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Brethren who had worked their way step by step with great zeal , diligence , and perseverance , in the Lodge . Why was this preference shown ? Was it that the Brother chosen was more fitted , or that he had displayed a greater amount of knowledge or Masonic merit ? No ; it was a reward for his having assisted this same Brother to establish a Camp of Knights Templar in direct opposition to , and in utter defiance of , the Supreme Grand Commander , who is also Prov . GS-. M . of his Province . " " A . Z . " is doubtless an experienced and able Mason , and must be fully aware

that the Brother whose conduct is impugned in the above paragraph is amenable to , and may be severely punished by , the Board of General Purposes for such a heinous offence against his Lodge . I think , Sir , A . Z . " should , in vindication of his

obligation , and by virtue of the duty he owes to the Craft , not allow the matter to rest where it is . I am aware that the difficulties , expense , and loss of time , are sufficient to repel the most resolute from taking judicial proceedings against an unworthy and offending Brother . But feeling as I do the importance of repressing the prevalence of such , conduct as that denounced by your indignant correspondent ,

I beg , through your columns , to request that he will proceed to offer , either in your columns , or through you privately , to me , such proofs as may sustain his allegations , and / will undertake to proceed before the Board of General Purposes , and to defray every expense attending such proceedings out of my own pocket . —I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours very fraternally , Bath , April , 1856 . J . W .

Indian Lodges.

INDIAN LODGES .

TO THE EDITOE OF THE FREEMASON'S' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRE 0 R . Dear Sir an"D Brother , —I believe it is seldom you are troubled with correspondence on Masonic matters from this part of the world : this probably has

been owing , hitherto , to the dearth of interesting matter ; for , from what I have been able to learn , the " Sons of Light" of past days troubled themselves very little about the spirit and principles of Freemasonry , but , like good easy folk , contented themselves with stereotyped routine , and cared even for that only so long as they were enabled to participate freely and largely in the mysteries and privileges of the Knife-and-fbrk Degree ; in which Degree it is well known that they expelled a Brother , and the W . M . ordered the same to be recorded in the minutes of the next meeting—summary jurisdiction—drumhead court-martial .

Now , however , a change has come upon the spirit of their dreams ; but not over the Knife-and-fork Degree , which remains immutable , and will remain so secula seculorum . You are doubtless aware that the Lodges of this Province ( Western India ) were originally established under Warrant from the Grand Lodge of England ; and that subsequently they were , by some means or other , under the masterly management of Dr . Burns , transferred to the maternal care of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . Tinder these Constitutions they have been working for some years ,

the Lodge Perseverance , of Bombay , taking the lead . This Lodge has had several good Masters , and lias thrived very successfully . The chair is now filled by an English Mason , a very able , zealous , energetic man , despite a few odd crotchets he introduces into the ceremonies , or his having , when installed W . M . of one of the Calcutta Lodges , vowed allegiance and fidelity to the laws and constitutions of the Grand Lodge of England . I say , he works well , has the interests of the Lodge and the Craft at heart , and is generally liked by the Brethren , —which his

immediate predecessor , I regret to say , was not , because he did not hold the balances blindfolded . A . system of mobocracy also crept into the Lodge during his short tenure of office , for he was suddenly promoted to the exalted position of Provincial Grand Master ; how he merited this high distinction no one knows , unless his extreme unpopularity as a Mason gave him the title . But to return ; a system of mobocracy , as I have said , crept into the Lodge—the small end of the wedge had been fairly insinuated , the sledge hammer was uplifted , and ready to VOTj . IF . 2 T 7