Masonic Ball At Newbury.

M . Boyer , Bro . W . W . King , P . M ., S . W ., P . P . G . S . D . ; Miss E . and Miss A . King , Bros . Barron Fielder , and Durrant ( Maidenhead ) , Mrs . and Miss Durrant , Mr . Frank Durrant , Mrs . A . Roakc , Miss Wise , Miss Mason , and Mr . Hobbs ; Bro . J . Bance , Miss Brooks , and Miss E . J . Brooks , Bro . M . Wheeler , ( Wantage ) , and Mrs . Wheeler , Mrs . Gillies , Bro .

A . Burns , J . W . ; Miss Seward , Bro . C . Wheeler , J . D . ; Miss Batcheldor , Bro . R . Ravenor and Miss Ravenor , Bro . Newton , Miss Harding , Bro . J . K . May , Bro . Johnston and party , Bro . G . J . Cosburn , ( Secretary ) , Miss Insell , Bro . B . Salisbury , Mr . Alderman Wilson , Mr . W ., Mr . B ., and Miss AVilson , Mr . AVilson ( Hunt ' s Green ) , Mr . W . Hickman , Miss Hickman , Miss Adey , Mr . and Mrs . W . Bance ,

Mr . I . Beck , Mrs . Judd , Mr . Bond , Miss Ham ( Reading ) , Mr . Biddis , jun ., Misses Biddis , Mr . R . C . Ryott , Miss Unwin , Mr . Scard , Mr . Webster , Mr . Gambrill , Mr . A . Berry , Mr . J . Parker , Miss Parker , Mr . H . Creed , Mr . Caldicot , Miss Dubberley ( Reading ) , Miss Machin , Mr . and Mrs . AV . C . Isaac , Mr . Roby , Mr . H . S . Hanington , Mr . A . Boyer , Miss Gilbert , Mr . W . Balding , Miss Cooper

Miss S . Bali :: ig , Mr . Thomson , M . A ., W . T ., and Misses Thomson , Misses Stacey , Miss Batthews , Mr . Poulton , Mr . Bartholomew , Mr . J . Parker , Mr . Hunt , Mr . Wintle , Miss Fidler , Mr . C . J ackson , Mr . E . Austen , Miss and Miss E . Austen , Mr . F . E . Frampton , Mr . J . White , Miss and Miss E .

Leonard , Mr . R . Smith , Mr . Myers , Mr . H . Lucas , Mr . Rickards , Misses Long , Mr . G . Davy , Mr . Norrinton , & c . The M . C . ' s , whose efficiency was a theme of " agreeable comment" were Bros . B . Fielder and J . Bance . —Newbury Weekly News , Jan . 20 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . ] ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I would be glad to hear your opinion on the following query : —

Is it legal for an Honorary Member of a lodge under the Scotch Constitution to be elected to the chair of Right AVorshipful Master , and be installed therein ? Also , to vote on all questions concerning the lodge , he still continuing his Honorary membership ? as many of the brethren think he should be a

subscribing member to the lodge . I believe , by the Constitution of Grand Lodgeof Scotland it is illegal ; but it appears that a by-law of the lodge in question allows it . But doubts are entertained that such a by-law was ever approved by the Grand Lodge

of Scotland . Your opinion would be a great service to Masonry in general , and one of your journals giving it would be thankfully received by the lodges holden in Mauritius under the other Constitutions . Your fraternally ,

MASTER MASON Port Louis , Maritius , Dec . 17 th , 1869 . [ Reply next week . —ED . F . ]

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER . —In answer to "Rttsticus , " I beg to inform him that no brother can be be suspended or expelled , without having been served with a summons showing forth the charges made against him , so that he may be prepared to

refute them . Vide , Trans ., & c , of Grand Lodge of Scotland , chap , xi ., sec . 7 , 8 , and 9 , cap . xv ., sec . 11 . ; Constitutions Grand Lodge of England , pages 20 sec . 8 , 25 , sec . 17 and 68 , sec . 21 ; Simons' Masonic Jurisprudence , cap . vii . ; Penal Code , sec . 2 .

