H.I.H. The Prince Rhodocanakis.

H . I . H . THE PRINCE RHODOCANAKIS .

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am much surprised at the publication of J . A . H . ' s letter in your issue of this date , and especially , as I feel assured , by many circumstances within my own observation , that Sir B . Burke ' s name has been

unwarrantably used to give force to a libel , which otherwise would have been taken as simply the result of secret malice . But as regards the question of Sir B . Burke's opinion , it means nothing , if ever obtained , and would I am certain , be disavowed as such by Sir

B . B . himself , who has never undertaken to settle questions of foreign nobility , and who , of course , would only reply to an unknown individual ( beyond his own class ) in the usual curt official phraseology , which J . A . H . dignifies as " correspondence . " All those who are conversant with the usages of official intercourse , will therefore at once recognise

the vanity and presumption of a writer who seeks , while making a malicious personal attack , to insinuate a social status for himself , at the expense of " Ulster , " who knows his own position too well to compromise it by any such imputed correspondence . Yours fraternally , SP .

THE NEW P . G . M . OF EAST LANCASHIRE .

( To tha Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —Although I am altogether unacquainted with the movement mentioned by " A Brother " at page 358 , yet I am not at all taken by surprise , as last week one universal cry of " Shame " arose from every Mason who frequents the

Manchester Exchange . No one raises any personal objections to the qualifications of Bro . Starkie , but the complaint is that the appointment passes over the recognised claims ofthe hard-working Deputy—Bro . Wm . Romaine Callender , jun . —and the result will be that a large Masonic centre like Manchester

will be ruled by a few outsiders . I cannot refrain from expressing my matured opinion that Provincial Grand Lodges are in themselves an injury to the principles of Masonry . They are a farce , and lead to little nobodies creating jealousies and disturbances in the Order , besides

consuming a large amount of Craft money . AU that Grand Lodge needs is a visiting inspector . However , I would suggest , as a short way of settling this dissatisfaction , that a meeting be called to consider the advisability of petitioning for a

division of the county into three parts : or , if this be refused , the withdrawal of the neighbouring lodges from all participation in the business of the province ; and I feel assurred that they would be infinite gainers by this last . I remain , vours fraternally , A SECOND BROTHER AND P . M .

THE MASONIC ARCH AT READING . ( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR , —Permit me to correct an inadvertence in my communication of last week relative to thc Masonic arch at Reading . I should have said that I was entrusted by Bro . Councillor Smith , of

Reading ( whose benefactions to his native town are well known ) with the decoration of the said arch and the masonically-emblazoned banners , the construction being the production of Bro . Shepherd . Injustice to the brethren of thc Craft I trust that you will find space for this explanation in your valuable journal .

ALFRED MILLS , ( for MILLS AND SON . ) 66 , Amelia-street , AValworth . BRO . BUCHAN AGAIN .

( To the Editor of ' Ilie Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —As" Viator " might perceive in to-day's FREEMASON , his remarks at page 34 . 4 were most appositely met by mine at page 313 , especially so far as regards the accident of tlie error in punctuation . I felt there was something

curious about it as given at page 307 , but the explanatory letter of Bro . Bacon at page 332 set me all right ; ergo , I stand up for the 1717 theory stronger than ever . England is the birthplace of Speculative Freemasonry—London its cradle . Ancl our system is that system w . iich all the world has adopted since .

As to the '' dirty bird which fouls its own nest , " it is Freem isons themselves who have done so , and who are still doing so , by concocting or upholding forgeries and other untruthful and absurd ideas , the continued promulgation of which bring great discredit upon our wiiole Fraternity . / am trying what little I can do to clean out the " nest . "

I am , yours fraternally , W . P . BUCHAN . Glasgow , July 16 th , 1870 .

Poetry.

Poetry .

LINES Dedicated to Ballymahon Lodge , No . 308 , Ireland , By the Daughter of a Royal Arch Mason . The "Mighty Architect" gave forth the word , And worlds arose at His command , Each " line and square , " correctly laid , Designed by His unerring hand .

With strict omniscient eye He stood And gazed upon the wondrous plan , His work He then pronounced as good , And placed o ' er all his creature Man . The " Master" then to earth came down , And spake with Adam face to face , 'Till he transgress'd " the Master's laws , " And forfeited his happy place .

Yet still His great and boundless love To Adam hopes of pardon gave , And promised that the " AVord " made flesh , Should visit earth , man's race to save . 'Though waters once in wrath He sent , To mar the beauty of the land , Since then the Rainbow's " Royal Arch " The world from end to end has spann'd .

