Correspondence.

body of men , occupying , many of them , the highest station in society , men of the ereatest intelligence , capable of judging between right and wrong , and are , therefore , not likely to be swayed by the ipse dixit of any one . The majority are good working Masons , ancl very many of them of superior Masonic talent . They , on mature consideration , are of opinion , and insist that being , as they are , according to the constitutions , regular Mark Masters , meeting and working in strict conformity to the ancient landmarks , they are a perfectly legal and regular body , and need not , for their meeting in

England , any warrant whatever . Indeed , there is not at present in existence any body authorized to grant them a warrant . The Supreme Chapter of Ireland or Scotland have no power to grant a warrant to hold a Chapter in England . They grant warrants to hold Chapters in the colonies , but they have no power to do so , and there is quite as much ground ( perhaps more ) for saying that Chapters meeting in the colonies under warrants granted by the Supreme Grand Chapters of Ireland and Scotland are spurious and illegal , as that the London Bon Accord Lodge of Mark

Masters is so . But Companion Gaylor , from the tenor of his letter , would not have us think so . He evidently wishes us to believe , that if the London Bon Accord Lodge of Mark Masters had taken a warrant from the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland , ancl paid the fees for it , all would have been correct , but the London Bon Accord Lodge unfortunately did not pay any fees to the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland , and "Jlinc ilia lachrymce . " I think , however , that the London Bon Accord Lodge oughtwithout delayto return

, , the warrant to Companion Rettie , in order that it may be destroyed , and he be relieved from his present difficulty . I am , Sir , ancl Brother , Yours fratcrnallv , M . M . 20 th Sept ., 1855 .

THE WIDOW'S FUND . To the Editor of the Masonic Mirror . DEAR Sin AND BROTHER , —There are many brethren who , like your correspondents of last month , deplore the limited means at the disposal of our Annuity Funds . I know many who would gladly exert themselves to promote the REAL OBJECT of the Charity—the relief of existing cases of di . trcss—but their ardour is damped by the

reflection that no such object could be gained ; that nearly the whole of the results of their exertions , instead of being available for the pressing exigencies of the present , would be engulphed by the "Permanent Fund . " It is much to be regretted that there should be any obstacle to active co-operation in support of this excellent Institution , whilst so many brethren are crying for help . The Widows' Annuity Fund is limited to . £ 4 , 000 ( and that is a large sum ) , which is a practical recognition b y the Grand Lodge itself of the principle of limitation ;

which appears to be as applicable to the one Charity as to the other . It is the general opinion of those conversant with such subjects , that the Fund should not be allowed to accumulate beyond . £ 10 , 000 ; and by many that £ 8 , 000 would be amply sufficient for the purposes for which it is intended . I think , therefore , that it should be limited to one of these amounts , or increased only by Bequests , so that all Donations ancl Subscriptions may be afterwards applied to meet the claims as they arise . I have no doubt that the rejection of so many candidates has deeply excited the

sympathies of the Craft , and trust that it will lead to earnest endeavours on . their part to prevent the recurrence of such painful results . Knowing by personal experience what may be done b y individual exertion , I would strongly nrge the more energetic amongst the Fraternity to do their utmost to stimulate less active brethren to subscribe to these , charities , and to solicit donations and subscriptions from others . 1 am convinced that if the subject were to be properly agitated , and the principle of limitation adopted , such a sum would be annually raised as would render the Fund adequate to the relief of the necessities of all proper applicants , and thus entirely sweep away the