But some of the Grand Lodges arrogate to themselves the power of breaking their laws at pleasure . The laws ofthe Grand Lodge of Scotland says ( cap . xi ., sec . 13 ) , " When a motion shall have been regularly made and seconded , it shall not be competent for the Grand Master , or other Brother

officiating in the chair , to refuse to put the same to the vote ; and if any doubt shall arise as to the interpretation of a law , the power of deciding the same shall be vested , not in the chair , but in the meeting . " Now , I have before me at present , a motion

tabled at the August meeting , 186 9 , duly proposed and seconded in conformity with Grand L . Laws ; said motion was also received by the Grand Master and read by him ; no objections made . The meeting of November arrives , no such motion is placed on the circular , neither is there notice sent

to the brother who proposed it , that it was incompetent or withdrawn ; but on inquiry at head quarters the following communication was received , " that a declaration or resolution came to by Grand Lodge in August , was not , and could not be tabled at the

meeting in May , seeing that the necessity for passing it had not then arisen . It was not a new law or alteration of an old one , requiring three month ' s notice , but simply a declaration that the matter in question had been decided or adjudicated

Original Correspondence.

by Grand Lodge , and was at an end . " This was received in answer to a letter , not inquiring if the above declaration had been tabled in May . There is no law in Grand Lodge empowering them to quash any motion after its being tabled and received by Grand Lodge . The proposer of the

motion would not be allowed to ask the question at Gfahci Lodge , of what had become of his motion , and I believe , for the first time the large majority learned that a declaration or resolution could be put to the vote and passed on the same night . Let any brother read the law before-quoted , and

then the resolution or declaration , and explain the anomaly . It seems to me no one can say of the Grand Lodge of Scotland , that their laws arc like the Medes and Persians ; the sooner a revision takes place the better . As stated in No . 44 of THE FREEMASON , page

17 , we have occasion to envy the Lodge St . John , Melrose , who are free from the arbitrary despotism of the Grand Lodge , where misrule predominates . Either in Lodges or Governments , it is the sacred right of members or peoples to raise their voice against it . Yours truly and fraternally , MONTRA .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —I observed in a short report in the Globe , of the laying the foundation stone at Rotherham , that the M . AV ., the Earl de Grey and Ripon , stated he was glad H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , was going to take the chair at the next festival ofthe Boys '

School , and he hoped ALL the brethren would come up and support His Royal Highness on that occasion ; and as I have since heard it is not settled where the festival will be holden , may I suggest to the Governors of the Institution that the Agricultural Hall at Islington be engaged , as that is the

largest building in London , the hall at the Tavern being far too small to dine one-fiftieth part of the Masons in England at the present time ; or may not the reporter have mistaken his lordship , who , perhaps , meant to say he hoped all the brethren would be present by their sympathy and their offerings ,

and that the stewards who represent them will be proud and thankful to say , that they—in the name of the Freemasons of England—have brought up enough to clear the institution from all liabilities , that the school may be put in the same position as the sister charities , which is the hearty wish of A SUBSCRIBER .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , — -AVould you or any of your numerous correspondents inform me under what charter the Board of Installed Past Masters works the degree ? It is only conferred , as 1

understand , on the Master-elect . 1 have searched the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England , and can find no mention of the degree , the number required for a Board or Lodge , or any regulations for conducting the same . . Yours fraternally , MONTRA . [ Reply next week . —ED . F . \

MASONIC TOBACCO-BOX . ( To the Editor of The Freemason ) . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am rather interested in the letter of Bro . Horace Swcte , and , if possible , I should like to know something more of the history of his old tobacco-box before believing

that the emblems he describes were depicted upon it in " 1670 . " At present , from his description , 1 should infer that whatever the age of the box may be , the age of the engraving is nearer 1770 than " 1670 . " However , if Bro . Swete will give his full

address in your next issue , I shall communicate with him privately , and if we can bring out anything definite , well and good , only I trust that having mentioned the subject , he will meet me frankly and openly . I am , yours fraternally , LEO .

