Original Correspondence.

will be , in accordance with instructions , made public to the world . The King has the key . R . H .

Bro. Buchan Again!

BRO . BUCHAN AGAIN !

( To the Editor of The Freemason . ) DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have read Bro Buchan ' s characteristic reply , and could not fail ' to be amused , as many of your readers will be , at his very modest and appropriate comparison

of himself to "Wellington and Moltke" !! But I must beg on my side , and having regard to my own Masonic character , to withdraw at once from a controversy which is conducted by Bro . Buchan neither in the ordinary language of

gentlemen , nor in the true spirit of Freemasonry . Like a good many other foolish people at the present day , Bro . Buchan apparently hopes to obtain notoriety by reckless assertions , violent language , and personal vituperation of all those

who venture to differ from him . My time is too valuable , and my avocations are too important , to allow me to continue such an unprofitable discussion , and in a manner so painful to all true Freemasons . For the course which Bro . Buchan

has thought well so regularly and deliberately to pursue , is the same which , followed by ' other Masonic writers , in times past , in utter forgetfulness * of the most sacred principles of our Order , has served only to render all attempts at fair

Masonic discussion useless and hopeless , and has even made our Masonic professions of brotherly love and consideration for others a standing joke among those who are non-Masons . For myself , I can only say , as is well known to many of my brethren , as an old Mason of thirty

years standing , I have sedulously endeavoured , for many years now , to study our Masonic history , to search for and collect all the undoubted evidences and archaeological facts which bear on the remarkable and interesting annals of our venerable and valuable Brotherhood . I am

not likely now to be deterred from my efforts to illustrate the true history of the Craft , or to do it otherwise than at my own time and in my own way , by vulgar taunts or ill-merited observations . In all that I have hitherto submitted to the

notice and consideration of my brethren , I have never claimed any superior knowledge or information on thc subject—any infallibility as regards my own views or theories—but have simply put them forward , as " a Masonic Student , " striving

with many others for a common end , as opinions and arguments , fairly deducible from certain facts and authentic evidence , and such as might fairly be commended to the thoughtful approval of intelligent Masons and reasonable men . I mean to continue the same course for the future ,

and shall never again , under any circumstances , after Bro . Buchan ' s last personal and offensive letter , take the slightest notice of any of his communications , or participate in any controversy in which he is mixed up . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally ,

A MASONIC STUDENT . 23 rd September , 1871 . P . S . —As it may interest some of my brethren , I beg to inform them that , in consequence of this recent controversy , and with the consent of

Bro . Kenning , I purpose to reprint in THE FRI _ * - MASO . V of Oct . 7 th , No 1 , of the ' •Illustrations of the History of the Craft , " and continue my "Illustrations" fortnightly , until ( D . V . ) they are concluded . A M . S .

( To thc Editor of The Freemason . ) SIR AND BROTIIKR , —I have been a subscriber to your valuable paper almost from its first number , and I am indebted to its pages for many pieces of useful information in regard to Masonic

work , and have read many of the papers on the Various subjects of Masonic lore with great benefit •ind instruction ; but I regret to find that your correspondence columns are open to those whose

s ^> lc object seems to be to break a lance , ami that in by no means a knightly manner , with some degree , or some member of a degree , with which the writer does not agree . Cui bono ? It > s more than possible that your paper may ( and

Bro. Buchan Again!

it does ) fall into the hands of outsiders , as occurred to me , a few days since . A gentleman , waiting my return home , met me with the remark , " I thought you Freemasons were all unity and concord ; it does not appear so , however , from this paper . "

It appears to me that we have one common bond of union , having all been obligated in the same maimer in Craft Masonry ; as Masons , then , let us , to outsiders at any rate , show a front of unity , and not allow ourselves to be squabbling about the antiquity of various

ornamental orders , the possession of which neither adds to nor takes from our duties and privileges as Masons—when we might devote the talents , now used in senseless wrangling about trifles , to some work more worthy of our noble Order of Masons .

Eloping you will find room for these few words , and that they will be taken as meant , I subscribe myself , Fraternallv yours , JOHN MACKENZIE .

P . S . —I have signed my name , because I am not ashamed of what I have written , and because I consider it both ungenerous and , most certainly unmasonic , to attack a brother under the shelter of an alias . J . M .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Yorkshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF YORKSHIRE .

A Provincial Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons ofthe North and East Ridings of Yorkshire was held , by special appointment , in the Humber Chapter , Kingstonupon-Hull , on Thursday , 31 st ult . Present :

M . E . Comp . John Pearson Bell , AID ., Gd . Supt , Z . ; E . Comps . G . AVaugh , P . P . G . S . B ., as H . ; W . B . Hay , M . D ., P . P . G . P . Soj ., as J . ; M . Chas . Peck , Scribe E . ; Thos . Hewson , P . P . G . Soj ., as Scribe N . ; Geo . Hardy ,

P . P . G . N ., P . S . ; S . H . Armitage , M . D ., P . P . G . D . C , 1 st Asst . Soj . ; J . Marshall , 2 nd Asst . Soj . ; R . W . Hollon , Treas . ; W . D . Keyworth , P . P . G . Soj ., as Registrar ; J . H . Ernes , Sword-bearer ; J . N . Schcrling , P . P .

