Correspondence.

have borne the feeling of regret much better ; but . when the ceremony took p lace at a public cemetery , where a congregation of four or five thousand persons were assembled , and the funeral cortege nearly half a mile in length , it is a reflection on our o-ovcrning body that we were not allowed to attend on Tuesday the 27 th ultimo , to take a last farewell of him we esteemed so much , aud pay a just tribute to the memory of our departed

brother . Next to the deceased's relatives the Masonic body was bis family . Our chief was our father—we were his children . It ivas not absolutely necessary that , by attending the remains of our deceased brother to their last resting place , that any additional expense should have been incurred by _ any member of the Craft for scarves and hatbands . Would it have been outre for the

brotherhood to have attended in unostentatious black , with white gloves ? Would this have proved very expensive to the Provincial Grand Lodge funds ? Had there been a celebration , where tlie Craft could attend with clothing , jewels , and regalia , perhaps they might have been summoned to muster in strength ; but here , where a just tribute to departed worth ought to have been paidthey were not to

, attend . How some brethren seem to forget their higher and nobler duties . Had the Masonic body attended the funeral of their late Provincial Grand Master , I have not tbe slightest doubt Mrs . Wildman ( ancl deceased's noble brother ) would have received it as a spontaneous brotherly feeling towards one whom they said they highly esteemed when livingand would have assisted in alleviating the

, pangs of regret at the loss of a much beloved husband . Hoping some member of our Provincial Grand Lodge will deem it his duty to allude to this matter at the proper time , I remain , Sir and Brother , yours fraternally , Nottingham , Oct . 1 st , 1859 . A ,

The Craft In New Brunswick.

THE CRAFT IN NEW BRUNSWICK .

TO THE EDITOR OP THE FREEMASONS MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —The editor ofthe ( New Brunswick ) Freemasons' Monthly Monitor ancl Acadian Craftsman having been compelled to abandon the publication of that journal , some few months since , owing to the lack of entoraagevaent received from many belonging to the Craft and , to quote his own words , " the most strenuous opposition from those who should have been our

generous patrons and unflinching friends , and that too , because we have fearlessly denounced wrong doing and advocated the establishment of a better state of things , " an occasional communication from one interested in the well being of the Craft in these parts may not prove unacceptable . Before proceeding further I may as well say that one of the principal opposers of Bro . Willis's magazine ivas the then Deputy Provincial

Grand Master , now about to be installed Provincial Grand Master—Bro . A . Balloch . His opposition is supposed to have originated by Bro . Willis inserting the proceedings ofthe Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland ( copied from your journal ) in the pages of the Craftsman , the name of Bro . Ballocb appearing therein in connection with some charge made against him by f ' arleton Union Chapter . If the foregoing is not the reason , it must be on account of Bro . Willis having requested to sec the

patent of the S > . Prov . Grand Master , in order to reply to a correspondent as to its legality . The request seemed to have greatly offended Bro . Ballocb , and thenceforward Bro . Willis v - 'as interdicted from publishing the proceedings of the Provincial fh-anil Lodge , and all the influence which the 3 ) . Prov . Grand Ifaster could exert ivas brought into requisition to crush the hu'ther progress of the Monitor and Craftsman . In my opinion

Bro , Willis adopted a wise course by suspending its publication . Since the discontinuance of the Monitor and Craftsman the fraternity in this and the neighbouring provinces have been without a medium through which information could be obtained , except me columns of your valuable journal . Some time since the Provincial Grand Lodge of New Brunswick engaged the services of ¦ ' j ro Caleb Handof MassachusettsU . S . to lecture and instruct

, , , the members of the Craft , in St . John ' s . A committee of management was accordingly appointed , aud they solicited the co-opcra-| 'on of Hibernia Lodge ( No . 301 , registry of Ireland ) , who freely o e all the assistance in their power . Now , however much many in this vicinity may feci disposed to approve of the Massachusetts systemI cannot think it was to adopt itand thus

, proper , ^ itiially violate one of the most important principles of tbe J ; gjisli Constitution . It seems somewhat anomalous that an jmg-hsh Provincial Grand Lodge should adopt a foreign system of ^ oi'k for its subordinates .

