Correspondence.

" The worshipper with eye upraised , A virgin saint adores ; Into her sympathising ear , His bosom ' s secret pours . Yet think not that the worshipper , Kneels to the sculptured stone , Or that the the canvas' vivid tint ,

Coidd touch his soul alone . Oh ! no , before his fancy ' s eye , In beauty ' s charms arrayed , Smiling upon her votary ' s prayer , Appears his own loved maid . To her addressed are all his vows , To her his prayers are poured , To her alone his head lie bows

, To her , his soul's adored . Yet the true lover needs no form , Traced by the sculptor ' s art , Depicting to affection's eye , The treasure of his heart . Before his mem'ry as a glass , Her image seems to rise , The last kind lookthe last bright glance

, , Shot from her radiant eyes , In absence cheers his drooping heart , His trembling faith assures , And amply compensates the pangs , The lover oft endures .

The same remarks apply to sacred architecture . The nave or choir of a cathedral was a gift to God worthy of a monarch . It took ages to complete the marvellous structure , and each successive architect rivalled his predecessors in lavishing beauty and adornments upon the noble pile . Contrast one of our early English village churches , beautiful in its simplicitywith the concert room abomination called

, a fashionable chapel . As the new religion gradually grew into strength , and the Church Government assumed the form of the Papal hierachy , the Romish priesthood , always eager to acquire knowledge from any lawful source , and , indeed , often accused by the ignorant and malicious of overstepping such boundary , would soon obtain entrance into a society with the members of which they must have come

into almost daily contact . St . Augustine , the founder of Canterbury Cathedral , was Grand " Master of the English Freemasons , and many other Catholic prelates were distinguished members of the Order . When we consider that a Christian has always been represented under the character of a soldier of Christ , enrolled under the banner of the Cross , it is not difficult to believe

that enthusiastic members of a secret society would organise themselves in imitation of the numerous religious military bodies which started into existence at a very early period , and into which , indeed , in those times of excitement and adventure , many may have enrolled themselves . It is proved from authentic documents that many companions of the Christian Order of the Temple were Freemasons , and

wealso know it was no uncommon circumstance for aged knights to end their days in the bosom of the religious communities , and thus an intimate connection has long existed between Freemasonry and the Roman Catholic priesthood ; it is therefore not only very probable , but it could hardly be otherwise than that Freemasonry should , under such auspices , have gradually assumed a Christian

character , though at what period of time it took the shape of what are now called the High Grades , or the Ancient and Accepited Rite , it would , perhaps , be difficult to determine ; but the Rose Croix , Knight Templar , and 3 LD . S . H . degrees were practised in Italy in the fifteenth century , if not earlier . I must pause here , having trespassed too much upon your columns this week , and remain , Tours most fraternally , P . M ., P . Z ., S . P . R . # , P . E . C . K . T ., KD . S . H . Bnckhurst Hill , July 31 , 1861 .

EEBATA . —In page 69 , line 2 from the top , for " A . C . D ., " read "A . D . / ' line 13 , for "opinion , " read "opinions . " Next paragraph , line 12 , for " maxion , " read " maxim ; " line 13 , for " sound , " read " some . " Third paragraph , line 4 , for " know , " read " knows ;" line 11 , / oi- " of thick , " read " and thick ; " line 23 , for " subsidary , " read " subsidiary ; " line 28 , for " W . M . s , " read "M . W . S . ; for " expose , " read " exposes ; " for " gazes , " read " gaze . "

The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS . The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Sussex will be held at the Town Hall , Arundel , on Tuesday , the 27 th inst ., at half-past twelve o'clock . The V . W . the Dep . Prov . Grand Master will propose a vote of thanks to the W . Bro . John Havers , P . S . G . D ., for the very great services he rendered to the cause of

