Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

SPIRITUALISM .

To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , — I must assume that my friend and brother , who writes of me in The Freemason of Nov . 22 nd , has known me for many years , since he deplores the change from what I was ,

referring , I presume , to my present belief in spiritualism . More than twenty years ago I became convinced of the reality the phenonema which are now called spiritualistic , and I have been giving attention to them ever since , occasionally writing and publishing my thoughts

upon them . I am not aware of much change in my mental condition ; but it may be otherwise . I may be the victim of that incip ient insanity which my brother greatly fears I am , though I thank the G . A . O . T . U . that I have been enabled , throughout that time , to attend to my dail y

literary pursuits , as I now am , without having heard that any evidences of insanity exhibited themselves in my writings . I am grateful to my brother , the " mad doctor , " for his expressed sympathy in what he supposes to be my deplorable condition ; but I should have been more

grateful , if , with his familiarity with cases of incipient insanity , he had exhibited his brotherly love in a more practical way , by offering to afford such relief to a mind diseased as would be likel y to restore it to the perception of truth . Permit me just to add that I did not introduce the subject of spiritualism into The Freemason . I

simply objected to the statement made by a writer in its columns , adding , that I did not think The Freemason was the publication in which to introduce a controversy upon the subject . Since then , I have been only vindicating myself , and those who are with me on the subject , from the absurdities that have , by two or three of my brethren , been imputed to us . Yours fraternally , WILLIAM CARPENTER .

FRUGALITY AND PHILANTHROPYTHE GREAT CITY LODGE AND BANQUETS .

To the Editor of The Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Bro . Hughan has drawn attention to the account in your last issue of the recent regular meeting of the Great City Lodge , and again recorded its frugality and consequent

philanthropy . I was myself struck when reading the account of its happy meeting , as it brought vividly to my recollection several very happy meetings at which I was present in the lovely and truly Masonic Island of Jersey , where at the Farborough 244

under our excellent Bro . T . racy , the Mechanics , 2 45 , whenBro . Daw was W . M ., the Royal Sussex , 491 , when our worthy Bro . Barrow was W . M ., the St . Aubins / 958 , Bro . Gee , W . M ., the Prince of Wales , 1003 , under the Mastership of our excellent and musical Bro . Waldron , as well as

the Royal Alfred , 877 , and last , not least , the Lodge Le Cesaree , when my esteemed Bro . Schrni ' tt was Secretary , at all of which , after witnessing the best Masonic working I had ever seen , I was cordially entertained as a visitor , and to my great satisfaction in the same frugal

manner as at the late supper of the Great City Lodge , and I understood it to be the regular custom of those lodges to spend as little as possible in eating and drinking , and to retain the greater portion of their lodge subscriptions for the purposes of charity .

I entirely agree with Bro . Hughan ( whose name is a password to everything that is great and good in Freemasonry ) that brethren should gratify their tastes in eating and drinking , out of their own pockets , and that the lodge subscriptions should be devoted to Masonic objects .

With between 1400 and 1500 lodges , what a glorious balance sheet our institutions mi ght have next year , if every lodge would give up one banquet during the year , and devote the proceeds to the legitimate object—charity . We niight not only give our own institutions

Original Correspondence.

all the help they need , but become what , as a body we ought | to be , viz .: the patrons of the institutions for the deaf and dumb , the Idiot Asylum at Earlswood , besides many others of

equal merit . I shall make the proposition at the proper time in my own lodge . Who will do the same in theirs ? Fraternally yours , H . B . HODGES , P . M ., P . Z ., P . P . S . G . W . Herts .

THE MASONIC CHARITIES .

To the Editor of the Freemason . Dear Sir and Brother , I must be one of many brethren who cordially agree with Bro . Francis with regard to his communication in to-day ' s Freemason . It would be -an immense advantage to mnny

subscribers and donors to our great institutions if an extra column in the list of applications for their benefit should be devoted to stating whether the individual applicant , or his , or her father , had been a supporter of such institution , and , if possible , to what extent .

I have frequently , when hesitating for whom I should vote , searched for the names of applicants in the lists of subscribers and donors to our institutions , and often , too often , found no record of their names .

