Correspondence.

BRO . HUGHAN AND "POINTED . " TO THE EDITOE OE THE IRXEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIO HIKEOU . Dear Sir and Brother , —I am asked to explain some remarks of mine at pages 148 and 288 by a brother who signs himself "Pointed . "

_ It seems strange why he should desire an explanation , as the statements appear to me both clear and pointed . At p . 148 will be found my opinion respecting the nature of the Acts of Parliament passed for the protection and regulation of the various trade incorporations , iu which I state that there was nothing special in the constitution of the Masons requiring peculiar or different legislation to the other Crafts . Nor icas there so far as I lenow .

At pages 288-289 I refer particularly to the esoteric character of the Freemasons before the ISth century , and reasonabl y infer from the fact of that body actually imparting signs or secrets to the initiated and sioearing the members to keep such inviolable , is a proof of that societ y having been , as regards its private character—its system of receiving members , etc ., —organised ou a different basis to that of the other crafts .

Bro . Buchan states at page 330 , Freemasons ' Magazine , that the operative smiths or eordiuers had a " word , grip , and sign , " like those worked by the members of the "Haughfoot Lodge . " I confess that , were such a statement verified , it would go far to alter my opiuion on secret operative Masonry before

the ISth century . As yet , however , I have not been able to confirm this proposition by Bro . Buchan , and should this indefatigable brother have the evidence at hand , I would thank him to make it public , so that we may know ivliy he saj's so .

Tours fraternally , WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN . P . S . —I have answered Bro . "Pointed , " but cannot promise to do so again . My time is now as fully occupied Masonicall y as if it were the hei ght of the Masonic season , aud thei-efore my friends must excuse me if I sometimes content myself with reading their kind letters .

THE MASONIC RITUAL . TO THE EDITOE OE THE EEEEMASONs" MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIEEOE . Dear Sir and Brother , —I , in conjunction with many of my brethren , feel myself under very considerable obligation to " Crux " for his able article on the Masonic Ritual

. No one can tell the disadvantages under which we , as provincial Masons , labour , in consequence of a want of somethin g like uniformity in our ritual as it is handed to us . No two lodges are alike in their working . In fact , when one brother of a lodge visits another—aye , even in the same provincehe is

— frequently excluded from taking any active part in its working solely from this cause ; or , even if he does so , the difference is most apparent . This ought not to be ; for , as Masonry is universal , so ought there to be a universalit y in its ritual . I believe , Sir , this is a great drawback to the progress of Masonry , and I do hope the excellent advice giveu by our learned brother will be taken cognizance of by Grand Lodge .

Correspondence.

There is also another point in his remarks which I cannot pass over ; and that is his reference to the class of men selected to preside over the various lodges . This more especially applies to provincial lodges . I have seen men placed in that exalted office who were most unfitted for it , not only from their

want of even the common rudiments of education , but from their social position . It is true , as " Crux " says , they muddle through their jear of office with no credit to themselves and still less to the lodge to which they belong , and then at its close they are bedecked with the P . M . ' s jewel , to which they have

no more right than I have to the Order of the Garter . Such a distinction ought only to adorn the breast of him who by his intelligence , love of the Craft , and his ability as a Mason , has fairly won it . And when we see that jewel worn we ought to be led to regard the brother who wears it as a distinguished and accomplished Mason . Now it has no such distinctive feature , for , as the custom now stands , the most illiterate

and ignorant man that was ever passed into a Masonic lodge ranks side by side with him who is gifted with a high order of intelligence , and who , by his able administration and exposition of the Masonic ritual , has honourably won it , and therefore can as honourably wear it . But this grievance will last , to the disgust and annoyance of all good and worthy Masons ,

whilst men are " pitchforked , " as it were , into lodges just for the sake of either swelling their numbers , or , what is much worse , for mercenary trading purposes . I speak from experience in this matter , and I fear the custom prevails to a far greater extent thau we know of , much to the discredit of the Craft , and certain it

is , while such practices continue , we cannot wonder at our noble and honourable Order standing in such bad odour as it does iu the estimation of the popularworld . Apologising for extending my remarks to such a length , I am—Yours fraternally , A PROVINCIAL GRAND OITICEB . October 26 . 18 G 9 .

Laying The Foundation Stone Of The New Public Baths At Ashton-Underltne, Lancashire West.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW PUBLIC BATHS AT ASHTON-UNDERLTNE , LANCASHIRE WEST .

The foundation stone of the new Public Baths was laid , with full Masonic ceremony , by the Mayor of the borough , Bro . Henry Thomas Darnton , P . Prov . 3 VD . of East Lancashire , on Saturday , October 23 rd . A lodge was opened at the Town Hall , and the brethren proceeded to the site of the building , Henry-square . Bro . the Rev . W . Ogden acted as Chaplain . The plans of the

architect having been inspected and approved , Bro . J . L . Hine placed in a bottle a collection of coins , newspapers , & c , and deposited them in the cavity under the stone . Bro . J . Farrar presented a golden trowel to the Mayor , and the stone was laid in due form . Prayer was offered by Bro . the Rev . W . Ogden . The stone was strewed with flowers by some dozen young ladies . The brethren

returned to the Town Hall , whence , after closing the lodge , they adjourned to tho banquet at tho Pitt and Nelson Hotel , at which about 150 sat down , the chair being occupied by Bro . Darnton , the Mayor .

, TE 115 PHSS-E . —If a- miwi purchases the Piclnvick pons , does lie liuve tlie DICKERS to pay ? And if lie buys the Wnverley , does lie get them SCOTT free !—Judy .