G . S . B ., Standard-bearer ; J . Walker , P . P . G . N ., Dir . of Cers . ; Comps . J . Ward , I . J . ; Wm . Johnson , O . J . ; John Hudson , II . C . Martin , FI . E . Voight , W . Petchell , Stewards ; also the Principals and Past

Principals of thc various chapters in the province . The Prov . Grand Chapter having been opened in antient and solemn form , the minutes of the last Prov . G . C . were read and confirmed .

Letters of apology for absence were received from Comps . Chr . Foster , Prov . G . H . ; W . F . Rooke , AI . D ., Prov . G . J . ; Jas .

C . Miller , Prov . G . N . ; Mark L . Simpson , Prov . G . P . S . ; W . Lawton , Prov . G . Reg . ; and Thos . Turnbull , Prov . G . D . C . Thc Prov . Grand Treasurer then read his

annual balance-sheet , which , having been audited and found correct , was unanimously adopted . Thc various chapters then made their

returns ; the Dundas Chapter was , however , not represented , and the Prov . Grand Scribe E . was requested to communicate with its Principals .

The Prov . Grand Treasurer then , in accordance with notice given , moved , " That one guinea be annually subscribed by thc Prov . Grand Chapter to thc Palestine Exploration Fund , " and stated that after the

handsome donation to the Fund which had been voted ( in 1869 ) , by the Prov . Grand Chapter , he hoped thc companions would not think him exacting in ashing for an

annual subscription . He considered that by the reports of the works which had been issued , we had received ample value , and that the object of the exploration commended itself more particularly to Freemasons .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Yorkshire.

The motion was seconded by Comp . Keyworth , and carried unanimously . The Prov . G . Treasurer was unanimously

re-elected . The M . E . Grand Superintendent then appointed the following Provincial Grand Officers : —

John Wilson , 57 Prov . G . H . Theophilus Smith , 250 ... „ J . M . C . Peck , 250 „ Scribe E . Ll . W . Longstaff , 1010 ... „ Scribe N . Augustus Fricour , 1248 ... „ P . Soj .

Wright Petchell , 602 ... ,, ist Asst . do . Henry Preston , 57 ... ... „ 2 nd do . do . C . James Todd , 1010 ' ... „ Registrar . R . W . Hollon , 236 „ Treasurer . Henry Grover , 200 „ Sword-br .

John Marshall , 660 „ Standard-br . Thomas Cooper , 236 ... „ Dir . of Cers . Robt . Sloman , Mus . Doc ., 1248 „ Organist . John Ward , 236 „ I . janitor . Wm . Johnson , 57 „ O . Janitor .

The M . E . Grand Superintendent directed that each chapter in the province should nominate a Prov . Grand Steward . The M . E . Grand Superintendent then addressed the Prov . Grand Chapter , giving

an account of the various events which had taken place during the past year in Grand Chapter and in this province . He observed that only 16 warrants for new chapters had been issued by Grand Chapter—two of these

were in this province , and both of which it had been his privilege to consecrate . He called attention to an important decision of Grand Chapter , that to be eligible as a Principal of an English chapter a companion

must have served the office of W . Master in an English lodge ; companions who had been W . Masters under other constitutions were not eligible . After alluding to the law enforcing the more regular furnishing

of returns , he stated that he had , for the instruction of the companions , drawn up an explanation of the Royal Arch tracingboard , which he should be happy to lend to those Principals who might desire to

introduce it in their chapters . He then explained thc symbolism of thc double equilateral triangle , and requested the companions to notice that no degrees purporting to be higher than the Royal Arch could be deemed

strictly Masonic , as in them the universality of thc Craft is lost . He concluded by thanking the Principals and companions of the Humber Chapter for the use of their

handsome Hall for this meeting , and stated that he had received an invitation to hold the next Prov . Grand Chapter in thc Zetland Chapter , at York , which he had much pleasure in accepting .

The Prov . Grand Treasurer said that although he had no desire to interfere with the prerogative of the M . E ., Grand Supt , yet , in compliance with the wishes of several friends , he ventured to submit that it would

tend to thc great convenience of companions desiring to attend Provincial Grand Chapter , if a certain time was fixed for the meeting of the Chapter , and that it be held in the various chapters in the province according to seniority .

The M . E . Grand Superintendent , in reply , said that although he received every suggestion of thc companions with consideration , the one now introduced could not be entertained without an entire alteration in the

laws of the Order , and was of such a nature that it would be impossible for him to accede to . Not only was it an interference with the prerogative of his office , but , if

adopted , would bind his successor to a definite course which would be not only illegal , but might become highly inconvenient .

The Provincial Grand Chapter was tl * en closed in antient form and with solemn prayer .