Original Correspondence.

edifices , " and do not "go in for "the Craft business . Surely some hundreds of Scottish gentlemen , if unanimous , could raise the funds in question—or is this one of those " active minorities about which we hear so much ? I thank F . Y . very sincerely for his

compliment to my modest advocacy of real charity . It so happens however , that I did not write the paragraph to which he refers , although I might have done so , had his ingenious idea occurred to me , before another had saved me the exertion . Yours fraternally , B . B .

Multum In Parbo,Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

Multum in Parbo , or Masonic Notes and Queries .

SERVING BRETHREN . Masons whose duty it is to serve the lodge as Ty lers , waiters at the lodge table , and to perform other menial services , are called in European Lodges " serving brethren . " They are not known in this country , but were long recognised

as a distinct class in England and on the continent . In 175 . 3 the Grand Lodge of England adopted a regulation for their initiation , which , slightly modified , is still in force . By it every lodge is empowered to initiate without charge " serving brethren , " who cannot , however ,

become members of the lodge , although they may join another . In military lodges private soldiers may be received as serving brethren . On the continent , at one time , a separate and preliminary form of reception , with peculiar signs , ike , was appropriated to those who were initiated as

serving brethren , and they were not permitted to advance beyond the first degree , which , however , worked no inconvenience , as all the business and refreshment of the lodges were done at that time in the Entered Apprentice ' s degree . The regulation for admitting serving brethren arose from

the custom of lodges meeting at taverns ; and as at that period labour and refreshment were iiitermis . ed , the waiters of the tavern were sometimes required to enter the room while the lodge was in session , and hence it became necessary to qualify them for such service by making them

Masons . In France they are called " Freres Servants 5 " in Germany " Dienenden Briider . " The Knights Templar had a class called serving brothers , who were not , however , introduced into the Order until it had greatly increased in wealth and numbers , The form of their

reception varied very slightly from that of the Knights , but their habit was dilFerent , being black . They were designated for the performance of various services inside or outside of the Order . Many rich and well-born men belonged to this class . They were permitted to

take part in the election ol a Grand Master . The Treasurer of the Order was always a serving brother . Of these serving brotiiers there were two kinds : servants at arms and artificers . The former were the most highly esteemed , the latter being considered a very inferior class , except the

armourers , who were held , on account of the importance of their occupation , in higher estimation . —Machatfs National Freemason . MASONRY IN PERSIA . —Of the British officers who are at present in Berlin pursuing military studies and making themselves acquainted with

Prussian military organization and arrangements , one belongs to the Masonic order . He is a Mussulman . He seems to have spontaneousl y sought recognition as a member of the Craft at a Berlin lodge , and his claim was allowed only after such an examination as satisfied the brethren

that he was one of the brethren . From the slate nient of this Persian Mason it appears that neatl y all the members of the Persian Coint belong to the mystic order , even as German Masonry enjoys the honour of counting the limptror and Crown Prince among its adherents , lhe appearance of this Mohammedan Mason in Berlin

seems to have excited a little surprise anion " some of the brethren there , and the surprise Would be natural enough to persons not aware l > f . the extent to which Masonry has been diffused over the earth . Account for it is as one '"• ay , the truth is certain that the mysterious order was established in the Orient many ages n go . Nearl y all of the old Mohammedan build-

Multum In Parbo,Or Masonic Notes And Queries.

ings in India , such as tombs , mosques , etc ., are marked with the Masonic symbols , and many of these structures , still perfect , were built in the time of the Mogul Emperor Akbar , who died in 1603 . Thus Masonry must have been introduced into India from Middle Asia by the Mohammedans , hundreds of years ago .

Reviews.

Reviews .

Prosper the Art . ( New Edition ) . Masonic Song and Chorus . Words by Bro . James Stonehouse . Music by George Hargreaves , The words , as well as the music are original

comprehensive and effective , and are of that character that all Masons will be delighted with . All brethren who admire beautiful and lovely poetry , should hail with delight this brilliant production of Bro . Stonehouse .

We have received "Report of Special Convent General of the United Pilgrims and Military Orders of the Temple , held at Willis s Rooms King-street , St . James ' s , London , Monday 7 th April , 1873 , for the purpose of installing His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales as Grand

Master of the United Orders . To hand , a calendar of the Great Priory of the United Orders of the Temple and Malta in England and Wales for 1873 and 1874 . It gives the muster roll of Officers for the year commencing oth May 1873 . Page 6 shows the roll of

Preceptories of the United , Religious , and Military Orders of the Temple , and of St . John of Jerusalem , Palestine . Rhodes , and Malta . It shows at a glance the Title of Preceptory , Province , number , where stationed , when holden , date of warrant , Preceptor per last return .

Again we have a list of Preceptories , & c . Great labour has been bestowed in its preparation , ^ make it complete as well as accurate . A copy ought to be kept in every Encampment and Priory , ready for reference when occasion requires . A notice appears in the Gazelle that , by Her

Majesty s direction , the brothers and sisters of the present Earl of Zetland shall henceforth enjoy the same title and precedence as if their late father , the Hon . John Charles Dundas , had survived his elder brother , the second earl , and had succeeded to the title and dignity of Earl of Zetland .

