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PROVINCE OF MIDDLESEX . R . W . Col . SIR FRANCIS BURDETT , Bart ., Provincial Grand Master . A PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE Will be held at the R AILWAY H OTEL , F ELTHAM , On Saturday , August 6 th , at 3 p . m ., precisely By co'mmand of the Prov . G . Master , H . C . LEVANDER , G . J . D ., ' July 16 th , 1 SS 1 . Prov . Grand Secretary .

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BOOKS , & c , RECEIVED . "Citizen , " "Broad Arrow , " "The Sunday Times , " - ' Boletin Oficial del Grand Orient de Espana , " " Weekly Ohio State Journal , " "Die Baiihutte , " "The Masonic Herald , " " The Jewish Chronicle , " "The Corner Stone , " "The New York Dispatch , " "Der Long Islaender , " ' / Keystone , " "The Northern Advance , " "Allen ' s Indian Mail . " "The Hull Packet , " " Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick , " "The Hebrew Leader , " "The Liberal Freemason , " " Masonic Record of Western India , " "The Report of the Masonic Female Orphan School , Dublin , " "Report of the Rose Croix Degree in Ireland , " " Proceedings of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Missouri , " " Le Credit Maritime . "

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THEFREEMASON. SATURDAY , J 30 , 18 S 1 .

Original Correspondence.

Original Correspondence .

[ We tlo not hold ourselves responsible for , or even approving of , the opinions expressed by our correspondents , but we wish in a spirit if fair play to alt to permit—within certain necessary limits—free . "' scr-ssion . l

PRECEDENCE OF GRAND OFFICERS . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear . Sir and Brother , — After so many letters on this subject , written by brethren who have paid much attention to tlie supposed standard by which a decision should have been clearly

arrived at , it may be , perhaps , presumption on my part to offer an opinion , yet it appears to me moderately clear and reasonable that the standing of the two sets ol officers is this : The . Grand Officers maintain their rank over all the brethren of Enjland . Thi Provincial Grand O . ficer * have

similar rank in their province only . There is no doubt that a Grand Officer visiting a province would take precedence of a Provincial Officer of the same rank only—that is , a Grand Deacon would take precedence of a Provincial Grand Deacon , but not of a

Provincial Grand Warden in his own province . Outside his own province a Provincial Grand Officer ( though he may be a Provincial Grand Warden ) takes no rank at all , and is not even a member of Grand Lodge , unless he is an Installed Master . Yours fraternally , EXCELSIOR . Wolverhampton , July 23 rd .

To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Referring to " Lex Latomica's " letter in yours of to-day ( I believe ) our R . W . Hro . Lord Pelham , P . Prov . G . M . Sussex , was not an installed Master , when appointed Grand Master of that Province .

He was ( I believe ) , however , duly made an Installed Master before his installation as Prov . G . Master , and during his first year of office was duly elected and installed as W . M . of the Royal Clarence Lodge , No . 271 . 1 write , under correction , of matters that occurred in 1 S 67 . Faithfully and fraternally yours , H . S . T . July 23 rd .

To thc Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — As Bro . "York" is away , I note , on his wellearned holiday , I will not say much to-day , ( to which he cannot reply , ) or bore your readers with a prolonged argument on the " poini , s" which "crop up" in this little

controversy . To only one statement will I allude , for it rests on a complete misapprehension of thc Book of Constitutions . It is this—ist . That a Provincial Grand Master need only bc a M . M ., and that if he declined " installation" he is not a member of Grand Lodge .

Original Correspondence.

Now , it is quite clear to me that Bro . " York " is wrong in assuming that a Provincial Grand Master need only be a M . M . He must be an Installed Master , or a qualified member of Grand Lodge . I remember a case where a noble lord might have been a Provincial Grand Master , but as he was not even a Warden

it was held that he was ineligible . The whole of Bro . "York's" elaborate " reductio ad absurdum" falls to the ground , because it is an impossibility . No Grand Officer , except the Grand Master , the Pro Grand Master , and the Deputy Grand Master , can take precedence of a Provincial Grand Master in his own

