Original Correspondence.

men to either bring forward or support such ideas . The business of the seventeenth century operative , or friendly , lodges , in contradistinction to the eighteenth and nineteenth century speculative lodges , was work , wages , and their poor box ; not a system of morality veiled in allegory , as we now

have , with its accompanying idea of universal brotherhood—for the spirit of these old lodges was one of exclusiveness ; and as to supposing that any old Scottish lodge either knew ought of or practised our symbolic teachings before last century , that is a mistake . The " symbolic teachings" and ideas

now taught in Scottish lodges being simply borrowed from England in and after 1721 . The first Masonic Grand Lodge in the world was the one held in London in 1717 ; but none such was ever held in Scotland until nineteen years after . I am , yours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN .

To the Editor of the Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Can you , or any of your readers inform me if annexed is a genuine affair ? Feeling doubtful about it , from the fact that it appears not to be under the patronage , or with the sanction of any lodge , I wrote to the Master of a

lodge in the province of Glasgow , who informs me that although it is possible such an affair might be got up in Glasgow without his knowledge , he thinks it very improbable , and , in his opinion , it is a trick and an imposition . One would have thought , if the case is a

deserving one , the various lodges of its own province would be applied to before coming so fas south , and without resorting to a dodge that has fallen into discredit . Apologising for troubling , but in these days of imposition one cannot be too careful ,

I remain , dear Sir and Brother , yours truly , SOUTH . Swindon , July 24 th , 1871 .

GRAND DRAWING SUBSCRIPTION SALE Of the following Prizes , On behalf of a BROTHER MASON and Family , much visited with trouble and bereavements , wishful to Emigrate to New-Zealand in order to join their relatives . In the Trades' Hall . Glassford-strcet , Glasgow , on Wednesday , ifith August , 1871 , at Seven o ' clock .

PRIZES . 1 st , S p lendid Gold Watch . 5 th , Splendid Master Mason ' s and , Splendid Gilt Time-piece , in Jewel . glass shade , 6 th , Splendid Master Mason ' s 3 rd , Splendid Silver Watch and Apron . chain . 7 tb , Splendid Royal Arch Apron .

. 4 th , Gold-mounted Master Ma . Sth , Splendid Silver Watch . son's Apr . m and Sash , with 9 th , Set Gold Gilt China . emblems of lodge the winner roth , Splendid Master Mason ' s belongs to . Jewel . Numerous Prizes of Framed Engravings to be seen at Alex . Boyle ' s , 3 25 street

, Argyle- , Glasgow . With numerous other valuable Prizes . Tickets Sixpence each . As the number of tickets are limited , early application is requested to prevent disappointment . N . B . —The winning numbers will be announced in all the principal newspapers of Monday , 21 st August . The drawing , which will he on the p lan of the Art Union , will take place on the 16 th August Each ticket will have the chance of winning the abuvc valuable prizes

"O . B . " AND BUSINESS . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Your contemporary has had the bad taste to insert the anonymous personal attack upon me which you declined , and must therefore take the odium . I say nothing of thebadness of a cause which descends to personal libelbut as

, this Simon Pure , who is ashamed of his name , shows so much interest in my pecuniary and business relations , I may , with your permission , devote a few lines to his enlightenment . As to the amount of my capital , I need only say that he is as much at sea as in everything elsehowever , that is no business of his . It may ,

nevertheless , be of some interest to explain how Lancashire business is conducted , and as I have been largely connected with it for 20 years , and at one time had considerably over half a million sterling annually through my hands , I may be presumed to understand what I am writing about . A Lancashire manufacturer starts say 200 looms

without money capital ; he calls upon some one in my line of business and says , " I have these 200 looms , but to work them I must have assistance in yarns , credit guarantee , or cash . " This for a long time has been a very unsafe game , and I hear of one house alone that has about , £ 300 , 000 overadvanced and for which they have no security .

Such a firm is master both of the manufacturer and the shipper . For a long time few Manufacturers have been in a position to give credit , and to meet their yarn payments we have had to advance them cash , whilst , owing to the badness of the times , the Shippers hn ve pressed us for extra credits . During

the last three years of a cotton collapse three-fourths of the men I had have failed or stopped their mills , and had I not suspended the guarantee of yarn accounts in time , I should have followed some of them into the Bankruptcy Court . Other firms have suffered equally . In fact , a good deal of our

Lancashire , ; , capital has been swept to the other side of the Atlantic , and the risky nature of such a business as I have described must be manifest . Three or four of the leading members of the "believers '" rite , in Manchester , are in a " similar line of business , and will no doubt be highly delighted (?) at this

line of attack upon me . But the fact is , that to conduct such a business successfully requires far more real intellect than is necessary to General an army , let alone to Captain a regiment of pensioners . A safer plan followed ( but not exclusively so ) by old-established houses , is to advance 75 per

cent , upon goods made to stock . Many of these " Agents " also ship , sub rosa ; others do a buying and selling , or Merchant , business , sub rosa . It is needless to add that in this , as in every other business , there are many pettifoggers . Hitherto , I may say for " O . B . ' s" information , that I have done

a legitimate business ; when I cannot do so , I will retire from it . I can further assure him that I have never used Freemasonry to facilitate any business operations . Others have done so to the extent of letting me in upwards of , £ Soo this yea ?; upon asserting their belief in their Masonic O . B . ' s ; not

to mention numberleas smaller amounts which I have dropped into goodnaturedly with my eyes open . And now " O . B . " is informed upon matters of which he writes so dubiously , I hope the knowledge may interest him and lead him to drop the subject

of business . What is his own ? If my conjecture as to person is right , the query may be answered as in an anecdote I heard in Dublin respecting Sir B . Burke . Some Irishman answered an enquiry : "Oh ! he ' s one of the that gets his livin' about here . " I remain fraternally yours , JOHN YARKER .

Consecration Of The Duke Of Lancaster Lodge. No. I353.

CONSECRATION OF THE DUKE OF LANCASTER LODGE . No . I 353 .

This new lodge was consecrated by Bro . Wylie , P . G . R . of West Lancashire , as representative of the Prov . Grand Master , Sir Thomas Hesketh , Bart ., on Wednesday , the 12 th instant , in the Lodge Room , Athenaium , St . Leonard-gate , Lancaster , when about fifty brethren were present , and the ceremony went off with great e ' e / at . The presiding officer was assisted bv Bro . Hamer , Prov . Grand

Treasurer . The Prov . Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . H . G . Vernon , was present , and delivered a most solemn and appropriate oration for the occasion . The music rendered great assistance , which was ably and most efficiently conducted by Bro . Skeaf , Prov .

Grand Organist , and assisted by Bro . Armstrong , P . P . G . D ., and other talented brethren . There were also present Bros . Laidlaw , acting Prov . G . Sec . ; Dr . Moore , W . M . 281 and S . B . of the Grand Lodge of England ; Hatch , P . M . and T . 2 S 1 ; Kelland , P . M . 2 S 1 ; Simpson , P . M . and Sec . 281

Rev . G . II . Hobson , P . M . 477 and Prov . Grand Chaplain of Cheshire ; and a large number of brethren from Lancaster , Ulverston , and Barrow , After the consecration , which was carried out in the most dignified and impressive manner , and which will not readily be effaced from the minds of those present , the W . M .-designate , Bro . C . Hartley ,

was presented and duly installed , and the following officers having been nominated by the W . M ., were severally invested with his particular badge of office , as follows : —Bros . John Barrow , S . W . ; John Bell , J . W . ; Joseph Barrow , S . D . ; Acton , J . D . ; Hcald , Sec ; John Cross , Treas . ; R . A . Hodgson , I . G . Bro . Wylie tlie consecrating officer , explained the several duties .

The W . M . having returned thanks to all those brethren who had assembled to do honour to the new lodge , it was closed in due form , and the brethren adjourned to the County Hotel , where a splendid banquent was served , which reflected great credit on the host and hostess . The usual

loyal and Masonic toasts were proposed by the W . M . and were duly honoured by good wishes for the future prosperity of the Duke of Lancaster Lodge , No . 1353 . Unfortunately , several of the brethren assembled had lo leave earl )' , one portion north sands and

going over- the other portion going south to Liverpool , their train hour falling due almost at the same time ; but the Lancaster brethren remained for some time afterwards , when all separated a little before 8 o ' clock , it being the lodge night for the Fortitude Lodge , No . 281 .

SMALL-POX , FEVERS , AND SICIX DISEASES . — The predisposition to is prevented by I . anipl . mill's Vyrc ' c Saline . Vitalising and invijjorathv ; , iis effects are remarkable in their cure and prevention . Take it ns directed Sold by chemists and the maker , II . Lamplouah , 113 ! Holbom-hill . — [ Advt . ] "

Masonic Festivities.

MASONIC FESTIVITIES .

? THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF THE DOMATIC LODGE , No . 177 . Never since the annual gatherings or summer festivals , as ' they are termed , were commenced in the Domatic Lodge has there been such a

successful and happy gathering as that which took place on Thursday , the 20 th inst ., under the presidency of Bro . J . Walford , the courteous Master of the lodge . Upon that brother had devolved all the trouble and anxiety of bringing about so happy a result , and , as he remarked in one of his speeches ,

it was no easy matter to please the whole of the brethren of one of the largest , if not the largest lodge in England . Starting by four-horse omnibuses , provided by the London General Omnibus Company , from Anderton's Hotel , Fleet-street ( the meeting-place of the lodge ) , at eleven o'clock , they

proceeded to the King's Head , Chigwell , kept by Bro . Basham , and as the day was most beautifully fine , and every one in capital spirits , a most enjoyable ride was made the most of . Several of the brethren accompanied the party in their own private traps .

The following is a list of those present : —Past Masters Foulger , Frederick Smith , William Carpenter ( a very distinguished member of the Craft ) , Henry Elmes ( late Secretary ) , Michael Hayden , Harry Potter ( spruce merchant ) , and Baker ( one of the oldest P . M . ' s ) . Officers : J . Walford , W . M . ;

Ferguson , S . W . ; Timms , J . W . ; Everett , J . D . ; and Amos Treadwell , I . G . Visitors : James Boyd , Asst . Grand Purs . ; R . Motion , P . P . G . W . Essex ; Major Finney , Harmony Lodge , No . 255 ; Stevens , of the Albion Lodge , No . 19 ; Hedington ; Theodore Foulger , P . M . Confidence Lodge ; Walter

Woodman , J . W . Royal Standard Lodge ; Charles Woodman , of the Etruscan Lodge ; James Everson , 511 ; and Aston , of the Temple Lodge . Members : Crane , R . Ford , B . Cook ( builder ) , Heath , Ford ( of the Cogers' Discussion Hall , Salisbury-square , Fleet-street ) , Fountain ( "White Swan , "

Salisburycourt ) , Sullivan , Arnold ( "Robin Hood , " 281 , High Holborn , ) , Chudleigh , Accason ( Great Western Railway ) , Hancock , William Wigmore ( " Fishmongers' Arms , " Woodgreen ) , Goodfellow , Boutright , E . B . Clarke ( the " Red Lion" and Clock House , Rosoman-street , Clcrkenwell ) , Nasielski , Ralph

Willing ( contractor ) , Giles , Chas . E . Thompson , & c . After a delightful journey , the brethren arrived at their destination about one o ' clock , when luncheon was partaken of , and between that time and the dinner-hour the lovely gardens attached to Bro . Basham ' s were visited and greatly admired by some

of the brethren , whilst others engaged in various out-door games , or passed the time very pleasantly by strolling in the fields and romantic walks and admiring the scenery . A dinner , which consisted of every delicacy in season , capital wines and dessert , were then

partaken of , and the way in which it was served called forth the highest enconiums upon the host and hostess , for nothing , in fact , could have been better . When the cloth was removed , Bro . Foulger said he would not occupy their time with long toasts , but there were a few it was usual

and proper to give . ( Hear , hear . ) He was glad to find that her Majesty , feeling her presence would revive trade , had lately come more amongst them , ( " Hear , hear , " and cheers ) . He had therefore great pleasure in proposing her health . ( Applause . ) " The Health of the M . W . G . M . of Masons , the

Marquis of Ripon , '' was the next toast . His lordship had discharged the important duties imposed upon him with faithfulness . ( Hear , hear . ) He was sure they would all agree he had deserved the honour—that of Marquis—which had been recently conferred upon him . This and the preceding toast were enthusiastically

received . The W . M . then proposed " The Earl of Carnarvon , D . G . M ., H . R . II . the Prince of Wales , and the rest of the Grand Officers , Past and Present , " coupled with the name of Bro . James Boyd . They

were fortunate in having two Grand Officers members of the Domatic Lodge ; and after alluding to the able manner in which the Grand Officers had discharged their duties , he concluded by proposing their healths .

Bro . James Boyd , Asst . Grand Purs ., in responding , said he agreed with the Master , that short speeches ought to be the order of the day . He had experienced a great deal of pleasure in being present that day , and thanked them all , in the name of the Grand Officers and in his own . He regretted he was not a member of their lodge , for he had been

associated with it as a constant visitor for about 20 years . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . Foulger proposed "The Health of the W . M ., Bro . Walford , and he said the duty of doing so was an exceedingly pleasing one to him . He asked them to drink it in bumpers , for he had exerted himself very much to make the festival what he was sure they would all say it had turned out to be