Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents . A MASONIC DIRECTORY . TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND XASONIC HIREOH . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I think the publishing

of a Masonic Directory , as proposed by Bro . the Rev . J . Kingston , would be a capital arrangement , if car--ried out . I have often wished to know how many of my friends were Masons . Besides , it would prevent a good deal of imposture , and be a great aid to the Charity Committees . It is only two days since a

person told me he had been initiated , and upon inquiry I found he had not been . Had I answered him in an unguarded manner , believing his statement , I should only have given him information which he would have made use of again . Tours fraternally ,

ORIENS SXLVA . Mancli ester Freemasons' Club , Cooper-street , Nov . 25 th , 1 S 6 L

TO THE EDITOR Or THE FEEE 3 IASON 3 ' MAGAZINE AX !) SIASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In reply to the Rev . Brother Kingston—he having mentioned my name in connection with his proposal for a Masonic Directory —I beg to assure him that I have collected a large

amount of biographical matter for the history of eminent deceased Freemasons , but do not , at present , see any means of turning the same to account . The plan of a directory was commenced by Bro . Aspern in the old Freemasons Magazine , about 1 * 796 ,

butfell through for waut of support . Bro . Kingston alludes to my connection with the Clerical Directory , which I compiled ; but the firm for which it was done expended between three and four thousand pounds to complete it , and with these means at my back it took six years' hard toil to bring it out . Would the Craft expend four farthings for such a purpose ? Every obstacle that can be placed in the way of

literary inquiry seems to be the order of the day with the chief Craft official . What can be done in this way must be undertaken without a reference to the old books , for " the time of the office would be too much interfered with . " The Craft is not ripe for anything of the kind but if some painstaking scribe would compile a list of the bills of fare of each lodge during

the last twenty-five years , that would , no doubt , find a ready sale , whilst anything tending to chronicle remarkable men who have done honour to Freemasonry would fall from tho press unnoticed . In the Clerical Director ) / I had to deal with men of position as graduates of the English Universitiesand of

, whose antecedents the world required information . With Freemasons the case is different . They are not , generally , men of note ; and if they do but act up to their social position in society the world will not trouble itself about their degrees , or the dates of their initiation , passing , or raising . So that , to

Correspondence.

make a Masonic Directory remunerative , it must contain 3 iich useful and interesting particulars aswould render it a work of reference , entitled to public support for its general utility to the Craft and the world at large—" a consummation most devoutly to be wished" hutas matters go at presentbased on a

, , , visionary idea which , if put into practice , would never pay a hundredth part of the necessary outlay . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours truly and fraternally , MATTHEW COOKE .

Look To Your Refreshments.

LOOK TO YOUR REFRESHMENTS .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I was amused by reading the terms in which the privileges of honorary members are expressed in the report of the Colonial Board , viz ., "To attend the meeting of the lodge , and partake of its refreshments , without the necessity of

being introduced by a subscribing member . " As to admittance into the lodge , I have been always taught that the mere fact of my being able to prove myself to be a Mason would insure admittance into any lodge in the world , without the necessity of " being introduced by a subscribing member" to any of whom I may be

, totally unknown . But I used to be equally clear in my own mind that I could not attend any banquet out of my own lodge or province , without a distinct invitation thereto . However one may differ from the learned Board of Past . Masters who constitute the Colonial Board on these points , I am hoping I do

not read their report correctly by inferring from it that the business of lodges is to get up entertainments in the shape of " refreshments" at every meeting ; and that for the honorary members to " partake" of the same ' . Of course , I do not pretend to divine why refreshments have been so prominently set forth

in this report . Would it not have been better to have said they were , " entitled to their ' wages ; ' " when the " poor fellows " would be placed in a position to go aud " refresh" themselves . I am , dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , A WORKING BROTHER .

Honorary Members Of Lodges.

HONORARY MEMBERS OF LODGES .

TO TIIE EDITOR OF TIIE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The Board of General Purposes , whilst adopting the language of the Colonial Board and the ( J . Registrar , concerning hon . members of lodges , have ( no doubt with a fixed pur-) added a very important " rider" in these words

pose ¦ —• " Provided , always , that he be a subscribing member of some other lodge . " In fact , to hold , or to be eligible for , rank in Freemasonry , the brother must " subscribe to the funds" of the Order . So the Board of General Purposes ; and , doubtless , in their experience , they have found it an expedient test or

qualification ; but I believe it will affect the practice of a great many private lodges , if it does not even ( when maturely considered in its ultimate results ) sap the first principles of Masonry . Shall the brother who cannot pay his subscription to his lodge thereby cease to be a unit of the body of Masonry ? Yours fraternall y , P . M .