Coal Co-Operative Society.

COAL CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY .

On Tuesday , the 10 th inst ., a conference was held in the Board-room of the " Agricultural and Horticultural Association , " 47 , Millbankstreet , Westminster , when Dr . D . H . Rutherford , Chairman of the Ousebtirne Co-operative Engine Works , and Mr . Burt , Secretary to the

Northumberland Miners' Association , attended , and explained the cause of the extraordinary rise in the price of coal , and to suggest efficient means of protecting the public against its recurrence . Mr . Beale ably presided . After a few remarks , the chairman called on Mr . Burt to

address the meeting . On rising , the gentleman said , that he should explain the cause of the rise in the price of coal . The evidence that has been given before the Committee of Enquiry has been attributed by all the gentlemen to the fact that the chief cause in the

extraordinary rise in the price of coal is owing to the price of iron , and the quantity of coal which is required to be used in the manufacture of iron . At Cleveland there has been a strike , and the men were out of employment for some time , about one half whom were in the North of

Durham began to manufacture iron . Mr . Burt denied the mis-representations that had been given against the miners , such as laziness , & c ., could not deny that the miners have asked for hi gh wages , every care has proceeded the price of coal to the miners . Before the rise in the prices the miners were satisfied with

their pay , but when they saw that the markets were rising 5 s . per ton , they considered that they should have a share in the price of coal , which resulted in an advance of wages to the miner . The rise per ton has been < jc \ . to is . Therefore it is absurd to charge the men as the cause of the high prices of coal .

Coal Co-Operative Society.

Mr . Rutherford said the remedy would be for the people of London to join with the miners , and assist them to carry out their efforts . They have decided to form a " Co-Operative Mining Society , " which shall have for its object , not only the interest of the miner , but that of the general

community ; it will also remove the great chasm that has existed between the employer and the employed . Ten per cent , will , therefore , in the first instance be set aside for capital . To give stability to the Society , a portion of

the profits will be devoted to the formation of a reserve fund . The remainder of the profits will be divided equally between labour , capital , and trade . Everybody is a consumer of coals , and in

dividing with all purchasers a portion of the profits , this Society adopts a principle which recognises a harmony of interest , and which , it is hoped , may promote a greater kindliness of feeling .

Conflicts between capital and labour are costly , destructive , and wasteful . In this Society such conflicts will be impossible . It is intended that every worker shall be a member ; This , it is believed , will quicken intelligence , develope caution , stimulate activity and skill .

It was proposed and carried unanimously . That the sympathy of the conference be tendered to the working colliers of Northumberland and Durham in their efforts to establish an Industrial Co-operative Mining Society , and to the Coal Society of Westminster in its proposal to distribute the coals to the householders of London , on the most economical co-operative basis . Capital to be raised in transferable shares of g £ < each .

The Crystal Palace.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE .

A simple reproduction of the programme of the entertainments provided on Monday by the Crystal Palace Company in aid of the sufferers by the recent conflagration at the Alexandra Palace would , of itself , more than exhaust the space usually allotted to such subjects , so

numerous and so varied have they been . The Alexandra Palace day at the Crystal Palace was a fete day in every sense of the word , for it was not only a display of its infinite variety , but afforded an example of human nature in its best aspects . When the Alexandra Palace was

completed , the almost universal question which each one put to himself , or to his neighbour , was—what effect will it have on the Crystal Palace ? And that question was as generally answered in a sense that regarded them as antagonistic . During the short-lived existence

of the Alexandra in its completed glory , we believe it was a success , and gave promise of a healthy life , whilst its injurious effect on the Crystal Palace was found to be nil . The same phenomenon has been observed at the Crystal Palace with regard to th « International

Exhibition . The fact is , that the population of London is so vast that the demand for amusements is greatly ahead of the suppl y ' , and in one respect the Crystal Palace is unapproachable—viz ., in its collections of art treasures . That the Palaces in the North and South were not antagonists in the is

bad sense of ^ the word likewise shown by the prompt spontaneousness with which the Crystal Palace Company came forward and offered its resources in aid of those who were thrown into distress b y the calamity of its unfortunate rival , mindful , perhaps , of the similar , though less

- alamitotis disaster which befel itself . Not only : lid the Crystal Palace exhibit its prompt and Jisinterested sympathy with the Alexandra Park sufferers on this occasion , but other establishnents lent their assistance , and the services of ill the artistes engaged were wholly gratuitous .

lhe first thing to arrest the eye , and to inform he visitor of the object of the fete , was the : xposition of relics saved from the fire , which vere advertised to be on sale for the benefit of he sullerers . The circle of entertainments

: onimenecd at half-past eleven with an organ > erfomumce by Dr . Stabler , followed , at twelve , > y an extract from the Oriental extravaganza of ' Conrad and Medora , " in which Miss Caroline 'arkes , Mr . Atkins , Mr . W . Rowella , Mr . Yar-