodges in that province , he must know that the remedy is in his own hands . Now , of course , the Knight Templar badges cannot be worn ; having relinquished their Alasonry in Knight Templr'sm , thr-v have not even the shadow of

the claim they fatten / * , t . hips imagined themselves to have . I would advise Bro . " H . H ,. " on every occasion of such an openly acknowledged contempt for the Book of Constitutions , to ask the W . AI . of the lodge in which it occurs to direct the attention of the brethren of the

lodge to pages 19 , 68 , and 115 of the the Book of Constitutions . Should the W . M . refuse to perform the duty he has sworn to on his installation , our Bro . would be remiss in his duty to the Craft did he not complain in writing to the Provincial Grand Alaster of his District .

Faithfully and fraternally yours , HERBERT B . HODGES , P . AL , P . Z . . P . Prov . S . G . W . Herts .

To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , The letter of " Devoniensis , " in reply to my queries on this subject , is such a curious medley of inaccuracies and irrelevancies , that I have waited to see if some more logical

correspondent would vouchsafe a reply which should be plain , and free from assumptions and unproved assertions . Any attempt to discuss the aforesaid assumptions , or to dissect the illogicalities of the letter in question , would only lead me away from the real point at issue ; and I respectfully decline

to yield to the temptation . The question I have asked is a very plain one , and only ireecis an answer of yes or no . I have asked it bona iide , and have signed my name to it . It may be politic , but it is not fraternal to withhold a straightforward answer .

Let me briefly restate the point at issue . 1 ask , are the two expressions " a Masonic Body , " and " a Body composed of Masons" absolutely convertible , or equivalent terms r Of course the old , but inaccurate reply is ready , that " The rose b y any other name , will

smell as sweet . ' But in this case , I think that the change of title is not the mere giving of a new name to the rose , leaving its original scent unaltered , but it also involves a great change of princi ple . Instead of a body of which Masonry was the vital essence , w ' e have a body to which

Original Correspondence.

Masonry is a secondary appendage . We were all obligated to the former body . Do our obligations necessarily pass on to the new body ? The " Rosicrucian Society of England " lays down the following fundamental definition . " The Society of Brethren of the Rosy Cross is

totally independent , being established on its own basis , and , as a body , is not otherwise connected with the Masonic Order , than by having its members selected from that fraternity . " This position is straightforward , and intelligible . If the present rulers of the Order of the Temple

intend to adopt a similar standpoint , let them tell us so in an equally straightforward manner ; and then we can all elect for ourselves whether we will transfer our allegiance to the new body ,

which claims to be what we don ' t believe that it really is , or ever can become . I am Sir , and Brother fraternally yours , P . H . NEWKHAM .

To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Being very much astonished to hear at the last meeting of N . G . Priory that Lord Eliot had resigned the Order of the Temple , I thought I would ask whether you or any of the

readers of your journal know why one ol the triumphant Triumvirate should have resigned at what may bc called the very commencement of their headlong career ? Surely we are going to have no first consul trick played over again . Yours fraternally , A KNIGHT TEMPLAR .

The New Grand Officers.

THE NEW GRAND OFFICERS .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Referring to a letter about the recently appointed Grand Officers , signed " S . G . D ., " in the Freemason of this date , 1 beg to correct one or two rather grave errors which it contains .

Lord Balfour of Burleigh is not , and never was , the W . AI . of the Apollo University Lodge of Oxford , although he is a member of it , and was its Senior Deacon in the year 1869-70 . Lord Balfour of Burleigh is the LP . AL of the Churchill Lodge , No . 478 , of Oxford , a lodge

which is not a University lodge , whose chair is at present occupied by the Senior Grand Chaplain , the Rev . A . Bruce Frazer ; whilst the chair of the Apollo University Loelge , No . 357 , is occupied by H . R . H The Prince of Wales , K . G ., who has appointed as his Deputy Bro . Reginald Bird , Prov . Senior Grand Warden of

Oxfordshire , and LP . AL ofthe Lodge . In your leader of the previous week , there was an error which I may as well also point out , and it is this r Lord Burleig h ' s name is not unknown on the subscription lists of the Alasonic charities , for two years ago he served the ofiice of Steward for the Benevolent Institution .

Yours fraternally , A LOVER OF TRUTH , AND A AIEMBER oi' APOLLO UNIVERSITY AND CHURCHILL LODGES . Oxford , May 17 , 187 , 3 .

New Zealand.

NEW ZEALAND .

The annual installation meeting of the Pacific Lodgeof Hokitika ( No . 1229 ) was held at the Alasonic Hall , Revell-street , Westland , on Tuesday , the nth February . A very large assemblage of brethren took place to do honour to the occasion . The lodge-room was most

tastefully and elegantly fitted up with flags , Alasonic banners , devices , evergreens and flowers . The R . W . D . G . Alaster , Bro . John Lazar , presided and performed the duty of installation in the beautiful and impressive manner for which he is noted both far and near , assisted by Bro .

