Bene Notanda.

-md the Masonic Magazine , the Cosmo , aud the Rosicru ' cian , and other works of various kinds minister to Masonic intellectuality and study , amongst our English , nay Cosmopolitan Craft . Many are our good brethren who casually look j n from time to time , at 198 , to honour us with

their p leasant patronage , and to cheer us with their zealous support . But we were favoured the other day by an unexpected visitant , a young Roman Catholic priest . Whether in the haze of the evening he stepped into 198 , Fleet Street , by pure mistaue , or whether , like Eve , he was

attracted by ( he Masonic Symbolism in the window , ( forbidden fruit ) , we cannot profess to decide . Sure enough in he came , though none could be more startled prima facie than ourselves . We quickly supplied his needs and parted , in mutual courtesy . " Wonders will never cease , "

we said to ourselves . We poor Freemasons , excommunicated by popes , anathematized by cardinals , charged by archbishops , denounced by bishops , we yet are not altogether bug-bears to the inferior clergy . Such is the force of truth that it dissipates error and masters prejudice . " Well , the object of this little article is not to

find fault or scold , but to do a little bit of business and comfortable advertizing at the same time . We beg to announce to the Roman Catholic Clergy and laity , that though we are Freemasons , we shall always be happy to meet their wishes in the way of legitimate trade , as we have often done before , and we venture to

think that a visit to our show-rooms at 1 , 2 , 3 , Little Britain , may soften some antagonisms , and remedy many misconceptions . The trade orders of all our customers will always be

courteously received and punctually executed , and though as regards our Roman Catholic clients , we have nothing to do with their peculiar tenets , we shall be always most happy to receive their cash payments .

The Obelisk.

THE OBELISK .

We shall all be glad to hear that the " Cleopatra " is safe , and that the munificent enterprise of our esteemed Bro . Erasmus Wilson will ( D . V . ) be crowned with success . To that worthy member of our Order , the best thanks of all admirers of antiquity , of all lovers of artistic memorials ,

are most justly due , and we are pleased to think that to the patriotic and enlightened appreciation of one of our own body , England is indebted mainly , for the acquisition and preservation of this very interesting relic of ages past and gone . We beg to congratulate Bro . Erasmus Wilson

sincerely on the happy result of his most commendable and public-spirited undertaking , The one only cause of regret , which so to say , tinges the whole scene with a darker colouring , is the loss , as is much to be feared , of the gallant boat ' s crew and officer of the " Olga . " We shall all deeply deplore so great a calamity in

itself , and so deep an affliction to many suffering families and remaining relatives , as we fear that their chance of safety in such a gale and with such a " sea on" is , alas ! very slight indeed . We shall most heartily rejoice if our gloomier anticipations as regards the fate of the boat ' s crew should turn out to be unfounded . We can only hope that thus it may prove to be .

The Use Of Latin In Our Leaders.

THE USE OF LATIN IN OUR LEADERS .

A worthy correspondent takes us to task courteously both for the use of Latin , and for the non-translation of the words we employ . We apprehend that though , as a . general rule , it is not advisable to interlard English with Latin yet

that every now and then such quotations relieve the dullness of a disquisition , and improve the •nonotony of style . We will , however , in future translate the Latin words we employ , except in the case of familiar quotations , though we

confess that such a proceeding has the appearance of pandering to ignorance . The last quotation complained of came from Punch , and as Punch did not consider it needful to translate it

for its readers , neither did we for ours . There , s a good little story in the New York Dispatch , which we " give in , " as they say : — " What ! " asked a youth , timidly , of an eminent philologist " — ' what , sir' is the meaning of tho phrase

The Use Of Latin In Our Leaders.

' modus operandi ' ? " And the great linguist , whose mind was saturated with the literature of ancient Greece and Rome , replied .- " It is Latin for ' How the old thing works ' ! "

Impossible.

IMPOSSIBLE .