very little authority in the jurisdiction . Now , I would ask , with all due deference to Bro . Keith , where is there any law to sanction a course of procedure such as this -. one Provincial Grand Master ruling two Provincial Grand Lodges under the same jurisdiction , in separate provinces ? I have frequently heard of brethren belonging to two subordinate Lodges under different jurisdictions , but I have never yet heard of one who occupied the position of

Master in both Lodges at the same time - , neither have I ever heard of one person holding the position of Master in two Lodges under the same jurisdiction . Here then , I consider the English Lodges in New Brunswick acted decidedly wrong . They should have considered well the stop ivhich they ivere about to take , ancl when tbey did make a move it should have been a judicious one . The whole affair seemed to have been hastily concocted , ancl still formed

more hastily executed . A . short trial of this first Provincial Grand Body in New Brunswick proved a failure , and then steps were taken to obtain the privilege of appointing or electing a Provincial Grancl Master separate and distinct from Nova Scotia . After sonic considerable time the arrangements were effected , aud Bro . Ballocb , so I am informed , succeeded in securing his election in the maimer described b private correspondent

y your of last month . Although obtaining " the privilege of electing thenown Provincial Grand Master was an improvement , still it did not go fin- enough . Why not endeavour to have the privilege of be

Eoyal Arch Masonry in this province at the present time exhibits every prospect of a prosperous future . I suppose you are already aware there has been a new Chapter established in St . John ' s , under the name of Hibernia Chapter ( No . 301 , registry of Ireland ) . It is attached to Hibernia Lodge , agreeably to the regulation which makes it necessary that a Chapter should be attached to some' regularly constituted Lodge . The Scotch Chapter in this

city has for some time been labouring under difficulties . First there was a dispute with the Prov . Grand Supt ., Bro . A . Ballocb , of the nature of ivhich I suppose you are already acquainted , and if I mistake not , no amicable settlement has yet been arrived at . Then followed a difficulty regarding the Mark degree , and the authority under which it was conferred . This last trouble has , I believebeen satisfactorilarranged

, y . The order of Knights Templar , with its associated degrees , are in a prosperous state in this province . There are many good and valiant men alre ' ady enrolled tinder the banner of the cross , and , we have no doullt , as time rolls on there will be a regular increase . In your Magaknc for August , I observe some remarks regarding the Provincial \ Grand Lodge of New Brunswick , and the manner in which Bro . Balloch managed to secure the office of Prov .

Grand Master , and , if not considered amiss , I will occupy a portion of your space with a few observations on the subject . In the first instance I consider it was decidedly wrong that Neiv Brunswick should consent to play second fiddle to any neighbouringprovince of greater or less pretensions . Probably this statement , to be understood , will need some explanation . Some years ago , it was concluded that the lish Lodin New Brunswick should

Eng ge establish a Provincial Grand Body—at that time the English Lodges were under the jurisdiction of Bro . Keith , Prov . Grand Master of Nova Scotia—this body was established , and Bro . Balloch appointed D . Prov . Grancl Master , Bro . Keith still retaining the position of Prov . Grand Master , although exercising

annually electing a Provincial Grand Master , then there would no feelings of discontent . If the brother elected to this hi g h position should act arbitrarily , or become distasteful to a majority of the body , they could console themselves with the reflection that in a few short months they would have the poiver and privilege of removing such brother from the office , and placing in his stead one more worthy of their confidence . That the present , or the

rather embryo . Provincial Grand Master does not enjoy confidence of the ' Craft in this province , is quite evident to every brother who possesses the smallest share of discernment : and I firmly believe , in common with many others , that had his opponent possessed that enthusiasm ivhich should characterize the actions of every brother occupying so high a position , no amount of exertion would have availed anything in favour of Bro . Balloch . In . of the Craft

my opinion it would conduce more to the prosperity mid the peace of the Prov . Grand Master , did he possessin a greater degree the confidence of the brotherhood under his jurisdiction . Apart from all others , there is a class of the fraternity who firmly and conscientiously believe that , until an independent Grand Lodge is established in this province , similar to that of Canadathere cannot exist that degree of harmony which should

, characterize the actions of Masons ; and although the number of the brethren holding this belief may not be very large , still they believe that in proportion as the members of the fraternity become better informed—in a word , in proportion as the brethren