Province . But the truth is that the whole of the argument has been " weighted" by a grave question underlying it all , not so much what is the " status " of the Grand Officers , quoad the Provincial Grand Master , but really , quoad the Deputy Provincial Grand Master . He , I have shown ,

stands in an exceptional and peculiar position altogether , and cannot be brought in under any arguments affecting Grand Officers , because he is not a Grand Officer , " virtute officii , " by the special provision of the Book of Constitutions . Hence , though in his province he has the rank of a Grand Officer , and in the Provincial Grand

Master ' s absence rules Provincial Grand Lodge , so much so that then he takes precedence , " virtute officii , " equally of all Grand Officers , except the Grand Master , Pro Grand Master , and Deputy Grand Master , in the presence of the Provincial Grand Master , though he is ever at his right

hand , he must give the precedence to all Grand Officers . It is quite clear that not being a Grand Officer he cannot take precedence of a Grand Officer , except when acting as Prov . Grand Master . Yours fraternally , LEX LATOMICA .

PRESTON'S MOTHER LODGE . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — In response to a suggestion by Bro . Jacob Norton , made through the Freemason ol this date , I beg to say that it was in February , 17 C 3 , that an application for a

charter was made to the Grand Lodge of Scotland by certain brethren in London . Here is an excerpt of minute of quarterly communication held at Edinburgh on the Sth February , 1763 , and presided over by Charles , Earl of Elgin and Kincardine , Most Worshipful Grand Master : * ' Read the petition of William Leslie and others , brethren residing in London , praying a charter of

Constitution from the Grand Lodge of Scotland , which being considered , the Grand Lodge declined giving them any charter , in regard it ivould interfere with the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England , but declared their willingness to recommend them to the Grand Lodge of England in case they should think proper to apply for a charter from thence . " Ever faithfully and fraternally , D . MURRAY LYON , Grand Secretary . Freemasons' Hall , Edinburgh , July 23 .

THE MEETINGS OF GRAND CHAPTER . To the Editor ofthe " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — May I suggest that something might be arranged

to make these meetings more attractive ? I have before suggested that they should be held on the same evenings as Grand Lodge , at six o ' clock . I know several old'P . Z . ' s who have never visited Grand Chapter . Fraternally yours , PRINCIPAL .

THE OLDEST MASON . To the Editor of the " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — I was struck by an article that appeared in the Freemason of the 23 rd inst ., at page 340 , that Bro . Nicholson , P . M . 151 , was the oldest Mark Master in the two

counties of Cumberland and Westmorland . Now , sir , this is an error , for in 1 SO 1 there were four brethren from Carlisle advanced in the Northumberland and Berwick Lodge , Newcastle-on-Tyne , for the purpose of introducing the Degree into Cumberland . The names of the four brethren were F . W . Hayward , W . Murray , W .

Johnston , and Geo . G . Hayward . They applied for a warrant , and got consecrated the Cumberland Lodge , No . 60 , Carlisle , in 1 S 63 , and at that consecration there were twenty-two brethren advanced , and of those there are four still alive , and subscribing members of the Cumberland Lodge , viz ., Bros . W . Cockitt , W . Pratchett , W .

Carrack , and J . A . Wheatley ; and Bro . Nicholson was only advanced in the Cumberland Lodge in 1 SC 7 . There arc also two of the brethren who were advanced in 1 SG 1 , members and Past Masters of No . 60 , still alive , viz ., Bros . W . Murray and Geo . J . Hayward . This letter is not sent to you , Bro . Editor , from any

disrespect to Bro . Nicholson , for there are none in the province who respect Bro . J . Nicholson more than myself , but it is from a wish that honour should be given to whom honour is due . I am , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally and respectfully , AN OLD P . M . OF THE MARK . Carlisle , July 27 th .

Original Correspondence.

PUNJAB MASONIC INSTITUTION . To the Editor of the "Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , — Having noticed in your issue of the nth June , a letter from " A Punjab Mason and P . M ., " asking for information regarding the " Punjab Masonic Institution , " I trust you will permit me to offer a few brief remarks with reference thereto .