John Bevan , P . M . 1229 , and Bro . H . Gutheil , P . AI . 1241 . There were also present on thc dais Bros . J . R . Hudson , W . AL 1229 ; Edward Hardcastle , W . M . Lodge Westland Kilwinning , 4 . 37 , S . C . Bro . J . R . Hudson , W . M ., having been re-elected , was dul y installed as W . M . for

the ensuing year , and appointed the following brethren , viz . : —Bros . Patrick Crawford , S . W . ; J . Branwell , J . W . ; C . Linneman , Treas ., ( reelected ) ; F . Eisfelder , Sec . ; Robt . Ferguson , S . D . ; C . Hill , J . D . ; J . R . Powell , I . G . ; and G . Epping , Tyler , ( re-elected . ) The R . W . D . G .

New Zealand.

Master having duly invested each of the officers , paid a very high compliment to the brethren for great state of efficiency in which he found the members , all able to perform the duties of their respective offices in such a manner as to reflect the highest possible credit on their preceptors ,

and referred to the important financial condition of the lodge , which he considered as second to none throughout the Colony of New Zealand . He further congratulated the the brethren , for the very beautiful manner in which they had extended relief , and supported

the charitable Institutions of the district , and expressed his admiration of the true . Alasonic zeal which seemed to actuate every brother of the Iodge . The Auditors' report , accompanied by the Treasurer ' s balance sheet , shewing a balance in

favour of the lodge amounting to ^' 4 8 4 9 - 4 d . was then submitted , and adopted . A vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to the R . W . D . G . Alaster for his kindness in presiding , and the many favours he was always so willing to bestow on the lodge . The R . W . D . G . AL ,

thanked the brethren in most feeling terms for the compliment , and trusted that they would all be permitted , with the blessingof the G . A . O . T . U ., to enjoy such sincere friendships . Bro . Thos . H . Garland , M . D ., was then duly proposed as a candidate for initiation , also Bro . I . E . Cuddefoid ,

P . M ., and Bro . W . Ramsay , as joining members . The Iodge was then duly closed , according to ancient custom ; bnt just before retiring Bro . Bevan , P . AL , addressed the brethren as follows : " Now that the duties of this evening are concluded , and we are again about to mix with the

world ; let us not forget that there is much which might occupy the thoughts of Alasons generally , much that might encourage them in their good works , much that might enliven the dull routine of dail y life by inspiring within us the desire to become more acquainted with its

manifold blessings , by striving to behold with an unclouded vision its vast though approachable heautioo , its i-uiicord . of good works , its elaborate design by sowing in our hearts the little seed of its greatness , there

encouraging it to germinate and bring forth its luxuriance in good time ; so that our knowled ge thus acquired may in truth become wisdom , our practice strength , and our admiration beauty , the three great pillars which support our stately structure , and which adorn its ancient

namefr rcemasonry , which has stood the test of ages , and withal is so complete , being as it is reared on the solid foundation of all that is good and holy on this ( pointing to the Bible)—the great rock , the Alasonry of God . Therefore , brethren , let us be faithful , and adopt it in sincerity , its

genial teachings will bring many happy surroundings , it will illuminate many of the dark recesses of our frail nature , it will pilot the good Alason over many treacherous rocks and shoals , and be assured it will prepare him for a better future through his trust in God the G . A . O . T . U ,

the brethren then adjourned to Bro . Osborne ' s Cafe de Paris , where a sumptuous banquet was provided , at which about fifty sat down . Bro . John R . Hudson , W . AL , presided , a most enjoyable evening being spent ; many excellent speeches were made anti songs sung , every

brother seeming to unite in the one great object of being happy ; and so was brought to a close ( after the T yler ' s toast ) another of those trul y Alasonic reunions which tend to cement the warm friendshi p of years and grace the grand teachings of our noble Institution .

HOLLOWAY ' OINTMENT * . Nuurulgic a . ml Rheumatic Disortlers art : perpetually reclining- during the changeable temperatures of spring . All aches anil pains in the ncrvci muscles and bones , 'vhich often compel the man of bushiest to neglect his usual avocations , may hc speedily subduci by this powerful Ointment . It should be well rubbed int ) tlic pait affected . The action of the Ointment is expeditel

by previous fomentations with warm water . The Ointnieit is then as easily made to pass into the human frame , as salt is made to pass into meat and none need apprehend any injurious alter effects from it , for its cures are worked without the aid of a panicle of . Mercury cr any other noxious substance . —ft never does harm . —ADVT .

A BOON TO livisitv IIUUSKIIOLU . —boots , with the cele brated wire-quilted soles , wearing twice as long usordiiiiry leather , for all ages ; and children ' s boots will * inetafic tips , which never wear eiut at the toes , may be had at mist shoe dealers . Insist on giving these atrial , and judge on their merits ,: