Correspondence.

glorious banner , not against flesh and blood , but against principalities and powers , against tho rulers ofthe darkness of this world , against spiritual wickedness in high places ; that he took upon him the whole armour of God , that he might be enabled to withstand at the evil day the arch enemy of mankind and of our holy Order , and , having done all , to stand . And blessed will that knight be who , at the end of his

warfare , when borne on his shield bleeding , faint , and weary , he renders up his soul to his Creator , can say , with the Apostle St . Paxil , "I have fought a good fight ; I have kept the faith ; hereafter there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness , which God , our righteous Judge , will give me at that day . " Tours most fraternally , M . H , SiruTTLEivoKTir , Grand Vice-Chancellor , K . T . Aurjrni 28 , 1861 .

Knights Templar.

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR .

TO THE EDITOIt 01 ? TIIE PEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AXD MASONIC MIEnOH . DEAE , SIE AND BEOIIIEE , —I address you in reply to Bro . Shuttleworth ' s late letter , in hope that it may elicit other information and suggestions from your numerous readers , which may result in the adoption of some plan to remove the restriction practised with each other by the different bodies of Templars , and thus promote their usefulness . It would

appear from Bro . Shuttleworth ' s letter that the French Templars refuse to recognise us . Scotland apparently holds aloof from us , as we do from Ireland ; and I see no reason why , with equal justice , America should not extend the same advantages to ns all . Bro . Shuttleworth ' s information is valuable as coming from a French brother , but unfortunately he does not state wh

y they refuse to recognise us . Such non-recognition may arise from their having adopted the high degrees so essential to knighthood . I myself do not see why we should not _ require the Eose Croix of all postulants , and should decidedly consider it essential—if Masonic degrees are at all essential—to a Knight Commander . It ' may arise from our refusing to recognise their claim , and with it the nomination of our Grand Prior ; or , more likely , it may arise from our having made innovations incompatible with historical evidence .

Without entering into the subject of the genuineness of the Charter of Freemasons of the French Templars , which has elsewhere been amply discussed , it is undeniable that the Order of the Temple or Knights Templars , is one and indivisable , and can have only one Grand Master , reserving the point as to whether our Order is that of the Temple or the United Order of the Temple and St . John . The Scottish

Templars are probably of the latter , ancl Preston , page 200 ( 9 th edition ) , shows that , in 1500 , Masonry m England and tho Order of St . John were under the same patron and Grand Master , Henry YII . of England . From the exclusiveness of the Ancient Templarsr who admitted none but knights ( a strong argument in favour of our requiring the Eose Croix ) I have always

, seen grave objections to any connection between the Templars and the Masons . This objection is now removed by the publication of an ancient MS . by Bro . Cooke , which proves that previously , even to the establishment of the Templars , speculative and operative Masonry , though handed down together , were then understood to be entirely separate and distinct .

I regret my inabil , ty to bring forward the subject of a Union so strongly as I would wish , and onl y hope some more able hand will take up my views , concluding with a suggestion that a general convention be brou ght about during the forthcoming exhibition in London , in order to ascertain what all parties require for a fair and honourable unionorat the leastthat to

, , , we come some understanding as to general principles , shameful innovations having been made in different countries on the ancient rule ofthe Order . I remain , Dear Sir and Brother , Yours fraternally , t August 31 , 1861 . +

Private Soldiers.

PRIVATE SOLDIERS .

TO TIIE EDITOR 03 ? THE PEEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBROE . DEAE SIE AND BEOTHEE , — " Secretary JNo . 162 " appears in to-day ' s MAGAZINE as the advocate of the law which denies to the private soldier , whatever his intellect and whatever his moral fitness may be , the privileges of that glorious fraternity , the true members of which do not judge a man by the social position which he may happen to occupy ; initiated

although we have had flunkey - smded fellows amongst us , who have so far forgot the first degree in Freemasonry as to ask , in places where there was more than one lodge which was the Gentlemen ' s Lodge , and to say that they would visit no other . These were commissioned officers ; and if it be to satisfy such unmasonic pride as this that Freemasonry is denied to the privatethen I contend that

, the prohibition is a removal of one of the finest of our ancient landmarks ; for " the internal , and not the external qualifications of a man are what Masonry regards . " Your correspondent is kind enough to refer me to that passage in the Bool ; of Constitutions , " where it is ordered that every candidate must be not only a free man , but ' his own masterandat the time of his initiationin reputable

, , , circumstances . ' " I am happy Jto say that I was perfectly aware of this law before I became a Mason , that I trust I have never forgotten ib since , and have no fault to find with it now . But unless the secretary of No . 162 , Sheffield , can show that every private soldier is a slave , or that his calling is disreputable , I cannot see what this has to do with the

question . That tho army generally is not the best place in ; which to recruit for Freemasonry , I am forced to acknowledge but I have yet to learn that all virtue and intelligence therein is confined to its officers , and all ignorance and vice to tho private soldiers Believing that both amongst officers and privates there are men who are as rich in knowledge and in virtue as myself , or even as the Secretary of the

Britannia Lodge ( No . 162 ) , J . see no reason why we should fear having to ' meet such fellow mortals in lodge or elsewhere . Freemasonry would not make the private mutinous to his officers , but rather obedient , nor would it be a whit worse for the efficient state of our army if it caused certain officers not to regard their private soldiers as what Professor Longfellow calls " dumb driven cattle "

. I will pass by the impertinent and needlessly insulting remark of " Secretary No . 162 , " as to what he says I do not at present know , by merely asking him , How he knows whether I am in such total ignorance of tho subject or not ? It is unfortunately apparent to any one who casts his eyes over the correspondence in tho MAGAZINE , that little of that brotherhood we profess is to be found in such correspondence ;

hence , I looked for illnatured things being said as a matter of course . But is it wise , for either our peace or the sake of the Craft , to give way to them ? For myself , _ I write from no private spleen , and no ridicule , no insinuations , and no uncharitable construction which any other correspondent may put upon my humble epistles , will silence my pen . Open to conviction , I am not to bo clamoured clown . I am , Dear Sir and Brother , yours very fraternally , BEOTHEE PETEK . Never mind ichcre , August 31 st , 1861 .

St. Mary, Redcliffe.

ST . MARY , REDCLIFFE .

TO TIIE EDITOR OE THE FItEEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBBOE . DEAE SIE AND BEOTIIEE , —I have heard with much pleasure that the Freemasons of Bristol have undertaken the completion of the restoration of the north-east corner of that glorious pile , St . Mary Eedclifie . They could not have commenced at a more appropriate spot . "Would it not be a worthy and a suitable work to do for English brethren in their

Masons in general to assist our Bristol most laudable and truly Masonic undertaking . This might be done e ' ither by local appeals in lodge , or a list of subscriptions might be opened at the officeof the MAGAZINE . Should you , Sir , approve of it . I may add that in writing this I am quite uninfluenced by any idea but the good work ; having no connection with any Bristol Lodge or brother . Yours fraternally , August 3 rd , 1361 . TJ . E ., 319 .