I would mention first , with regard to the short editorial notice which appeared in the Freemason of the previous week , that the number of children at present under our charge for maintenance and education is twenty-two , and not eighteen . The latter figures represent the number on the books during 18 S 0 , but , as will be observed from the proceedings

of the general meeting held on the Sth April last , which proceedings are embodied in the report for the past year , four more have since been brought on the fund . The information which your correspondent is desirous of obtaining is fully set forth in the report , a copy of which I am not surprised to find our brother has not received , as

he is doubtless one of the many Punjab ' Masons who , when proceeding to England , invariably omit to leave behind them any instructions as to where they are to be addressed during their absence . By the present mail I take the liberty of sending you a few copies of our last

report , which I trust you will not mind handing to any brethren who , like "A Punjab Mason and P . M ., " being interested in the welfare of our Charity , may apply to yoa for information regarding its working . Apologising for trespassing on your space , and soliciting your interest in behalf of the Institution , I remain , yours faithfully and fraternally , THE HONORARY SECRETARY P . M . I . Lahore , 2 nd , July , ISSI .

LADIES AT MASONIC GATHERINGS . To the Editor of the _ " Freemason . " Dear Sir and Brother , —

I often read my husband ' s Freemason—yes , " on the sly " —and was pleased to think you had taken up the part of us poor women , left out " so gallantly , " as far as Freerpasonry is concerned , ' * in the cold . " My husband has been a Mason many years , but though I am , as some

think , "his better half , " I have never had the slightest benefit from his "Fraternity . " He stays out late , he comes home early , ( in the morning ) , and always is " kept at the lodge 1 " ' I have often asked him , Do you Masons never give a ball , or a soiree , or a conversazione . ? He always replies , " My

lodge don't encourage the idea ; Freemasonryis notintended for women ; " so I am shut up . And yet my friend , Mrs . Trickle , tells me that her husband's lodge , the " Androgyne , " gives regular parties and balls and "banquets" for the ladies , whereas " Bto . Brown's " lodge , the " Felicity , " does nothing . Some men

are so mean . I would even compromise for what you Masons call a " collation , " whatever that may be . Whence , then , this dislike of us women—wives , sisters , daughters , sweethearts of Masons ? Is it that Freemasons despise us as belonging to the " inferior creation ? " though Brown , when he comes home ( elated ) , sometimes hums a song which

says something like this , " No mortal can more the ladies adore ! " that is , as far as I understand if . I have taken into my head , rightly or wrongly , like a woman perhaps , that you men and Masons are all under a mistaken impression of what we women ate , do , and want . I think it well to put together , for your information and

edification , some other " fallacies " in which you men and Masons are in the habit of indulging yourselves as regards ladies generally and in particular . Now , this is what men and Masons often think , I know—That women are only born to be their slaves . That dinner is to be ready for them the very minute they come into the house . That a

lady ' s bonnet can be put on as quickly as a gentleman's hat . That we can dress in a minute ; and that ringing the bell violently has the effect of making us dress one bit quicker . That they can do everything so much better than we can—from nursing the baby down to poking the fire . That they are "the Lords of Creation " —( Pretty Lords ,

indeed . ) That nothing can be too good for thefn ; for 1 am sure if you were to put a hot joint before them every day , still they would be dissatisfied , and would be grumbling that you never gave them cold meat . That they know our age so much better than we do ourselves—( It ' s so very likely , ) They may invite whom , and as many , as they

please ; but if we only invite our mamma to come and stop with us , or just ask a dear unmarried sister or two to stop with us for a month , that there ' s to be no peace for us so long as they remain in the house . That sleeping after dinner promotes conversation . That they know what dress and bonnet become us so much better than wc do . That it

is necessary to make a poor woman cry , because a stupid shirt-button happens to be off . I declare some men must believe that their wives cutoff their shirt-buttons purposely , from the savage pleasure they take in abusing them for it . That housekeeping does not require any money ; and if we venture to ask for any , that it is pleasant to be met with all

sorts of black looks and insinuations as to " what we can do with it all ; " or very agreeable to be told that we will be " the ruin of him some day "—(/ should like to see . the day ! ) That thc house never requires cleaning , or- the tables rubbing , or the carpets beating , or the furniture renewing , or the sofa fresh covers ; or , in fact , that anything has a right to wear out , or to be spoiled , or broken j " and *