THE ROYAL ARCH DEGREE . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR S / R AND BROTHER , —I shall esteem it a favour if brethren in possession of records of Royal Arch meetings , before A . D . I 7 60 , or of works before that date , would inform me of their character .

Also if they know where any arc to be seen , or have perused such and would kindly intimate to me their nature . 1 should also feel much indebted , as such assistance will be of much aid to me in writing the early history of Royal Arch Masonry . AV . J . HUGHAN . Truro , Cornwall , J an . 22 , 1870 .

THE FORMS FOR GRAND LODGE . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —I would suggest that more space be allowed in the country return of contributing mem-

Original Correspondence.

bers , to fill in properly what is required . We are requested to put the name and number of previous lodgefor ajoiningmember , and there is scarcelyroom for the number only . Altogether the form is cramped , and as extra expense need not be incurred by extending the sheet , it would be an advantage to all parties . A PAST SECRETARY ( 1199 ) .

Occult Science.

OCCULT SCIENCE .

BY FRATER WILLIAM CARPENTER , VI ., Author of "Scientia Biblica , " " Calendarium Palestine , " Editor of '' Calmet ' s Dictionary of the Bible , " & c ., & c . The works of Eliphas Levi on Magique"Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie , " "Histoire

de la Magie , " and "Clef des Grands Mysteres , "are , I believe , very little known , even among the members of our mystic and secret orders , notwithstanding that they contain a vast amount of curious learning , more or less connected with the arcana which the members of such orders are

under an obligation to study , realize , and adapt . As far as I am in a condition to speak of these works , I should say that they comprise the result of a most laborious course of study , including the works of ancient and modern writers on the recondite sciences , and throw

considerable light on the mysteries and rituals of both Oriental and Occidental religions and philosophies . They form a complete course on the science of the ancient magi , each work being complete in itself ; but for the perfect understanding of any one of them , the careful study of the other two is indispensable .

The ternary division of the work is taken from the science itself ; as Levi's discovery of the great mysteries of the science rests entirely on the signification that the ancient heirophants attached to numbers . With them , three was the generative number , and in the teaching of every

doctrine they considered—first its theory , next its results , and then its adaptation to all possible uses . Thus are dogmas formed , whether philosophical or religious . Thus the dogmatic synthesis of Christianity , the heir of the magi , presents to our faith three persons in one God ,

and three mysteries m universal religion . In this , Levi follows the plan of the Cabala ; that is , of the pure tradition of occultism . The " Dogme et Rittni" are each divided into twenty-two chapters , marked by the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew

alphabet . At the head of each chapter is placed the letter which relates to it , with the Latin words which , according to the best authors , indicate its heiroglyphic signification . Thus at the head of the first chapter , is

1 A Le recipieiidaire , Disciplina , Ensoph , Keter .

In Cabalistic theology this signifies that the letter Alrpli , whose equivalent in Latin and in French ( as also in English ) is A , and its numeral value 1 , denotes the aspirant—man called to initiation , the cunning man ( the juggler ) . It denotes also , the dogmatic syllepsis ( disciplina ) ,

being m its general and first conception ( Ensoph ); and the idea of divinity is expressed by Keter ( the crown ) . The chapter is the development of the title , and the title contains heiroglyphically all the chapter . The entire book is composed according to this combination .

The "Historic de la Magic , which , according to the theory given in the " Dogme" and the " Rituel , " relates and explains the realizations of this science , through all time , is constructed according to the septenary number—the number , that is , of the creative week and the Divine realization .

The " Clef des Grands Mysteres " is built on the number four , which is that of the enigmatical form of the sphinx , and of elementary manifestations . It is also the number of the square and of strength , and in this book the author

undertakes to establish truth on immoveable basis—to perfectly explain the enigma of the sphinx , and to give the key to those things that have been hidden from the beginning of time , and which the learned Postil dared to give in one of his most abstruse works only in a most enigmatical