I need hardly say I make it a rule to give my votes , and all other votes I may be able to obtain , to any candidate who I find has , during his prosperity , supported the institution from which he claims his right , and I am confident that if every voter did the same we should have fewer

applicants and a greater number of subscribers . The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution to which , though not an agriculturist , I have the honour of subscribing , has a rule which provides— " That should any subscriber hereafter become a candidate for the benefit of the

institution , such number of votes shall be placed to his credit at the date of the first succeeding election as shall be represented by the whole amount of subscription he may have paid . " Would it not be a step in the rig ht direction , and would it not

be conceding a right to the supporters of our great institutions , if we adopted that rule in all our Masonic charities . Fraternally yours , HERBERT B . HODGES ,

P . M ., P . Z ., P . P . S . G . W . Herts . READING THE SCRIPTURES .

To the Editor of the Fr'eemason . Dear Sir and Brother , Seeing no answer in this day ' s Freemason to Bro . J . D . F . ' s enquiry , respecting the portion of Scripture proper to be read in the ceremony of the third degree , I venture to contribute the

following : — Immediately after the candidate has been made to represent one of the bri ghtest characters in the annals of Freemasonry , and before calling upon the Wardens , the W . M .. calls upon the Chaplain , who comes forward and by the side of

the G ., standing to the N . E ., repeats from memory , Ecclesiastes , chap . xii . verses 1 to 7 ., the Chaplain then retires to his chair , and the W . M . proceeds with the ceremony as usual . In the absence of the Chaplain it should be the privilege of the senior P . M . to read this portion

of Scripture which , I need not say if properly done , adds greatly to the beauty and impressiveness of the ceremony . It is always read in the Hertford Lodge , No . 403 , of which I am , your ' s fraternally , A . P . M .

WOI . T . OWAY ' 1 ' H . I . S . —Vtooitous HEALTH . —With winter come sore trials to the soundest constitutions , while the naturally delicate and feeble find it too fre <| uentlly a prolonged struggle against or under suitering . All diseases affecting the nervous system arise from imputities in the blood , irregulatilies of organic action , or vitiated secretions . I lolloway's Pills are invaluable for removing all

poisonous elements from the bod y , and are famed for curing indigestion , flatulency , and costiveness , as well as palpitation , pain in the side , and otiier morbid feelings . The neuralgic pains attendant on the nervous class of diseases soon yield to these putUying pills ; the sensations of anxiety daily diminish under their use ; sound sleep supersedes nights of watching , and calm repose displaces hideous dreams . —ADVT .

Original Correspondence.

The Editor of the " Bauhtitte" has founded at Florence an establishment for the sale of German and English books . We have much pleasure in introducing the same to the notice of our many readers who may visit the fair city , feeling assured that they will meet with every

attention from those in charge . The address is —Messrs . Flor and Findel , German and Foreign Booksellers , 24 , Lung Arno Acciajoli , Florence , Italy . Prints , photographs , pictures , and English stationery , are also kept in stock . — AnvT .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings.

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS .

For the Week ending Friday , December 5 , 1873 . The Editor will be glad to have notice from Secretaries of Lodges and Chapters of any change in place or time of meeting .

Saturday , November 29 . Provincial Grand Chapter of Middlesex , Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court , at 5 . Chapter 1293 , Burdett , Mitre Hotel , Hampton Court , at 3 . 30 . ( Consecration ) . Lily Lodge of Instruction ( 820 ) , Greyhound Hotel , Richmond , Surrey . Star Lodge of Instruction ( 1275 ) , Marquis of Granby , New Cross-road , at 7 ; Bro . C . G . Dilley , Preceptor .

Monday , December , 1 . Lodge 12 , Fortitude and Old Cumberland , Ship and Turtle , Leadenhall-st . „ 25 , Robert Burns , Freemasons' Hall . „ 69 , Unity , London Tavern , Bishopsgate-st . „ 72 , Royal Jubilee , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street .

