Correspondence.

altogether friendl y expressions occasionally resulting therefrom , proceed , I find , from the apathetic or careless section of our community , and not , I am happy to say , from earnest , active brethren , whose diligence keeps them well-informed as to the great work set us to do , and who are never weary in assisting iu that work . For myselfI would wish to lead no stronger

, p justification than that derived from the facts presented in the voting papers , just issued , of the ensuing election , wherein will be found the names of fifty - three applicants for admission , nine only of whom can be elected , though we have accommodation for as many more . Can I—can anyone—need a more

forcible stimulus than that supplied by a realisation of the painful feeling embodied in the aggregate disappointment of forty-four deserving objects of our sympath y , their stricken and distressed relatives and friends . Yours fraternally , FREDERICK : BINCKES , 6 , Freemasons' Hall , W . C , 21 st Sept ., 1868 .

D.P.G.M.

D . P . G . M .

TO THE EDIXOH OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —Being a London Mason , I am not very well acquainted with Provincial distinctions . We make very small account of Provincial Masons at our lodge . As they have different clothing , we generally sit them down after the M . M . ' s of London lod iving London its rightful precedence

ges , g of the country , and then we put all the Provincials , without troubling ourselves about their clothing , together , unless sometimes a London Apprentice , who is not known , may be put after them . I am quite surprised to find that they sometimes receive Grand Office in Grand Lodgebut do not

, well know the distinctions , if any , between G . S . B ., and Deputy Grand Masters , and should like to be enlightened . Which is the highest dignitary in the Provinces ; the Sword Bearer , the D . P . G . M ., or the Grand Pursuivant ? We have none of these in Craft Lodgesand we do not to Grand Lod If we

, go ge . have by mistake put a D . P . G . M . above a S . B . or P . M . of a lodge we should be very sorry . Yours fraternally , A LONDON MASON .

Tavern , E ., Sept . 30 , 1 S 6 S . 10 THE EDITOR OE THE EBEEHASOHS' MAOAZDrE AtfD MASONIC HUIKOB . Dear Sir and Brother , —Your correspondent , "Another D . P . G . M ., ' ' is noticing my former communicationis amusinglfacetious as to the

recogni-, y tion of the Craft in general and by tbe M . W . G . M . of the status and services of the D . P . G . M . ' s , and the dignified position in Grand Lodge to which , as a reward for many years' service as the representatives , not only of theE . W . P . G . M . ' s , but ofthe M . W . G . M . in their respective provinces , a few of the more

fortunate ones may look forward . The remarks of " Another D . P . G . M . " recalled to my mind , and inclined me to laugh heartily at the recollection of an incident connected with Grand Lodge iu my younger days . As a D . P . G . M . I am " no chicken , " but a good many years ago when , newly fledged , I was spending

D.P.G.M.

a few days in town , I was reminded at a private lodge that a quarterly communication of Grand Lodge would take place on the following Wednesday evening . Accordingly I determined to be present , and , doubtless , thinking myself , as the deputy ruler of a province , a constellation of no small magnitude in the Masonic hemisphereI presented myself in the

, ante-room with all my blushing honours thick upon me—collar , jewel , and all—forgetting that at headquarters I only possessed the rank of a "full private . " After signing my name , official rank , & c , I was about to pass into the Temple , when I was suddenly stopped by one of the brethren iu attendance saying , "You

cannot be admitted in that collar and jewel ; we don't know them here " ( and , of course , legally , he was quite right ) . Greatly crestfallen I went across the way and borrowed—either of Bro . Spencer or his predecessor , Bro . Evans—a P-M . ' s collar and jewel , again presenting myself for admission . Once more I

was stopped by the remark , " You have uo right to wear these gauntlets here . " I began to think I was in the position of the daw in borrowed plumes , and was going to be strip t , when another brother suggested , " Suppose we let him pass , and see whether he'll be allowed to remain with them . " Upon this I

was admitted ; and , although it was not my first visit to Grand Lodge , I was so impressed with my reception that I departed both "a sadder and a wiser man , " and , although a good many years have now elapsed , I have only once since that event put in an appearance there . Doubtless my vanity- as a young official from the country required to be repressed , and it was done thoroughly ! But , joking apart , I have

not given these details simply as a personal matter , but as a humble member of a class of Masons who " have done the state service , " and which ought to be thought worthy of greater recognition than it receives . It is a well known fact that , in the great majority of provinces , the whole of the work belonging to the office of Prov . G . M . is done by the D . Prov . G . M .,

and that , although not a few Prov . G . Masters are active and zealous rulers , even in most of those in J stances the chief part of the unseen labour is done by the Deputy . Kow , surely , one who , perhaps for years , has had the whole of the active rule of a Masonic province in his handsand consequently ( as your

, correspondent truly observes ) " representing not only the ft . W . Prov . G . M ., but the M . W . G . M , " is equitably entitled to hold , ex officio , a higher position in the Great Council of the Craft than is accorded to the mere P . M . of a private lodge , too many of whom , as is well knownhave passed through the chair without

, having qualified themselves to perforin its duties . It seems to me logically just that , as in the table of precedence in Grand Lodge , the D . G . M . ( if there be no Prov . G . M . ) ranks next after the G . M ., so ought the D . P . G . M . 's to rank next to the P . G . M . ' s . This opinion , ! know , will be met , in limine , by the objection

that , as the P . G . M . ' s appoint their Deputies , if this , or any other position in Grand Lodge , were accorded to them ex officio , it would be an interference with the prerogative of the M . W . G . M ., who is the fount of all honours iu Grand Lodge except that of Treasurer . This difficulty might , however , be easily remedied by the M . W . G . M . appointing the Deputies on the nomination or recommendation of the P . G . M . ' s , during pleasure or for a limited time , the office becoming