The Master Masons' Degree.

The italics are my own . ; the rest is from the pen of the author , the Rev . •! . G . Wood . Had Mr . Wood been a Mason , I think he would have remembered a certain tradition which is narrated in our third degree , which could not have failed to show him a connection between the funeral

ceremonies of the Bechuanas and our own rites in the Master Masons' degree , which to my thinking is something more than a coincidence . Tours fraternally , * M 30 ° .

The Grand Orient.

THE GRAND ORIENT .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FEEEMEASOITS' STAGAZIXE AXD JTASOSTC 3 IIRKOE . Dear Sir and Brother , —In reply to " The Writer of the Article , " I have only to say I have no more friendship for the Supreme Council than the Grand Orient , and adhere to my statements . I have only asked for fair play to both .

It is quite true the Grand Orient is recognised by the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland to which maybe added by their Supreme Councils likewise . The Grand Lodge of England has always recognised the Craft degrees of the Grand Orient , bnt not its high degrees ; and I believe the Grand Lodge of

England does the same for the Supreme Council of France . Further , the Grand Orient of France is in intercourse with the Supreme Council of England . These facts supported by the Calendrier of the Grand Orient , do not alter what I have said , but confirm it . Tours fraternally , HXDE CIAEKE .

Freemasonry In" Jersey.

FREEMASONRY IN" JERSEY .

TO THE EDITOR OK THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIRROR . Dear Sir and Brother , —A few days ago I received . a letter , chiefly of a private nature , from a friend in Jersey , whom I had the pleasure of initiating into our Order during the period of my residence there , in a lodge of which I was the founder . Naturally enough he made a few remarks on the present condition of

Freemasonry in the island , with some of which my experience hardly enables me to coincide , or rather , admitting his facts to a certain extent , I believe that they are limited exceptions , which may be somewhat explained by reference to a letter in the report of the Cesaree Lodge sent herewith , which I have translated

for insertion in your pages , and to which I would direct attention , as well as to the resolution consequent upon it , for certainly on this subject there has been a difference of opinion , the causes of which it is not necessary to explain . My especial object now is to notice one of my friend ' s observations—namely ,

" I hear that Jersey Masons have a bad name in London , and after the recent exposures and scandals , it is not much to he wondered at . " I am not a Jersey Mason , having been initiated and obtained the Masonic honours I have been thought worthof in a Midland Province in

Engy land , during the ten years preceding my removal to Jersey , and my residence there ceased nearly two years ago . I have thus no particular reason for partiality to the brethren in that island ; but I cannot , iu

Freemasonry In" Jersey.

all fairness , allow an impression of this kind to exist without entering an emphatic protest against it . There is , perhaps , no place in which the number of lodges , eight , is so great in proportion to the population , which is less than 60 , 000 , one-half being in the town of St . Helier , where the lodges are . As regards

the number of members , the smallest lodge has , I believe , upwards of 30 , while the most numerous has about 130 . All are free from tavern influences , meeting iu a handsome and spacious Masonic Temple , which has but few equals in this country , erected by and the exclusive property of the Craft . I think I

may say that the charities are as well supported as is the average in England , though in this respect there is doubtless much room for improvement , and that there is much private Masonic benevolence in cases of distress . The ceremonies ; are , on the whole , well and efficientlworked . The lodfunds are not wasted

y ge in banquets , the refreshments being . on a most limited scale . Of the four lodges with which I am best acquainted , I believe the principles laid down iu the admirable address of Bro . Schmitt ( sent herewith ) to be a fair exponent , and I know that in these great care is exercised in ascertaining the character of

candidates for admission . I am not acquainted with a lodge anywhere in which , by such addresses as the one referred to , fi-equently given , so much trouble is taken to influence the Masonic career of noviciates as in La Cesaree . These things tend to prove that the right Masonic feeling exists .

The fact I imagine to he , that generally the London Masons , and the Grand Lodge iu particular , do not like to have complaints of Masonic authorities , whereas tho Jersey Masons have for seven years , not without great reason , persistently urged such complaints , and have at last succeeded in their object ,

though in the form of a resignation , which no doubt would have been a dismissal , if the inquiry so often sought in vain had been made . However , the matter is now un fait accompli , and the result will , I trust , be such as to restore the Jersey brethren to union among themselves and a favourable opinion among

the Craft in general . There is the more reason for this , as from other sources I hear that the few dissentients from the turn events have taken , have lately seen reason to become converted to the general feeling , which has so long prevailed among the more thoughtful members of the Craft , the details of which it is

desirable now to consign to oblivion , as well as the individual whose power for mischief is now happily at an end . Tours fraternally , M . M . " * April 1 , 1 SGS .

Bro. Hughan's Analysis.

BRO . HUGHAN'S ANALYSIS .

TO THE EDITOR OF THE EREEMEASOXS * MAGAZIXE AXD MASOXIC sriRROE . Dear Sir and Brother , —We are all greatly obliged to Bro . Hughan for bringing before us so abty the conclusions to which he has arrived in his study of Masonic history , and so making a very valuable addition to existing authorities on the subject . Tet , in order to write a complete history of Freemasonry , it requires that all the successive stages of the building should be historically and absolutely