Freemasonry during the period he was President of the Board of General Purposes . Bro . G . E . Pocock . Prov . Q . Sec ., has given notice "That two Governorships for fifteen years in the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows be purchased from the funds of this Prov . Grand Lodge , the privileges to be given to lodges 64 and 1031 . " For the first

time for many years the brethren will , in their Masonic clothing » attend divine service . The banquet will take place at the Norfolk Hotel , at five o ' clock . The Provincial Grand Lodge of Hertfordshire is to take place at Hitchin , on T h ursday next , the 8 th inst . The consecration of the Panmure Chapter ( No . 1025 ) is to take

place at the Royal Hotel , Aldershott , on Monday , the 12 th inst ., when the ceremony is to be performed by Comp . Stephen Barton Wilson , P . G . S . B . The first principals will be Comps . Stebbing , P . Z . 555 , Z . ; P . G . Wood , P . M . 1025 , H . ; and Wm . Howard , W . M . 1025 , J .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

ESSEX . PROVINCIAL GEAITD LODGE . . ( From our own Beporter . ) The Annual Prov . Grand Lodge was held at the Town Hall , Chelmsford , on Thursday last , August 1 st , the R . W . Prov . G . M . presidingsupported bBro . Major SkinnerD . Prov . GoM . Bros . Scott

, y , ; , P . G . D . ; Simpson , p . Prov . G . W . ; Matthews , Prov . G . D . C . ; Adlard , P . Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . ; D . Burton , P . Prov . G . W . ; Wakeling , P . Prov . G . W . j Mann , Prov . G . See .,- Sarel , P . Prov . S . G . D . ; Wilson , P . Prov . G . P . ; Thisselton , P . Prov . G . Reg . ; and representatives of Lodges 59 , 186 , 259 , 34-3 , 627 , and 663 . Amongst the visitors were Bros . White , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . West Yorkshire ; Binckes , Secretary of the Boys' School ; Scott , 752 ; and Goodchild , 1055 .

The minutes of the last Prov . Grand Lodge , held at Colchester , were read and confirmed . The auditors' report having been read and received , a letter was read from Bro . John Pattison , resigning the office of Prov . G . Treasurer . The PEOV . G . M . moved that a vote of thanks be recorded on the minutes to Bro . John Pattison for his valuable services is Prov . G . Treas . for a period of twenty-five years . Bro . ADLARD , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers . seconded the resolution ^ which was carried unanimously .

Bro . BUETON , P . Prov . G . W ., moved that Bro . William Slaney be appointed Prov . G . Sec . Bro . MATTHEWS , Prov . G . Dir . of Cers ., seconded the resolution , which was unanimously carried . The Prov . G . M ., having reappointed Major Skinner as D . Prov . G . M ., proceeded to appoint and invest the following officers : — Bros . J . F . Bott , 343 , Pro . S . G . W . ; John Coppiii , 59 , Prov . J . G . W .,- Major Gow , 99 S , Prov . S . G . D . ; Stuart , G 63 , Prov . J . G . D . ;

Eev . Walter Field , 259 , and Eev . W . C . Arnold , 313 , Prov . G . Chaps . ; Dr . Hilliard , 34-3 , Prov . G .. Eeg-. ; Anderson , OSS , Prov . G . S . B . ; H . C . Joslin , 998 , Piov . G . Supt . of Works ; Matthews , Prov . G . D . C ; George Palmer , 343 , As . Prov . G . D . C ; Glnckstein , 59 , Prov . G . Purst . ; Bros . Cooper , Gardner , Wood , Grant , all of No . 343 , G . Stewards . fei The PKOV . G . M ., having expressed his regret at the loss which the Prov . Grand Lodhad sustained bthe death of their late

ge y Tyler , James Maryou , Bro . Brown , of Colchester , was appointed to that office . The G . SEC . then read the following returns from the lodges in the provinces : —No . 59 , Colchester , 45 members ; No . 1 SG , Rochford , 38 ; No . 259 , Romford , 23 ; No . 343 , Chelmsford , 4-3 ; No . 627 , Brightlingsea , 23 ; No . 663 , Chigwell , 21 ; No . 99 S , Colchester , 40 ; No . 935 , Harwich , 24 ; making a total of 257 members .