We have seen it stated in a creditable journal , that in a certain large town in England , ( name kept back ) , in a recent case before the Borough Magistrates , a brute of a fellow , who is alleged to have kicked his wife into a state of insensibility , was "bound over to keep the peace

towards her and all her Majesty ' s liege subjects for twelve months . " Can any of our kind correspondents throw any light upon this report , which we deem so unlikely and so unjust to the town , that we are inclined to relegate it at once to the '' limbo " of live "canards" and

large cabbages ? There must be some explanation forthcoming of a statement , which if true , would constitute a burlesque on the administration of justice amongst us , and would offer a premium to ruffianism , of which we have just now , in some shape or another , a great deal too much .

Another Dreadful Colliery Explosion.

ANOTHER DREADFUL COLLIERY EXPLOSION .

Ons of the most dreadful explosions which has ever occured in the history of coal-mining , took place on Monday , at . Dixon ' s Colliery , Upper Blantyre , near Glasgow . Of the 219 poor fellows unaccounted for at the time of the

explosion , very few indeed , it is feared , can be saved . As Freemasons and humanitarians , we cannot but feel the deepest sympathy for the terrible blow which has fallen on a mining district and the irreparable loss entailed on hundreds of mourning families .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We do net hold ourselves responsible for , or even As approving of die opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish , in a spirit of fair plaj- to all , to permit—within certain necessary limits—free discussion . —Eu . l

THE BOYS' SCHOOL . To Ihe Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — The motion brought forward by our Bio . the Rev . A . F . A . Woodford , at the last monthly meeting o ! the Boys' School Committee , is one deserving of the careful consideration of the brethren : anl while I have no

desire to offir an opinion on the particular case in question , of which I know nothing , perhaps I may be allowed to say a few words on the general principle involved . The almost daily increase in the number of our lodges consecrated , necessarily brings into our ranks a flood of new members , and while there are doubtless many among them worthy , it cannot be denied that , for the purpose of

entitling the new lodge to the ( somewhat worn out ) title of " young and flourishing , " the admission of candidates is rather indiscriminate . I know instances in which persons have joined the Craft simply to call themsehes Masons , and for their own ends , and having been raised to the rank of M . M . ceased to subscribe to a lodge or in any way connect themselves with Masonic work or Institutions . We

all know of a case which has brought considerable scandal on the Craft in which even the initiation fee itself was refused to bc paid . There are few brethren whose remarks on the subject of new members should carry greiter weight than those of our respected Urand Secretary , and it would be well for the Craft generally , and rulers of lodges in particular , if more serious attention were paid to the sound advice he gives at the consecration of new lodges , in

which he so frequently takes the leading part . The increase to our ranks during the past three or four years , is such as to ciuse much anxiety to those who trouble to look forward to the future of our Charitable Institutions . The number of applicants for their benefits most necessarily increase yearly , and I am not losing sight of the great things that have been recently done by the brethren , when I express my fear that the hope of future support , in proportion to our augmented numbers , will be a vain one .

If this view is correct , then Bro . Woodford's motion is an important one for the future of the Craft , for if justice is to be done , it will surely be necessary to reduce the rights of candidature to the narrowest consistent limits , and to give those who have supported the Institutions in the past a prior claim on their benefits . By simply subscribing to a lodge , a brother ( if in no other way ) , aids the Charities , through the medium of

amounts which are voted from the lodge funds for Stewards' Lists ; but the means of contributing through Subsciiption Societies among us are now to convenient that there is little excuse left for such " watery " help . At the meeting I am referring to , a brother remarked that " putting a child on the list was not electing him , that remained with the Craft . " Exactly so , but I would remind him that the Committee is appointed in order to

Original Correspondence.

make the necessary investigations into the circumstance s of each case , and to submit for final election only those which have a legal right to our support . I am , yours fraternally , EDW . BLINKHORN , 1471 .