And still the " Lodge" on earth was safe , An ark of refuge He designed ; The pattern from which Noah built , AVas planned by the great Master ' s mind . The dove sent forth from Noah's ark , To mark the water's swift decrease , Brought back to him within her mouth The olive leaf—the type of peace .

And Noah walked upon this earth , In true Masonic peace and love Until the Master's " summons came , To call him to the Lodge above . " And then to build a mighty plan , The unenlightened masons tried ; The Master came to Babel ' s plain ,

And mocked at their presumptious pride . AVhen through Sinai's wilderness There passed the band which Moses led . The Master deigned to be their guide , With fiery pillar at their head .

He to them types and symbols gave , A \ hich still are used in Masonry , And the enlighten'd brethren can The meaning of those symbols sec . AVith many wondrous signs He led " His Masons " through that wilderness , The Brazen Serpent raised its head , And saved them when in dire distress .

That serpent came from Aaron ' s rod , AVhich swallowed Pharaoh ' s magic ones , And proved that the Great Architect Had chose those Masons for His sons . He led them safe to " David ' s throne , " AAliich Solomon so nobly filled , And aided by the Hirams—twain , A noble structure then did build .

Beneath that Temple they enshrined Thc " Sacred AA'ord " from heathen ken , And after their captivity It " shone in splendour out again . " It ' s spreading fast from pole to pole , Encompassing this earthly sphere , And blessing mankind with its "light , " As the Great Architect draws near .

For He is coming , fast and sure , And it ' s extending on the wings Of " Peace and Love and Harmony , " To meet the eternal King of kings . And long may Masonry extend

Her branching arms both wide and high , To draw with cords and bands of love , Mankind within her " mystic tic . " May every Member of thc " Craft , " AVI . o knows thc working of his art , Be Mason—not in name alone , But in each feeling of his heart .

The " free , " accepted Brother should In every word and deed be fair , His errors within " compass" keep , Ancl act in all things on thc " square . " By " plumb and level ' s " certain rule

May every Mason ' s work be tried , And " square and compass " ever be His conduct's sure unfailing guide ; That when your meetings here shall cease—Your faithful work of peace and love—The " Master " then ye may " salute , "

Ancl meet in the " Grand Lodge" above . Read—Exodus vii . 9-12 , xvii . 5 , xxv . 10 and 16 ; Numbers xvii ., xx . 8 , xxi . 6-9 ; 1 Kings v ., vi ., vii . 13-22 ; a Kings xvii ,, xxii . 9-13 , xxiii . 2 .

Metropolitan Masonic Meetings

METROPOLITAN MASONIC MEETINGS

For the AVeek ending August 6 , 1870 . MONDAY , AUGUST I . Sincerity Lodge of Instruction ( 174 ) , Railway Tavern , Fenchurch-street Station , at 7 . AVellington Lodge of Instruction , White Swan Tavern , Deptford , at 8 . 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 . Gottheil , Preceptor . British Oak Lodge of Instruction , Bank of Friendship Tavern , Mile End , at 7 for 8 . TUESDAY , AUGUST 2 . Colonial Board , Freemasons' Hall , at 3 . Lodge 167 , St . John ' s , Holly Bush Tavern , ' Hampstead . ,, 1257 , Grosvenor , Victoria Railway Station .

„ 1259 , Duke of Edinburgh , New Globe Tavern , Bow-road . ,, 1261 , Golden Rule , Gt . Western Htl ., Bayswater . Chap . 169 , Temperance , AVhite Swan , Deptford . 1 > S ° 7 > United Pilgrims , Horns Tavern , Kennington . Metropolitan Chapter of Instruction , Portugal Hotel ,

Fleet-street , at 7 ; Comp . Brett , Preceptor . Domatic Lodgeof Instruction , PalmerstonTav ., Grosvenorpark , Camberwell , at 7 . 30 . Royal Union Lodge of Instruction ( 3 S 2 ) , Hotel de Cologne , 60 and 61 , Haymarket , at 8 ; Bro . T . AAdams , Preceptor . Faith Lodge of Instruction , Metropolitan Railway , Victoria .

Station , at 8 ; Bro . C . A . Cottebrune , Preceptor . Yarborough Lodge of Instruction , Green Dragon , Stepney , at 8 ; Bro . Isaac Saqui , Preceptor . Prince Fredk . AVilliam Lodge of Instruction ( 753 ) Knights of St . John ' s Tavern , St . Jolm ' s-wood ; Bro . F . G . Baker , Preceptor . Prestonian Club of Instruction ( for M . M . ' s only ) , Lyceum Tavern , Strand .

WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 3 . Grand Chapter , Freemason ' s Hall , at 7 . Lodge 1044 , New AVandsworth , Spread Eagle Tav ., New AVandsworth . ,, 1216 , Macdonald , Head Quarters 1 st Surrey Rifles ,

Brunswick-road , Camberwell . Pythagorean Lodge of Instruction ( 79 ) , Prince of Orange , Greenwich , at 8 ; J . Robt . Nash , Preceptor . United Strength Lodge of Instruction ( 22 S ) , Bull & Gate , Kentish Town-road , at 8 ; Bro . J . N . Frost , Preceptor . Israel Lodge of Instruction , Rising Sun Tavern , Globeroad , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Isaac Saqui , Preceptor .

Strong Man Lodge of Instruction , The Grapes Tavern , Duke-street , Manchester-square , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , P . G . P ., Preceptor . New Concord Lodge of Instruction , Rosemary Branch Tavern , Hoxton , at 8 . Sydney Lodge of Instruction ( 829 ) , Cambridge Hotel , Upper Norwood , at 7 . 30 .

Peckham Lodge of Instruction , Maismore Arms , Park * road , Peckham ; Bro . David Rose , Preceptor . Temperance in the East Lodge of Instruction , George the Fourth , Catherine-street , Poplar . Burdett Coutts Lodge of Instruction ( 1278 ) , Approach Tavern , Approach-road , Victoria-park , at 7 . 30 ; Bro . Tohn Saunders , Preceptor .

THURSDAY , AUGUST 4 . Lodge 554 , A'arborough , Green Dragon , Stepney . ,, 742 , Crystal Palace , Crystal Palace , Sydenham . „ 822 , Victoria Rifles , Freemasons' Hall . ,, 1155 , Excelsior , Sydney Arms , Lewishain-road . ,, 117 S , Perfect Ashlar , Gregorian Arms , Bermondsey Chap . 733 , AA ' estbournc , Lord's Hole ' , St . John ' sroad .

,, 742 , Crystal Palace , Crystal Palace , Sydenham . Fidelity Lodge of Instruction ( 3 ) , Goat and Compasses , Euston-road , at 8 ; Bro . T . A . Adams , Preceptor . Finsbury Club of Instruction , Jolly Anglers' Tavern , 42 , Bath-street , City-road . United Mariners' Lodge of Instruction , Three Cranes , Mile-end-road , at 8 ; Bro . T . J . Barnes , Preceptor . St . George ' s Lodge of Instruction ( 140 ) , Globe Tavern , Royal Hill , Greenwich , at 8 .

FRIDAA * , AUGUST 5 . Lodge 1275 , Star , Marquis of Granby , New Crou-road . Chap . 754 , High Cross , AVhite Hart , Tottenham . St . Luke ' s Lodge of Instruction ( 144 ) , Pier Htl ., Chelsea , Unions Emulation Lodge of Improvement for M . M . ' l , Freemasons' Hall , at 7 . Domatic Chapter of Instruction , Metropolitan Railway .

Victoria . Station , at 8 ; Comp . Cottcbnine , Preceptor . Pythagoiein Chapter of Instruction ( No . 79 ) , Prince of Or ; ng * , Greenwich-road , at 8 ; Comp . AV . AVest Smiiii , Preceptor . Metropolitan Lodgeof Instruction , Portugal Htl ., Fleetstreet , at 7 ; 15 ro . Brett , Preceptor . United Pilgrims' Lodge of Instruction , Duke of

Edinburgh , Shepherd s-lane , Brixton . Belgrave Lodgeof Instruction , Duke of AA ' ellington Htl ., Spring-gardens , Charing-cross ; Br . Pnlsford , Preceptor Doric Lodge of Instruction , Three Cranes Tavern , Mile end-road , at 8 ; Bro . Isaac Saqui , Preceptor . Duke of Edinburgh Lodge of Instruction , Silver Lion .

Penny-fields , Poplar , at 7 ; Br . D . S . Polls , Preceptor . Temperance Lodge of Instruction , Victoria Tav ., Victoriaroad , Deptford , at 8 . « Charterhouse Club of Instruction , Hat and Feathers Tavern , 25 , Goswcll-road , at 8 ; Bro . J . Mather , P . M . 65 , Preceptor .

SATURDAY , AUGUST 6 . General Committee Boys' School , Freemasons' Hall , at 4 . Star Lodge of Instruction ( 1275 ) , Marquis of Granby , New Cross-road , at 7 .