„ 144 , St . Luke ' s , Masons' Hall , Masons ' -avenue . „ 188 , Joppa , Albion Tavern , Aldersgate-street . „ 25 6 , Unions , Freemasons' Mall . „ 1319 , Asaph , Freemasons' Hall . Chap . 1050 , Victoria , Masons' Hall , Mason s ' -avenue . Red Cross Conclave Premier , Freemasons' Tavern , Prince Leopold Lodge of Instruction ( 1445 ) , Lord

Stanley Tavern , Sandringham-road , Kingsland , at 7 j Bro . T . Austin , Preceptor . Strong Man Lodge of Instruction ( 45 ) , Old Jerusalem Tavern , St . John ' s-gate , Clerkcnwell , at 8 ; Bro . Beckett , Preceptor . Sinceiity Lodge of Instruction ( 174 ) , Railway Tavern , Feuchurch-street Station , at 7 .

Camden Lodge of Instruction ( 704 ) , Adelaide Tavern , Haverstock-hill , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Eastern Star Lodge of Instruction ( 95 ) , Royal Hotel , Mileend-road , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . E . Gottbeil , Preceptor . British Oak Lodge of Instruction , Bank or , Friendship Tavern , Mile-end , at 7 for 8 . St . James ' s Union Lodge of Instruction ( 180 ) , Horse and

Groom Tavern , Winsley-street ( opposite the Pantheon ) , Oxford-street , at 8 ; Bro . J . R . Stacey , Preceptor . Wellington Lodge of Instruction , White Swan Tavern , Deptford , at 8 ; Bro . C . G . Dilley , P . M . 1155 , Preceptor . St . John of Wapping Lodge of Instruction ( 1306 ) , Gun

Tavern , High-street , Wapping , at 8 ; Bro . T . Mortlock , Preceptor . West Kent Lodge of Improvement ( 1297 ) , St . Saviour ' s Col . lege , Stansted-road , Forest-hill , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . H . W , Lindus , Preceptor . Metropolitan Mark Lodge of Instruction , Coach and Horses , Hotel , 323 , Strand , at 8 .

Tuesday , December 2 . Colonial Board at 3 . Ledge 7 , Royal York Lodge of Perseverance , Freemasons '

Hall . „ 18 , Old Dundee , London Tavern , Bishopsgate-st . „ 101 , Temple , Ship and Tut tie , Lcadcnhall-street . „ 172 , Old Concord , Freemasons' Hall . „ 217 , Stability , Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet-street . „ 765 , St . James ' s , Bridge House Hotel , Southwark . „ 1257 , Grosvenor , Caledonian Hotel , Adelphi .

„ 1259 , Duke of Edinburgh , Cape of Good Hope Tavetn , Commercial . road . „ 1261 Golden Rule , Hotel Royal , Air-st ., Piccadilly . „ 1298 , Royal Standard , Marquess Tavern , Canonbury . „ 1381 , Kennington , Surrey Tavern , Kennington-oval . „ 1383 , Friends in Council , 33 , Golden-square . Chap . 145 , Prudent Brethren , Freemasons' Hall .

„ 169 , Temperance , White Swan Tavern , Deptford . Grand Lodge of Matk Master Masons , ( Winter Half-Ycarly Communication ) , Freemason Tavern . —See Adveitisement . Yarborough Lodge of Instruction , Green Dragon , Stepney , at 8 ; Bro . Barnes , P . M ., Preceptor . Domatic Lodge of Instruction , Palmerston Tavern ,

Grosvenor-park , Camberwell , at 8 . Faith Lodge of Instruction , Refreshment Rooms , Victoria-st . ( opposite Westminster Palace Hotel ) , at 8 ; Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Vreceptor . Prince Frcdk . William Lodge of Instruction ( 753 ) , Lord's Hotel , Lord ' s Cricket Ground , St . John ' s-wood , at 8 ; Bro . F . G . Baker , Preceptor . Dalhousie Lodge of Instruction , King Edward , Triangle ,

Hackney , at 7 . 30 j Bro . J . Saundcis , Preceptor . Prosperity Lodge of Instruction , Gladstone Tavern , Bishopsgate-st ., Within , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Bolton ( W . M . 1227 ) , Preceptor . St . Alarylebone Lodge of Instruction ( 1305 ) , British Stores Tavern , New-street , St . John ' s Wood , at 8 ; Bro . T A , Adams , Preceptor ,