Metropolitan.

he felt Avas not generally knoAA-n hy the Craft . He hoped , therefore , Bro . AVilson Avould alknv it to be printed in a neat form , and published at a small price , for tlie benefit of the lodo-e , or in such manner as might be thought proper . Bro . W ILSON said he highly appreciated the proposed comp liment , but the essay of that evening Avas only a mere sketch of what he intended to lay before the brethren . In the course of long readings he had jotted doivn many notes on Masonic

matters , Avhich Avoidd be sufficient for six or seven essays on different subjects , which he proposed some day to publish in a collected form , and to hand any profits arising from the publication , to the Boys' and Girls' schools . As hoivever , there mig ht be something in these essays Avhich it might not be considered desirable to publish , he proposed before doing so to consult the Masonic authorities , such as the Grand Master , the Grand Registrarand fche Board of General Puposeshow far he

, , could do so , bufc as regarded the essay of that evening he did nofc think it would be desirable to publish it in a separate form , though he had little doubt ifc would be again brought before the brethren . The lodge was then closed , and the brethren separated at an early hour .

Provincial.

PROVINCIAL .

DEVONSHIRE . The foundation stone of the Devonport , Stonehouse , and Cornwall G-eneral Hospital , is to be laid with Masonic honours , on Tuesday , the 17 th inst . The ceremony will he performed hy Bro . the Right Honourable the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , P . Prov . G . S . W . of DeA-oii ; and the sermon preached by the Right AVorshipful and Rev . John Huyshe , M . A ., G . Chap , of

England , and P . Dep . ProA' . G . M . of Devon . On Friday , the 30 th ult ., a meeting of the Devonport Board of Commissioners Avas held , Avhen the folloAving amusing scene , as reported in the Western Daily News , took place : — The chairman read an invitation AA'hich he had received from Mr . J . AV . W . Ryder , Mayor of Devonport , and chairman ofthe procession committee , inviting him and the Commissioners to join in the procession on the occasion of lacing the memorial stone of the

p Devonport , Stonehouso , and Cormvall General Hospital . He said he should be glad to attend , and would be happy to be joined by as many of the Commissioners as would make it convenient to be present . Mr . Bundle objected to the Masonic part of tlie business , for ho disliked the tomfoolery which the Freemasons exhibited in their processions . He was not a Mason himself , he didn't know the principles on which they worked , nor did he Avish to knoAA ' . But this he ivould say , that whilst the Freemasons confined themselves

to their dark lodges , their secret conclaves , and whilst they kept their lodges guarded by sivordsrnan , it was all very Avell ; but he did not like the look of their absurd processions . The chairman reminded the speaker that he Avas at liberty to look in an opposite direction . IB-. Bundle objected to men , m this age of enlightenment , dressing themselves up as "Guys . " The Freemasons pretended that the origin of the order ivas very remote ; but he thought that they

didn ' t strictly carry out their principles . AVhen Adam AA-as driven forth from tho Garden of Eden , to find a home and seek a livingtor himself , he appeared in fig-leaves , and if Freemasons would but follow the example of their illustrious progenitor , and appear in fig-leaves during their processions , he had aio objection to see them . ( Laughter . ) The Chairman said the Masonic would only be' one department in the large procession ; and he believed the reason why the stone ivas to be laid with Masonic honours was that the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , AA'ho was t ° place it , ivas a Freemason , and they expected great assistance from the Craft . He theu read the order of

procession . Colonel Russell said , as a Freemason , he could not sit quietly and listen to Mr . Bundle ' s remarks Avithout making a feAv observations . He knew tho value of the Institution , and could say that the Freemasons were a most charitable body of men . The Chairman : I believe so . Colonel Russell ivas of opinion that there ivas quite as much tomfoolery in wearing robes civil as robes masonic . Let them that on the day named MrBeertheir clerkAvas to

suppose . , , appear in that procession in his capacity as Captain ofthe Devonport Volunteers , and that his partner , Mr . Bundle , ivho objected so much to Freemasonry , Avas to represent Mr ; Beer on that occasion as clerk to the Commissioners , and wove Mv . Beer ' s gown , what possible difference could there be between Mr . Bundle's robes and the robes of the Freemasons ? ( Hear , hear . ) He hoped that before long they ivould enrol Mr . Rundle among the craft . ( Laughter '

Provincial.

