Correspondence.

pleased and gratified , to see that distinguished Provincial honour bestowed on one of the many Sir Knights who so laudably aspire to it , and thereby diffuse that generous emulation which would greatly benefit and extend the order in this Province . This self-sacrifice of the worthy Sir Knight must have been felt by all present as another proof of his great

patriotism and love of the fraternity , and although it might have been declined by him' in his zeal to honour another , each and all would have only been too happy had he taken it himself . Yours fraternally , Jl B . ' [ We gave all that we received . —ED . ]

An Imposter.

AN IMPOSTER .

10 THE EDITOR 01 ? THE EREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIEROE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I am desirous of warning tho W . M . s and relieving officers of lodges against extending any relief to a brother , calling himself Dr . Charles Louis de Montaney . This individual called upon me about ten days since , and made the following representations ; he stated thaC he was an Austrian-Pole , and had

recently landed at Liverpool , after suffering the greatest hardships whilst serving in Poland under Langievicz ; that in 1848 he took part iu the Hungarian war , under Kossuth , for which he was exiled ; that he took part in the Crimean war being attached to Lord Raglan ' s staff as surgeon and interpreter , and that on his return to England he was decorated with the Victoria cross ; that he

was subsequently stationed for some years at Aldershott , during which time he was partially instrumental in establishing the Panmure Lodge ; ( No . " l 025 ) , ancl held office in it as W . M . ; that when the Italian war broke out he threw up his commission and joined Garibaldi , under whom he served throughout his campaign , ancl was also in attendance on him with Dr . Partridge , whilst suffering

from his recent severe wound , and when the recent Polish insurrection broke out , he left Italy with other patriots to take part in it . He stated , moreover , that his father was Governor of some foreign province , and that he himself , when at home , was entitled to an income of some £ 261 a year , and that he was entitled to a pension of £ 8-1 from the British government , but had been recently disqualified from receiving it ou account of having worn" the

uniform of another service , and that if ho coulcl only get to London he should meet with many friends , and could do very well , his great anxiety being to go out again to Poland and die for his country . All this and much more he told us , and said he was well and intimately acquainted -with many eminent persons , including General Sir Geo . TBrown ( whose arm he said he cut off at the battle of

Inkermann ) , Dr . Gills , Dr . Whitehead , Mr . Ashurst , of Old Jewry , and many others . His application to me was for a loan to enable him to got to London , and although the extent and variety of his alleged adventures excited considerable doubt as to his veracity , I felt that if not an impostor he was a fit object for sympathy and relief , and being a MasonI gave him the benefit of the doubtand

, , advanced him £ 110 s- to enable him to get to London , he promising speedy repayment on his faith as a Mason , & c . Since his departure I have instituted inquiries , and find that he never was iu the army , never was at Aldershott , except for about a week , never had any connection with the Panmure Lodge , and most certainly did not cut off Sir George Brown ' s arm , as that gallant general is in

possession of both at tho present moment . Having discovered so much of his story to be utterly false , I feel justified in stigmatising the fellow as an arrant- impostor , and I sincerely trust that if he makes application elsewhere , with the same or similar false representions , he will at once be handed over to the police as a rogue aud vagabond . Now there is so much real distress abroad it is highly desirable that the fraternity should not be victimised by imposture , aud this must be my excuse for

An Imposter.

troubling you with this somewhat long letter , and ask for its immediate insertion . I need hardly had that up to the present time the amount advanced by me has not been returned . I am , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , H . B . WHITE , P . M . 173 .

The Grand Organist.

THE GRAND ORGANIST .

TO THE EDITOR OE THE FREEMASONS * MAGAZINE AND MASONIC HIREBOE . MY DEAR SIR AND BRO ., —I have read with much interest your remarks respecting the office of G . O . being filled by one so young in Masonry . Surely we have amongst us brethren of talent with greater claims , and who would conduct the musical portion of the office with credit to themselves and honour to the . Craft .

In addition to the brethren you name , I would venture to suggest a Brother P . M ., Royal Arch , Mark Mason , & c , Organist of the Enoch ( No . 11 ) the Maidenhead Lodge , a Mark Mason's lodge , and Prov . G . O . for Berks and Bucks—I mean Bro . Venables , of Taplow . Bro . Venables is a Mason of many years' standing , he has given much time and attention to the best music ; there is scarcel

y a musical meeting of any note where he is not to be found ; and the other day he was one of the favoured few Avho were present at the marriage of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . He is conductor of a madrigal society at Maidenhead , and has been for many years conductor of a choral society in that town . Bro . Venables had the honour of

conducting , at Reading , in oneof the largest musical meetings ever held in the county of Berks , the "Messiah , " by Handel ; he is an organist at one of the churches at Maidenhead ; and he has now building a splendid organ , by Gray and Davidson , for his own house . I have stated this much to show that the office would be well filled by such a brother , amateur though he be ;

the rest , be assured , would not be neglected : no musical gentleman , with the badge of a Mason , be he who he might , would gain the position which ought to be occupied by Masons only . Thus much have I ventured to suggest , hoping that honour will bo given to whom honour is due , and remain , fraternally yours , May 6 th , 1863 _ . MUSICUS . [ AVe had no wish to place one brother before another , as we have a list of fifty or sixty duly qualified members , which we may perhaps publish some day . ]

TO THE EDITOR OP THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROB . DEAU SIR AND BROTHER , —I read your clever and well pointed article of Saturday , May 2 nd , with much pleasure . I refer to that on the engagement of non-Masonic professionals to take part in the music at our banquets . Why is this allowed ? It certainly is not , as is supposed by some to be , because Ave have no musical brethren

belonging to the Craft ; aud if not so , it is against our Masonic principles to engage non-Masons . I think there are plenty of professinal musical Masons in London , if not , there are plenty in the provinces . I see by an advertisement in your Magazine , that Bro . Dyson , of Windsor , undertakes tho musical arrangements at Masonic banquetsconsecrations & cand from the reports I frequentl

, , , y see in the EREE . MASONS' MAGAZINE , with great success . The same party has also had the great honour of singing before Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen and Court . The song singing of this party is excellent , and their glees and part songs are said to be sung to perfection . Let me ask , in conclusion , why non-Masons should be engaged at our Masonic banquets , when the services of

such a glee and quartet party as the one represented by Bro . Dyson could be had , all of whom are entitled to Avear the Masonic apron . I am , dear Sir and brother , yours fraternally , ONE WHO WISHES TO SEE THE RIGHT MEN IN THE RIGHT PLACES . [ We know a hundred brethren in London alone fully competent for any music ]