Correspondence.

that he cannot have the completion , because unavoidable calamities have reduced his circumstances ; or are his sensitive feelings to he ruthlessly wounded hy the most delicate allusion to his poverty , while others supply the deficiency ? If , however , the wages of a well-spent life he in store for those who have borne

the burden and heat of the day , further time and circumstances will restore the genuine completion—a very different one to our present system—when he will be exalted by the Most High , "Prom earth ' s long darkness brought to light , By Judah ' s Lion raised in power . "

This is no fancy sketch , and , for aught I know , Bro . Hughan's own lodge may furnish an example . Is there a heart so callous , a conscience so seared , as to " admiresuch a system ? The voice of honour , justice , and brotherly love must be silent . It would he better if Bro . Hughan defended the Eoyal Arch upon its professed principles of completion and unity with

Craft Masonry instead of trifling about dates ; for if the Eoyal Arch be a part of Craft Masonry , especially a part so important as the completion , is not the mere demand for an extra fee inconsistent ? Let me ask what would be thought of any professional man who adopted such a course with a pupil ? Do we not

recede from our honour as gentlemen , and violate our obligations as Masons , by stooping to such baseness ? To be consistent , we ought to confer the Eoyal Arch upon every M . M ., if he be wishful to obtain it and has the requisite proficiency , after the expiration of the usual timehe having been told that tho fees paid

, by him when an E . A . were for his initiation , and nob for a part of it . The resume of the degrees in Freemasonry through which a Mason has already passed should be made in the R . A ., and we should not

officially inform a M . M . that he is then able to " appre- 1 eiate the connection of our whole system , and the relative dependence of its several parts , " he being in a state of supposed deplorable imperfection . Such contradictions might be multi plied , but I leave this for personal observation . The second paragraph of Bro . Hughan's letter is

truly astounding . Though he does not defend the " innovation , " and considers the Eoyal Arch as such , yet he thinks it is " now really a part of Masonry , and susceptible of defence . " Thus , in the face of day , he places the bar of spurious descent across the escutcheon of the oldest constitutionand tells the world

, , in unmistakable language , that we have accepted and still recognise an imposture . So long as I can wield my Templar sword I shall be ready to enter the lists against all and sundry who , in Masonry , champion tinsel , man-millinery , and " almighty dollar ' ' distinctions . Such isI conceivethe

, , Eoyal Arch ; therefore I oppose this gilded Caliban of Masonry . Yours fraternally , FIAT Lux .

A COUNCIL OF EITES ( pp . 205 , 249 ) . TO inr . JEMTOIV or THE EHEEMASOXS' HAGAZIKE AND HASOXIC MIEEOK . Dear Sir and Brother , —I am afraid that I have committed a lapsis pcnnce at page 249 , for I am not prepared to back up the statement there made that our three-step Masonry " has , in its present state of ritual aud forms , stood for a century and a half ;"

therefore say , " has , in the chief points of its present ritual and forms , stood for about a century and a half . " This latter reading will better agree with a former statement of mine , viz ., that our rituals and ceremonies have been elaborated and touched up since 1717 . Yours fraternally , W . P . Bucii . OT ,

SCOTCH MASONS . TO THE EJDIIOE OF THE EEEEMASOIIS' J 5 IAGAZIITE AND MA 50 JSTC MIHEOI . ' Dear Sir and Brother , —Permit me to say , in reply to the brother ( a Scotch Mason ) who complains of being refused affiliation to an English lodgethat such

, refusal rests entirely with the lodge itself , as no lodge can be compelled to admit anyone as a joining or subscribing member against the inclination of the brethren . The brother in question must not think he would he treated in this manner iu every lodge in England ,

as I know of dozens of cases where brethren joining from Scottish lodges have speedily had promotion . I of course presume the only ground of objection was to the brother beiug a " Scottish" Mason . Yours fraternally , HOMO DUI-T . K .

THE YOEK CONSTITUTION , TO TEE EEIIOE OE THE I'EEEJKASOXs' JUAGAZIXE AJKD ITASOIaC JllliSOil . Dear Sir and Brother , —If two of your read civ who have lately written to me on thCsubject of the \ ork Constitution will take the trouble to turn o ^ r ih-s

leaves of the Freemason's SInrjazins for the y :-y : dS < 55 ; , they will find it recorded—first , that Bro , ; vdjfov . - . erg has said that " A York Constitution , may if ; d ^ efVon * - the yeav year G 2 G , or a later period , whet ! -:: ¦ ¦ vvi'icm in Anglo-Saxon , Old English , ' or Latin , h ¦ . ' ¦ rUhdly the oldest common latform for the order ' . v ; ' the

p Ifasons of England / and on this account 'M York Lodge is certainly the oldest chief 'lodsse of -yy \ v-- \ . Tho York Lodge and Constitution are to ¦ v .- - - ' ne ? - lodges and constitutions of Snglish stoneun : ;; i ; ' . v ' uit theV-rasburg Constitution of 1459 and thy : Y -svh'irg brotherhood '' of Masona crc to the ollv ;; .- ;•; _ : ¦ - ; n : in

Masons ' eomtitutiona and congregations . ) y . ; - :- ; v hes the great historical Bigniflcation of the Tei- ' : v . rr ' . i .-script , which has not as yet been sufficient ;; yyiovnd and known . " Your readers aforesaid will find it recorded— -next , that Bro . Findel , in the report of the result of ins ! c

journey to York ( 1804 ) , printed in the Comm'inieations of the Society of German Masons" ( i < v- Muiiety which has lately printed the Manningliam iettev ) has said that "it is not impossible , though impiy . ! . ible , that an orig inal York Constitution may be i ' otuid , " howeverit is most undoubtedl e-la . that

adding , , " y y , ,, such a manuscrip t must needs be of a much u ., ; . o recent date than those known at the present time . " * Yours fraternally , CHAEIES PURTOS Cc-Ol'EE .