He had an opportunity of seeing the advantages of Frecmasonry abroad , and could only say that it was a most useful institution . It relieved the distressed in many ways , and he wished all the Avorld acted as charitably as did the Freemasons . ( Cheers ) . The Vice-Chairman supposed that Mr . Bundle ' s great objection to Freemasonry lay in the application of the hot poker . ( Loud laughter . ) Mr . Rundle repeated that he disliked their public processions . The folloiving reply , attributed by many brethren to a very zealous and esteemed brother , a P . PI-OA-. Grand Officer , has appeared in the Western Morning News , and is exciting some attention in the neighbourhood .

To the Editor of the Western Morning News . MR . RUNDLE AND FREEMASONRY . SIR , —The report of the meeting of the Dei-onport Commissioners on Friday last , containing as it does some strictures on the order of Freemasonry by Mr . G . H . E . Rundle , affords me au unexpected opportunity of offering a feiv remarks in its defence . Mr . R . " objected to Freemasonry because he disliked the tomfoolery exhibited in their processions . " This is so an accusationand

vague , applies so generally to all ceremonies where symbols are introduced , that the same objection will eqiAally lie against the letters of the alphabet , which are only symbols of sounds , and therefore , according to Mr . R . ' s logic , " tomfoolery . " For Masonry is a peculiar system of morality , veiled in allegory , and illustrated by symbols . One is compelled to descend of the redtictio ad absurdum . Shall we reject the teaching of the Christian Religion because her greatest mysteries are taught by symbols ?

But the next sentence is still more amusing , when he said " he was not a Mason ; he didn't knoiv the principles on ivhich they worked , nor did he ivish to kiioiv . " Thus is Mr . It ' s , ignorance of the matter about Avhich he was speaking proclaimed by himself—the very best proof of his inability to judge at present , and his perspective fitness equally uncertain .

" AVhere ignorance is bliss , 'twere folly to be wise . " So sweeping an accusation against a body of men , of whose proceedings he is ignorant , and about whom he desires no instruction , shows at once his presumption to sit in judgment , having arrived at a foregone conclusion , and therefore the worth of his statement must be taken quantum valeat , for when put in the balance , it ivill be found like some of the other children , " deceitful npon the weights , and altogether lighter than vanity itself . "

" Thus fools rush in where angels fear to tread . " But again , Mr . R . says , " AVliilst the Freemasons confined themselves to their dark lodges , " & c . The privileges of the OAVI thus accorded to the Masons , to shun the light of day and appear only by night , proves IIOAV excellent a handle for a reply may be un-Avittingly furnished by an objector ; for the OAVI sits conspicuous on the helmet of Minerva , and Avas adopted by the most polished nation of antiquity—the Athenians—as their badge . I am tempted to say

Avith Gratiano , " I thank thee , Jew , for teaching me that Avord . " But the last paragraph contains the conclusion of the Avhole matter , " that he did not like the look of their absurd procession , " shelving that the speaker laboured under the hallucination of a confusedly ignorant and undefined prejudice against an order of whose principles and practices he kneiv nothing . The question of costume ivas so unanswerably disposed of by our Brother Colonel Russell that nothing more is left to be written on the subject ; for it would be as Dryden ' s song of the king ,

Thrice he routed all his foes , And thrice he sleiv the slain . " But , as Mr . Rundle does not desire to knoiv , I have no wish to intrude this letter on his notice , for " A man convinced against his will Is of the same opinion still . " But I desire to address a feiv remarks to more unbiassed readers

your , to show ivhat Freemasonry does—putting Mr . Rundle into the " dark corner" altogether . Her charity is universal . She knoiA-s no distinction of nation , colour , nor creed . She teaches us to regard the errors of mankind Avith compassion ; to free the soul from the dominion of pride and prejudice ; to look beyond the narrOAV confines of particular institutions ; and to vieiv in every son of Adam a brother of the dust . By this means the horrors of war have been mitigated , the wants of the poor prisoner in his dungeon relieved .

The ividoAv who has lost " her dearer self , the partner of her life , " has found comfort and relief . The orphans have been brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord , " and the path of the aged and decayed Mason has been smoothed and made less toilsome by kind support in his time of need , ere the silver cord be loosed . The writer has himself been the means of practically bringing these benign influences to bear through Masonic channels in all these forms . . But our institutions speak for themselves . We have annuities for aged and decayed Masons , annuities for the widows of Masons , a boys' school and a girls' school for Freemasons' children who are orphans , and an asylum for such as will ai-ail themselves of its hospitable roof .