THE ROYAL INSTALLATION ENGRAVING . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In answer to several letters I have received from brethren who have subscribed for copies of the engraving of the Grand Installation of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., I should like to state that in a letter to me

this week Bro . Edward J . Harty , the artist , states most positively that the engraving " will be finally completed by the first week in December , 1 have the plate in London and two first-rate engravers working on it , ever since I had it proved by Messrs . McQueen—these men are simply adding what is called ' tone' to the plate , namely more effect of light and shade , & c . " This work will , of

course , bc an additional outlay for Bro . Harty , and proves that his anxiety to produce a picture worthy of the great historical and Masonic event it is to commemorate has found its expression in deeds . In common with my many friends who have subscribed for copies through my recommendation , I am vexed at the long delay , and yet , after all , it appears that when

published in December next the work will be accomplished in a very short time indeed , considering the magnitude of the painting , Sec . In that case the error was in promising it so much earlier , and so all we have to do as subscribers is to

exercise an important Masonic and general virtue a little longer —viz , patience , and rest assured that we shall be ultimately rewarded on seeing a picture , alike worthy of the subject and the distinguished body of subscribers . Meanwhile the plate may be seen at 213 , Regent-street , London , W . WILLIAM J AMES HUGHAN - .

PAST GRAND PURSUIVANTS . To the Editor if the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I was much surprised at your editoiial note appended to a correspondent ' s letter in a recent number of your journal in which you state that Prov . Grand Pursuivant carries past rank , as this is quite contrary to my idea

of the Book of Constitutions and the practice of Grand Lodge . In the list of members of our fraternity , at the beginning of our regulations for thegovernment ofthe Craft although Grand Pursuivant are mentioned I cannot find this title of Past Grand Pursuivants , from which I gather that there is no such title in Grand Lodge , and consequently can be

none in Prov . Grand Lodge . This is further carried out by the fact that at the annual appointment of officers the Grand Master ( acting under clause 4 . of " The Grand Master " in our book of Constitutions ) invariably confers past rank specially upon the brother who has served as Grand Pursuivant during the proceeding year . The same clause will answer Bro . Owen ' s question in your last

numbs r , as to " Why is this not done in the Provinces ? as it specially states that " nothing therein contained shall empower Provincial Grand Masters to make similiar appointments in their respective provinces . " I am , yours fraternally , V . A . M . [ We do not think that our view is wrong . We will look into the matter carefully and recur to the subject . —Ed . ]

CLKOPATRAS NEEDLE . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Now that the little bark " Cleopatra , " laden with the famous " needle " has escaped from the jaws of the yawning deep , though not without the sad loss of six brave men ' s lives , may 1 be permitted to suggest that the names of these ill-fated mariners together with a representative of

the ship in which the treasure was borne should be engraved on the base of the obelisk . Peihaps Mr . Joseph Bonomi or some other archaeologist would also furnish an appropriate inscription in the hieroglyphic character . I am , dear Sir and brother , Yours fraternally , C . S . 201 .

NATIONAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As your columns are so generously placed at the service of brethren advocating the claims of the distressed , allow me to solicit the assistance of my brethren ( who are subscribers to the National Benevolent Institution ) , in

securing the election of Miss S . N . Hodgson , in her 70 th year , daughter of the late Bro . William Hodgson , an old and esteemed Mason , formerly of Truro . Our noble Masonic charities , valuable and extensive as they are , do not provide for the aged and infirm daughters of deceased Masons , and , therefore , I venture to ask that voting papers filled in for Miss Hodgson , be sent me , or polled on her

behalf . The annuity of £ 23 , which the lustitution affords , would prove a great boon to her , for she has literally outlived her friends , and the money she managed to save during her vocation as mistress of a small school in Truro , is all but melted away , and when the last sovereign has been used ( which must be very soon ) , I cannot see any prospect before her but the " Big House , with the closed

doors , " unless successful in this application for the annuity . I shall be happy to reciprocate any aid kindly granted me ( for her ) by assisting a candidate for either of our Institutions in a similar manner , as I am most anxious to see the poor soul elected , who is , by adoption , a sister of yours . Fraternally yours , W . j . HUGHAN , P . G . D , Truro , Cornwall , Oct , 20 th , iS 77 .